Washing machine having a plurality of tubs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10280546-B2
Application number	US-201815896770-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Jan 29, 2014
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A washing machine having a plurality of tubs includes a cabinet having a first tub disposed therein, a first door, having a second tub disposed therein, to open and close a laundry introduction opening formed at the cabinet, a second door to open and close a laundry introduction opening of the second tub, a first water supply part and a second water supply part to supply washing water to inside of the first tub and the second tub, respectively, and a first water discharge part and a second water discharge part to discharge washing water from the first tub and the second tub, respectively. This configuration allows a washing process to be performed at a plurality of spaces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet having a first tub and a first drum disposed therein;
a first door, having a second tub disposed therein, to open and close a laundry introduction opening formed at the cabinet;
a hinge assembly to rotatably mount the first door to the cabinet;
a second drum rotatably disposed in the second tub;
a driving unit to rotate the second drum within the second tub;
a second door to open and close a laundry introduction opening of the second tub;
a first water supply part and a second water supply part to supply washing water to the first tub and the second tub, respectively; and
a first water discharge part and a second water discharge part to discharge washing water from the first tub and the second tub, respectively,
wherein the driving unit includes:
a plurality of magnets radially arranged on an outer circumferential surface of the second drum; and
a stator core and coils disposed at the second tub and facing the magnets.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first door includes:
a bowl member forming the second tub; and
a door frame to support an outer circumferential surface of the bowl member.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the second water supply part and the second water discharge part include a water supply passage and a water discharge passage disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the door frame, respectively.

4. The washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the second water supply part includes one or more injection nozzles to inject washing water into the second tub, and
wherein the one or more injection nozzles are radially disposed along the door frame.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the second water supply part and the second water discharge part extend from the first door, through the hinge assembly, to inside of the cabinet.

6. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein couplers connected to the second water supply part and the second water discharge part are provided in the hinge assembly.

7. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the couplers are provided on the right and left sides of the first laundry introduction opening.

8. A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet having a first tub and a first drum disposed therein;
a first door, having a second tub disposed therein, to open and close a first laundry introduction opening formed at the cabinet;
a hinge assembly to rotatably mount the first door to the cabinet;
a second drum rotatably disposed in the second tub;
a driving unit to rotate the second drum within the second tub;
a second door to open and close a laundry introduction opening of the second tub;
a first water supply part and a second water supply part to supply washing water to the first tub and the second tub, respectively; and
a first water discharge part and a second water discharge part to discharge washing water from the first tub and the second tub, respectively,
wherein the first door includes:
a door frame to open and close the first laundry introduction opening; and
a second tub forming member protruding from the door frame toward a rear side of the cabinet to form a space between itself and the door frame, and including a second laundry introduction opening to be opened toward a rear side of the cabinet,

wherein the driving unit includes:
a rotational shaft connected to the second drum by passing through the second tub forming member; and
a driving motor disposed at the space between the second tub forming member and the door frame, and configured to rotate the rotational shaft.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Sungmin
• Park Daeyun
• Kim Jongseok

Classifications

• D06F37/08

  Partitions · CPC title

• D06F31/00 Primary

  Washing installations comprising an assembly of several washing machines or washing units, e.g. continuous flow assemblies · CPC title

• D06F37/10

  Doors; Securing means therefor · CPC title

• D06F39/08

  Liquid supply or discharge arrangements (supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02) · CPC title

• D06F29/00

  Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus · CPC title