Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10385496-B2
Application number	US-201715581561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2016
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A washing machine capable of generating bubbles from a water/air mixture and supplying bubbles to the tub to facilitate removal of residual detergent or the like from laundry during washing or rinsing operations. The washing machine has a dissolving unit with an air supply check valve and can receive air from outside of the dissolving unit in accordance with a pressure in the dissolving unit. Air contained in the dissolving unit can be dissolved in water contained therein to produce water/air mixture. A bubble generating unit receives the water/air mixture from the dissolving unit and generates bubbles as the mixture passes along a water flow path and a pressure reduction region in the bubble generating unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
a dissolving unit comprising an air supply check valve, wherein the dissolving unit is configured to:
receive a supply of water and air respectively from outside of the dissolving unit, wherein air is supplied to the dissolving unit in accordance with an air pressure in the dissolving unit; and
provide a mixture of water and air comprising air dissolved in the water; and

a bubble generating unit coupled to the dissolving unit and configured to:
receive the mixture of water and air; and

generate bubbles from the mixture of water and air,

wherein the dissolving unit comprises:
a dissolving cap that comprises a dissolving inlet port configured to receive water supplied from outside of the dissolving unit;
an outer body comprising a hollow interior and a first side that is open, wherein the outer body is covered by the dissolving car and further comprises a dissolving guide port disposed at a second side of the outer body, wherein the dissolving guide port is configured to guide the mixture of water and air into the bubble generating unit; and
an inner body comprising a first side that is open and supported by the first side of the outer body, wherein a space between an outer circumferential surface of the inner body and an inner circumferential surface of the outer body forms a dissolving flow path; and
a porous portion disposed at the first side of the inner body and configured to allow water in the inner body to overflow to the dissolving flow path,

wherein the air supply check valve comprises:
a communication hole formed in the dissolving cap and spaced apart from the dissolving inlet port;
an air supply cover coupled to the dissolving can and comprising an air supply hole disposed at a first side of the air supply cover, wherein the air supply hole is configured to allow air to enter the dissolving unit, wherein the air supply cover further comprises an installation region formed at a second side of the air supply cover and configured to communicate with the communication hole;
an air supply valve disposed in the installation region and configured to allow the air supply hole and the communication hole to selectively communicate with each other in accordance with an internal pressure in the dissolving unit; and
a valve support hole formed in the dissolving cap and configured to support the air supply valve, and wherein further a plurality of communication holes are formed around the valve support hole,

wherein a first end portion of the air supply valve has a larger diameter than the air supply hole and operable to close the air supply hole, and wherein a second end portion of the air supply valve has a smaller diameter than the first end portion of the air supply valve, and
wherein the air supply valve comprises an air supply protrusion that protrudes from the second end portion of the air supply valve toward the valve support hole.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises a bubble body comprising:
a bubble inlet port configured to receive the mixture of water and air provided from the dissolving unit; and
a bubble discharge port configured to discharge bubbles from the bubble generating unit.

3. The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a bubble nozzle disposed inside the bubble body and coupled between the bubble inlet port and the bubble discharge port, wherein the bubble nozzle comprises a bubble flow path that has an inner diameter increasing from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port.

4. The washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the bubble body further comprises:
a first body, wherein the bubble inlet port is disposed on a first side of the first body; and
a second body, wherein a first side of the second body is detachably coupled to a second side of the first body, and wherein the bubble discharge port is disposed on a second side of the second body.

5. The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the bubble flow path is formed at a first side of the bubble nozzle, wherein the first side of the bubble nozzle faces an inner circumferential surface of the first body, a second side of the bubble nozzle faces an inner circumferential surface of the second body, and wherein the second side of the bubble nozzle is hollow, and wherein further the bubble flow path and the bubble discharge port are configured to communicate with each other through the bubble nozzle.

6. The washing machine of claim 5 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a pressure reduction region configured to reduce pressure of bubbles passing through the bubble flow path.

7. The washing machine of claim 6 , wherein the pressure reduction region is formed between an interior of the second side of the bubble nozzle and an interior of the second body.

8. The washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a bubble check valve disposed between the bubble inlet port and the bubble nozzle, wherein the bubble check valve is configured to open and close the bubble inlet port in accordance with pressure of the mixture of water and air introduced from the bubble inlet port.

9. A washing machine comprising:
a housing;
a tub installed in the housing; and
a dissolving unit disposed between the housing and the tub and configured to receive and contain outside air in accordance with an air pressure in the dissolving unit, wherein the dissolving unit is further configured to receive water supplied from outside and allow water to dissolve air to generate a mixture of water and air;

wherein the dissolving unit comprises:
a dissolving cap that comprises a dissolving inlet port configured to receive water supplied from outside of the dissolving unit;
an outer body comprising a hollow interior and a first side that is open, wherein the outer body is covered by the dissolving cap and further comprises a dissolving guide port disposed at a second side of the outer body, wherein the dissolving guide port is configured to guide the mixture of water and air into the bubble generating unit; and
an inner body comprising a first side that is open and supported by the first side of the outer body, wherein a space between an outer circumferential surface of the inner body and an inner circumferential surface of the outer body forms a dissolving flow path; and
a porous portion disposed at the first side of the inner body and configured to allow water in the inner body to overflow to the dissolving flow path,
a communication hole formed in the dissolving cap and spaced apart from the dissolving inlet port;
an air supply cover coupled to the dissolving cap and comprising an air supply hole disposed at a first side of the air supply cover, wherein the air supply hole is configured to allow air to enter the dissolving unit, wherein the air supply cover further comprises an installation region formed at a second side of the air supply cover and configured to communicate with the communication hole;
an air supply valve disposed in the installation region and configured to allow the air supply hole and the communication hole to selectively communicate with each other in accordance with an internal pressure in the dissolving unit; and
a valve support hole formed in the dissolving cap and configured to support the air supply valve, and wherein further a plurality of communication holes are formed around the valve support hole,

wherein a first end portion of the air supply valve has a larger diameter than the air supply hole and operable to close the air supply hole, and wherein a second end portion of the air supply valve has a smaller

Assignees

• Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Hwang Ui Kun

Classifications

• D06F17/06

  by rotary impellers · CPC title

• D06F35/002 Primary

  using bubbles · CPC title

• D06F39/083

  Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements · CPC title

• D06F2202/085

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic

• D06F33/02

  Textiles & Paper · mapped topic