Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10697109-B2
Application number	US-201916274283-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2019
Priority date	Sep 9, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A washing machine includes: a washing tub in which clothes are stored; and a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub through a water supply path, the water being supplied from a water supply source. The water supply mechanism includes a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, a water filling case for filling water into the washing tub, and a fine bubble generation device provided between the water supply valve and the water filling case and for generating fine bubbles.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A washing machine, comprising:
a washing tub in which clothes are stored;
a water supply valve for opening and closing a water supply path that passes water supplied from a water supply source into the washing tub;
a detergent storage case in which detergent is stored; and
a fine bubble generation device provided between the water supply valve and the detergent storage case, and for generating fine bubbles.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the detergent storage case is provided in a water filling case for filling water into the washing tub, and
the fine bubble generation device is located between the water supply valve and the water filling case, and is provided in the water supply path in the water filling case.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the fine bubble generation device is arranged downstream of an outlet part of the water supply valve, and in an inlet pipe of water of the water filling case.

4. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
a small diameter part is provided in the inlet pipe of water of the water filling case, wherein at least a part of an outflow port side of the fine bubble generation device is inserted and connected into the small diameter part.

5. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the fine bubble generation device is interposed between the water supply valve and the water filling case.

6. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the water supply path is configured such that a flow direction of water discharged from the outlet part of the water supply valve is a same as a flow direction of water in the fine bubble generation device.

7. The washing machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second water supply path without including the fine bubble generation device, separate from the water supply path including the fine bubble generation device.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein
a second inlet pipe to which the second water supply path is connected is provided in the water filling case, and a bore of the second inlet pipe is different from a bore of a third inlet pipe to which the fine bubble generation device is connected.

9. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the fine bubble generation device is configured to include a narrowed part at a midway part on a flow passage extending from an inflow port to an outflow port, and wherein
the fine bubble generation device is constructed by combining an upstream side flow passage member which constitutes an upstream side of the flow passage and includes a protruding part that narrows a flow passage sectional area of the narrowed part, with a downstream side flow passage member which constitutes a more downstream side than the protruding part of the flow passage.

10. The washing machine according to claim 9 , wherein
the water filling case includes an inlet pipe of water to which the fine bubble generation device is inserted and connected, and
the inlet pipe includes a rib by which a tip end surface of the fine bubble generation device is locked.

11. The washing machine according to claim 9 , wherein
the water filling case includes an inlet pipe of water to which an upstream side flow passage member of the fine bubble generation device is inserted and connected, and
the downstream side flow passage member is integrally formed with the inlet pipe.

12. The washing machine according to claim 9 , wherein
the water filling case includes an inlet pipe of water to which the fine bubble generation device is inserted and connected, and a seal member for air-tightly sealing between an outer surface of the upstream side flow passage member and an inner surface of the inlet pipe.

Assignees

• Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corp

Inventors

• Usui Yoshinori
• Nagai Satoshi
• Nishimura Hiroshi
• Matsushita Katsunori

Classifications

• D06F35/002 Primary

  using bubbles · CPC title

• D06F17/12

  solely by gases, e.g. air or steam, introduced into the washing liquid · CPC title

• D06F39/088 Primary

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F39/08

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