Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153134-A1
Application number	US-201514590197-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2015
Priority date	Dec 1, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine capable of realizing a circulation function and a bubble function at the same time. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub provided in the main body, a pump provided to circulate wash water into the tub, and a circulation bubble unit provided on a flowing route of the wash water flowing out from the pump, wherein the circulation bubble unit is provided to be connected with the tub, and includes a first fluid path provided so that some of the wash water flowing out from the pump is circulated into the tub, and a second fluid path provided to generate bubbles in the wash water using another some of the wash water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A washing machine comprising:
a main body; a tub provided in the main body; a pump provided to circulate wash water into the tub; and a circulation bubble unit provided on a flowing route of the wash water flowing out from the pump, wherein the circulation bubble unit is provided to be connected with the tub, and comprises a first fluid path provided so that some of the wash water flowing out from the pump is circulated into the tub, and a second fluid path provided to generate bubbles in the wash water using another some of the wash water.

2 . The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the circulation bubble unit comprises an air introducing part provided so that air is introduced into the second fluid path.

3 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the circulation bubble unit comprises a case configured to form an exterior and having a fluid path formed therein, a first fluid path pipe formed to be branched from the fluid path of the case, a second fluid path pipe provided to be in communication with the fluid path and the tub, and a fixing unit provided at the case to be fixed with the tub.

4 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid path, the first fluid path pipe and the second fluid path pipe are formed to have different diameters from each other.

5 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the first fluid path comprises a circulation hose configured to connect the first fluid path pipe with the tub.

6 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the second fluid path pipe is formed to be inclined upward toward a bottom surface of the tub.

7 . The washing machine according to claim 6 , wherein the second fluid path comprises a reduced diameter portion formed to have a diameter which is smaller than that of the first fluid path, and an increased diameter portion formed to be inclined toward the bottom surface of the tub so as to have a greater diameter than the reduced diameter portion.

8 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the fixing unit is provided to protrude from an outer circumferential surface of one end of the case and to be coupled to the bottom surface of the tub.

9 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , further comprising a connecting hose provided to connect the case and the pump.

10 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the pump comprises an introduction chamber into which the wash water in the tub is introduced, a circulation pump chamber provided to supply the wash water into the tub, and a drainage pump chamber provided to discharge the wash water to an outside of the main body, and
the circulation bubble unit is connected to the circulation pump chamber.

11 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the air introducing part is disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the case to be in communication with the second fluid path.

12 . The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the air introducing part is provided to connect the case and the tub.

13 . The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein the air introducing part is disposed at the circulation pump chamber.

14 . The washing machine according to claim 11 , wherein the air introducing part further comprises an electromagnetic control valve.

15 . A washing machine comprising:
a main body; a tub disposed in the main body; a pump provided under the tub; and a circulation bubble unit provided to circulate wash water to the pump and simultaneously to generate bubbles in detergent water in which the wash water and a detergent are mixed.

16 . The washing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the circulation bubble unit is connected with the tub, and comprises a first fluid path provided so that some of the wash water flowing out from the pump is circulated into the tub through a circulation hose, and a second fluid path provided to generate bubbles in detergent water in which the wash water and the detergent are mixed using another some of the wash water flowing out from the pump and then to supply the bubbles to the tub.

17 . The washing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the circulation bubble unit comprises an air introducing part provided so that air is introduced into the second fluid path.

18 . The washing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the circulation bubble unit comprises a case having a fluid path formed therein, a first fluid path pipe formed at one side of the case to be branched from the fluid path, a second fluid path pipe provided at one end of the case to be in communication with the fluid path and the tub, and a fixing unit provided at the case to be fixed with the tub.

19 . The washing machine according to claim 18 , wherein the first fluid path comprises a circulation hose provided to connect the first fluid path pipe with the tub.

20 . The washing machine according to claim 18 , wherein the second fluid path pipe is formed to be inclined upward toward a bottom surface of the tub.

21 . The washing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the second fluid path comprises a reduced diameter portion formed to have a diameter which is smaller than that of the first fluid path, and an increased diameter portion formed to be inclined toward the bottom surface of the tub so as to have a greater diameter than the reduced diameter portion.

22 . The washing machine according to claim 15 , wherein the pump comprises an introduction chamber into which the wash water in the tub is introduced, a circulation pump chamber provided to supply the wash water into the tub, and a drainage pump chamber provided to discharge the wash water to an outside of the main body, and
the circulation bubble unit is connected to the circulation pump chamber.

23 . The washing machine according to claim 17 , wherein the air introducing part is disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the case to be in communication with the second fluid path.

24 . The washing machine according to claim 23 , wherein the air introducing part is provided to connect the case and the tub.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Bang Eun-Suk
• Kim Hyun Sook
• Chang Yun Joo
• Lee Bo-Ram
• Lee Ji-Yu

Classifications

• D06F39/085

  Arrangements or adaptations of pumps · CPC title

• D06F39/083 Primary

  Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements · CPC title

• D06F37/267

  Tubs specially adapted for mounting thereto components or devices not provided for in preceding subgroups (D06F37/206 takes precedence) · CPC title

• D06F35/002 Primary

  using bubbles · CPC title

• D06F2105/06

  Recirculation of washing liquids, e.g. by pumps or diverting valves · CPC title