Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018179682-A1
Application number	US-201715847277-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 23, 2016
Publication date	Jun 28, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A washing machine is provided, The washing machine includes a first housing; a second housing disposed on the first housing; a first tub covered by the first housing and having a first opening formed at a front surface; a second tub covered by the second housing and having a second opening formed at an upper surface; a drain path provided to drain wash water of the first tub and wash water of the second tub and having at least one portion located at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the second tub; and a connector coupled to the first housing and disposed at one portion of the drain path where wash water of the first tub and wash water of the second tub are joined.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A washing machine comprising:
a first housing; a second housing disposed on the first housing; a first tub included in the first housing and having a first opening formed at a front surface thereof; a second tub included in the second housing and having a second opening formed at an upper surface thereof; a drain path to drain wash water from the first tub and wash water from the second tub and having at least one portion located at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the second tub; and a connector coupled to the first housing and disposed at one portion of the drain path where the wash water of the first tub and the wash water of the second tub are joined.

2 . The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the drain path comprises:
a first drain path through which the wash water from the first tub flows to the connector; a second drain path through which the wash water from the second tub flows to the connector; and a third drain path through which wash water introduced into the connector through the first drain path and the second drain path flows out from the connector.

3 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein at least one portion of the third drain path is located at a position higher than the maximum water storage height of the second tub.

4 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises:
a first inlet pipe to form the second drain path; and a first check valve detachable from or attachable to the first inlet pipe and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the second tub in a direction opposite to a drain direction.

5 . The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the first check valve comprises a sealing protrusion which protrudes from a surface in contact with the first inlet pipe.

6 . The washing machine according to claim 4 , further comprising a drain bracket disposed in the first housing, coupled to the connector, and having an insertion pipe inserted into the first check valve.

7 . The washing machine according to claim 3 , wherein the connector comprises a second check valve disposed at the first drain path and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the first tub in a direction opposite to the drain direction.

8 . The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein the connector further comprises a second inlet pipe to form the first drain path and the second check valve is detachable from or attachable to the second inlet pipe of the connector.

9 . The washing machine according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first check valve and the second check valve is formed of an elastic material.

10 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein at least one portion of the second drain path is located at a position higher than the maximum water storage height of the second tub.

11 . The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein the connector comprises a guide rib disposed at a portion thereof where the first drain path and the second drain path are joined and configured to guide the wash water introduced into the connector through the first drain path to the third drain path to prevent a backflow of the wash water introduced into the connector through the first drain path into the first tub.

12 . The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein the connector further comprises a first check valve disposed at the second drain path and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the second tub in a direction opposite to the drain direction.

13 . The washing machine according to claim 10 , wherein the connector further comprises a second check valve formed at the third drain path and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the first tub in a direction opposite to the drain direction.

14 . The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein at least one portion of the first drain path is located at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the first tub.

15 . The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the connector is coupled to an outer portion of the first housing at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the first tub.

16 . A washing machine comprising:
a first housing; a second housing disposed on the first housing; a first tub included in the first housing; a second tub included in the second housing; a first drain path through which wash water from the first tub flows; a second drain path through which wash water from the second tub flows; a connector disposed at a portion where the first drain path and the second drain path are joined; and a third drain path through which wash the water introduced into the connector though the first drain path and the second drain path flows out, wherein at least one portion of the third drain path is located at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the second tub.

17 . The washing machine according to claim 16 , wherein the connector comprises:
a first inlet pipe to form the second drain path; a second inlet pipe to form the first drain path; a first check valve detachable from or attachable to the first inlet pipe and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the first inlet pipe in a direction opposite to a drain direction; and a second check valve detachable from or attachable to the second inlet pipe and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the second inlet pipe in a direction opposite to a drain direction.

18 . The washing machine according to claim 17 , wherein the first check valve comprises a sealing protrusion which protrudes from a surface in contact with the first inlet pipe.

19 . A washing machine comprising:
a first housing; a second housing disposed on the first housing; a first tub included in the first housing; a second tub included in the second housing; a first drain path through which wash water from the first tub flows; a second drain path through which wash water from the second tub flows; a connector disposed at a portion where the first drain path and the second drain path are joined; and a third drain path through which the wash water introduced into the connector though the first drain path and the second drain path flows out, wherein at least one portion of the second drain path is located at a position higher than a maximum water storage height of the second tub.

20 . The washing machine according to claim 19 , wherein the connector comprises:
a guide rib disposed at a portion thereof where the first drain path and the second drain path are joined and configured to guide the wash water introduced into the connector through the first drain path to the third drain path to prevent a backflow of the wash water introduced into the connector through the first drain path into the first tub; and a first check valve disposed at the second drain path and configured to prevent a backflow of the wash water from the second tub in a direction opposite to a drain direction.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Do Haeng
• Kim Young-Hyun
• Lee Geon Ho

Classifications

• D06F39/088

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F39/04

  Heating arrangements · CPC title

• D06F37/06

  Ribs, lifters, or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle · CPC title

• D06F37/22

  in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis · CPC title

• D06F37/24

  in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis · CPC title