Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020002879-A1
Application number	US-201916455167-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2019
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A washing machine includes a gasket including a gasket body that connects a casing to a tub, and a plurality of nozzles spraying water into a drum. The gasket body has a first area and a second area corresponding to bilateral areas. The nozzles include a first nozzle and a second nozzle disposed in the first area sequentially in a bottom-to-top direction. The washing machine includes a distribution pipe for distribution circulating water to the nozzles, and the distribution pipe includes a first outlet port and a second outlet port for supplying water to first and second nozzles, and a third outlet port and a fourth outlet port for supplying water to third and fourth nozzles. The first and second outlet ports extend parallel to each other, and the third and fourth outlet ports extend parallel to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A washing machine comprising:
a casing that defines an entry hole at a front surface of the casing; a tub disposed in the casing and configured to receive wash water, the tub defining an entrance hole at a front surface of the tub; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a gasket comprising:
a gasket body that defines a passage connecting the entry hole to the entrance hole of the tub, the gasket body having a first area and a second area corresponding to bilateral areas of the gasket body, and
a plurality of nozzles configured to spray wash water into the drum, the plurality of nozzles comprising:
a first nozzle and a second nozzle that are arranged in a bottom-to-top direction at the first area of the gasket body, and
a third nozzle and a fourth nozzle that are arranged in the bottom-to-top direction at the second area of the gasket body;

a pump configured to circulate wash water discharged from the tub; a circulation pipe configured to guide wash water discharged from the pump; and a distribution pipe configured to distribute, to into the plurality of nozzles, wash water guided through the circulation pipe, wherein the distribution pipe comprises:
an inlet port connected to the circulation pipe and configured to receive wash water discharged from the pump,
a first conduit part disposed at the first area on an outer circumferential surface of the gasket body and configured to guide a first portion of wash water received through the inlet port,
a first outlet port and a second outlet port that are arranged in the bottom-to-top direction at the first conduit part, that are configured to supply, to the first nozzle and the second nozzle, wash water guided along the first conduit part, and that extend in parallel to each other from the first conduit part toward the outer circumferential surface of the gasket body,
a second conduit part disposed at the second area on the outer circumferential surface of the gasket body and configured to guide supply a second portion of wash water received through the inlet port, and
a third outlet port and a fourth outlet port that are arranged in the bottom-to-top direction at the second conduit part, that are configured to supply, to the third nozzle and the fourth nozzle, wash water guided along the second conduit part, and that extend in parallel to each other from the second conduit part toward the outer circumferential surface of the gasket body.

2 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port, the second outlet port, the third outlet port, and the fourth outlet port extend in parallel to one another.

3 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port and the third outlet port are disposed vertically below a half point of the gasket body corresponding to a half of a height of the gasket body, and
wherein the second outlet port and the fourth outlet port are disposed vertically above the half point of the gasket body.

4 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port is disposed at a position corresponding to a height of the third outlet port with respect to a lowest point of the gasket body, and
wherein the second outlet port is disposed at a position corresponding to a height of the fourth outlet port with respect to the lowest point of the gasket body.

5 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein an exit of the first outlet port is disposed outward of an exit of the second outlet port from the gasket body.

6 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit part comprises an inner circumferential part that defines a first flat surface facing the gasket body and having a flat shape, and
wherein the first outlet port protrudes from the first flat surface toward the gasket body.

7 . The washing machine of claim 6 , wherein the first outlet port extends in a direction orthogonal to the first flat surface.

8 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the second conduit part comprises an inner circumferential part that defines a second flat surface facing the gasket body and having a flat shape, and
wherein the second outlet port protrudes from the second flat surface toward the gasket body.

9 . The washing machine of claim 8 , wherein the second outlet port extends in a direction orthogonal to the second flat surface.

10 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the first outlet port and the third outlet port are disposed symmetrically with respect to a reference line that bilaterally divides the gasket body.

11 . The washing machine of claim 10 , wherein the second outlet port and the fourth outlet port are disposed symmetrically with respect to the reference line.

12 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the second outlet port is greater than a cross-sectional flow area of the first outlet port.

13 . The washing machine of claim 12 , wherein a cross-sectional flow area of the fourth outlet port is greater than a cross-sectional flow area of the third outlet port.

14 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the gasket further comprises a plurality of port receiving pipes that protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the gasket body, the plurality of port receiving pipes being configured to be inserted into the plurality of nozzles, respectively, and
wherein the plurality of port receiving pipes are configured to communicate with the plurality of nozzles, respectively.

15 . The washing machine of claim 14 , wherein the distribution pipe further comprises:
a press-fitting protrusion that protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of at least one outlet port among the first outlet port, the second outlet port, the third outlet port, and the fourth outlet port, that extends along a circumferential direction of the at least one outlet port, and that is configured to provide pressure on an inner circumferential surface of a port receiving pipe corresponding to the at least one outlet port.

16 . The washing machine of claim 15 , wherein the press-fitting protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusions that are arranged in a length direction of the at least one outlet port.

17 . The washing machine of claim 15 , wherein the press-fitting protrusion comprises a slope portion that is inclined with respect to an insertion direction in which the at least one outlet port is inserted into the corresponding port receiving pipe.

18 . The washing machine of claim 14 , wherein the distribution pipe further comprises an end protrusion that protrudes from an end of an outer circumferential surface of at least one outlet port among the first outlet port, the second outlet port, the third outlet port, and the fourth outlet port,
wherein the end protrusion is configured to enter into an entrance of a nozzle corresponding to the at least one outlet port and be inserted into an exit of the corresponding nozzle, and wherein a diameter of the corresponding nozzle decreases from the entrance toward the exit.

19 . A washing machine comprising:
a casing that defines an entry hole at a front surface of the casing; a tub disposed in the casing and configured to receive wash water, the tub defining an entrance hole at the front surface of the tub; a drum rotatably disposed in the tub; a gasket comprising:
a gasket body that defines a passage connecting the entry hole to the entrance hole of the tub, the gasket body having a first area and a second area corresponding to bilateral areas of the gasket body, and
a plurality

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jang Hosung
• Kim Kwanghyun
• Kim Sunghoon
• Choi Jaehyun
• Kang Yohwan
• Kim Hansol
• Ryu Hwanchan
• Lee Hyunjae

Classifications

• D06F37/266 Primary

  Gaskets mounted between tub and casing around the loading opening · CPC title

• D06F37/04

  adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis · CPC title

• D06F39/088 Primary

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F39/085

  Arrangements or adaptations of pumps · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title