Washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9644302-B2
Application number	US-201414157030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

A washing machine that includes an integrated tub/drum that holds water, accommodates laundry, and rotates; a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and passing through one surface of the integrated tub/drum; a water supply pipe and a water drain pipe in the integrated tub/drum and through a passage or opening in the hollow rotary shaft; a nozzle that extends upward from an end of the water supply pipe that is in the integrated tub/drum; and a water drain that extends downward from an end of the water drain pipe that is in the integrated tub/drum.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washing machine comprising:
an integrated tub/drum configured to hold water, accommodate laundry, and rotate;
a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and passing through pass through a surface of the integrated tub/drum;
a water supply pipe and a water drain pipe in the integrated tub/drum and through a passage or opening in the hollow rotary shaft;
a nozzle extending from an end of the water supply pipe in the integrated tub/drum;
a water drain that extends from an end of the water drain pipe in the integrated tub/drum;
a drive shaft coupled to an end surface of the integrated tub/drum other than the surface through which the hollow rotary shaft passes; and
a drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft,
wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape, and the hollow rotary shaft is coupled to pass through an end surface of the integrated tub/drum having a relatively wide area,
wherein the water drain extends downward from the water drain pipe, and is curved or bent towards a center of the integrated tub/drum,
wherein the water drain has a length greater than a radius of an end of the integrated tub/drum having a relatively small area, and is spaced apart or separate from an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum;
wherein the motor and the drive shaft are connected in series,
wherein the nozzle extends upward from the water supply pipe, and is curved or bent towards a center of the integrated tub/drum, and
wherein the nozzle includes a plurality of water supply holes in a side and/or surface of the nozzle facing toward the center of the integrated tub/drum.

2. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the water supply pipe and the water drain pipe are substantially fixed in place, and do not rotate.

3. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the water drain includes one or more water drain holes at an end thereof.

4. The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the washing machine is a front-loading washing machine.

5. The washing machine of claim 1 , further comprising a controller that controls the drive motor to stop the integrated tub/drum so that an opening of the integrated tub/drum is positioned at or near the top or uppermost rotary position of the integrated tub/drum.

Assignees

• Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Kim In Dong
• Kim Jeong Hyeon
• Kim Hye Ung
• Lee Ju Dong

Classifications

• D06F39/088

  Liquid supply arrangements · CPC title

• D06F37/302

  Automatic drum positioning · CPC title

• D06F37/04 Primary

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

• D06F37/30 Primary

  Driving arrangements  (control circuits or arrangements D06F34/08) · CPC title

• D06F23/025

  with a rotatable imperforate tub · CPC title