Textiles: fluid treating apparatus – Machines – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-04
2001-07-03
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Textiles: fluid treating apparatus
Machines
Combined
C068S0180FA
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253584
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a device for filtering dirt in washing water.
BACKGROUND ART
FIG. 6
is a side sectional view of a conventional washing machine. The washing machine has an outer casing
101
, a top cover
105
covering the upper side of the outer casing
101
, an outer tub
111
suspended by a suspension in the outer casing
101
, a washing tub
113
rotatably installed in the outer tub
111
, a pulsator
115
installed on the bottom of the washing tub
113
, and a driving motor
118
for driving the pulsator
115
.
During the washing operation, the driving motor
118
rotates the pulsator
115
, and by the water-flow vortex generated in such a situation, the laundry in the washing tub
113
is washed. During the dehydrating operation, the pulsator
115
and the washing tub
113
are rotated together at a high speed, and the laundry is dehydrated by the centrifugal force generated in that situation.
During the washing operation, the water in the washing tub
113
contains dirt detached from the laundry, and if the washing water contains too much dirt, the washing effect is lowered. Thus, the washing machine is equipped with a device for filtering dirt in the washing water.
The filtering device is comprised of a circulation duct
125
formed vertically on the inner wall of the washing tub
113
, and a filtering web
127
installed on the upper end of the circulation duct
125
. The lower end of the circulation duct
125
is open at the lower area of the washing tub
113
, and the upper end thereof is open at the upper area of the washing tub
113
.
By the centrifugal force of the water-flow vortex generated in the washing tub
113
, the washing water in the washing tub
113
flows into the circulation duct
125
through the lower opening of the circulation duct
125
. The water in the circulation duct
125
is moved up along the circulation duct
125
, and then is supplied again into the washing tub
113
. In this situation, the dirt contained in the re-supplied washing water is filtered by the filtering web
127
, and accordingly, the washing water in which dirt has been filtered is supplied into the washing tub
113
.
However, in such a conventional washing machine, the filtering efficiency is lowered gradually as the dirt is accumulated in the filtering web
127
, so the filtering web
127
must be cleaned frequently. And, the filtering web
127
is apt to wear, so it should be exchanged with a new one frequently. Furthermore, there is another shortcoming that the small and weighty dirt such as sand cannot be filtered well.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention has been proposed to overcome the above-described problems in the prior art, and accordingly it is the object of the present invention to provide a washing machine having a filtering device which can filter the dirt in the washing tub effectively, does not need a frequent cleaning, and can be used semi-permanently.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a washing machine comprising: a tub for accommodating laundry and water; a drawing pipe connected to the tub; a drawing pump installed on an area of the drawing pipe, the drawing pump for drawing the water in the tub into the drawing pipe; a cylinder of which the upper portion is connected with the drawing pipe, the cylinder for receiving the water supplied from the drawing pipe; a rotating blade for generating the water-flow vortex in the cylinder; and a return pipe extended downward at a predetermined length from the upper side of the cylinder to the inner side of the cylinder along an axis of the vortex, the return pipe for returning the water in which dirt has been filtered into the tub.
A dirt collection part for collecting the dirt separated from the water is installed under the cylinder. The dirt collected in the dirt collection part is discharged by a discharging means. The discharging means comprises: a discharge pipe extended from the dirt collection part toward the outside; and a discharge valve for opening/closing the discharge pipe.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a sterilizing means is installed on a position of a path that the water circulates via the drawing pipe, the cylinder and the return pipe, the sterilizing means for sterilizing the water circulating through the path. The sterilizing means comprises: an ultraviolet lamp for generating ultraviolet rays; and a lamp casing for accommodating the ultraviolet lamp, the lamp casing of which a part contacting with the water is made of a material transmitting the ultraviolet rays.
According to the present invention, a washing machine having a filtering device is provided which can filter the dirt in washing water effectively, and need not be cleaned frequently. Furthermore, a sanitary washing operation can be performed by the sterilizing device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3194628 (1965-07-01), Cannon
patent: 3313311 (1967-04-01), Gilson
patent: 43 42 049 A1 (1995-06-01), None
patent: 0 146 719 (1985-07-01), None
patent: 0585519 (1994-03-01), None
Coe Philip R.
Larson & Taylor PLC
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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