Textiles: fluid treating apparatus – Machines – Combined
Utility Patent
1999-04-15
2001-01-02
Coe, Philip R. (Department: 1746)
Textiles: fluid treating apparatus
Machines
Combined
C068S058000
Utility Patent
active
06167733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, and more particularly to a drum type washing machine having a pump integrally formed with a filter.
2. Prior Arts
As is well known, a drum type washing machine is an appliance for separating dirt from articles to be washed such as clothing by rotating a drum while spraying a washing liquid onto articles placed in the drum.
The drum type washing machine sequentially carries out various cycles in order of liquid feeding, washing, rinsing, dehydrating, and draining cycles.
While the above cycles are being executed, dirt contained in the articles separates from the articles by means of friction between a liquid flow and the articles or by means of detergents.
FIG. 1
shows such a conventional drum type washing machine
100
. As shown in
FIG. 1
, conventional drum type washing machine
100
has a body
110
provided at an upper portion thereof with a control panel
112
, an outer tub
120
contained in body
110
, a drum
130
rotatably disposed in outer tub
120
, a filter
140
provided below outer tub
120
and a pump
150
for circulating and draining the washing liquid.
A detergent box
114
for storing detergents
115
is installed at the upper portion of body
110
. Detergent box
114
is connected to outer tub
120
through a water supplying tube
168
. Accordingly, the washing liquid is supplied into outer tub
120
through water supplying tube
168
together with detergents
115
.
Outer tub
120
has a cylindrical shape and is formed at one side thereof with an opening
124
which is opened and closed by a door
116
. Drum
130
is formed at a circumference thereof with a plurality of holes
132
. The washing liquid is flowed into drum
130
through the plurality of holes
132
.
A rotating shaft of drum
130
is disposed at one side of outer tub
120
and is connected to a motor assembly
122
installed below outer tub
120
. Accordingly, when the rotating shaft of drum
130
is rotated by motor assembly
122
, drum
130
is also rotated.
Drum
130
is disposed at a center of outer tub
120
so that a space is formed between an outer circumference of drum
130
and an inner circumference of outer tub
120
. When the washing liquid is supplied into outer tub
120
through water supplying tube
168
, the washing liquid is flowed into the space through drum
130
. Accordingly, drum
130
is partially submerged in the washing liquid.
Filter
140
is connected to a lower portion of outer tub
120
through a first drain tube
162
so as to remove impurities contained in the washing liquid discharged from outer tub
120
.
Pump
150
is spaced at a predetermined distance apart from filter
140
. Filter
140
is
20
connected to pump
150
through a second drain tube
164
. In addition, a third drain tube
166
is connected to one side of pump
150
.
Therefore, the washing liquid supplied into pump
150
through filter
140
is drained out of washing machine
100
through third drain tube
166
.
When the washing liquid is supplied into outer tub
120
, the washing liquid is flowed into drum
130
through the plurality of holes
132
formed at the outer circumference of drum
130
so that the washing liquid reaches a predetermined height in outer tub
120
. At this time, the washing liquid is introduced into pump
150
through first drain tube
162
and filter
140
.
In this state, if drum
130
rotates, the articles placed in drum
130
make contact with the washing liquid. Generally, it takes the articles five minutes to fully make contact with the washing liquid.
As drum
150
continuously rotates, the articles continuously make contact with the washing liquid so that the articles are washed. When the washing cycle has been completed, pump
150
is driven to drain the washing liquid contained in outer tub
120
out of washing machine
100
through first drain tube
162
, filter
140
, second drain tube
164
, pump
150
and third drain tube
166
.
However, the conventional drum type washing machine requires much time to allow the articles to fully contact with the washing liquid. For this reason, the washing time is unnecessarily prolonged.
In addition, the conventional drum type washing machine requires the second drain tube for introducing the washing liquid from the filter to the pump, so the washing liquid should be filled in the second drain tube when the washing cycle is carried out.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above described problems of the prior art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drum type washing machine which can not only improve washing efficiency, but also save the washing liquid required for washing the articles to be washed.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a drum type washing machine comprising:
a body;
an outer tub for receiving a washing liquid, the outer tub being disposed in the body;
a drum formed at a side wall thereof with a plurality of discharging holes and disposed in the outer tub for receiving articles to be washed; and
a first means for spraying the washing liquid onto the articles by circulating the washing liquid discharged from a lower portion of the outer tub to an upper portion of the outer tub, the first means removing impurities from the washing liquid while a washing cycle is being carried out and draining the washing liquid out of the washing machine after the washing cycle is finished.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first means includes a pump having a case formed at one side thereof with a hole, first and second ports formed at an upper portion of the case, a third port formed at a lower portion of the case, a motor assembly which is installed at an exterior of the case and has a rotating shaft extending into an interior of the case, and an impeller rotatably coupled with the rotating shaft; a second means detachably coupled to the hole of the case and extended into the interior of the case for removing the impurities contained in the washing liquid discharged from the lower portion of the outer tub; and a spraying nozzle assembly disposed above the drum for spraying the washing liquid circulated by the pump onto the articles placed in the drum.
The outer tub has a discharging tube connected to the first port for draining the washing liquid into the pump, the second port is connected to the spraying nozzle assembly through a circulation tube for circulating the washing liquid into the spraying nozzle assembly, and the third port is connected to a drain tube for draining the washing liquid out of the washing machine.
The second means includes a filter having a cap installed in the hole of the case and a mesh plate integrally formed with the cap and extended into the interior of the case.
The first port is positioned corresponding to a position of the mesh plate so that the washing liquid flowed into the first port passes through the mesh plate.
A first fluid path is formed between the impeller and the second port, a second fluid path is formed between the impeller and the third port, a third fluid path is formed between the second and third ports, a first valve is provided in the second port, and a second valve is provided in the third port.
When the impeller rotates in a clockwise direction, the washing liquid is flowed into the first fluid path so that the first valve is opened for allowing the washing liquid to circulate into the spraying nozzle assembly, and when the impeller rotates in a counter clockwise direction, the washing liquid is flowed into the second fluid path so that the second valve is opened for allowing the washing liquid to drain out of the washing machine.
The drum type washing machine of the present invention sprays the washing liquid onto the articles while the washing cycle is being carried out, so the washing efficiency is improved.
Furthermore, since the filter is integrally formed at one side of the pump, there is no need to provide a fluid path f
Coe Philip R.
Daewoo Electronics Co. Ltd.
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP
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