Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Fluid treatment – Manipulation of liquid
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-23
2003-12-30
Coe, Philip (Department: 1746)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Fluid treatment
Manipulation of liquid
C008S159000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06668410
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a full automatic washing machine, and more particularly, to a penetration type washing machine which makes washing by penetrating washing water through laundry; a method for controlling the same; and, a tub cover for the same.
2. Background of the Related Art
Being a device for peeling off contaminant by applying energies, such as impact, to the laundry, there are pulsator washing machines, drum washing machines, agitator washing machine, and the like according to types of energy application. Washing of the laundry is made by applying impacts to the laundry using pulsator or agitator, or dropping the laundry using rotation of the drum.
FIG. 1
illustrates a cross section of a related art pulsator type washing machine, referring to which a related art pulsator type washing machine will be explained.
There is an inner tub
3
having a plurality of washing holes
5
formed therein rotatably mounted inside of an outer tub
2
provided for storage of washing water, inside of which inner tub
3
there is a pulsator
4
rotatably mounted therein. There is a drain valve
9
under the outer tub
2
for draining the washing water outside of the washing machine. A rotation power from a motor
8
mounted on an underside of the outer tub
2
is transmitted to a dewatering shaft
6
a
coupled to the inner tub
3
and the washing shaft
6
coupled to the pulsator
4
, for rotating the inner tub
3
and the pulsator
4
. The washing shaft
6
and the dewatering shaft
6
a
are coupled/decoupled by a clutch
7
.
There is a tub cover
11
on the outer tub
2
, which will be explained with reference to FIG.
2
. The tub cover
11
, of substantially an annular form, has an upper surface portion
11
a
disposed on top both of the outer tub
2
and the inner tub
3
, a tight fit portion
11
b
extended in an upper and a lower direction from an end of the upper surface portion
11
a
for tight fit to an inside surface of the outer tub
2
, and a fastening portion
11
c
projected from the tight fit portion
11
b
in a substantially vertical direction for being fastened to the outer tub
2
with screws
14
. The tub cover
110
is provided for prevention of noise and overflow of foam as well as prevention of infiltration of foreign matters into a space between the inner tub and the outer tub.
The operation of the aforementioned related art pulsator type washing machine will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
The washing machine is operative in a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, and a dewatering cycle, by proceeding through each of which mode in a sequence the washing can be done. In the washing cycle, upon putting the washing machine into operation after placing the laundry in the inner tub
3
, the washing water is supplied until it fills to certain levels of the inner tub
3
and the outer tub
2
. Upon finishing the water supply, the motor
8
makes intermittent rotations in regular and reverse directions in a state the inner tub
3
is standstill, that leads the pulsator
4
to rotate in the regular and reverse directions for washing the laundry. That is, the pulsator
4
repeats the regular/reverse direction rotation, to rotate the laundry in of the inner tub
3
and to form water circulation, as well. Then, the laundry is washed by the impact from the pulsator
4
, the water circulation, friction with the inner tub
3
, and softening effect of the detergent, and the like. After proceeding the washing cycle for a preset time period, the drain valve
9
is opened, to drain contaminated washing water to outside of the washing machine. Then, clean washing water is supplied to inside of the inner tub
3
, and the pulsator
4
is rotated, to make rinsing cycles for a preset number of times. In the dewatering cycle, the inner tub
3
is rotated in a high speed together with the pulsator
4
in one direction in a state the washing shaft
6
and the dewatering shaft
6
a
are coupled. Consequently, the washing water is discharged to the outer tub
2
through the washing holes
5
, and drained to outside of the washing machine through the drain valve
9
.
However, the related art washing machines, making the washing mostly using mechanical energies, of such as pulsator or agitator, is required to have a rotating power of a certain speed for making an adequate washing, that causes entangle of or damage to the laundry. And, the related art washing machine is involved in an increased washing water and detergent consumed during the washing because the washing machine is operative under a state the washing water is filled in the inner tub and the outer tub, as well as an increased overall washing time period due to increased water supply and drain time periods, that are not directly related to the washing time period.
Accordingly, there has been researches for making washing without rubbing the laundry or applying impact to laundry, one of which is the penetration type washing machine. That is, according to what is known, if a relative flow speed of water passing through between textile fibers of the laundry is greater than a certain level, the water can make a washing, without rubbing or twisting the laundry. A washing machine employing such a principle is a penetration type washing machine. In general, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,667 a related art penetration type washing machine is provided with a washing water sprayer for spraying the washing water to the laundry in an inner tub over a required speed, and a separate pump for pumping the washing water to the washing water sprayer. Therefore, the related art penetration type washing machine has problems in that a complicated system and a large sized pump for obtaining a spraying power for the washing are required. Therefore, the related art penetration type washing machine has been mostly used as a supplementary means for the pulsator type washing machine.
And, though JP S51-13416 discloses a washing machine which makes a penetration washing by rotating an inner tub, the washing machine has the following problems.
First, as the inner tub rotates only in one direction, the washing water penetrates a fixed position of the laundry, to cause a wash difference in which a washed portion and a non-washed portion are happened.
Second, the only use of penetration washing makes a washing efficiency poor. Because, though the penetration type washing machine can prevent damage to, and entangling of the laundry, in general, the washing efficiency is poor compared to the pulsator type washing machine.
Third, since the washing machine fails to provide a guide means for guiding the washing water to an inside surface of the inner tub when the washing water is pumped to an upper portion between the inner tub and the outer tub, and then, circulated into the inner tub, the washing machine has a poor pumping efficiency.
Use of a related art tub cover for the penetration type washing machine causes leakage of spray of the washing water. That is, as shown in
FIG. 2
, since the related art tub cover
11
is merely fastened to the outer tub
2
with screws
14
, the washing water leaks through gaps between the tight fit portion
11
b
of the tub cover
11
and the outer tub, and the fastening portion
11
c
and a top of the outer tub
2
. And, a pumped washing water splashes from an inside of the tub cover to outside of the outer tub
2
, to generate noise as the splash hits a washing water case, and to deteriorate washing and rinsing performances of the washing machine as the splash causes a loss of the washing water. Moreover, the leaked or splashed washing water to outside of the outer tub
102
wets various electric components of the washing machine, that is liable to cause malfunction or disorder of the washing machine.
The above references are incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to solve at least the
Cho Sung Jin
Kang Chang Sik
Kim Ji Maeng
Lyu Jae Cheol
Ryu Hyung Dae
Coe Philip
Fleshner & Kim LLP
LG Electronics Inc.
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