U.S. patent application number 12/662134 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-11 for pulsator unit for washing machine and washing machine having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jae Ryong Park, Sang Yeon Pyo, Dong Pil Seo.
Application Number | 20100281926 12/662134 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42323117 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100281926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Seo; Dong Pil ; et
al. |
November 11, 2010 |
Pulsator unit for washing machine and washing machine having the
same
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a washing machine to generate rotating and
vertical water streams simultaneously. The rotating water stream is
generated by rotation of an outer pulsator, and the vertical water
stream is generated by rotation of an inner pulsator. A rotating
body is installed between the outer pulsator and the inner
pulsator, to convert rotation into vertical movement. An inner wall
of the outer pulsator is formed with a curved surface to come into
close contact with the inner pulsator being moved vertically.
Inventors: |
Seo; Dong Pil; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Park; Jae Ryong; (Hwaseong-si, KR) ;
Pyo; Sang Yeon; (Suwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
42323117 |
Appl. No.: |
12/662134 |
Filed: |
March 31, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/132 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 17/10 20130101;
D06F 13/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/132 |
International
Class: |
D06F 7/00 20060101
D06F007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 6, 2009 |
KR |
2009-0039410 |
Claims
1. A pulsator unit for a washing machine, used to generate wash
water streams, the pulsator unit comprising: an outer pulsator to
perform rotation; a rotating body coupled to the outer pulsator to
perform rotation; and an inner pulsator received in the outer
pulsator, wherein the inner pulsator is coupled to the rotating
body and is moved vertically by rotation of the rotating body.
2. The pulsator unit according to claim 1, wherein: the rotating
body includes an inclined part having an upper inclined surface and
a tilted rotating shaft protruding orthogonally relative to the
inclined surface; and the inner pulsator is coupled to the tilted
rotating shaft so as not to be constrained by rotation of the
tilted rotating shaft, the inner pulsator being moved vertically by
rotation of the tilted rotating shaft and the inclined part.
3. The pulsator unit according to claim 1, wherein an inner wall of
the outer pulsator includes a curved surface shaped to come into
close contact with the inner pulsator corresponding to vertical
movement of the inner pulsator, to prevent laundry from becoming
lodged between the outer pulsator and the inner pulsator.
4. The pulsator unit according to claim 3, wherein a height of the
inner wall of the outer pulsator is at least equal to or greater
than a height of an upper surface apex of the inner pulsator being
moved vertically.
5. The pulsator unit according to claim 3, wherein the curved
surface has a radius of curvature greater than a distance from a
center point of the vertical movement of the inner pulsator to an
outer end of the inner pulsator.
6. The pulsator unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer
pulsator includes a toothed portion to generate a rotating water
stream.
7. The pulsator unit according to claim 1, wherein the outer
pulsator includes an embossed portion to generate a rotating water
stream.
8. The pulsator unit according to claim 2, wherein the rotating
body further includes a coupling part integrally formed at a bottom
of the inclined part, the coupling part being fixedly coupled to
the outer pulsator.
9. The pulsator unit according to claim 1, further comprising a
basket-bowl in which the outer pulsator is received.
10. A washing machine comprising: a housing defining an external
appearance of the washing machine; a rotating tub rotatably
installed in the housing; a first pulsator rotatably installed in a
lower region of the rotating tub; a receiving region defining a
space in the first pulsator; a second pulsator received in the
receiving region and adapted to perform vertical movement; and a
rotating body disposed between the first pulsator and the second
pulsator and adapted to convert rotation of the first pulsator into
vertical movement of the second pulsator.
11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the first
pulsator includes an outer pulsator located farther outward from a
center of the washing machine than the second pulsator, and the
second pulsator includes an inner pulsator located farther inward
from a center of the washing machine than the first pulsator.
12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the rotating
body is fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator, and the inner
pulsator is coupled to the rotating body so as not to be
constrained by rotation of the rotating body.
13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein: the
rotating body includes a coupling part fixedly coupled to the outer
pulsator, an inclined part having an upper inclined surface, the
inclined part being formed at the top of the coupling part, and a
tilted rotating shaft protruding orthogonally relative to the
inclined surface; and the inner pulsator is coupled to the tilted
rotating shaft so as not to be constrained by rotation of the
tilted rotating shaft, the inner pulsator being moved vertically by
rotation of the tilted rotating shaft and inclined part.
14. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein an inner
wall of the outer pulsator includes a curved surface shaped to come
into close contact with the inner pulsator corresponding to the
vertical movement of the inner pulsator, to prevent laundry from
becoming lodged between the outer pulsator and the inner
pulsator.
15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein a height of
the inner wall of the outer pulsator is equal to or greater than a
height of an upper surface apex of the inner pulsator that has
moved vertically.
16. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the curved
surface has a radius of curvature greater than a distance from a
center point of the vertical movement of the inner pulsator to an
outer end of the inner pulsator.
17. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the outer
pulsator includes a toothed portion to generate a rotating water
stream.
18. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the outer
pulsator includes an embossed portion to generate a rotating water
stream.
19. A washing machine comprising: a housing; a rotating tub
rotatably installed in the housing; an elevation pulsator having a
disk shape and being received in the rotating tub; a rotation
pulsator provided around an edge of the disk to surround the
elevation pulsator; and a rotation drive device to rotate the
rotation pulsator.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2009-0039410, filed on May 6, 2009 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing
machine, which may generate rotating and vertical water streams
simultaneously and prevent laundry from becoming lodged
therein.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus to separate
contaminants from laundry by applying, e.g., shock energy to the
laundry. Washing machines are classified, based on washing methods
thereof, into drum type washing machines and pulsator type washing
machines.
[0006] In a drum type washing machine, as a rotating tub is rotated
while level with the ground, laundry placed in the rotating tub is
washed by friction with an inner wall surface of a washtub or
falling shock thereof in the process of being rotated together with
water.
[0007] In a pulsator type washing machine, laundry is washed by a
water stream generated as an upright rotating tub on the ground
surface is rotated and a pulsator provided in the rotating tub is
rotated.
[0008] The pulsator type washing machine includes, e.g., a housing
defining an external appearance of the washing machine, a washtub
fixedly installed in the housing in which water to wash laundry is
stored, a rotating tub rotatably installed in the washtub and
provided at the bottom thereof with a pulsator, and a drive device
to drive the rotating tub and pulsator.
[0009] The washtub is suspended in the housing via suspension
devices, and the drive device, which includes a motor and clutch,
is mounted to the bottom of the washtub. The motor and clutch are
located, respectively, at a lateral position and a center position
of the bottom of the washtub. A shaft of the clutch is fitted
through the centers of the rotating tub and pulsator. With this
arrangement, the clutch functions to deliver power only to the
pulsator during washing and rinsing strokes and to rotate the
pulsator and rotating tub simultaneously during a dehydrating
stroke.
[0010] The rotating tub rotatably disposed in the washtub is a
cylindrical tub having an open upper side. Dehydrating holes are
perforated throughout a wall of the rotating tub, enabling washing
and dehydration of laundry received in the rotating tub.
[0011] The above-described washing machine, however, may cause
serious damage to laundry and entanglement thereof as the pulsator
is rotated forward and in reverse.
[0012] Further, washing laundry using a rotating water stream may
increase the amount of water required to wash laundry.
[0013] Due to the fact that wet laundry is very heavy, furthermore,
rotating the wet laundry for washing may impart considerably large
loads to the motor.
[0014] The pulsator, may also cause laundry to be lodged between an
outer end of the pulsator and a bottom surface of the rotating
tub.
SUMMARY
[0015] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a washing machine, which may generate rotating and vertical
water streams simultaneously.
[0016] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine having an improved configuration to prevent laundry
from becoming lodged therein.
[0017] Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention.
[0018] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
may be achieved by providing a pulsator unit for a washing machine,
used to generate wash water streams, including an outer pulsator to
perform rotation, a rotating body coupled to the outer pulsator to
perform rotation, and an inner pulsator received in the outer
pulsator, the inner pulsator being coupled to the rotating body and
is moved vertically by rotation of the rotating body.
[0019] The rotating body may include an inclined part having an
upper inclined surface and a tilted rotating shaft protruding
orthogonally relative to the inclined surface, and the inner
pulsator may be coupled to the tilted rotating shaft so as not to
be constrained by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft, the inner
pulsator being moved vertically by rotation of the tilted rotating
shaft and inclined part.
[0020] An inner wall of the outer pulsator may include a curved
surface shaped to come into close contact with the inner pulsator
corresponding to vertical movement of the inner pulsator, to
prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the outer pulsator and
the inner pulsator.
[0021] A height of the inner wall of the outer pulsator may be at
least equal to or greater than a height of an upper surface apex of
the inner pulsator being moved vertically.
[0022] The curved surface may have a radius of curvature greater
than a distance from a center point of the vertical movement of the
inner pulsator to an outer end of the inner pulsator.
[0023] The outer pulsator may include a toothed portion to generate
a rotating water stream.
[0024] The outer pulsator may include an embossed portion to
generate a rotating water stream.
[0025] The rotating body may further include a coupling part
integrally formed at the bottom of the inclined part, the coupling
part being fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator.
[0026] The pulsator unit may further include a basket-bowl in which
the outer pulsator is received.
[0027] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
may also be achieved by providing a washing machine including a
housing defining an external appearance of the washing machine, a
rotating tub rotatably installed in the housing, a first pulsator
rotatably installed in a lower region of the rotating tub, a
receiving region defining a space in the first pulsator, a second
pulsator received in the receiving region and adapted to perform
vertical movement, and a rotating body disposed between the first
pulsator and the second pulsator and adapted to convert rotation of
the first pulsator into vertical movement of the second pulsator.
The rotating body may be fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator, and
the inner pulsator may be coupled to the rotating body so as not to
be constrained by rotation of the rotating body.
[0028] The rotating body may include a coupling part fixedly
coupled to the outer pulsator, an inclined part having an upper
inclined surface, the inclined part being formed at the top of the
coupling part, and a tilted rotating shaft protruding orthogonally
relative to the inclined surface, and the inner pulsator may be
coupled to the tilted rotating shaft so as not to be constrained by
rotation of the tilted rotating shaft, the inner pulsator being
moved vertically by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft and the
inclined part.
[0029] An inner wall of the outer pulsator may include a curved
surface shaped to come into close contact with the inner pulsator
corresponding to the vertical movement of the inner pulsator, to
prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the outer pulsator and
the inner pulsator.
[0030] A height of the inner wall of the outer pulsator may be at
least equal to or greater than a height of an upper surface apex of
the inner pulsator being moved vertically.
[0031] The curved surface may have a radius of curvature greater
than a distance from a center point of the vertical movement of the
inner pulsator to an outer end of the inner pulsator.
[0032] The outer pulsator may include a toothed portion to generate
a rotating water stream.
[0033] The outer pulsator may include an embossed portion to
generate a rotating water stream.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] These and/or other aspects of the invention will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a
configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an outer
pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator shown in FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 3A is a side view of the outer pulsator in FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 3B is a side view of the rotating body in FIG. 2;
[0039] FIG. 3C is a side view of the inner pulsator in FIG. 2;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a coupled state of
the outer pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator;
[0041] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an outer
pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 6A is a side view of the outer pulsator in FIG. 5;
[0043] FIG. 6B is a side view of the rotating body in FIG. 5;
[0044] FIG. 6C is a side view of the inner pulsator in FIG. 5;
and
[0045] FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a coupled state of
the outer pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator of the
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0046] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout.
[0047] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a
configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment of
the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view
illustrating an outer pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator
shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a side view of the outer pulsator in
FIG. 2, FIG. 3B is a side view of the rotating body in FIG. 2, FIG.
3C is a side view of the inner pulsator in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a
sectional view illustrating a coupled state of the outer pulsator,
rotating body, and inner pulsator.
[0048] The washing machine 1 according to the embodiment of the
present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a housing 10
defining an external appearance of the washing machine, a washtub
20 in which wash water is stored, the washtub 20 being suspended in
the housing 10, a rotating tub 30 rotatably disposed in the washtub
20 and having a pulsator unit 100 mounted therein to generate wash
water streams, and a drive device 40 to drive the rotating tub 30
and pulsator unit 100.
[0049] The housing 10 takes the form of a rectangular box having an
open, upper side, and an upper cover 11 having a lid 12 is coupled
to the open upper side. The upper cover 11 is provided for
entrance/exit of laundry. A control panel (not shown) is located at
a front region of the upper cover 11 and includes a display and
operating buttons. Arranged in a rear region of the upper cover 11
are a water supply pipe 14 connected to a water tap (not shown), a
water supply valve 15 to control the supply of water through the
water supply pipe 14, and a detergent input device 16 in which
detergent is temporarily stored.
[0050] The washtub 20 is suspended in the housing 10 via suspension
devices 21. The drive device 40 is mounted to the bottom of the
washtub 20. The drive device 40 includes a motor 41 and a clutch
42. To deliver power generated from the motor 41 to the clutch 42,
the motor 41 and clutch 42 are connected to each other by a belt
43. The clutch 42 is located at the center of the bottom of the
washtub 20 and is adapted to deliver power to the rotating tub 30
and/or the pulsator unit 100 as necessary. A rotating shaft 44 of
the clutch 42 is coupled with both the rotating tub 30 and pulsator
unit 100. With this arrangement, the clutch 42 functions to deliver
power only to the pulsator unit 100 during washing and rinsing
strokes and to rotate the pulsator unit 100 and rotating tub 30
simultaneously in a given direction during a dehydrating stroke. A
drain hose 50 having a drain valve 51 is located below the washtub
20 and is used to discharge wash water out of the housing 10.
[0051] The rotating tub 30 includes a cylindrical rotating drum 35
perforated with a plurality of dehydrating holes 31, and a
basket-bowl 37 coupled to a lower end of the rotating drum 35. The
pulsator unit 100 is received in the basket-bowl 37. The rotating
tub 30 is spaced apart from an inner wall surface of the washtub 20
by a constant distance.
[0052] Now, the pulsator unit 100 will be described in detail with
reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0053] The pulsator unit 100 includes an outer pulsator 160 coupled
to the drive device 40 and rotated thereby, an inner pulsator 120
received in the outer pulsator 160, and a rotating body 140
interposed between the outer pulsator 160 and the inner pulsator
120.
[0054] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, the outer pulsator 160 includes
an inner wall 170, a toothed portion 180 formed at the exterior
thereof on the boundary of the inner wall 170, and a cylindrical
receiving region 165 defined as a space inside the inner wall 170,
in which the inner pulsator 120 may be received. A coupler 190 to
couple the rotating body 140 is mounted at the center of the
receiving region 165.
[0055] The inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator 160 serves as a
boundary between the outer pulsator 160 and the inner pulsator 120
received in the outer pulsator 160. The inner wall 170 is shaped to
have a curved surface 175 corresponding to vertical movement of the
inner pulsator 120. As compared to an apex X1 of an upper surface
of the inner pulsator 120 being moved vertically, a height H1 of
the inner wall 170 is at least equal to or higher than the apex X1.
This configuration of the inner wall 170 is designed to
substantially prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the
inner pulsator 120 and the outer pulsator 160. This will be
described in more detail hereinafter.
[0056] The toothed portion 180 formed at the exterior of the outer
pulsator 160 functions to facilitate generation of a rotating water
stream. The toothed portion 180 surrounds an outer periphery of the
inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator 160 and has a constant
thickness. The toothed portion is shaped as an upwardly and
downwardly flowing curve.
[0057] The above-described toothed portion 180 easily generates a
rotating water stream based on the toothlike shape thereof when the
outer pulsator 160 is rotated.
[0058] The coupler 190 of the outer pulsator 160 has coupling holes
192 and fastening holes 199 coupling the rotating body 140. The
coupling holes 192 have a shape corresponding to projections 144 of
the rotating body 140, allowing the projections 144 to be fitted
thereto respectively. The fastening holes 199 are shaped to allow
bolts 149 having passed through bolt holes 141 of the rotating body
140 to be fastened therethrough. In this way, the rotating body 140
is fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator 160.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, the rotating body 140 includes a
coupling part 143 fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator 160, an
inclined part 145 integrally formed with the coupling part 143 and
having an upper inclined surface 146, and a tilted rotating shaft
147 protruding orthogonally relative to the inclined surface
146.
[0060] The coupling part 143 is fixedly coupled to the outer
pulsator 160 and thus, is rotated together with the outer pulsator
160. The inclined part 145 extends upward from the coupling part
143, a tip end of which is formed with the inclined surface 146.
The inclined surface 146 serves to support a lower surface of the
inner pulsator 120 and to guide vertical movement of the inner
pulsator 120 as the inclined surface 146 is rotated. The tilted
rotating shaft 147 protrudes orthogonally relative to the inclined
surface 146 and is fitted into a hollow 125 of the inner pulsator
120. Although the inner pulsator 120 is fitted on the tilted
rotating shaft 147, the inner pulsator 120 is not constrained by
rotation of the tilted rotating shaft 147. That is, even if the
tilted rotating shaft 147 is rotated, it does not induce rotation
of the inner pulsator 120 and causes only idling of the inner
pulsator 120. Thus, the inner pulsator 120 is only vertically moved
based on rotation of the inclined surface 146, without rotation
thereof.
[0061] In this way, the rotating body 140 serves as a converter to
convert rotation of the outer pulsator 160 into vertical movement
of the inner pulsator 120.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3C, the inner pulsator 120 is
vertically movably coupled to an upper portion of the rotating body
140 and centrally defines the hollow 125 therein. A plurality of
wash water holes 128 is perforated in the inner pulsator 120 to
allow wash water to pass through the inner pulsator 120. The wash
water holes 128 are spread throughout an upper surface of the inner
pulsator 120. The upper surface of the inner pulsator 120 is also
repeatedly formed with ripples 123 to facilitate generation of a
vertical water stream when the inner pulsator 120 is vertically
moved.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 4 illustrating the coupled state of the
outer pulsator 160, rotating body 140 and inner pulsator 120 in
cross section, the inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator 160 has the
curved surface 175 of a constant radius of curvature R1. This
configuration is chosen in consideration of vertical movement of
the inner pulsator 120 and allows the inner wall 170 of the outer
pulsator 160 to come into close contact with an outer end of the
inner pulsator 120.
[0064] Specifically, the inner pulsator 120 is vertically moved as
the inclined surface 146 of the rotating body 140 is rotated. The
vertical movement draws an arc path on the basis of a center point
01 of the inner pulsator 120 and, a radius of the arc path is a
distance from the center point 01 to the outer end of the inner
pulsator 120. As a result of providing the inner wall 170 of the
outer pulsator 160 with the curved surface 175 corresponding to the
arc path of the inner pulsator 120, the inner pulsator 120 is
allowed to come into close contact with the inner wall 170 of the
outer pulsator 160, substantially preventing laundry from becoming
lodged.
[0065] It is noted that the vertical movement of the inner pulsator
120 may require a certain clearance between the inner pulsator 120
and the inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator 160. For this reason,
there is provided a tolerance of about 0.5 mm (not shown) between
the curved surface 175 of the inner wall 170 and the outer end of
the inner pulsator 120. With the presence of the tolerance, the
radius of curvature R1 of the inner wall 170 may be slightly
greater than the distance from the center point 01 of the vertical
movement to the outer end of the inner pulsator 120.
[0066] The height H1 of the inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator
160 is equal to or greater than a height H2 of the apex X1 of the
upper surface of the inner pulsator 120 being moved vertically.
This serves to prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the
inner pulsator 120 and the outer pulsator 160 during the vertical
movement of the inner pulsator 120.
[0067] Hereinafter, an operation of the washing machine 1 according
to the embodiment of the present will be described.
[0068] If a user inputs a command using the operating buttons of
the control panel after laundry is put into the washing machine 1
through the opened upper cover 11, the motor 41 is rotated, causing
the rotating shaft 44 to be rotated by rotation power transmitted
from the motor 41.
[0069] The outer pulsator 160 coupled to the rotating shaft 44 is
rotated and simultaneously, the rotating body 140 fixedly coupled
to the outer pulsator 160 is rotated together with the outer
pulsator 160. In this case, the inner pulsator 120 is vertically
moved based on rotation of the inclined surface 146 of the rotating
body 140 rather than being constrained by rotation of the tilted
rotating shaft 147 of the rotating body 140. In this way, the outer
pulsator 160 acts to generate a rotating water stream by rotation
thereof, and the inner pulsator 120 acts to generate a vertical
water stream by vertical movement thereof.
[0070] Accordingly, the rotating and vertical water streams may be
realized via the simple configuration as described above. Once the
rotating and vertical water streams are generated, laundry may be
washed even using a small amount of wash water, and this may
achieve significant reduction in load to be applied to the motor
41.
[0071] Moreover, since the inner pulsator 120 comes into close
contact with the inner wall 170 of the outer pulsator 160 due to
the radius of curvature R1 of the curved surface 175, there is less
possibility of laundry becoming lodged between the inner pulsator
120 and the outer pulsator 160 during washing even if laundry in
the rotating tub 30 undergoes serious fluctuation.
[0072] The possibility of laundry becoming lodged between the inner
pulsator 120 and the outer pulsator 160 due to the water streams is
further lowered because the height H1 of the inner wall 170 of the
outer pulsator 160 is equal to or greater than the height H2 of the
apex X1 of the upper surface of the inner pulsator 120.
[0073] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A
description of the same parts as those of the previously described
embodiment will be omitted and the following description is based
on differences therebetween.
[0074] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an outer
pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator according to another
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6A is a side view of the
outer pulsator in FIG. 5, FIG. 6B is a side view of the rotating
body in FIG. 5, FIG. 6C is a side view of the inner pulsator in
FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a coupled state
of the outer pulsator, rotating body, and inner pulsator.
[0075] Most configurations of the washing machine according to the
present embodiment are identical to those of the washing machine 1
shown in FIG. 1, with the exception that a pulsator unit 200
slightly differs from the pulsator unit 100 of the previously
described embodiment.
[0076] The pulsator unit 200 includes an outer pulsator 260 coupled
to the drive device 40 and rotated thereby, an inner pulsator 220
received in the outer pulsator 260, and a rotating body 240
interposed between the outer pulsator 260 and the inner pulsator
220.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6A, similar to the outer pulsator
160 of the previously described embodiment, the outer pulsator 260
includes an inner wall 270, embossed portions 280 repeatedly formed
at the exterior thereof on the boundary of the inner wall 270, and
a cylindrical receiving region 265 defined as a space inside the
inner wall 270 in which the inner pulsator 220 may be received. A
coupler 290 coupling the rotating body 240 is mounted at the center
of the receiving region 265.
[0078] The inner wall 270 of the outer pulsator 260 is externally
formed with the embossed portions 280 instead of the toothed
portion 180. Similar to the toothed portion 180, the embossed
portions 280 function to facilitate generation of a rotating water
stream during rotation of the outer pulsator 260. That is, the
embossed portions 280 are obtained by modifying the toothed portion
180 into another shape suitable to facilitate generation of a
rotating water stream.
[0079] Although the shapes of coupling holes 292 and fastening
holes 299 of the coupler 290 differ slightly from those of the
previously described embodiment, they serve the same purpose, and
other parts of the outer pulsator 260 according to the present
embodiment are identical to those of the outer pulsator 160 of the
previously described embodiment.
[0080] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B, similar to the rotating body 140
of the previously described embodiment, the rotating body 240
includes a coupling part 243 fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator
260, an inclined part 245 integrally formed with the coupling part
243 and having an upper inclined surface 246, and a tilted rotating
shaft 247 protruding orthogonally relative to the inclined surface
246.
[0081] Although detailed shapes of the coupling part 243 and
inclined part 245 slightly differ from the previously described
embodiment, they serve the same purpose, and other parts of the
rotating body 240 according to the present embodiment are identical
to those of the rotating body 14 of the previously described
embodiment.
[0082] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6C, similar to the inner pulsator
120 of the previously described embodiment, the inner pulsator 220
is vertically movably coupled to an upper portion of the rotating
body 240 and centrally defines a hollow 225 therein. A plurality of
wash water holes 228 is perforated in the inner pulsator 220 to
allow wash water to pass through the inner pulsator 220. The wash
water holes 228 are spread throughout an upper surface of the inner
pulsator 220. Unlike the previously described embodiment, the upper
surface of the inner pulsator 220 is flat and raised water stream
generators 223 are arranged on the upper surface of the inner
pulsator 220 at constant intervals. The water stream generators 223
correspond to the ripples 123 on the upper surface of the inner
pulsator 120 according to the previously described embodiment and
thus, function to facilitate generation of a vertical water stream
during vertical movement of the inner pulsator 220.
[0083] Other parts of the inner pulsator 220 according to the
present embodiment are identical to those of the inner pulsator 120
of the previously described embodiment.
[0084] An operation of the washing machine according to the present
embodiment is identical to the operation of the washing machine 1
according to the previously described embodiment.
[0085] Likewise, the outer pulsator 260 acts to generate a rotating
water stream by rotation thereof, and the inner pulsator 220 acts
to generate a vertical water stream by vertical movement
thereof.
[0086] Also, likewise, since the inner pulsator 220 comes into
close contact with the inner wall 270 of the outer pulsator 260 due
to a radius of curvature R2 of a curved surface 275 of the inner
wall 270, there is less possibility of laundry becoming lodged
between the inner pulsator 220 and the outer pulsator 260 during
washing even if laundry in the rotating tub 30 undergoes serious
fluctuation. The possibility of laundry becoming lodged between the
inner pulsator 220 and the outer pulsator 260 due to the water
streams is further lowered because a height H3 of the inner wall
270 of the outer pulsator 260 is equal to or greater than a height
H4 of an apex X2 of the upper surface of the inner pulsator 220.
Reference numeral O2 refers to the center point of the inner
pulsator 220.
[0087] In the above-described embodiments, the shapes of the
toothed portion 180 and embossed portions 280 formed at the
exteriors of the inner walls 170 and 270 of the outer pulsators 160
and 260 may be changed in various ways as long as they assure easy
generation of a rotating water stream.
[0088] Further, in the above-described embodiments, the ripples 123
or the water stream generators 223 formed on the upper surfaces of
the inner pulsators 120 and 220 may be changed in various ways as
long as they assure easy generation of a vertical water stream.
[0089] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, although a
rotating pulsator refers to the outer pulsator that is located
farther outward than the other pulsator, and a vertically moving
pulsator refers to the inner pulsator that is located farther
inward than the other pulsator, the roles of the inner and outer
pulsators may be reversed within the range of other possible
modifications by those skilled in the art.
[0090] As is apparent from the above description, a washing machine
according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an
outer pulsator to be rotated and an inner pulsator to be vertically
moved. With this configuration, it may be possible to generate
rotating and vertical water streams simultaneously.
[0091] The rotating and vertical water streams, moreover, may be
realized via the simplified configuration.
[0092] Further, as a result of providing an inner wall of the outer
pulsator with a curved surface and a higher height, it may be
possible to prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the outer
pulsator and the inner pulsator.
[0093] Furthermore, the vertical water stream may reduce the amount
of water required to wash laundry and also, may reduce load to be
applied to a motor.
[0094] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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