U.S. patent application number 13/009870 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for washing machine and drain pump thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Hyun JANG.
Application Number | 20110214456 13/009870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44170244 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110214456 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JANG; Jae Hyun |
September 8, 2011 |
WASHING MACHINE AND DRAIN PUMP THEREOF
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a drain pump of a washing machine to reduce
generation of noise. The drain pump includes a pump case in which a
wash water inlet chamber and a drain pump chamber are defined, a
wash water inlet port formed at the pump case, to allow wash water
to be introduced into the wash water inlet chamber, a wash water
outlet port formed at the pump case, to allow the wash water to be
discharged from the drain pump chamber, a wash water suction port
arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump
chamber, and an air discharge path arranged at a distance from the
wash water suction port between the wash water inlet chamber and
the drain pump chamber to allow air inside the wash water inlet
chamber to be discharged through the wash water outlet port.
Inventors: |
JANG; Jae Hyun;
(Seongnam-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
44170244 |
Appl. No.: |
13/009870 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/12.19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/085 20130101;
D06F 39/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/12.19 |
International
Class: |
D06F 33/00 20060101
D06F033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 3, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0019003 |
Claims
1. A drain pump of a washing machine, comprising: a pump case in
which a wash water inlet chamber and a drain pump chamber are
defined; a wash water inlet port formed at the pump case, to allow
wash water to be introduced into the wash water inlet chamber; a
wash water outlet port formed at the pump case, to allow the wash
water to be discharged from the drain pump chamber; a wash water
suction port arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the
drain pump chamber; and an air discharge path arranged at a
predetermined distance from the wash water suction port between the
wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber, to allow air
inside the wash water inlet chamber to be discharged through the
wash water outlet port.
2. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein a partition is
arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump
chamber, and the wash water suction port and the air discharge path
are formed at the partition.
3. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein the air discharge
path is located higher than the wash water suction port.
4. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein the air discharge
path has an exit communicating with the drain pump chamber, the
exit being located at a radial outward position of an impeller
placed in the drain pump chamber.
5. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein a cross sectional
area of the air discharge path is smaller than a cross sectional
area of the wash water suction port.
6. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein the wash water
inlet port is located higher than the wash water suction port.
7. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein an upper inner wall
surface of the wash water inlet port is connected to an upper inner
wall surface of the wash water inlet chamber without a stepped
portion.
8. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein the wash water
outlet port is located close to the air discharge path, to allow
the air introduced into the drain pump chamber to be directly
discharged through the wash water outlet port, rather than staying
in the drain pump chamber.
9. The drain pump according to claim 1, wherein a cross sectional
area of the wash water outlet port is smaller than a cross
sectional area of the wash water suction port.
10. The drain pump according to claim 2, wherein the wash water
suction port protrudes from the partition into the wash water inlet
chamber.
11. A washing machine, comprising: a body; a tub placed in the
body, in which wash water is stored; a first drain pipe connected
to the tub to allow the wash water to be discharged from the tub; a
second drain pipe to guide the wash water discharged from the tub
to the outside of the body; a pump case having a wash water inlet
port connected to the first drain pipe and a wash water outlet port
connected to the second drain pipe; a wash water inlet chamber
defined in the pump case, into which the wash water is introduced
through the wash water inlet port; a drain pump chamber defined in
the pump case, in which an impeller is placed to discharge the wash
water through the wash water discharge port; a partition arranged
between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber; a
wash water suction port formed at the partition to allow the wash
water of the wash water inlet chamber to be introduced into the
drain pump chamber by suction force of the impeller, the wash water
suction port protruding into the wash water inlet chamber; and an
air discharge path formed at the partition to allow the air of the
wash water inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain pump
chamber and subsequently, be discharged through the wash water
outlet port, the air discharge path being located around the wash
water suction port.
12. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the air
discharge path is located higher than the wash water suction
port.
13. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the air
discharge path has an exit communicating with the drain pump
chamber, the exit being located at a radial outward position of the
impeller.
14. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein a cross
sectional area of the air discharge path is smaller than a cross
sectional area of the wash water suction port.
15. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the wash
water inlet port is located higher than the wash water suction
port.
16. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein an upper
inner wall surface of the wash water inlet port is connected to an
upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet chamber in a
tangential direction.
17. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein the wash
water outlet port is located close to the air discharge path, to
prevent the air introduced into the drain pump chamber from staying
in the drain pump chamber.
18. The washing machine according to claim 11, wherein a cross
sectional area of the wash water outlet port is smaller than a
cross sectional area of the wash water suction port.
19. A drain pump of a washing machine, comprising: a pump case in
which a wash water inlet chamber and a drain pump chamber are
defined; a wash water suction port arranged between the wash water
inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber; a wash water outlet port
formed at the pump case to allow wash water to be discharged from
the drain pump chamber; and a wash water inlet port formed at the
pump case to allow the wash water to be introduced into the wash
water inlet chamber, the center of the wash water inlet port being
located higher than the center of the pump case.
20. The drain pump according to claim 19, wherein an upper inner
wall surface of the wash water inlet port is connected to an upper
inner wall surface of the wash water inlet chamber without a
stepped portion.
21. The drain pump according to claim 19, further comprising a
partition arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the
drain pump chamber, wherein the wash water suction port is formed
at the partition to allow the wash water of the wash water inlet
chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber by suction
force of an impeller, and wherein the drain pump further comprises
an air discharge path formed at the partition to allow air of the
wash water inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain pump
chamber and subsequently, be discharged through the wash water
outlet port, the air discharge path being located around the wash
water suction port.
22. The drain pump according to claim 21, wherein the wash water
suction port protrudes from the partition into the wash water inlet
chamber.
23. A washing machine, comprising: a body; a tub placed in the
body, in which wash water is stored; a first drain pipe connected
to the tub to allow the wash water to be discharged from the tub; a
second drain pipe to guide the wash water discharged from the tub
to the outside of the body; a pump case in which a wash water inlet
chamber and a drain pump chamber are defined; a wash water suction
port arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain
pump chamber; a wash water outlet port formed at the pump case to
connect the drain pump chamber and the second drain pipe to each
other; and a wash water inlet port formed at the pump case to
connect the first drain pipe and the wash water inlet chamber to
each other, the center of the wash water inlet port being located
higher than the center of the pump case.
24. The washing machine according to claim 23, wherein an upper
inner wall surface of the wash water inlet port is connected to an
upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet chamber in a
tangential direction.
25. The washing machine according to claim 23, further comprising:
a partition arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the
drain pump chamber, wherein the wash water suction port is formed
at the partition to allow the wash water of the wash water inlet
chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber by suction
force of an impeller, and wherein the washing machine further
comprises an air discharge path formed at the partition to allow
air of the wash water inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain
pump chamber and subsequently, be discharged through the wash water
outlet port, the air discharge path being located around the wash
water suction port.
26. A washing machine, comprising: a pump case in which a wash
water inlet chamber and a drain pump chamber are defined: a wash
water suction port arranged between the wash water inlet chamber
and the drain pump chamber; a wash water inlet port formed at the
pump case to receiving wash water; and a wash water outlet port
formed at the pump case to output the wash water to the washing
machine; an air discharge path formed between the wash water inlet
chamber and the wash water outlet port to allow air of the wash
water inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber
and subsequently, be discharged through the wash water outlet port,
the air discharge path being located near the wash water suction
port, wherein the wash water suction port protrudes to the wash
water inlet chamber.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2010-0019003, filed on Mar. 3, 2010 in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to a washing machine having a drain pump
to reduce noise.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a washing machine is an apparatus that washes
laundry using frictional force between the laundry and wash water.
One of various kinds of washing machines is a drum washing machine.
Hereinafter, a drum washing machine will be described by way of
example.
[0006] A conventional drum washing machine includes a tub in which
wash water is stored, a rotating tub rotatably mounted in the tub,
a drive device to rotate the rotating tub, a water supply device to
supply wash water into the tub, and a drain pump to forcibly
discharge the wash water from the tub.
[0007] The drain pump generally includes a pump case in which a
filter chamber and a drain pump chamber are defined, and a pump
motor coupled to the pump case. The filter chamber contains a
filter to capture impurities contained in wash water, and the drain
pump chamber contains an impeller to be rotated by the pump
motor.
[0008] If the impeller is rotated by the pump motor, the interior
wash water of the tub is introduced into the filter chamber, and
then, after passing through the filter placed in the filter
chamber, is suctioned into the drain pump chamber. Thereafter, the
wash water is forcibly discharged from the drain pump chamber to
the outside of the drain pump via rotation of the impeller.
[0009] During the above described pumping of wash water, air mixed
in the wash water may be introduced into the drain pump. If the air
is introduced into the drain pump, the air may deteriorate the
performance of the impeller placed in the drain pump chamber,
causing drain malfunction or abnormal noise generation.
SUMMARY
[0010] Therefore, it is an aspect to provide a drain pump to
discharge air introduced therein to reduce noise, and a washing
machine having the same.
[0011] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect, a drain pump of a washing
machine includes a pump case in which a wash water inlet chamber
and a drain pump chamber are defined, a wash water inlet port
formed at the pump case, to allow wash water to be introduced into
the wash water inlet chamber, a wash water outlet port formed at
the pump case, to allow the wash water to be discharged from the
drain pump chamber, a wash water suction port arranged between the
wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber, and an air
discharge path arranged at a distance from the wash water suction
port between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump
chamber, to allow air inside the wash water inlet chamber to be
discharged through the wash water outlet port.
[0013] A partition may be arranged between the wash water inlet
chamber and the drain pump chamber, and the wash water suction port
and the air discharge path may be formed at the partition.
[0014] The air discharge path may be located higher than the wash
water suction port.
[0015] The air discharge path may have an exit communicating with
the drain pump chamber, the exit being located at a radial outward
position of an impeller placed in the drain pump chamber.
[0016] A cross sectional area of the air discharge path may be
smaller than a cross sectional area of the wash water suction
port.
[0017] The wash water inlet port may be located higher than the
wash water suction port.
[0018] An upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet port may
be connected to an upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet
chamber without a stepped portion.
[0019] The wash water outlet port may be located close to the air
discharge path, to allow the air introduced into the drain pump
chamber to be directly discharged through the wash water outlet
port, rather than staying in the drain pump chamber.
[0020] A cross sectional area of the wash water outlet port may be
smaller than a cross sectional area of the wash water suction
port.
[0021] The wash water suction port may protrude from the partition
into the wash water inlet chamber.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine
includes a body, a tub placed in the body, in which wash water is
stored, a first drain pipe connected to the tub to allow the wash
water to be discharged from the tub, a second drain pipe to guide
the wash water discharged from the tub to the outside of the body,
a pump case having a wash water inlet port connected to the first
drain pipe and a wash water outlet port connected to the second
drain pipe, a wash water inlet chamber defined in the pump case,
into which the wash water is introduced through the wash water
inlet port, a drain pump chamber defined in the pump case, in which
an impeller is placed to discharge the wash water through the wash
water discharge port, a partition arranged between the wash water
inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber, a wash water suction port
formed at the partition to allow the wash water of the wash water
inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber by
suction force of the impeller, the wash water suction port
protruding into the wash water inlet chamber, and an air discharge
path formed at the partition to allow the air of the wash water
inlet chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber and
subsequently, be discharged through the wash water outlet port, the
air discharge path being located around the wash water suction
port.
[0023] The air discharge path may be located higher than the wash
water suction port.
[0024] The air discharge path may have an exit communicating with
the drain pump chamber, the exit being located at a radial outward
position of the impeller.
[0025] An upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet port may
be connected to an upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet
chamber in a tangential direction.
[0026] The wash water outlet port may be located close to the air
discharge path, to prevent the air introduced into the drain pump
chamber from staying in the drain pump chamber.
[0027] In accordance with another aspect, a drain pump of a washing
machine includes a pump case in which a wash water inlet chamber
and a drain pump chamber are defined, a wash water suction port
arranged between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump
chamber, a wash water outlet port formed at the pump case to allow
wash water to be discharged from the drain pump chamber, and a wash
water inlet port formed at the pump case to allow the wash water to
be introduced into the wash water inlet chamber, the center of the
wash water inlet port being located higher than the center of the
pump case.
[0028] The drain pump may further include a partition arranged
between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber,
the wash water suction port may be formed at the partition to allow
the wash water of the wash water inlet chamber to be introduced
into the drain pump chamber by suction force of an impeller, and
the drain pump may further include an air discharge path formed at
the partition to allow air of the wash water inlet chamber to be
introduced into the drain pump chamber and subsequently, be
discharged through the wash water outlet port, the air discharge
path being located around the wash water suction port.
[0029] In accordance with a further aspect, a washing machine
includes a body, a tub placed in the body, in which wash water is
stored, a first drain pipe connected to the tub to allow the wash
water to be discharged from the tub, a second drain pipe to guide
the wash water discharged from the tub to the outside of the body,
a pump case in which a wash water inlet chamber and a drain pump
chamber are defined, a wash water suction port arranged between the
wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber, a wash water
outlet port formed at the pump case to connect the drain pump
chamber and the second drain pipe to each other, and a wash water
inlet port formed at the pump case to connect the first drain pipe
and the wash water inlet chamber to each other, the center of the
wash water inlet port being located higher than the center of the
pump case.
[0030] The washing machine may further include a partition arranged
between the wash water inlet chamber and the drain pump chamber,
the wash water suction port may be formed at the partition to allow
the wash water of the wash water inlet chamber to be introduced
into the drain pump chamber by suction force of an impeller, and
the washing machine may further include an air discharge path
formed at the partition to allow air of the wash water inlet
chamber to be introduced into the drain pump chamber and
subsequently, be discharged through the wash water outlet port, the
air discharge path being located around the wash water suction
port.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] These and/or other aspects of the embodiments will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a general
configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment;
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a drain pump
according to the embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the drain pump taken along the
line I-I of FIG. 2;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the drain pump taken along the
line II-II of FIG. 2;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the drain pump taken along the
line III-III of FIG. 2; and
[0037] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating operation of the drain pump
provided in the washing machine according to the embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to an embodiment,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0039] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a general
configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the washing machine according to
the embodiment includes a body 10 defining an external appearance
of the washing machine, a tub 11 mounted in the body 10, in which
wash water is stored during a washing operation, and a rotating tub
12 rotatably mounted in the tub 11.
[0041] The body 10 has an input opening 13 perforated in a front
wall thereof to allow a user to put laundry into the rotating tub
12. A door 14 is provided to open or close the input opening
13.
[0042] A water supply device 20 and a detergent supply device 30
are mounted in an upper region of the body 10 to supply wash water
and detergent into the tub 11. The water supply device 20 includes
water supply valves 21 to control the supply of wash water, water
supply pipes 22 connecting the water supply valves 21 to the
detergent supply device 30, and a connecting pipe 23 to guide the
wash water, having passed through the detergent supply device 30,
into the tub 11.
[0043] The tub 11 is externally provided with a drive motor 41,
which rotates the rotating tub 12 forwardly or reversely. A drive
shaft 42 is mounted between the rotating tub 12 and the drive motor
41 to transmit rotation force of the drive motor 41 to the rotating
tub 12. In addition, a bearing housing 43 is mounted to a rear wall
of the tub 11 to rotatably support the drive shaft 42, and a
bearing 44 is interposed between the bearing housing 43 and the
drive shaft 42.
[0044] A drain pump 100 is mounted on an inner bottom surface of
the body 10 to pump the wash water stored in the tub 11. The drain
pump 100 is connected to the tub 11 via a first drain pipe 50. In
the embodiment, the drain pump 100 serves to pump the wash water
drained through the first drain pipe 50 to forcibly discharge the
wash water to the outside of the body 10.
[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the drain pump
according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the
drain pump taken along the line I-I of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a
sectional view of the drain pump taken along the line II-II of FIG.
2, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the drain pump taken along the
line of FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, a pump filter mounted in a wash water
inlet chamber is not illustrated.
[0046] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the drain pump 100 includes
a pump case 101 in which a wash water inlet chamber 110 and a drain
pump chamber 120 are defined, and a pump filter 102 mounted in the
wash water inlet chamber 110.
[0047] The pump case 101 has a cylindrical shape and is provided
with a bracket 103 to couple the pump case 101 to the body 10. Both
ends of the cylindrical pump case 101 are open. The pump filter 102
and an impeller 121 that will be described hereinafter are coupled
respectively to both the open ends of the cylindrical pump case
101. The cylindrical pump case 101 is coupled to the body 10 such
that a peripheral portion of the cylindrical pump case 101 faces
the bottom surface of the body 10.
[0048] The wash water inlet chamber 110 is defined in the pump case
101. During operation of the drain pump 100, the wash water stored
in the tub 11 is introduced into the wash water inlet chamber 110
through the first drain pipe 50.
[0049] The drain pump 100 further includes a wash water inlet port
130 provided at a lateral position of a peripheral surface of the
pump case 101. The wash water inlet port 130 internally
communicates with the wash water inlet chamber 110 and is
externally connected to the first drain pipe 50. The wash water
having passed through the first drain pipe 50 is introduced into
the wash water inlet chamber 110 through the wash water inlet port
130. The wash water inlet port 130 may have a circular shape, and
may protrude outward from the pump case 101 for connection with the
first drain pipe 50. In this case, the wash water inlet port 130
may protrude parallel to the bottom surface of the body 10.
[0050] In this case, the center of the wash water inlet port 130 is
located higher than the center of the pump case 101. This serves to
minimize the amount of air to be suctioned into the drain pump
chamber 120 along with the wash water. The air moves upward of the
wash water within the wash water inlet chamber 110 because the air
is lighter than the wash water and during this movement, may be
suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120. However, highly
positioning the wash water inlet port 130 may reduce the above
described movement path, thereby minimizing the amount of air to be
suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120 and preventing generation
of noise due to movement of the wash water.
[0051] An upper inner wall surface of the wash water inlet port 130
may be connected in a tangential direction to an upper inner wall
surface of the wash water inlet chamber 110 without a stepped
portion. That is, this tangential arrangement of the wash water
inlet port 130 and the wash water inlet chamber 110 may be
effective in collecting the air in an upper region of the wash
water inlet chamber 110 and reducing generation of noise due to
movement of the wash water.
[0052] The wash water inlet port 130 is located higher than a wash
water suction port 150 that will be described hereinafter. The air
introduced along with the wash water is located above the wash
water and therefore, positioning the wash water inlet port 130
higher than the wash water suction port 150 may minimize the amount
of air to be introduced, along with the wash water, into the drain
pump chamber 120 through the wash water suction port 150.
[0053] The drain pump chamber 120 is adapted to suction the wash
water introduced into the wash water inlet chamber 110 and
discharge the wash water to the outside of the body 10. The wash
water inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump chamber 120 may be
neighbor to each other in a longitudinal direction within the
cylindrical pump case 101.
[0054] The impeller 121 is mounted in the drain pump chamber 120
and serves to forcibly suction the wash water from the wash water
inlet chamber 110 and discharge the wash water from the drain pump
chamber 120. A pumping motor 122 is connected to the impeller 121.
As the impeller 121 is rotated by the pumping motor 122, The
impeller 121 suctions the interior wash water of the wash water
inlet chamber 110 in a lateral direction and discharges the wash
water in a radial direction.
[0055] The drain pump 100 further includes a wash water outlet port
140 provided at an upper position of the peripheral surface of the
pump case 101. The wash water outlet port 140 internally
communicates with the drain pump chamber 120 and is externally
connected to a second drain pipe 60. All the wash water suctioned
into the drain pump chamber 120 and the air directed into the drain
pump chamber 120 through an air discharge path 160 that will be
described hereinafter are discharged out of the body 10 through the
wash water outlet port 140 and the second drain pipe 60. The wash
water outlet port 140 may be oriented perpendicular to the bottom
surface of the body 10. In this case, the wash water inlet port 130
provided at the lateral position of the pump case 101 and the wash
water outlet port 140 provided at the upper position of the pump
case 101 are perpendicular to each other. The wash water outlet
port 140 may have a circular shape, and may protrude outward from
the pump case 101 for connection with the second drain pipe 60.
[0056] The air is introduced into the drain pump chamber 120
through the air discharge path 160. The wash water outlet port 140
is located close to the air discharge path 160, to allow the air
having passed through the air discharge path 160 to be directly
discharged rather than staying in the drain pump chamber 120. The
wash water outlet port 140 may be located at a distance of 10 mm or
less from the air discharge path 160.
[0057] To allow the air to be moved from the wash water inlet
chamber 110 to the drain pump chamber 120 under a pressure
difference, the wash water passing through the wash water outlet
port 140 may have a higher velocity than that of the wash water
passing through the wash water suction port 150. If the area of an
exit is smaller than the area of an entrance, the velocity of a
fluid at the exit may be increased. Since the wash water suction
port 150 corresponds to the entrance of the drain pump chamber 120
and the wash water outlet port 140 corresponds to the exit of the
drain pump chamber 120, the velocity of the wash water passing
through the wash water outlet port 140 may be increased if the area
of the wash water outlet port 140 is smaller than the area of the
wash water suction port 150. Accordingly, the area of the wash
water outlet port 140 may be smaller than the area of the wash
water suction port 150.
[0058] The wash water suction port 150 is located between the wash
water inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump chamber 120. The wash
water inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump chamber 120 are arranged
side by side within the pump case 101 and communicate with each
other through the wash water suction port 150. If the drain pump
100 is operated, the wash water introduced into the wash water
inlet chamber 110 is suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120
through the wash water suction port 150.
[0059] The air discharge path 160 is located between the wash water
inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump chamber 120, to allow the air
inside the wash water inlet chamber 110 to be discharged through
the wash water outlet port 140. A conventional drain pump uses an
additional air discharge pipe, and this increases the number of
places that necessitate leakage management and an additional
operation of connecting the air discharge pipe to the drain pump
and the tub increases the number of overall processes. In the drain
pump 100 according to the embodiment, the air discharge path 160
substitutes for the air discharge pipe, allowing the air introduced
into the wash water inlet chamber 110 during pumping of the wash
water to be directed into the drain pump chamber 120 and
consequently, be discharged out of the drain pump 100.
[0060] One end of the air discharge path 160 communicates with the
wash water inlet chamber 110 and the other end communicates with
the drain pump chamber 120. The air discharge path 160 may have a
constant cross sectional area from one end to the other end
thereof. The air inside the wash water inlet chamber 110 is
directed into the drain pump chamber 120 through the air discharge
path 160, and then, is discharged to the outside of the body 10
through the wash water outlet port 140 and the second drain pipe
60. Differently from the wash water that is suctioned into the
drain pump chamber 120 by rotation force of the impeller 121, the
air is directed into the drain pump chamber 120 under a pressure
difference between one end and the other end of the air discharge
path 160.
[0061] The air discharge path 160 may be located to communicate the
wash water inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump chamber 120 with
each other at a position as high as possible, and at least, may be
located higher than the wash water suction port 150.
[0062] The air discharge path 160 has an exit communicating with
the drain pump chamber 120, and the exit of the air discharge path
160 is located at a radial outward position of the impeller 121.
This may serve to prevent the air directed into the drain pump
chamber 120 from coming into direct contact with the impeller 121,
thereby preventing deterioration in the rotation efficiency of the
impeller 121 and generation of noise.
[0063] In addition, to minimize the amount of wash water to be
directed from the wash water inlet chamber 110 into the drain pump
chamber 120 through the air discharge path 160 and also, to prevent
the wash water, which is moving at a high velocity toward the wash
water outlet port 140, from moving backward into the wash water
inlet chamber 110 through the air discharge path 160, the air
discharge path 160 may have a smaller cross sectional area than
those of the wash water suction port 150 and the wash water outlet
port 140.
[0064] The drain pump 100 may further include a partition 170
placed between the wash water inlet chamber 110 and the drain pump
chamber 120. The wash water suction port 150 and the air discharge
path 160 are formed at the partition 170. The wash water suction
port 150 may protrude from the partition 170 into the wash water
inlet chamber 110 to define a protruding entrance. If the
protruding entrance of the wash water suction port 150 is located
close to the wash water inlet port 130, the wash water introduced
through the wash water inlet port 130 may be directly suctioned
into the drain pump chamber 120 through the protruding entrance of
the wash water suction port 150 without undergoing unnecessary
movement in the wash water inlet chamber 110. In addition, the
protruding entrance of the wash water suction port 150 may define
an air accommodation space between the upper inner wall surface of
the wash water inlet chamber 110 and an outer peripheral surface of
the wash water suction port 150, thereby minimizing the amount of
air to be suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120 through the
wash water suction port 150.
[0065] The pump filter 102 includes a head portion 102a coupled to
the pump case 101, and a filter portion (not shown) placed in the
wash water inlet chamber 110 to capture impurities contained in the
wash water introduced into the wash water inlet chamber 110. A
periphery of the head portion 102a is fastened to the pump case 101
by screws, and a grip 102b is provided at a front surface of the
head portion 102a to allow a user to grip and rotate the head
portion 102a.
[0066] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating operation of the drain pump in
the washing machine according to the embodiment. Hereinafter,
operation of the pump according to the embodiment will be described
with reference to FIG. 6. The impeller 121 mounted in the drain
pump chamber 120 is driven when draining the wash water. If the
impeller 121 is rotated, the interior wash water of the tub 11 is
introduced into the wash water inlet chamber 110 through the first
drain pipe 50 and the wash water inlet port 130, and then, is
suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120 through the wash water
suction port 150. Subsequently, by operation of the impeller 121,
the wash water suctioned into the drain pump chamber 120 is
forcibly directed to the wash water outlet port 140 and is
discharged to the outside through the second drain pipe 60 (FIG.
2).
[0067] During the pumping of the wash water, the air mixed in the
wash water is introduced into the wash water inlet chamber 110.
Since the air is lighter than the wash water, the air is located in
the upper region of the wash water inlet chamber 110. In this way,
the air is located at one side of the air discharge path 160
communicating with the wash water inlet chamber 110, whereas the
wash water moves at a high velocity toward the wash water outlet
port 140 at the other side of the air discharge path 160
communicating with the drain pump chamber 120. Since one side of
the air discharge path 160 has a higher pressure than the other end
of the air discharge path 160, the air is directed into the drain
pump chamber 120 through the air discharge path 160. Thereby, the
air is discharged to the outside of the washing machine through the
wash water outlet port 140 and the second drain pipe 60 along with
the wash water.
[0068] As is apparent from the above description, in a drain pump
of a washing machine according to an embodiment, a wash water inlet
port of the drain pump is located higher than the center of a pump
case of the drain pump such that air is located in an upper region
of the drain pump. This may effectively prevent the air from being
suctioned toward the impeller. In particular, the drain pump is
configured such that wash water is introduced in a tangential
direction of an upper inner surface of the drain pump. This may
reduce generation of noise due to movement of the wash water within
the drain pump.
[0069] Further, the drain pump may discharge the air, introduced
into the drain pump during pumping of the wash water, to the
outside without using a separate air discharge pipe or hose. This
may minimize the number of pipes to be connected to the drain pump
and consequently, reduce the number of places that necessitate
leakage management. Furthermore, it may be possible to omit an
operation of connecting the separate air discharge pipe or hose to
the pump and a tub of the washing machine.
[0070] Although a few embodiments 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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