U.S. patent application number 14/049598 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Eun Suk BANG, Ji Hoon CHOI, In Cheol JANG, Seong Su JEONG, Dool Pil KIM, Ji Sung KIM, Bong Wha KWAK, In Ju LEE, Jong Sung PARK, Ki Sun PARK, Nam Ki Sul.
Application Number | 20140096570 14/049598 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49322259 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140096570 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JANG; In Cheol ; et
al. |
April 10, 2014 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
A washing machine including a drum capable of improving washing
efficiency is provided. The washing machine includes a body, a tub
provided at an inside the body to store wash water, a drum
rotatably provided at an inner side of the tub to accommodate
laundry, a driving apparatus to rotate the drum, protrusions that
are formed of polygons having polygonal shapes and protruding
inward from the drum, and a through-hole provided between adjacent
protrusions to drain water. A protrusion having polygons generates
frictional force between laundry and the drum, thereby increasing
the washing power. The through-holes are uniformly located around
the protrusion, thereby preventing a spin dry water bottleneck
phenomenon that occurs when water from a spin dry is concentrated
on a certain through-hole, and thus enhancing the spin dry
efficiency.
Inventors: |
JANG; In Cheol; (Hwaseong,
KR) ; KIM; Ji Sung; (Seongnam, KR) ; BANG; Eun
Suk; (Hwaseong, KR) ; Sul; Nam Ki; (Suwon,
KR) ; LEE; In Ju; (Yongin, KR) ; JEONG; Seong
Su; (Ulju-gun, KR) ; KWAK; Bong Wha;
(Hwaseong, KR) ; KIM; Dool Pil; (Suwon, KR)
; PARK; Ki Sun; (Suwon, KR) ; PARK; Jong Sung;
(Seoul, KR) ; CHOI; Ji Hoon; (Hwaseong,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon
KR
|
Family ID: |
49322259 |
Appl. No.: |
14/049598 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/142 ;
68/233 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/26 20130101;
D06F 37/02 20130101; D06F 37/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/142 ;
68/233 |
International
Class: |
D06F 37/26 20060101
D06F037/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 10, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0112649 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a body; a tub provided at an
inside of the body to store wash water therein; a drum rotatably
provided at an inner side of the tub to accommodate laundry
therein; a driving apparatus to rotate the drum; a plurality of
protrusions protruding inward from the drum, wherein a protrusion
of the plurality of protrusions being formed by a plurality of
polygons each having polygonal shapes; and at least one
through-hole provided between adjacent protrusions among the
plurality of protrusions to drain water.
2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the protrusions are
spaced apart from one another.
3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein each of the polygons has
a different angle with respect to a surface of the drum.
4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the polygon is a
triangle.
5. The washing machine of claim 4, wherein the plurality of
triangles gather at a center of the protrusion, to form a hexagonal
shape.
6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein an outline of the
protrusion is provided in a curved line such that the protrusion
has an approximately circular shape.
7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of
through-holes are formed at depressions that are provided more
outward from the drum than the protrusion.
8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the depression is
provided to be substantially flat.
9. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the depression includes
a concave part formed by recessing at least one portion of the
depression.
10. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein an arrangement of the
through-holes provided around the protrusion has an approximately
hexagonal shape.
11. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the plurality of
protrusions are provided in a plurality of rows and columns.
12. A washing machine comprising: a body; a tub provided at an
inside of the body to store wash water; a drum rotatably provided
at an inner side of the tub to accommodate laundry therein; a
driving apparatus to rotate the drum; a plurality of protrusions
protruding from the drum toward one side, wherein a protrusion of
the plurality of protrusions being formed by a plurality of
polygons each provided on a different plane; and through-holes
provided at an outermost area of the drum while being provided on a
same plane.
13. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality
of protrusions has a predetermined pattern.
14. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the plurality of
protrusions are provided in a first row and a second row such that
a protrusion forming the first row is disposed between protrusions
forming the second row.
15. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality
of through-holes is provided between the protrusions.
16. The washing machine of claim 15, wherein when assuming that the
through-hole has a diameter of d, a closest distance between the
protrusions is between d and d+10.
17. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality
of polygons is a triangle having three sides, the plurality of
triangles gather to form a hexagonal, and triangles are disposed at
a circumference of the hexagonal to form a single protrusion of the
plurality of protrusions.
18. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein a portion between the
polygons is rounded.
19. A drum for a washing machine comprising: a plurality of
protrusions protruding inward from the drum, wherein a protrusion
is formed of a plurality of polygons having polygonal shapes; and a
through-hole provided between protrusions to drain water.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to, and claims priority to,
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0112649, filed on Oct. 10,
2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing
machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine including a
drum for enhancing the washing efficiency.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, washing machines are a pulsator type washing
machine or a drum type washing machine depending on a washing
method. Each of the pulsator type washing machine and the drum type
washing machine includes a tub and a drum.
[0006] However, in a case of the pulsator type washing machine, a
rotary shaft of the drum where washing is performed may be provided
to be perpendicular to the ground. A pulsator may be installed at a
lower portion of the drum to generate water current. In a pulsator
type washing machine, when the drum and the pulsator are rotated by
a motor in a state in which laundry and detergent water are put
into the drum, the pulsator stirs the laundry put into the drum
together with wash water, thereby removing dirt from the
laundry.
[0007] In a case of the drum type washing machine, lifters may be
disposed inside the drum to lift laundry upward.
[0008] In both of the pulsator type washing machine and the drum
type washing machine, the drum may be formed at a circumferential
part thereof with through-holes that allow water of the tub to be
introduced to the drum during a washing operation, and the water of
the drumtub to be discharged during a drainage and spin dry
operation.
[0009] Conventionally, the through-holes are arranged on an inner
surface of the drum, which is flat. Thus, the laundry does not
easily encounter substantial friction with the inner surface of the
drum, and thus resulting in a limitation to the washing
efficiency.
SUMMARY
[0010] It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a
washing machine having an improved structure of a drum that is
capable of enhancing the washing power of laundry while efficiently
introducing and discharging wash water to, and from, the drum.
[0011] Additional aspects of the invention 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
invention.
[0012] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
washing machine includes a body, a tub, a drum, a driving
apparatus, a plurality of protrusions, and at least one
through-hole. The tub may be provided inside the body to store wash
water therein. The drum may be rotatably provided at an inner side
of the tub to accommodate laundry therein. The driving apparatus
may be configured to rotate the drum. The plurality of protrusions
may protrude inward from the drum. The protrusion may be formed by
a plurality of polygons that may each have a polygonal shape. The
at least one through-hole may be provided between adjacent
protrusions among the plurality of protrusions to drain water.
[0013] The protrusions may be spaced apart from one another.
[0014] Each of the polygons may have a different angle with respect
to a surface of the drum.
[0015] The polygon may be a triangle having three sides.
[0016] The plurality of triangles may gather at a center of the
protrusion, to form a hexagonal shape.
[0017] An outline of the protrusion may be a curved line such that
the protrusion has an approximately circular shape.
[0018] The plurality of through-holes may be formed at depressions
that are provided more outwardly of the drum than the
protrusion.
[0019] The depression may be substantially flat.
[0020] The depression may include a concave part formed by
recessing at least one portion of the depression.
[0021] An arrangement of the through-holes provided around the
protrusion may have an approximately hexagonal shape.
[0022] The plurality of protrusions may be provided in a plurality
of rows and columns.
[0023] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
washing machine includes a body, a tub, a drum, a driving
apparatus, a plurality of protrusions and through-holes. The tub
may be provided at an inside of the body to store wash water. The
drum may be rotatably provided at an inner side of the tub to
accommodate laundry therein. The driving apparatus may be
configured to rotate the drum. The plurality of protrusions may
protrude from the drum toward one side. The protrusion may be
formed by a plurality of polygons that may be each provided on a
different plane. The through-holes may be provided at an outermost
area of the drum while being provided on a same plane.
[0024] Each of the plurality of protrusions may have a
predetermined pattern.
[0025] The plurality of protrusions may be provided in a first row
and a second row such that a protrusion forming the first row is
disposed between protrusions forming the second row.
[0026] Each of the plurality of through-holes may be provided
between respective protrusions.
[0027] Assuming that the through-hole has a diameter of d, a
closest distance between the protrusions may be between d and
d+10.
[0028] Each of the plurality of polygons may be a triangle having
three sides, the plurality of triangles may gather to form a
hexagonal, and triangles may be disposed at a circumference of the
hexagonal to form a single protrusion of the plurality of
protrusions.
[0029] A portion between the polygons may be rounded.
[0030] An exemplary drum of the washing machine in accordance with
the an embodiment of the present invention includes a protrusion
having a plurality of polygons that generate frictional force
between laundry and the drum, thereby increasing the washing
power.
[0031] The through-holes may be uniformly located around the
protrusion, thereby preventing a spin dry water bottleneck
phenomenon that occurs when water from spin dry is concentrated on
a certain through-hole, and thus enhancing the spin dry
efficiency.
[0032] Additional aspects and/or advantages 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] 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:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a washing
machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary drum of a washing machine in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary drum in
accordance with an embodiment.
[0037] FIGS. 4A -4B are cross-sectional views illustrating an
exemplary drum in accordance with an embodiment.
[0038] FIGS. 5 to 7 are drawings illustrating drums in accordance
with various embodiments.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a drum in
accordance with an embodiment.
[0040] FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a drum in accordance with
an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] 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. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a washing
machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary drum of a
washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing machine 1 includes a
body 10 provided at a front side thereof with an inlet 11 through
which laundry is put into, a tub 20 installed at an inside the body
10 to store wash water, and a drum 30 rotatably provided at an
inner side of the tub 20 to accommodate laundry. The washing
machine 1 includes a door 122 to open and close the inlet 11 of the
body 10.
[0044] The tub 20 may be slantingly installed at a predetermined
angle a with respect to an installation surface of the washing
machine 1 such that a front side part 20a in which an inlet thereof
is formed is disposed to be higher than a rear side part 20b of the
tub 20. The drum 30 inside the tub 20 may be slantingly installed
in the same way as the tub 20. However, the configurations of the
tub 20 and the drum 30 are not limited thereto, and therefore the
tub 20 and/or the drum 30 may be not slantingly installed.
[0045] The drum 30 may be rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 13
that may be coupled to a rear side part 30a of the drum 30 while
passing through the rear side part 20b of the tub 20. A driving
motor 14 may be installed at an outer side of the rear side part
20b of the tub 20 to rotate the rotary shaft 13. As the driving
motor 14 rotates the rotary shaft 13, the drum 30 inside the tub 20
rotates. The driving motor 14 rotates the drum 30 at a low speed
during a washing operation, and may rotate the drum 30 in one
direction at a high speed during a spin dry operation.
[0046] At an upper side of the tub 20, a detergent supply apparatus
15 may be provided to supply the inside of the tub 20 with
detergent, and a water supply apparatus 16 may be provided to
supply the inside of the tub 20 with wash water. The detergent
supply device 15 may be installed adjacent to a front side of the
body 20. The water supply apparatus 16 includes a first water
supply pipe 16 connecting an external water supply pipe 16a to the
detergent supply apparatus 15, a second water supply pipe 16c
connecting the detergent supply apparatus 15 to the tub 20, and a
water supply control valve 16d installed on the first water supply
pipe 16d to control supply of water. Such a configuration allows
water to be supplied to the inside of the tub 20 via the detergent
supply apparatus 15 such that detergent is supplied to the tub 20
together with water.
[0047] A heater 17 may be installed at a lower portion of the
inside of the tub 20 to heat the wash water of the tub 20. To
facilitate installation of the heater 17, a heater receiving part
20c may be provided at a lower portion of the tub 20 while
protruding downward to receive the heater 17 while collecting wash
water therein.
[0048] At a lower portion of an outer side of the tub 20, a
drainage apparatus 40 may be installed to drain wash water of the
tub 20, and a wash water circulation apparatus 50 may be installed
to supply wash water in the tub 20 to the inside of the drum 30.
The drainage apparatus 40 includes a first drain pipe 42 connecting
to a drain port 41 formed at a lower portion of the tub 20, a drain
pump 43 installed on the first drain pipe 42, and a second drain
pipe 44 connecting to an outlet of the drain pump 43.
[0049] The wash water circulation apparatus 50 includes a bypass
valve 51 installed on the second drain pipe 44 at a side of the
outlet of the drain pump 43, a wash water circulation pipe 52
extending from the bypass valve 51 to an inlet 31 of the drum 30,
and a spray nozzle 53 installed at an outlet of the wash water
circulation pipe 52. The bypass valve 51 converts a passage such
that wash water of the outlet of the drain pump 43 is drained to
the outside or flows toward the wash water circulation pipe 52. The
bypass valve 51 may be an electromotive three way valve. If the
drain pump 43 is driven in a state in which the bypath valve 51
operates to allow wash water to flow toward the wash water
circulation pipe 52, the wash water in the tub 20 may be sprayed to
the inside of the drum 30 through the first drain pipe 42 and the
wash water circulation pipe 52. If the drain pump 43 is driven in a
state in which the bypath valve 51 operates to allow wash water to
flow toward the second drain pipe 44 that guides wash water to the
outside, the wash water in the tub 20 may be drained.
[0050] The drum 30 includes a rear side part 30a that may be
coupled to the rotary shaft 13, a front side part 30b having an
inlet 31, and a circumference part 30c provided in a cylindrical
shape and having both ends coupled to the front side part 30b and
the rear side part 30a, respectively. A plurality of lifters 33 may
be installed at an inner surface of the circumference part 30c of
the drum 30 to lift and drops laundry inside the drum 30 when the
drum 30 rotates. A plurality of stirring protrusions 32 may be
installed at an inner surface of the rear side part 30a of the drum
30 to improve the cleaning power. A plurality of protrusions 34 and
a plurality of through-holes 36 are arranged on an inner surface of
the drum 30.
[0051] FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary drum in
accordance with an embodiment . FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate
exemplary cross sections of protrusions that are illustrated in
FIG. 3 in accordance with an embodiment. FIG. 4A illustrates a
cross-section along A-A', and FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-section
along B-B'.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the plurality of
protrusions 34 may be provided at an inner side of the drum 30, and
the plurality of through-holes 36 may be provided around the
protrusions 34. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each of the
protrusions 34 may be provided to protrude from the outer side to
the inner side of the drum 30, but the present invention is not
limited thereto. The protrusion 34 includes a plurality of polygons
35 having a polygonal shape. As illustrated in the FIG. 3, the
polygons 35 each may have a triangular shape having three sides,
but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the
protrusion 34 may be provided in any other polygonal shape. The
polygons 35 may be disposed to have different angles with respect
to a surface of the drum 30. That is, each of the polygons 35 may
exist on a different plane. Accordingly, the protrusion 34 may be
formed by the polygons 35 existing on respectively different
planes.
[0053] As illustrated in the FIG. 3, for example , six triangles
form a hexagonal pyramid F1, and eighteen triangles are formed
around the hexagonal pyramid F1, forming a single protrusion 34
including a total of twenty-four triangles. The hexagonal pyramid
F1 located at the center of the protrusion 34 may be referred to as
a first protrusion 34a, and protrusions, which are provided as
triangles, around the hexagonal pyramid may be referred to as
second protrusions 34b. The first protrusion 34a may protrude more
inward the drum 30 than the second protrusion 34b.
[0054] The polygon 35 may be provided as a regular triangle, or an
isosceles triangle. With respect to a single protrusion 34, a
maximum distance between a point P1 and a point P2 of the
protrusion 34 in a direction of a rotary shaft of the drum 30 may
be defined as S1, and a maximum distance between a point P3 and a
point P4 of the protrusion 34 in a circumferential direction of the
drum 30 may be defined as S2. In a case in which a polygon 35 is
provided as a regular triangle, S1 is equal to S2. In a case in
which a polygon 35 is provided as an isosceles triangle, S1 may
have a size of half to two times a size of S2. In accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention in which the protrusion 34
is composed of twenty-four triangles, S2 may have a size four times
a height of the triangle. When the number of triangles used exceeds
twenty-four, S2 may be increased in units of multiplication by 2.
For example, in a case in which the protrusion 34 is composed of
forty-eight triangles, S2 may have a size six times a height of the
triangle. A depth of the protrusion 34 formed on the surface of the
drum 30 may be defined as S3. In a case in which the polygon 35 is
a regular triangle, S1 and S2 each may have sizes five times to
thirty times a size of S3. In a case in which the polygon 35 is an
isosceles triangle, a larger one of S1 and S2 may have a size five
times to thirty times a size of S3. As an example, in a case in
which S3 is 2mm, one of S1 and S2 may have a size within a range
between 10 mm to 60 mm.
[0055] In a case in which the polygon 35 is a triangle, a single
protrusion 34 may include a maximum number of polygons.
Accordingly, the cleaning power may be increased while minimizing
the damage of laundry that occurs as a result of the laundry coming
into contact with the inner side of the protrusion 34. However, the
polygon 35 is not limited to the triangle. The polygon 35 may be
provided as a quadrangle, and a hexagon, for example. Sides of the
polygon 35 forming an outline of the protrusion 34 may be provided
in a curved line. Accordingly, the protrusion 34 may have an
approximately circular shape. A portion between the polygons 35
forming the protrusion 34 may be rounded. For example, a portion
between the polygons 35 may have a radius of curvature (r) of about
0.2 r to 0.5 r. Accordingly, the surface of the drum 30 may be
smoothly formed to prevent laundry from being damaged.
[0056] The protrusions 34 may be spaced apart from each other. The
protrusions 34 may have various arrangements. The plurality of
through-holes 36 may be provided around the protrusion 34. At least
one through-hole 36 may be provided between the protrusions 34. In
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the
through-hole 36 is illustrated as being provided in one unit
thereof between the protrusions 34, but the number of the
through-holes 36 provided between the protrusions 34 is not limited
thereto.
[0057] The plurality of through-holes 36 may be provided in a
depression 37 that is provided further outward from the drum 34
than the protrusion 34. The depression 37 may be provided to be
flat when the drum 30 is extended. However, in a case in which the
drum 37 is rolled and bonded, the depression 37 may correspond to a
curved surface. The through-hole 36 may be provided in the
depression 37. Accordingly, the through-hole 36 may be located
distant from the center of the drum 30, so that wash water is
efficiently introduced and discharged due to a centrifugal force.
For example, when the through-hole 36 is provided in a piercing
scheme, the through-hole 36 may have a diameter (see, for example,
d1 in FIG. 4) of about 1.8 mm to 3.5 mm. A gap (see, for example, G
in FIG. 3) between adjacent portions of the protrusions 34 may have
a size of the diameter (d1) of the through-hole 36 or larger and
the diameter (d1) of the through-hole plus about 10 mm or
smaller.
[0058] The protrusion 34 may have various arrangements. In
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the
protrusion 34 may be provided in a plurality of rows L1 and L2 and
a plurality of columns R1 and R2. A row located at an upper side
(see, for example, FIG. 3) between the rows L1 and L2 forming
protrusions 34 may be defined as a first row L1, and a row located
at a lower side between the rows L1 and L2 may be defined as a
second row L1. The protrusion 34 forming the second row L2 may be
located between the protrusions 34 forming the first low L1. That
is, the protrusion 34 forming the second row L2 may be arranged
between the protrusions 34 of the first row L1 such that the
protrusion 34 forming the first row L1 is provided in a zig-zag
manner with the protrusion 34 forming the second row L2. At least
one through-hole 36 is provided between the protrusions 34. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, for example, four through-holes 36 may be
provided around a single protrusion 34, but the number of the
through-holes 36 around the protrusion 34 is not limited thereto.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the four through-holes 36 connected to
one another with a dotted line form a quadrangle shape F2.
[0059] FIGS. 5 to 8 are drawings illustrating drums in accordance
with various embodiments of the present invention.
[0060] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 8, protrusions 44 and
through-holes 46 may be arranged in various schemes.
[0061] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention as
illustrated in FIG. 5, protrusions 44 of rows L3 and L4 are
provided to be in alignment with each other, and protrusions 44 of
columns R3 and R4 are provided to be in alignment with each other.
That is, the protrusion 44 in one row is not disposed between the
protrusions 44 in an other row such that the protrusions 44 in a
zig-zag manner, different from FIG. 3. A total of four
through-holes 46 are arranged around a single protrusion 44, and
the rows L3 and L4 are disposed in alignment with each other and
the columns R3 and R4 are disposed in alignment with each other, so
that only one through-hole 46 is located between one protrusion 44
and another protrusion 44. That is, the through-holes 46 are also
arranged along the rows and columns of the protrusions 44. The
through-holes 46 may be formed around a single protrusion 54, as
illustrated by a dotted line forming a quadrangle shape F2.
[0062] In an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIG. 6, through-holes 56 are provided in a different arrangement
than FIG. 5. A protrusion 54 forming a first row L5 is located
between protrusions 54 forming a second row L6 such that protrusion
54 of the first low L5 and the protrusion 54 of the second row L6
are provided in a zig-zag manner. The through-holes 56 may be
located around the protrusion 54. A total of twelve through-holes
56 are located around a single protrusion 54. The through-holes 56,
connected by a dashed line form an approximately hexagonal shape
F3. That is, the through-holes 56 are arranged to surround the
protrusion 54 in a hexagonal shape. The through-holes 56 are
arranged in a uniform pattern, and when compared to other
embodiments, may be provided in a larger number thereof, thereby
preventing a spin dry water bottleneck phenomenon that occurs due
to a small number of through-holes during a spin dry operation, and
thus the spin dry efficiency is improved. In addition, in a case of
a product that washes laundry by use of bubbles, a bubble bottle
neck phenomenon occurring in a through-hole is improved, so that
the time taken for bubbles to be introduced and the amount of
bubbles introduced are improved. In addition, the through-holes are
uniformly provided in a predetermined pattern, thereby preventing
the washing extent of laundry from being varied depending on the
position of the laundry.
[0063] In an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8, protrusions 64 are provided in alignment with one
another. That is, the protrusions 64 are not provided in a zig-zag
manner, different from the FIGS. 3 and 6. Through-holes 66 are
arranged to have a hexagonal shape around the protrusion 64.
[0064] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
the through-hole 66 is provided as a burring hole that is formed
through a burring process. Through the burring processing, a rim
68, that is, an outer rim 68 protrudes around the through-hole 66
toward the outer side of the drum 30. Rims 67 and 68 provided on
the drum 30 include an inner rim 67 and the outer rim 68. The inner
rim 67 has a diameter decreasing outwardly in the drum 30, and the
outer rim 68 has a diameter increasing outwardly in the drum 30.
The outer rim 68 is located more outward the drum 30 than the inner
rim 67.
[0065] When a diameter including the rims 67 and 68 formed through
the burring process is defined as d2, and a diameter of the
through-hole 64 is determined as d3, a gap G between the most
adjacent portions of the protrusions 64 may have a size of the
diameter (d3) or larger and the diameter (d3) plus about 10 mm or
smaller. In the burring process, a cross section of a depression 69
may be determined in consideration of the diameter (d3) of the
through-hole 66 that is increased due to the diameter d2, referred
to as an inner diameter, during the burring process. Accordingly,
when compared to a case without having a burring process, the gap G
between the most adjacent portions of the protrusions 64 is
increased.
[0066] In a case in which the burring process is not performed, the
laundry may be torn due to a cutting surface of the through-hole.
However, in a case in which the burring process is performed, a
cutting surface may be formed outside the drum 30, thereby
preventing the laundry from being damaged.
[0067] FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a drum in accordance with
an exemplary embodiment .
[0068] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a
depression 77 may include a concave part 79 formed by recessing at
least one portion thereof. That is, the concave part 79 is recessed
from the inner side to the outer side of the drum 30. A
through-hole 76 is provided at a portion of the concave part 79.
The through-hole 76 may be provided at the center of the recess
part 79. The through-hole 76 may be located at an outermost area of
the drum 30, so that wash water is smoothly introduced and
discharged due to a centrifugal force during rotation of the drum
30.
[0069] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure 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 disclosure, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
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