U.S. patent application number 14/157989 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-18 for washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation. Invention is credited to Hye Ung KIM, In Dong KIM, Jeong Hyeon KIM, Ju Dong LEE.
Application Number | 20150167227 14/157989 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51211053 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150167227 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; In Dong ; et
al. |
June 18, 2015 |
WASHING MACHINE
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a washing machine that
includes: an integrated tub/drum that simultaneously stores washing
water, accommodates laundry, and rotates; a hollow rotary shaft
coupled to penetrate one surface of the integrated tub/drum; one or
more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum through a hollow space
in the hollow rotary shaft; and a supporting frame that supports
the hollow rotary shaft so that the hollow rotary shaft is
rotatable.
Inventors: |
KIM; In Dong; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; KIM; Hye Ung; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Ju
Dong; (Incheon, KR) ; KIM; Jeong Hyeon;
(Anyang-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Dongbu Daewoo Electronics
Corporation
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
51211053 |
Appl. No.: |
14/157989 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/140 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 23/02 20130101;
D06F 23/025 20130101; D06F 39/083 20130101; D06F 39/08 20130101;
D06F 39/088 20130101; D06F 21/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/08 20060101
D06F039/08; D06F 23/02 20060101 D06F023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0158053 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: an integrated tub/drum that
simultaneously stores water, accommodates laundry, and rotates; a
rotatable hollow rotary shaft coupled to one surface of the
integrated tub/drum; one or more water pipes in the integrated
tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft; a supporting frame that
supports the hollow rotary shaft; a fixed shaft in the hollow
rotary shaft that does not rotate, and that supports the one or
more water pipes; and an air pipe in the fixed shaft together with
the one or more water pipes, and connected to the integrated
tub/drum.
2. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a rotary
bearing between the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so that
the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft are slidable relative
to each other.
3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein one end portion of the
fixed shaft protrudes to the outside of the hollow rotary
shaft.
4. (canceled)
5. The washing machine of claim 2, further comprising: a water seal
between the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so as to block
the washing water in the integrated tub/drum from flowing into the
rotary bearing.
6. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the integrated tub/drum
has a truncated conical shape or a cylindrical shape.
7. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a lifter on
an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum, that
lifts the laundry when the integrated tub/drum rotates.
8. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more water
pipes include a water supply pipe and a water drain pipe.
9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the water supply pipe is
in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow rotary shaft, and
bends upward, leftward or rightward.
10. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising: a drive
shaft coupled to another surface of the integrated tub/drum; and a
drive motor that rotates the drive shaft.
11. The washing machine of claim 10, wherein the drive shaft is
hollow.
12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein one of the one or more
water pipes through the hollow rotary shaft or the additional water
pipe is a water supply pipe and the other of the one or more water
pipes, through the hollow rotary shaft and the additional water
pipe is a water drain pipe.
13. The washing machine of claim 2, further comprising a supporting
bearing between the hollow rotary shaft and the supporting
frame.
14. The washing machine of claim 3, further comprising a shaft
fixing member that connects the one end of the fixed shaft to the
supporting frame.
15. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein the one or more water
pipes are also in the fixed shaft.
16. The washing machine of claim 6, further comprising an opening
in a circumferential surface or wall of the integrated tub/drum,
and a drum cover that is separably coupled to the opening.
17. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the water drain pipe
bends downward in the integrated tub/drum.
18. The washing machine of claim 16, wherein the washing machine
further includes an additional water pipe in the integrated
tub/drum through the drive shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2013-0158053, filed on Dec. 18, 2013, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a washing machine, and
more particularly, to a washing machine in which a tub configured
to store washing water and a drum configured to accommodate and
rotate laundry are integrally formed.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A washing machine refers to an apparatus which eliminates
foreign substances attached to laundry by agitating and rotating
water that is supplied together with the laundry. The Washing
machine is classified into a pulsator type washing machine which
washes the laundry using a water flow generated by an operation of
a pulsator installed in a washing tub, and a drum type washing
machine that washes laundry by dropping the laundry vertically,
which is caused by a rotation of a drum.
[0004] The drum type washing machine has a door at the front of the
washing machine through which the laundry is placed. The drum type
washing machine drops and washes the laundry, and uses relatively
small amounts of washing water and detergent. Specifically, a drum
type washing machine in the related art includes a cabinet that
forms an external appearance, a tub that is in the cabinet and
stores washing water, a rotatable drum in the tub that accommodates
laundry, a drive motor which is installed at the tub and provides
power to the drum, a water supply device that supplies washing
water to the tub, and a water drain device that discharges washing
water from the tub to the outside of the cabinet after a washing
operation ends.
[0005] Accordingly, when the laundry is washed in the drum type
washing machine in the related art, the laundry is put into the tub
in a lateral direction by opening a door provided at a front side
of the drum type washing machine, washing water is supplied to the
tub, and then the laundry is washed while a lifter in the drum
lifts up and drops the laundry by rotating the drum by power from
the drive motor.
[0006] As such, the drum type washing machine in the related art
includes the tub in addition to the drum. That is, the drum type
washing machine in the related art has a structure which has the
tub to store washing water and the drum in the tub to wash the
laundry.
[0007] However, because the tub is typically made of a plastic
material, the tub may be easily contaminated by water scale or
other foreign substances generated in the tub when the tub is used
over a long period of time. There is a problem in that it is
difficult to clean the tub because the drum is in the way when the
tub is contaminated. When the tub, which stores washing water, is
contaminated, the tub may become corroded, and then the laundry
becomes contaminated, which may cause a user to incur a skin
disease.
[0008] This problem exists in the pulsator type washing machine as
well as the drum type washing machine. The reason is that the
pulsator type washing machine also includes a reservoir (tub) in a
main body thereof.
SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide
a washing machine that includes an integrated tub/drum, thereby
suppressing the occurrence of contaminants and allowing the
integrated tub/drum to be easily cleaned.
[0010] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to provide
a washing machine that may effectively supply washing water to an
integrated tub/drum or drain washing water from the integrated
tub/drum.
[0011] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a
washing machine including: an integrated tub/drum that
simultaneously stores water, accommodates laundry, and rotates; a
rotatable hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating one
surface of the integrated tub/drum; one or more water pipes in the
integrated tub/drum and through the hollow rotary shaft; and a
supporting frame that supports the hollow rotary shaft so that the
hollow rotary shaft is rotatable.
[0012] The washing machine may further include a fixed shaft in the
hollow rotary shaft that does not rotate and that supports the one
or more water pipes in the fixed shaft; a rotary bearing between
the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so that the hollow
rotary shaft and the fixed shaft are slidable or rotatable relative
to each other; and a supporting bearing between the hollow rotary
shaft and the supporting frame.
[0013] One end of the fixed shaft may protrude to the outside of
the hollow rotary shaft. The washing machine may further include a
shaft fixing member which connects the one end of the fixed shaft
to the supporting frame.
[0014] The washing machine may further include an air pipe in the
fixed shaft with the one or more water pipes, connected to the
integrated tub/drum.
[0015] The washing machine may further include a water seal between
the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so as to block the
washing water in the integrated tub/drum from flowing into the
rotary bearing.
[0016] The integrated tub/drum may have a truncated conical shape
or a cylindrical shape. An opening may be formed in a
circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum so that the
laundry is put into or taken out of the integrated tub/drum. The
washing machine may further include a drum cover that is separably
coupled to the opening of the integrated tub/drum.
[0017] The washing machine may further include a lifter on an inner
circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum, that lifts the
laundry.
[0018] The one or more water pipes may include a water supply pipe
and a water drain pipe, and the water drain pipe may be in the
integrated tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft, and be bent
downward. The water supply pipe may be in the integrated tub/drum
through the hollow rotary shaft, and be bent upward, or leftward or
rightward.
[0019] The washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure may further include: a drive shaft coupled
to another surface of the integrated tub/drum; and a drive motor
that rotates the drive shaft.
[0020] The drive shaft may be hollow. The washing machine may
further include an additional water pipe in the integrated tub/drum
through the drive shaft.
[0021] In this case, one of the water pipe(s) in the integrated
tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft or through the hollow
drive shaft may be a water supply pipe that supplies the washing
water, and another water pipe in the integrated tub/drum through
the hollow rotary shaft or through the hollow drive shaft may be a
water drain pipe that drains the washing water.
[0022] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the washing machine uses the integrated tub/drum,
thereby suppressing the generation of contaminants and allowing the
integrated tub/drum to be easily cleaned.
[0023] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the washing machine may effectively supply washing
water to the integrated tub/drum and drain washing water from the
integrated tub/drum.
[0024] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative
aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by
reference to the drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according
to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine of
FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a hollow
rotary shaft of FIG. 2.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hollow rotary shaft
of FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine
according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. The
illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,
drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other
embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without
departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented
here.
[0031] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings so that those skilled in the technical field to which the
present disclosure pertains may carry out the exemplary
embodiments. The present disclosure may be implemented in various
different forms, and is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
described herein.
[0032] In several exemplary embodiments, constituent elements
having the same configuration will be representatively described
using the same reference numerals in a first exemplary embodiment,
and a second exemplary embodiment will be described with regard to
only constituent elements that are different from the constituent
elements described in the first exemplary embodiment.
[0033] The drawings are schematically illustrated, and the scales
of the drawings are not identical to each other. Relative
dimensions and ratios of the parts illustrated in the drawings are
exaggerated or reduced in terms of sizes thereof for clarification
of the drawings and convenience, and any dimension is only
illustrative, and is not limited thereto. The same structures,
elements, or components illustrated in two or more drawings are
designated by the same reference numerals so as to illustrate
similar features.
[0034] The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are
specifically presented as ideal exemplary embodiments of the
present disclosure. As a result, various modifications of the
drawings are expected. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not
limited to specific forms in regions illustrated in the drawings,
and for example, include modifications of forms by the
manufacture.
[0035] Hereinafter, a washing machine 101 according to a first
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0036] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 101
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure includes an integrated tub/drum 200, a hollow rotary
shaft 410, one or more water pipes 600, and a supporting frame
500.
[0037] The washing machine 101 according to the first exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a lifter
250, a supporting bearing 508, a drive bearing 509, a drive shaft
420, and a drive motor 300.
[0038] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the washing machine 101 according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may
further include a fixed shaft 415, a rotary bearing 418, a water
seal 218, and a shaft fixing member 545.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the washing machine 101 according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may
further include an air pipe 670.
[0040] Although not illustrated, the washing machine 101 according
to the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may
further include a cabinet, and a water supply and drain pump.
[0041] The cabinet forms an external shape of the washing machine
101, and a control panel for controlling the washing machine 101
may be installed on the cabinet. Because the cabinet may have
various shapes that are publicly known to those skilled in the art,
a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0042] The water supply and drain pump supplies or drains washing
water through a water supply pipe 610 or a water drain pipe 620.
Because the water supply and drain pump used in the washing machine
101 is also publicly known to those skilled in the art, a detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0043] The integrated tub/drum 200 simultaneously stores washing
water, accommodates laundry, and rotates. The integrated tub/drum
200 may be made of stainless steel. That is, according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the integrated
tub/drum 200, which stores the washing water, is not easily
contaminated by water scale or other foreign substances, and may be
easily cleaned when the integrated tub/drum 200 is
contaminated.
[0044] The integrated tub/drum 200 has a truncated conical shape or
a cylindrical shape. The integrated tub/drum 200 may include an
opening 209 in one region of a circumferential surface of the
integrated tub/drum 200. The laundry may be put into the integrated
tub/drum 200 or the laundry in the integrated tub/drum 200 may be
taken out of the integrated tub/drum 200, through the opening
209.
[0045] The washing machine according to the first exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a drum
cover 290 that is separably coupled to the opening 209 of the
integrated tub/drum 200. The drum cover 290 is separated from the
integrated tub/drum 200 when the laundry is put into or taken out
of the integrated tub/drum 200, and coupled to the integrated
tub/drum 200 so as to tightly close the opening 209 when the
laundry is washed.
[0046] A plurality of lifters 250 may be inside the integrated
tub/drum 200. The lifters 250 have a shape that protrudes from an
inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 at a
predetermined height in a direction toward the center of the
integrated tub/drum 200.
[0047] Accordingly, when the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates, the
laundry held or accommodated in the integrated tub/drum 200 is
washed while being caught and lifted by the lifter 250 due to
rotational force of the integrated tub/drum 200 and dropped into
the wash water and detergent in the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0048] The hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled to penetrate one
surface of the integrated tub/drum 200. A hollow space in the
hollow rotary shaft 410 communicates with the interior of the
integrated tub/drum 200.
[0049] The supporting frame 500 supports the hollow rotary shaft
410 so that the hollow rotary shaft 410 is rotatable. The
supporting frame 500 may be accommodated in or coupled to the
cabinet (not illustrated). The supporting frame 500 may have shapes
that intersect in an `X` shape, and the hollow rotary shaft 410 may
be supported at the intersection.
[0050] However, the first exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure is not limited thereto, and the supporting frame 500 may
have various structures that may be modified and carried out by
those skilled in the art based on publicly known technology.
[0051] The one or more water pipes 600 are inserted into the
integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow space of the hollow
rotary shaft 410.
[0052] In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
the one or more water pipes 600 may include the water supply pipe
610, and the water drain pipe 620.
[0053] Both the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620
are inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow
rotary shaft 410. The water supply pipe 610 supplies washing water
to the interior of the integrated tub/drum 200, and the water drain
pipe 620 discharges washing water from the interior of the
integrated tub/drum 200.
[0054] In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
the water drain pipe 620 may be inserted into the integrated
tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410, and then bend
downward. Accordingly, the water drain pipe 620 may effectively
drain the washing water from the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0055] When the integrated tub/drum 200 has a truncated conical
shape, the hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled to penetrate one
surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a relatively large
area, and the water drain pipe 620 may be installed to be adjacent
to the one surface of the integrated tub/drum 200 that has a
relatively large area. Accordingly, the washing water in the
integrated tub/drum 200 may be effectively collected, and drained
through the water drain pipe 620.
[0056] In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
the water supply pipe 610 may be inserted into the integrated
tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410, and then bend
upward, leftward or rightward. FIG. 2 illustrates the water supply
pipe 610 that bends upward, but the first exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the water supply
pipe 610 may bend leftward or rightward, or may not be bent.
[0057] The fixed shaft 415 is in the hollow space of the hollow
rotary shaft 410 and does not rotate. The fixed shaft 415 supports
the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 in the fixed
shaft 415. That is, when the hollow rotary shaft 410 rotates, the
water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe 620 in the fixed
shaft 415 do not rotate.
[0058] One end of the fixed shaft 415 protrudes to the outside of
the hollow rotary shaft 410, and the shaft fixing member 545
connects the one end of the fixed shaft 415 to the supporting frame
500. That is, the shaft fixing member 545 is coupled to the
supporting frame 500 so as to support the fixed shaft 415 so that
the fixed shaft 415 does not rotate in the hollow rotary shaft
410.
[0059] The air pipe 670 is installed in the fixed shaft 415
together with the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe
620, and connected to the integrated tub/drum 200. The air pipe 670
discharges air in the integrated tub/drum 200 or supplies air into
the integrated tub/drum 200 so as to maintain pressure in the
integrated tub/drum 200 at atmospheric pressure when the washing
water is supplied through the water supply pipe 610 or the washing
water is drained through the water drain pipe 620 when the opening
209 of the integrated tub/drum 200 is tightly closed by the drum
cover 290. That is, by the air pipe 670, the washing water may be
effectively supplied to or drained from the tightly closed
integrated tub/drum 200.
[0060] The rotary bearing 418 is between the hollow rotary shaft
410 and the fixed shaft 415, so that the hollow rotary shaft 410
and the fixed shaft 415 are slidable relative to each other. That
is, by the rotary bearing 418, the hollow rotary shaft 410 may
rotate when the fixed shaft 415 is fixed. For example, the rotary
bearing 418 may be a needle roller bearing.
[0061] The water seal 218 is between the hollow rotary shaft 410
and the fixed shaft 415 so as to block the washing water in the
integrated tub/drum 200 from flowing into the rotary bearing 418
through the hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 200.
[0062] The supporting bearing 508 is between the hollow rotary
shaft 410 and the supporting frame 500. That is, the supporting
bearing 508 helps the supporting frame 500 to support the hollow
rotary shaft 410 so that the hollow rotary shaft 410 is
rotatable.
[0063] The drive shaft 420 is coupled to another surface of the
integrated tub/drum 200, that is, the surface that is opposite to
the one surface to which the hollow rotary shaft 410 is coupled.
That is, the integrated tub/drum 200 rotates while being supported
by the drive shaft 420 and the hollow rotary shaft 410.
[0064] Like the hollow rotary shaft 410, the drive shaft 420 is
also supported by the supporting frame 500. The fixed shaft 420 may
also be supported at the intersection of the supporting frame
500.
[0065] The drive bearing 509 is between the drive shaft 420 and the
supporting frame 500. That is, the drive bearing 509 helps the
supporting frame 500 to support the drive shaft 420 so that the
drive shaft 420 is rotatable.
[0066] The drive motor 300 rotates the drive shaft 420, and
provides rotational power to the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0067] In the first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,
the drive motor 300 may rotate the integrated tub/drum 200 so that
the opening 209 of the integrated tub/drum 200 is at a relatively
upper position when the laundry is put into or taken out of the
integrated tub/drum 200. That is, the drive motor 300 may move the
opening 209 of the integrated tub/drum 200 to a position where a
worker conveniently puts the laundry into the integrated tub/drum
200 or takes the laundry out of the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0068] According to the aforementioned configuration, the washing
machine 101 according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure uses the integrated tub/drum 200 so as to
suppress the generation of contaminants, and allows the integrated
tub/drum 200 to be easily cleaned.
[0069] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the washing machine 101 may effectively supply the
washing water to the integrated tub/drum 200 or drain the washing
water from the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0070] Hereinafter, a washing machine 102 according to a second
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described
with reference to FIG. 5.
[0071] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the washing machine 102 according
to the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure uses a
hollow drive shaft 420. That is, like the hollow rotary shaft 410,
the drive shaft 420, which transmits rotational power from a drive
motor 300 to the integrated tub/drum 200, is hollow.
[0072] An additional water pipe, which is inserted into the
integrated tub/drum 200 through a hollow space of the drive shaft
420, is further included. In this case, the additional water pipe
may be a water supply pipe 610.
[0073] Meanwhile, the water pipe that is inserted into the
integrated tub/drum 200 through a hollow space of the hollow rotary
shaft may be a water drain pipe 620.
[0074] The principle that the additional water pipe (that is, the
water supply pipe 610) is inserted into and supported by the drive
shaft 420 is the same as the principle that one or more water pipes
600 are inserted into and supported by the hollow rotary shaft 410
in the first exemplary embodiment.
[0075] The second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is
not limited to the aforementioned configuration. That is, one of
the water pipes in the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow
rotary shaft 410 or the hollow drive shaft 420 may be the water
supply pipe 610 that supplies the washing water. Another water pipe
in the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410
or the hollow drive shaft 420 may be the water drain pipe 620 that
drains the washing water.
[0076] As such, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the water supply pipe 610
is inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow
drive shaft 420, and the water drain pipe 620 is inserted into the
integrated tub/drum 200 through the hollow rotary shaft 410, but
the second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is
limited thereto. That is, the water drain pipe 620 may be inserted
through the drive shaft 420, and the water supply pipe 610 may be
inserted through the hollow rotary shaft 410.
[0077] According to the aforementioned configuration, the washing
machine 102 according to the second exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure uses the integrated tub/drum 200, thereby
suppressing the generation of contaminants and allowing the
integrated tub/drum 200 to be easily cleaned.
[0078] According to the exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure, the washing machine 102 may more effectively supply the
washing water to the integrated tub/drum 200 or drain the washing
water from the integrated tub/drum 200.
[0079] Specifically, diameters of the water supply pipe 610 and the
water drain pipe 620 may be maximally secured by using both the
hollow space of the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the hollow space of
the fixed shaft 420.
[0080] When both the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe
620 are inserted into the integrated tub/drum 200 through the
single hollow rotary shaft 410 as described in the first exemplary
embodiment, the diameter of the hollow rotary shaft 410 is be
relatively large in order to allow a sufficient amount of washing
water to flow through the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain
pipe 620.
[0081] However, according to the second exemplary embodiment of the
present disclosure, the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain
pipe 620 are in the hollow rotary shaft 410 and the hollow drive
shaft 420 separate from each other, thereby effectively increasing
the diameters of the water supply pipe 610 and the water drain pipe
620.
[0082] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein
for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein
are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit
being indicated by the following claims.
* * * * *