U.S. patent application number 14/817967 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-19 for dishwasher comprising a sealing apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Invention is credited to Jin-doo Kim.
Application Number | 20170296029 14/817967 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55357022 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170296029 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Kim; Jin-doo |
October 19, 2017 |
DISHWASHER COMPRISING A SEALING APPARATUS
Abstract
A sealing apparatus seals between a pump chamber and a bottom
surface of a washing tank of a dishwasher. The sealing apparatus
includes a packing member disposed along a top portion of the pump
chamber and a protecting member which fixes some portion of the
packing member to the pump chamber to prevent the packing member
from moving when the bottom surface of the washing tank and the
pump chamber are coupled to each other.
Inventors: |
Kim; Jin-doo; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160029871 A1 |
February 4, 2016 |
|
|
Family ID: |
55357022 |
Appl. No.: |
14/817967 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4225 20130101;
F16J 15/061 20130101; A47L 15/4263 20130101; F16J 15/025 20130101;
A47L 15/4259 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42; F16J 15/02 20060101 F16J015/02; A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42; F16J 15/06 20060101 F16J015/06; A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0099963 |
Claims
1. A sealing apparatus that seals between a pump chamber and a
bottom surface of a washing tank of a dishwasher, the sealing
apparatus comprising: a packing member disposed along a top portion
of the pump chamber; and a protecting member which connects some
portion of the packing member to the pump chamber such that it
prevents the packing member from moving when the bottom surface of
the washing tank and the pump chamber are coupled to each
other.
2. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protecting member
is detachably coupled to the pump chamber.
3. The sealing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the protecting member
comprises a plurality of hooks that are snap-coupled to a portion
of the pump chamber.
4. The sealing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the protecting member
comprises: a first portion that covers an upper portion of the
packing member; and a second portion comprising the plurality of
hooks.
5. The sealing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first portion
comprises an inclined surface that corresponds to a slope of the
bottom surface of the washing tank.
6. The sealing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second portion is
disposed on an outer circumference of the top portion of the pump
chamber.
7. The sealing apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first portion
comprises at least one discharge passage that guides water from an
outer surface of the bottom surface of the washing tank to a
channel formed in the pump chamber.
8. The sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one
discharge passage comprises at least one drain hole that passes
through the first portion of the protecting member.
9. The sealing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one
discharge passage comprises a cutting groove that is cut from a
step portion formed in a bottom surface of the first portion.
10. The sealing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packing member
comprises a hooking portion that extends from the packing member
and is operable to be disposed around the channel of the pump
chamber, and the protecting member comprises a first portion to
cover the hooking portion and a second portion that comprises a
plurality of hooks operable to be snap-coupled to a portion of the
pump chamber.
11. A dishwasher comprising: a main body comprising a washing tank
which receives things to be washed and a pump chamber connected
with a bottom surface of the washing tank such that fluid can pass
between the washing tank and the pump chamber; a door that opens
and closes the washing tank; and a sealing apparatus for sealing
the pump chamber and the bottom surface of the washing tank,
wherein the sealing apparatus comprises a packing member disposed
along a top portion of the pump chamber; and wherein a protecting
member connects some portion of the packing member to the pump
chamber such that the packing member is prevented from moving when
the bottom surface of the washing tank and the pump chamber are
coupled to each other.
12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the protecting member
comprises: a first portion that covers an upper portion of the
packing member; and a second portion comprising a plurality of
hooks that are operable to be detachably coupled to the pump
chamber.
13. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the first portion comprises
at least one drain hole operable to guide water that from an outer
surface of the bottom surface of the washing tank to a channel
formed in the pump chamber.
14. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the first portion comprises
a cutting groove that is cut from a step portion formed in a bottom
surface of the first portion, the cutting groove operable to guide
water from an outer surface of the bottom surface of the washing
tank to a channel formed in the pump chamber.
15. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein the packing member
comprises a hooking portion that is operable to be disposed around
a channel of the pump chamber, the hooking portion extending from
the packing member, and the protecting member connects to the
hooking portion such that the hooking portion is prevented from
moving.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] The present application is related to and claims priority
from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0099963 filed Aug. 4,
2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher comprising a
sealing apparatus. More particularly, the present disclosure
relates to a sealing apparatus for preventing leakage between a
pump chamber and a bottom surface of a washing tank of a
dishwasher.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a dishwasher includes a main body having a front
surface in which an input opening for inputting dishes is formed, a
washing tank which is provided inside the input opening, and a door
for opening and closing the input opening. The washing tank
includes a rack for receiving dishes and top and bottom nozzles
that spray water to the dishes in the rack so as to wash dirt from
the dishes.
[0004] A conventional dishwasher includes a pump chamber disposed
below the washing tank. In order to prevent leakage between a
bottom surface of the washing tank and the pump chamber connected
to the bottom surface of the washing tank, a seal ring is disposed
in a connecting portion between the bottom surface of the washing
tank and the pump chamber.
[0005] In the conventional dishwasher, when the bottom surface of
the washing tank and the pump chamber are connected with each other
in the assembly of the dishwasher, the seal ring, which is seated
in a top portion of the pump chamber, is moved due to friction with
the bottom surface of the washing tank so that the entire seal ring
may be separated completely or at least a portion of the seal ring
may be separated partially from the top portion of the pump
chamber. Accordingly, this separation causes a problematic gap
between the bottom surface of the washing tank and the top portion
of the pump chamber. Since the pump chamber is not fully sealed to
the bottom surface of the washing tank, washing water of the
washing tank leaks through the gap.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure has been developed in order to
overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and other problems associated
with the conventional arrangement. An aspect of the present
disclosure relates to a sealing apparatus that prevents a packing
member secured to a top portion of the pump chamber from being
moved by friction with the bottom surface of the washing tank when
a bottom surface of a washing tank and a pump chamber are coupled
to each other. This prevents the packing member from being
separated from the top portion of the pump chamber.
[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a
sealing apparatus that guides water from an outer surface of a
bottom surface of a washing tank to a channel formed on a top
portion of a pump chamber.
[0008] To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary
object to provide, for use in a dishwasher, a sealing apparatus
that seals between a pump chamber and a bottom surface of a washing
tank of a dishwasher. The sealing apparatus includes a packing
member disposed along a top portion of the pump chamber and a
protecting member which affixes some portion of the packing member
to the pump chamber to prevent the packing member from moving when
the bottom surface of the washing tank and the pump chamber are
coupled to each other.
[0009] The protecting member is coupled to the pump chamber such
that it is detachable, and the protecting member may include a
plurality of hooks that are snap-coupled to a portion of the pump
chamber.
[0010] The protecting member includes a first portion that covers
an upper portion of the packing member and a second portion formed
with the plurality of hooks.
[0011] The first portion includes an inclined surface that
corresponds to a slope of the bottom surface of the washing tank.
The second portion surrounds an outer circumference of the top
portion of the pump chamber.
[0012] The first portion includes at least one discharge passage
that guides water from an outer surface of the bottom surface of
the washing tank to a channel formed in the pump chamber.
[0013] In certain embodiments, the at least one discharge passage
includes at least one drain hole that passes through the first
portion in a vertical direction. In other embodiments, the at least
one discharge passage is a cutting groove that is formed by cutting
a step portion formed in a bottom surface of the first portion in a
horizontal direction.
[0014] The packing member includes a hooking portion that extends
from the packing member to the channel of the pump chamber. The
protecting member includes a first portion to cover the hooking
portion and a second portion that is formed with a plurality of
hooks to be snap-coupled to a portion of the pump chamber.
[0015] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a
dishwasher includes a main body comprising a washing tank which
receives items to be washed; a pump chamber connected with a bottom
surface of the washing tank such that fluid can pass between the
washing tank and the pump chamber; a door that opens to reveal an
interior portion of the washing tank and closes to seal the washing
tank; and a sealing apparatus for sealing the pump chamber to the
bottom surface of the washing tank, wherein the sealing apparatus
includes a packing member disposed along a top portion of the pump
chamber and a protecting member which affixes a portion of the
packing member to the pump chamber in order to prevent the packing
member from moving when the bottom surface of the washing tank and
the pump chamber are coupled to each other.
[0016] Other objects, advantages and salient features of the
present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed
description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,
discloses preferred embodiments.
[0017] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be
advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases
used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and
"comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without
limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the
phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as
derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or
with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,
have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means
any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one
operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware
or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It
should be noted that the functionality associated with any
particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether
locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are
provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill
in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances,
such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such
defined words and phrases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure
and its advantages, reference is now made to the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which like reference numerals represent like parts:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a dishwasher
comprising a sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a sealing
apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
disposed between a bottom surface of a washing tank and a top
portion of a pump chamber;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
sealing apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure, with a bottom surface of a washing tank and a pump
chamber;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the pump chamber of FIG.
3;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating
a V portion of FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view illustrating a protecting
member of a sealing apparatus according to an embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a
protecting member of a sealing apparatus according to an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view illustrating a sealing
apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
coupled to a top portion of a pump chamber;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a sealing
apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,
coupled to a top portion of a pump chamber;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a bottom view illustrating a sealing apparatus,
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, coupled to a
top portion of a pump chamber;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along an
XI-XI line in FIG. 10;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged perspective view
illustrating another example of the protecting member of FIG. 7;
and
[0031] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pump
chamber to which the protecting member illustrated in FIG. 12 is
applied.
[0032] Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be
understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] FIGS. 1 through 13, discussed below, and the various
embodiments used to describe the principles of the present
disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only
and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the
disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the
principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any
suitably arranged dishwasher. Hereinafter, certain exemplary
embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0034] The components defined herein, such as a detailed
construction and elements thereof, are provided to assist in a
comprehensive understanding of this description. Thus, it is
apparent that exemplary embodiments may be carried out without
those defined components. Also, well-known functions or
constructions are omitted to provide a clear and concise
description of exemplary embodiments. Further, dimensions of
various elements in the accompanying drawings may be arbitrarily
increased or decreased for assisting in a comprehensive
understanding.
[0035] Hereinafter, configuration of a sealing apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a dishwasher
comprising a sealing apparatus will be described.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a dishwasher 10, according to an
embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a main body 11, a
washing tank 13 formed inside the main body 11, a door 19 for
opening and closing the washing tank 13, a pump chamber 30 (see
FIG. 2) in which a pump (not illustrated) is built, and a sealing
apparatus S (see FIG. 3).
[0037] The main body 11 is provided with the pump chamber 30 that
is connected with a bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 such
that fluid can pass between the washing tank 13 and the pump
chamber 30. Top nozzle 17a and bottom nozzle 17b, which spray water
toward dishes in the washing tank 13, are disposed inside the main
body 11 such that they rotate. Also, the main body 11 includes a
pair of rails 18 that support a rack (not illustrated) which
receive dishes. The pair of rails 18 are disposed on opposite side
walls of the washing tank 13.
[0038] The door 19 includes a steam outlet 20 for discharging steam
inside the washing tank 13 after washing, a detergent injecting
part 21 for injecting detergent, and a rinse solution injecting
part 22 for injecting rinse solution.
[0039] The dishwasher 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is an example for
explaining the present disclosure, so certain embodiments can
alternatively be formed as a built-in type dishwasher. In certain
embodiments, depending on the size of the washing tank 13, a middle
nozzle (not illustrated) is disposed in addition to the top and
bottom nozzles 17a and 17b. In some embodiments, a separate nozzle
(not illustrated) for spraying water is disposed in a side wall of
the washing tank. Also, the door 19 is not limited to being formed
as a single door. In certain embodiments, the door 19 is formed as
a pair of doors (not illustrated) which are hinge-coupled to a top
end and a bottom end of the main body 11, respectively.
Additionally, in some embodiments the door 19 is formed to have no
steam outlet 20.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, the bottom surface 15 of the washing
tank 13 is provided with an opening 15a that is connected with the
pump chamber 30 such that fluid can pass between the washing tank
13 and the pump chamber 30. A peripheral portion 15b of the opening
15a has a predetermined slope toward the pump chamber 30 so that
water used in the washing tank 13 is guided to the opening 15a.
[0041] The pump chamber 30 collects washing water (or water mixed
with detergent) which is collected along the bottom surface 15 of
the washing tank 13, and a pump (not illustrated) disposed in the
pump chamber 30 sprays the collected washing water toward dishes
through the top and bottom nozzles 17a and 17b.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 3, the pump chamber 30 includes a top
portion 31 that is open and is formed in a substantially circular
shape. In certain embodiments, the top portion 31 of the pump
chamber 30 includes, as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, an outer
protrusion 33a and an inner protrusion 33b which is formed inside
the outer protrusion 33a and is spaced a predetermined interval
apart from the outer protrusion 33a. A channel 35 is formed between
the outer protrusion 33a and the inner protrusion 33b, and a
plurality of drain holes 37a, 37b, and 37c are formed at intervals
in the channel 35.
[0043] The channel 35 collects water droplets which are formed on
an outer surface 15c (see FIG. 11) of the bottom surface 15 of the
washing tank 13 or flow down along the outer surface 15c due to
temperature difference between an inner side and an outer side of
the washing tank 13 during washing of the dishes, and is connected
with a discharge passage for discharging water outside the
dishwasher 10 such that fluid can pass between the channel 35 and
the discharge passage.
[0044] Hereinafter, configuration of a sealing apparatus S
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be
explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 3, and 6 to 11.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, the sealing apparatus S is disposed in
an interconnecting portion between the bottom surface 15 of the
washing tank 13 and the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30. The
sealing apparatus S includes a packing member 40 and a protecting
member 50.
[0046] The packing member 40 is formed in a substantially ring
shape, and serves to prevent leakage between the bottom surface 15
of the washing tank 13 and the top portion 31 of the pump chamber
30. For this, the packing member 40, as illustrated in FIG. 11, is
received in a receiving groove 31a of the top portion 31 of the
pump chamber 30, and a portion of the packing member 40 is held in
place by the protecting member 50.
[0047] Also, the packing member 40 is disposed so that an outer
circumferential surface of the packing member 40 is in close
contact with an inclined wall 38 of the top portion 31 of the pump
chamber 30 and a bottom surface of the packing member 40 is in
close contact with a bottom surface of the receiving groove 31a.
Simultaneously, a first sealing projection 41of the packing member
40 and a second sealing projection 43 of the packing member 40 are
formed in two rows, offset vertically, along an inner
circumferential surface of the packing member 40. The first and
second sealing projections 41 and 43 are in close contact with the
bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 to keep airtightness of
the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13.
[0048] In some embodiments, the packing member 40 includes a
hooking portion 45 extending along an upper portion of an outer
circumferential surface of the packing member 40. The hooking
portion 45 is coupled to the inner protrusion 33b formed in the top
portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 so that the packing member 40 is
physically connected to and stably affixed to the top portion 31 of
the pump chamber 30.
[0049] Also, the packing member 40 includes a plurality of first
small sealing protrusions 42a which are in close contact with the
outer side surface of the inclined wall 38 of the top portion 31 of
the pump chamber 30 along the outer circumferential surface of the
packing member 40 and a plurality of second small sealing
protrusions 42b which are in close contact with the bottom surface
of the inclined wall 38 of the top portion 31 of the pump chamber
30 along the bottom surface of the packing member 40.
[0050] The protecting member 50 is, as illustrated in FIG. 8,
coupled to the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 such that the
protecting member 50 covers a portion of the packing member 40
received in the receiving groove 31a of the top portion 31 of the
pump chamber 30.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 6, the protecting member 50 includes a
first portion 51 which is formed in a substantially ring shape and
covers the portion of the packing member 40, and a second portion
52 that extends downward from an outer circumferential end of the
first portion 51.
[0052] The top surface of the first portion 51 is, as illustrated
in FIG. 11, inclined at an angle similar to that of the peripheral
portion 15b of the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13. The
inclined top surface of the first portion guides water droplets
which are formed on the outer surface 15c of the bottom surface 15
of the washing tank 13 or flow along the outer surface 15c inside
the protecting member 50.
[0053] Also, a plurality of drain holes 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e,
and 53f are formed at predetermined intervals in the first portion
51. In FIG. 6, the first portion 51 is shown having six (6) drain
holes, but the number of the drain holes is not limited thereto.
The first portion 51 includes at least one drain hole. If the first
portion 51 includes only a single drain hole, the length of the
drain hole may be formed to be longer than that of each of the
drain holes when the first portion 51 is provided with a plurality
of drain holes.
[0054] The plurality of drain holes 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, and
53f are foamed to vertically pass through the first portion 51 and
discharge water droplets falling directly from the outer surface
15c of the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 to the channel
35. On the other hand, when an amount of water which has gathered
between the upper portion of the packing member 40 and the bottom
surface 15 of the washing tank 13 along the outer surface 1 5c of
the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 is increased
gradually, water overflows toward the first portion 51, and then
discharges to the channel 35 through the plurality of drain holes
53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, and 53f.
[0055] Also, when the protecting member 50 is coupled to the top
portion 31 of the pump chamber 30, the first portion 51 allows the
packing member 40 to be stably affixed to the pump chamber 30 by
pressing the hooking portion 45 of the packing member 40 which is
previously coupled to the top portion 31 of the pump chamber
30.
[0056] As a result, when the packing member 40 is seated in the top
portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 and the bottom surface 15 of the
washing tank 13 is assembled to the pump chamber 30, even if the
bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 is rubbed against the
first and second sealing projections 41 and 43 of the packing
member 40 or pushes the inner side of the packing member 40 in any
direction, the packing member 40 will stay affixed in the coupling
position of the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30.
[0057] Accordingly, the sealing apparatus S according to the
present embodiment provides a leak-proof structure with reliability
between the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 and the top
portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 by preventing the packing member
40 from moving from the coupling position during assembly of the
bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 to the top portion 31 of
the pump chamber 30.
[0058] Referring to FIG. 7, a plurality of hooks 55a, 55b, 55c, and
55d project at predetermined intervals from the inner
circumferential surface of the second portion 52 toward the center
of the protecting member 50. Also, an additional hook 55f is formed
to extend from the bottom surface of the first portion 51.
[0059] In certain embodiments, hook 55f is formed in the first
portion 51 or in the second portion 52 depending on the structure
of the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30. In some embodiments,
the hook 55f is entirely omitted.
[0060] In some embodiments, the plurality of hooks 55a, 55b, 55c,
55d, 55e, and 55f are disposed at positions corresponding to the
plurality of drain holes 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, and 53f,
respectively. In other embodiments, the plurality of hooks 55a,
55b, 55c, 55d, 55e, and 55f and the plurality of drain holes 53a,
53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, and 53f may be disposed at positions that do
not correspond to each other.
[0061] As illustrated in FIG. 9, once the protecting member 50 is
coupled to the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 after the
packing member 40 is received to the top portion 31 of the pump
chamber 30, the plurality of hooks 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, 55e, and 55f
are detachably snap-coupled to the step portion 39 of the top
portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 as illustrated in FIG. 10.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 11, when the protecting member 50 is
coupled to the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30, as described
above, the first portion 51 of the protecting member 50 presses the
hooking portion 45 of the packing member 40 toward the inner
protrusion 33b. In some embodiments, the first portion 51 is formed
to have a wider width so that the first portion 51 presses and
fixes both the hooking portion 45 and the upper portion of the
packing member 40.
[0063] The protecting member 50 is formed to have the plurality of
drain holes 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53e, and 53f in the first portion
51 for draining water, but the protecting member 50 is not limited
thereto. As illustrated in FIG. 12, in certain embodiments, a drain
structure of a protecting member 150 includes at least one cutting
groove 159 without the plurality of drain holes 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d,
53e, and 53f.
[0064] In certain of those embodiments, the cutting groove 159 of
the protecting member 150 is formed by cutting some part of a step
portion 157 formed along the bottom surface of the first portion
151 in the horizontal direction.
[0065] The protecting member 150 includes a first portion 151 and a
second portion 152 similarly to the protecting member 50 as
described above, and a plurality of hooks 155 is formed along the
second portion 152.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 13, the protecting member 150 is
detachably coupled to the top portion 31 of the pump chamber 30 by
the hook 155 after the packing member 40 is received in the
receiving groove 31a of the top portion 31 of the pump chamber
30.
[0067] In this case, the cutting groove 159 formed in the first
portion 151 forms a discharge passage in conjunction with the top
surface of the hooking portion 45 of the packing member 40.
Accordingly, water droplets which are formed on the outer surface
15c of the bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 or flow down
along the outer surface 15c are discharged to the channel 35
through the cutting groove 159 of the first portion 151.
[0068] In certain embodiments, the cutting groove 159 is formed at
a position corresponding to the hook 155, and in certain other
embodiments, the cutting groove 159 is formed at a position which
does not correspond to the hook 155.
[0069] As described above, in the present disclosure, when the
bottom surface 15 of the washing tank 13 and the pump chamber 30
are assembled to each other, the packing member 40 is prevented
from moving from the receiving groove 31a formed in the top portion
31 of the pump chamber 30 by the protecting member 50.
[0070] Although the present disclosure has been described with an
exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be
suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the
present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *