Patent ID: 6145350
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A washing machine, comprising:a wash/spin-dry tub for washing and spin-drying laundry, said wash/spin-dry tub having an inner wall and inner floor;a pulsator mounted on the inner floor of said wash/spin-dry tub, said pulsator being rotatable in the forward and reverse directions;a guide duct formed along the inner wall of the wash/spin-dry tub, said guide duct having a bottom opening and a top opening, the bottom opening of said guide duct being near said pulsator, and the top opening of said guide duct being at an upper portion of said inner wall, said guide duct for guiding water upward from the pulsator;a sub-pulsator mounted on said guide duct and protruding into the wash/spin-dry tub;a hydraulic turbine mounted inside said guide duct and axially connected to said sub-pulsator, for rotating said sub-pulsator, said hydraulic turbine comprising:a turbine disc;a shaft axially connecting said turbine disc to said sub-pulsator;vanes radially arranged on said turbine disc; anda guide rib mounted in the guide duct around said turbine disc, said guide rib having an opening for exposing the vanes of the turbine disc to the flow of water in the guide duct.