Abstract:
Mechanism of agitating washing water during laundry in a washing machine. The washing machine includes a rotating plate at the bottom of the washing tub. One or more first wings protrude from the rotating plate. Each first wing has at least one recessed surface areas and protruding peripherals outside the recessed surface area. One or more second wings with a different geometric configuration from the first wings protrude from the rotating plate. When rotating, the first wings and the second wings are operable to cause the washing water to flow in substantially different directions, which advantageously contribute to reduce clothes entanglement. The first wings and the second wings are alternately disposed on the rotating plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit and priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2014-0125756, filed on Sep. 22, 2014, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a washing machine design and washing method, and more specifically, relates to a washing water agitating mechanism of washing machine. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In general, a washing machine refers to an apparatus which eliminates foreign substances on or in laundry by agitating and rotating washing water together with the laundry. The washing machine typically uses a motor to drive the rotation of a washing tub, and performs washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes to clean the laundry. 
         [0004]    The washing machines are widely classified into cylinder type washing machines, agitator type washing machines, and pulsator type washing machines in accordance with the configurations of the washing machines. A pulsator type washing machine has a circular plate-shaped pulsator installed at the bottom of the washing tub. During the washing process, washing water is agitated by the rotating pulsator. 
         [0005]    To stimulate a strong flow of the washing water and thereby increase the cleaning efficiency, pulsators with agitating wings are typically used. For example, multiple agitating wings of various shapes are formed in different locations on an upper surface of the pulsator. 
         [0006]    Some of the agitating wing configurations according to the prior art cause intense agitation in the washing water, and the wings likely cause undesirable clothes entanglement as well, which leads to laundry damage to and counteracts cleaning efficiency. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a mechanism offering superior washing efficiency without causing heavy clothes entanglement and laundry damage. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a washing machine and a washing method with improved cleaning performance with reduced clothing entanglement. 
         [0009]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a washing machine including: a rotating plate installed at the bottom of a washing tub and one or more first wings each having one or more recessed surface portions. The first wings are formed on the upper surface of the rotating plate. One or more second wings have a shape different from that of the first wings and formed on the upper surface of the rotating plate as well. 
         [0010]    The first wings and the second wings may protrude upward from the rotating plate. The recessed surface portions of a first wing may be depressed downward from the upper surface of a first wing. 
         [0011]    A part of an outer peripheral of the first wing may protrude higher from the rotating plate than the central portion of the first wing which is a recessed surface portion. 
         [0012]    The rotating plate may further include an impeller accommodating portion formed at its rotation center. The washing machine may further include an impeller coupled to the impeller accommodating portion. 
         [0013]    The first wings and the second wings may be alternately disposed on the rotating plate. Widths of a first wing and a recessed surface portion may increase in the outward radial direction with reference to the rotating plate center. The height of the outer peripheral of the first wing may decrease in the outward radial direction with reference to the rotating plate center. The height of the second wing may increase in the outward radial direction with reference to the rotating plate center. The first wing and the second wing may be formed to have a curved height, respectively. A first wing may have a relatively larger area than a second wing. 
         [0014]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a washing method of washing laundry by rotating a rotating plate at the bottom surface of a washing tub. The washing method includes generating a first water current and a second water current that flow in different directions in the washing water. The first water current is produced by one or more first wings that have one or more recessed portions and are provided on an upper surface of the rotating plate. The second water current is produced by one or more second wings provided on the upper surface of the rotating plate. 
         [0015]    The method may further includes a third water current produced by an impeller disposed at a central portion of the rotating plate. The third water current may inhibit a concentrated water current from being formed at the center by the rotation of the rotating plate. 
         [0016]    The first water current may be in a rotational direction due to the rotation of the recessed portion of the first wing. The second water current may be in an upward direction with reference to the rotating plate. 
         [0017]    According to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the washing machine and the washing method may advantageoulsy improve cleaning performance of laundry without heavy clothing entanglement. 
         [0018]    This summary contains, by necessity, simplifications, generalizations and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of the present invention, as defined solely by the claims, will become apparent in the non-limiting detailed description set forth below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Embodiments of the present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which like reference characters designate like elements and in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary pulsator used in the washing machine of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the exemplary pulsator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the exemplary pulsator of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a table comparing performance data between an experimental example according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and Comparative Examples. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]    While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments of the present invention. The drawings showing embodiments of the invention are semi-diagrammatic and not to scale and, particularly, some of the dimensions are for the clarity of presentation and are shown exaggerated in the drawing Figures. Similarly, although the views in the drawings for the ease of description generally show similar orientations, this depiction in the Figures is arbitrary for the most part. Generally, the invention can be operated in any orientation. 
       NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE  
       [0027]    It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as “processing” or “accessing” or “executing” or “storing” or “rendering” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories and other computer readable media into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or client devices. When a component appears in several embodiments, the use of the same reference numeral signifies that the component is the same component as illustrated in the original embodiment. 
       WASHING MACHINE PULSATOR WITH AGITATING WINGS 
       [0028]    Hereinafter, an exemplary washing machine  101  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the washing machine  101  includes a washing tub  200 , and a pulsator  300 . The washing machine  101  further includes an impeller  600 , a drive unit  800 , a casing  500 , a suspension system  700 , and the like. 
         [0030]    The washing tub  200  is positioned inside the casing  500  and accommodates laundry and washing water. The laundry is washed in the washing tub  200 . The washing tub  200  includes the inner tub  210  and an outer tub  220 . 
         [0031]    The pulsator  300  includes a rotating plate  350 , a first wing  310 , and a second wing  320 . 
         [0032]    The rotating plate  350  is rotatably coupled to the bottom of the inner tub  210 . 
         [0033]    In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotating plate  350  includes an impeller accommodating portion  360  at the center. 
         [0034]    The first wing  310  has one or more recessed (or depressed) portions  313 , or recessed surface areas. The first wing  310  is disposed on an upper surface of the rotating plate  350 . One or more first wings may be formed on the upper surface of the rotating plate  350 , as shown. 
         [0035]    The first wing  310  protrudes upward from the rotating plate  350 . The recessed portion  313  is depressed from the upper surface of the first wing  310 . 
         [0036]    More specifically, the peripheral portion of an upper surface of the first wing  310  is higher than the central portion of the upper surface of the first wing  310 . In this example, the central portion of the upper surface is the recessed portion  313 . 
         [0037]    The first wing  310  and the recessed portion  313  become wider along the outward radial direction with reference to the center of the rotating plate  350 . In this example, the first wing  310  projects a near-triangular shape on the rotating plate  350  plane. 
         [0038]    The height of the protruding portion of the first wing  310  decreases along the outward radial direction with reference to the center of the rotating plate  350 . 
         [0039]    The second wing  320  is disposed on the upper surface of the rotating plate  350  and has a shape different from the shape of the first wing  310 . Additional second wings  320  may also be formed or otherwise disposed on the upper surface of the rotating plate  350 , as shown. 
         [0040]    The second wing  320  protrudes upward from the rotating plate  350 . The height of the second wing  320  increases along the outward radial direction relative to the center of the rotating plate  350 . 
         [0041]    The first wings and the second wings may be alternately disposed on the rotating plate  350 . The first wing  310  and the second wing  320  may be formed to have curved height profiles, respectively. That is, the upper surface of the peripheral (the protruding portion) of the first wing  310  also has a non-linear height profile and becomes increasingly lower along the outward radial direction with reference to the rotation center of the rotating plate  350 . The major portion (center) of second wing  320  has a non-linear height profile and becomes increasingly taller along the outward radial direction relative to the rotation center of the rotating plate  350 . 
         [0042]    The first wing  310  occupies a larger area on the rotating plate than the second wing  320  and has a larger surface area than the second wing  320 . 
         [0043]    The impeller  600  is installed in the impeller accommodating portion  360 . The impeller  600  causes additional water flow aside from the flow caused by the rotation of the rotating plate  350  during the washing process so as to assist washing and rinsing operations. The impeller also causes air flow during the spin-drying process so as to increase the effeciency of spin-drying. 
         [0044]    With aforementioned configuration, the first wing  310  and the second wing  320  cause washing water to simultaneously flow in different directions when the rotating plate rotates. In addition, the impeller  600  at the central portion of the rotating plate  350  causes the water to flow in another different direction. 
         [0045]    The washing machine  101  according to embodiments of the present disclosure advantageously provides improved cleaning performance and efficiency, and effectively reduce clothes entanglement by producing multiple water currents in different directions in the washing water. 
         [0046]    The drive unit  800  provides rotational power to the rotating plate  350 . More specifically, the drive unit  800  includes a drive motor  810 , a driving shaft  830  coupled to the drive motor  810 , and a clutch device  820  for intermittently transferring the rotational power to the driving shaft  830 . 
         [0047]    When the drive motor  810  rotates the rotating plate  350 , the first wing  310  and the second wing  320  agitate the washing water and laundry that are accommodated in the inner tub  210  of the washing tub  200 . 
         [0048]    In the washing/rinsing process, the washing water and laundry move with the water currents generated by the motions of first wings, the second wings, and the impeller  600 , respectively. 
         [0049]    The suspension system  700  has one side coupled to the washing tub  200 , and the other side coupled to the casing  500 , thereby absorbing vibration of the washing tub  200  caused by the rotation of the drive motor  810  and the associated rotating components, e.g., the inner tub  210 . 
         [0050]    Hereinafter, an examplary washing method performed by the washing machine  101  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In this example, the washing method includes rotating the rotating plate  350  installed at the bottom of the washing tub  200 . 
         [0051]    The exemplary washing method performed by the washing machine  101  uses the first water current produced by one or more first wings  310 , the second water current produced by one or more second wings  320 , and the third water flow produced by the impeller  600  at the central portion of the rotating plate  350 . The first wings have one or more recessed portions  313  and are disposed on the upper surface of the rotating plate  350 . The second winds are disposed on the upper surface of the rotating plate  350 . 
         [0052]    When the rotating plate  350  rotates, the recessed portion  313  of the first wing  310  causes the washing water to flow in a rotational direction; the second wing mainly causes the washing water to move upward; and the impeller serves to inhibit a concentrated water current from being formed at the center as a result of the rotation of the rotating plate  350 . The impeller also contributes to additional water agitation aside from the first water current and the second water current. 
         [0053]    As described above, the washing method using the washing machine  101  according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may advantageously improve performance of cleaning laundry and effectively reduce clothing entanglement. 
         [0054]    Hereinafter, an Experimental Example according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure and Comparative Examples will be compared and described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
         [0055]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , an ability to rotate clothes and a degree of clothing entanglement of the Experimental Example and the Comparative Examples have been evaluated through tests. 
         [0056]    The ability to rotate clothes are assessed by the number of revolutions of the clothes per minute. The degree of clothing entanglement per minute indicates the probability (represented by a percentage) that the clothes are entangled per minute. 
         [0057]    In the Experimental Example, the pulsator as illustrated in  FIG. 2  in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is used 
         [0058]    The pulsator used in Comparative Example 1 does not have the wing with the recessed portion as described in the Experimental Example, but is configured such that the width of the wing becomes wider with the radial distance relative to the rotation center. In Comparative Example 1, a plurality of impellers are disposed at an outer peripheral of the rotating plate instead of the center of the rotating plate, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0059]    The pulsator of Comparative Example 2 has a different wing configuration from that of the Experimental Example, as shown in  FIG. 5 . No impeller is installed in Comparative Example 2. 
         [0060]    The pulsator of Comparative Example 3 has a wing with another different shape from that of the Experimental Example. An impeller is installed at the center of the rotating plate. 
         [0061]    The test results show that Comparative Example 1 has a low degree of clothing entanglement, but its ability to rotate clothes is also low. The test results show that Comparative Example 2 and Comparative Example 3 have relatively high abilities to rotate clothes, but the degrees of clothing entanglement are also high. Therefore it is determined that laundry will be seriously entangled. 
         [0062]    However, in the Experimental Example according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it can be confirmed that the degree of clothing entanglement is relatively low, and the ability to rotate clothes is excellent. 
         [0063]    That is, it is proved that the washing machine  101  according to the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and the washing method using the same may improve performance in washing laundry, and effectively reduce the clothing entanglement. 
         [0064]    Although certain preferred embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent from the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that the invention shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.