Washing machine

Abstract: A washing machine for washing laundry in water containing detergent is disclosed. The washing machine includes a device for removing hydrophobic substances from water containing detergent.

Description: The present invention relates to a washing machine for washing laundry in water containing detergent, comprising a tub for containing the laundry to be washed and means for separating hydrophobic substances from water containing detergent drawn from the tub. Washing machines incorporating means for removing hydrophobic substances from the washing water are known from JP 06226248A and JP 06126090A. A conventional washing machine for washing and spin-drying laundry is illustrated in Figure 1 and includes a housing 100, a tub 110 suspended within the housing 100 on a plurality of supports 120, a drum 130 rotatably mounted within the tub 110 to receive laundry, a pulsator 140 mounted in the bottom of the drum 130, a motor 150 beneath tub 110, and a transmission system 160 for selectively rotating the pulsator 140 and the drum 130. Ducts 200 forming vertical water passages are formed on the inner wall of the drum 130. An outlet and an inlet are formed in the upper and lower end of the duct 200, respectively. The water in the drum 130 enters the duct 200 through the inlet and is discharged through the outlet. A filter 103 is attached to the outlet for filtering dirt from the water. A plurality of holes 131 are formed in the wall of the drum 130 to communicate the tub 110 and the drum 130, so that water supplied to the drum 130 also enters the tub 110. A supply pipe 171, for supplying water to the tub 110 and drum 130, is mounted above the tub 110 together with a detergent receptacle 170, so that detergent can be dissolved in the water supplied to the tub 110. A draining device 180 for draining the water from the tub 110 after the wash cycle is complete is mounted beneath the tub 110. The operation of a conventional washing machine will now be described. Laundry is placed in the drum 130 and the washing machine is switched on, water is supplied to the drum 130 via the supply pipe 171 and detergent in the detergent receptacle 170 is dissolved in the water. During the wash cycle, the motor 150 rotates the pulsator 140 through the transmission system 160 to generate a continuous flow of water and to agitate the laundry. When the pulsator 140 rotates, the water flows into the ducts 200 under centrifugal force and is upwardly directed within the duct 200 and is discharged through the outlet. Any dirt contained in the water if filtered by the filter 103, before the water is returned to the drum 130. The circulation of water through the ducts 200 in combination with rotation of the pulsator 140 assists in washing the laundry. During a spin-drying cycle, the motor 150 rotates both the drum 130 and the pulsator 140 simultaneously through the transmission system 160 at high speed to force the water out of the laundry under centrifugal force. During the spin-drying cycle, water is drained from the drum 130 through the holes 131 by the draining device 180. When the spin-drying cycle is complete, a rinsing cycle is initiated. A disadvantage with a conventional washing machine is that the detergent contains hydrophilic groups which are polar atomic radicals that have great affinity for water, and hydrophobic groups which are nonpolar atomic radicals that have little affinity for water and great affinity for oil. The hydrophobic groups do not completely dissolve in the water and the undissolved detergent is drained from the drum 130 together with the water, which is harmful to the environment and can cause contamination to a water supply. In addition, any oils washed from the laundry by the detergent are also drained from the drum 130 together with the water, which can also lead to contamination of the water supply. Furthermore, to completely remove the undissolved detergent, the laundry must be rinsed many times, resulting in high water consumption and increased operating time. A washing machine according to the present invention is characterised by water recirculation means for returning water, from which hydrophobic substances have been separated, to the tub. Preferably the separating means includes a nozzle through which water is forced by a first pump into a tube, said water being mixed with air as it enters the tube to generate bubbles. Conveniently, the washing machine comprises collection means for collecting said separated hydrophobic substances. In a preferred embodiment the collection means includes a fan for drawing the bubbles away from the water. The collection means preferably includes a container for collecting hydrophobic substances contained in the bubbles, the washing machine conveniently including means for detachably mounting said container to the washing machine. Preferably, the washing machine includes a second pump for drawing water to the tub through the separation means. In a preferred embodiment, the tub includes a drum housed therein to spin-dry said laundry. Preferably said separation means includes a venturi tube for generating bubbles in the washing water sprayed by said nozzle. According to the invention, there is provided a method of washing laundry in a washing machine comprising a drum containing a pulsator, the drum being housed in a tube suspended in said washing machine, the method including the step of performing a washing operation with respect to said laundry by pulsating said laundry in washing water containing detergent for a predetermined time period while drawing said washing water from said tub, clarifying said washing water by separating and collecting hydrophobic substances from said detergent which are not dissolved in said washing water, and recirculating the clarified washing water back into said tub. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side sectional view of a prior art washing machine; Figure 2 is a side sectional view of a washing machine according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a partial enlarged view of Figure 2, illustrating the device for eliminating hydrophobic substances according to the present invention; and Figures 4 and 5 are views illustrating how the hydrophobic substances are caught in a bubble. Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Parts identical to those in the conventional washing machine will not be described, and will be referred to with the same reference numerals. A washing machine has a tub 110, a drum 130, a motor 150, a transmission system 160, a supply pipe 171, and a draining device 180, as in the prior art washing machine of Figure 1. The washing machine according to the present invention is equipped with a device for removing hydrophobic substances from the water and it comprises a bubble generator 310 for generating bubbles, a bubble separator 320 for separating bubbles containing hydrophobic substances from water, and a collector 330 for collecting the hydrophobic substances by directing the bubbles separated by the bubble separator 320 into a container. The bubble generator 310 comprises a first pump 311 mounted beneath the tub 110, a first pipe 312 connecting the tub 110 with the first pump 311, a nozzle 314 extending from the first pump 311, and a venturi tube 313 surrounding the end of the nozzle 314. The venturi tube 313 has an inflow pipe 313a at the upper side thereof, for the passage of air into the venturi. The bubble separator 320 comprises a second pump 321 mounted beneath the tub 110, a second pipe 322 communicating the venturi tube 313 with the second pump 321, and a circulation pipe 323 for communicating the second pump 321 with the outer tub 110. The collector 330 comprises a third pipe 331 connected to the second pipe 322, a fan 332 mounted within the third pipe 331, and a container 333 at the end of the third pipe 331. The third pipe 331 extends upwardly from the second pipe 322, and the fan 332 is disposed at a higher position than the bubble separator 320. A chamber 335 is provided for accommodating the container 333 and is formed in a recess in the housing 100. The container 333 can be inserted into the chamber 335 from the outside of the washing machine. The upper side of the chamber 335 is open so that the substances discharged from the third page 331 are collected in the container 333. Operation of a washing machine having the above construction will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. The laundry and the water in which detergent is dissolved are supplied to the drum 130 and the tub 110. The first pump 311 draws the water from the tub 110 through the first pipe 312, which is delivered to the nozzle 314 by the first pump 311, and is then sprayed into the venturi tube 313 from the nozzle 314. At the same time, air is drawn into the venturi tube 313 through the inflow pipe 313a and is mixed with the water to generate bubbles (b) as shown in Figure 4. As hydrophobic substances (d) contained in the washing water, such as oil or hydrophobic groups in the detergent, do not dissolve, they are separated from the water and are caught in the bubbles (b). Therefore, the water is divided into water containing hydrophilic groups of the detergent and bubbles (b) containing the hydrophobic substances (d) in the venturi tube 313. The water flows from the venturi tube 313 through the second pipe 322, and the second pump 321 pumps the washing water into the tub 110 through the circulation pipe 323. The bubbles (b) containing the hydrophobic substances (d) float from the washing water into the third pipe 331 where they are drawn upwards by the fan 332. The bubbles (b) are discharged into the container 333, where the hydrophobic substances (d) are collected. The collection of hydrophobic substances is continuously performed throughout the washing cycle, and when the washing cycle is complete, the rinsing and spin-drying cycles are performed consecutively as in a conventional washing machine. In the present embodiment, the method of eliminating the hydrophobic substances is performed during the wash cycle. However, the method can also be performed during the rinsing cycle. According to the present invention, the water in the tub 130 contains detergent having only hydrophilic groups. Therefore, water contamination is prevented. Furthermore, since the detergent contains only the hydrophilic groups, the rinsing operation is more effectively performed, and the number of rinses can be reduced, minimising water consumption and operation time of the washing machine.

Claims: A washing machine for washing laundry in water containing detergent, comprising a tub (110) for containing the laundry to be washed and means (310) for separating hydrophobic substances from water containing detergent drawn from the tub (110) characterised by water recirculation means (321,323) for returning water, from which hydrophobic substances have been separated, to the tub (110). A washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said separation means (310) includes a nozzle (314) through which water is forced by a first pump (311) into a tube (313), said water being mixed with air as it enters the tube (313) to generate bubbles. A washing machine according to claim 2 comprising means (330) for collecting said separated hydrophobic substances. A washing machine according to claim 3 wherein said collection means (330) includes a fan (332) for drawing the bubbles away from the water. A washing machine according to claim 3, wherein said collecting means (330) includes a container (333) for collecting hydrophobic substances contained in the bubbles. A washing machine according to claims 4 or 5, including a second pump (321) for drawing water to the tub (110) through the separation means (310). A washing machine according to any preceding claim wherein said tub (110) includes a drum (130) housed therein to spin-dry said laundry. A washing machine according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein said separation means (310) includes a venturi tube (313) for generating bubbles in the washing water sprayed by said nozzle (314). A washing machine according to claim 5 including means for detachably mounting said container (333) to the washing machine. A method of washing laundry in a washing machine comprising a drum (130) containing a pulsator (140), the drum (130) being housed in a tub (110) suspended in said washing machine, the method including the step of performing a washing operation with respect to said laundry by pulsating said laundry in washing water containing detergent for a predetermined time period while drawing said washing water from said tub (110), clarifying said washing water by separating and collecting hydrophobic substances from said detergent which are not dissolved in said washing water, and recirculating the clarified washing water back into said tub (110).

Inventors: SHIN JUNG-SOO, SHIN, JUNG-SOO
Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: D06F35
IPC codes: D06F35, D06F39