Patent Publication Number: US-9903066-B2

Title: Washing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0134967, filed on Nov. 7, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having an improved structure of a fixing unit for fixing a spray unit spraying washing water. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A washing machine is a machine that washes laundry using power, generally includes a tub in which water is stored, a rotating tub that is rotatably disposed in the tub, a pulsator that is rotatably installed on a bottom of the rotating tub, a driving unit for rotating the rotating tub and the pulsator, and a clutch that causes a rotational force to be selectively transferred to the rotating tub according to whether washing or dehydration is performed. 
     When the rotating tub and the pulsator are rotated in a state in which the laundry and detergent water are put into the rotating tub, the pulsator agitates the laundry put into the rotating tub together with washing water so that dirt stained on the laundry can be removed. 
     In general, washing water is sprayed into the rotating tub via a spray unit. In order to spray washing water at a plurality of points, nozzles through which washing water is sprayed, are additionally attached to the spray unit. In this case, an additional injection structure needs to be formed. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine having an improved structure of a fixing unit including a mounting structure that is capable of fixing a spray unit. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet; a tub which is disposed in the cabinet and in which washing water is stored; a rotating tub that is disposed in the tub and accommodates laundry; a spray unit configured to spray washing water into the rotating tub; and a fixing unit to which at least a portion of the spray unit is coupled and which includes a mounting structure provided at at least a portion of a circumferential direction of the fixing unit so as to fix the spray unit. 
     The mounting structure may fix one among an upper portion, a lower portion, and sides of at least a portion of the spray unit. 
     The mounting structure may include a mounting groove provided to be recessed into an inner side from an outer side of the fixing unit so that the spray unit can be inserted into the mounting structure. 
     The mounting structure may further include at least one side rib that extends to a top surface of the fixing unit so as to prevent the spray unit from being deviated from the outer side of the fixing unit. 
     The mounting structure may further include at least one upper rib that is disposed to protrude from the outer side of the fixing unit and that fixes a top surface of the spray unit so as to prevent vertical movement of the spray unit. 
     The upper rib and the side rib may be disposed to cross each other. 
     The mounting structure may further include at least one lower rib that is disposed to protrude in an upward direction from a bottom surface of the mounting groove and that fixes a bottom surface of the spray unit so as to prevent vertical movement of the spray unit. 
     The spray unit may include a first nozzle through which washing water is sprayed onto one surface of the fixing unit and a second nozzle through which washing water is sprayed onto the other surface of the fixing unit. 
     At least a portion of the mounting structure may be provided to be inclined in an upward direction from the first nozzle to the second nozzle. 
     A spray portion may be provided at at least a portion of the fixing unit coupled to at least one of the first nozzle and the second nozzle so as to communicate with the rotating tub. 
     At least one surface of the spray portion may be provided to protrude so as to prevent washing water from spattering on the outer side of the fixing unit. 
     A communicating portion may be provided at the spray portion so as to face the rotating tub, and the communicating portion may be provided to be widened as it gets closer to a lower side of the communicating portion so that a region in which washing water is to be sprayed, can be widened. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet; a tub which is disposed in the cabinet and in which washing water is stored; a rotating tub that is disposed in the tub and accommodates laundry; a spray unit configured to spray washing water into the rotating tub at a plurality of points; and a fixing unit including at least one rib so as to fix the spray unit. 
     The at least one rib may include a side rib provided to cover sides of the spray unit and an upper rib provided to cover a top surface of the spray unit. 
     A first region in which the side rib is placed, and a second region in which the upper rib is placed, may be different from each other. 
     The rib may further include a lower rib that supports a bottom surface of the spray unit, and the lower rib may be placed at at least one of both ends of the side rib. 
     The fixing unit may include a mounting groove provided to be recessed into an inner side from an outer side of the fixing unit so that the spray unit can be inserted into the mounting groove. 
     The spray unit may include a first nozzle through which washing water is sprayed onto one surface of the fixing unit, and a second nozzle through which washing water is sprayed onto the other surface of the fixing unit. 
     The rib that protrudes from a bottom surface of the mounting groove may be provided so that a length of the rib at which the rib protrudes from the first nozzle to the second nozzle, can be increased. 
     A connection hose that connects the first nozzle and the second nozzle may be inserted into the mounting groove. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a washing machine including: a cabinet; a tub which is disposed in the cabinet and in which washing water is stored; a rotating tub that is disposed in the tub and accommodates laundry; a spray unit including at least one nozzle through which washing water is sprayed into the rotating tub and a hose that is a flow path transferring washing water to the nozzle; and a fixing unit at which a communicating hole through which the at least one nozzle passes, is provided and to which at least a portion of the hose is coupled in a circumferential direction of the fixing unit. 
     The fixing unit may include a mounting groove provided to be recessed into an inner side from an outer side of the fixing unit, and at least a portion of the hose may be inserted into the mounting groove. 
     The fixing unit may include a side rib, of which an outer wall protrudes upward, and an upper rib placed at an upper portion of the mounting groove so as to fix the hose, and the side rib and the upper rib may be disposed to cross each other. 
     The spray unit may include a first nozzle coupled to one point of the fixing unit and a second nozzle coupled to the other point of the fixing unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a state in which a tub, a fixing unit, and a spray unit of the washing machine illustrated in  FIG. 1  are combined with each other; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a state in which the tub, the fixing unit, and the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1  are disassembled; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the fixing unit and the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1  are combined with each other, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is disassembled from the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is combined with the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of nozzles of the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of another side of the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is disassembled from the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the washing machine according to the current embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet  10  that constitutes an exterior, a tub  20  which is disposed in the cabinet  10  and in which water is stored, a rotating tub  30  that is rotatably disposed in the tub  20 , a pulsator  40  that is installed in the rotating tub  30  and generates a water current, and a driving unit  50  that rotates the pulsator  40 . 
     The cabinet  10  includes a laundry port  10   a  which is provided on a top surface of the cabinet  10  and through which laundry may be put into the rotating tub  30 . A door  11  is installed at an upper portion of the cabinet  10 , is installed to be pivoted with respect to the cabinet  10 , and opens/closes the laundry port  10   a.    
     The tub  20  is suspended and installed in the cabinet  10  and accommodates water to be used in washing. A spray unit  70  is disposed at an upper side of the tub  20  so as to supply water into the tub  20 , and a drainage unit  80  is disposed at a lower side of the tub  20  so as to discharge water used in washing to the outside. The spray unit  70  may be coupled to a fixing unit  60  coupled to the upper side of the tub  20 . 
     The spray unit  70  includes a water supply pipe  74  connected to an external water supply source (not shown) and a pump  73  that is connected to the water supply pipe  74  so as to pump water into the rotating tub  30 . Washing water is transferred to a plurality of nozzles (see  77  and  78  of  FIG. 3 ) from the pump  73  through an integrated hose  72 . 
     The drainage unit  80  includes a drainage pipe  81  that is connected to a lower portion of the tub  20  and guides water in the tub  20  to be discharged to the outside, and a drainage valve  82  that is disposed on the drainage pipe  81  and opens/closes the drainage pipe  81 . 
     The rotating tub  30  includes a body portion  31  having a cylindrical shape in which an upper portion of the rotating tub  30  is opened, and a bottom surface portion  32  that is fixed to a bottom end of the body portion  31  and constitutes a bottom surface of the rotating tub  30 . Communicating holes  31  a through which water in the tub  20  may be introduced into the rotating tub  30  and simultaneously water in the rotating tub  30  may be discharged toward the tub  20 , are provided in the body portion  31 . Also, a balancer  31   b  may be coupled to the upper portion of the rotating tub  30  so that an unbalanced load of the rotating tub  30  can be offset and the rotating tub  30  can be stably rotated. 
     The rotating tub  30  is rotated by power transmitted from the driving unit  50  via the pulsator  40  from the driving unit  50  via the pulsator  40 . To this end, the rotating tub  30  includes a driving flange  33  that is installed at the bottom surface portion  32  that constitutes a lower portion of the rotating tub  30  and receives power from the pulsator  40 . 
     A hollow dehydration shaft  34  that constitutes a center of rotation of the rotating tub  30 , is installed at the driving flange  33 , and a washing shaft  54  is rotatably installed in the dehydration shaft  34 . 
     The pulsator  40  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise within the rotating tub  30  and generates a water current. The laundry in the rotating tub  30  is agitated by the water current generated by the pulsator  40  and is washed by friction. 
     The driving unit  50  is disposed at the lower portion of the tub  20  and generates a rotational force by power applied to the driving unit  50 . The driving unit  50  includes a stator  51  having a coil  51  a, a rotator  52  that includes a magnet  52   a  interacting with the coil  51  a and rotates by interacting with the stator  51 , a driving shaft  53  having a bottom end connected to a center of the rotator  52 , the washing shaft  54  that transmits a rotational force to the pulsator  40 , and a deceleration unit  55  that is disposed between the driving shaft  53  and the washing shaft  54  and includes an epicyclic gear for deceleration. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a state in which a tub, a fixing unit, and a spray unit of the washing machine illustrated in  FIG. 1  are combined with each other, and  FIG. 3  illustrates a state in which the tub, the fixing unit, and the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1  are disassembled. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the spray unit  70  is configured to spray washing water into the rotating tub  30  and is combined with the fixing unit  60 . A mounting structure for fixing the spray unit  70  may be provided at the fixing unit  60 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the mounting structure may be provided along a circumferential direction of the fixing unit  60 . 
     The spray unit  70  may include the pump  73  for pumping washing water and the integrated hose  72  that connects the pump  73  and the nozzles  77  and  78 . The spray unit  70  may include the plurality of nozzles  77  and  78  and may spray washing water into the rotating tub  30  at a plurality of points. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the spray unit  70  includes a first nozzle  77  and a second nozzle  78  and sprays washing water into the rotating tub  30  at two points. A connector  74  may be placed between the integrated hose  72  and the plurality of nozzles  77  and  78 . The connector  74  causes a flow path of washing water to be split into the plurality of nozzles  77  and  78  from the integrated hose  72 . The first nozzle  77  may be provided at one point close to the connector  74 , and the second nozzle  78  may be disposed farther than the first nozzle  77 . A connection hose  71  may be placed between the second nozzle  78  and the connector  74 . 
     The mounting structure may fix one among an upper portion, a lower portion, and sides of at least a portion of the spray unit  70 . The mounting structure may include a mounting groove  64  (see  FIG. 5 ) provided to be recessed into an inner side from an outer side of the fixing unit  60  so that the at least a portion of the spray unit  70  can be inserted into the mounting groove  64 . The connection hose  71  that connects the connector  74  and the second nozzle  78  may be inserted into the mounting groove  64 . 
     The mounting structure may include at least one or more ribs  61 ,  62 , and  63  so as to prevent movement of the spray unit  70 . This will be described below. 
     A spray portion  65  may be provided at the fixing unit  60  to communicate with the rotating tub  30  so that washing water can be sprayed into the rotating tub  30  from the plurality of nozzles  77  and  78 . The spray portion  65  may be provided at the spray unit  70  to protrude from the fixing unit  60  in an inward direction of the rotating tub  30 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the first nozzle  77  and the second nozzle  78  are provided, two spray portions  65  may also be provided. 
     The fixing unit  60  and the tub  20  may be coupled to each other via coupling portions  66  and  67 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the coupling portions  66  and  67  may be provided at the fixing unit  60 . The coupling portions  66  and  67  may include a first coupling portion  66  provided to protrude from the fixing unit  60  in a downward direction, and a second coupling portion  67  provided so that an additional fastening member (not shown) can be inserted into the second coupling portion  67 . The first coupling portion  66  may be inserted into the tub  20  in a hook coupling manner, and a fastening member (not shown) may be fastened to the second coupling portion  67  so that the tub  20  and the fixing unit  60  can be coupled to each other. 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the fixing unit and the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1  are combined with each other, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is disassembled from the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is combined with the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 through 6 , the fixing unit  60  includes the mounting structure for fixing the spray unit  70 . Hereinafter, the mounting structure will be described in detail. 
     The mounting groove  64  into which the connection hose  71  is inserted, may be provided at the fixing unit  60 . According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the fixing unit  60  may include at least one side rib  61 . The at least one side rib  61  extends to an upper portion of the fixing unit  60  and prevents the connection hose  71  of the spray unit  70  from being deviated from the outer side of the fixing unit  60 . 
     Also, the mounting structure may further include an upper rib  62  that fixes a top surface of the connection hose  71  of the spray unit  70  so as to prevent vertical movement of the spray unit  70 . The upper rib  62  may be placed at an upper portion of the connection hose  71  and may protrude to cover a portion of a top surface of the mounting groove  64 . 
     Also, the mounting structure may further include a lower rib  63  that supports a bottom surface of the connection hose  71  of the spray unit  70  so as to support a bottom surface of the spray unit  70 . 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the side rib  61  and the upper rib  62  may be disposed to cross each other. That is, when a region in which the side rib  61  is placed is defined as a first region r 1  and a region in which the upper rib  62  is placed is defined as a second region r 2 , the first region r 1  and the second region r 2  may be different from each other. The upper rib  62  may be disposed at a portion where the side rib  61  is not placed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, three upper ribs  62   a,    62   b,  and  62   c  and two side ribs  61   a  and  61   b  may be provided. According to the drawings, the lower rib  63  is provided at both ends of the side ribs  61   a  and  61   b . However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. 
     The plurality of nozzles  77  and  78  may be coupled to the spray portion  65  of the fixing unit  60 . The spray portion  65  may be provided to protrude in an inward direction of the rotating tub  30 . The nozzles  77  and  78  are coupled to a communicating pipe  68  provided to protrude from the spray portion  65 . This will be described later. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged view of nozzles of the spray unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of another side of the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the nozzles  77  and  78  of the spray unit  70  may be coupled to the spray portion  65 . Each of the other sides of the nozzles  77  and  78  that are respectively coupled to the connector  74  is coupled to the spray portion  65 . The other side of the connector  74  may be coupled to a guide pipe  75  for guiding coupling of the connector  74  and the connection hose  71 . The connector  74  may be inserted into the guide pipe  75 , and a holder  76  for fixing the guide pipe  75  and the connector  74  may be coupled onto a surface of the guide pipe  75 . 
     A bottom surface  69   a  of the spray portion  65  may be provided to protrude in an upward direction compared to the mounting structure so as to prevent washing water from spattering on the outer side of the fixing unit  60 . Also, sidewalls  69   b  of the spray portion  65  may be provided to protrude outward compared to the communicating pipe  68 . This is to prevent washing water from spattering on the outer side of the fixing unit  60 . 
     Also, washing water may be widely sprayed into the rotating tub  30  due to a guide portion  69   c  that is provided to be widened as getting closer to its lower side around a communicating hole  69   d  that communicates with the communicating pipe  68  and faces an inner side of the rotating tub  30 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view illustrating a state in which the spray unit is disassembled from the fixing unit of the washing machine of  FIG. 1 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the mounting structure may be provided to be inclined in an upward direction from the first nozzle  77  to the second nozzle  78 . According to the other embodiment of the present disclosure, a length of a lower rib  163  at which it protrudes upward, may be provided to be increased as it gets closer to the second nozzle  78 . That is, when a length at which a lower rib  163   a  close to the first nozzle  77  protrudes upward, is defined as dl and a length at which a lower rib  163   b  close to the second nozzle  78  protrudes upward, is defined as d 2 , a relationship of d 1 &lt;d 2  may be established. This is to mount the connection hose  71  so that washing water can be smoothly transferred to the second nozzle  78  placed far from the integrated hose  72 . Since the lower rib  163  further protrudes as it gets closer to the second nozzle  78 , the connection hose  71  may be pressurized so that washing water can be smoothly transferred to the second nozzle  78 . 
     In addition, the mounting structure may include an upper rib  162  and a side rib  161 , as described above. 
     As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, a mounting structure in which a spray unit can be fixed by a fixing unit, is improved so that movement of the spray unit can be prevented when a washing machine operates and the spray unit can be assembled in a desired position of the washing machine. Accordingly, an additional fastening member for fixing the spray unit need not be prepared so that costs can be reduced and a process time can be reduced. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.