Patent Publication Number: US-10760200-B2

Title: Water supply device and washing machine having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0174820, filed on Dec. 9, 2015 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 water supply device, and more particularly, to a water supply device that is capable of controlling water pressure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A washing machine is a machine that washes clothes using power, and generally includes a tub that stores washing water, a rotating tub that is rotatably installed inside the tub, and a pulsator that is provided to be rotatable at the bottom of the rotating tub. 
     In the washing machine, a washing space is generally formed by the tub and the rotating tub, but there is no space for separately washing stained socks, white clothes, underwear, and the like. 
     In addition, washing water should be supplied to the washing machine through a water supply device in order to do laundry, and in this instance, water pressure of the supplied washing water is greater than necessary and a problem in that the washing water splashes around a desired point rather than being discharged thereto occurs. 
     Meanwhile, since tension caused by the washing water occurs at an outlet of the water supply device because there is no pressure difference between an inlet and the outlet when the supply of the washing water is stopped, a part of the washing water may remain inside the water supply device without being discharged from the water supply device. Such residual water inside the water supply device may be frozen inside the water supply device in winter and cause the water supply device to be frozen and broken. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a water supply device which may prevent the water supply device from being frozen and broken due to residual water existing therein when a supply of water is stopped, and a washing machine having the same. 
     It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a water supply device which may form an air pocket therein to prevent freeze-breakage due to an expansion in volume of residual water, and a washing machine having the same. 
     It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a water supply device which may discharge residual water existing therein when a supply of water is stopped, and a washing machine having the same. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a water supply device includes: a housing that has an inlet and an outlet; an inflow chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the inlet; a discharge chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the inflow chamber and the outlet; a buffer chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the discharge chamber; and a blocking rib that extends from an inner side of the housing and is provide to partition the discharge chamber from the buffer chamber. 
     Here, the blocking rib may extend from an inner side of the housing that is adjacent to the inflow chamber. 
     Also, at least one end portion of the blocking rib may be spaced apart from an inner surface of the housing to form a buffer hole through which the discharge chamber and the buffer chamber communicate. 
     Also, the blocking rib may be provided at a position corresponding to a height of residual water remaining inside the discharge chamber when a supply of water is stopped. 
     Also, the blocking rib may be provided to extend along a direction perpendicular to a direction of gravity. 
     Also, the buffer chamber may be provided at an upper portion of the discharge chamber along a direction of gravity. 
     Also, the water supply device may further include a water pressure adjusting rib that extends from the inner side of the housing and is provided to partition the inflow chamber from the discharge chamber. 
     Also, the water pressure adjusting rib may be spaced apart from a lower surface of the housing to form a water pressure adjusting hole through which the inflow chamber and the discharge chamber communicate. 
     Also, the water pressure adjusting rib may include an air pocket hole that is formed to pass therethrough so that a part of an air pocket generated in the buffer chamber is moved to the inflow chamber. 
     Also, the air pocket hole may include a plurality of slits. 
     Also, an outlet guide rib may be provided at the outlet, the outlet guide rib may extend along a discharge direction of water and guides water discharged from the discharge chamber. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a water supply device includes: a housing that has an inlet and an outlet; an inflow chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the inlet; a discharge chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the inflow chamber and the outlet; a buffer chamber that is provided inside the housing and communicates with the discharge chamber; and a water pressure adjusting rib that extends from an inner side of the housing and is provided to partition the inflow chamber from the discharge chamber, wherein the water pressure adjusting rib includes an air pocket hole through which the discharge chamber and the inflow chamber communicate. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes: a cabinet; a main washing space that is provided inside the cabinet and has a tub in which washing water is stored and a rotating tub in which laundry is disposed inside the tub; an auxiliary washing space that is provided to be separate from the main washing space; and a water supply device that supplies washing water to the auxiliary washing space, wherein the water supply device includes a housing that has an inlet and an outlet and includes an inflow chamber communicating with the inlet, a discharge chamber communicating with the inflow chamber and the outlet, and a buffer chamber communicating with the discharge chamber and provided in an upper portion of the discharge chamber, a blocking rib that is provided to partition the discharge chamber from the buffer chamber, and a water pressure adjusting rib that partitions the inflow chamber from the discharge chamber and in which an air pocket hole formed so that the inflow chamber and the discharge chamber communicate is provided. 
     Here, the water pressure adjusting rib may be spaced apart from a lower surface of the housing to form a water pressure adjusting hole provided to move water introduced through the inlet from the inflow chamber to the discharge chamber. 
     Also, the water supply device may be configured to be supplied with water from a water supply source, and the washing machine further includes a residual water drainage member that is provided at a flow passage between the water supply source and the water supply device and in which a residual water drainage hole for discharging residual water existing in the water supply device when the supply of water is stopped is formed. 
     Also, the residual water drainage member may be disposed at a position lower than that of the water supply device in a direction of gravity. 
     Also, the residual water drainage member may include an inflow pipe through which water is introduced from the water supply source and an outflow pipe through which the water introduced through the inflow pipe is discharged to the water supply device, and the residual water drainage hole is provided at a flow passage between the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe. 
     Also, the residual water drainage member may include a venturi portion in which a cross-sectional area of the flow passage is reduced, and the residual water discharge hole is formed at a portion of the residual water drainage member at which the venturi portion is formed. 
     Also, the residual water drainage member may supply water passing through the venturi portion together with outside air introduced through the residual water drainage hole to the water supply device when supplying water. 
     Also, the residual water drainage hole may be configured to discharge the residual water existing in the water supply device to the main washing space when the supply of water is stopped. 
    
    
     
       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 showing a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which a door of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 1  is opened. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a door assembly of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a coupling state between the door and an auxiliary washing unit of the washing machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a water supply unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the water supply device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the water supply device shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing a different embodiment of a blocking rib shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of water inside the water supply device shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view showing another embodiment of the water supply unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 11 to 13  are views showing water supply devices and shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing still another embodiment of the water supply unit shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a residual water drainage member shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view showing the residual water drainage member shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting structure of the residual water drainage member shown in  FIG. 14  and a water supply device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments described in the specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are simply the most preferable examples of the present invention and are not intended to illustrate all aspects of the spirit of the present invention. As such, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications can be made to replace the examples at the time of filing of the present application. 
     In addition, in the specification and the drawings, since the same reference numerals will be given to the components having substantially the same functional configurations. 
     The terms used in the present specification are used just for explaining certain embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present inventive concept. A singular form involves a plural form as long as it is not differently defined in the context. In this specification, it will be appreciated that “comprise”, “have” or the like terms are just used for designating the presence of feature, numerals, steps, operations, elements, parts or combinations thereof, without excluding possibility of the presence or addition of one or more features, numerals, steps, operations, elements, parts or combinations thereof. 
     The terms such as ‘first’ and/or ‘second’, etc. can be used in explaining various elements, but the elements have not to be limited by the foregoing terms. The above terms have to be given only for distinguishing one element from another element, and for example, a first element may be named a second element, and vice versa, without departing from the scope of the present inventive concept. The term ‘and/or’ means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements. 
     Meanwhile, terms used in the following description such as “distal end,” “rear end,” “upper portion,” “lower portion,” “upper end,” “lower end,” and the like are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms. 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing a washing machine  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state in which a door  41  of the washing machine  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is opened,  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing a door assembly  40  of the washing machine  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a coupling state between the door  41  and an auxiliary washing unit  51  of the washing machine  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the washing machine  1  includes a cabinet  10  that forms an exterior thereof, a tub  11  that is disposed inside the cabinet  10  to store washing water, a rotating tub  12  that is rotatably disposed inside the tub  11 , and a pulsator  50  that is disposed inside the rotating tub  12  and generates a water flow. 
     An opening  24  is formed in an upper portion of the cabinet  10  so that laundry may be put into the rotating tub  12 . The opening  24  may be opened and closed by the door assembly  40  installed in the upper portion of the cabinet  10 . The tub  11  may be supported in the cabinet  10  by a suspension device  15 . 
     A main water supply pipe  102   a  for supplying washing water to the tub  11  is installed in an upper portion of the tub  11 . One side of the main water supply pipe  102   a  is connected to an external water supply source (not shown) and the other side thereof is connected to a detergent supply device  103 . Water supplied through the main water supply pipe  102   a  passes through the detergent supply device  103  and is supplied into the tub  11  through a detergent supply hole  103   a  together with a detergent. A water supply valve  18  is installed in the main water supply pipe  102   a  to control the supply of water. 
     The rotating tub  12  is formed in a cylindrical shape whose upper portion is opened, and a plurality of dehydration holes  13  are formed on a side surface of the rotating tub  12 . A balancer  14  may be mounted on the upper portion of the rotating tub  12  so that the rotating tub  12  may be stably rotated when rotated at a high speed. 
     In a lower outside of the tub  11 , a motor  25  that generates a driving force to rotate the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50  and a power switching device  26  that simultaneously or selectively transmits the driving force generated by the motor  25  to the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50  are installed. 
     A hollow dehydration shaft  29  may be coupled to the rotating tub  12 , and a washing shaft  27  installed in a hollow portion of the dehydration shaft  29  may be coupled to the pulsator  50  through a washing shaft coupling unit  28 . The motor  25  may simultaneously or selectively transmit the driving force to the rotating tub  12  and the pulsator  50  in response to an elevation operation of the power switching device  26 . 
     The power switching device  26  may include an actuator  30  that generates a driving force for power switching, a rod  31  that moves linearly in accordance with an operation of the actuator  30 , and a clutch  32  that is connected to the rod  31  and is rotated in accordance with an operation of the rod  31 . 
     A drainage port  20  through which the washing water stored in the tub  12  is discharged is formed at the bottom of the tub  12 , and a first drainage pipe  21  is connected to the drainage port  20 . A drainage valve  22  that regulates drainage may be installed in the first drainage pipe  21 . An outlet of the drainage valve  22  may be connected to a second drainage pipe  34  for discharging washing water to the outside. 
     The door assembly  40  is provided in the opening  24 . 
     The door assembly  40  may include the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51 . 
     The door  41  is provided at one side of the cabinet  10  to open and close the opening  24 . The door  41  may include a transparent member  42  through which the inside of the washing machine may be viewed even when the opening  24  is closed. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may include an auxiliary washing space  51   a  to perform separate hand-washing. The auxiliary washing space  51   a  is separated from a main washing space  11   a  formed by the tub and the rotating tub so that washing may be performed in the auxiliary washing space  51   a . The main washing space  11   a  may be provided to be separated from the auxiliary washing space  51   a . The tub and the rotating tub that form the main washing space  11   a  may be defined as a laundry tub. 
     The main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  51   a  are separated from each other so that washing may be independently performed in each of the spaces. In addition, washing in the main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  51   a  may be separately or simultaneously performed. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may be provided to be rotatable with respect to one side of the door  41  inside the door  41 . The auxiliary washing unit  51  may be provided to have the same axis as the door  41  to match a rotary axis of the door  41 . 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may include a unit body  52  constituted of a bottom portion  53  and a side surface portion  54 . 
     The auxiliary washing space  51   a  of the auxiliary washing unit  51  is formed by the unit body  52 . The bottom portion  53  is a factor that determines a depth of the auxiliary washing space  51   a , and may be provided to be flat or formed to have a curved surface. The side surface portion  54  may be formed to be inclined toward the bottom portion  53 . 
     The bottom portion  53  and the side surface portion  54  may be provided to have the substantially concave auxiliary washing space  51   a  so that washing water may be received in the auxiliary washing space  51   a  and separate washing may be performed therein. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may include a frictional protrusion  55 . 
     The frictional protrusion  55  is provided in the unit body  52  to facilitate auxiliary washing. In the embodiment of the present invention, the frictional protrusion  55  is provided on the side surface portion  54 , but is not limited thereto. There is no limitation in the position of the frictional protrusion  55  as long as it is provided on an inner surface of the unit body  52 . The frictional protrusion  55  may serve to increase a frictional force with laundry during hand-washing to effectively remove stains of the laundry. In the embodiment of the present invention, the frictional protrusion  55  is formed to be more convex than an adjacent inner surface of the auxiliary washing unit  51  on the inner surface of the auxiliary washing unit  51 . According to the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of frictional protrusions  55  may be provided side by side, but a shape and arrangement of the frictional protrusion  55  are not limited. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may include an auxiliary drainage port  56 . 
     The auxiliary drainage port  56  may be provided so that washing water used in the auxiliary washing space  51   a  may be drained therethrough. The auxiliary drainage port  56  may be provided in the form of a hole, and may be disposed at the bottom portion  53  of the auxiliary washing space  51   a  while having a separate opening/closing member. In the embodiment of the present invention, the auxiliary drainage port  56  may be provided on the side surface portion  54  of the unit body  52 . 
     The auxiliary drainage port  56  is provided so that washing water stored in the auxiliary washing space  51   a  may be obliquely discharged when the auxiliary washing unit  51  is rotated. 
     The auxiliary drainage port  56  may be formed by forming a periphery  54   b  of the auxiliary drainage port  56  to be lower than an upper end portion  54   a  of the adjacent unit body  52  in the unit body  52 . That is, the auxiliary drainage port  56  may be formed in a portion that is recessed with respect to the upper end portion of the unit body  52 . However, a shape of the auxiliary drainage port  56  is not limited, and there is no limitation in the shape of the auxiliary drainage port  56  as long as the washing water stored in the auxiliary washing space  51   a  can be discharged when the auxiliary washing unit  51  is inclined. 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may include a seating flange  57 . 
     The seating flange  57  is formed to have a flange shape along a periphery of an upper end of the auxiliary washing unit  51 , and seated on the cabinet  10 . That is, the seating flange  57  may be formed in a flange shape along the upper end of the unit body  52 . 
     A seated portion  24   a  that protrudes along a periphery of the opening  24  may be provided on an inner surface of the opening  24  side of the cabinet  10 . The seating flange  57  may be provided to be seated on the seated portion  24   a . Since the seating flange  57  is seated on the seated portion  24   a , the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be fixed to the cabinet  10 . 
     The auxiliary washing unit  51  may be made of a thermoplastic resin. The auxiliary washing unit  51  may be provided with an ABS material. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and there is no limitation in a material of the auxiliary washing unit  51  as long as the material has impact resistance, rigidity, and the like which are required for hand-washing. 
     Each of the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51  is provided to be rotatable with respect to the cabinet  10 . 
     The door  41  is provided to be rotatable around a door rotary shaft  71   a , and the auxiliary washing unit  51  is provided to be rotatable around an auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a.    
     The door rotary shaft  71   a  and the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  may be provided on the same axis. That is, the door rotary shaft  71   a  and the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  may be provided to coincide with each other. 
     To this end, the door  41  may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet  10  by a door rotary portion  70  provided in the cabinet  10  along the door rotary shaft  71   a , and the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be rotatably coupled to the door  41  by an auxiliary rotary portion  72 . 
     The door rotary portion  70  may protrude in a direction of the door rotary shaft  71   a  so that the door  41  may be rotated around the door rotary shaft  71   a  in the cabinet  10 . Specifically, a receiving portion  71  is provided in the door  41 , and when the door rotary portion  70  is inserted into the receiving portion  71 , the door  41  may be rotatably supported on the cabinet  10 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the door rotary portion  70  may protrude in a projection shape in the direction of the door rotary shaft  71   a  so that the door  41  may be rotated around the door rotary shaft  71   a  on an outer surface of the door  41 . There is no limitation in the shape of the door rotary portion  70  as long as the door  41  is provided to be rotatable with respect to the cabinet  10 . 
     The door  41  includes an insertion portion  46  that is concavely formed at one side of the door  41  so that the auxiliary rotary portion  72  may be rotated, and a rotary protrusion  47  that protrudes in a direction of the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  may be formed in the insertion unit  46  so that the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be rotated around the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a . A rotary hole  73  may be formed in the auxiliary washing unit  51  to correspond to the rotary protrusion  47 . The auxiliary rotary portion  72  may be inserted into a part of the door  41  and rotated so that the door rotary shaft  71   a  and the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  coincide with each other. 
     However, the rotation and arrangement of the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51  are not limited thereto, and there is no limitation in the rotation and arrangement as long as the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51  are provided to open and close the opening  24 . 
     The auxiliary rotary portion  72  is provided to protrude from the unit body  52  so that the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  is spaced apart from the unit body  52 . In this structure, a radius of rotation of the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be increased, and the door  41  or the cabinet  10  may be prevented from interfering with the unit body  52  when the auxiliary washing unit  51  is rotated. 
     The door assembly  41  may include a handle  43 . 
     The handle  43  may include a door handle  44  provided in the door  41  and an auxiliary handle  45  provided in the auxiliary washing unit  51 . 
     The door handle  44  may be provided at the other side of the door  41  to correspond to the door rotary shaft  71   a  provided at one side of the door handle  44 . 
     In the same manner, as the auxiliary rotary shaft  72   a  is provided at one side of the auxiliary handle  45 , the auxiliary handle  45  may be provided at the other side of the auxiliary washing unit  51  to correspond thereto. The door handle  44  and the auxiliary handle  45  may be provided side by side in a longitudinal direction. 
     The door handle  44  and the auxiliary handle  45  may be respectively provided on a front surface of the door  41  and a front surface of the auxiliary washing unit  41  to respectively rotate the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51 . The door  41  may be rotated by operating the door handle  44 , and the auxiliary washing unit  51  and the door  41  may be rotated together of only the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be rotated by operating the auxiliary handle  45 . 
     The door handle  44  may be formed with a first length L 1  with respect to a front surface of the door assembly  40 , and the auxiliary handle  45  may be formed with a second length L 2  side by side with the first length L 1 . The door  41  may be rotated when the door handle  44  is operated, and the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be rotated when the auxiliary handle  45  is operated while the door  41  is opened. 
     The door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51  may be rotated together when the auxiliary handle  45  is operated while the door  41  is closed, and therefore the second length L 2  may be formed to be longer than the first length L 1  in consideration of a weight of each of the door  41  and the auxiliary washing unit  51 . That is, the auxiliary handle  45  may be formed to be longer than the door handle  44 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a water supply unit  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The washing machine  1  may include the water supply unit  100  for supplying water to the main washing space  11   a  and the auxiliary washing space  51   a.    
     The water supply unit  100  may include a water supply valve  101 , the water supply pipe  102 , the detergent supply device  103 , and a water supply device  110 . The water supply pipe  102  may include the main water supply pipe  102   a  and an auxiliary water supply pipe  102   b.    
     The water supply valve  101  is provided in the cabinet  10  so that washing water may be supplied from an external water supply source of the cabinet  10  to the inside of the cabinet  10 . 
     The water supply valve  101  may control a supply of water to the detergent supply device  103  and a supply of water to the water supply device  110 . The supply of water to the detergent supply device  103  and the supply of water to the water supply device  110  may be independently controlled so that control of the supply of water to the main washing space  11   a  and to the auxiliary washing space  51   a  may be separately performed. The supply of water to the water supply device  110  may be controlled through a separate control button (not shown). In addition, a user may control the supply of water to the water supply device  110  by pushing a control pedal (not shown) installed in a lower portion of the cabinet  10 . However, these examples are not limiting, and the supply of water to the water supply device  110  may be controlled through a variety of structures and methods. 
     The water supply valve  101  is connected to the detergent supply device  103  and the water supply device  110  through the main water supply pipe  102   a  and the auxiliary water supply pipe  102   b , respectively. The water supply device  110  will be described in detail later. 
     A washing water inflow port  58  is provided in the auxiliary washing unit  51  to correspond to an auxiliary water supply port  60  so that washing water guided through the water supply valve  101  and the auxiliary water supply pipe  102   b  may be supplied to the auxiliary washing unit  51  via the water supply device  110 . The washing water inflow port  58  may be formed by forming an inflow port periphery  54   c  to be lower than the upper end portion  54   a  of the adjacent unit body  52  in the unit body  52 . That is, the washing water inflow port  58  may be formed in a portion that is concavely formed with respect to the upper end portion of the unit body  52 . However, there is no limitation in the shape of the washing water inflow port  58  as long as washing water can flow into the auxiliary washing space  51   a  without being interfered with by the unit body  52  when the washing water is introduced through the water supply device  110 . 
     The water supply device  110  is provided to supply washing water to the auxiliary washing space  51   a . The water supply device  110  is provided to supply washing water to the auxiliary washing space  51   a  through the washing water inflow port  58  that is concavely formed on the auxiliary washing unit  51 . 
     The water supply device  110  is provided in a side portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51  to supply washing water to the side portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the water supply device  110  may be disposed to supply washing water in a different direction with respect to the auxiliary washing unit  51  as will be described in the following embodiment. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 8  is a view showing a different embodiment of a blocking rib  134  shown in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a flow of water inside the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The water supply device  110  may include a housing  111 , and an inflow pipe  112  and an outflow pipe  113  provided in the housing  111 . 
     The housing  111  may form an exterior of the water supply device  110 , and may be provided in a form in which an upper one side of an approximately cube shape protrudes, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The housing  111  includes an upper housing  111   a  and a lower housing  111   b , and an inner space  120  may be formed by the upper housing  111   a  and the lower housing  111   b  being coupled. 
     The housing  111  may include a thermistor coupling hole  114  in which a thermistor (not shown) for stopping the supply of water is disposed when washing water of a preset temperature or higher is supplied by measuring a temperature of the supplied washing water. The thermistor coupling hole  114  may be provided on an outer surface of the housing  111  in which an inflow chamber  121  communicating with the inflow pipe  112  is formed in order to determine whether the supply of water is stopped by measuring the temperature of the supplied washing water. Accordingly, the water supply device  110  may automatically stop the supply of water when washing water of a temperature high enough to cause discomfort to a user is supplied. 
     The inflow pipe  112  is connected to the water supply valve  101  to guide the washing water supplied from the water supply valve  101  to the inside of the housing  111 . The inflow pipe  112  includes an inlet  112   a  into which washing water flows so that the washing water is introduced to the inside of the housing  111 . 
     The outflow pipe  113  communicates with the inside of the housing  111  and is provided to discharge washing water to the auxiliary washing unit  51 . The outflow pipe  113  is provided in a direction perpendicular to the inflow pipe  112  so washing water is supplied to a side surface of the auxiliary washing unit  51 , but the outflow pipe  113  may be disposed in the same direction as the inflow pipe  112  according to an embodiment which will be described later, or unlike the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the outflow pipe  113  may be disposed in a different direction. The outflow pipe  113  includes an outlet  113   a  formed therein which discharges washing water and which communicates with the outside. 
     The outflow pipe  113  may include an outflow guide rib  116  that extends along a discharge direction of water discharged from a discharge chamber  122  and guides the water discharged from the discharge chamber  122  to be uniformly discharged. The water discharged from the outflow pipe  113  by the outflow guide rib  116  may be uniformly discharged in left and right directions. The outflow guide rib  116  may extend a preset length along a bottom surface of the housing  111  from the outflow pipe  113 . Accordingly, water stored inside the discharge chamber  122  may be guided from the discharge chamber  122  and uniformly discharged from the outflow pipe  113 . 
     The housing  111  includes the inner space  120  which temporarily stores washing water that is introduced therein before the washing water is discharged. The inner space  120  may include the inflow chamber  121  that communicates with the inflow pipe  112  and adjusts water pressure of the introduced washing water, the discharge chamber  122  that communicates with the inflow chamber  121  and the outflow pipe  113 , and a buffer chamber  123  that communicates with the discharge chamber  122  and forms an air pocket. 
     The washing water introduced from the inflow pipe  112  is temporarily stored in the inflow chamber  121 . The inflow chamber  121  is configured so that water pressure of the washing water introduced from the inflow pipe  112  may be reduced. The inflow chamber  121  may be disposed to be spaced apart from the outflow pipe  113  and provided to communicate with the inflow pipe  112 . 
     The inflow chamber  121  may be formed to have a wider width than a width of the inflow pipe  112  or a width of a flow passage through which washing water passes inside an extension pipe  115  which will be described later. Through this, since the inflow chamber  121  may have a wide cross-sectional area for regularizing flow rate, flow velocity and water pressure of the washing water may be reduced. 
     The extension pipe  115  that extends from the inflow pipe  112  may be provided inside the inflow chamber  121 . The extension pipe  115  may be formed to be bent from the inflow pipe  121 , and more specifically, formed to be bent upward inside the inflow chamber  121 . 
     Since a discharge port of the extension pipe  115  protrudes upward inside the inflow chamber  121 , pressure of the washing water flowing through the inflow pipe  112  and the extension pipe  115  may be reduced while the washing water collides with an inner surface of the upper portion of the housing  111 . 
     The discharge chamber  122  is provided so that the washing water introduced from the inflow chamber  121  is temporarily stored therein before being discharged through the outflow pipe  113 . 
     The buffer chamber  123  is provided in an upper portion of the inner space  120  according to the direction of gravity in the discharge chamber  122 . The buffer chamber  123  may have a substantially hexahedral shape. The buffer chamber  123  forms an air pocket when the supply of water to the water supply device  110  is stopped. 
     A water pressure adjuster  131  may be provided between the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122 . The water pressure adjuster  131  may partition the inflow chamber  121  from the discharge chamber  122 . In addition, the water pressure adjuster  131  may adjust the water pressure and flow rate of the washing water flowing from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122  by throttling the washing water. The water pressure adjuster  131  may include a water pressure adjusting rib  132  and a water pressure adjusting hole  133 . 
     The water pressure adjusting rib  132  may be provided at one side of the inflow chamber  121 . The water pressure adjusting rib  132  may be disposed between the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122  to partition the inflow chamber  121  from the discharge chamber  122 . 
     The water pressure adjusting rib  132  may extend from an inner surface of the housing  111  and may be provided inside the housing  111  so as to intercept at least a part of the washing water moving from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122 . Through this configuration, the washing water moving from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122  may be moved only through the water pressure adjusting hole  133  which will be described later. The water pressure adjusting rib  132  is provided to be perpendicular to an advancing direction of the washing water, but is not limited thereto. 
     In addition, the water pressure adjusting rib  132  may include an air pocket hole  136  that is formed to pass therethrough so that a part of an air pocket generated in the buffer chamber  123  is moved to the inflow chamber  121 . The air pocket hole  136  may enable the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122  to communicate with each other. In  FIG. 7 , two slit-shaped air pocket holes  136  are shown, but the number and shape of the air pocket holes  136  are not limited thereto. More specifically, there is no limitation in the number and shape of the air pocket holes  136  as long as an air pocket formed in the buffer chamber  123  can be moved to the inflow chamber  121  when the supply of water is stopped. For example, the air pocket hole  136  may be provided with a plurality of through-holes or provided in a long hole (a slot) shape. 
     The water pressure adjuster  131  may include the water pressure adjusting hole  133  that enables the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122  to communicate with each other so that the washing water may be moved from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122 . The water pressure adjusting hole  133  may be formed on the same plane as the water pressure adjusting rib  132 . 
     Specifically, the water pressure adjusting rib  131  may extend from an upper surface of the inner surface of the housing  111  to a bottom surface thereof, and in this instance, a lower end portion of the water pressure adjusting rib  131  is provided to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing  111 , thereby forming the water pressure adjusting hole  132  that throttles the washing water flowing from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122 . The water pressure adjusting hole  132  may adjust the water pressure and flow rate of the washing water by throttling the washing water flowing from the inflow chamber  121  to the discharge chamber  122 . 
     In addition, the water pressure adjusting hole  133  may be disposed in a lower portion of the inflow chamber  122 . The discharge port of the extension pipe  115  is provided inside the inflow chamber  121  to face upward, and the water pressure adjusting hole  133  may be disposed in a lower portion of the inflow chamber  121  so that the washing water discharged to the discharge port of the extension pipe  115  may be bypassed inside the inflow chamber  121  and be discharged to the water pressure adjusting hole  133  without being discharged directly through the water pressure adjusting hole  133 . However, the disposition of the water pressure adjusting hole  133  is not limited thereto, and there is no limitation in the disposition of the water pressure adjusting hole  133  as long as the water pressure adjusting hole  133  is disposed on the same plane as the water pressure adjusting rib  132 . 
     The water pressure adjusting rib  132  and the water pressure adjusting hole  133  may act as a throttling device that performs a throttling action between the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122 . That is, the water pressure adjusting hole  133  is formed to have a narrower width than an inner width of the housing  111  in the advancing direction of the washing water so that the pressure of the washing water may be lowered by friction. The pressure and flow rate of the washing water may be adjusted through the throttling action in the water pressure adjusting hole  133 . 
     However, the width of the water pressure adjusting hole  133  is not limited thereto, and it is satisfactory for the width of the water pressure adjusting hole  133  to be narrower than a width of the cross-section of each of the inflow chamber  121  and the discharge chamber  122 . In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 to 9 , the inflow chamber  121 , the water pressure adjusting hole  133 , and the discharge chamber  122  are provided to have the same width, and the water pressure adjusting hole  133  has a height of 2 to 3 mm, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. 
     The blocking rib  134  may be provided between the discharge chamber  122  and the buffer chamber  123 . The blocking rib  134  is provided to extend from the inner surface of the housing  111  and partition the discharge chamber  122  from the buffer chamber  123 . The blocking rib  134  may extend from an inner surface of the housing  111  adjacent to the inflow chamber  121 . The blocking rib  134  may be provided on a boundary of the discharge chamber  122  and the buffer chamber  123 . 
     The blocking rib  134  may be provided at a position corresponding to a height of water stored inside the water supply device  110  when the water supply device  110  supplies water to the auxiliary washing unit  51 . The blocking rib  134  may be provided at a position corresponding to approximately ⅔ of a height of the housing  111 . 
     The blocking rib  134  may be provided at a portion at which breaking waves are generated according to a flow of water introduced from the water pressure adjusting hole  133  into the discharge chamber  122 . The water introduced from the inflow chamber  121  into the discharge chamber  122  through the water pressure adjusting hole  133  generates breaking waves at a boundary layer with air. Such breaking waves may advance toward the outflow pipe  113  while surrounding a part of air existing in the buffer chamber  123 , and may be discharged to the auxiliary washing unit  51  together with the air. According to this phenomenon, the height of the water stored inside the water supply device  110  may be gradually increased as the supply of water proceeds. A size of the air pocket formed inside the water supply device  110  when the supply of water is stopped is reduced along with an increase in the height of the water stored inside the water supply device  110 , and when the size of the air pocket is reduced so that a volume of frozen water is expanded and residual water existing inside the water supply device  110  is frozen, a buffer space which may receive the expanded volume is lacking and there is a problem of freeze-breakage of the water supply device  110 . 
     Since the blocking rib  134  is provided at a portion at which the water introduced into the discharge chamber  122  through the water pressure adjusting hole  133  generates breaking waves, generation of the breaking waves may be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the height of the water stored inside the water supply device  110  from being increased even when the water supply device  110  is continuously used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the blocking rib  134  may be provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity. That is, the blocking rib  134  may extend in a direction substantially horizontal to the bottom surface of the housing  111 . On the other hand, referring to  FIG. 8 , the blocking rib  134   a  may be provided to be inclined downward from the inner surface of the housing  111  toward the bottom surface thereof. Accordingly, the blocking rib  134   a  shown in  FIG. 8  may set the height of the residual water stored inside the housing  111  to be lower than that of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     At least one end portion of the blocking rib  134  may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing  111  to form a buffer hole  135  that enables the discharge chamber  122  and the buffer chamber  123  to communicate with each other. In a case in which the water supply device  110  stops the supply of water, since the buffer hole  135  may accommodate residual water having the same volume as an expanded volume of the buffer chamber  123  even when the residual water remaining inside the water supply device  110  is frozen and increases in volume in winter, freeze-breakage of the water supply device  110  may be prevented. 
     The flow of washing water inside the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 6  will be described with reference to  FIG. 9 . 
     When the auxiliary water supply pipe  102   b  is opened through an operation of the water supply valve  101 , washing water may be guided to the water supply device  110 . The washing water introduced through the auxiliary water supply pipe  102   b  may be introduced to the inside of the inflow chamber  121  via the inflow pipe  112  and the extension pipe  115 . At this point, the width of the inflow chamber  121  is wider than a width of a flow passage through which washing water flows inside the inflow pipe  112  and the extension pipe  115  so that a flow velocity and water pressure of the washing water is reduced while the washing water is discharged from the inflow pipe  112  and the extension pipe  115  into the inflow chamber  121 . In addition, the extension pipe  115  is bent upward inside the inflow chamber  112  so that the washing water is moved upward and the water pressure of the washing water is reduced. 
     The washing water introduced into the inflow chamber  112  is temporarily stored inside the inflow chamber  112 , and is then discharged through the water pressure adjusting hole  133  to the discharge chamber  122 . 
     At this point, the water pressure adjusting rib  132  is provided between the inflow chamber  112  and the discharge chamber  122 , so that the washing water moving from the inflow chamber  112  to the discharge chamber  122  may be throttled to reduce the water pressure of the washing water. 
     The washing water introduced into the discharge chamber  122  is temporarily stored inside the discharge chamber  122  while colliding with another side opposite to one side of the discharge chamber  122  in which the water pressure adjusting hole  133  is provided. At this point, in the water supply device  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention, the blocking rib  134  is provided at a substantial boundary portion between the buffer chamber  123  and the discharge chamber  122  to prevent breaking waves from being generated according to a flow of the washing water. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent breaking waves generated by the washing water from being discharged through the outflow pipe  113  together with air inside the buffer chamber  123 , and therefore it is possible to prevent an increase in a water level of residual water existing inside the housing  111  even though the water supply device  110  is continuously used. 
     The washing water discharged from the discharge chamber  122  may be guided by the inflow pipe  113  and the outflow guide rib  116  provided at a lower surface of the discharge chamber  122  and uniformly discharged through the outlet  113   a  of the inflow pipe  113 . 
     Next, when the supply of water is stopped, an air pocket is formed in the buffer chamber  123 , and residual water exists in the discharge chamber  122 . The residual water existing in the discharge chamber  122  fails to be discharged to the outside by surface tension on the outflow pipe  113 . In addition, at a moment when the supply of water is stopped, a part of the air pocket formed in the buffer chamber  123  passes through the air pocket hole  136  by inertia and is moved to the inflow chamber  121 . Accordingly, an air pocket may even be formed in the inflow chamber  121 . 
     By the water supply device  110  having the above-described structure, the washing machine  1  according to an embodiment of the present invention may stably supply washing water to the auxiliary washing unit  51  and prevent freeze-breakage of the water supply device  110  due to an increase in the volume of the washing water even when residual water existing inside the water supply device  110  is frozen in winter. In addition, it is possible to retain a certain amount of residual water inside the water supply device  110 . 
     An example in which the water supply device  110  according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to the washing machine  1  has been described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The water supply device  110  is certainly applicable to any device that needs water supply. 
       FIG. 10  is a view showing another embodiment of the water supply unit  100  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 11 to 13  are views showing water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  of a washing machine  2  according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 13 . However, the same components as those of the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  may be provided to be arranged in at least one position of a front portion, a rear portion, and a side portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51 . The water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  are respectively arranged in the front portion, the rear portion, and the side portion in  FIG. 10  for convenience of description, but the water supply devices may be arranged in only one position thereof. 
     As to the washing machine  2  shown in  FIG. 10 , the water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  are respectively arranged in the front portion, the rear portion, and the side portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51  so that washing water may be supplied to the auxiliary washing unit  51  in a large variety of directions, thereby improving water supply efficiency. 
     As the arrangement of the water supply devices  210 ,  220 , and  230  is changed, an arrangement of outflow pipes  213 ,  223 , and  233  is also changed. The water supply device  110  arranged at a side portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51  has the same configuration as that of the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 6 , and the description thereof will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the water supply device  210  is provided in the front portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51 , the inflow pipe  112  may be provided to be arranged in a direction substantially vertical to the outflow pipe  213 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , when the water supply device  220  is arranged in the rear portion of the auxiliary washing unit  51 , the outflow pipe  223  may be provided to be arranged in a direction substantially opposite to a direction of the inflow pipe  112 . That is, the outflow pipe  223  may be arranged to be in the same direction as a longitudinal direction of the housing  111 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , when the water supply device  230  is arranged at another side opposite to one side of the auxiliary washing unit  51  in which the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 6  is arranged, the outflow pipe  233  may be provided to be arranged in a direction opposite to the outflow pipe  113  of the water supply device  110  shown in  FIG. 6  while being arranged in a direction substantially vertical to the inflow pipe  112 . 
     The direction of the outflow pipe has been described as above for convenience of description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The direction of the outflow pipe with respect to the housing may vary depending on the arrangement of the water supply devices. 
       FIG. 14  is a view showing still another embodiment of the water supply unit  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a residual water drainage member  340  shown in  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view showing the residual water drainage member  340  shown in  FIG. 15 , and  FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view showing a connecting structure of the residual water drainage member  340  shown in  FIG. 14  and a water supply device  310 . 
     A water supply unit  300  of a washing machine  3  according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 14  to  17 . However, the same components as those of the above-mentioned embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     The water supply unit  300  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 14  may include the residual water drainage member  340  provided on a flow passage through which washing water flows between the water supply valve  101  and the water supply device  310 . 
     One end of the residual water drainage member  340  may be connected to the water supply valve  101 , and the other end thereof may be connected to the water supply device  310 . The residual water drainage member  340  may have a hollow portion formed therein, and may include a water supply hole  341  connected to the water supply valve  101 , a main drainage hole  342  through which water introduced through the water supply hole  341  is discharged to the water supply device  310 , and a residual water drainage hole  343  through which outside air is introduced when water is supplied and residual water existing in the water supply device is discharged when a supply of water is stopped. 
     The residual water drainage hole  343  of the residual water drainage member  340  may be provided in a direction perpendicular to a flow passage formed between the water supply hole  341  and the main drainage hole  342 . 
     The residual water drainage member  340  may also include a venturi portion  344 . The venturi portion  344  may be provided in the flow passage between the water supply hole  341  and the main drainage hole  342  so that a cross-sectional area of the flow passage is reduced, thereby increasing flow velocity of water flowing therein. 
     The residual water drainage hole  343  may be provided at a flow passage of the residual water drainage member  340  in which the venturi portion  344  is formed. That is, the residual water drainage hole  343  may be provided at a portion of the residual water drainage member  340  having the cross-sectional area that is reduced by the venturi portion  344 . According to this configuration, when the residual water drainage member  340  supplies water, water introduced through the water supply hole  34  may be supplied to the water supply device  310  together with outside air introduced through the residual water drainage hole  343 . Specifically, a flow velocity of flowing water is increased in accordance with a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the flow passage in the venturi portion  344 , and thus, pressure may be reduced in the venturi portion  344  so that outside air may be introduced through the residual water drainage hole  343 . Accordingly, the water supply device  310  may more readily form an air pocket capable of serving as a buffer when residual water is frozen. 
     The residual water drainage hole  343  may extend downward along the direction of gravity. Referring to  FIG. 17 , the residual water drainage member  340  may be provided at a side that is a preset height ΔH lower than the water supply device  310  along the direction of gravity. 
     Specifically, when the supply of water is stopped, washing water existing in the inflow chamber  321  of the water supply device  310  may flow through the inflow pipe  312  to a connection member  351  connecting the water supply device  310  and the residual water drainage member  340 . The water passing through the connection member  351  may be discharged to the outside through the residual water drainage hole  343  that extends downward along the direction of gravity. At this point, all residual water inside the discharge chamber  322  cannot be discharged by an extension pipe  315 , but an amount of the residual water remaining in the discharge chamber  322  is not an amount that is enough to cause freeze-breakage of the water supply device  310  even when the residual water is frozen in winter and increases in volume, and therefore is not a problem. 
     In addition, when the residual water drainage hole  343  is provided to communicate with the tub  11 , the residual water may be discharged to the tub  11 . That is, the residual water drainage hole  343  may be configured to discharge the residual water existing in the water supply device  310  to the main washing space  11   a  when the supply of water is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent waste of the washing water. 
     Accordingly, the residual water drainage hole  343  may discharge residual water remaining in the water supply device  310  without any separate driving source when the supply of water is stopped. 
     According to the above-described structure, in the washing machine  3  according to still another embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent freeze-breakage of the water supply device  310  due to volume expansion of residual water even when the residual water existing inside the water supply device  310  is frozen in winter. 
     As described above, the washing machines  1 ,  2 , and  3  according to the embodiments of the present invention may form air pockets in the water supply devices  110 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230 , and  310  to prevent freeze-breakage of the water supply devices  110 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230 , and  310 , and the washing machine  3  may drain residual water existing in the water supply device  310  through the residual water drainage member  340  to prevent freeze-breakage of the water supply device  310 . 
     According to the spirit of the present invention, since the buffer chamber in which an air pocket is formed is provided, freeze-breakage of the water supply device due to frozen residual water may be prevented even when residual water existing inside the water supply device is frozen and increases in volume. 
     According to the spirit of the present invention, since the water supply device may discharge residual water existing therein in a relatively simple structure when a supply of water is stopped, freeze-breakage of the water supply device due to frozen residual water may be prevented. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should 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.