Patent Publication Number: US-9428853-B2

Title: Washing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2011-0051412, filed on May 30, 2011, and 2012-0011974, field on Feb. 6, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a washing machine. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A washing machine is an apparatus which washes laundry using electricity, and generally includes a tub to store wash water, a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, a pulsator rotatably installed at the bottom of the spin basket, and a motor and a clutch to rotate the spin basket and the pulsator. 
     When the spin basket and the pulsator are rotated under the condition that laundry and wash water are put into the spin basket, the pulsator agitates the laundry in the spin basket together with the wash water to remove dirt from the laundry. 
     In general, in order to increase washing capacity of the washing machine, a size of the spin basket into which the laundry is put, i.e., a diameter or height of the spin basket, may be increased, and in case that the size of the spin basket is increased, sizes of the tub accommodating the spin basket and a cabinet accommodating the tub may be increased also. 
     As the size of the cabinet, i.e., the size of the washing machine, is increased, a space in which the washing machine is installed is limited, and particularly, in the case of a vertical axis washing machine, as a height of the washing machine is increased, it is inconvenient to put laundry thereinto and thus a structure to solve such inconvenience may be required. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine having an improved structure which increases washing capacity without increase in the size of the washing machine. 
     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, a washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer part forming the external appearance of the washing machine, and a inner part connected to the inner surface of the outer part, a spin basket rotatably disposed in the inner part and including a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom so as to be inclined such that the diameter of the side wall increases, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the spin basket, a motor provided under the spin basket, a clutch to selectively transmit power of the motor to the spin basket or the pulsator, a base plate to fix the clutch and the motor, and suspension members connecting the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet to absorb vibration generated by the spin basket, where wash water is stored within the spin basket and is not stored outside the spin basket during a washing cycle. 
     The inner part may contact the inner surface of at least a portion of the outer part. 
     The outer part and the inner part may be integrally formed. 
     The side wall may include at least one through hole formed at the upper portion thereof so as to discharge the wash water to the outside of the spin basket during rotation of the spin basket. 
     The inner part may include a drain groove bending inwards from the lower end of the inner part along the circumference of the inner part to collect wash water dropped through the at least one through hole, and at least one first drain hole formed at one side of the drain groove to guide the wash water collected in the drain groove to the outside of the drain groove. 
     The spin basket may include a guide rib extending from the lower portion of the side wall to a designated length to guide the wash water discharged through the at least one through hole to the drain groove. 
     The drain groove may include a first bending part bending from the lower end of the inner part to the center of the inner part, and a second bending part bending from the end of the first bending part in a direction vertical to the ground, and the guide rib may be located between the second bending part and the inner circumferential surface of the inner part. 
     The clutch may include a housing and a drive shaft rotatably supported by bearings connected to the inside of the housing, and a flange member connecting the drive shaft and the spin basket to transmit rotary force of the drive shaft to the spin basket may be connected to the lower portion of the housing. 
     The flange member may include a first through hole formed through the center of the flange member so as to be connected to the drive shaft, and at least one second through hole formed around the first through hole to guide the wash water stored in the spin basket to the outside of the spin basket. 
     The inner part may be provided with a division plane extending from the end of the drain groove to the center of the inner part, and the spin basket and the base plate may be respectively disposed above and below the division plane. 
     The division plane may be configured such that the center thereof is higher than the edge thereof so as to allow wash water, flowing down along the side wall of the spin basket or from the bottom of the spin basket, to flow into the drain groove by gravity. 
     The washing machine may further include at least one connection bracket connecting the base plate and the suspension members, and the at least one connection bracket may be provided with an evasion groove to prevent interference with the drain groove during operation of the washing machine. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet including an outer part forming the external appearance of the washing machine, and a inner part connected to the inner surface of the outer part, and a spin basket rotatably disposed in the inner part and configured such that the diameter of the spin basket increases in the upward direction. 
     The spin basket may include a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom so as to be inclined such that the diameter of the side wall increases. 
     The side wall may include at least one through hole formed along the circumference of the upper portion thereof as to discharge wash water to the outside of the spin basket during rotation of the spin basket. 
     The inner circumferential surface of the inner part, together with the outer circumferential surface of the side wall, may form a discharge channel along which the wash water discharged through the at least one through hole flows. 
     The inner part may include a drain groove bending inwards from the end of the inner part to collect wash water dropped along the discharge channel, and at least one first drain hole communicated with the drain groove to guide the wash water collected in the drain groove to the outside of the drain groove. 
     The spin basket may include a guide rib extending from the lower portion of the side wall to a designated length to guide the wash water discharged through the at least one through hole to the drain groove. 
     An interference prevention groove to prevent interference between the spin basket and the inner part may be formed between the bottom and the guide rib. 
     The inner part may include a bottom plane configured such that the center thereof is higher than the edge thereof so as to allow wash water, flowing down along the side wall of the spin basket or from the bottom of the spin basket, to flow to the drain groove 
     The outer part and the inner part may be integrally formed by injection molding. 
     The washing machine may further include a motor located under the spin basket to provide power to rotate the spin basket, a clutch connected to the motor to transmit the power of the motor to the spin basket, a base plate to fix the clutch and the motor, and suspension members connecting the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet to absorb vibration generated by the spin basket. 
     The washing machine may further include at least one connection bracket connecting the base plate and the suspension members. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet forming the external appearance of the washing machine, a spin basket rotatably disposed in the cabinet and including a bottom and a side wall extending from the bottom so as to be inclined and provided with through holes formed only at a position of the side wall higher than ½ of the height of the side wall, a discharge channel formed by the outer circumferential surface of the side wall and the inner circumferential surface of the cabinet, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the spin basket, a motor provided under the spin basket, a clutch to selectively transmit power of the motor to the spin basket or the pulsator, a base plate fixing the clutch and the motor and connected to the upper portion of the cabinet, and a drain groove formed at the lower end of the cabinet to guide water, introduced through the through holes and the discharge channel during rotation of the spin basket, to the outside of the cabinet. 
     The washing machine may further include suspension members connecting the base plate to the upper portion of the cabinet to absorb vibration generated by the spin basket. 
     The washing machine may further include a flange member connected to the center of the bottom and provided with a through hole to discharge water stored in the spin basket to the outside of the spin basket. 
     The washing machine may further include a base plate cover connected to the upper portion of the base plate to guide water introduced through the drain groove to a region below the base plate. 
     The drain groove may include a first bending part bending from the lower end of the inner part to the center of the inner part, and a second bending part bending from the end of the first bending part in a direction vertical to the ground. 
     The washing machine may further include at least one first drain hole formed on the drain groove to guide the wash water collected in the drain groove to the outside of the drain groove. 
     The cabinet may include a bottom plane extending from the end of the drain groove to the center of the spin basket, and the bottom plane may be configured such that the center thereof is higher than the edge thereof so that wash water, flowing down along the side wall of the spin basket or from the bottom of the spin basket, flows to the drain groove. 
    
    
     
       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 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of  FIG. 8 ; and 
         FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the portion ‘A’ of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to 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 in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a washing machine  1  includes a cabinet  10  forming the external appearance of the washing machine  1 , a spin basket  30  rotatably disposed in the cabinet  10 , and a drive unit disposed under the spin basket  30  to rotate the spin basket  30 . 
     An upper cover  15  in which a laundry inlet  14  is formed to put laundry into the spin basket  30  therethrough is provided at the upper portion of the cabinet  10 , and a door  16  to open and close the laundry inlet  14  is provided on the upper cover  15 . 
     A lower cover  18  to which seat units  19  are connected to seat the washing machine  1  on the ground is provided at the lower portion of the cabinet  10 . 
     Suspension members  21  (with reference to  FIG. 2 ) to suspend the spin basket  30  to the cabinet  10  are connected to the upper portion of the cabinet  10 . 
     The spin basket  30  is rotatably disposed in the cabinet  10 , and a plurality of through holes  36  formed along the circumferential surface of the spin basket  30  is provided at the upper portion of the spin basket  30 . 
     The pulsator  35  is rotatably installed at the bottom of the spin basket  30 . The pulsator  35  serves to agitate the laundry in the spin basket  30  together with wash water. 
     A water supply device  50  to supply wash water to the inside of the spin basket  30  is installed above the spin basket  30 . The water supply device  50  includes a water supply valve  53  to control supply of the wash water and a water supply pipe  51  connecting the water supply valve  53  to a detergent supply device  60 . 
     One end of the water supply pipe  51  is connected to an external water supply source (not shown) and the other end of the water supply pipe  51  is connected to the detergent supply device  60 . 
     The detergent supply device  60  includes a case  61  provided within the upper cover  15  and a detergent container  63  detachably mounted in the case  61  to accommodate respective detergents. A discharge hole  65  to discharge wash water in which detergents are dissolved is formed on the lower surface of the case  61 . 
     Water supplied through the water supply pipe  51  is supplied to the inside of the spin basket  30  together with the detergents via the detergent supply device  60 . 
     A first drain hose  82  and a second drain hose  84  to guide wash water to the outside of the cabinet  10  after a washing or a spin-drying cycle has been completed are provided under the spin basket  30 . 
     The drive unit includes a clutch  120  to selectively rotate the spin basket  30  and the pulsator  35 , a drive motor  150  to drive the clutch  120 , a flange member  140  connecting a drive shaft  124  of the clutch  120  and a bottom  32  of the spin basket  30  to transmit rotary force of the drive shaft  124  to the spin basket  30 , and a base plate  160  to fix the clutch  120  and the drive motor  150 . 
     Hereinafter, a structure to increase washing capacity of the washing machine  1  without increase in the size of the washing machine  1  will be described in detail. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of  FIG. 2 .  FIGS. 2 to 4  illustrate a structure in which the upper cover  15  and the lower cover  18  are omitted. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the spin basket  30  is disposed in the cabinet  10  such that the spin basket  30  is separated from the cabinet  10  by a designated interval. That is, a separate configuration to store wash water between the cabinet  10  and the spin basket  30  is omitted. 
     The cabinet  10  includes an outer part  10   a  forming the external appearance of the washing machine  1 , and an inner part  10   b  connected to the inner surface of the outer part  10   a.    
     The inner part  10   b  has an approximately cylindrical shape, and the outer circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b  may be connected to the inner surface of at least a portion of the outer part  10   a  through connection ribs  10   d  or contact the inner surface of at least a portion of the outer part  10   a . The inner part  10   b  is not limited to the cylindrical shape, but may have polygonal shapes, such as a rectangular shape or an octagonal shape. 
     The connection ribs  10   d , if a portion of the outer part  10   a  is rounded for aesthetic appearance of the washing machine  1 , connect the inner part  10   b  and the outer part  10   a  at the rounded portion of the outer part  10   a  and reinforce overall rigidity of the cabinet  10 . Of course, the connection ribs  10   d  are not essential, and may thus be omitted according to design specifications. 
     The inner part  10   b  is inclined in a direction in which the radius of the inner part  10   b  increases from the lower portion thereof. Most of the water discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36  during the spin-drying cycle flows down along the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b  and flows into a drain groove  22 . Here, since the inner part  10   b  is inclined, the water discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  slowly flows along the inclined surface of the inner part  10   b  and thus is not splashed to the outside of the drain groove  22  during a process of flowing of the water into the drain groove  22 . 
     Further, the inner part  10   b  may have the same inclination angle as an inclination angle α of a side wall  34  of the spin basket  30  so as to be disposed in parallel with the side wall  34 . During rotation of the spin basket  30 , the spin basket  30  moves in the radial direction thereof as well as in the vertical direction. Therefore, a gap to prevent interference of the spin basket  30  with the inner part  10   b  of the cabinet  10  due to movement of the spin basket  30  in the radial direction thereof may be required, and space utilization within the cabinet is maximized and the gap is regularly maintained by allowing the inner part  10   b  and the side wall  34  to be disposed in parallel with each other. 
     In order to improve productivity, the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  may be integrally formed through injection molding. In this case, the cabinet  10  including the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  may be formed of a material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or poly propylene (PP). One of the reasons why the cabinet  10  may be manufactured through injection molding is that the cabinet  10  includes the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  and thus the cabinet  10  is reinforced. That is, when a molding material, such as ABS or PP, is injected into a mold to manufacture the cabinet  10 , solidified and then separated from the mold, damage to the cabinet  10  is prevented. 
     The outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  may be formed of different materials and then be connected. That is, in order to reinforce the cabinet  10 , the outer part  10   a  is formed of metal and the inner part  10   b  is formed of plastic and then the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  are connected to form the cabinet  10 . 
     The drain groove  22  bending along the circumference of the inner part  10   b  is provided at the lower end of the inner part  10   b.    
     The drain groove  22  includes a first bending part  22   a  bending from the lower end of the inner part  10   b  to the center of the inner part  10   b , and a second bending part  22   b  bending from the end of the first bending part  22   a  in a direction vertical to the ground. 
     The first bending part  22   a  serves as a bottom plane to collect water, which is discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36  formed at the upper portion of the spin basket  30  and is dropped during the spin-drying cycle, or water, which flows along the outer circumferential surface of the spin basket  30  or the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b , and the second bending part  22   b  serves to form a channel to collect water, which is dropped to the bottom plane together with the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the inner part  10   b , and then to discharge the collected water to the outside. 
     A first drain hole  24  communicated with the drain groove  22  to guide the water collected in the drain groove  22  to the outside of the drain groove  22  is formed at one side of the first bending part  22   a . The above-described second drain hose  84  is connected to one end of the first drain hole  24 , and water having passed through the drain first hole  24  is finally discharged to the outside of the cabinet  10  through the second drain hose  84  and the first drain hose  82  connected to the second drain hose  84 . 
     The spin basket  30  which is rotatable in the vertical direction is provided within the inner part  10   b.    
     The spin basket  30  includes the bottom  32  and the side wall  34  connected to the bottom  32  to form a space to store wash water. 
     A plurality of ribs  32   a  is formed at the bottom  32 . The ribs  32   a  form an air current in the radial direction of the spin basket  30 , i.e., in a direction from the center of the spin basket  30  to the inner part  10   b  of the cabinet  10 , during rotation of the spin basket  30 , thereby preventing water flowing down along the outer circumferential direction of the spin basket  30  from moving to the central portion of the spin basket  30 , in which the clutch  120  and the drive motor  150  are disposed, along the bottom  32  of the spin basket  30 . 
     The side wall  34  extends from the bottom  32  so as to be inclined such that the diameter of the spin basket  30  increases. When the spin basket  30  is rotated at a high speed of about 280 rpm or more during the spin-drying cycle, water removed from laundry may reach the side wall  34  by centrifugal force and then be effectively moved to the upper portion of the spin basket  30  along the inner circumferential surface of the inclined side wall  34 . 
     The inclination angle α formed by the side wall  34  relative to a straight line I vertical to the bottom  32  may be about 2° to 10°. If the inclination angle α is excessively small, i.e., below 2°, water is not effectively moved to the upper portion of the spin basket  30  along the inner circumferential surface of the side wall  34  and thus spin-drying capacity of the washing machine  1  may be lowered, and if the inclination angle α is excessively large, i.e., exceeds 10°, the upper portion of the spin basket  30  is widened and thus the overall width of the cabinet  10  may be increased. 
     The through holes  36  to discharge water removed from laundry during the spin-drying cycle to the outside of the spin basket  30  are formed at the upper portion of the side wall  34 . 
     Here, at least one through hole  36  is formed at the side wall  34  in the circumferential direction, and a height of a portion of the spin basket  30  where the through holes  36  are formed may be more than ½ of the overall height of the spin basket  30 . The reason why the height of the portion of the spin basket  30  where the through holes  36  are formed may be more than ½ of the overall height of the spin basket  30  is that leakage of wash water in the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36  during the washing cycle is prevented. 
     Water discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36  flows down along the outer circumferential surface of the spin basket  30  or the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b  or flowing down through a discharge channel  33  formed between the side wall  34  and the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b , and then flows into the drain groove  22 . 
     Further, a guide rib  38  to guide water, discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36 , to the drain groove  22  may further provided. 
     The guide rib  38  is located between the second bending part  22   b  forming the drain groove  22  and the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b , and extends from the lower end of the side wall  34  to a designated length to prevent water flowing down along the outer circumferential surface of the spin basket  30  from moving to the central portion of the spin basket  30 , in which the clutch  120  and the drive motor  150  are disposed, along the bottom  32  of the spin basket  30  and to allow the water to naturally flow into the drain groove  22 . 
     An interference prevention groove  39  is formed to a designated depth between the side surface of the bottom  32  and the guide rib  38 , thereby preventing interference between the spin basket  30  and the second bending part  22   b  due to vertical vibration of the spin basket  30  during operation of the washing machine  1 . 
     The depth of the interference prevention groove  39  and the length of the guide rib  38  extending from the lower end of the side wall  34  relate to the magnitude of vertical vibration of the spin basket  30  during the washing or spin-drying cycle. As the magnitude of vertical vibration of the spin basket  30  increases, the depth of the interference prevention groove  39  increases and the length of the extending guide rib  38  decreases. 
     By locating the guide rib  38  between the second bending part  22   b  and the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b  and allowing the second bending part  22   b  to be accommodated within the interference prevention groove  39 , as described above, the overall height of the cabinet  10  may be lowered. That is, by allowing the guide rib  38  to be accommodated within the drain groove  22  and the second bending part  22   b  to be accommodated within the interference prevention groove  39  during vibration of the spin basket  30  in consideration of the magnitude of vertical vibration of the spin basket  30 , the height of the cabinet  10  may be lowered by a length of a region where the guide rib  38  and the second bending part  22   b  overlap with each other. 
     The drive unit to drive the spin basket  30  or the pulsator  35  disposed in the spin basket  30  is connected to the lower portion of the spin basket  30 . 
     The drive unit includes the clutch  120  to selectively rotate the spin basket  30  and the pulsator  35 , the drive motor  150  to drive the clutch  120 , the flange member  140  connecting the drive shaft  124  of the clutch  120  and the bottom  32  of the spin basket  30  to transmit rotary force of the drive shaft  124  to the spin basket  30 , and the base plate  160  to fix the clutch  120  and the drive motor  150 . 
     A shaft connection unit  31  connected to the flange member  140  to fix and support the flange member  140  is formed at the center of the bottom  32  of the spin basket  30 . The shaft connection unit  31  includes a shaft connection wall  31   a  protruding downwards from the bottom  32  towards the outside of the spin basket  30 , and a shaft insertion hole  31   b  formed within the shaft connection wall  31   a  so as to insert one end of the flange member  140  into the spin basket  30  through the shaft insertion hole  31   b.    
     The flange member  140  connecting the drive shaft  124  and the spin basket  30  is inserted into and fixed to the shaft insertion hole  31   b.    
     The flange member  140  includes a first through hole  142  formed through the center of the flange member  140  so as to be connected to the drive shaft  124 , and a second through hole  144  formed in the circumferential direction around the first through hole  142 . 
     The second through hole  144  serves as a movement channel along which wash water stored in the spin basket  30  is moved to the outside of the spin basket  30  after the washing cycle has been completed. 
     The clutch  120  includes a housing  122  and the drive shaft  124  rotatably connected to the center of the housing  122 . 
     Various bearings to support rotation of the drive shaft  124  and speed reducers to reduce the rotational speed of the drive shaft  124  are provided in the inner space of the housing  122 . 
     The drive shaft  124  passes through the first through hole  142  of the flange member  142  and is connected to the spin basket  30  and the pulsator  35 . 
     The drive shaft  124  includes a first connection part  124   a  connected to the first through hole  142 , and a second connection part  124   b  extending from the first connection part  124   a  and connected to the pulsator  35 . The first connection part  124   a  and the second connection part  124   b  are simultaneously rotated or separately rotated according to the washing or spin-drying cycle. The second connection part  124   b  is rotated to rotate the pulsator  25  connected to the second connection part  124   b  during the washing cycle, and the first connection part  124   a  and the second connection part  124   b  are simultaneously rotated to rotate both the spin basket  30  and the pulsator  35  during the spin-drying cycle. A pulley  134  is connected to the other end of the drive shaft  124  to transmit rotary force of the drive motor  150  to the clutch  120  through belt  135 . 
     A base plate cover  162  is connected between the flange member  140  and the base plate  160 . The base plate cover  162  includes a second drain hole  165  communicated with the second through hole  144 , and thus forms, together with the base plate  160 , a space along which wash water introduced through the second through hole  144  and the second drain hole  165  is moved to a drain case  174 . Further, sealing members  164  are interposed between the flange member  140  and the base plate cover  162  and between the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160 , thereby preventing leakage of wash water. 
     A third drain hole  169  to discharge water having introduced into the space  161  formed by the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160  is formed through one side of the base plate  160 , and the drain case  174  is connected to the lower portion of the base plate  160  so as to communicate with the third drain hole  169 . The drain case  174  accommodates wash water introduced through the space formed by the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160  and the third drain hole  169 . A drain pipe  176  to drain the wash water introduced into the drain case  174  is provided at one end of the drain case  174 , and the first drain hose  82  is connected to the drain pipe  176  to guide the wash water to the outside of the cabinet  10 . A valve  178  is provided on the drain pipe  176 , thereby selectively draining the wash water in the drain case  174  during the washing cycle. 
     The second drain hole  165  and the third drain hole  169  are elements to drain wash water used in the washing process, and the first drain hole  24  is an element to drain wash water removed from laundry in the spin-drying process. The second drain hole  165  is concentric with the center of rotation of the spin basket  30 , the third drain hole  169  is separated from the second drain hole  165  at the outside of the second drain hole  165  by a designated distance in the radial direction of the spin basket  30 , and the first drain hole  24  is separated from the third drain hole  169  at the outside of the third drain hole  169  by a designated distance in the radial direction of the spin basket  30 . The first drain hole  24 , the second drain hole  165  and the third drain hole  169  need not to be aligned on the same line. 
     Wash water used during the washing or rinsing cycle is introduced into the space between the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160  through the second through hole  144  formed on the flange member  140  and the second drain hole  165 , and is then drained to the outside of the cabinet  10  through the third drain hole  169 , the drain case  174  and the first drain hose  82 . Further, wash water removed from laundry during the spin-drying cycle is discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36 , flows down into the drain groove  22  along the outer circumferential surface of the spin basket  30  or the inner circumferential surface of the inner part  10   b , and is drained to the outside of the cabinet  10  through the first drain hole  24  and the second drain hose  84  connected to the first drain hole  24 . 
     The base plate  160  is connected to the upper portion of the cabinet  10  by the suspension members  21 . Here, at least two suspension members  21  are connected to corners of the cabinet  10  formed by the rectangular outer part  10   a  and the cylindrical inner part  10   b , thus supporting the spin basket  30 . Coupling ribs  10   c  to support one end of each of the suspension members  21  are provided at the corners of the cabinet  10 . The coupling ribs  10   c  may be integrally formed with the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b  through injection molding. 
     Connection brackets  180  are connected between the base plate  160  and the suspension members  21 , and each of the connection brackets  180  is provided with an evasion groove  181  bent downward to prevent interference with the drain groove  22  during operation of the washing machine  1 . The base plate  160  and the connection brackets  180  may be integrally formed with each other. 
     Since the spin basket  30  has a structure in which the spin basket  30  is connected to the clutch  120  and the base plate  160  fixing the clutch  120  below the spin basket  30  and the base plate  160  is connected to the upper portion of the cabinet  10  through the suspension members  21 , load applied to the spin basket  30  is transmitted to the suspension members  21  through the base plate  160  and the suspension members  21  damp vibration due to the load applied to the spin basket  30 . 
     As described above, the cabinet  10  has a dual structure including the outer part  10   a  and the inner part  10   b , and thus has sufficient strength to support load applied to the spin basket  30 , the clutch  120  and the drive motor  150  connected by the suspension members  21 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of  FIG. 5 .  FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate a structure in which the upper cover  15 , the lower cover  18 . 
     Parts of the washing machine in accordance with this embodiment except for a bottom plane  220  are substantially the same as those of the washing machine in accordance with the former embodiment and thus are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the cabinet  10  includes the bottom plane  220  extending from the end of the second bending part  22   b  of the drain groove  22  towards the center of the inner part  10   b.    
     The bottom plane  220  is configured such that the center thereof is higher than the edge thereof, thereby guiding wash water, flowing down along the outer circumferential surface of the side wall  34  or from the bottom  32  of the spin basket  30 , to the drain groove  22 . 
     The bottom plane  220  vertically divides the upper spin basket  30  and the lower base plate  160  from each other, thus preventing wash water flowing down from the bottom  32  from being introduced into the center of the spin basket  30  in which clutch  120  and the drive motor  150  are omitted. 
     Further, a third through hole  222  is formed on the bottom plane  220 , thus allowing the drive shaft  124  to be connected to the spin basket  30  and the pulsator  35  therethrough. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a washing machine in accordance with a further embodiment of the present disclosure,  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of  FIG. 8 ,  FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the portion ‘A’ of  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates a structure in which the upper cover  15 , the lower cover  18  and the drive unit  100  are omitted. 
     Parts of the washing machine in accordance with this embodiment except for the lower structure of an inner part  10   b  and a base plate  160  relating to the lower structure of the inner part  10   b  are substantially the same as those of the washing machine in accordance with the former embodiment and thus are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 to 11 , a guide part  302  to guide water flowing down along the inclined surface of the inner part  10   b  to the base plate  160  is provided at the lower portion of the inner part  10   b  of the cabinet  10 , and a buffer member  304  to prevent collision between the inner part  10   b  and the base plate  160  is provided under the guide part  302 . 
     The guide part  302  is extended from the lower end of the inner part  10   b  by a designated length and is configured such that at least one portion of the guide part  302  is accommodated within an accommodation rib  312  formed on the base plate  160 , thereby allowing water, discharged through the through holes  36  and flowing down along the guide part  302  or the side wall  34  during the spin-drying process, to be dropped to the base plate  160 . 
     The buffer member  304  is provided at the lower end of the guide part  302 , and alleviates impact due to collision between the guide part  302  and the base plate  160  generated when the spin basket  30  vibrates in the upward and downward directions during the washing or spin-drying process and prevents damage to the guide part  302  and the base plate  160 . The buffer member  304  may be formed of a soft material having elasticity and lower strength than materials of the guide part  302  and the base plate  160 , such as rubber or plastic. 
     Further, the buffer member  304  prevents foreign substances from moving to the center of the spin basket  30  where the clutch  120 , the drive motor  150 , etc. are disposed through a gap between the guide part  302  and the base plate  160 . Particularly, the buffer member  304  may prevent the washing machine  1  from malfunctioning due to interference of a small animal, such as a mouse, moving the center of the spin basket  30  through the gap between the guide part  302  and the base plate  160 , with the clutch  120 , the drive motor  150 , etc. 
     The accommodation rib  312  to accommodate at least one portion of the guide part  302 , an accommodation groove  314  to accommodate water flowing down along the guide part  302  or the side wall  34 , and a stepped part  316  formed in a stepped shape at the inside of the guide part  302  to form the accommodation groove  134  together with the guide part  302  are formed around the edge of the base plate  160 . 
     The accommodation rib  312  is extended from the upper surface of the edge of the base plate  160  by a designated length and forms the accommodation groove  314  together with the stepped part  316 . The accommodation rib  312  accommodates at least one portion of the guide part  302  and prevents water flowing down along the guide part  302  or the side wall  34  or water accommodated within the accommodation groove  314  from leaking to the outer part  10   a . That is, the guide part  302  and the accommodation rib  312  accommodating the guide part  302  at the outside of the guide part  302  prevent water, discharged to the outside of the spin basket  30  through the through holes  36  and flowing down along the guide part  302  or the side wall  34  during the spin-drying process, from leaking to the outer part  10   a.    
     The accommodation groove  314  temporarily accommodates water flowing down along the guide part  302  or the side wall  34  during the spin-drying process. A drainage  318  communicating with the accommodation groove  314  to guide water accommodated within the accommodation groove  314  to the outside of the accommodation groove  314  is formed on the upper surface of the base plate  160  forming the accommodation groove  314 . The above-described second drain hole  84  is connected to one end of the drainage  318 , and water having passed through the drainage  318  is finally discharged to the outside of the cabinet  10  through the second drain hose  84  and the first drain hose  82  connected to the second drain hose  84 . 
     As described above, water used during the washing or rinsing cycle is introduced into the space  161  between the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160  through the second through hole  144  formed at the lower portion of the spin basket  30 , and wash water removed from laundry during the spin-drying cycle is introduced into the accommodation groove  314  formed at the edge of the base plate cover  162  through the through holes  36  located at the upper portion of the spin basket  30 . Therefore, the space  161  formed by the base plate cover  162  and the base plate  160  may be referred to as a first accommodation part, and the accommodation groove  314  may be referred to as a second accommodation part. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , protrusions  319  to prevent a gap between the buffer member  304  and the upper surface of the base plate  160  from being clogged with foreign substances are formed on the upper surface of the base plate  160  adjacent to the buffer member  304 . The protrusions  319  form a separate drain channel  319   a  along which water flows between the buffer member  304  and the base plate  160 , thereby allowing water within the guide part  302  and the buffer member  304  to flow to a space among the guide part  302 , the buffer member  304  and the accommodation rib  312  through the drain channel  319   a  even when the gap between the buffer member  304  and the upper surface of the base plate  160  is clogged. 
     As described above, a separate configuration to store wash water between the cabinet  10  and the spin basket  30  is omitted, and thus space utility within the cabinet  10  may be maximized. That is, the size of the spin basket  30  is increased without increase in the size of the cabinet  10 , thus increasing washing capacity of the washing machine  1 . Further, if the washing capacity of the washing machine  1  is not increased, the size of the cabinet  10  may be decreased without decrease in the size of the spin basket  30 . 
     As is apparent from the above description, a washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure increases washing capacity without increase in the size of the washing machine, thus washing a large amount of laundry through one washing course. 
     Further, if the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure has the same capacity as a general washing machine, the washing machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present disclosure has a smaller size than the general washing machine, and thus reduces a burden due to a limit in an installation space and allows laundry to be conveniently put into the washing machine, thereby improving user convenience. 
     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 invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.