Patent Publication Number: US-6334342-B1

Title: Washing machine having horizontally moving washing plates

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a washing machine, more particularly to a washing machine having horizontally moving washing plates. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In general, a washing machine includes a pulsator for agitating a detergent water which is repeatedly rotated in forward and reverse directions. The detergent water which is supplied in the washing machine forms a heart-type water flow caused by the rotation of the pulsator, so that laundry congregates and entwines in the upper part of the pulsator. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,915 (issued to Woon-Gu Hur et al.) discloses a washing machine for preventing laundry from congregating in the upper portion of the pulsator. The Woon-Gu Hur et al&#39;s washing machine is explained with reference to an attached figure of FIG.  1 . FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pulsator of a conventional washing machine. 
     A pulsator  11  having a base  11   a  and a plurality of blades  11   b  is rotatably installed in inner tub  10 , and a driving unit (not shown) for rotating in forward and reverse directions the pulsator  11  is fixedly disposed on an exterior of the inner tub  10 . A washing shaft  12  extending from the driving unit and for transmitting a rotatory power of the driving unit into the pulsator  11  is connected to the pulsator  11 . A variable-length washing rod  20  is mounted on the central area of the pulsator  11 , the washing rod  20  includes a first rod  21 , a second rod  22 , a connecting member  23  for connecting the second rod  22  with the first rod  21  and a buoy  24  which is installed in the second rod  22 . When the detergent water is supplied into the inner tub  10 , the buoy  24  floats by buoyancy. Accordingly, the second rod  22  and connecting member  23  are gradually ascended by the buoy  24 , so that the second rod  22  and connecting member  23  prevent the laundry from congregating directly in the upper part of the washing rod  20 . 
     The above-mentioned conventional washing machine has an advantage in that laundry does not congregate in the central upper part of the pulsator. However, the conventional washing machine has an drawback in that the buoy has to be submerged under the detergent water to ascend the buoy. That is, a large quantity of the detergent water is supplied into the inner tub to ascend the buoy. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been provided to solve the aforementioned problem and it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine employing horizontally moving washing plates for bumping against the laundry, which can enhance washing efficiency. 
     In order to obtain the above-mentioned object of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine comprising: an inner tub for receiving a detergent water and a laundry; a pulsator for agitating the detergent water which is rotatably mounted in an interior of the inner tub; a driving unit for rotating in forward and reverse directions the pulsator which is disposed on an exterior of the inner tub, the driving unit having a washing shaft which is connected to the pulsator; and a washing means for bumping against the laundry which is disposed on the pulsator and is horizontally reciprocated by the driving unit to wash the laundry. 
     The washing means comprises a cylinder disposed on an upper surface of the pulsator, the cylinder having a opened lower surface, being independently rotated relative to the rotatory movement of the pulsator, wherein the cylinder rotates at a lower speed than that of the pulsator; a movement conversion means for converting the rotatory movement of the washing shaft into linear movement which is disposed in the cylinder; and a plurality of washing plates for being horizontally reciprocated by the movement conversion means and for bumping against the laundry, which is positioned in an exterior of the cylinder. 
     A supporting member is disposed on the upper surface of the pulsator, the supporting member encloses a side surface of the cylinder for supporting the cylinder and for preventing the cylinder from floating by buoyancy. 
     A fixing hole is formed at the pulsator, and a fixing protrusion is inserted into the fixing hole and is extended from the supporting member. 
     An inner and an outer frames are respectively extended from a bottom end of the cylinder in an inward and an outward directions of the cylinder, bearings are respectively installed between the inner frame and the pulsator, and between the outer frame and an upper surface of the supporting member for sliding the cylinder relative to the rotatory movement of the pulsator and the supporting member. 
     Depression portions for placing the bearings are respectively formed at the inner and outer frames. 
     The movement conversion means comprises a crank installed in an interior of the supporting member, a top end of the crank being supported by the cylinder, and a bottom end of the crank being connected to the washing shaft so that the crank is rotated by the washing shaft; and a rod for converting the rotatory movement of the crank into a linear movement and for transmitting the linear movement into the washing plates, a first end of the rod being connected to the crank and a second end of the rod being connected to the washing plates. 
     A piercing hole being pierced by the rod is formed at the cylinder, a diameter of the piercing hole toward a rotatory direction of the crank is longer than that toward a length direction of the crank so that the piercing hole has an elliptical shape. 
     The top end of the crank is formed into a round shape and the bottom end of the crank is formed into a polygonal shape, a supporting cylinder for supporting the top end of the crank is formed at an upper surface of the cylinder, a inserting hole for being inserted the bottom end of the crank and having a polygonal shape corresponding to the bottom end of the crank end is formed at the washing shaft. 
     The first end of the rod is formed into a shape of a ring, a groove for being connected to the first end of the rod is formed at the crank. 
     A plurality of washing protrusions are formed on the washing plates to enlarge a contacting area between the laundry and the washing plates.n apparatus 
     The washing mcahine is provided in washing plates which are horizontally reciprocated, so that the washing plates bump against the laundry and wash the laundry. Therefore, washing efficiency is increased. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above object and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a pulsator of a conventional washing machine; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3A is a disassembled perspective view of a pulsator and a supporting member according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of a fixing protrusion according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a cylinder according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of a part “G” illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a part “A” illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a part “B” illustrated in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the cylinder and washing plates according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 9A,  9 B and  9 C are vertical sectional views of the washing plates for showing an operation according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, a washing machine having horizontally moving washing plates according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 2, an outer tub  112  for receiving a detergent water is installed in a housing  100 , an inner tub  111  for receiving a detergent water and a laundry is installed in the outer tub  112 . A plurality of communicating holes  111   a  are formed at a side wall  111   b  of the inner tub  111 , the detergent water which is supplied to the inner tub  111  flows into the outer tub  112  through the communicating holes  111   a.    
     A pulsator  120  having a base  121  and a plurality of blades  122  is rotatably mounted in an interior of the inner tub  111 , a driving unit  130  for rotating in forward and reverse directions the pulsator  120  is fixed at an exterior of the outer tub  112 . 
     The driving unit  130  has a motor  131 , a clutch  132  for selectively transmitting the rotatory motion provided by the motor  131  into the pulsator  120  and into the inner tub  111 , and belt  133  for transmitting a rotatory motion by the motor  131  to the clutch  132 . The clutch  132  has a washing shaft  134  passing through the outer tub  112  and inner tub  111 , the washing shaft  134  is connected to the pulsator  120 . 
     The washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of washing plates  170  for washing the laundry which is horizontally reciprocated by a rotatory movement of the washing shaft  134  of the driving unit  130 , a crank  150  and a plurality of rods  155  for converting the rotatory movement of the washing shaft  134  into a linear movement, a cylinder  160  for receiving the crank  150  and the rods  155 , and a supporting member  140  for supporting the cylinder  160 . These members will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3-8. 
     FIG. 3A is a disassembled perspective view of a pulsator and a supporting member according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of a fixing protrusion according to one embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a plurality of fixing holes  123  are formed at portions of the pulsator  120  which are located at outer areas of a hole  125  which is formed at a central portion of the pulsator  120  and into which the washing shaft  134  is inserted. A plurality of fixing protrusions  141  of the supporting member  140  is inserted into the fixing hole  123 . A central portion  143   a  of an upper surface  143  and a bottom surface  144  of the supporting member  140  is opened, the fixing protrusions  141  are extended from a bottom end of the supporting member  140 . A diameter of an end of the fixing protrusions  141  is longer than that of the fixing holes  123 , so that the supporting member  140  and the pulsator  120  rotates as one unit. The end of the fixing protrusions  141  has a incised part  141   a  so that the fixing protrusions  141  has an elasticity. Also, the supporting member  140  encloses a side surface of the cylinder  160  to support the cylinder  160  and to prevent the cylinder  160  from floating by buoyancy. 
     FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a cylinder according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective view of a part “G” illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a part “A” illustrated in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a part “B” illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     The cylinder  160  is disposed on an upper surface of the pulsator  120 , a lower surface of the cylinder  160  is opened. The cylinder  160  is independently rotated relative to the rotatory movement of the pulsator  120 , and is rotated at a lower speed than that of the pulsator  120 . In detail, an inner and an outer frames  161  and  162  are respectively extended from a bottom end of the cylinder  160  to an inward and an outward directions of the cylinder  160 . The inner and outer frames  161  and  162 , respectively, have a plurality of depression portions  161   a  and  162   a . The depression portions  161   a  is upwardly depressed in the inner frame  161  and the depression portions  162   a  is downwardly depressed in the outer frame  162 . Bearings  181  and  182  are respectively placed in the depression portions  161   a  and  162   a . Namely, the bearings  181  and  182  are respectively located between the inner frame  161  and an upper surface of the pulsator  120 , and between the outer frame  162  and an upper surface  143  of the supporting member  140 . The cylinder  160  slides off the pulsator  120  by the bearings  181  and  182 , when the pulsator  120  and the supporting member  140  is rotated by the washing shaft  134 . Therefore, the cylinder  160  is independently rotated relative to the rotatory movement of the pulsator  120 , and the supporting member  140  rotates at a lower speed than that of the pulsator  120 . 
     A crank  150  and a plurality of rods  155  for converting the rotatory movement of the washing shaft  134  into linear movement is disposed in the cylinder  160 . 
     An upper portion  152  of the crank  150  is supported by a supporting cylinder  165  of the cylinder  160 , and a lower portion  151  of the crank  150  is inserted in an inserting hole  134   a  of the washing shaft  134 . The upper portion  152  of the crank  150  is formed to have a round shape and the lower portion  151  of the crank  150  is formed to have a polygonal shape. The supporting cylinder  165  for supporting the upper part  152  of the crank  150  is formed at an upper surface of the cylinder  160 , the inserting hole  134   a  which is inserted in the lower part  151  of the crank  150  is formed at the washing shaft  134 . A shape of the inserting hole  134   a  corresponds to the lower part  151  of the crank  150 , an inside diameter of the supporting cylinder  160  is larger than a diameter of the upper portion of the crank  150 . Therefore, the cylinder  160  is not rotated by the crank  150  which rotates as the washing shaft  134 . 
     A plurality of rods  155  are connected to the crank  150 . A first end  155   a  of the rod  155  is connected to the crank  150  and a second end  155   b  of the rod  155  is outwardly extended to the cylinder  160 . The first end  155   a  of the rod  155  is formed into a shape of a ring and is connected to a groove  154  which is formed on the crank  150 . The groove  154  prevents the crank  150  from sliding along the crank  150 . 
     A piercing hole  167  having an elliptical shape is formed at the cylinder  160 , the rod  155  pierces through the piercing hole  167 . In more detail, a diameter d 1  of the piercing hole  167  toward a rotatory direction of the crank  150  is longer than a diameter d 2  of the piercing hole  167  toward a length direction of the crank  150 . Therefore, an inner surface of the piercing hole  167  does not resist the rod  155  which is horizontally reciprocated by the crank  150 . 
     FIG. 8 is an assembled perspective view of the cylinder and washing plates according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is explained. 
     A plurality of washing plates  170  which are positioned at an exterior of the cylinder  160  are connected to the second end  155   b  of the rod  155 . The crank  150  and the washing shaft  134  rotates together in forward and reverse directions, the rod  155  horizontally reciprocates. Therefore, the washing plates  170  which is connected to the second end  155   b  of the rod  155 , horizontally reciprocate and wash the laundry by means of bumping against the laundry. A plurality of washing protrusions  171  are formed on the washing plates  170  to enlarge a contacting area between the laundry and the washing plates. 
     FIGS. 9A,  9 B and  9 C are a vertical sectional views of the washing plates for showing an operation according to one embodiment of the present invention, which is explained. 
     The pulsator  120  and the crank  150  are rotated by the washing shaft  134  of the driving unit  130  as a unit, the cylinder  160  slides off the pulsator  120  by the bearings  181  and  182  so that the cylinder  160  rotates at a lower speed than that of the pulsator  120 . The rods  155  are reciprocated by the crank  150  in order of FIG.  9 A→FIG.  9 B→FIG.  9 C→FIG. 9A, so that the washing plates  170  are horizontally reciprocated by the rod  155 . Therefore, the washing plates  170  bump against the laundry and wash the laundry, when the washing shaft  134  rotates in forward and reverse directions in successively repeated cycles thereof. 
     As above-described, the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided in washing plates which are horizontally reciprocated, so that the washing plates bump against the laundry and wash the laundry. Therefore, washing efficiency is increased. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to this preferred embodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made by one skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.