Patent Abstract:
A washing machine capable of increasing the washing capacity without enlarging the external appearance and also discharging a washing water during a washing operation or a spin-dry operation while completely isolated from electronic parts and thus reducing the risk of a power failure and fire, the washing machine including a body, a rotating tub rotatably disposed inside the body, a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the rotating tub, a driving part provided on a lower portion of the rotating tub to selectively rotate the rotating tub and the pulsator, a base plate to which the driving part is fixed, wherein a waterproofing member is provided between the base plate and a bottom of the body to seal the driving part and to prevent water from reaching the driving part.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2011-0076436, filed on Aug. 1, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to a washing machine. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A washing machine is an apparatus configured to wash laundry by use of electric power. In general, the washing machine includes a tub configured to store a washing water, a rotating tub rotatably installed inside the tub, a pulsator rotatably installed on the bottom of the rotating tub, and a motor and a clutch that are configured to rotate the rotating tub and the pulsator. 
     In a state that a laundry and a washing water containing detergent are input in the rotating tub, and if the rotating tub and the pulsator rotate, the pulsator stirs the washing water together with the laundry to remove dirt on the laundry. 
     In order to increase the washing capacity of a washing machine, the rotating tub needs to be larger, that is, the rotating tub needs to be increased in diameter or in height. If a rotating tub has a larger size, a tub accommodating the rotating tub and a cabinet accommodating the tub also need to be enlarged along with the increase of the rotating tub. 
     The enlarging of a cabinet, which corresponds to an external appearance of the washing machine, is limited by the space of an installation area. In addition, for a vertical-shaft washing machine, the increased height of a washing machine causes a difficulty in loading and unloading laundry. Accordingly, there is a need for a washing machine be capable of eliminating such an inconvenience and yet increasing the washing capacity. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine capable of increasing the washing capacity without enlarging the external appearance. 
     In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine capable of discharging a washing water during a washing operation or a spin-dry operation while completely isolated from electronic parts and thus reducing the risk of a power failure and fire. 
     In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine includes a body, a rotating tub, a pulsator, a driving part and a base plate. The rotating tub is rotatably disposed inside the body. The pulsator is rotatably disposed inside the rotating tub. The driving part is provided on a lower portion of the rotating tub to selectively rotate the rotating tub and the pulsator. The base plate has the driving part fixed thereto. A waterproofing member is provided between the base plate and a bottom of the body to seal the driving part and to prevent water from being infiltrated into (reaching) the driving part. 
     The waterproofing member includes a diaphragm configured to absorb vibration of the driving part. 
     The waterproofing member includes a plurality of wrinkled parts, a first fixing part extending upward from the wrinkled part, and a second fixing part extending downward from the wrinkled part. 
     The base plate includes a first coupling part which is provided at a lower surface of the base plate such that the first coupling part is coupled with the first fixing part. 
     The washing machine further includes a mounting part configured to support the body, wherein the mounting part includes a bottom plate forming the bottom of the body and a second coupling part which is provided at a lower surface of the bottom plate to be coupled with the second fixing part. 
     The waterproofing member further includes a wire which is provided in a form of a ring and configured to press and fix each of outer sides of the first fixing part and the second fixing part. 
     The mounting part further includes a moisture infiltration preventing guide configured to prevent water from being infiltrated to (reaching) a cable that is withdrawn from the driving part. 
     The moisture infiltration preventing guide is vertically provided inside the body. 
     The rotating body includes a side wall that extends from a bottom of the rotating body while being slanted with increase of a diameter, and at least one drain hole is formed in an upper end portion of the side wall. 
     The bottom plate is provided with a first drain port configured to discharge a washing water that is discharged through the drain hole and fallen. 
     The driving part includes a motor, a clutch configured to selectively transfer a power of the motor to the rotating tub and the pulsator, and a flange connecting a driving shaft of the clutch to a bottom of the rotating tub, and 
     The flange includes a first through-hole, which is provided in a center of the flange to allow the driving shaft to be coupled thereto, and a second through-hole, which is formed around the first through-hole in a circumferential direction of the first through-hole to pass water during a washing operation and a rinsing operation. 
     The based plate is provided with a second drain port configured to discharge a washing water that is discharged through the second through-hole and fallen during a washing operation or a rinsing operation. 
     The washing machine further includes a suspension member connecting the base plate to a upper portion of the body, wherein the suspension member has a first end connected to at least one connecting bracket, which is provided on the base plate, and a second end connected to an upper edge of the body. 
     In accordance with an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine includes a body, a rotating but, a base plate and a diaphragm. The body forms an external appearance. The rotating tub is rotatably installed inside the body and is provided at a lower portion thereof with a driving part. The base plate is connected to an upper portion of the body by at least one suspension member such that the driving part is fixed to the base plate. The diaphragm is disposed between the base plate and a bottom of the body to seal the driving part and to absorb vibration. 
     The diaphragm includes a plurality of wrinkled parts and a fixing part extending upward and downward from the wrinkled part. 
     The base plate includes a coupling groove that is formed by protruding a lower surface of the base plate such that a first side of the fixing part is fixed to the base plate. 
     The bottom of the body is provided at a center thereof with an installation hole that allows the driving part to pass therethrough, and wherein a rim of the installation hole is bent downward such that a second side of the fixing part is fixed to the rim. 
     The washing machine further includes a wire which is provided in a form of a ring and configured to press and fix an outer circumference of the fixing part. 
     The washing machine further includes a moisture water infiltration preventing guide which is provided on the bottom of the body to prevent water from being infiltrated to (reaching) a cable that is withdrawn from the driving part. 
     In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine which can increase the washing capacity without enlarging the external appearance and thus can wash a larger amount of laundry at one time, thereby enhancing the washing efficiency. 
     According to an aspect of one or more embodiments, the same washing capacity is ensured with a smaller external appearance, so that the installation is less affected by a limited installation space. In addition, the laundry can be easily loaded and unloaded, thereby improving the convenience of a user. 
     In addition, a washing water discharged during a washing operation or a spin-dry operation is completely isolated from electronic and installed parts, and the risk of a power failure and fire is reduced. In addition, one or more embodiments may prevent a rotating body from colliding with a wall surface in an abnormal vibration state, thereby ensuring the stability of the washing machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the washing machine according to embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a rotating tub of the washing machine according to embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a driving part and a waterproofing member of the washing machine according to embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion “A” of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view showing the flow of water during a washing operation and a spin-dry operation of the washing machine according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, 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 schematically illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a washing machine includes a body  1  forming an external appearance of the washing machine, a rotating tub  20  rotatably disposed inside the body  1 , and a driving part  100  disposed at a lower portion of the rotating tub  20  to rotate the rotating tub  20 . 
     The body  1  is provided at a upper portion thereof with a laundry input port  1   a , which allows laundry to be input into the rotating tub  20  therethrough, and with a door (not shown) configured to open and close the laundry input port  1   a.    
     The body  1  is provided at a lower portion thereof with a mounting part  2  having a leg  5  that enables the washing machine to be mounted on a floor. 
     The rotating tub  20  is rotatably disposed inside the body  1 . A plurality of drain holes  22  are formed at an upper portion of the rotating tub  20  along a circumference of the rotating tub  20 . 
     A pulsator  6  is rotatably installed at a bottom of the rotating tub  20 . The pulsator  6  serves to stir a washing water introduced into the rotating tub  20  together with a laundry. 
     A water supply apparatus  160  is installed at an upper side of the rotating tub  20  to supply a washing water to the rotating tub  20 . The water supply apparatus  160  includes a water supply valve  161  configured to regulate a supply of water and a water supply pipe  162  connecting the water supply valve  161  to a detergent supply apparatus  163 . 
     The water delivered through the water supply pipe  162  is supplied to the rotating tub  20  together with detergent by passing through the detergent supply apparatus  163 . 
     A first drain hose  231  and a second drain hose  230  are provided at the lower portion of the rotating tub  20  to guide a washing water, which has been used for a washing operation or a spin-dry operation, to the outside the body  1 . 
     The driving part  100  includes a clutch  120 , which rotates the rotating tub  20  and the pulsator  6 , and a driving motor  110 , which drives the clutch  120 . 
     The clutch  120  is connected to the driving motor  110  through a pulley  141  and a belt  142  such that a driving force of the driving motor  110  is selectively transferred to the rotating tub  20  or the pulsator  6 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the washing machine according to an embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a rotating tub of the washing machine according to an embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a driving part and a waterproofing member of the washing machine according to an embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the rotating tub  20  is disposed inside the body  1  while being spaced apart from the inside the body  1  by a predetermined interval. 
     A suspension member  240  is installed on an outer side of the rotating tub  20  such that the rotating tub  20  is hung on the body  1  while being supported by the suspension  240 . 
     In order to support the rotating tub  20 , one side of the suspension member  240  is coupled to the upper portion of the body  1  and the other side of the suspension member  240  is coupled to a connecting bracket  241  of a base plate  200  that are to be described later. 
     The body  1  is provided at the lower portion thereof with the mounting part  2  that is configured to support the body  1 . 
     The mounting part  2  includes a bottom plate  3  forming the bottom of the body  1  and an installation hole  2   a  formed through the center of the mounting part  2  in a predetermined diameter. The installation hole  2   a  allows the driving part  100  to pass therethrough and then is installed on the mounting part  2 . 
     The bottom plate  3  has a first drain port  3   a  that is connected to the first drain hose  231  to deliver the water discharged to the outside the rotating tub  20  during a spin-dry operation. 
     The first drain hose  231  is connected to the second drain hose  230  to discharge water passing through a second drain port  201  to the outside the body  1  during a washing operation and a rinsing operation. 
     The rotating tub  20  is rotatably provided on an upper side of the mounting plate  2  in a vertical direction. 
     The rotating tub  20  includes a bottom part  24  and a side wall  21  that connects to the bottom part  24  to form a space accommodating a washing water. 
     A through-hole  150  is provided in the center of the bottom part  24  to allow a driving shaft  124  to be coupled thereto. A liquid balancer  25  is provided at the upper portion of the rotating tub  20  to ensure the smooth rotation of the rotating tub  20 . 
     The side wall  21  is provided while being slanted with the increase of a diameter of the rotating tub  20 . If the rotating tub  20  rotates at a speed of 280 rpm or above in a spin-dry operation, water separated from the laundry reaches to the side wall  21  due to the centrifugal force and runs to the upper side of the rotating tub  20  along the inner side of the side wall  21  slanted. 
     In this case, the side wall  21  forms a slope angle θ of 2 degrees to 10 degrees with respect to a line (L) that is perpendicular to the bottom part  24 . 
     If the slope angle θ is smaller than 2 degrees, the water does not effectively move along the inner circumferential surface of the side wall  21 , and thus the spinning performance is degraded. If the slope angle θ is larger than 10 degrees, the upper portion of the rotating tub  20  is widened, and thus the overall width is increased. 
     As described above, a plurality of drain holes  22  are formed at the upper portion of the rotating tub  20  to discharge the water separated from the laundry to the outside the rotating tub  20 . The water discharged to the rotating tub  20  through the drain hole  22  flows to the bottom plate  3  of the mounting part  2  along an inner circumferential surface of the body  1 , and then is discharged to the outside through the first drain port  3   a  and the first drain hose  231 . 
     The drain hole  22  is formed along the circumferential direction of the side wall  21 . The drain hole  22  is provided at a position corresponding to two-third of the height of the rotating tub  20 . 
     The driving part  100  is installed at the lower portion of the rotating tub  20  to drive the rotating tub  20  or the pulsator  6  disposed inside the rotating tub  20 . 
     The driving part  100  includes the clutch  120 , the driving motor  110 , a flange member  130  and the base plate  200 . The clutch  120  selectively rotates the rotating tub  20  and the pulsator  6 . The driving motor  110  drives the clutch  120 . The flange member  130  connects the driving shaft  124  of the clutch  120  to the bottom part  24  of the rotating tub  20  to transmit a torque of the driving shaft  124  to the rotating tub  20 . The base plate  200  is provided to fix the clutch  120  and the driving motor  110  (see  FIGS. 1, 4, and 6 ). 
     Since the driving part  100  is fixed to a lower surface of the base plate  200  below the rotating tub  20 , the driving part  100 , after the spin-dry operation, may have a risk of being exposed to the water that runs down along the inner surface of the body  1  and then is discharged through the first drain port  3   a  of the bottom plate  3 . 
     Accordingly, a waterproofing member  10  is provided between the base plate  200  and the bottom of the body  1  to seal the driving part  100 . 
     In addition, the mounting part  2  includes a moisture infiltration preventing guide  30  configured to prevent water from being introduced to (reaching) a plurality of cables (C) connected to electronic parts of the driving part  100 . 
     The moisture infiltration preventing guide  30  includes a cable accommodating part  30   a  that allows the cable (C) to pass therealong. The moisture infiltration preventing guide  30  is provided in a direction perpendicular to edges of the bottom plate  3  of the mounting part  2 . 
     The waterproofing member  10  may include a diaphragm formed using elastically deformable material, such as rubber, to absorb the vibration of the driving part  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the waterproofing member  10  includes a plurality of wrinkled parts  11  and a fixing part  12  extending upward and downward. 
     The fixing part  12  includes a first fixing part  12   a  extending upward from the wrinkled part  11  and a second fixing part  12   b  extending downward from the wrinkled part  11 . 
     The waterproofing material  10  is provided in the form of a cylinder surrounding the outer side of the driving part  100 . The waterproofing material  10  is disposed between the base plate  200  and the bottom of the body  1 , that is, between the base plate  200  and the bottom plate  3  of the mounting part  2 . 
     The base plate  200  includes a first coupling part  202  having a coupling groove  202   a . The first coupling part  202  protrudes from the lower surface of the base plate  200  along the circumference of the base plate  200  while extending outward such that the coupling groove  202   a  is coupled to the first fixing part  12   a  of the waterproofing member  10 . 
     The first fixing part  12   a  has an upper end which is bent outward to correspond to the coupling groove  202   a  of the first coupling part  202 . 
     A wire  15  having a shape of a ring is configured to fasten the outer circumference of the first coupling part  202  of the base plate  200  and the first fixing part  12   a  of the waterproofing member  10 , thereby allowing the first coupling part  202  to be closely fixed to the first fixing part  12   a.    
     The second fixing part  12   b  of the waterproofing member  10  is coupled to a second coupling part  4  that is formed on the mounting part  2 . 
     The installation hole  2   a  is provided in the center of the bottom plate  3  of the mounting part  2 . The second coupling part  4  is provided on the rim of the installation hole  2   a.    
     The second coupling part  4  extends downward from the bottom plate  3 . The second coupling part  4  is provided at an end thereof with a slanting part  4   a  that extends while being slanted in a radial outward direction. 
     The second fixing part  12   b  of the waterproofing member  10  has a shape corresponding to the shape of the second coupling part  4  such that the second fixing part  12   b  is inserted into the second coupling part  4 . A wire  15  having a shape of a ring fastens the outer circumference of the second fixing part  12   b  that is inserted to the second coupling part  4 , thereby allowing the second fixing part  12   b  to be closely fixed to the second coupling part  4 . 
     The first coupling part  4  and the second coupling part  4  may be implemented in variety of shapes so that the fixing member  12  of the waterproofing member  10  can be firmly fixed to the first coupling part  202  and second coupling part  4 . 
     According to the above configuration, the waterproofing member  10  is provided between the base plate  200  and the bottom of the body  1  while surrounding the outer side of the driving part  100  to seal the driving part  100  and water is prevented from being infiltrated into (reaching) the driving part  100 , and the vibration of the driving part  100  is absorbed. 
     In addition, a vertical vibration is absorbed without impeding the rotation of the rotating tub  20  during the washing operation or the spin-off operation, thereby enhancing the washing efficiency. 
     When a draining process is viewed during the washing operation and the spin-off operation, a water (shown as a solid arrow line in  FIG. 6 ) separated during the spin-off operation is discharged to the outer side of the rotating tub  20  through the drain hole  22  of the rotating tub  20 , flows downward along the inner surface of the body  1 , and then is discharged by sequentially passing through the first drain port  3   a  formed through the bottom plate  3 , the first drain hose  231  and the second drain hose  230  connected to the first drain port  3   a.    
     The through-hole  150  of the rotating tub  20  is provided to allow the rotating tub  20 , the driving shaft  124  of the driving part  100 , and the flange member  130  to be coupled thereto. The through-hole  150  includes a first through-hole  151 , which is provided in the center of the through-hole  150 , and a second through-hole  152  disposed around the first through-hole  151  in the circumferential direction of the first through-hole  151 . 
     The first through-hole  151  is formed such that the driving shaft  124  is connected to the rotating tub  20  and the pulsator  6  by passing through the flange member  130 . The second through-hole  152  is formed to discharge water, which remains in the rotating tub  20  after the washing operation is finished, to the outside the rotating tub  20  through the second drain port  201 . 
     In addition, the driving shaft  124  includes a first driving shaft  124   a , which is coupled to the first through-hole  151 , and a second driving shaft  124   b , which extends from the first driving shaft  124   a  and is coupled to the pulsator  6 . 
     The first driving shaft  124   a  and the second driving shaft  124   b  simultaneously or individually rotate depending on whether a washing operation is performed or a spin-off operation is performed. 
     In a washing operation, the second driving shaft  124   b  operates to rotate the pulsator  6  that is coupled to the second driving shaft  124   b . During a spin-off operation, the first driving shaft  124   a  and the second driving shaft  124   b  operate such that the rotating tub  20  and the pulsator  6  simultaneously rotate. 
     One end of the driving shaft  124  is connected to the pulley  141  such that a driving force of the driving motor  110  is transferred to the clutch  120 . 
     In addition, the base plate  200  has a base plate cover  210  to guide water discharged through the second through-hole  152 . 
     The base plate cover  210  is disposed between the flange member  130  and the base plate  200  to house the second drain port  201  that is formed on the base plate  200 . 
     A drain case  220  is coupled to a lower portion of the base plate  200  to form a predetermined space. The space is configured to accommodate a washing water that is introduced by passing through a space formed between the base plate cover  210  and the base plate  200 . 
     One end of the drain case  220  is connected to the second drain hose  230  to guide a washing water introduced to the drain case  220  to the outside the body  1 . 
     A valve  221  is provided on the second drain hose  230  to selectively drain water. 
     In this manner, the water having been used for the washing operation or the rinsing operation (shown as a dotted line arrow in  FIG. 6 ) is introduced into the space between the base plate cover  210  and the base plate  200  by passing through the second through hole  152  and then is discharged to the outside the body  1  by sequentially passing through the drain case  220  and the second drain hose  230 . 
     In each of the washing operation, the rinsing operation and the spin-off operation, the driving part  100  provided at the lower portion of the rotating tub  20  is completely sealed by the waterproofing member  10  provided between the base plate  200  and the bottom plate  3  of the body  1 , thereby preventing water from being infiltrated into (reaching) the driving part  100 . 
     In addition, the cable (C) connected to the driving part  100  is also prevented from being exposed to water by the cable accommodation part  30   a  formed on the bottom plate  3 . 
     In addition, the waterproofing member  10  surrounds the outer side of the driving part  100 , thereby preventing vibration and noise from the driving part  100 . 
     As described above, a structure to accommodate water between the body  1  and the rotating tub  20  is removed, so that the spatial utilization in the body  1  is maximized. In addition, the waterproofing member  10  provided at the lower portion of the rotating tub  20  serves to absorb the up-and-down vibration of the rotating tub  20  and the vibration of the driving part  100  and also prevents the water from being introduced to the electronic parts of the driving part  100 . 
     Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3