Patent ID: 7703307

Claim:
A driving unit for a washing machine, comprising: a bearing housing fixedly secured to an outer tub of the washing machine; a motor mounted on said bearing housing; a ring gear shaft rotatably mounted to said bearing housing, said ring gear shaft being coupled to an inner tub of the washing machine; a carrier shaft rotatably mounted to said ring gear shaft; a driving shaft rotatably mounted to said carrier shaft, said driving shaft being coupled to said motor; a reduction gear positioned between said ring gear shaft and said carrier shaft to reduce a rotation speed of said ring gear shaft; and a one directional holding device that holds said carrier shaft when said driving shaft rotates in a first direction, and holding two of said carrier shaft, said ring gear shaft, and said driving shaft holding said ring gear shaft and said carrier shaft when said driving shaft rotates in a second direction; and wherein said one directional holding device comprises: a first one way bearing between said bearing housing and said carrier shaft that holds said carrier shaft to said bearing housing only when said driving shaft is rotated in the first direction; and a second one way bearing between said ring gear shaft and said carrier shaft that holds said ring gear shaft and said carrier shaft only when said driving shaft is rotated in the second direction.