WASHING MACHINE

Abstract

A washing machine having a balancer provided with enhanced performance, and including a cabinet, a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water, a rotating tub having a cylindrical unit to form a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub and rotatively disposed at an inside the tub, a first balancer mounted at an upper portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub, and a second balancer mounted at a lower portion of the rotating tub such to offset unbalanced load of the rotating tub by using a portion of the washing water at an inside the rotating tub, the second balancer includes an inner channel to store a portion of the washing water, and an outer channel formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0001021, filed on Jan. 4, 2012 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 washing machine having a rotating tub capable of offsetting an unbalanced load.

2. Description of the Related Art

A washing machine is an apparatus configured to wash clothes by using an electricity, and in general, includes a tub to store a washing water, a rotating tub rotatively installed at an inside the tub, a pulsator rotatively installed at a bottom of the rotating tub, and a motor and a clutch to rotatively drive the rotating tub and the pulsator.

In a state of a laundry and the washing water put into an inside the rotating tub, as the rotating tub and the pulsator are rotated, the pulsator stirs the laundry put into an inside the rotating tub with the washing water, and the stain on the laundry is eliminated.

At the time when the rotating tub is rotated, if the laundry is not evenly distributed at an inside the rotating tub but is gathered at a particular portion therein, vibration and noise are generated by the eccentric rotation of the rotating tub, and in a worse case, the components such as the rotating tub and the motor may be damaged.

Thus, the washing machine is provided with a balancer to stabilize the rotation of the rotating tub by offsetting the unbalanced load generated at an inside the rotating tub.

Conventionally, the balancer is present only at an upper portion of the rotating tub, and thus the unbalanced load of the washing machine is not sufficiently offset.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a washing machine having a balancer provided with enhanced performance.

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 including a cabinet, a tub, a rotating tub, a first balancer, and a second balancer. The tub may be disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water. The rotating tub may have a cylindrical unit forming a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub, the rotating tub rotatively disposed at an inside the tub. The first balancer may be mounted at an upper portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub. The second balancer may be mounted at a lower portion of the rotating tub such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset by using a portion of the washing water at an inside the rotating tub. The second balancer may include an inner channel, and an outer channel. The inner channel may be formed along a circumferential direction of the lower portion of the rotating tub such that a portion of the washing water at an inside the rotating tub is stored. The outer channel may be formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset.

An outer surface of the outer channel may be formed to have approximately a same radius as a radius of a side surface of the rotating tub.

The outer channel may include a plurality of boundary panels formed at an inside thereof to divide the outer channel into a plurality of accommodating units.

The water stored at the inner channel may be introduced to at least one of the plurality of accommodating units of the outer channel, such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset.

The inner channel may be open, such that the washing water flows at an inside the inner channel.

The washing water stored at the inner channel may offset an initial vibration of the rotating tub while flowing at an inside the inner channel.

The washing machine may further include a penetrating hole configured to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel.

The washing water stored in the inner channel, when an unbalanced load is generated in the rotating tub, may be introduced to the outer channel through the penetrating hole, thereby offsetting the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

The washing machine may further include an introducing hole configured for washing water to be introduced to at least one of the inner channel and the outer channel from an inside the cylindrical unit.

The second balancer may further include a plurality of drain holes formed at a lower portion of at least one of the inner channel and the outer channel, so that the washing water is discharged.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub, and a rotating tub. The tub may be disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water. The rotating tub may have a cylindrical unit forming a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub, and a base plate to support a lower portion of the cylindrical unit. The base plate may include at least one channel configured to accommodate washing water and formed along a circumferential direction of the lower portion of the base plate. Washing water stored in the at least one channel may offset an unbalance load generated in the rotating tub.

The at least one channel may include an inner channel formed along the circumferential direction of the lower portion of the base plate to accommodate a portion of the washing water, and an outer channel formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

The washing water stored in the inner channel may be introduced to at least one of a plurality of accommodating units formed at the outer channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub, a rotating tub, an inner channel, an outer channel and a penetrating hole. The tub may be disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water. The rotating tub may be rotatively disposed an inside the tub. The inner channel may be formed along a circumferential direction of a lower portion of the rotating tub to store a portion of the washing water. The outer channel may be formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel at the lower portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub. The penetrating hole may be configured to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel. When a centrifugal force, which is sufficient enough for the washing water stored at the inner channel to flow over a wall in between the inner channel and the outer channel, is generated due to rotation of the rotating tub, the washing water stored in the inner channel may be introduced to the outer channel through the penetrating hole to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

The inner channel may be open, such that the washing water flows at an inside the inner channel, thereby offsetting an initial vibration of the rotating tub.

The washing machine may further include a drain hole formed at a lower portion of the outer channel, such that the washing water introduced to the outer channel is discharged to an outside.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub, a rotating tub and a balancer. The tub may be disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water. The rotating tub may be rotatively disposed an inside the tub. The balancer may be mounted at a lower portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load generated in the rotating tub. The balancer may include an inner channel and an outer channel. The inner channel may be formed along a circumferential direction of the balancer to store a portion of the washing water. The outer channel may be formed along a circumferential direction of an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

The washing machine may further include a penetrating hole to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel, such that the washing water stored in the inner channel is introduced to the outer channel.

The inner channel may be open, so that the washing water offsets an initial vibration of the rotating tub while flowing at an inside the inner channel.

The outer channel may include a plurality of boundary panels formed at an inside the outer channel to divide the outer channel into a plurality of accommodating units.

The washing machine may further include a drain hole formed at a lower portion of the outer channel, such that the washing water introduced to the outer channel is discharged to an outside.

By providing an outer channel, which serves as a balancer, at a lower portion of a base plate, the unbalanced load that is present in a rotating tub may be rapidly offset.

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 embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a structure of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a base plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the base plate on FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 to 7 are cross-sectional views of the movement of washing water at an inside the base plate illustrated on FIG. 2.

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 drawing illustrating a structure of a washing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As illustrated on FIG. 1, a washing machine 1 includes a cabinet 10 forming an exterior, a tub 20 disposed at an inside the cabinet and configured to store a washing water, a rotating tub 30 rotatively disposed at an inside the tub 20, and a pulsator 35 disposed at an inside the rotating tub 30 to generate a current.

An upper portion of the cabinet 10 is provided with an input unit 14 formed thereto to put a laundry to an inside the rotating tub 30 through an opening 70 in the tub 20. The input unit 14 is open/closed by a door 16 installed at an upper portion of the cabinet 10.

The tub 20 is supported in a suspended manner at the cabinet 10 by a suspension apparatus 21 that connects a lower side of an outer surface of the tub 20 and an upper portion of an inner side of the cabinet 10. By the suspension apparatus 21, the vibration generated during a wash or spin-dry at the cabinet 10 or the tub 20 is decreased.

A water supply pipe 50 is installed at an upper portion of the tub 20 to supply washing water to the tub 20. One side of the water supply pipe 50 is connected to an outside water supply source (not shown), and the other side of the water supply pipe 50 is connected to a detergent supply apparatus 60 including a first compartment 61 and a second compartment 63. The water supplied through the water supply pipe 50 passes through the detergent supply apparatus 60, and is supplied to an inside the tub 20 along with the detergent through an outlet 65 of the detergent supply apparatus. A water supply valve 53 is installed at the water supply pipe 50 to control the supply of water.

The pulsator 35 generates a current by forward and backward rotating, and the laundry at an inside the rotating tub 30 is stirred along with the washing water by the current.

A drain hole 81 is formed at a bottom portion of the tub 20 to drain the washing water stored in the tub 20, and a drain pipe 82 is connected to the drain hole 81. A drain valve (not shown) may be installed at the drain pipe 82 to regulate a draining.

A driving apparatus for a washing machine 90 includes a motor 92 to generate a driving force by being applied with electricity, and a clutch 91 to simultaneously or selectively rotate the pulsator 35 and the rotating tub 30 by selectively delivering a rotating force generated at the motor 92 to the rotating tub 30 and the pulsator 35.

The rotating tub 30 is provided with a cylindrical unit 31 having an open upper portion and forming a side surface of the rotating tub 30, and a base plate 40 to support a lower portion of the cylindrical unit 31. A plurality of spin-dry holes 32 is formed along a circumference of the cylindrical unit 31, so that an inside space of the rotating tub 30 and an inside space of the tub 20 are communicated with each other.

A first balancer 33 may be mounted at an upper portion of the rotating tub 30, so that when the rotating tub 30 rotates at high speed, the unbalanced load generated at the rotating tub 30 may be offset, and thereby the rotating tub 30 may be stably rotated.

Filling liquid for a balancing may be accommodated at an inside the first balancer 33, and the filling liquid offsets the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30. The filling liquid may be any liquid that may be suitable for offsetting the unbalanced load generated at the rotating tub 30. For example, salt water may be used as the filling liquid. The salt water accommodated at an inside the first balancer 33 is provided with higher weight compared to water, and thus, is suitable for performing the balancing. Furthermore, the salt water has a lower freezing point, and thus, may offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30 without being frozen in winter season. Although the salt water is shown as an example of the filling liquid, any liquid that has similar properties as the salt water may be used as the filling liquid.

The first balancer 33 of the rotating tub 30 is mounted in at an upper side of the rotating tub 30, and thus, may be less suitable for offsetting the unbalanced load at a lower side of the rotating tub 30. Accordingly, a second balancer is formed at the base plate 40, which is positioned at a lower side of the rotating tub 30, to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30. In general, the base plate 40 forms a lower portion of the rotating tub 30, and is formed in a way that a driving shaft connected to the pulsator 35 may penetrate through the base plate 40. Furthermore, the base plate 40 performs a function to rotate by receiving a driving force generated at the motor 92, while being connected to the driving shaft that is configured to rotate the rotating tub 30. The base plate 40 in accordance with the present disclosure, in addition to the general functions above, may include the function as a balancer to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30, and the function as such will be described on FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a base plate in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a base plate on FIG. 2.

As illustrated on FIGS. 2 to 3, the base plate 40 is formed by coupling an upper portion plate 100 to a lower portion plate 200.

By the coupling of the upper portion plate 100 and the lower portion plate 200, a certain space is formed at a lower portion of the base plate 40, and the certain place forms an inner channel 210 and an outer channel 220. The inner channel 210 and the outer channel 220 that are formed at a lower portion of the rotating tub 30 form the second balancer.

An outer surface of the outer channel 220 may be formed to have the approximately same radius as an outer surface of the rotating tub 30. That is, the second balancer may be formed in a way not to be protruded toward an outer side beyond the circumference of the rotating tub 30.

As the outer channel 220 and the inner channel 210 forming the second balancer are formed at an inside the base plate 40 of the rotating tub 30, an additional space for the second balancer may not need to be taken.

The upper portion plate 100 is formed in a shape of a ring by having a first opening hole 150 formed at a central portion thereof. First coupling protrusions 160 are formed along the circumference of the first opening hole 150, while protruded toward an inner side in a radial direction of the upper portion plate 100, for the coupling with the lower portion plate 200.

The upper portion plate 100 is provided with a plurality of stepped portions 133 to form the inner channel 210 and the outer channel 220.

An inner channel ceiling unit 121 is formed around the outer side circumference in the radial direction of the first opening hole 150 of the upper portion plate 100 to form an upper panel of the inner channel 210. Second coupling holes 170 are formed at the inner channel ceiling unit 121 for the coupling with the lower portion plate 200.

An inclining unit 123 is formed at an outer side circumference of the inner channel ceiling unit 121 in a way to be inclined toward an upper side. An outer channel ceiling unit 111, which forms an upper panel of the outer channel 220, is formed at the inclining unit 123 toward an outer side in the radial direction of the inclining unit 123. The outer channel ceiling unit 111 is formed at a higher position than the inner channel ceiling unit 121. The inclining unit 123 connects the outer channel ceiling unit 111 to the inner channel ceiling unit 121, both of which are having different heights.

The outer channel ceiling unit 111 and the inner channel ceiling unit 121 are configured to form a stepped portion.

The lower portion plate 200, similar to the upper portion plate 100, is formed in a shape of a ring by having a second opening hole 250 formed at a central portion thereof. A protruding wall 251 is formed along a circumference of the second opening hole 250, while protruded toward an upper side thereof. First coupling holes 260 are formed along the outer circumference of the protruding wall 251 for the coupling with the first coupling protrusions 160 of the upper portion plate 100.

The first opening hole 150 has an area larger than that of the second opening hole 250. Thus, as illustrated on FIG. 3, an by the inner channel ceiling unit 121 formed at a circumference of the first opening hole 150 forms an inlet hole 151 in cooperation with the protruding wall 251 formed at a circumference of the second opening hole 250. The inlet hole 151 is configured to function as an entry that communicates the cylindrical unit 31 of the rotating tub 30 with the inner channel 210.

An inner channel bottom unit 221 is radially formed along the circumference of the protruding wall 251 so as to form a bottom of the lower portion plate 200 and at the same time, form a bottom of the inner channel 210. The inner channel bottom unit 221 is formed to be lower than the protruding wall 251 formed in a protruded manner.

At the inner channel bottom unit 221, second coupling protrusions 270 are formed at a corresponding position to the second coupling holes 170 of the upper portion plate 100 for the coupling with the second coupling holes 170. The second coupling protrusions 270 are protrudedly formed from the inner channel bottom unit 221 toward an upper side.

As the first coupling protrusions 160 and the first coupling holes 260 are fastened to each other while fastening members (not shown) are inserted into the first coupling protrusions 160 and the first coupling holes 260, and as the second coupling holes 170 and the second coupling protrusions 270 are fastened to each other while the fastening members (not shown) are inserted into the second coupling holes 170 and the second coupling protrusions 270, the upper portion plate 100 and the lower portion plate 200 are coupled to each other.

An inner wall 231 is formed while protruded from an outer side in a radial direction of the inner channel bottom unit 221 toward an upper side. The inner wall 231 is provided with a first inner wall 232 and a second inner wall 233 having different heights from one another, and the first inner wall 232 and the second inner wall 233 are repeatedly arranged in turn in a circumferential direction of the inner channel bottom unit 221.

The first inner wall 232 is extended from the inner channel bottom unit 221 to the inner channel ceiling unit 121 to shut off the inner channel 210 from the outer channel 220. Meanwhile, the second inner wall 233 has a height lower than the first inner wall 232 so as to form a penetrating hole 230 such that the inner channel 210 and the outer channel 220 are communicated with each other.

By the inner wall 231, the inner channel bottom unit 221, the inner channel ceiling unit 121, and the protruding wall 251, the inner channel 210 is formed.

The outer channel bottom unit 211 is formed in an outward radial direction from the outer circumference of inner channel bottom unit 221. The outer channel bottom unit 211 is formed in an upwardly inclined manner in a radial direction of an outer side of the lower portion plate 200, thereby forming the outer channel 220 without having an additional outer side wall. However, differently from embodiment illustrated on the drawing, the outer channel 220 may be formed around an outer surface along the outer circumference of the inner channel bottom unit 221 without forming the outer channel bottom unit 211.

However, after a rotation is completed, in order for the washing water stored at the outer channel 220 to be smoothly drained to the drain hole 240 formed at the outer channel bottom unit 211, the outer channel bottom unit 211 is desired to have a predetermined inclination. By the inner wall 231, the outer channel bottom unit 211, and the outer channel ceiling unit 111, the outer channel 220 is formed.

A boundary panel 212, which is protruded from the outer channel bottom unit 211 of the lower portion plate 200 to an upper side to divide the outer channel 220 into a plurality of accommodating units 220a, is formed. The boundary panel 212 is not extended to the outer channel ceiling unit 111, but is provided with a height such that each of the accommodating units 220a has a difficulty in communicating with one another. According to another embodiment, the boundary panel 212 may be formed in a way to completely divide the accommodating units 220a, so that each of the accommodating units 220a is not communicated with one another.

The boundary panel 212 is formed at a portion where the first inner wall 232, which blocks between the inner channel 210 and the outer channel 220, is positioned. That is, the boundary panel 212 and the first inner wall 232 are formed to intersect each other. Thus, by the boundary panel 212 and the first inner wall 232, each of the accommodating units 220a is isolated from the adjacent accommodating units 220a and the inner channel 210.

The drain hole 240 is formed at the outer channel bottom unit 211 of the outer channel 220 so that the washing water introduced to the outer channel 220 may be drained. The drain hole 240 is formed for the washing water to be drained, and thus, the drain hole 240 is desired to be eccentrically formed at a lower side of the outer channel bottom unit 211 formed in an inclined manner. As illustrated on the drawing, the drain hole 240 is adjacently formed to the inner wall 231 so that the drain hole 240 is positioned at the downmost portion at the outer channel bottom unit 211.

The drain hole 240 is formed at each of the accommodating units 220a that are formed as the outer channel 220 is divided. Each of the accommodating units 220a is formed in a way not to be nearly communicated with one another, and thus, for the washing water to be drained, the drain hole 240 may be formed at each of the accommodating units 220a.

The outer channel 220 is configured to offset the unbalanced load when the rotation of the rotating tub (refer to 30 in FIG. 1) is reached to an normal state, and since the washing water may be introduced to and remain at the accommodating units 220a that are formed at a particular portion, the outer channel 220 is divided into the accommodating units 220a that are not communicated with one another.

On the contrary, the inner channel 210 accommodates a portion of the washing water that is accommodated at the tub (refer to 20 in FIG. 1). The washing water, which is introduced, flows at an inside the inner channel 210 to offset an initial vibration at the initial rotation of the rotating tub (refer to 30 in FIG. 1), and when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is reached to a normal state, the washing water is introduced to the accommodating unit 220a, which is at a position to offset the unbalanced load of an inside the rotating tub 30. Thus, the washing water W may be freely flow at an inside the inner channel 210, so the inside the inner channel 210 is open without being partitioned.

However, in order for the washing water flowing at an inside the inner channel 210 to control the initial vibration, the washing water may have a predetermined friction while flowing at an inside the inner channel 210, a plurality of bottom ribs 222 having a lower height is formed at the inner channel bottom unit 221. The height of the bottom rib 222 is significantly low when compared to the height of the inner channel 210, and thus, the speed of the flow of the washing water flowing at an inside the inner channel 210 may be reduced, but the flow of the washing water is not blocked.

An inclining rib 223 is upwardly formed from an outer edge in a radial direction of the inner channel bottom unit 221 in a way to be inclined toward the inner wall 231. The inclining rib 223 as well serves to perform a similar function as the bottom rib 222.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views of the movement of the washing water at an inside a base plate illustrated on FIG. 2. That is, the drawings illustrate the motion of the second balancer.

In particular, FIG. 4 is the drawing illustrating a state of the rotating tub 30 before the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is started and a state when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is just started.

A laundry is accommodated at the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1), and the washing water is accommodated at the tub 20 and the rotating tub 30. Among the washing water, washing water W accommodated at an inside the rotating tub 30 is introduced to the inner channel 210 through an inlet hole 151.

The inner channel 210 is provided with the inside thereof open, and the washing water W introduced to the inner channel 210 is stored at the inner channel 210 in a state that the washing water W may flow at an inside the inner channel 210.

According to the description to be provided later, the washing water W is introduced to the outer channel 220 to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1), and for such, a portion of the washing water W is stored at the inner channel 210.

At the same time, the washing water W stored at the inner channel 210 performs a function to offset the initial vibration that is generated at the time when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1) is just started.

When the washing water W is stored at the inner channel 210, the overall weight of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1) having the base plate 40 is increased, and by such, the vibration of the rotating tub 30 is reduced. Furthermore, since the washing water W may flow at an inside the inner channel 210, even when the rotating tub 30 is eccentrically rotated at the time of the initial rotation of the rotating tub 30, the washing water W flows in an opposite side to the eccentric direction of the rotating tub 30 to stabilize the rotation of the rotating tub 30, and accordingly, the vibration of the rotating tub 30 may be reduced.

As previously researched, the bottom rib 222 and the inclining rib 223 are formed at the inner channel bottom unit 221, and thus, the washing water W is not rotated along with the rotation of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1), and the flow speed of the washing water W is decreased by the friction of the bottom rib 222 and the inclining rib 223. Thus, at the time of the initial rotation of the rotating tub 30, the washing water W stays at an opposite side to the eccentric direction of the rotating tub 30 to perform a function to stabilize the rotation of the rotating tub 30.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a state when the washing water is started to be introduced to the outer channel as the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is started.

As illustrated on FIG. 5, by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1), the washing water W is pressurized in an outward radial direction of the base plate 40. The pressurized washing water W, as the centrifugal force becomes stronger as pressurized on the inner wall 231, rises along the inner wall 231, and is introduced to the outer channel 220 through the penetrating hole 230.

At the time when the washing water W is introduced to the outer channel 220 through the penetrating hole 23, the centrifugal force that is larger than gravitational force allows the washing water W to be rapidly pressurized to an outer side surface of the outer channel 220 without rapidly falling to the outer channel bottom unit 211 and being discharged to the drain hole 240.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the state when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is reached to a normal state.

When the rotation of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1) is reaches to a normal state, the laundry at an inside the rotating tub 30 may be gathered to one side at an inside the rotating tub 30, and by such, the unbalanced load may be generated at the rotating tub 30. As the unbalanced load is generated at the rotating tub 30, the washing water W is introduced in a concentrated manner to the accommodating unit 220a of the outer channel 220 positioned at an opposite side to the direction in which the laundry is eccentrically gathered.

Since the accommodating units 220a, as described above, are divided by the boundary panel 212, the washing water W introduced to a particular accommodating unit 220a is accommodated only at the particular accommodating units 220a without flowing to the other accommodating units and being scattered.

The laundry eccentrically positioned to one side of the rotating tub 30 (FIG. 1) and the washing water W accommodated at the particular accommodating unit 220a are mass-balanced to each other, and by such, the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30 is offset. As the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30 is offset, even when the rotating tub 30 is rotated at high speed, the vibration of the rotating tub 30 may be significantly reduced.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the state when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is completed.

As illustrated on FIG. 7, as the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is completed, the centrifugal force is eliminated, and the force applied to the washing water W is dissipated. Thus, the washing machine W, having stayed at an outer side wall in a radial direction of the outer channel 220, falls to the outer channel bottom unit 211 by gravitational force.

The washing water W fallen to the outer channel bottom unit 211, flows to the drain hole 240 to be drained by the inclination of the outer channel bottom unit 211.

In a case when the rotation of the rotating tub 30 is stopped in the middle of the spin-dry process, the washing water W as above is drained to the drain hole 240 formed at each of the accommodating units 220a. At the same time, the washing water W released from the laundry in the spin-dry process is stored again at the inner channel 210 through the inlet hole 151, and comes to the same state as illustrated on FIG. 4. Thus, when the rotating tub 30 is rotated to spin-dry, the unbalanced load of the rotating tub 30 is offset by going through the processes on FIGS. 4 to 7.

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 disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water;

a rotating tub having a cylindrical unit to form a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub, the rotating tub rotatively disposed at an inside the tub;

a first balancer mounted at an upper portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub; and

a second balancer mounted at a lower portion of the rotating tub such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset by using a portion of the washing water at an inside the rotating tub,

wherein the second balancer, comprises:

an inner channel formed along a circumferential direction of the lower portion of the rotating tub such that a portion of the washing water at an inside the rotating tub is stored; and

an outer channel formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the outer channel is formed to have approximately a same radius as a radius of a side surface of the rotating tub.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the outer channel comprises a plurality of boundary panels formed at an inside thereof to divide the outer channel into a plurality of accommodating units.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein the washing water stored at the inner channel is introduced to at least one of the plurality of accommodating units of the outer channel, such that the unbalanced load of the rotating tub is offset.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the inner channel is open, such that the washing water flows at an inside the inner channel.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the washing water stored at the inner channel offsets an initial vibration of the rotating tub while flowing at an inside the inner channel.

7. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a penetrating hole configured to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel.

8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the washing water stored in the inner channel, when an unbalanced load is generated in the rotating tub, is introduced to the outer channel through the penetrating hole, thereby offsetting the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

9. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising:

an introducing hole configured for washing water to be introduced to at least one of the inner channel and the outer channel from an inside the cylindrical unit.

10. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the second balancer further comprises:

a plurality of drain holes formed at a lower portion of at least one of the inner channel and the outer channel, so that the washing water is discharged.

11. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water; a rotating tub having a cylindrical unit to form a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub; and

a base plate to support a lower portion of the cylindrical unit,

wherein the base plate, comprises:

at least one channel configured to accommodate washing water and formed along a circumferential direction of the lower portion of the base plate, and

wherein washing water stored in the at least one channel offsets an unbalance load generated in the rotating tub.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the at least one channel comprises an inner channel formed along the circumferential direction of the lower portion of the base plate to accommodate a portion of the washing water, and an outer channel formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

13. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the washing water stored in the inner channel is introduced to at least one of a plurality of accommodating units formed at the outer channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

14. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water; and

a rotating tub rotatively disposed an inside the tub;

an inner channel formed along a circumferential direction of a lower portion of the rotating tub to store a portion of the washing water;

an outer channel formed along an outer circumference of the inner channel at the lower portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub; and

a penetrating hole to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel, and

wherein when a centrifugal force, to flow the washing water stored at the inner channel over a wall in between the inner channel and the outer channel, is generated due to rotation of the rotating tub, the washing water stored in the inner channel is introduced to the outer channel through the penetrating hole to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the inner channel is open, such that the washing water flows at an inside the inner channel, thereby offsetting an initial vibration of the rotating tub.

16. The washing machine of claim 14, further comprising:

a drain hole formed at a lower portion of the outer channel, such that the washing water introduced to the outer channel is discharged to an outside.

17. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water;

a rotating tub rotatively disposed an inside the tub; and

a balancer mounted at a lower portion of the rotating tub to offset an unbalanced load generated in the rotating tub,

wherein the balancer, comprises:

an inner channel formed along a circumferential direction of the balancer to store a portion of the washing water; and

an outer channel formed along a circumferential direction of an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset an unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

18. The washing machine of claim 17, further comprising:

a penetrating hole to communicate the inner channel with the outer channel, such that the washing water stored in the inner channel is introduced to the outer channel.

19. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the inner channel is open, so that the washing water offsets an initial vibration of the rotating tub while flowing at an inside the inner channel.

20. The washing machine of claim 17, wherein the outer channel comprises a plurality of boundary panels formed at an inside the outer channel to divide the outer channel into a plurality of accommodating units.

21. The washing machine of claim 17, further comprising:

a drain hole formed at a lower portion of the outer channel, such that the washing water introduced to the outer channel is discharged to an outside.

22. A washing machine, comprising:

a cabinet;

a tub disposed at an inside the cabinet to accommodate washing water;

a rotating tub having a cylindrical unit to form a circumferential side surface of the rotating tub; and

a base plate to support a lower portion of the cylindrical unit, the base plate comprising an upper portion plate provided with a plurality of stepped portions and a lower portion plate to be coupled with the upper portion plate, the coupled upper portion plate and the lower portion plate to form at least one channel configured to accommodate washing water, and

wherein washing water stored in the at least one channel offsets an unbalance load generated in the rotating tub.

23. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the at least one channel comprises an inner channel formed along a circumferential direction of the lower portion of the rotating tub to store a portion of the washing water from an inside the rotating tub and an outer channel to form along an outer circumference of the inner channel to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

24. The washing machine of claim 22, wherein the base plate is formed in a shape of a ring.

25. The washing machine of claim 22, further comprising an upper balancer mounted at an upper portion of the rotating tub to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

26. The washing machine of claim 24, wherein the upper balancer includes filling liquid to offset the unbalanced load of the rotating tub.

27. The washing machine of claim 25, wherein the filling liquid is salt water.