Impulsing And Liquid Flowing Patents (Class 68/53)
  • Patent number: 11891744
    Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated washing and spinning tub and an energy-saving and healthy household washing machine with a tub replacing function. The integrated washing and spinning tub comprises a water holding tub, a spinning tub is arranged in the water holding tub, and the water holding tub and the spinning tub are connected in a sliding groove mode. The energy-saving and healthy household washing machine with a tub replacing function comprises a washing machine shell, the integrated washing and spinning tub is arranged in the washing machine shell, a spring telescopic support corresponding to the integrated washing and spinning tub is arranged on the inner wall of the upper portion of the washing machine shell, a support frame is arranged at the bottom of the integrated washing and spinning tub, and a reduction gear and a motor which are connected are arranged on the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: De Ding, Junxiang Yu, Yiqun Jin
  • Patent number: 11519122
    Abstract: A washing appliance including a removable agitator post having a recess configured for complementary receipt of an impeller interface. A plurality of apertures can be spaced around a bottom end of the agitator post. A plurality of alignment pins may extend from the impeller interface and into the plurality of apertures. The alignment pins can be movable in and out of the apertures so that the agitator post can be secured to, or released from, the impeller interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Alan Kern
  • Patent number: 10954622
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a washing machine including an inner tub assembly for accommodating laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly, a blade installed at a lower portion of the pulsator to be rotatable independently from the pulsator, the blade being configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly, a drive motor for providing rotational power to the pulsator and the blade, and a power transmission unit for transmitting power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade, respectively. The power transmission unit transmits power such that a direction of rotation of the pulsator is opposite to a direction of rotation of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Youngjun Kim, Youngjong Kim, Dongcheol Kim, Insik Yu
  • Patent number: 9267228
    Abstract: A laundry treating device is disclosed, which includes a cabinet that defines an exterior appearance of the device, a tub installed in the cabinet, a lower water holding part recessed in a lower portion of the tub to form a predetermined space, and a water drain hose connected with a side surface of the lower water holding part. The laundry treating device is capable of providing a sufficient water drain height, with improved inner space utilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS
    Inventors: Na Eun Kim, Ki Chul Woo, Sung Ryong Kim, Dong Soo Lee, Sung Min Kim, Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8256136
    Abstract: A laundry treating apparatus, particularly, a laundry treating apparatus using steam is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus such as a washing machine, a dryer, a drying and washing machine is an apparatus which washes or dries articles such as clothes. The laundry treating apparatus includes an operation course including a drying process in which hot air is supplied into a drum adapted to accommodate articles to dry the articles and a cooling process in which cool air is supplied into the drum to cool the articles, wherein the operation course further includes a steam process in which steam is supplied into the drum, and the laundry treating apparatus includes a controller which controls a heater adapted to generate the steam such that an operation time point of the heater varies according to an amount of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sang Hun Bae, Dong Geun Lee, Yeon Sik Choi, Ju Han Yoon
  • Patent number: 7997006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a control method thereof. The control method includes supplying steam, generated by a steam generator, into a drum, and supplying hot air into the drum to dry clothes wetted by the steam. According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively removing wrinkles on clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Woo Son, Sang Hun Bae, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7392672
    Abstract: A pulsator includes a metallic upper pulsator having an inlet at a center of the pulsator and upwardly protruding upper washing ribs radially around the inlet and a synthetic resin lower pulsator having upwardly protruding lower washing ribs and contacting a lower surface of the upper washing ribs, a guidance surface spaced apart from the lower surface of the upper pulsator and defining a flow passage for channeling water introduced through the inlet, and an outlet at an end of the guidance surface discharging water channeled through the flow passage. The lower pulsator rotates with and is fixed to a driving shaft of a washing machine. A pulsator includes a synthetic resin pulsator body having a washing rib and a metal plating layer on an outer surface of the pulsator body includes the inlet. The outlet and the flow passage are provided in the pulsator body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Ho Kim, Jong Sun Yoon
  • Patent number: 7028512
    Abstract: A washing machine is provided, which washes laundry by mechanisms of vibration or/and pumping, thereby improving washing performance, and preventing the laundry from being damaged while reducing consumption of washing water. The washing machine includes an outer tub for storage of washing water, a washing tub mounted in the outer tub, an impeller rotatably fitted in a lower part of an inside of the washing tub for pumping the washing water in a space between the washing tub and the outer tub, a washing plate up and down movably fitted inside of the washing tub, a driving motor under the outer tub, and a power transmission connected to the driving motor for transmitting a rotation power of the driving motor to the impeller with a reduced speed, and transmitting a rotation power of the driving motor to the washing plate with the rotation power converted into up and down direction power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae won Chang
  • Publication number: 20040158934
    Abstract: A washing machine including a perforated inner basket and an outer tub is disclosed. The outer tub includes one or more grooves on its inside wall to redirect extracted water from the perforated inner basket downwardly into a collection area for disposal. The groove may be generally vertical or angled along the upper portion of the inner wall of the tub. The groove preferably includes an undercut portion that extends in the same direction as the perforated basket spins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sears, Daniel F. Wunderlich, John E. Thomas, Keith E. Kropf
  • Publication number: 20040031294
    Abstract: A washing machine capable of minimizing tangle and damage of the laundry is disclosed. The washing machine includes: a wash shaft installed perpendicularly at a lower center of an inner tub, and rotated by a rotational force transferred from a motor; a wash plate orbiting about a rotational center of the wash shaft to form a stream of water; and a movement converting unit for converting a rotational movement of the wash shaft to a orbiting movement of the wash plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hee Tae Lim, Gwan Ryong Park, Jae Won Chang, Kyeong Hwan Kim
  • Publication number: 20030110816
    Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed, which washes laundry by mechanisms of vibration or/and pumping, thereby improving washing performance, as well as preventing the laundry from being damaged while reducing consumption of washing water. The washing machine includes an outer tub for storage of washing water, a washing tub mounted in the outer tub, an impeller rotatably fitted in a lower part of an inside of the washing tub for pumping the washing water in a space between the washing tub and the outer tub, a washing plate up and down movably fitted inside of the washing tub, a driving motor under the outer tub, and a power transmission means connected to the driving motor for transmitting a rotation power of the driving motor to the impeller with a reduced speed, and transmitting a rotation power of the driving motor to the washing plate with the rotation power converted into up and down direction power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Jae Won Chang
  • Patent number: 6145350
    Abstract: A washing machine having a sub-pulsator, the washing machine including a pulsator rotating in the left/right directions by a driving source during the washing process and guide duct mounted in a wash/spin-dry tub for guiding the washing water agitated by left/right rotations of the pulsator to the upper side of the wash/spin-dry tub, wherein the washing machine comprises:a hydraulic turbine disposed in the guide duct; anda sub-pulsator arranged in the wash/spin-dry tub to mesh with the hydraulic turbine, such that a side water current is formed at an intermediate section of the wash/spin-dry tub without recourse to input of separately added power to thereby improve the washing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-sung Hwang
  • Patent number: 6116061
    Abstract: A washing machine includes an outer tub, an inner tub, fluid nozzle configured to spray fluid into the inner tub, a fluid pump, and a controller. The washing machine may also include a pulsator located in the inner tub for applying a force to clothing in inner tub. During a first washing cycle, the controller causes the inner tub to rotate, and the nozzle to spray fluid onto clothing in the inner tub. During the first washing cycle, a fluid level in the outer tub may be controlled so that it is lower than the inner tub. During a second washing cycle, the inner tub is held stationary, and the pulsator applies a force to clothing in the inner tub, as occurs in conventional washing machines. Because the fluid level in the washing machine can be kept quite low during the first washing cycle, less water and less detergent is required. Also, because the level of the water is kept below the rotating inner tub during the first washing cycle, less force and thus less energy are required to rotate the inner tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Yeop Oh, Kyeong Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 6109072
    Abstract: In a clothes washer having a rotational force conversion apparatus, the rotational force conversion apparatus comprises a disk cam formed on a driving shaft, a plurality of followers contacted with the disk cam and each having a coil spring which enables the follower to be in constant contact with the disk cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-Jun Jung
  • Patent number: 6082152
    Abstract: A washing machine pumps a washing liquid towards an upper portion of a spin tub while a washing cycle is being executed. The washing machine has a pumping unit disposed at an underside of an outer tub so as to pump the washing liquid from a bottom wall of the outer tub to upper portions of the spin tub and the outer tub. The pumping unit has a receptacle which is fixed to the underside of the outer tub, a disc member which is reciprocated in upward and downward directions within the receptacle, a wire having a first end fixed to a center of an underside of the disc member, a synchronous motor connected to a second end of the wire for pulling the disc member downward, and a compression spring installed in the receptacle for upwardly biasing the disc member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jang-Yun Im
  • Patent number: 6070439
    Abstract: Disclosed is a pulsator assembly used in a washing machine. The pulsator assembly comprises of disc-shaped lower pulsator and upper pulsator. A spouting port is formed at a central part of the upper pulsator, and an inflow port is formed at the lower pulsator. A guide rib is provided at an inner space of the pulsator assembly. The guide rib is extended from an area adjacent to a rotational axis to an area adjacent to a circumference. The guide rib is bent against a radial direction. The washing water in the inner space is guided toward the spouting port while a driving motor operates, so as to spout upward through the spouting port. Thus, a spouting water flow is formed along with a vortex water flow, which creates a complex water flow in a washing tub. Accordingly, the laundry is not twisted and the laundry is effectively washed and rinsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-don Jung
  • Patent number: 6041626
    Abstract: A washing tub for use in a washing machine has a reservoir water tub in a cabinet, a pulsator rotatably disposed at bottom thereof and a balancer mounted on top thereof. The washing tub includes an outer tube having a base and a body mounted on the base, an inner tube disposed within the outer tube at regular intervals and guide members interposed between the outer and the inner tubes. The inner tube has a basal part opposed to the base of the outer tube and a body mounted on the basal part. The body of the outer tube consists of a plurality of first panels with a plurality of through-holes and a plurality of second panels alternatively connected to each other, while the body of the inner tube consists of a plurality of first plates with a plurality of through-holes opposed to each of the first panels of the outer tube and a plurality of second plates opposed to each of the second panels alternatively connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Jun Jung
  • Patent number: 6035670
    Abstract: A compressed water generation apparatus of clothes washer comprises a hollow body, a piston housed in the hollow body, a valve for allowing the water through an inlet opening formed at an upper portion of the hollow body in response to a movement of the piston, and a flexible band connecting to the housing by one end thereof and to the piston by another end thereof, for expanding volume of space created between the inlet opening of the hollow body and the piston in respect to the movement of the water basket, thus drawing in the water of the water basket, compressing the water, and discharging the pressurized water toward the clothes basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Choul Park
  • Patent number: 6016672
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having a water guide for forming a vertical and a horizontal flow of wash water. The washing machine comprises a washing and dehydrating tub for receiving the wash water; a pulsator for forming a rotational water flow within the washing and dehydrating tub; and a water guide provided to an inner peripheral surface of the washing and dehydrating tub for defining a vertical passageway along the washing and dehydrating tub. While the wash water is rotated by the rotational movement of the pulsator, some of the water is guided along the passageway to the upper side of the washing and dehydrating tub where the wash water falls to the inner portion of the washing and dehydrating tub. The water guide has a main passageway and a pair of auxiliary passageways. A upper discharge port is formed at the upper portion of the main passageway, and the wash water is discharged through the upper discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-chul Kim, Byung-don Jung
  • Patent number: 5950459
    Abstract: An electric washing machine includes a washing machine body, a water tank fixed in the washing machine body and having an opening at the bottom, a double-cylindrical axis body formed of outer and inner rotary axes passing through the opening in the water tank, a washing tank in the water tank attached to the upper end of the outer rotary axis, with a large number of dehydration holes, a container type agitator attached to the upper end of the inner rotary axis, arranged at the bottom of the washing tank, and a planetary gear mechanism coupled to the lower end of the double-cylindrical axis body. The planetary gear mechanism includes an input axis, a planetary gear outer periphery portion fixed to the outer rotary axis, and a planetary gears coupled to the inner rotary axis and engaging with the outer periphery of the input axis and the inner surface of the planetary gear outer periphery portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinya Takagi, Akira Yoshida, Masafumi Satomura
  • Patent number: 5946949
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a pulsator and a spurting apparatus for spurting washing water upwardly from the center of the pulsator, so as to disperse laundry gathered thereabove. The spurting apparatus has at least one guide duct and a spurt cap. The guide duct is fixed to an underside of the pulsator so as to rotate together with the pulsator. The washing water is introduced into a radially outer end of the guide duct and guided toward the center of the pulsator. The spurt cap disposed at the center of the pulsator guides the washing water upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Ryoung Park, Min-Su Cho, Kyoung-Weon Park, Young-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 5943885
    Abstract: A spin tub, which is installed in a washing machine, includes a washing ring and a ring guide for guiding the washing ring to be rotated along an inner sidewall of the spin tub, an engaging means for fixing the ring guide on an inner sidewall of the spin tub, and an assembling means for assembling the washing ring and the pulsator in order to provide a rotation force of the pulsator to the washing ring. The ring guide is inclined with respect to the spin axis of the spin tub, whereby when the washing ring is rotated by the pulsator, the water ring impacts on the laundry upwardly elevated along the inner side wall of the spin tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Choul Park
  • Patent number: 5941100
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a pulsator and a spurting apparatus for spurting washing water upwardly from the center of the pulsator, so as to disperse laundry gathered thereabove. The spurting apparatus has at least one guide duct and a spurt cap. The guide duct is fixed to an underside of the pulsator so as to rotate together with the pulsator. The washing water is introduced into a radially outer end of the guide duct and guided toward the center of the pulsator. The spurt cap disposed at the center of the pulsator guides the washing water upwardly. A filter is disposed at an inlet of the duct for filtering-out impurities from washing water entering the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ki-Pyo Ahn, Sang-Won Lee
  • Patent number: 5918486
    Abstract: A washing machine having an apparatus for generating a turbulent flow. The washing machine has a cabinet, an outer tub installed in the cabinet to receive a washing water, a spin tub mounted in the outer tub to receive articles, an apparatus installed at a lower portion of the spin tub to upwardly impel the washing water, a pulsator to guide the washing water impelled by the apparatus into a center portion of the spin tub and to generate a swirling flow in the spin tub, a motor and a power transmission to drive the apparatus and pulsator. The apparatus has a porous cap member to allow the washing water to flow thereinto and an impeller to upwardly impel the washing water flown thereinto. The washing machine can impel the washing water toward an upper portion of the spin tub while a washing operation is being carried out so that the apparatus generates a complicated turbulent flow in the spin tub, thereby improving a washing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Choul Park
  • Patent number: 5906116
    Abstract: In a clothes washing machine, washing water is caused to spurt upwardly from the center of a pulsator, so as to disperse laundry gathered above the center of the pulsator. A washing water spurting apparatus includes guide ducts mounted on an underside of the pulsator. Each guide duct has an upper case, a lower case, and a first assembling mechanism for easily assembling and detaching the upper case and the lower case to and from each other. There is also a second assembling mechanism for assembling the guide duct to the underside of the pulsator so that the guide duct can rotate together with the pulsator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Kim, Jae-Ryoung Park
  • Patent number: 5906118
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a washing water spurting apparatus for spurting washing water directly upwardly from a center of a pulsator. The washing water is guided by at least guide one duct affixed to the pulsator. The pulsator has a plurality of first ribs formed on an underside of the pulsator and second ribs formed in recesses of the lower surface of the underside. Each of the first ribs is spaced a predetermined distance from the inlet of the guide duct. Each of the second ribs has a height extending from the underside of the pulsator, which is smaller than a height of a top border of the inlet. The first and second ribs enable the washing water to flow smoothly into the inlet of the guide duct when the pulsator rotates. The pulsator and the rotating blades are prevented from being deformed by the presence of the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Su Cho, Kyoung-Weon Park
  • Patent number: 5906117
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a washing water spurting apparatus for spurting washing water directly upwardly from the center of a pulsator. The washing water spurting apparatus has at least one guide duct and a spurt cap. The spurt cap has a canopy forming a spurt hole. The canopy has a core and an arcuate rim surrounding the core, between which the spurt hole is formed. The core has ribs extending from the core toward a cylindrical inner surface of the arcuate rim. Distal ends of the ribs are spaced a predetermined distance from the cylindrical inner surface. The ribs increase a spurting pressure of the washing water and prevent foreign materials from entering the guide duct downwardly through the spurt hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Chul Kim, Min-Su Cho, Yang-Jo Jung
  • Patent number: 5878600
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a spin-dry tub and an oscillatory agitator disposed at the bottom of the tub. The agitator includes a centrally located vertical hole in which an axial fan is mounted. A drive mechanism oscillates the axial fan relative to the agitator about a vertical axis to generate an upward water jet that disperses the laundry in a manner preventing entwinement and entanglement thereof. The driving mechanism comprises a roller mounted on an underside of the agitator. The roller engages the bottom of the tub and is oscillated by frictional contact therewith during oscillation of the agitator. Oscillation of the roller is transmitted to the axial fan by a flexible shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hoon Yeo, Jin-Sung Hwang
  • Patent number: 5829276
    Abstract: An improved washing machine equipped with a pulsator to prevent entanglement of laundry capable of efficiently preventing entanglement of laundry by preventing clothes being washed from gathering at the central portion in the inner tub of the washing machine, which includes an upper blade having a upwardly extending ejection hole, the upwardly extending ejection hole being formed at a central portion of the upper blade; a lower blade disposed below the upper blade; an improved pulsator disposed between the upper blade and the lower blade for transferring a driving force from the lower blade to the upper blade and having a plurality of spaced-apart support bushings for forming a washing water flow path between the upper blade and the lower blade; and an inner tub having a washing water guide section formed at a periphery of the lower blade and the support bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung Sun Suh, Dong Soo Gil
  • Patent number: 5823018
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having a spraying nozzle assembly which evenly and strongly sprays a circulated washing liquid onto an article to be washed. The washing machine has a housing, an outer tub disposed in the housing so as to receive the washing liquid, a spin tub accommodated in the outer tub, an outer tub cover mounted on the outer tub, and a spraying nozzle assembly for spraying the washing liquid onto the article to be washed which is loaded in the spin tub. The spraying nozzle assembly includes an upper frame mounted on an upper surface of the outer tub cover and a lower frame which is rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the upper frame. The lower frame is formed at a bottom wall thereof with a plurality of spraying nozzles which are regularly arranged in a spiral pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Yoll Lee
  • Patent number: 5746071
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine which can strongly pump a washing liquid towards an upper portion of a spin tub while a washing cycle is being executed. The washing machine has a housing and an outer tub disposed in the housing so as to receive the washing liquid. A spin tub accommodated in the outer tub is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a compartment, and is formed at an inner wall thereof with first and second cylinders which are positioned in opposition to each other. The washing machine has a motor for generating a rotational force, a pulsator mounted on an upper surface of the compartment, and a pulsator driving section for driving the pulsator by receiving the rotational force from the motor. First and second piston assemblies are respectively disposed within the first and second cylinders in order to pump the washing liquid towards an upper portion of the spin tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Gab-Jin Youn
  • Patent number: 5715708
    Abstract: A washing machine is disclosed which is equipped with a washing tub having a plurality of cylindrical side walls. The washing machine has a pulsator reception part, a washing tub body and a plurality of annular flat bases. The pulsator reception part has an opening in the bottom center portion thereof and rotatably receives the pulsator. The washing tub body is formed on the pulsator reception part and has a plurality of cylindrical side walls which are progressively reduced in diameters from the lower portion to the upper portion thereof. The plurality of annular flat bases each have a plurality of holes and connect the lower end of one of the plurality of cylindrical side walls with the upper end of another one of the plurality of cylindrical side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwan-Choul Park
  • Patent number: 5671617
    Abstract: A clothes washer includes a laundry tub assembly disposed within a stationary main water tub. The laundry tub assembly includes outer and inner tubs rigidly attached together and radially spaced apart to form therebetween a space having a lower water inlet and an upper water outlet. A pulsator is disposed within the tub assembly to agitate clothes during a washing operation. The pulsator oscillates about a vertical axis and thereby produces streams of water traveling upwardly through the space and from the outlet to fall onto clothes being washed, in order to push the clothes downwardly. Spirally arranged members are disposed within the space to impart a swirling motion to the water traveling therethrough, so that the water discharged from the water outlet travels in generally the same direction as the direction of rotation of the pulsator and thus in the same direction as the clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Heum Park, Sang Han Kim
  • Patent number: 5617747
    Abstract: A washing machine enables cleansing water pumped by a rotating blade during executing a washing operation to be sprayed upon laundry within an inner tub of the washing machine with a strong pressure. The washing machine includes a hollow cylindrical inner tub for performing washing and drying, the rotating blade rotatably projecting from a center of a bottom of the inner tub for circulating the cleansing water within the inner tub, a plurality of bent portions and cutout portions bent and cut in predetermined lower portions of a sidewall of the inner tub, a plurality of waterway casings coupled to the cutout portions and positioned below the bent portions for pressurizing and spraying circulating cleansing water into the inner tub, and a hollow cylindrical inner tub base coupled to the waterway casing housed within the inner tub for selectively supplying the circulating cleansing water to the waterway casings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Yong S. Kim
  • Patent number: 5509283
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine includes a water container, a spin-drying basket disposed in the container, and an oscillatory agitator disposed at the bottom of the basket. A plurality of upright water passages are formed in a vertical wall of the basket for conducting an upward flow of water generated by the agitator. Each passage includes vertically spaced first and second water outlets disposed above a water level in the basket. The second outlet is disposed below the upper outlet and has a lint filter. A third water outlet is formed in each passage and is disposed below the water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae C. Lee, Do W. Kim
  • Patent number: 5507053
    Abstract: A method of washing clothes in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of operation of the washer includes loading the clothes into the wash basket, adding water and detergent into the tub for forming wash liquid, recirculating the wash liquid over the clothes while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of wash liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving he desired excellent soil removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Mueller, R. Bruce Sherer, Gerald L. Kretchman, Kurt Werner, James W. Titus, Mark C. Celmer, Linda A. Higbee
  • Patent number: 5504955
    Abstract: A method of rinsing in an automatic washer having an imperforate wash tub, a perforate wash basket disposed within the tub and rotatable about a vertical axis and a bottom plate disposed within the lower portion of the wash basket and mounted for wobbling motion. The method of rinsing includes adding rinse liquid into the wash basket and recirculating the rinse liquid over the clothes items while driving the bottom plate in a nutating movement. Nutating movement describes the movement of the bottom plate wherein the bottom plate is slowly rotated within the wash basket while being driven in a rapid wobbling motion. In this fashion, the clothes are repeatedly moved under a spray pattern of rinse liquid while being jostled and flexed for achieving the desired excellent detergent and soil removal during rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dale E. Mueller, R. Bruce Sherer, Gerald L. Kretchman, Kurt Werner, James W. Titus, Mark C. Celmer
  • Patent number: 5205141
    Abstract: A reciprocating laundry basket for an automatic washer is provided in which the basket has a peripheral wall, a bottom wall contiguous with the peripheral wall, a post mounted within the basket for rotation with the basket, a spray device mounted on the post for spraying wash liquid into the interior of the wash basket and spray inlets and vertical fins positioned adjacent the peripheral wall for enhancing agitation of the fabric load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Devinder Singh
  • Patent number: 5193361
    Abstract: An apparatus for laundering a textile wash load that includes an imperforate wash tub having a sump at its lower end. A perforate wash basket that is adapted to receive a load of textile materials to be laundered is disposed concentrically within the wash tub. The wash basket includes an inner surface upon which are disposed a plurality of agitator vanes. A fluid conducting tower is disposed along the central longitudinal axis of the wash basket. The tower includes a nozzle assembly that is adapted to spray liquid onto the wash load. The tower also includes a mixing tank that receives wash additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Devinder Singh, Sheryl L. Farrington, Kenneth B. Austin
  • Patent number: 5018372
    Abstract: A filter for a top loading automatic washing machine wherein a substantially horizontal filter disc is positioned such that its outer periphery seats against the underside of the clothes basket bottom which is upwardly inclined towards the middle. The disc is a unitary plastic molded part, and has a large plurality of vertically aligned holes that have downward draft. An agitator provides pumping action to circulate washing fluid out of the sidewall perforations of the basket, and back into the basket through openings in the bottom thereof. The washing fluid passes through the holes of the filter disc collecting lint on the underside face. The lint is then flushed away during the spin mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Speed Queen Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Altnau, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4702092
    Abstract: Apparatus for wet processing traveling continuous-length textile material includes a narrow U-shaped container for processing liquid through which the material passes in a U-shaped path and an agitating assembly positioned in the container between the reaches of the material path for reciprocating movement parallel to the material. The agitating assembly includes a plurality of unequally spaced displacement members which extend across the width of the material and a substantial extent of the container transversely between the material reaches to define relatively narrow localized spacings between the displacement members and the container walls. Each reciprocal movement of the agitating assembly displaces a relatively large volume of the contained liquid forcing it to pass through the localized spacings at a relatively higher velocity than the actual movement of the agitating assembly, enhancing the liquid application to the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Gaston County Dyeing Machine Company
    Inventor: James K. Turner
  • Patent number: 4622708
    Abstract: A clothes washing machine has a cabinet in which an agitator is mounted on a vertical axis and is oscillated back and forth within a perforated tub, the tub and the agitator rotating continuously in one direction to give a spin action and the perforated tub in turn being mounted within a watertight container in the cabinet, with a space between substantially vertical walls of said container, and a drain is provided to drain washing liquid from the container, there being circulating means operable during a washing cycle of the washing machine to cause washing liquid to circulate from the pool of washing liquid in which clothes are being washed through at least part of the space between said walls of the perforated tub and walls of said container and back to said pool of washing liquid through perforations in the perforated tub, the perforations being of a size and shape such and said circulation being such that any lint in the washing liquid tends to be left in the space for discharge therefrom during a draini
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Limited
    Inventor: Christopher J. Gaelic
  • Patent number: 4441882
    Abstract: Continuous laundering apparatus having a continuous conveyor carrying the goods to be laundered through the apparatus. Devices additional to, and separate from, the conveyor are provided for agitating the goods as they are carried by the conveyor. The conveyor positively carries the goods, including in one form, opposed elements confining the goods therebetween and in another form a single element on which the goods rest. The agitating means includes selectively (a) rollers which are free turning, and turn by engagement therewith by the conveyor and compress the goods between the rollers and a reaction plate; (b) plungers or pushers which are positively driven against the goods, compressing them against the reaction plate; and (c) grippers on opposite sides of the conveyor gripping the conveyor, and thus the goods, between them. A plurality of laundering units are arranged in serial attitude to accommodate different kinds of laundering steps in a continuous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Inventor: Paul H. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 4434630
    Abstract: In a washer-dehydrator, an eccentrically set pulsator is driven through a rotation moment-transmitting mechanism, and, even in case washing water streams containing foreign matter are drawn below the pulsator by the action of pumping blades mounted on the underside of the pulsator. The operation of the rotation moment-transmitting mechanism is not obstructed by the foreign matter, but circulating water streams can be smoothly produced to trap foreign matter retained in the washing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshio Ikeda
  • Patent number: 4420952
    Abstract: A fluid pumping agitator for use in a vertical axis automatic clothes washing machine which pumps wash liquid from an inlet in the skirt portion of the agitator to an outlet in the barrel portion of the agitator. The agitator pumps liquid in one rotational direction of its oscillatory rotational movement. The barrel portion has a chamber in which can be placed wash liquid treatment means such as a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Brenner, Jack F. Clearman, Clark I. Platt
  • Patent number: 4419870
    Abstract: A fluid pumping agitator for use in a vertical axis automatic clothes washing machine which pumps wash liquid from an inlet in the skirt portion of the agitator through a venturi to an outlet in the barrel portion of the agitator. The agitator pumps liquid upwardly in both directions of its oscillatory rotational movement. The barrel portion is provided with a filter means for treating the pumped wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert A. Brenner
  • Patent number: 4412435
    Abstract: Continuous laundering apparatus having a continuous conveyor carrying the goods to be laundered through the apparatus. Devices additional to, and separate from, the conveyor are provided for agitating the goods as they are carried by the conveyor. The conveyor is a single mesh or web, surrounding or enclosing the goods, and holding them in suspended form, and the agitators engage the conveyor, and the goods, at the sides. In one form the agitators are on opposite sides of the conveyor, engaging the conveyor against each other, and in another form, on one side and engaging it against the wall of the tank through which the goods are carried. A plurality of units provide different kinds of steps, such as washing and rinsing, and the conveyor assumes a bag shape and carries the goods between the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Inventor: Paul H. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 4402198
    Abstract: A fluid pumping agitator for use in a vertical axis automatic clothes washing machine which pumps wash liquid from an inlet in the skirt portion of the agitator to an outlet in the barrel portion of the agitator. The agitator pumps liquid in both directions of its oscillatory rotational movement. The barrel portion has a chamber in which can be placed wash liquid treatment means such as a filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Roger J. Cartier
  • Patent number: 4397163
    Abstract: A fluid pumping agitator for use in a vertical axis automatic clothes washing machine which pumps wash liquid from a central inlet communicating with the tub to an outlet communicating with the basket to reduce the volume of liquid required in a washing cycle. The agitator pumps liquid in both directions of its oscillatory rotational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jack F. Clearman, Thomas H. Buckleitner
  • Patent number: 4361018
    Abstract: Continuous laundering apparatus having a continuous conveyor carrying the goods to be laundered through the apparatus. Devices additional to, and separate from the conveyor are provided for agitating the goods as they are carried by the conveyor. The conveyor positively carries the goods, including in one form, opposed elements confining the goods therebetween and in another form a single element on which the goods rest. The agitating means includes selectively (a) rollers which are free turning, and turn by engagement therewith by the conveyor and compress the goods between the rollers and a reaction plate; (b) plungers or pushers which are positively driven against the goods, compressing them against the reaction plate; and (c) grippers on opposite sides of the conveyor gripping the conveyor, and thus the goods, between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1982
    Inventor: Paul H. Gallagher