WASHING MACHINE

• US 20150211164A1
• Filed: 01/29/2015
• Published: 07/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Young-Hyun, Kang, Geun, Park, Jong Woon
• Granted Patent: US 9,994,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 17/08 Driving arrangements for the impeller
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 29/00 Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/10 Power supply arrangements, e.g. stand-by circuits
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/28 Arrangements for program selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating program parameters, e.g. the selected program or its progress
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/40 for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/125 Supporting arrangements for the casing, e.g. rollers or legs
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/14 Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine, which includes a clutch unit provided to be able to selectively transmit power generated from a drive unit to a drum and a pulsator. The clutch unit includes an outer shaft that is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the drum, an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator, and a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The one-way bearing selectively transmits a rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to simplify a structure of the clutch unit and to use space efficiently.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a main body;

a tub disposed in the main body so as to store wash water;

a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;

a pulsator rotatably disposed in the drum;

a drive unit provided below the tub so as to generate power for rotating the drum and the pulsator; and

a clutch unit disposed between the drive unit and the drum,

wherein the clutch unit includes;

an outer shaft that is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the drum;

an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator; and

a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, and

the one-way bearing selectively transmits a rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the one-way bearing is provided such that:

only any one of the inner shaft and the outer shaft is rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a first direction; and

both the inner shaft and the outer shaft are rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a second direction.

3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the outer shaft is connected to the drive unit at a lower end thereof.

4. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the inner shaft comes into contact with the one-way bearing and is supplied with the rotating force from the one-way bearing.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the clutch unit further includes a clutch housing having an internal space; and

the inner shaft and the outer shaft are located in the clutch housing.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the clutch unit further includes at least one ball bearing installed between the clutch housing and the outer shaft.

7. A washing machine comprising:

a main body;

a tub disposed in the main body so as to store wash water;

a drum rotatably disposed in the tub;

a pulsator rotatably disposed in the drum;

a drive unit provided below the tub so as to generate power for rotating the drum and the pulsator; and

a clutch unit disposed between the drive unit and the drum,

wherein the clutch unit includes;

an outer shaft that rotates the drum;

an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft and rotates the pulsator; and

a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, and

the one-way bearing transmits or blocks a rotating force of the drive unit to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft.

8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the outer shaft is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and to the drive unit at a lower side thereof.

9. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the one-way bearing does not transmit a rotating force of the outer shaft to the inner shaft when the drive unit is rotated in a first direction, and transmits the rotating force of the outer shaft to the inner shaft when the drive unit is rotated in a second direction.

10. A washing machine comprising:

a main body configured to have a plurality of cabinets;

a plurality of tubs configured to have first and second tubs provided in the respective cabinets so as to store wash water;

a plurality of drums configured to have first and second drums rotatably disposed in the respective tubs;

a pulsator rotatably disposed in any one of the drums;

a drive unit configured to generate power for rotating the any one of the drums and the pulsator; and

a clutch unit configured to selectively transmit the power from the drive unit to the any one of the drums and the pulsator,

wherein the clutch unit includes;

a plurality of rotating shafts having an outer shaft that is connected to the any one of the drums at one side thereof and rotates the any one of the drums and an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at the one side thereof, and rotates the pulsator; and

a one-way bearing that transmits a rotating force from any one of the rotating shafts to the other according to a rotating direction of the any one of the rotating shafts.

11. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the one-way bearing is provided such that:

the plurality of rotating shafts are rotated together when the drive unit is rotated in a first direction; and

only the any one of the rotating shafts is rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

12. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the one-way bearing is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft.

13. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein:

the outer shaft is connected to the drive unit so as to be supplied with the power from the drive unit; and

the one-way bearing transmits the rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the drive unit.

14. The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the one-way bearing is provided such that:

only the outer shaft is rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a first direction; and

both the outer shaft and the inner shaft are rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the washing machine is provided to operate in a washing mode in which the drive unit is rotated in the first direction or the second direction, and in a water extracting mode in which the drive unit is rotated in the second direction.

16. The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of cabinets include:

an upper cabinet in which the first tub and the first drum are disposed and at an upper portion of which a first opening is formed for withdrawing laundry; and

a lower cabinet in which the second tub and the second drum are disposed, which is provided under the upper cabinet, and in a lateral portion of which a second opening is formed for withdrawing laundry.

17. The washing machine according to claim 16, further comprising a vibration reduction unit that has at least one elastic unit so as to attenuate vibration and provided between the upper cabinet and the lower cabinet.

18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the at least one elastic unit includes:

a support part connected to a lower portion of the upper cabinet; and

an elastic part that is provided at a lower portion of the support part and is elastically supported on an upper surface of the lower cabinet.

19. The washing machine according to claim 16, wherein the upper cabinet further includes a reflector that is provided adjacent to the first opening to provide a view of the laundry in the first drum from outside of the upper cabinet.

20. The washing machine according to claim 10, further comprising a laundry tray that is provided on the main body for placing laundry thereon.

21. The washing machine according to claim 20, wherein the laundry tray is provided to be able to be withdrawn with respect to the main body.

22. A washing machine comprising:

a main body configured to have an upper cabinet and a lower cabinet;

first and second tubs provided in the respective upper and lower cabinets so as to store wash water;

first and second drums rotatably disposed in the respective first and second tubs;

a pulsator rotatably disposed in the first drum;

a drive unit provided below the first tub and configured to generate power for rotating the first drum and the pulsator; and

a clutch unit configured to selectively transmit the power from the drive unit to the first drum and the pulsator, the clutch unit being provided such that the first drum and the pulsator are rotated together when the drive unit is rotated in a first direction and only the first drum is rotated when the drive unit is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction,

wherein the washing machine is provided to operate in a washing mode in which the drive unit is operated in the first direction or the second direction, and in a water extracting mode in which the drive unit is operated in the first direction only.

23. The washing machine according to claim 22, wherein the clutch unit includes:

an outer shaft that is connected to the first drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the first drum;

an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator; and

a one-way bearing that is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, and is provided to transmit a rotating force to the inner shaft when the outer shaft is rotated in the first direction and not to transmit the rotating force to the inner shaft when the outer shaft is rotated in the second direction.

24. A washing machine comprising:

a cabinet configured to form an exterior;

a water tub installed in the cabinet;

a washing tub rotatably installed in the water tub; and

a motor rotated in a first direction in order to transmit power to the washing tub,

wherein a control panel having a user input section for operating the washing machine is disposed at a lower end of the cabinet.

25. The washing machine according to claim 24, further comprising a pulsator that is rotatably installed in the washing tub,

wherein the washing tub and the pulsator are all rotated when the motor is rotated in the first direction, and when the motor is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, only the pulsator is rotated, and the washing tub is not rotated.

26. The washing machine according to claim 24, further comprising a pulsator that is rotatably installed in the washing tub,

wherein the washing tub and the pulsator are all rotated when the motor is rotated in the first direction, and when the motor is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, only the washing tub is rotated in the second direction, and the pulsator is not rotated.

27. The washing machine according to claim 24, wherein:

a loading port for putting laundry into the washing tub is formed in an upper portion of the cabinet; and

the cabinet further includes a door provided for opening/closing the loading port.

28. The washing machine according to claim 27, further comprising a reflector provided on an inner surface of the door,

wherein an interior of the washing tub is seen through the reflector.