WASHING MACHINE
First Claim
1. A washing machine, comprising:
- a washing tub provided to accommodate laundry therein;
a dehydration shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, the dehydration shaft having a hollow portion therein;
a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub;
a drive shaft passing through the hollow portion of the dehydration shaft, the drive shaft configured to rotate the pulsator;
a clutch configured to selectively transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the dehydration shaft;
a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid; and
a fixing core located alongside the solenoid,wherein the clutch comprises;
a clutch coupler movable along the dehydration shaft between a first position and a second positon, the dehydration shaft being connected to the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first positon, and the dehydration shaft being disconnected from the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second positon; and
an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position, the armature comprising;
a core base located below the fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and
a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A washing machine includes a washing tub rotatably disposed to accommodate laundry, a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub, a drive shaft to rotate the pulsator, a dehydration shaft to be connected to the washing tub and through which the drive shaft passes, a solenoid to form a magnetic field when a current is applied, a fixing core to surround the solenoid, and a clutch to couple and uncouple the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft. The clutch includes an armature to be lifted by a magnetic force of the solenoid, and a clutch coupler to be elevated along the dehydration shaft, perform coupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a first position, and perform uncoupling between the drive shaft and the dehydration shaft in a second position lifted from the first position. The shape of the armature provides a more uniform lifting force.
1 Citation
20 Claims
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1. A washing machine, comprising:
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a washing tub provided to accommodate laundry therein; a dehydration shaft configured to rotate the washing tub, the dehydration shaft having a hollow portion therein; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the washing tub; a drive shaft passing through the hollow portion of the dehydration shaft, the drive shaft configured to rotate the pulsator; a clutch configured to selectively transmit rotation of the drive shaft to the dehydration shaft; a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid; and a fixing core located alongside the solenoid, wherein the clutch comprises; a clutch coupler movable along the dehydration shaft between a first position and a second positon, the dehydration shaft being connected to the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first positon, and the dehydration shaft being disconnected from the drive shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second positon; and an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position, the armature comprising; a core base located below the fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A washing machine, comprising:
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a cabinet; an outer tub located in the cabinet, the outer tub being provided to accommodate wash water therein; an inner tub located in the outer tub, the inner tub being provided to accommodate laundry therein; an outer shaft configured to rotate the inner tub, the outer shaft having a hollow portion therein; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the inner tub; an inner shaft passing through the hollow portion of the outer shaft, the inner shaft configured to rotate the pulsator; a clutch configured to selectively transmit rotation of the inner shaft to the outer shaft; a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid; a bearing configured to rotatably support the outer shaft, the bearing being located at an upper side of the solenoid; and a bearing housing configured to receive the bearing and the solenoid therein, the bearing housing including a fixing core located alongside the solenoid, wherein the clutch comprises; a clutch coupler movable along the outer shaft between a first position and a second positon, the outer shaft being connected to the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first positon, and the outer shaft being disconnected from the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second positon; and an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position, the armature comprising; a core base located below the fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base, wherein the core outer portion extends outward from the outer periphery of the core base such that an uppermost portion of the core outer portion is spaced further away from the outer shaft than a lowermost portion of the core outer portion, wherein the core outer portion has a truncated cone shape such that the uppermost portion of the core outer portion has a diameter larger than a diameter of the lowermost portion of the core outer portion, and wherein a lower end of the fixing core is positioned in an area surrounded by the core outer portion when the clutch coupler is in the second position.
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20. A washing machine, comprising:
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a cabinet; an outer tub located in the cabinet, the outer tub being provided to accommodate wash water therein; an inner tub located in the outer tub, the inner tub being provided to accommodate laundry therein; an outer shaft configured to rotate the inner tub, the outer shaft having a hollow portion therein; a pulsator rotatably disposed in the inner tub; an inner shaft passing through the hollow portion of the outer shaft, the inner shaft configured to rotate the pulsator; a clutch configured to selectively transmit rotation of the inner shaft to the outer shaft; a solenoid configured to generate a magnetic field when a current is applied to the solenoid; a bearing configured to rotatably support the outer shaft, the bearing being located at an upper side of the solenoid; and a bearing housing configured to receive the bearing and the solenoid therein, the bearing housing including a fixing core located alongside the solenoid, wherein the clutch comprises; a clutch coupler movable along the outer shaft between a first position and a second positon, the outer shaft being connected to the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the first positon, and the outer shaft being disconnected from the inner shaft when the clutch coupler is in the second positon; and an armature fixed to the clutch coupler, the armature being movable by the solenoid to thereby move the clutch coupler from the first position to the second position, the armature comprising; a core base located below the fixing core, the core base extending outward from the clutch coupler; and a core outer portion extending upward from an outer periphery of the core base, the core outer portion comprising; a lower core outer portion extending upward from an outer circumference of the core base; an upper core outer portion located above the lower core outer portion, the upper core outer portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the lower core outer portion; and a core connecting portion interconnecting an upper end of the lower core outer portion to a lower end of the upper core outer portion, wherein a lower end of the fixing core is positioned in an area surrounded by the lower core outer portion when the clutch coupler is in the second position.
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Specification