Washing machine with a bubble generator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A washing machine which comprises:
- a stationary tube capable of containing a level of washing fluid;
a rotary drum rotatably and horizontally mounted on said stationary tube with a portion thereof submerged under the washing fluid, said drum having a plurality of through-holes distributed to allow the washing fluid to flow into or out of said drum;
means for causing said drum to rotate in a forward or reverse direction; and
means for supplying predetermined amount of air bubbles into said drum on a batchwise manner at such a time interval as to allow said amount of air bubbles supplied in given batch to be substantially collapsed before a next supply thereof commences, wherein said bubble supply means includes an air pump for producing a volume of pressurized air, a bubble generator associated with said air pump for converting the pressurized air into said air bubbles, and means for controlling the operation of said air pump so that no air bubbles may be supplied until said amount of air bubbles supplied in a preceding batch is substantially collapsed.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is a washing machine which comprises a bubble generator operable to supply a predetermined amount of air bubbles into the washer tub in a batchwise manner at such a time interval as to allow said amount of air bubbles supplied in a preceding batch to be substantially collapsed before a next supply of said air bubbles commences.
33 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A washing machine which comprises:
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a stationary tube capable of containing a level of washing fluid; a rotary drum rotatably and horizontally mounted on said stationary tube with a portion thereof submerged under the washing fluid, said drum having a plurality of through-holes distributed to allow the washing fluid to flow into or out of said drum; means for causing said drum to rotate in a forward or reverse direction; and means for supplying predetermined amount of air bubbles into said drum on a batchwise manner at such a time interval as to allow said amount of air bubbles supplied in given batch to be substantially collapsed before a next supply thereof commences, wherein said bubble supply means includes an air pump for producing a volume of pressurized air, a bubble generator associated with said air pump for converting the pressurized air into said air bubbles, and means for controlling the operation of said air pump so that no air bubbles may be supplied until said amount of air bubbles supplied in a preceding batch is substantially collapsed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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4. The control device of claim 3, wherein said coefficient of bubble supply, α
- , ranges from 0.55 to 0.68 and said reference bubble quantity, β
, is equal to one tenth of the volume of the washing fluid.
- , ranges from 0.55 to 0.68 and said reference bubble quantity, β
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5. The control device of claim 4, wherein said collapsing time period is equal to or greater than the injection time period.
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6. The control device of claim 4, wherein said generating means includes a switch station for generating the level signal and a load sensor for detecting the weight of the laundry articles to generate the load signal.
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7. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein said bubble generator includes a casing having an inlet and an outlet ports, a porous member housed within said casing to provide an interface between the pressurized air and the washing fluid, a bubble orientation plate mounted on the outlet port of said casing, said plate having a plurality of bubble communication holes, and a flap valve for closing off said bubble communcation holes when the bubble generator does not emit said air bubbles.
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8. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein said drum includes a plurality of axial notches spaced apart from one another along the circumference of the drum, each of said notches having a curved leading surface and a flat trailing surface substantially perpendicular to said leading surface, said drum further including an axial slot formed on each of said trailing surface for allowing an easier penetration of said air bubbles into said drum.
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9. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein said bubble generator is located on the bottom of said stationary tube so as to shoot said air bubbles toward one of said axial slots.
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Specification