Washing machine equipped with bubble producing apparatus and bubble producing control method thereof

• US 5,590,551 A
• Filed: 04/17/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Hong, Seog J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/423,534
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 68/183, 261/DIG. 75, 261/76
• US Class Current: 68/183
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 17/06 by rotary impellers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 17/12 solely by gases, e.g. air or steam, introduced into the washing liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/75 Flowing liquid aspirates gas

Abstract

An improved washing machine equipped with a bubble producing apparatus and a bubble producing control method thereof capable of advantageously reducing the needed amount of detergents and preventing laundry from being damaged and entangled. The washing machine includes a washing machine body; an outer tub disposed inside the washing machine body for receiving detergent-containing water therein; an inner tub disposed inside the outer tub for receiving detergent-containing water and laundry therein and having a plurality of water drain holes formed on the circumferential surface thereof; and a bubble producing apparatus disposed on the bottom of the outer tub for producing bubbles. In addition, there is provided a bubble producing control method for a washing machine equipped with a bubble producing apparatus, which includes a first step which drives a drive motor clockwise and counterclockwise; a second step which computes and compares the number of pulses outputted in accordance with the amount of laundry to be washed so as to compute the amount of laundry in the inner tub; a third step which enters a wash cycle for a predetermined time in accordance with the amount of laundry; a fourth step which performs a normal washing mode in accordance with the number of the pulses; and a fifth, step which sets a detergent-containing circulation and a circulation time in accordance with the amount of laundry.

Claims

1. A washing machine equipped with a bubble producing apparatus, comprising:

a washing machine body;

an outer tub disposed inside said washing machine body for receiving detergent-containing water therein;

an inner tub disposed inside said outer tub for receiving said detergent-containing water and laundry therein and having a plurality of water drain holes formed in a circumferential surface thereof; and

bubble producing means disposed on a bottom of the outer tube for producing a plurality of bubbles,

wherein said bubble producing apparatus including;

a detergent-containing water guide tube, one end of which is connected to a portion of the outer tub;

a suction tube connected to another end of the detergent-containing water guide tube and having an air suction port formed on a circumferential surface thereof, said air suction port being directed to suck air therethrough;

a pump connected to the suction tube for sucking detergent-containing water from said detergent-containing water guide tube and air from said air suction port;

a motor disposed on a circumferential surface of the pump for providing said pump with a driving force;

a detergent-containing water suction tube, one end of which is connected to the pump; and

a mixer connected between the bottom of the outer tub and said detergent-containing water suction tube for producing a plurality of microbubbles.

4. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein said mixer includes a plurality of vane arrays, each of vane arrays having a plurality of vanes and each being connected by a vane joint.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein said mixer includes a plurality of balls charged therein, each of which having a predetermined diameter.

2. A washing machine equipped with a bubble producing apparatus, comprising:

a washing machine body;

an outer tub disposed inside said washing machine body for receiving detergent-containing water therein;

an inner tub disposed inside said outer tub for receiving said detergent-containing water and laundry therein and having a plurality of water drain holes formed in a circumferential surface thereof; and

bubble producing means disposed on a bottom of the outer tub for producing a plurality of bubbles,

said bubble producing apparatus including;

a detergent-containing water guide tube, one end of which is connected to a portion of the outer tub;

a suction tube connected to another end of said detergent-containing water guide tube;

a pump connected to the suction tube for sucking detergent-containing water from said detergent-containing water guide tube;

a motor coupled to the pump for providing said pump with a driving force;

a detergent-containing water suction tube, one end of which is connected to the pump;

a mixer connected between the bottom of the outer tub and said detergent-containing water suction tube for producing a plurality of microbubbles; and

air suction means extending to the outside of said washing machine body for sucking air.

3. The washing machine of claim 2, wherein said air suction means is directed suck air forcibly.