Steam jet drum washing machine

• US 7,661,169 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Soo Young, Kim, Jin Woong, Woo, Kyung Chul, Jeon, Si Moon
• Primary Examiner(s): Stinson; Frankie L
• Application Number:
  US11/702,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20070136956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 68/15, 681/42, 68/24, 68/58, 134/184, 134/198
• US Class Current: 8/159
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a drum washing machine which is capable of lifting clothes to a predetermined height and then dropping the lifted clothes so that the clothes can be washed by means of friction and impact. The drum washing machine is capable of heating wash water and spraying the heated wash water into a tub and a drum of the washing machine in a phase of high-temperature and high-pressure steam, thereby rapidly soaking clothes in the wash water, improving sterilizing and washing efficiencies of the drum washing machine, and saving wash water and electric energy.

Claims

1. A washing method for a steam drum washing machine comprising:

supplying detergent and water into a tub through a first flow path;

supplying water into a steam generator located between the tub and a casing enclosing the tub;

supplying steam from the steam generator into at least one of the tub and a drum through a second flow path after supplying the detergent into the tub, the second flow path being different than the first flow path such that the steam does not contact the detergent while in the second flow path; and

driving the drum to lift laundry by a vane and drop the laundry from the vane,

wherein supplying water into the steam generator includes supplying water through a third flow path, the third flow path being separate from the first flow path.

2. The washing method for the steam drum washing machine of claim 1, wherein supplying steam and driving the drum are performed simultaneously.

3. The washing method for the steam drum washing machine of claim 1, wherein supplying steam comprises:

operating a heater of the steam generator to generate steam; and

spraying steam into the drum.

4. The washing method for the steam drum washing machine of claim 1, further comprising operating a heater of the steam generator to generate steam.

5. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 1, wherein supplying detergent and water into the tub occurs prior to supplying water into the steam generator.

6. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 1, further comprising draining the water in the tub after driving the drum.

7. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 1, further comprising supplying water into the tub through the first flow path after driving the drum.

8. A washing method for a steam drum washing machine comprising:

supplying water with detergent into a tub by operating a water-supplying unit;

supplying water into a steam generator located between the tub and a casing enclosing the tub by operating the water-supplying unit;

operating a heater of the steam generator to generate steam;

supplying the generated steam into at least one of the tub and a drum located in the tub after supplying water with detergent into the tub such that the steam does not contact the detergent while being supplied from the steam generator to at least one of the tub and the drum; and

driving the drum,

wherein supplying water into the steam generator includes supplying water through a third flow path separate from the first flow path.

9. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 8, wherein supplying water with detergent into the tub occurs prior to supplying water into the steam generator.

10. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 8, wherein supplying water with detergent into the tub occurs prior to supplying the generated steam into the drum.

11. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 8, wherein supplying the generated steam and driving the drum are performed simultaneously.

12. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 8, wherein the water-supply unit is located in the casing.

13. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 8, wherein supplying the water with detergent includes supplying the water with detergent through a first flow path, and supplying the generated steam includes supplying the generated steam through a second flow path different than the first flow path such that the steam does not contact the detergent while in the second flow path.

14. A washing method for a steam laundry washing machine including a drum, the method comprising:

controlling a water-supply unit to supply water with detergent into a tub from a water source;

controlling the water-supply unit to supply water from the water source into a steam generator, the steam generator being located between the tub and a casing enclosing the tub;

controlling a heater of the steam generator to generate steam;

spraying the generated steam without detergent into the drum after the water with detergent is supplied to the tub; and

driving the drum to lift laundry by a vane and drop the laundry from the vane,

wherein supplying water into the steam generator includes supplying water through a third flow path separate from the first flow path.

15. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 14, further comprising controlling the water-supply unit to supply water into the tub prior to supplying water into the steam generator.

16. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 14, wherein spraying the generated steam into the drum includes directly spraying the generated steam into the drum.

17. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 14, wherein spraying the generated steam into the drum includes spraying the generated steam into the drum through a nozzle.

18. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 14, wherein the water-supply unit is located in the casing.

19. The washing method for the steam laundry machine of claim 14, wherein supplying the water with detergent includes supplying the water with detergent through a first flow path, and spraying the generated steam includes supplying the generated steam through a second flow path different than the first flow path such that the steam does not contact the detergent while in the second flow path.