DETERGENT MIXER AND WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20140102153A1
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: LEE, Dongsoo, Kim, Youngho, JANG, Jaehyuk
• Granted Patent: US 9,732,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid detergent mixer includes a main body, a detergent inlet pipe, a wash water inlet pipe, and a wash water dispersing unit. The main body defines a mixing space in which wash water and liquid detergent are mixed. The detergent inlet pipe allows liquid detergent to flow into the mixing space. The wash water inlet pipe has one end protruding from the other side surface of the main body to the mixing space to allow wash water to flow into the mixing space.

Claims

1. A washing machine comprising:

a tub;

a water supply valve to control an inflow of wash water;

a liquid detergent supply unit to supply liquid detergent; and

a liquid detergent mixing unit connected to the water supply valve to receive wash water and connected to the liquid detergent supply unit to receive liquid detergent, the wash water and the liquid detergent being mixed and guided to the tub,

wherein the liquid detergent mixing unit comprises;

a main body defining a mixing space in which the wash water and the liquid detergent are mixed;

a detergent inlet pipe connected to the liquid detergent supply unit to guide liquid detergent into the main body;

a wash water inlet pipe connected to the water supply valve and having one end protruding from the one side surface of the main body to the mixing space to guide wash water to the mixing space; and

a wash water dispersing unit protruding from an opposite side surface to the one side surface of the main body into the mixing space to contact the one end of the wash water inlet pipe.

2. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent mixing unit further comprises:

a wash water outlet pipe connected to the tub.

3. The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the liquid detergent mixing unit further comprises:

a vent pipe to discharge air out of the mixing space.

4. The washing machine of claim 3, wherein a center of the vent pipe is disposed under a center of the wash water inlet pipe.

5. The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle at a lower side of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe to allow wash water to flow into the mixing space.

6. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the wash water dispersing unit contacts an end surface of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe to allow wash water to be dispersed through the nozzle.

7. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the wash water dispersing unit is configured such that an end surface of the wash water dispersing unit contacting the one end of the wash water inlet pipe has an inclined surface.

8. The washing machine of claim 7, wherein the end surface of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe inclines corresponding to the end surface of the wash water dispersing unit.

9. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the one end of the wash water inlet pipe is configured such that a circumference thereof protrudes except a portion where the nozzle is formed so as to surround a portion of a circumference of the wash water dispersing unit.

10. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the wash water dispersing unit is tapered toward the wash water inlet pipe.

11. The washing machine of claim 5, wherein the wash water dispersing unit has an end surface, a circumference of which protrudes so as to surround a portion of a circumference of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe except a portion where the nozzle is formed.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the one end of the wash water inlet pipe is tapered toward the wash water dispersing unit.

13. A liquid detergent mixer, comprising:

a main body defining a mixing space in which wash water and liquid detergent are mixed;

a detergent inlet pipe to allow liquid detergent to flow into the mixing space;

a wash water inlet pipe disposed on one side surface of the main body and having one end protruding from the one side surface of the main body to the mixing space to allow wash water to flow into the mixing space; and

a wash water dispersing unit protruding from an opposite side surface to the one side surface of the main body into the mixing space to contact the one end of the wash water inlet pipe.

14. The liquid detergent mixer of claim 13, further comprising:

a wash water outlet pipe to discharge wash water mixed with liquid detergent out of the mixing space.

15. The liquid detergent mixer of claim 14, wherein the main body has a portion of an undersurface thereof inclined such that wash water mixed with liquid detergent flows into the wash water outlet pipe.

16. The liquid detergent mixer of claim 13, further comprising:

a vent pipe to discharge air out of the mixing space.

17. The liquid detergent mixer of claim 13, further comprising:

a nozzle at a lower side of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe to allow wash water to flow into the mixing space.

18. The washing machine of claim 13, wherein the wash water dispersing unit contacts an end surface of the one end of the wash water inlet pipe to allow wash water to be dispersed through the nozzle.