Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine capable of preventing a magnet, which detects a number of rotations of a washing shaft, from being removed from a predetermined position. The washing machine includes a drive motor to generate a rotating force. A washing shaft is rotated by the drive motor. A belt and a shaft pulley transmit the rotating force from the drive motor to the washing shaft. A magnet is mounted to the shaft pulley to rotate along with the shaft pulley. A magnetic sensor detects a number of rotations of the washing shaft, in response to a change in a magnetic field produced by the magnet. A locking unit is mounted at a first end thereof to the magnet, and at a second end thereof to the shaft pulley. Therefore, even when the vibrations caused by operations of the washing machine are transmitted to the magnet for a lengthy period of time, the magnet is connected to the shaft pulley by the locking unit without being removed from a predetermined position.

1 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a drive motor to generate a rotating force;    a washing shaft rotated by the drive motor;    a belt and a shaft pulley to transmit the rotating force from the drive motor to the washing shaft;    a magnet mounted on the shaft pulley to rotate along with the shaft pulley; and    a locking unit mounted at a first end thereof to the magnet, and at a second end thereof to the shaft pulley, to lock the magnet to the shaft pulley.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a magnetic sensor to sense a change in a magnetic field produced by the magnet as the magnet rotates, to detect a number of rotations of the shaft pulley.    
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the shaft pulley comprises a through hole which axially extends through the shaft pulley, and    the locking unit comprises: 
 a first locking part provided on the first end of the locking unit to be supported by the magnet; and  
 a second locking part provided on the second end of the locking unit, the second locking part passing through the through hole of the shaft pulley to be supported by a portion around the through hole of the shaft pulley.  
   
   
   
       4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein 
 the magnet and the locking unit are formed of an annular shape, to allow the washing shaft to pass through the magnet and the locking unit, and    the magnet comprises a seating recess on an inner circumference thereof, wherein the first locking part of the locking unit is mounted on the seating recess.    
   
   
       5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first locking part is projected from an outer circumferential surface of the locking unit, and the second locking part extends toward a center of the locking unit.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the second locking part comprises a material which is elastically deformed, wherein the second locking part is elastically deformed when passing through the through hole, and elastically restores an original shape of the second locking part to be supported by the portion around the through hole of the shaft pulley after passing through the through hole.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the magnet is provided so that north and south poles thereof are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the magnet, to allow the magnetic field to be changed as the magnet rotates.  
   
   
       8 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a drive unit to operate the washing machine and comprising a washing shaft and a shaft pulley, wherein the shaft pulley transmits a rotational force to the washing shaft, to rotate the washing shaft; and    an rpm detecting unit to detect the number of rotations of the washing shaft and comprising a magnet and a locking unit, wherein the locking unit locks the magnet to the shaft pulley to prevent the magnet from detaching from the shaft pulley.    
   
   
       9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the magnet and the locking unit are formed of an annular shape, to allow the washing shaft to pass through the magnet and the locking unit.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the shaft pulley comprises a through hole which axially extends through the shaft pulley, and    the locking unit comprises: 
 a first locking part provided on a first end of the locking unit to be supported by the magnet; and  
 a second locking part provided on a second end of the locking unit, wherein the second locking part passes through the through hole of the shaft pulley to be supported by the shaft pulley.  
   
   
   
       11 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , the rpm detecting unit further comprises a magnetic sensor to sense a difference in a magnetic field produced by the magnet as the magnet rotates, thereby detecting the number of rotations of the shaft pulley.  
   
   
       12 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the magnet comprises a seating recess on an inner circumference thereof, wherein the first locking part is mounted on the seating recess.  
   
   
       13 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the second locking part comprises a material which is elastically deformed, wherein the second locking part is elastically deformed when passing through the through hole, and elastically restore an original shape of the second locking part to be supported by a portion around the through hole.  
   
   
       14 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the magnet is provided so that north and south poles thereof are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction of the magnet, to allow the magnetic field to be changed as the magnet rotates.