Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine is disclosed, to minimize power loss when transmitting power generated in a motor to a washing shaft. The washing machine includes an outer tub provided in a cabinet and storing washing water therein; an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub and receiving laundry therein; an agitation device rotatably provided in the inner tub and agitating the laundry and washing water, an outer rotor type motor for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub; a power transmission device connected between the motor/agitation device and the inner tub to have the same rotation axis in the motor, the agitation device and the inner tub, and transmitting power of the motor to the agitation device and the inner tub according to an operation mode; and a drain device for draining the washing water from the outer tub to the external.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 an outer tub provided in a cabinet and storing washing; water therein;    an inner tub rotatably provided in the outer tub and receiving laundry therein;    an agitation device rotatably provided in the inner tub and agitating the laundry and washing water;    an outer rotor type motor for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub;    a power transmission device connected between the motor/agitation device and the inner tub, and transmitting power of the motor to the agitation device and the inner tub according to an operation mode; and    a drain device for draining the washing water from the outer tub to the external.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motor is an induction motor.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the induction motor includes: 
 a rotor assembly being directly connected with and rotated by the power transmission device; and    a stator assembly provided inside the rotor assembly and generating a rotary magnetic field by an alternating current so as to rotate the rotate the rotor assembly with the rotary magnetic field.    
   
   
       4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the rotor assembly includes: 
 a rotor frame being directly connected with the power transmission device at a lower central part thereof; and    a rotor fixed to the inside of the rotor frame.    
   
   
       5 . The washing machine as claimed in claimed  4 , wherein the rotor includes: 
 a rotor core formed by depositing a plurality of iron sheets each having a plurality of holes;    a metal bar penetrating the hole of the rotor core and interlinking a magnetic flux; and    upper and lower end rings covering upper and lower parts of the rotor core by being respectively connected with both ends of the metal bar.    
   
   
       6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the rotor frame includes: 
 a rotor bushing provided at the rotation axis of the induction motor and connected with the power transmission device so as to rotate the agitation device; and    a brushing shaft selectively connected with the power transmission device so as to selectively rotate the inner tub.    
   
   
       7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the rotor frame includes a rotor supporter provided therein so as to support a lower end of the rotor.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the rotor supporter includes a step formed along the inner circumferential surface thereof so as to support the lower end of the rotor.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the rotor frame includes an upper fixation part projecting from the sidewall thereof so as to fix an upper end of the rotor for preventing the rotor from being separated.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the stator assembly includes: 
 a core part having a plurality of iron sheets and poles being formed in one body on the outer circumferential surface of the iron sheets;    a coil part wound on the poles; and    an insulator provided to prevent a contact between the core part and the coil part.    
   
   
       11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the insulator includes: 
 upper and lower insulators provided at upper and lower parts of the core part to prevent the contact between the pole and coil; and    an inner insulator provided between the poles, so as to prevent the contact between the core part and the coil part.    
   
   
       12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the power transmission device includes: 
 a washing shaft transmitting rotation power to the agitation device;    a dehydrating shaft transmitting rotation power to the inner tub; and    a clutch assembly selectively connecting the dehydrating shaft with the motor.    
   
   
       13 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the washing shaft includes: 
 an upper washing shaft connected with the agitation device; and    a lower washing shaft having a lower end connected with the motor, and an upper part connected with the upper washing shaft by a gear set.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the washing shaft is rotatably provided inside the dehydrating shaft.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the gear set includes: 
 a sun gear fixed to the upper part of the lower washing shaft and being coaxial-rotated;    a ring gear formed on the inner circumferential surface of the dehydrating shaft; and    a planet gear provided between the ring gear and the sun gear and having a rotation axis connected eccentrically to the upper washing shaft.    
   
   
       16 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the dehydrating shaft includes a drum having an upper end connected with the inner tub, a lower end provided at a predetermined interval from the motor, and a predetermined portion of a central part at which the ring gear as the planet gear is provided.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the clutch assembly includes: 
 a sliding coupler moving up and down along a longitudinal direction of the dehydrating shaft so as to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft with the motor; and    an elevating device moving the sliding coupler up and down.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the sliding coupler is connected to the dehydrating shaft, and the motor with serration.  
   
   
       19 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the elevating device includes: 
 a clutch lever having one end connected with the sliding coupler, and one central portion hinged on an hinge axis; and    a clutch motor moving the sliding coupler up and down in a method of rotating the clutch lever on the hinge axis by pulling or pushing the other end of the clutch lever.    
   
   
       20 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the elevating device includes a connection link having elasticity between the other end of the clutch lever and the clutch motor.  
   
   
       21 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the clutch assembly includes a stopper for controlling an elevating height of the sliding coupler.  
   
   
       22 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein a hollow is provided at any one of the stopper and the sliding coupler, and a projection is provided at the other so as to prevent rotation of the sliding coupler when the connection of the sliding coupler and motor is released.  
   
   
       23 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a brake assembly for brake of rotation of the dehydrating shaft.  
   
   
       24 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the brake assembly includes a brake pad for fixing the dehydrating shaft by applying friction to the outer circumferential surface of the dehydrating shaft.  
   
   
       25 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the brake assembly includes: 
 a brake pad provided on the outer circumferential surface of the dehydrating shaft;    a brake lever having one end connected with the brake pad, and a predetermined portion of a central part thereof hinged on the hinge axis; and    a driving motor braking the dehydrating shaft or releasing the brake of dehydrating shaft by pulling or pushing the other end of the brake lever.    
   
   
       26 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the drain device includes: 
 a drain passage being in communication with the external of a cabinet from the outer tub;    a drain valve opening or closing the drain passage by pulling or pushing the drain valve.    
   
   
       27 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a brake assembly for controlling the rotation of the inner tub.  
   
   
       28 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the operation motor operates the brake assembly and the drain valve at the same time.  
   
   
       29 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the operation motor includes: 
 a first step mode for controlling the rotation of the inner tub; and    a second step mode for opening or closing the drain valve in a state of releasing the brake of inner tub.    
   
   
       30 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the drain valve includes: 
 a packing provided to close the drain passage;    a first rod being moved at predetermined distance not to move the second rod when the driving motor is operated in the first step mode, and connected with the first rod so as to open the drain passage by the packing in a method of being caught to the second rod and moved with the second rod when the driving motor is operated in the second step mode.    
   
   
       31 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the first rod is inserted toward the axis direction inside the second by sliding.  
   
   
       32 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operation mode includes a first mode for rotating only the agitation device.  
   
   
       33 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the operation mode includes a first mode for rotating only the agitation device by separating the dehydrating shaft from the motor by the clutch assembly, and transmitting the rotation power of the motor to the washing shaft.  
   
   
       34 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operation mode includes a second mode for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub at the different directions.  
   
   
       35 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the operation mode includes a second mode for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub at the different directions by separating the dehydrating shaft from the motor by the clutch assembly, simultaneously, transmitting the rotation power of the washing shaft to the dehydrating shaft through the planet gear mechanically connecting the washing and dehydrating shafts.  
   
   
       36 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the operation mode includes a second mode for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub at the different directions by separating the dehydrating shaft from the motor by the clutch assembly, simultaneously, transmitting the rotation power of the washing shaft to the dehydrating shaft through the planet gear mechanically connecting the washing and dehydrating shafts according as the sliding coupler is provided at a predetermined interval from the stopper.  
   
   
       37 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the stopper is apart from the sliding coupler at 1-10 mm so that the stopper is out of contact with the sliding coupler.  
   
   
       38 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operation mode includes a third mode for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub at the same direction.  
   
   
       39 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the operation mode includes a third mode for rotating the agitation device and the inner tub at the same direction so as to transmit rotation power of the motor to the washing and dehydrating shafts by connecting the dehydrating shaft to the motor with the clutch assembly.  
   
   
       40 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the inner tub and the washing shaft are rotated at a high speed so that washing water rises along the inner wall of the outer tub by centrifugal force, and drops to the inside of the inner tub.  
   
   
       41 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the inner tub and the washing shaft are rotated at a low speed so that washing water is maintained near to the inner wall of the outer tub.  
   
   
       42 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the drain device drains the washing water from the outer tub to the external during rotating the inner tub and the washing shaft.  
   
   
       43 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motor is rotated at normal and reverse directions.  
   
   
       44 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the clutch assembly includes: 
 a sliding coupler moving up and down along a longitudinal direction of the dehydrating shaft so as to selectively connect the dehydrating shaft with the motor; and    an elevating device moving the sliding coupler up and down.