Pulsator unit for washing machine and washing machine having the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine to generate rotating and vertical water streams simultaneously. The rotating water stream is generated by rotation of an outer pulsator, and the vertical water stream is generated by rotation of an inner pulsator. A rotating body is installed between the outer pulsator and the inner pulsator, to convert rotation into vertical movement. An inner wall of the outer pulsator is formed with a curved surface to come into close contact with the inner pulsator being moved vertically.

1 . A pulsator unit for a washing machine, used to generate wash water streams, the pulsator unit comprising:
 an outer pulsator to perform rotation;   a rotating body coupled to the outer pulsator to perform rotation; and   an inner pulsator received in the outer pulsator,   wherein the inner pulsator is coupled to the rotating body and is moved vertically by rotation of the rotating body.   
     
     
         2 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rotating body includes an inclined part having an upper inclined surface and a tilted rotating shaft protruding orthogonally relative to the inclined surface; and   the inner pulsator is coupled to the tilted rotating shaft so as not to be constrained by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft, the inner pulsator being moved vertically by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft and the inclined part.   
     
     
         3 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner wall of the outer pulsator includes a curved surface shaped to come into close contact with the inner pulsator corresponding to vertical movement of the inner pulsator, to prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the outer pulsator and the inner pulsator. 
     
     
         4 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 3 , wherein a height of the inner wall of the outer pulsator is at least equal to or greater than a height of an upper surface apex of the inner pulsator being moved vertically. 
     
     
         5 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the curved surface has a radius of curvature greater than a distance from a center point of the vertical movement of the inner pulsator to an outer end of the inner pulsator. 
     
     
         6 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer pulsator includes a toothed portion to generate a rotating water stream. 
     
     
         7 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer pulsator includes an embossed portion to generate a rotating water stream. 
     
     
         8 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the rotating body further includes a coupling part integrally formed at a bottom of the inclined part, the coupling part being fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator. 
     
     
         9 . The pulsator unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a basket-bowl in which the outer pulsator is received. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing defining an external appearance of the washing machine;   a rotating tub rotatably installed in the housing;   a first pulsator rotatably installed in a lower region of the rotating tub;   a receiving region defining a space in the first pulsator;   a second pulsator received in the receiving region and adapted to perform vertical movement; and   a rotating body disposed between the first pulsator and the second pulsator and adapted to convert rotation of the first pulsator into vertical movement of the second pulsator.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pulsator includes an outer pulsator located farther outward from a center of the washing machine than the second pulsator, and the second pulsator includes an inner pulsator located farther inward from a center of the washing machine than the first pulsator. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the rotating body is fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator, and the inner pulsator is coupled to the rotating body so as not to be constrained by rotation of the rotating body. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the rotating body includes a coupling part fixedly coupled to the outer pulsator, an inclined part having an upper inclined surface, the inclined part being formed at the top of the coupling part, and a tilted rotating shaft protruding orthogonally relative to the inclined surface; and   the inner pulsator is coupled to the tilted rotating shaft so as not to be constrained by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft, the inner pulsator being moved vertically by rotation of the tilted rotating shaft and inclined part.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein an inner wall of the outer pulsator includes a curved surface shaped to come into close contact with the inner pulsator corresponding to the vertical movement of the inner pulsator, to prevent laundry from becoming lodged between the outer pulsator and the inner pulsator. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein a height of the inner wall of the outer pulsator is equal to or greater than a height of an upper surface apex of the inner pulsator that has moved vertically. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the curved surface has a radius of curvature greater than a distance from a center point of the vertical movement of the inner pulsator to an outer end of the inner pulsator. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer pulsator includes a toothed portion to generate a rotating water stream. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer pulsator includes an embossed portion to generate a rotating water stream. 
     
     
         19 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing;   a rotating tub rotatably installed in the housing;   an elevation pulsator having a disk shape and being received in the rotating tub;   a rotation pulsator provided around an edge of the disk to surround the elevation pulsator; and   a rotation drive device to rotate the rotation pulsator.