Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine capable of protecting a water seal to prevent foreign substance from being stuck or accumulated inside the water seal, so that the water seal is prevented from being worn out. The washing machine includes a tub configured to accommodate wash water, a rotary tub rotatably installed inside the tub, a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the rotary tub, a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator, a support member installed on the driving shaft, a water seal installed between the driving shaft and the tub, and a protection member provided between the support member and the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub configured to accommodate wash water;   a rotary tub rotatably installed inside the tub;   a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the rotary tub;   a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator;   a support member installed on the driving shaft;   a water seal installed between the driving shaft and the tub; and   a protection member provided between the support member and the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the protection member is installed such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the protection member comprises:
 a fixing unit provided at a center thereof with a hollow unit that allows the driving shaft to pass therethrough;   a cover unit extending outward from the fixing unit; and   a support unit formed at an end portion of the cover unit.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the fixing unit comprises:
 a fixing protrusion which protrudes upward from an inner side circumference of an upper surface of the fixing unit such that the fixing unit is fixed to the support member;   a support protrusion which protrudes upward from an outer side circumference of the upper surface of the fixing unit to support a lateral side of the support member; and   a fixing groove formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be fixed between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the support member comprises an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is fixed to the installation groove. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a washer. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the cover unit is provided in a form of a ring. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the driving shaft comprises a rotary shaft connected to the pulsator and a connector connected to the rotary tub, wherein the protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the connector. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the protection member further comprises a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during rotation of the protection member. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , further comprising a first connection unit configured to connect the fixing unit to the cover unit, and the reinforcing rib is formed at a lower side of the first connection unit. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing rib is disposed around the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , further comprising a second connection unit configured to connect the cover unit to the support unit, and the second connection unit further comprises an extension unit that extends from a side end portion of the support unit. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the water seal comprises an inner side rib supporting the rotary shaft while coming into a close contact with the rotary shaft, an outer side rib supporting the tub while coming into a close contact with the tub, a connection rib formed between the inner side rib and the outer side rib, a first installation groove formed between the inner side rib and the connection rib and a second installation groove formed between the connection rib and the outer side rib,
 wherein a protrusion rib protrudes upward from an upper end of the outer side rib to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal, and wherein an outer surface of the protrusion rib is inclined such that foreign substance is slid outside.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein a rim of an upper surface of the water seal comprises a flat surface corresponding to the support unit, and one end of the flat surface is connected to the protrusion rib. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the cover unit is disposed between the support member and the protrusion rib. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the support unit is provided at a lower side with at least one contact protrusion to increase contact efficiency in relation to the flat surface. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the protection member includes rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the protection member is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding. 
     
     
         20 . A washing machine comprising:
 a rotary tub;   a pulsator rotatably provided inside the rotary tub;   a driving shaft connected to the rotary tub and the pulsator;   a housing coupled at an inside thereof with a bearing that rotatably supports the driving shaft;   a water seal installed at an upper side of the housing to seal the inside of the housing; and   a protection member is provided such that an outer circumference of the protection member makes contact with an outer side circumference of the water seal to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal.   
     
     
         21 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein the protection member comprises:
 a fixing unit allowing the driving shaft to pass therethrough;   a cover unit extending outward from the fixing unit in a shape of a ring; and   a support unit formed at an end portion of the cover unit.   
     
     
         22 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , further comprising a support member which is installed on the driving shaft to support a bottom surface of the rotary tub,
 wherein the protection member is fixed to the support member.   
     
     
         23 . The washing machine of  claim 22 , wherein the fixing unit comprises:
 a hollow formed at a center of the fixing unit;   a fixing protrusion protruding upward from a circumference forming the hollow; a support protrusion protruding upward to support a lateral side of the support member; and   a fixing groove formed to allow a lower surface of the support member to be supported between the fixing protrusion and the support protrusion,   wherein the support member is formed with an installation groove corresponding to the fixing protrusion such that the fixing protrusion is coupled to the installation groove.   
     
     
         24 . The washing machine of  claim 22 , wherein the cover unit is formed from the fixing unit outward while being slanted downward to prevent foreign substance from being introduced into the water seal that is provided at a lower side of the cover unit, and wherein the cover unit is disposed between an outer side end of the support member and an upper side end of the water seal. 
     
     
         25 . The washing machine of  claim 22 , wherein the protection member is rotated by the support member along with rotation of the driving shaft and comprises a reinforcing rib configured to reinforce strength of the protection member during the rotation of the protection member. 
     
     
         26 . The washing machine of  claim 25 , wherein the reinforcing rib vertically extends from a bottom surface of the fixing unit while being formed along a circumference of the rotary shaft. 
     
     
         27 . The washing machine of  claim 22 , wherein the protection member includes rubber and is formed together with the support member through insert injection molding.