Washing device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing device. The washing device comprises: a case; a tub supported by the case, the tub having a laundry entrance hole for taking laundry in or out in a front portion thereof and an external-air inflow hole for introducing external air therethrough; an external-air inflow tube passing through the case and connected to the external-air inflow hole so as to guide the external air outside the case into the external-air inflow hole; a drum having a laundry entrance hole corresponding to the laundry entrance hole of the tub, the drum being rotatably installed within the tub; a shaft connected to a rear portion of the drum; a bearing housing rotatably supporting the shaft; and a suspension assembly for decreasing the vibration of the drum and of a driving part comprising a motor for rotating the shaft. Thus, the washing device may be structured for increased washing capacity, and a pressurized environment within the tub may be improved so as to prevent the drum from being moved forward.

1 . A washing device comprising:
 a case;   a tub supported by the case, the tub having a laundry entrance hole for taking in and out laundry at a front portion thereof and an external air introduction hole for introducing external air therethrough;   an external air introduction tube passing through the case and connected to the external air introduction hole in order to guide the external air outside the case into the external air introduction hole;   a drum having, at a front portion thereof, a laundry entrance hole corresponding to the laundry entrance hole of the tub, the drum being rotatably installed within the tub;   a driving unit comprising a shaft connected to a rear portion of the drum, a bearing housing rotatably supporting the shaft, and a motor for rotating the shaft; and   a suspension assembly for attenuating vibration of the drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the external air introduction hole is formed at a front of the tub, and the external air introduction tube is connected to the external air introduction hole and inclined upward as the external air introduction tube extends rearward in a longitudinal direction of the tub. 
     
     
         3 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the external air introduction tube is provided with a condensing plate to condense moisture contained in air flowing backward through the external air introduction tube. 
     
     
         4 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a foam sensing means located within the tub and the external air introduction tube to sense foam produced in the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The washing device according to  claim 4 , further comprising a controller to control operation of the motor according to a result of sensing by the foam sensing means. 
     
     
         6 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an air-blowing fan installed in a passage of the external air introduction tube to forcibly blow the external air into the external air introduction hole during operation of a spin-drying cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heater to heat the external air moving to the tub through the external air introduction tube. 
     
     
         8 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tub further comprises an exhaust part to discharge the external air introduced into the tub through the external air introduction tube. 
     
     
         9 . The washing device according to  claim 8 , wherein the external air introduction hole is formed to have an area greater than an area of an exhaust hole of the exhaust part such that a discharge flow rate of the external air in the exhaust part is greater than an introduction flow rate of the external air in the external air introduction hole during a spin-drying cycle. 
     
     
         10 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve installed in a flow passage of the external air to allow flow of the external air into the tub and to prevent the foam produced in the tub from flowing backward through the flow passage of the external air. 
     
     
         11 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one plate having a plurality of holes installed in the flow passage of the external air to the foam produced in the tub from flowing backward through the flow passage of the external air. 
     
     
         12 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the external air introduction hole is located further forward than the laundry entrance hole of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly is connected to the bearing housing. 
     
     
         14 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tub has an opening at a rear portion thereof and further comprises a rear gasket to seal a gap between the opening and the driving unit and allow relative movement of the driving unit with respect to the tub. 
     
     
         15 . The washing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tub is fixedly supported compared to the drum.