Washing machine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine that includes: an integrated tub/drum that simultaneously stores washing water, accommodates laundry, and rotates; a hollow rotary shaft coupled to penetrate one surface of the integrated tub/drum; one or more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum through a hollow space in the hollow rotary shaft; and a supporting frame that supports the hollow rotary shaft so that the hollow rotary shaft is rotatable.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 an integrated tub/drum that simultaneously stores water, accommodates laundry, and rotates;   a rotatable hollow rotary shaft coupled to one surface of the integrated tub/drum;   one or more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft;   a supporting frame that supports the hollow rotary shaft;   a fixed shaft in the hollow rotary shaft that does not rotate, and that supports the one or more water pipes; and   an air pipe in the fixed shaft together with the one or more water pipes, and connected to the integrated tub/drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotary bearing between the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so that the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft are slidable relative to each other.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein one end portion of the fixed shaft protrudes to the outside of the hollow rotary shaft. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a water seal between the hollow rotary shaft and the fixed shaft so as to block the washing water in the integrated tub/drum from flowing into the rotary bearing.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape or a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lifter on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum, that lifts the laundry when the integrated tub/drum rotates.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more water pipes include a water supply pipe and a water drain pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the water supply pipe is in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow rotary shaft, and bends upward, leftward or rightward. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drive shaft coupled to another surface of the integrated tub/drum; and   a drive motor that rotates the drive shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the drive shaft is hollow. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein one of the one or more water pipes through the hollow rotary shaft or the additional water pipe is a water supply pipe and the other of the one or more water pipes, through the hollow rotary shaft and the additional water pipe is a water drain pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , further comprising a supporting bearing between the hollow rotary shaft and the supporting frame. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , further comprising a shaft fixing member that connects the one end of the fixed shaft to the supporting frame. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more water pipes are also in the fixed shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , further comprising an opening in a circumferential surface or wall of the integrated tub/drum, and a drum cover that is separably coupled to the opening. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the water drain pipe bends downward in the integrated tub/drum. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the washing machine further includes an additional water pipe in the integrated tub/drum through the drive shaft.