Washing machine with integrated tub/drum

Abstract

A washing machine includes an integrated tub/drum that holds laundry and water and rotates. A water supply pipe and a water drain pipe enter the integrated tub/drum through a hollow shaft. An in-situ heating device is coupled to water supply pipe outside the integrated tub/drum and raises a temperature of water supplied to the integrated tub/drum. Alternatively, the in-situ heating device may be proximate to a water circulation pipe outside the integrated tub/drum or inside the integrated tub/drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 an integrated tub/drum configured to store water, hold laundry, and rotate;   a hollow shaft coupled to the integrated tub/drum;   a water supply pipe in the integrated tub/drum through the hollow shaft, the water supply pipe configured to supply water to the integrated tub/drum; and   a heating device coupled to the water supply pipe outside the integrated tub/drum, configured to raise a temperature of water supplied to the integrated tub/drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape comprising a large end surface and a small end surface, and   wherein the hollow shaft is coupled to the large end surface and configured to rotate.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the heating device is around the exterior surface of the water supply pipe. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air pipe in communication with the interior of the integrated tub/drum, wherein the air pipe is routed through the hollow shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow shaft is coupled to a first end surface of the integrated tub/drum, and the washing machine further comprises:
 a drive shaft coupled to a second end surface of the integrated tub/drum, the second end surface being opposite to the first end surface; and   a motor configured to drive and/or rotate the drive shaft.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water drain pipe in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow shaft, wherein the water drain pipe is configured to discharge water from the integrated tub/drum; and   a water drain pump coupled to the water drain pipe outside the integrated tub/drum, configured to discharge the water from the integrated tub/drum through the water drain pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a circulation pipe coupled between the water drain pump and the water supply pipe and configured to circulate water between the water drain pipe and the water supply pipe,   wherein the heating device is adjacent to the circulation pipe and configured to raise a temperature of water circulated in a closed loop along the water supply pipe, the water drain pipe, and the circulation pipe.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water drain pipe is in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow shaft, and bends downward. 
     
     
         9 . A washing machine comprising:
 an integrated tub/drum configured to store water, hold laundry, and rotate;   a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and passing through a surface of the integrated tub/drum;   a heating device inside the integrated tub/drum and configured to heat water in the integrated tub/drum; and   one or more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more water pipes include a water supply pipe and a water drain pipe, and the water drain pipe extends beyond the hollow rotary shaft and bends downward. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the water supply pipe extend beyond the hollow rotary shaft and bends upward, and/or leftward or rightward. 
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , further comprising
 an air pipe in communication with an interior of the integrated tub/drum through the hollow rotary shaft, the air pipe configured to supply air to and/or discharge air from the integrated tub/drum.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , further comprising
 an electric power cable connected to the heating device and passing through the hollow rotary shaft, the electric power cable configured to provide power to the heating device.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a drive shaft coupled to another surface of the integrated tub/drum; and   a motor driving the drive shaft and the integrated tub/drum to rotate.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape comprising a large end surface and a small end surface that are opposite to each other, the hollow rotary shaft is coupled to the large end surface, the heating device is in the integrated tub/drum near the large end surface, and the drive shaft is coupled to the small end surface. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the heating device is in a lower portion of the integrated tub/drum relative to a rotation center of the integrated tub/drum. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the integrated tub/drum comprises an opening configured to admit laundry and a cover unit configured to enclose the integrated tub/drum by sealing the opening during laundry washing operations.