Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine capable of generating and supplying bubbles to laundry during washing and rinsing operations to facilitate removal of detergent and foreign substances from the laundry. A dissolving unit can receive a water supply and contain a volume of air. The dissolving unit provides a water flow path that allows the contained air to dissolve efficiently in the water, thereby providing a water/air mixture to a bubble generating unit. Dissolved air can separate from the water/air mixture in the bubble generating unit and form bubbles, e.g., due to pressure reduction. The bubbles are then supplied to the tub containing the laundry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing;   a tub disposed inside the housing and configured to contain washing water and washing objects;   a dissolving unit configured to: receive water and air; and provide a mixture of water and air comprising air dissolved in water;   a bubble generating unit coupled to the dissolving unit and configured to generate bubbles from the mixture of water and air; and   a drain line coupled to the tub and the bubble generating unit, wherein the drain line is configured to supply bubbles to the tub.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the dissolving unit comprises:
 a dissolving inlet port disposed on a first end of the dissolving unit and configured to receive water; and   a dissolving guide port disposed on a second end of the dissolving unit and coupled to the bubble generating unit, wherein the dissolving guide port is configured to guide the mixture of water and air out of the dissolving unit and into the bubble generating unit.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises a dissolving drain port disposed on the second end of the dissolving unit and coupled to the drain line, wherein the dissolving drain port is spaced apart from the dissolving guide port and is configured to communicate with the drain line. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises:
 an outer body defining a hollow interior and comprising:
 a first end that is open; and 
 a second end comprising a drain hole configured to communicate with the dissolving drain port; and 
   a dissolving cap coupled to the first end of the outer body and configured to contain air that is supplied from an ambient atmosphere, wherein the dissolving inlet port is disposed on the dissolving cap.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises a valve accommodating protrusion surrounding the drain hole, wherein the valve accommodating protrusion protrudes away from the outer body and along a longitudinal direction of the outer body. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising a discharge check valve disposed on the second end of the outer body and configured to open and close the drain hole. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the discharge check valve comprises:
 a valve member with a first end portion inserted into and supported by the drain hole;   a valve cover member detachably coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the valve accommodating protrusion and comprising the dissolving drain port; and   an elastic member disposed between the valve member and the valve cover member.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the dissolving guide port is disposed above the dissolving drain port along a longitudinal direction of the dissolving unit. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 1  further comprising a drain valve disposed in the drain line and operable to control a flow path in the drain line, wherein, when the drain valve is closed, the drain line is divided into a lower part and an upper part, and wherein the upper part of the drain line is coupled to the tub. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises:
 a bubble body comprising:
 a bubble inlet port disposed at a first side of the bubble body; and 
 a bubble discharge port disposed at a second side of the bubble body and above the lower part of the drain line, wherein the upper part of the drain line is disposed closer to the tub than the lower part of the drain line; and 
   a bubble nozzle disposed inside the bubble body and comprising a bubble flow path that has an inner diameter increasing from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port, wherein the bubble nozzle is configured to provide bubbles.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein, when the water in the dissolving unit is more than a preset amount, water is discharged from the dissolving unit to the drain line through the dissolving drain port. 
     
     
         12 . A washing machine comprising:
 a housing;   a tub disposed inside the housing and comprising a water supply port formed at a lower side of the tub;   a dissolving unit operable to supply a mixture of water and air comprising air dissolved in water, wherein the dissolving unit comprises:
 a dissolving inlet port disposed at a first side of the dissolving unit and operable to receive water supplied from outside of the dissolving unit; and 
 a dissolving guide port disposed at a second side of the dissolving unit and operable to guide the mixture of water and air out of the dissolving unit; and 
   a bubble generating unit coupled to the dissolving unit and configured to:
 receive the mixture of water and air; 
 generate bubbles from the mixture of water and air; and 
 supply the bubbles to the water supply port. 
   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a drum disposed in the tub and configured to contain washing objects;   a pulsator disposed at a lower inside of the drum; and   a through hole disposed at a lower side of the drum and spaced apart from the pulsator, wherein the through hole is configured to guide the bubbles passing through the water supply port into the drum.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a drain line spaced apart from the water supply port and coupled to the lower side of the tub;   a dissolving drain port disposed at the second side of the dissolving unit and spaced apart from the dissolving guide port; and   a drain valve disposed on the drain line and operable to selectively divide a flow path of the drain line into a lower part and an upper part, wherein the upper part is closer to the tub than the lower part,   wherein the dissolving drain port is configured to communicate with the drain line.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of through holes are formed at the lower side of the drum. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises:
 a bubble body comprising:   a bubble inlet port disposed at a first side of the bubble body; and   a bubble discharge port disposed at a second side of the bubble body and above the lower part of the drain line, wherein the lower part of the drain line is closer to the tub than the upper part; and   a bubble nozzle disposed inside the bubble body and comprising a bubble flow path that has an inner diameter increasing from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port, wherein the bubble nozzle is configured to provide bubbles.   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises a pressure reduction region configured to allow air to separate from the mixture of water and air to form bubbles. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises:
 an outer body defining a hollow interior and comprising:
 a first end that is open; and 
 a second end comprising a drain hole operable to communicate with the dissolving drain port, wherein the second end is substantially hemispherical. 
   
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises:
 a dissolving cap coupled to the first end of the outer body and operable to contain air that is supplied from an ambient atmosphere, wherein the dissolving inlet port is disposed on the dissolving cap.