Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine including a dissolving unit and a bubble generating unit. The dissolving unit includes a hollow outer body that has an open end, a hollow inner body that has an open end. The inner body is disposed in the outer body. The gap between the inner body and the outer body forms a dissolving flow path. A dissolving cap is coupled to one side of the outer body to retain air in the outer body and the inner body. A dissolving inlet port is formed on the dissolving cap to receive water supplied from the outside to the inner body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub configured to contain washing water; and   a dissolving unit comprising:
 an outer body that is hollow and comprising a first side that is open; 
 an inner body comprising a first side that is open and disposed in the outer body; 
 a dissolving flow path formed between the outer body and the inner body; and 
 a dissolving cap coupled to the first side of the outer body and comprising a dissolving inlet port, wherein the dissolving inlet port is configured to receive water supplied to the inner body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the dissolving cap is substantially hemispheric in shape and operable to retain air in the inner body and the outer body. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the inner body comprises an inclined part, wherein the inclined part inclines toward the dissolving cap and forms an enlarged opening. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the inner body further comprises a porous portion disposed in the inclined part, and wherein the porous portion comprises a plurality of holes operable to allow water in the inner body to overflow to the dissolving flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a first end of the inner body has an enlarged diameter relatively to another end of the inner body, and wherein the first end of the inner body is held and supported by the first side of the outer body. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the dissolving cap further comprises an expanding flow path formed at a first end of the dissolving inlet port facing the inner body, wherein the expanding flow path has an increasingly larger diameter along a hemispheric shape of the dissolving cap. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the outer body further comprises a dissolving guide port disposed at a second side of the outer body and configured to discharge water mixed with dissolved air. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a bubble generating unit configured to generate bubbles from the water mixed with dissolved air that is supplied from the dissolving guide port. 
 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises a bubble body comprising:
 a bubble inlet port for receiving the water mixed with dissolved air from the dissolving unit; and   a bubble discharge port for discharging bubbles out of the bubble body.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises:
 a bubble nozzle disposed inside the bubble body; and   a bubble flow path having an increasingly larger inner diameter from the bubble inlet port to the bubble discharge port.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bubble body further comprises:
 a first body comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the bubble inlet port is disposed on the first side of the first body; and   a second body comprising: a first side detachably coupled to the second side of the first body; and a second side, wherein the bubble discharge port is disposed on the second side of the second body.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the bubble flow path is formed at a first side of the bubble nozzle that faces an inner circumferential surface of the first body, wherein a second side of the bubble nozzle faces an inner circumferential surface of the second body, and wherein further the bubble nozzle is hollow and configured to allow the bubble flow path and the bubble discharge port to communicate with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a pressure reduction region disposed between an interior at the second side of the bubble nozzle and an interior of the second body, wherein the pressure reduction region is configured to reduce pressure of bubbles passing through the bubble flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the bubble generating unit further comprises a bubble check valve disposed between the bubble inlet port and the bubble nozzle, wherein the bubble check valve is configured to open and close the bubble inlet port in accordance with a pressure of the water mixed with dissolved air introduced from the bubble inlet port. 
     
     
         15 . A washing machine comprising:
 a dissolving unit configured to produce a water/air mixture by dissolving air in water when water flows inside the dissolving unit;   a bubble generating unit coupled to the dissolving unit and configured to generate bubbles from the water/air mixture; and   a tub configured to contain washing water, wherein bubbles generated by the bubble generating unit are supplied to the tub.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 15 , wherein the dissolving unit comprises:
 an outer body having a hollow interior and comprising a first side formed to be opened; and   an inner body comprising a first side formed to be opened and disposed in the outer body.   
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises:
 a dissolving flow path formed between the outer body and the inner body; and   a dissolving cap having an approximately hemispheric shape, wherein the dissolving cap is coupled to the first side of the outer body and operable to retain air in the outer body and the inner body.   
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the dissolving unit further comprises: a dissolving inlet port configured to allow water to be introduced to the inner body; and a dissolving guide port disposed on the second side of the outer body and configured to allow the water/air mixture to be discharged out of the dissolving unit. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the bubble generating unit is coupled to the dissolving guide port. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the dissolving unit comprising:
 a dissolving drain port is spaced apart from the dissolving guide port in the outer body, and lower than the dissolving guide port;   an air supply check valve in the dissolving cap; and   an inner hole at a second side of the inner body for discharging water remaining in the inner body.