Washing drum unit with a jet spray

Abstract

A washing machine has a rotatable drum that is positioned within a tub. The drum has a drum base at one end of the drum. The drum base includes at least one slot to enable the passage of water into the drum. The tub has a tub base at one end of the tub. The tub base includes a water inlet that is arranged in line with the at least one slot in the drum base so that water is sprayed into the drum when the at least one slot rotates into alignment with the water inlet on the tub base and so that the spray of water into the drum is interrupted when the at least one slot rotates out of alignment with the water inlet on the tub base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drum and tub assembly for a washing machine, comprising:
 a tub including a tub base at one end of the tub, the tub base including a water inlet; and   a rotatable drum positioned within the tub, the rotatable drum including a drum base at one end of the drum and the other end of the drum is open to enable receipt of laundry, the drum base including at least one slot in the drum base,   wherein rotation of the rotatable drum causes the water inlet in the tub base to come into alignment with the at least one slot in the drum base and spray water into the rotatable drum through the at least one slot, and as the rotatable drum continues to rotate, the at least one slot is rotated out of alignment with the water inlet such that water is restricted from entering the at least one slot and interrupts the spray of water into the rotatable drum.   
     
     
         2 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein there is a gap between the drum base and the tub base and a meshing arrangement between a plurality of projections on the drum base and the tub base reduces or eliminates fluid flow through the gap. 
     
     
         3 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the projections are concentric. 
     
     
         4 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the projections are spaced with respect to one another providing an alternating arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the projections form a labyrinth seal. 
     
     
         6 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the projections form an interleaved set of projections that are positioned adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water inlet has a cylindrical or conical surface to inject the water into the rotatable drum through the at least one slot while the rotatable drum rotates to provide a spray jet of water into the rotatable drum when the at least one slot is aligned with the water inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot in the drum base includes three slots. 
     
     
         9 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot is arcuate. 
     
     
         10 . The drum and tub assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable drum has an interior cavity for receiving laundry and the at least one slot in the drum base is open to and communicates directly with the interior cavity of the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         11 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a housing receiving a rotatable drum and a tub;   a door coupled with the housing for enabling access to the rotatable drum;   the rotatable drum is positioned within the tub, the rotatable drum includes a drum base at one end of and the drum base includes at least one slot in the drum base;   the tub includes a tub base at one end of the tub and the tub base includes a water inlet; and   a shaft extending through the tub and connected with a motor that is configured to rotate the rotatable drum within the tub,   wherein the at least one slot in the drum base is radially spaced from the shaft and rotates into alignment with the water inlet in the tub base where water flows through the at least one slot and into the rotatable drum, and as the at least one slot continues to rotate, the at least one slot is rotated out of alignment with the water inlet such that water is restricted from flowing through the at least one slot.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein a gap exists between the drum base and the tub base and a meshing arrangement between a plurality of projections on the drum base and the tub base provide a forced passage for maintaining water at the water inlet when the at least one slot is rotated out of alignment with the water inlet and the water is restricted from flowing through the at least one slot. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the projections are concentric. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the projections are spaced with respect to one another providing an alternating arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the projections form a labyrinth seal. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the projections form an interleaved set of projections that are positioned adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the water inlet has a cylindrical or conical surface to inject the water into the rotatable drum through the at least one slot while the rotatable drum rotates to provide a spray jet of water into the rotatable drum when the at least one slot is aligned with the water inlet. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one slot in the drum base includes three slots. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one slot is arcuate. 
     
     
         20 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the rotatable drum has an interior cavity for receiving laundry and the at least one slot in the drum base is open to and communicates directly with the interior cavity of the rotatable drum.