Bubble generation device and washing machine having same

Abstract

A bubble generation device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a housing comprising a first port connected to a pump, a second port connected to a drum, and a third port connected to a tub; a valve device comprising a valve rotatably installed in the housing and configured to open or close a passage between the first port and the third port and, based on the passage between the first port and the third port being opened, and to form an orifice part having a passage width decreasing toward the third port from the first port in the housing; and an actuator configured to control the rotation angle of the valve device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bubble generator, comprising:
 a housing comprising a first port connected to a pump, a second port connected to a drum, and a third port connected to a tub;   a valve device comprising a valve rotatably installed inside the housing, and configured to form an orifice portion whose passage width decreases from the first port toward the third port inside the housing based on an opening between the first port and the third port and forming an air inlet between the second port and the third port; and   an actuator configured to adjust a rotation angle of the valve device.   
     
     
         2 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the second port is connected to the drum by a first connection pipe, and wherein one end of the first connection pipe is connected to the second port, and another end thereof is connected to an upper side of the drum. 
     
     
         3 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the first port is configured to provide washing water from the pump into the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the third port is installed under the tub. 
     
     
         5 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve device is configured to form a wall for interrupting flow of washing water from the first port toward the second port based on an opening between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         6 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve device is configured to guide air introduced through the air inlet toward the orifice portion based on an opening between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         7 . The bubble generator of  claim 6 , wherein based on an opening between the first port and the third port, the passage width of the orifice portion is greater than or equal to a passage width of the air inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein based on an opening between the first port and the third port, the bubble generator is configured to mix washing water introduced through the first port with air introduced through the air inlet in the orifice portion to be converted into a bubble, and configured to discharge the bubble through the third port. 
     
     
         9 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve device is configured to form a circulation flow path portion instead of the orifice portion based on closing between the first port and the third port, and
 wherein the bubble generator is configured to discharge washing water introduced through the first port through the circulation flow path portion and then the second port.   
     
     
         10 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein two opposite ends of the valve device contact an inner wall of the housing based on the first port and the third port being closed, and one end of the valve device contacts the inner wall of the housing based on the first port and the third port being opened. 
     
     
         11 . The bubble generator of  claim 1 , wherein the valve device includes a rotation shaft configured to be rotated by an actuator and a plate connected to the rotation shaft, and wherein the plate has a specified included angle with respect to the rotation shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The bubble generator of  claim 11 , wherein the included angle is obtuse angle or equal to 180 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The bubble generator of  claim 11 , wherein the included angle has a value greater than an obtuse angle formed by an axial line of the first port and an axial line of the second port. 
     
     
         14 . The bubble generator of  claim 11 , wherein the housing includes one or more engaging protrusions provided inside the housing to contact the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The bubble generator of  claim 14 , wherein the engaging protrusions include a front protrusion and a rear protrusion, and the plate may contact the front protrusion based on opening between the first port and the third port and contact the rear protrusion based on closing between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         16 . The bubble generator of  claim 11 , wherein the housing may include one or more embossed surfaces provided inside the housing to contact an edge of the plate. 
     
     
         17 . A washer, comprising:
 a tub;   a drum disposed inside the tub and configured to receive laundry;   a bubble generator configured to generate a bubble and supply the bubble to the tub; and   a pump configured to suck washing water from the tub and to supply the sucked washing water to the bubble generator, wherein the bubble generator includes:   a housing comprising a first port connected to the pump, a second port connected to the drum, and a third port connected to the tub;   a valve device comprising a valve rotatably installed inside the housing, and configured to form an orifice portion whose passage width decreases from the first port toward the third port inside the housing based on an opening between the first port and the third port and to form an air inlet between the second port and the third port; and   an actuator configured to adjust a rotation angle of the valve device.   
     
     
         18 . The washer of  claim 17 , wherein the first port is configured to provide washing water introduced from the pump into the housing,
 wherein the second port is connected to the drum by a first connection pipe, and wherein one end of the first connection pipe is connected to the second port, and another end of the first connection pipe is connected to an upper side of the drum, and   wherein the third port is installed under the tub.   
     
     
         19 . The washer of  claim of 17 , wherein the valve device is configured to form a wall for interrupting flow of washing water from the first port toward the second port based on an opening between the first port and the third port. 
     
     
         20 . The washer of  claim of 17 , wherein the valve device is configured to guide air introduced through the air inlet toward the orifice portion based on an opening between the first port and the third port.