Dishwasher

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher. The dishwasher of the present invention comprises: a tub; a sump which is disposed under the tub and in which washing water is stored; a spray arm which is disposed within the tub and sprays the tub with washing water; a pump which supplies the spray arm with washing water stored in the sump; a washing water flow pipe which supplies the spray arm with washing water discharged from the pump; and a bubble generator which is disposed in the spray arm or connection pipe and has a Venturi-tube shape to generate bubbles in washing water flowing therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a tub;   a sump disposed under the tub and storing washing water therein;   a spray arm disposed within the tub and spraying the washing water into the tub;   a pump supplying the spray arm with the washing water stored in the sump;   a washing water flow pipe supplying the spray arm with the washing water discharged from the pump; and   a bubble generator disposed in the spray arm or connection pipe and having a Venturi-tube shape to generate bubbles in the washing water flowing therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spray arm comprises:   a lower spray arm; and   an upper spray arm disposed above the lower spray arm,   wherein the washing water flow pipe extends along a bottom surface and a side surface of the tub to supply the upper spray arm with the washing water discharged from the pump, and   wherein the bubble generator is disposed to protrude obliquely from a side of the washing water flow pipe.   
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the bubble generator comprises:   a connection pipe branching from the washing water flow pipe;   a buffer chamber pipe extending from the connection pipe and forming a buffer chamber therein;   a discharge pipe extending from the buffer chamber pipe and discharging the washing water that contains bubbles; and   an air inlet pipe disposed between the buffer chamber pipe and the discharge pipe, and having an air path through which outside air is introduced, and   wherein the air inlet pipe is disposed on a downstream end of the buffer chamber, and has a structure extending downward.   
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the buffer chamber pipe comprises therein an expansion part in which a sectional area of a flow path is expanded, and a reduction part which is disposed downstream of the expansion part and in which the sectional area of the flow path is reduced, and   wherein a spiral groove is formed on an inner circumference forming an internal path of the reduction part.   
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 3 ,
 wherein a discharge path expanding in a direction where the washing water flows is formed inside the discharge pipe, and   wherein a discharge hole through which the washing water is discharged is formed at an end of the discharge path.   
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the washing water flow pipe comprises:   an upper washing water flow pipe disposed above the bubble generator; and   a lower washing water flow pipe disposed under the bubble generator, and   wherein a size of a sectional area of a flow path of the upper washing water flow pipe is formed smaller than a size of a sectional area of a flow path of the lower washing water flow pipe.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spray arm comprises a top spray arm that sprays the washing water downward from an upper end of a washing space defined by the tub, and an upper spray arm that is disposed under the top spray arm and sprays the washing water into the washing space,   wherein the washing water flow pipe comprises:   a first washing water flow pipe sending the washing water supplied from the pump to the upper spray arm; and   a second washing water flow pipe sending the washing water supplied from the pump to the top spray arm, and   wherein the bubble generator comprises:   a first bubble generator disposed on a side of the first washing water flow pipe; and   a second bubble generator disposed on a side of the second washing water flow pipe.   
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spray arm comprises a first blade formed with a first spray path that sprays the washing water into the tub, a second blade formed with a second spray path that sprays the washing water into the tub, and a hub supplying the washing water to each of the first blade and the second blade, and   wherein the bubble generator is disposed on at least one of the first blade and the second blade.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the spray arm comprises:   a first blade formed with a first spray path for spraying the washing water into the tub, and a first bubble generation path for discharging the washing water containing microbubbles to the tub;   a second blade formed with a second spray path for spraying the washing water into the tub, and a second bubble generation path for discharging the washing water containing microbubbles to the tub; and   a hub supplying the washing water to each of the first blade and the second blade.   
     
     
         10 . The dishwasher of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the hub comprises:   a supply path through which the washing water flows upward;   a 1-1 branch path connecting the supply path and the first spray path; and   a 1-2 branch path connecting the supply path and the second spray path,   wherein the 1-1 branch path is formed in a direction parallel to the first spray path, and   wherein the 1-2 branch path is formed in a direction parallel to the second spray path.   
     
     
         11 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the 1-1 branch path is formed with a larger sectional area than the first spray path, and the 1-1 branch path has a shape in which the sectional area thereof decreases from the supply path to the first spray path, and   wherein the 1-2 branch path is formed with a larger sectional area than the second spray path, and the 1-2 branch path has a shape in which the sectional area thereof decreases from the supply path to the second spray path.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwasher of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the hub comprises:   a 2-1 branch path connecting the supply path and the first bubble generation path; and   a 2-2 branch path connecting the supply path and the second bubble generation path,   wherein the 2-1 branch path is disposed at an angle with the first bubble generation path, and   wherein the 2-2 branch path is disposed at an angle with the second bubble generation path.   
     
     
         13 . The dishwasher of  claim 12 , wherein the sectional area of each of the 2-1 branch path and the 2-2 branch path is formed smaller than the sectional area of the 1-1 branch path or the 1-2 branch path. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwasher of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first spray path disposed in the first blade is located at a rear of the first bubble generator on the basis of a rotating direction of the spray arm, and   wherein the second spray path disposed in the second blade is located at a rear of the second bubble generator on the basis of the rotating direction of the spray arm.   
     
     
         15 . The dishwasher of  claim 9 ,
 wherein each of the first bubble generation path and the second bubble generation path comprises therein a connecting path connected to the supply path, a buffer chamber connected to the connecting path and having a path sectional area expanded or reduced, an air inlet path which is connected to the buffer chamber and through which outside air is sucked in, and a discharge path connected to the air inlet path and discharging washing water in which microbubbles are created.   
     
     
         16 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the buffer chamber comprises an expansion part in which a sectional area of a flow path is expanded, a maintenance part in which the sectional area of the flow path is maintained, and a reduction part in which the sectional area of the flow path is reduced,   wherein an inlet connected to the connecting path and an outlet connected to the air inlet path are formed in the buffer chamber, and   wherein central positions of the inlet and the outlet formed in the buffer chamber are formed differently from each other.   
     
     
         17 . The dishwasher of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the air inlet path is connected at a side thereof to an air path, and   wherein the air path allows outside air to flow in through a suction hole formed in a lower surface of the spray arm.