Washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine, which is capable of forcibly circulating water from the lower portion of a washing tub to the upper portion of the washing tub, thereby enabling circulation washing of the laundry. The washing machine includes a casing, a washing tub, an arrangement for holding the washing tub in the casing and an arrangement for forcibly circulating washing water. The washing tub is mounted in the casing. The holding arrangement serves to allow the washing tub to be positioned to be inclined at a predetermined angle with regard to a vertical axis. The water circulating arrangement forcibly circulates washing water from a bottom of the washing tub to a top of the washing tub and is extended from the bottom of the washing tub to the top of the washing tub.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A washing machine, comprising: 
 a washing tub mounted in a casing of the washing machine;    a circulation passage extended from a bottom of the washing tub to a top of the washing tub for sprinkling washing water to an interior of the washing tub;    a circulation pump disposed on the circulation passage for forcibly circulating washing water;    a cyclone thread-bits separator disposed on the circulation passage for collecting thread-bits and naps in a cyclone fashion;    a thread-bits storage chamber connected to a lower portion of the cyclone thread-bits separator for storing thread-bits and naps; and    drain means extended from a lower portion of the thread-bits storage chamber to the outside for discharging stored thread-bits and naps together with washing water.    
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said pump is disposed on a circulation passage portion connected with an outlet of said cyclone thread-bits separator; and    said drain means comprises a drain hose extended from a bottom of the thread-bits collecting chamber to the outside for draining water naturally and a drain valve disposed on the drain hose for selectively opening and closing a water passage.    
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein said cyclone thread-bits separator comprises a cone-shaped collecting barrel, the collecting barrel having an inlet, an outlet and a circulation hole, said inlet being formed at an upper side portion of the collecting barrel and receiving washing water, said outlet being formed at a bottom of the collecting barrel and allowing impurities or washing water to be passed through, said circulation hole being formed at a top of the collecting barrel and allowing washing water free from the thread-bits and naps to flow into the circulation passage.  
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said pump is disposed on a first circulation passage portion connected with an inlet of said cyclone thread-bits separator; and    said drain means comprises a drain hose extended from a bottom of the thread-bits collecting chamber to a position higher than a top of the washing tub, a drain valve disposed on the drain hose for selectively opening and closing a water passage, and a cutoff valve disposed on a second circulation passage portion connected with an outlet of said cyclone thread-bits separator.    
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein said cyclone thread-bits separator comprises a cone-shaped collecting barrel, the collecting barrel having an inlet, an outlet and a circulation hole, said inlet being formed at an upper side portion of the collecting barrel and receiving washing water, said outlet being formed at a bottom of the collecting barrel and allowing impurities or washing water to be passed through, said circulation hole being formed at a top of the collecting barrel and allowing washing water free from the thread-bits and naps to flow into the circulation passage.  
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein said cyclone thread-bits separator comprises a cone-shaped collecting barrel, the collecting barrel having an inlet, an outlet and a circulation hole, said inlet being formed at an upper side portion of the collecting barrel and receiving washing water, said outlet being formed at a bottom of the collecting barrel and allowing impurities or washing water to be passed through, said circulation hole being formed at a top of the collecting barrel and allowing washing water free from the thread-bits and naps to flow into the circulation passage.