Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine, more particularly, an improvement in the structure of a drive unit included in a drum type washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine includes a tub for receiving wash water therein, a drum rotatably disposed in the tub and adapted to wash laundry received therein, a shaft penetrated through the tub to thereby be connected to the drum, the shaft being adapted to transmit a drive force of a motor to the drum, a stator coupled fixedly to a rear wall portion of the tub, and a rotor including at least one magnet, a back yoke defining a magnetic path, and a rotor frame rotatably disposed at the outside of the stator, the rotor frame being connected to the shaft so as to transmit a rotating force of the rotor to the shaft. The rotor frame includes a side wall portion and a rear wall portion, and is made of an aluminum material.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a tub for receiving wash water therein;    a drum rotatably disposed in the tub and adapted to wash laundry received therein;    a shaft penetrated through the tub to thereby be connected to the drum, the shaft being adapted to transmit a drive force of a motor to the drum;    a stator coupled fixedly to a rear wall portion of the tub; and    a rotor including at least one magnet, a back yoke defining a magnetic path, and a rotor frame rotatably disposed at the outside of the stator, the rotor frame being connected to the shaft so as to transmit a rotating force of the rotor to the shaft,    wherein the rotor frame comprises a side wall portion and a rear wall portion, and is made of an aluminum material.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor frame is formed by die casting, and the side wall portion and the rear wall portion of the rotor frame are integrally formed with each other.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the rear wall portion of the rotor frame is provided, at a center position thereof, with a connector, which is serration-coupled onto an outer circumference of the shaft and adapted to transmit the rotating force of the rotor to the shaft.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the connector is made of an insulating material and integrally formed with the rotor frame by insert molding.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a bearing housing provided between the rear wall portion of the tub and the stator and coupled fixedly to both the tub and the stator, the bearing housing receiving at least one bearing therein to rotatably support the shaft.    
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the bearing housing is made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the side wall portion of the rotor frame is extended forward from an edge of the rear wall portion, and the side wall portion of the rotor frame is formed, in a circumferential direction thereof, with a ledge having a seating plane for supporting the magnet thereon.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the stator comprises: 
 a stator core including a winding portion around which a coil is wound and an annular body portion defining the magnetic path; and    an insulator for insulating the stator core from the coil.    
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the stator has thirty six poles, and the rotor has forty eight poles.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the back yoke is attached to an inner surface of the side wall portion of the rotor frame in a circumferential direction by use of an adhesive, and 
 the magnet is attached to an inner surface of the back yoke in a circumferential direction by use of an adhesive.