Washer

Abstract

A washer has a structure to prevent overheating of a heater. The washer includes a tub to contain wash water, a rotating drum provided in the tub, a heater to heat water in the tub, and a circulation unit to supply water in the tub to the rotating drum. A circulation hole is formed at a height same as or greater than a mounting height of the heater to allow water to flow into the circulation unit. This prevents the height of water from becoming less than the mounting height of the heater even when the circulation unit is in operation, thereby preventing overheating of the heater.

1 . A washer for washing laundry comprising:
 a tub;   a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the tub, wherein the rotating drum receives laundry;   a heater to heat water in the tub, wherein the heater is mounted to the tub; and   a circulation unit to supply water in the tub to the rotating drum,   wherein a circulation hole is formed in the tub at a height same as or greater than a mounting height of the heater and the circulation holes allows water to flow into the circulation unit.   
   
   
       2 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the circulation hole is less than a height of a lower surface of the rotating drum. 
   
   
       3 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation hole is formed in a front portion of the tub. 
   
   
       4 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation unit includes a circulation pump provided on an external surface of the tub and a circulation tube provided between the circulation pump and the rotating drum. 
   
   
       5 . The washer according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drainage unit to drain water in the tub,   wherein a drainage hole is formed at a lower portion of the tub to allow water to flow out to the drainage unit.   
   
   
       6 . The washer according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a single drive pump to drive the circulation unit and the drainage unit; and   a flow path switching valve which is positioned at an outlet side of the single drive pump, wherein the flow path switching valve changes a flow path of water.   
   
   
       7 . The washer according to  claim 5 , wherein the tub includes a heater seat that is recessed downwardly to mount the heater on the heater seat. 
   
   
       8 . A washer for washing laundry comprising:
 a tub;   a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the tub, wherein the rotating drum receives laundry;   a heater to heat water in the tub, wherein the heater is mounted to the tub;   a circulation unit to supply water in the tub to the rotating drum;   a drainage unit to drain water in the tub,   wherein the tub has a drainage hole to allow water to flow to the drainage unit and a circulation hole to allow water to flow to the circulation unit, the circulation hole being formed at a height that is a predetermined distance greater than a mounting height of the heater.   
   
   
       9 . The washer according to  claim 8 , wherein the tub includes a heater seat that is recessed downwardly to mount the heater on the heater seat. 
   
   
       10 . The washer according to  claim 8 , wherein the height of the circulation hole is less than a height of a lower surface of the rotating drum. 
   
   
       11 . The washer according to  claim 8 , wherein a height of a bottom of the circulation hole is substantially the same as a height of a top of the heater. 
   
   
       12 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein the circulation hole is formed in a cylinder portion of the tub. 
   
   
       13 . The washer according to  claim 1 , wherein a height of a bottom of the circulation hole is substantially the same as a height of a top of the heater. 
   
   
       14 . The washer according to  claim 7 , wherein the drainage hole is formed in the heater seat. 
   
   
       15 . The washer according to  claim 9 , wherein the drainage hole is formed in the heater seat.