Washing machine

Abstract

A circulatory washing machine, in which water stored in the bottom of a tub is circulated and supplied to a drum. The washing machine includes a tub for containing washing water; a drum rotatably installed in the tub; a circulation unit for circulating the washing water stored in the tub to the upper portion of the drum; and a spray nozzle for spraying the washing water, circulated by the circulation unit, to the rear portion of the inside of the drum.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a tub for containing washing water;   a drum rotatably installed in the tub for rotation about a generally horizontal axis;   a circulation unit for circulating the washing water stored in the tub to the drum; and   a spray nozzle for spraying the washing water, circulated by the circulation unit, along the inside of the drum from a front portion of the drum to a rear portion of the drum.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle sprays the washing water such that the washing water is dispersed in the lower portion of the drum. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a plurality of spray holes adapted to spray the washing water to different falling positions in the lengthwise direction of the drum. 
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein at least two of the spray holes have different cross-sectional areas to spray the washing water to the different falling positions. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a driving part to adjust the spray position of the washing water into the drum. 
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a plurality of channels which receive the washing water from the circulation unit and allow the washing water to flow to the plurality of the spray holes, and the respective spray holes spray the washing water to the different falling positions according to lengths of the channels corresponding to the spray holes. 
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the longer length channel is configured to spray the washing water to the more rear portion of the inside of the drum. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the channels connected to the respective spray holes are formed in directions corresponding to the falling positions. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein a surface of the spray nozzle, on which the spray holes are formed, forms a plane inclined with respect to the front surface of the drum. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a channel, the channel having a width which increases in the flowing direction of the washing water, such that the washing water passing through the spray nozzle is dispersed in the width direction of the spray nozzle. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the channel of the spray nozzle is gradually decreased in a thickness direction and elongated in the width direction. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a long narrow spray hole formed in the width direction so as to disperse and spray the washing machine at a high pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle includes guide ribs, which induce the flowing direction of the washing water so as to disperse the washing water passing through the channel in the width direction. 
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the spray nozzle is obliquely installed toward the drum such that one end of the spray hole sprays the washing water to the front portion of the lower end of the drum and the other end of the spray hole sprays the washing water to the rear portion of the lower end of the drum. 
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle includes a plurality of spray units for spraying the washing water, the spray units being located at different positions so as to spray the washing water to different falling positions in the lengthwise direction of the drum. 
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzle sprays the washing water with a generally uniform distribution between the front portion of the drum and the rear portion of the drum.