Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine which has a structure capable of generating bubbles in wash water. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub vertically arranged within the main body, a passage case including a first drainage pipe connected to a lower portion of the tub and a branch pipe to allow wash water introduced from the first drainage pipe to be introduced into the tub again, a pump including a pump case having a first pump inlet arranged at a relatively higher position than the branch pipe and a motor coupled to one end of the pump case so as to supply power to pump the wash water introduced into the first pump inlet, and a bubble generating unit to generate bubbles in the wash water pumped by the pump.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body;   a tub vertically arranged within the main body;   a passage case comprising a first drainage pipe connected to a lower portion of the tub, and a branch pipe to allow wash water introduced from the first drainage pipe to be introduced into the tub again;   a pump comprising a pump case having a first pump inlet arranged at a relatively higher position than the branch pipe, and a motor coupled to one end of the pump case so as to supply power to pump the wash water introduced into the first pump inlet; and   a bubble generating unit to generate bubbles in the wash water pumped by the pump.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the passage case further comprises a second drainage pipe communicated with the first drainage pipe to guide the wash water to an outside of the washing machine. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the branch pipe further comprises at least one foreign matter inflow preventing rib to filter out foreign matter contained in the wash water introduced from the first drainage pipe; and   the foreign matter inflow preventing rib protrudes from an inner peripheral surface of the branch pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pump case further comprises a second pump inlet connected to a lower end of the tub; and   the second pump inlet is arranged at a relatively higher position than the first pump inlet.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the pump case is provided, at an upper portion thereof, with a foreign matter inflow preventing bump to filter out foreign matter contained in the wash water within the tub; and   the second pump inlet is formed at an inner side of the foreign matter inflow preventing bump.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump case further comprises a foreign matter inflow preventing wall to filter out foreign matter contained in the wash water introduced from the first pump inlet. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the foreign matter inflow preventing wall is provided at a central portion of the pump case; and   the wash water introduced from the first pump inlet is introduced into the foreign matter inflow preventing wall, and is then pumped to the bubble generating unit.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the pump case comprises a motor coupling portion which is coupled with the motor to supply power to pump the wash water introduced from the first or second pump inlet, and a pump outlet to guide the wash water, which is pumped, to the bubble generating unit; and   the pump outlet is provided at an outer peripheral surface of the motor coupling portion to be communicated with the motor coupling portion.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the pump case comprises a first receiving portion to receive the wash water introduced from the first or second pump inlet, and a second receiving portion connected, at one end thereof, with the first receiving portion while being connected, at the other end thereof, with the motor coupling portion; and   the first and second receiving portions are partitioned by the foreign matter inflow preventing wall.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the foreign matter inflow preventing wall further comprises a residual water removal hole to remove the wash water which remains in the second receiving portion. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises:
 a first passage into which the wash water pumped by the pump is introduced;   a second passage having a relatively smaller sectional area than the first passage; and   an air inlet communicated with the second passage in order to supply air to the wash water flowing through the second passage.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the second drainage pipe is provided with a valve so that the wash water introduced from the first drainage pipe flows toward either the second drainage pipe or the branch pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a first connecting hose to connect the branch pipe and the first pump inlet; and   a second connecting hose to connect the pump outlet and the bubble generating unit.   
     
     
         14 . A washing machine comprising:
 a main body;   a tub vertically arranged within the main body;   a passage case comprising a first drainage pipe communicated with the tub so that wash water in the tub is introduced into the first drainage pipe, a second drainage pipe to discharge the wash water introduced into the first drainage pipe to an outside of the washing machine, and a branch pipe to change a movement direction of the wash water introduced into the first drainage pipe while being arranged to be spaced apart from a bottom of the tub by a predetermined length;   a pump comprising a pump case having a first pump passage arranged to be more adjacent to the tub than the branch pipe, and a motor connected to one side of the pump case so as to pump the wash water introduced through the first pump passage; and   a bubble generating unit having an air inlet to supply air to the wash water pumped by the pump.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the pump case further comprises a second pump passage, which is communicated with a lower end of the tub and is provided above the first pump passage. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the pump case further comprises a foreign matter inflow preventing wall to filter out foreign matter contained in the wash water introduced through the first pump passage. 
     
     
         17 . The washing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein the foreign matter inflow preventing wall is provided, at an outer peripheral surface, with a residual water removal hole so that the wash water, which remains at an inner side of the foreign matter inflow preventing wall, flows toward the second drainage pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the branch pipe further comprises at least one foreign matter inflow preventing rib protruding from an inner peripheral surface of the branch pipe so as to filter out foreign matter contained in the wash water. 
     
     
         19 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the bubble generating unit comprises;
 a wash water passage through which the wash water pumped by the pump flows; and   an air passage communicated with the wash water passage in order to supply air to the wash water flowing through the wash water passage.   
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a washing machine which includes a main body, a tub vertically arranged within the main body, a drainage pipe communicated with the tub, a pump arranged at a lower portion of the tub, and a bubble generating unit to generate bubbles in wash water pumped by the pump, the method comprising:
 sensing a water level of the wash water during supply of the wash water into the tub; and   determining whether drainage of the wash water supplied into the tub is needed,   wherein when the water level of the wash water is increased at a level more than a predetermined height, the drainage pipe is closed so that the wash water is controlled to be transferred to the pump, and when the drainage of the wash water is determined to be needed, the drainage pipe is opened so that the wash water is controlled to be discharged outside the washing machine through the drainage pipe.