Washing machines

Abstract

A washing machine may comprise a cabinet; a first tub fixedly mounted in an inside of the cabinet and configured to accommodate wash water; a second tub configured to accommodate laundry and rotatably mounted inside of the first tub; a drive motor mounted outside of the first tub and configured to rotate the second tub; a driving circuit unit connected with the drive motor so as to apply a driving signal to the drive motor; and/or a water-cooling cooler unit configured to cool the drive motor and the drive circuit unit with the wash water accommodated in the first tub.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first tub fixedly mounted in an inside of the cabinet and configured to accommodate wash water;   a second tub configured to accommodate laundry and rotatably mounted inside of the first tub;   a drive motor mounted outside of the first tub and configured to rotate the second tub;   a driving circuit unit connected with the drive motor so as to apply a driving signal to the drive motor; and   a water-cooling cooler unit configured to cool the drive motor and the drive circuit unit with the wash water accommodated in the first tub.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water-cooling cooler unit comprises:
 a first cooling channel configured to cool the drive motor; and   a second cooling channel connected with the first cooling channel and configured to cool the drive circuit unit.   
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the drive circuit unit comprises:
 a drive circuit board applying the driving signal to the drive motor; and   a radiator member irradiating heat of the drive circuit board.   
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first cooling channel has a structure surrounding a circumference of the drive motor. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein a first end of the second cooling channel is connected with the first cooling channel, and
 wherein a second end of the second cooling channel is connected with the radiator member.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein a through hole is formed in the radiator member so as to penetrate an inside of the radiator member, and
 wherein the second end of the second cooling channel is connected with the through hole.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , wherein at least an inside of the first cooling channel is formed of thermal conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first connector between the first tub and the water-cooling cooler unit;   wherein the first connector is configured to deliver the wash water accommodated in the first tub to the water-cooling cooler unit.   
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first connector is connected with a filter configured to filter out impurities contained in the wash water. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a drainage unit mounted on a bottom of the first tub to discharge the wash water accommodated in the first tub to an outside of the cabinet.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein a first end of the first connector is connected with the drainage unit, and
 wherein a second end of the first connector is connected with the water-cooling cooler unit.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the wash water received through the first connector is heated in the water-cooling cooler unit by the drive motor and the drive circuit unit. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the wash water heated in the water-cooling cooler unit is resupplied to the fixed tub. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second connector between the water-cooling cooler unit and the first tub;   wherein the second connector is configured to deliver the wash water heated in the water-cooling cooler unit to the first tub.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the second connector is connected with a bottom of the first tub. 
     
     
         16 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to accommodate the drive motor, the driving circuit unit, and the water-cooling cooler unit;   wherein the housing comprises insulating material.