Washing Machine and Micro-Bubble Generator Thereof

Abstract

A washing machine includes a cabinet; an outer basket in the cabinet and configured to contain wash water; an inner basket in the outer basket and configured to accommodate laundry; a water supply valve unit in the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source to receive wash water; a cabinet cover on an upper side of the cabinet and having an input hole for the laundry; and a micro-bubble generator configured to receive wash water from the water supply valve unit, generate micro-bubbles, and supply the micro-bubbles to a washing space. The micro-bubble generator includes a nozzle unit at or near the input hole and configured to generate micro-bubbles by receive wash water in which gas is dissolved or mixed and discharge wash water having the micro-bubbles therein into the inner basket after the micro-bubbles are generated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a cabinet;   an outer basket in the cabinet and configured to contain wash water;   an inner basket in the outer basket and configured to accommodate laundry;   a water supply valve unit in the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source to receive wash water;   a cabinet cover on an upper side of the cabinet and having an input hole for the laundry; and   a micro-bubble generator configured to receive wash water from the water supply valve unit, generate micro-bubbles, and supply the micro-bubbles to a washing space,   wherein the micro-bubble generator includes a nozzle unit at or near the input hole and configured to receive wash water in which gas is dissolved or mixed and discharge the wash water into the inner basket.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet cover includes a nozzle coupling unit at an outer bottom surface of the input hole, to which the nozzle unit is coupled. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the nozzle unit enters into the input hole and is located above the inner basket. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the cabinet cover includes a nozzle cover configured to cover a part of the nozzle unit and protect the nozzle unit from contact with the laundry in the input hole, and
 the nozzle cover is fixed to the nozzle coupling unit.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the cabinet cover has a nozzle installation groove around the input hole, the nozzle unit being in the nozzle installation groove, and
 the nozzle cover includes:
 a shield unit configured to shield a part of the nozzle unit; 
 a nozzle cover fixing unit fixed to the nozzle coupling unit; and 
 a connection unit configured to connect the shield unit and the nozzle fixing unit and configured to fit in the nozzle installation groove. 
   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the washing machine further includes:
 a bolt configured to fix the nozzle unit to the nozzle coupling unit; and   a vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring around the bolt configured to absorb vibrations from the nozzle unit.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring includes:
 a nozzle portion fitting groove at one end of the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring, into which a part of the nozzle unit fits;   a bolt head supporting unit at another end of the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring, configured to support a head of the bolt; and   an elastically deformable damping unit between the nozzle portion fitting groove and the bolt head supporting unit, configured to absorb the vibrations.   
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the bolt sequentially passes through the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring, the nozzle unit, and the nozzle cover, and is fixed to the nozzle coupling unit. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the micro-bubble generator further includes:
 a dissolving unit configured to dissolve or mix gas in the wash water and supply the wash water with dissolved or mixed gas therein to the nozzle unit; and   a drain unit configured to discharge the wash water in the dissolving unit at a predetermined time.   
     
     
         10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the dissolving unit includes:
 an outer tube having an open at one side or end, and configured to provide a dissolution space in which the gas is dissolved or mixed in the wash water;   an inner tube in the dissolution space, wherein at least a part of the inner tube is spaced from an inner circumferential surface of the outer tube; and   a cap configured to shield or cover the opening of the outer tube, change a flow direction of the supplied wash water, and supply the wash water to an inner space of the inner tube, and   wherein gas in the outer tube is dissolved or mixed in the wash water by pressure of the wash water overflowing from the inner tube.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the nozzle unit includes:
 a body including a pressing space configured to receive the wash water with the gas dissolved or mixed therein and pressurize the wash water;   a bubble generating unit communicating with said pressing space and including a plurality of decomposition units through which the wash water passes and in which the micro-bubbles are generated; and   a nozzle portion having (i) blocking parts configured to block at least a part of the flow of washing water from each of the decomposition units and (ii) micro-bubble mixing portions configured to mix micro-bubbles from the decomposition unit with the wash water from the decomposition units, the nozzle portion being configured to discharge the wash water containing micro-bubbles into the washing space.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the washing machine further includes a main drain hose connected to the outer basket, configured to drain the wash water, and
 the drain unit includes:
 a first body connected to the dissolving unit to introduce the wash water; 
 a second body coupled to the first body and connected to the main drain hose to discharge wash water; 
 a diaphragm between the first body and the second body, elastically deformed by the wash water introduced through the first body and having a first hole through which the wash water passes; and 
 a diaphragm supporting unit between the first body and the second body and having a second hole selectively covered or shielded by elastic deformation of the diaphragm. 
   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the washing space is inside the outer basket, and the micro-bubble generator is configured such that the nozzle unit discharges the wash water containing the micro-bubbles into the inner basket after the micro-bubbles are generated. 
     
     
         14 . A micro-bubble generator, comprising:
 a dissolving unit configured to receive wash water and to dissolve or mix gas in the dissolving unit in the wash water;   a nozzle unit configured to receive from the dissolving unit wash water having gas dissolved or mixed therein, generate micro-bubbles, and discharge wash water containing the micro-bubbles; and   a drain unit configured to discharge the wash water remaining in the dissolving unit.   
     
     
         15 . The micro-bubble generator according to  claim 14 , wherein the micro-bubble generator includes a nozzle cover configured to cover a part of the nozzle unit and prevent the nozzle unit from being exposed in one direction. 
     
     
         16 . The micro-bubble generator according to  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle unit further includes a discharging portion for discharging the wash water, and
 wherein the discharging portion is to have a wider sectional shape toward the discharging port side.   
     
     
         17 . The micro-bubble generator according to  claim 14 , further including:
 a bolt configured to fix the nozzle unit to a surface or component of a washing machine; and   a vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring around the bolt and configured to absorb vibrations from the nozzle unit.   
     
     
         18 . The micro-bubble generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring includes:
 a nozzle portion fitting groove at one end of the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring, into which a part of the nozzle unit fits;   a bolt head supporting unit at another end of the vibration-proof rubber gasket or ring, configured to support a head of the bolt; and   an elastically deformable damping unit between the nozzle portion fitting groove and the bolt head supporting unit, configured to absorb the vibrations.