Laundry apparatus

Abstract

A laundry apparatus may include a cabinet, a tub provided in the cabinet and configured to hold water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry, and a through-hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate communication between the tub and the drum. The laundry apparatus may also include a pump housing comprising a chamber defining a predetermined space in which water is stored, a tub water discharge pipe provided to guide the water held in the tub towards the chamber, a pump water discharge pipe provided to guide the water stored in the chamber to a position outside the chamber, an impeller rotatably mounted in the chamber and configured to pump the water stored in the chamber towards the pump water discharge pipe, and an air discharge pipe configured to guide air from inside the chamber towards the tub or the pump water discharge pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to hold water;   a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to accommodate laundry;   a through-hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate fluid communication between the tub and the drum;   a pump housing comprising a chamber defining a predetermined space configured to store water;   a tub water discharge pipe configured to guide the water held in the tub towards the chamber;   a pump water discharge pipe configured to guide the water stored in the chamber to a position outside the chamber;   an impeller rotatably mounted in the chamber and configured to pump the water stored in the chamber towards the pump water discharge pipe; and   an air discharge pipe configured to guide air inside the chamber towards one of the tub or the pump water discharge pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air discharge pipe is connected to an uppermost area of an outer circumferential surface of the pump housing. 
     
     
         3 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump water discharge pipe comprises a first pump water discharge pipe configured to guide the water held in the chamber towards the tub,
 the impeller comprises a circulation impeller configured to pump the water stored in the chamber towards the first pump water discharge pipe, and   the air discharge pipe connects a circumferential surface of the first pump water discharge pipe to an upper area of the chamber of the pump housing located above a horizontal line passing through a rotation axis of the circulation impeller.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein an area where the air discharge pipe is connected to the circumferential surface of the first pump water discharge pipe is higher than an upper end of the pump housing. 
     
     
         5 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air discharge pipe connects a circumferential surface of the tub with an upper area of the chamber of the pump housing located above a horizontal line passing through a rotation axis of the impeller. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump water discharge pipe comprises a second pump water discharge pipe configured to guide the water stored in the chamber to a position outside the cabinet,
 the impeller comprises a water discharge impeller configured to pump the water stored in the chamber towards the second pump water discharge pipe, and   the air discharge pipe connects a circumferential surface of the second pump water discharge pipe with an upper area of the chamber of the pump housing located above a horizontal line passing through a rotation axis of the water discharge impeller.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein an area where the air discharge pipe is connected to the circumferential surface of the second pump water discharge pipe is higher than an uppermost area of the chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a discharge pipe connecting pipe projected from a top surface of the pump housing and connected with the air discharge pipe.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sump recessed from a lower area of a circumferential surface of the tub towards a bottom surface of the cabinet and configured to accommodate water;   a water discharge hole penetrating a bottom surface of the sump and configured to communicate with the tub water discharge pipe; and   a rib projecting from an upper end of a lateral surface of the sump, extending parallel with the ground, and configured to prevent the water stored in the sump from flowing out of the sump.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lower supporter connected with a circumferential surface of the tub and configured to support the tub,   wherein the lower supporter comprises a damper configured to damp vertical vibration of the tub.   
     
     
         11 . The laundry apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pump housing is located in a lower area of the tub, and
 the tub water discharge pipe is extendible to have an adjustable length in a direction of movement of the tub.