Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FULLY AUTOMATED WASHING MACHINE
The present invention relates to a fully automated
washing machine, and more particularly to a fully automated
washing machine employing a purified (cleansed) water
generating apparatus by which washing water supplied from a
water supplying source can be purified (cleansed) to
thereafter be supplied to a washing tub.
As prior art, an example of a conventional fully
automated washing machine is presented in United States
Patent No. 5,239,847 (issued August 31, 1993 to Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd.; inventor: Kyu-Chai Lee).
According to this United States Patent No. 5,239,847, a
washing machine employing an agitator to increase washing
efficiency is disclosed wherein an angle of inclination
against a facing surface of an agitating fin is arranged
differently, and at the same time, a curve is given to the
agitating fin so that laundry and the washing water can be
smoothly shifted to a central area of the washing tub and to
an inner periphery thereof, so that friction force can be
increased by a whirlpool produced by the laundry and the
washing water according to a steep grade of the fin, thereby
increasing the washing efficiency.
An example of a representative fully automated washing
machine thus described is illustrated in Figure 1. The
washing machine illustrated in Figure 1 includes an outer
tub 3 which is suspended at a predetermined height with the
intermediary of a plurality of suspension bars 2 disposed in
a body 1, thereby to be arranged in such a way as to prevent
vibration during the washing and spinning operations, and
for storing the washing water, a motor 4 is provided at an
external bottom surface of the outer tube 3 and is driven by
an electric power source, a power transmission apparatus 6
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is provided at an external bottom surface of the outer tub 3
to receive a driving force from the motor 4 through a belt 5
in order to drive a pulsator (to be described later) or the
washing tub, a washing tub 7 is rotatably disposed within
the outer tub 3 in order to spin the laundry by way of a
centrifugal force generated by turning effect of the power
transmission apparatus 6, a pulsator 8 is rotatably disposed
at a bottom surface within the washing tub 7 in order to
perform the washing operation by producing a water current
in the washing water stored in the washing tub 7 while
receiving power from the motor 5 with the intermediary of
the power transmission apparatus 6 thereafter to be rotated
in the forward or reverse direction, a water level detecting
apparatus 9 for receiving pressure of the washing water
supplied into the outer tub 3 thereby to control a water
level, a water supply pipe 10 for supplying the washing
water into the outer tub 3 with the intermediary of the
water level detecting apparatus 9, and a water discharge
pipe 11 for discharging to an external side of the body 1
the washing water soiled by the laundry stored in the outer
tub 3.
The washing machine thus constituted generally washes
the laundry by way of mechanical turning effect of the
pulsator 8 and interfacial tension of a chemical detergent.
In other words, in the washing machine thus described,
there are several ways to improve washing efficiency, and
one way is to rotate the pulsator at a high speed in order
to rotate the laundry more rapidly, a second way is to
lengthen the driving time of the motor 4 and a third way is
to increase the quantity of detergent.
However, there is a problem in the mechanical increase
of the turning effect of the pulsator 8 in order to improve
the washing efficiency, in that the friction force between
the washing water and the laundry is increased causing the
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laundry to sustain damage even though washing efficiency is
improved.
Meanwhile, there is another problem in the washing
method by way of increased quantity of detergent, in that,
even though dirt in the laundry can be rapidly removed,
increased environmental pollution can be caused by the use
of large quantities of detergents, and a large quantity of
washing water is needed to thoroughly rinse the detergent
out of the laundry. If the detergent is not completely
rinsed out of the laundry, skin irritation from the residual
detergent can occur.
Accordingly, the present invention solves the
aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a fully automated washing machine
employing a purified water generating apparatus by which
alkali metal ions, heavy metal ions and iron-like ions
contained in the washing water can be electro-deposited.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a fully automated washing machine employing a
purified water generating apparatus by which hydraulic seal
ion for promoting the interfacial tension by way of
turmaline granules can be increased in the washing water.
It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a fully automated washing machine employing a
purified water generating apparatus by which the hydraulic
seal ion for promoting the surface active working can be
increased in the washing water, thereby improving a
purifying degree and a washing efficiency, and reducing the
quantity of detergent used.
It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a fully automated washing machine employing a
purified water generating apparatus by which the hydraulic
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seal ion for promoting the interfacial tension in the
washing water can be increased, thereby to reduce the
quantity of detergent used.
In accordance with the objects of the present
invention, there is provided a purifier for a fully
automated washing machine comprising: a body disposed with
an inlet orifice for guiding washing water into the body
there through, having one side thereof connected to a water
supply pipe, and having an outlet disposed at an upper
surface thereof; a receiving unit disposed within the body
having an inner side thereof into which the washing water is
infused, one end for forming an inner bottom surface of the
receiving unit and the other end for forming an upper
surface of the receiving unit, wherein the inner side has an
increasing diameter of the receiving unit from one end to
the other end in order to contain turmaline granules; a
first filtering means disposed under the inner bottom
surface of the receiving unit, for passing the washing water
and for inhibiting discharge of the turmaline granules;
a second filtering means disposed at the inner upper surface
of the receiving unit thereby to prevent leakage of the
turmaline granules when purified water generated by contact
of the washing water from the water supply pipe with the
turmaline granules is discharged; and a lid removably fixed
to the body thereby to prevent movement of the second
filtering means, the lid being provided with a discharge
outlet in order to discharge through a purified water supply
pipe the purified water produced in the receiving unit by
contact of the washing water from the water supply pipe with
the turmaline granules.
The fully automated washing machine thus described
according to preferred embodiments of the present invention,
alkali metal ions such as kalium (K), calcium (Ca),
magnesium (Mg) and the like, heavy metal ions such as lead
(Pb), zinc (Zn) and the like, and iron-like ions and the
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like contained in the washing water can be electro-deposited
by the turmaline granules in the purified water generating
apparatus before the washing water is supplied from the
water supply pipe to the washing tub, and at the same time,
the purified water minus chlorine odour, mustiness and the
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like is supplied as the washing water to the washing tub,
thereby improving the purifying (cleansing) performance
thereof, degree of cleansing of the laundry and the washing
efficiency thereof.
Furthermore in the fully automated washing machine,
according to the present invention, the purified water
containing a large quantity of hydraulic seal ions to
promote the interfacial tension is supplied to the washing
tub in order to wash the laundry, so that the cleansing
performance can be improved, the quantity of detergent can
be reduced, and environmental pollution and skin irritation
resulting from use of detergent can be prevented.
Furthermore, because the fully automated washing
machine according to the present invention is arranged with
the purified water generating apparatus, permanent magnetic
particles are diffused by the water pressure difference
resulting from venturi effect when the washing water is
introduced into the purified water generating apparatus,
thereby causing the particles to get more rotation and
revolution. The permanent magnetic particles and the
washing water to be supplied to the washing tub are brought
in for removal of hydrogen bubble phenomenon, and at the
same time, increased generation of hydraulic seal ions
having interfacial tension is promoted by contact with the
washing water. This improves the purifying performance,
thereby reducing the use of detergent during the washing
because of increased cleaning power, and enables a thorough
washing of the laundry with less detergent, leading to
conservation of the rinsing water.
The turmaline granules used in the present invention
are small spherical pellets formed in grain shapes, sintered
and made of a mixture of electrically-insulated powders such
as ceramics and the like with turmaline granules which are
crystallized materials produced at high temperature and high
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pressure hundreds of thousands of years ago when magma in
igneous rock layers erupted during movement of the earth's
crust.
The turmaline granules are electrically insulated by an
electrically-insulated material thereby to cause the same to
form a plurality of electrodes.
Accordingly, minute electrodes having reverse
polarities of the turmaline granules not only electro-
deposit alkali metal ions such as kalium (K), calcium (Ca),
magnesium (Mg) and the like contained in the washing water
and the like, but also electro-deposit in the minute
electrodes of negative polarities the lead (Pb), zinc (Zn),
heavy metal ions, iron-like ions or the like feared to be
soluble in the washing water and the like, thereby removing
the same.
Furthermore, the turmaline granules are brought in
contact with the washing water, thereby generating the
hydraulic seal ions having interfacial tension.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of
the invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal side sectional view
illustrating a conventional washing machine;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal side sectional view
illustrating a washing machine employing a purified water
generating apparatus according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
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Figure 3 is a longitudinal side sectional view
illustrating the purified water generating apparatus in
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a structural drawing of a hydraulic seal
ion;
Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a purified
water generating apparatus according to a second embodiment
of the present invention; and
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of Figure 5.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will
now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the purified water
generating apparatus 50 is disposed between the water supply
pipe 10 and the outer tub 3, and causes the turmaline
granules 30 contained therein to diffusively move with the
washing water according to water pressure difference
generated by a venturi effect for their revolution and
rotation, so that hydrogen bubble phenomenon for curbing
efficiency of the turmaline granules 30 can be eliminated,
and, at the same time, promotes generation of the hydraulic
seal ions having interfacial tension when the washing water
contacts the turmaline granules 30.
In other words, the purified water generating apparatus
50 includes a body 60 disposed with an inlet orifice 62 for
guiding the washing water while being connected at one side
thereof to a water supply pipe and forming a venturi orifice
61 for accelerating the washing water through the inlet
orifice 62, and disposed at an upper surface thereof with an
opening, a receiving unit 63 disposed within the body 60
with an inner side thereof into which the washing water is
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infused tapering off in order to receive the turmaline
granules, first filtering means 70 arranged under an inner
bottom surface (washing water inlet side) of the receiving
unit 63 for passing the washing water and for inhibiting
discharge of the turmaline granules, second filtering means
71 provided at an opening formed at an inner upper surface
(purified water outlet side) of the receiving unit 63
thereby to prevent leakage of the turmaline granules 30 when
the purified water generated by contact with the turmaline
granules 30 is discharged, and a lid 80 fixed to the body 60
to curb a position movement of the second filtering means 71
and at the same time formed with a discharge outlet 81 in
order to discharge through a purified water supply pipe 90
the purified water produced in the receiving unit 63 by
contact with the turmaline granules.
The first and second filtering means 70 and 71 are
formed with a plurality of water passage orifices 70a and
71a having smaller diameters than those of the turmaline
granules 30 so that the particles 30 cannot pass
therethrough.
In the fully automated washing machine thus constructed
according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
the turmaline granules 30 stored in the receiving unit 63
through the inlet orifice 62, venturi orifice 61 and the
first filtering means 70 arranged within the purified water
generating apparatus 50 are diffusively circulated by the
water pressure of the washing water infused through the
inlet orifice 62 and the venturi orifice 61 formed at the
body 60, not sticking to a bottom surface of the first
filtering means 70.
The particles 30 now revolve and rotate by themselves
to collide with the water, so that the alkali metal ions,
heavy metal ions and the iron-like ions are electro-
deposited and at the same time, generate the hydraulic seal
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ions having interfacial tension, the structure of which is
illustrated in Figure 4.
The hydraulic seal ions thus generated perform a
function of promoting the interfacial tension, thereby
lowering surface tension of the washing water, so that
actions such as emulsification, dispersion, penetration and
the like are actively realised for easier removal of dirt in
the laundry.
Meanwhile, when the hydraulic seal ions are generated
by the turmaline granules 30 in contact with the washing
water within the purified water generating apparatus S0, the
minute electrodes having the negative polarities of the
turmaline granules 30 electro-deposit alkali metal ions such
as kalium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and the like
contained in the washing water and the like, and at the same
time, also electro-deposit the lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), heavy
metal ions, iron-like ions or the like, thereby causing the
purified water to be infused into the washing tub 3 through
a purified water supply pipe 90.
Accordingly, the washing efficiency is improved because
the laundry in the washing tub 3 is washed with the purified
water having the alkali components, heavy metal ions or the
iron-like ions removed therefrom.
Furthermore, because the washing can be carried out
with a smaller amount of detergent, rinsing water can also
be conserved, and, at the same time, there occurs no problem
of environmental pollution resulting from overuse of the
detergent, and skin irritation caused by the overuse of
detergent can be prevented.
In the aforesaid description, because the first and
second filtering means 70 and 71 are respectively formed
with the water passage orifices 70a and 71a having smaller
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diameters than those of the turmaline granules 30, the
turmaline granules 30 are not discharged through the
discharge outlet 81 of the purified water arranged at the
lid 80 or the inlet orifice 62 side of the washing water.
Next, a purified water generating apparatus 150
according to a second embodiment of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5
and 6.
Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals are
used to designate like or equivalent parts or portions as
illustrated in Figure 3 of the first embodiment.
The difference between the purified water generating
apparatus 50 in the first embodiment and the other purified
water generating apparatus 150 in the second embodiment is
that an auxiliary circulation pipe 40 is disposed on the
same axis with the receiving unit 63 between the first
filtering means 70 and the second filtering means 71 in
order to diffusively circulate the particles 30 housed in
the receiving unit 63 of the body 60 by way of the high
water pressure.
The auxiliary circulation pipe 40 is a pipe of tubular
shape, where a plurality of through holes 40a with smaller
diameters than those of the turmaline granules 30 are formed
in order to diffusively eject at a high speed the washing
water supplied from the first filtering means 70 toward an
inner periphery of the receiving unit 63 for housing the
turmaline granules 30.
The auxiliary circulation pipe 40 is fixed between the
lid 80 and the body 60 to a position on the same axis with
the receiving unit 63 between the first filtering means 70
and the second filtering means 71.
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Hereinafter, operation and effect therefrom for the
purified water generating apparatus 150 will now be
described according to the second embodiment of the present
invention thus constructed.
As illustrated in Figure 2, when the laundry and a
predetermined quantity of detergent are inserted into a
washing tub 7, a washing condition is selected, the electric
power is applied, and the washing water is supplied into the
purified water generating apparatus 150 through a water
supply pipe 10.
Part of the washing water, as illustrated in Figure 5,
passes the inlet orifice 62, venturi orifice 61 and the
water passage orifice 70a of the first filtering means 70
formed at a lower end of the body 60 and is supplied into
the auxiliary circulation pipe 40 at a high speed by way of
venturi effect generated at the venturi orifice 61 and the
water passage orifice 70a, and another part of the washing
water is supplied into the receiving unit 63.
Accordingly, part of the washing water infused into the
auxiliary circulation pipe 40 is discharged into the
receiving unit 63 through the plurality of through holes 40a
formed therearound.
At this time, the contact between the turmaline
granules 30 housed in the receiving unit 63 and the washing
water is markedly increased, thereby generating more of the
hydraulic seal ions having interfacial tension.
Furthermore, because the turmaline granules 30 are
diffusively floated toward the axis in the receiving unit so
that the turmaline granules 30 are not stuck to a bottom
area of the second filtering means 71 even though a high
water pressure occurs in the auxiliary circulation pipe 40,
the turmaline granules 30 come into contact with the water
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current gushing through the through holes 40a formed at the
auxiliary circulation pipe 40, thereby to obtain more
frequent revolutions and rotations, and to generate more
hydraulic seal ions having interfacial tension.
Because the turmaline granules 30 stored in the
receiving unit 63 and the washing water come into more
frequent contact by way of the water current ejected through
the through holes 40a formed at the auxiliary circulation
pipe 40, the alkali metal ions, heavy metal ions, iron-like
ions and the like contained in the washing water are
electro-deposited to the minute electrodes of the turmaline
granules.
At this time, the minute electrodes have negative
polarities (-) of the turmaline granules 30.
The purified water is now supplied into the washing tub
7 through the water passage orifices 71a in the second
filtering means 71 and through the discharge outlet 81 of
the lid 80 and the purified water supply pipe 90 connected
to the discharge outlet 81.
When the purified water is provided to the washing tub
7, water level detecting means 9 which receives air pressure
according to the pressure of the purified water detects the
storage quantity of the washing water.
When the quantity of the washing water detected by the
water level detecting means 9 reaches a water level (in this
case, the water level is prestored in a microcomputer not
shown) necessary for washing of the laundry inserted into
the washing tub 7, a motor 4 is then driven.
Driving force of the motor 4 is transferred to a power
transmission apparatus 6 via a belt 5, and the driving force
transferred to the power transmission apparatus 6 is reduced
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in speed at a predetermined rate, thereby to rotate in the
forward or reverse direction a pulsator 8 disposed at a
bottom surface of the washing tub 7.
The water current is then formed in the washing water
within the washing tub 7 thereby to wash the laundry.
Thereafter, dirt and detergent in the laundry are
rinsed off through several rinsing processes, and the
washing tub 7 is rotated by the turning effect of the power
transmission apparatus 6 which has received the driving
force of the motor 4, thereby discharging outside the
washing water in the tub 7 through a discharge pipe 11.
As is apparent from the foregoing description, the
washing water dirtied in the course of the washing processes
is discharged outside according to the opening of a solenoid
valve 13 provided between the outer tub 3 and discharge pipe
11, and in the course of spinning, the washing tub 7 is
rotated and at the same time, the solenoid valve 13 is
opened, so that the washing water remaining in the washing
tub 7 and the laundry is discharged to the outside via the
solenoid valve 13 and the discharge pipe 11 and through the
through holes 7a formed at a side wall of the washing tub 7
and through the outer tub 3.
Meanwhile, during the washing and rinsing processes,
because the purified water and detergent containing lots of
hydraulic seal ions for being cleansed by the purified water
generating apparatus 150 and for promoting the interfacial
tension are supplied to the washing tub 7, the interfacial
tension of the detergent is further promoted by the
hydraulic seal ions, and, at the same time, the purified
water and the washing water come into contact by way of the
water current, thereby to generate emulsification,
dispersion and penetration action and to remove the dirt in
the laundry.
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Furthermore, because in the purified water, the alkali
components, heavy metal ions or iron-like ions potentially
contained in the washing water are electro-deposited by
contact thereof with the turmaline granules 30 stored in the
purified water generating apparatus 150, even a small
quantity of detergent can carry out a cleaning or washing
operation, and because a small quantity of detergent is used
during the washing process, the quantity of rinsing water
used is reduced.
Because less detergent is used during the washing
process, environmental pollution caused by the detergent use
can be decreased, and at the same time, skin irritation
resulting from overuse of the detergent contained in the
laundry can be avoided.
As seen from the foregoing, in the fully automated
washing machine according to the preferred embodiments of
the present invention, the alkali metal ions, heavy metal
ions, iron-like ions and the like contained in the washing
water is electro-deposited in the purified water generating
apparatus by the turmaline granules, thereby increasing
washing efficiency because of the existence of the increased
hydraulic seal ions to promote the interfacial tension and
reducing quantity of used detergent because of improved
washing efficiency according to the hydraulic seal ions.
Furthermore, there are remarkable positive effects in
that, water necessary for rinsing the laundry can be saved,
environmental pollution resulting from use of the detergent
can be reduced, and skin irritation can be prevented,
because a reduced quantity of detergent is used in the
washing.
Having described specific preferred embodiments of the
invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is
to be understood that the invention is not limited to those
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precise embodiments, and that various changes and
modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the
art without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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