Patent Grant
10697109
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-176642 filed on Sep. 9, 2016 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-012076 filed on Jan. 26, 2017, whose contents are incorporated herein by reference.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a washing machine.
In recent years, fine bubbles (ultrafine bubbles or micro bubbles) which are formed in water and have a diameter of, for example, several tens nm to several hundreds nm have gained attention. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of using fine bubble water for washing in which a fine bubble generation device (UFB unit) is provided in a water supply path in a washing machine to generate numerous fine bubbles, and fine bubble water including the fine bubbles is used for washing. Using such fine bubble water enables to enhance dispersibility of detergent and permeability of detergent into clothes, thus achieving excellent cleaning action.
The above described fine bubble generation device is configured to increase flow rate of water and rapidly decrease pressure thereof by utilizing the so-called Venturi effect of fluid dynamics so that air dissolved in water is caused to precipitate in a large amount as minute air bubbles. When such a fine bubble generation device is provided in a washing machine in this way, it is desired to efficiently generate fine bubbles by means of a simple configuration.
Accordingly, a washing machine which is provided with a fine bubble generation device and capable of efficiently generate fine bubbles is provided.
A washing machine of an embodiment includes: a washing tub in which clothes are stored; and a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the washing tub through a water supply path, the water being supplied from a water supply source, in which the water supply mechanism is configured to include a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, a water filling case for filling water into the washing tub, and a fine bubble generation device provided between the water supply valve and the water filling case and for generating fine bubbles.
Note that the term “fine bubble” in an embodiment is a concept including micro bubbles having a diameter of about 1 μm to several hundreds μm, and ultrafine bubbles having a diameter of about 50 nm to 1 μm.
Hereinafter, some embodiments which have been applied to a so-called vertical-axis type washing machine will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that among multiple embodiments, the like parts are given the like reference symbols to omit further illustration and repetitive explanation.
Referring to
In the outer box 2, there is provided a water which can retain washing water, the water tub 4 being supported by being elastically suspended by an elastic hanging mechanism 5 of a known configuration. A drainage port 6 is formed in a bottom part of the water tub 4. A drainage passage B including an electronically controlled drainage valve 7 is connected to the drainage port 6. Note that, although not shown, an air trap is provided in the bottom part of the water tub 4, and a water level sensor for detecting the water level in the water tub 4 is provided via an air tube connected to the air trap.
Within the water tub 4, a vertical-axis type washing tub 10 which also acts as a dewatering tub is rotatably provided. The washing tub 10 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and is formed with a large number of dewatering holes 10a in its peripheral wall part. For example, a liquid-sealed type rotation balancer 11 is attached to an upper end pa the washing tub 10. Moreover, a pulsator 12 that constitutes a stirrer is arranged in the inner bottom part of the washing tub 10. The washing tub 10 is configured to store clothes not shown so that washing operation consisting of steps of washing, rising, and dewatering etc. is performed.
In this arrangement, a water tub cover 13 is fitted onto the water tub 4. This water tub cover 13 is provided in its approximately central part with an opening part 13a for loading and unloading laundry, and is attached with an inner lid 14 for opening and closing the opening part 13a. Moreover, there is provided in a portion in the rear of the water tub cover 13 a water supply port 20 for supplying water into the water tub 4 from the water supply mechanism to be described below.
Moreover, in the outer bottom part of the water tub 4, a driving mechanism 15 of a known configuration is arranged. Although detailed illustration and description will be omitted, this driving mechanism 15 includes a washing machine motor (not shown) made up of, for example, an outer-rotor type DC 3-phase brushless motor. Along with this, the driving mechanism 15 includes a hollow tub shaft 18, a stirring shaft 19 passing through the tub shaft 18, a clutch mechanism for selectively transmitting rotational driving force of the washing machine motor to the shafts 18, 19, and the like. The washing tub 10 is connected to an upper end of the tub shaft 18, and the pulsator 12 is connected to an upper end of the stirring shaft 19.
The clutch mechanism is equipped with, for example, a solenoid a driving source, and is controlled by a control device 21 mainly consisting of a computer. As a result of this, the clutch mechanism transmits the driving force of the washing machine motor with the washing tub 10 being fixed (stopped) during washing and during rising (washing step) to a pulsator 12 via the stirring shaft 19 to directly drive the pulsator 12 to normally and reversely rotate. Further, during dewatering (dewatering step), the clutch mechanism transmits the driving force of the washing machine motor to the washing tub 10 through the tub haft 10, with the tub shaft 18 and the stirring shaft 19 being connected, to directly drive the washing tub 10 (and the pulsator 12) to rotate it in one direction at a high speed.
The top cover 3 takes on a thin hollow box shape whose lower surface opens and whose upper surface is downwardly inclined toward the front. An outlet and inlet port 3a of laundry having a substantially circular shape is located above the washing tub 10 (above the opening part 13a of the water tub cover 13) is formed in a central part of the top cover 3. A lid 23 having a generally rectangular panel shape and for opening and closing the outlet and inlet port 3a is provided on the upper surface of the top cover 3.
Moreover, an operating panel 24 having an elongated shape is provided on a front side part of the upper surface of the top cover 3. Although not shown in detail, this operating panel 24 is configured to include an operating part for a user to perform turning on/off of the power supply and various settings/instructions etc. for the washing machine 1, and a display part for performing necessary display. The above described control device 21 (electronic unit) is provided on the back side of the operating panel 24.
Then, as shown in
Among them, the connection port 26 is connected with a tip end part of a connection hose connected to a faucet of tap water not shown so as to be supplied with water at a predetermined tap water pressure for household use (for example, about 1.0 to 3.0 kgf/cm2 (0.1 to 0.29 MPa)). As shown in
The first water supply valve 29 and the second water supply valve 30, which are made up of an on-off valve that electromagnetically opens and closes, are controlled by the control device 21 to open and close the first water supply path 27 and the second water supply path 28, respectively. The water filling case 32 forms, as well known, a box shape, within which a detergent storage case 33 is provided so as to be drawable. The base end side of a flexible water supply hose 34 is connected, as shown in
As a result of this, when the first water supply valve 29 is opened, tap water it supplied from the first inlet pipe 35 through the first water supply path 21 into the water filling case 32. When detergent is stored in the detergent storage case 33, water flows while dissolving the detergent, being supplied from the outlet part 32a into the water tub 4 through the water supply hose 34. In this arrangement, ac described below, as a result of that the water flowing through the first water supply path 27 is passed through the UFB unit 31, the water is transformed into a fine bubble water containing large amount of fine bubbles and is supplied into the water filling case 32.
On the other hand, when the second water supply valve 30 is opened, tap water is supplied from the second inlet pipe into the water filling case 32 through the second water supply path 28. When the detergent is stored in the detergent storage case 33, the water flows while dissolving the detergent, being supplied from the outlet part 32a into the water tub 4 through the water supply hose 34. In this case, tap water without containing fine bubble is supplied as it is into the water tub 4 through the second water supply path 28. Also in this case, the flow rate of water in the second water supply path 28 is configured to be more than that in the first water supply path 27.
Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, a UFB unit which is a fine bubble generation device utilizing the principle of Venturi tube is provided so as to be positioned between the first water supply valve 29 of the first water supply path 7 and the inlet part of the water filling case 32. In this situation, as shown in
That is, the outlet pipe 37 of the first water supply valve 29 takes on a tubular shape, and extends toward the first inlet pipe 35 side (the left hand side in the figure) of the water filling case 32. The tip end part of the outlet pipe 37 is formed with steps such that the diameter of its outer peripheral surface is decreased in two steps, and these parts are referred to as a first small diameter part 37a and a second small diameter part 37b in the order from the right hand side (from the large diameter side). In contrast, the first inlet pipe 35 of the water filling case 32 extends rightward in the figure toward the first water supply valve 29 side, and is formed in its tip inner peripheral part with a thin wall part 35a which is positioned on the tip end side, and in which the inner diameter is slightly increased (become thin-walled). Of the inner peripheral part of the first inlet pipe 35, a portion inward from the thin wall part 35a is formed into a small diameter part 35c with a step 35b.
In this situation, an inner diameter dimension of the thin wall part 35a corresponds to an outer diameter dimension of the first small diameter part 37a of the outlet pipe 37. An inner diameter dimension of the small diameter part 35c corresponds to an outer diameter dimension of the outflow port side of the UFB unit 31. With the UFB unit 31 being inserted from the right side in the figure into the first inlet pipe 35 of the water filling case 32, the outlet pipe 37 of the first water supply valve 29 is connected to the first inlet pipe 35 in such a way that the outer peripheral circumference of the first small diameter part 37a is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall part 35a. Moreover, in this state, an O-ring 38 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter part 37b of the outlet pipe 37 and the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall part 35a.
The UFB unit 31, which is made of, for example, synthetic resin, takes on a generally cylindrical shape with a left and right direction as its axial direction, and is formed with a flow passage 39 passing through in the left and right direction in the figure in its central part (axial part). Water flows in this flow passage 39 in an arrow A direction (from right to left in the figure). The outer diameter dimension of the UFB unit 31 corresponds to the inner diameter dimension of the first inlet pipe 35. Along with this, in a rightward area of a midway part of the outer peripheral wall of the UFB unit 31, a ring-shaped convex parts 41, 41 are integrally formed in two positions with a small interval in the axial direction.
This UFB unit 31 is configured to be inserted into the first inlet pipe 35 from the opening side (right side in the figure) to be attached. In that situation, one (left side in the figure) convex part 41 locks against a step 35b portion in the first inlet pipe 35, thus working as a stopper. Moreover, in this situation, an O-ring 42 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the UFB unit 31 and the inner peripheral surface of the thin wall part 35a of the first inlet pipe 35 as to be positioned between the two convex parts 41, 41.
The flow passage 39 opens in both left and right end surfaces in the figure of the UFB unit 31, with the right side in the figure being referred to as an inflow port 39a and the left side in the figure as an outflow port 39b. Then, in an intermediate part of the flow age 39, a narrowed part 39c where the flow passage sectional area becomes minimum is formed in a form having a fixed length. The flow passage 39 is configured to have a tapered shape in which the flow passage sectional area gradually decreases in a section from the inflow port 39a to the narrowed part 39c, and a tapered shape in which the flow passage sectional area gradually increases in a section from the narrowed part 39c to the outflow port 39b.
Further, the UFB unit 31 is provided with four protruding parts 40 (only two of them are shown) so as to further narrow the flow passage of the narrowed part 39c. These protruding parts 40 are provided at a 90 degree interval so as to be inwardly convex from the outer peripheral side of the narrowed part 39c, and as a result of this, the cross section of the narrowed part 39c is formed like a cross-shaped (X-shaped) slit. In the present embodiment, the protruding part 40 is made of synthetic resin and is integrally formed with the UFB unit 31. The protruding part 40 may also be made from another member.
In such UFB unit 31, when water flows into the flow passage 39 from the inflow port 39a upon opening of the first water supply valve 19, the flow rate is increased and the pressure is rapidly decreased due to so-called Venturi effect of fluid dynamics as a result of the flow passage sectional area being narrowed to the narrowed part 39c. As a result of this, it is possible to make air dissolved in water to precipitate in a large amount as minute bubbles. In this case, it is configured such that the flow direction of water to be discharged from the outlet pipe 37 of the first water supply valve 29 and the flow direction of water in the flow passage 39 of the UFB unit 31 become the same direction (arrow A direction).
By the UFB unit 31 of the present embodiment, it is possible to generate a large amount of fine bubbles, including ultrafine bubbles having a diameter of about 50 nm to 1 μm, and micro bubbles having a diameter of about 1 μm to several hundreds μm. By passing through the UFB unit 31 in this way, water containing a large amount of fine bubbles (hereinafter, referred to as fine bubble water) is flown out from the outflow port 39b. Then, the fine bubble water flows into the water filling case 32 (the detergent storage case 33) and is filled into the water tub 4 from the water supply port 20 while dissolving the detergent. Note that details regarding this UFB unit 31 are described in Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-129097 relating to the former application of the present applicant.
In this occasion, as described in the following description of operation, the control device 21 supplies fine bubble water through the UFB unit 31 by opening the first water supply valve 29 (the second water supply valve 30 is closed) during water supply at the start of washing step mainly by means of its software configuration. As a result of this, washing water in which detergent has dissolved into fine bubble water is stored in the water tub (washing tub 10) and the washing step is carried out. Moreover, the control device 21 is adapted to open the second water supply valve 30 (the first water supply valve 29 is closed) to supply water in a rinsing step etc. after the washing step.
Next, operations and effects of the washing machine 1 of the above described configuration will be described. Upon starting washing operation, the user stores clothes to be washed in the washing tub 10 and have a predetermined amount of detergent be stored in the detergent storage case 33 of the water filling case 32. Then, starting operation is performed on the operating panel 24. Then, the control device 21 automatically performs washing operation consisting of steps of washing, rinsing, dewatering, etc. In this occasion, first, during water supply at the start of washing step, the first water supply valve 29 is opened.
As a result of this opening of the first water supply valve 29, water from a tar water supply passes through the UFB unit 31, and during which a large amount of fine bubbles are generated thereby forming fine bubble water to be supplied to the water filling case 32. Then, the fine bubble water is supplied into the water tub 4 while dissolving the detergent in the detergent storage case 33. When water is supplied to a predetermined level in the water tub 4, the first water supply valve 29 is closed, and the washing step is started in which the pulsator 12 is driven to normally and reversely rotate. When the washing step of a predetermined time is finished, the pulsator 12 is stopped and drainage from the water tub 4 is performed, successively followed by rinsing and dewatering steps. In these rinsing and dewatering steps, the second water supply valve 30 is opened so that the water from a tap water supply is supplied from the water filling case 32 into the water tub 4 through the second water supply path 28.
The above described fine bubbles undergo Brownian motion, which generates irregular motion, in a liquid such as water, and since the velocity of the motion is higher than the floating velocity, the fine bubbles have characteristics that they remain in the liquid over a long period of time. Then, since the surface of fine bubble is negatively charged, it plays a role of adsorbing detergent components (surfactant), which are contained in a washing water as lumps, in such a way to break them up, thereby improving dispersibility of detergent. Fine bubbles repel each other and never be joined together. Further, a fine bubble which has adsorbed detergent components in that way can easily enter into a gap (for example, of 10 μm) between fabrics of clothes, thus efficiently bringing the detergent into the clothes and removing dirt, and prevent the dirt from redepositing to the clothes.
In this case, since it is configured such that water is transformed into a fine bubble water by the UFB unit 31, and thereafter detergent is added to the fine bubble water, it is possible to effectively disperse detergent in the washing water in which fine bubble concentration is high. Note that on the contrary to this, when fine bubbles are generated after the detergent is added into water, the washing water will be excessively bubbled and it will become impossible to generate minute fine bubbles sufficiently. As a result of that, there is a risk that the concentration of fine bubble is lowered.
Here, in the UFB unit 31 as a fine bubble generation device utilizing the Venturi effect, it is necessary to flow water under a substantially high water pressure to generate minute bubbles. As the water supply source for the washing machine 1, generally a tap water supply is used. By utilizing the tap water with as little pressure drop as possible, it becomes possible to effectively generate a large amount of fine bubbles with the UFB unit 31 without using a special pressurizing device. In particular, the present embodiment is configured such that the flow direction of water discharged from the outlet pipe 3 of the first water supply valve 29 is the same as the flow direction of water in the flow passage 39 of the UFB unit 31. As a result of this, the resistance of flow passage in the first water supply path 27 to the UFB unit 31 can be reduced, thereby suppressing decrease of water pressure, and allowing efficient generation of fine bubbles.
Owing to such function of fine bubbles, the washing step is performed by using washing water in which detergent is dissolved into fine bubble water containing innumerable fine bubbles. As a result of this, excellent cleaning action can be achieved. Moreover, since the second water supply path 28 which does not pass through the UFB unit 31 is provided in the water supply mechanism 25, it is possible to supply water containing no fine bubble into the water tub 4 without passing through the UFB unit 31 during rising, etc. Therefore, during water supply such as during rising, it becomes possible to relatively increase the flow rate of water, thereby performing water supply within a shorter period of time.
In this way, according the present embodiment, the UFB unit 31 for generating fine bubbles is provided, in which the UFB unit 31 is positioned between the first water supply valve and the water filling case 32. This makes it possible to provide water, which has been discharged from the first water supply valve 29 and has a relatively high water pressure, to the UFB unit 31. As a result of this, excellent effect is can be achieved that fine bubbles can be efficiently generated with the LED unit 31 without need of providing a special pressurizing device for increasing water pressure. In this occasion, it is possible to provide the UFB unit 31 in the upstream of the detergent storage case 33 of the water filling case 32, and moreover to retain the UFB unit 31, which is subjected to high water pressure, by means of a simplest configuration.
Moreover, especially in the present embodiment, a UFB unit 31 which has a compact and simple configuration is adopted as the fine bubble generation device. In addition to this, configuration is made such that the UFB unit 31 is provided so as to be interposed between the outlet pipe 37 of the first water supply valve 29 and the first inlet pipe 35 of the water filling case 32. This makes it possible to achieve merits in that fine bubbles may be efficiently generated by using a relatively high water pressure and ease of assembling the DFB unit 31 is also improved. Further, since the bores of the first inlet pipe 35 and the second inlet pipe 36 of the water filling case 32 are made different, it is possible to prevent erroneous insertion of the USE unit 31.
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to
That is, the UFB unit 51 takes on, as shown in
As described above, the UFB unit 51 includes an upstream side flow passage member 52 and a downstream side flow passage member 53, which look like as if they are bisected members, and is formed by combining them. The upstream side flow passage member 52 constitutes the upstream side of the flow passage 55 of the UFB unit 51, and integrally includes a protruding part 56 which narrows the flow passage sectional area of the wed part 55c. The downstream side flow passage member 53 constitutes a more downstream side than the protruding part 56 of the flow passage 55 of the UFB unit 51. As shown in
In this situation, at the tip end of the small diameter part 58, a protruding part 56 which protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the flow passage 55 to the center side is integrally formed. As shown in
In contrast to this, the downstream side flow passage member 53 takes on a cylindrical shape having a substantially equal outer diameter to that of the trunk part 57 as shown in
In this case, as shown in
On the other hand, as shown in
The inlet pipe 62 takes on a shape in which its inner diameter decreases in three steps in an order from the entrance side (right side in the figure), and is provided with a first large diameter part 62a, a second large diameter part 62b, and a small diameter part 62c. The inner diameter dimension of the first large diameter part 62a corresponds to the outer diameter of the outlet pipe 64 (fitting is possible). The inner diameter dimension of the second large diameter part 62b corresponds to the outer diameter dimensions of the small diameter part 64a of the outlet pipe 64 and the flange part 54 of the UFB unit 51 (fitting is possible). The inner diameter dimension of the small diameter part 62c corresponds to the outer diameter dimension of the UFB unit 51 (fitting is possible). A rib 65 by which the tip end surface of the UFB unit 51 is locked is provided in the end part on the deeper side (left side in the figure) of the inlet pipe 62. In the central part of the rib 65, a communication hole 65a which continues in an equal diameter with the outflow port 55b of the flow passage 55 and is in communication with inside the water filling case 61 (detergent storage case) is formed.
As shown in
Then, in this situation, the tip end part of the outlet pipe 64 of the water supply valve 63 is inserted into and connected with the opening end part side in the inlet pipe 62. In this case, the outer circumference of the tip end part of the outlet pipe 64 is fitted into the inner circumference of the first large diameter part 62a of the inlet pipe 62. At the same time as this, the tip end surface of the outlet pipe 64 comes into abutment with the rear end surface of the UFB unit 51 (upstream side flow passage member 52). Moreover, an O-ring 67 for preventing water leakage is also provided between the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter part 64a of the outlet pipe 64 and the inner peripheral surface of the first large diameter part 62a of the inlet pipe 62.
In the above described configuration, for example, at time of starting the washing step, the water supply valve 63 is opened, and tap water of a relatively high pressure is supplied to the UFB unit 51 from the outlet pipe 64 and flows in the flow passage 55 from the inflow port 55a in arrow A direction. In the UFB unit 51, as a result of a narrowed part 55c being provided by the protruding part 56 in the middle of the flow passage 55, it is possible to cause air dissolved in water to precipitate as fine bubbles in a large amount. This makes it possible to supply fine bubble water containing a large amount of fine bubbles from the outflow port 55b into the water filling case 61 (the detergent storage case) and thus into the water tub 4 through the communication hole 65a. Moreover, in the rinsing step, it is possible to supply fine bubble water by supplying water with the water supply valve 63 being opened.
According to such second embodiment, the UFO unit 51 is provided between the water supply valve 63 and the water filling case 61. As a result of this, it is possible to achieve equal operations and effects to those of the above described first embodiment such as that water, which is discharged from the water supply valve 63 and has a relatively high water pressure, can be supplied to the UFB unit 51, and that fine bubbles can be efficiently generated. Further, in addition to that, the following operations and effects can be achieved.
That is, in the present embodiment, the UFB unit 51 is constructed by combining the upstream side flow passage member 52 including the protruding part 56 with the downstream side flow passage member 53 constituting a more downstream side than the protruding part 56. This is because, when the UFB unit is integrally formed of synthetic resin, since especially the shape of the protruding part (narrowed part) becomes fine and complicated, management thereof is difficult, and also production thereof at high quality becomes difficult.
On the contrary, when the UFB unit 51 is formed by combining the upstream side flow passage member 52 and the downstream side flow passage member 53, it is possible to make the shapes of individual parts 52 and 53 relatively simple. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the shape and structure of molding dies, and to simplify and stabilize the production process. In particular, while dimensional control of the protruding part 56 portion is important in determining the performance regarding the generation of fine bubbles, it is possible to provide the protruding part 56 at an end part of the upstream side flow passage member 52. This makes dimensional control of the protruding part 56 portion easier, and allows to achieve a high quality and high performance UPS unit 51 while keeping its cost relatively low.
Moreover, in the present embodiment, the O-ring 66 is provided for air-tightly sealing between the outer peripheral surface of the trunk part 57 of the upstream side flow passage member 52 and the inner peripheral surface of the second large diameter part 62b of the inlet pipe 62. Providing the O-ring 66 makes it possible, even when a gap occurs at a butted portion between the upstream side flow passage member and the downstream side flow passage member 53, to prevent bubbles (water containing bubbles) from leaking to the outside of the inlet pipe 62 from the outer circumference of the upstream side flow passage member 52 through the gap. As a result of this, it is possible to securely assemble UPS unit 51 to the inlet pipe 62 while preventing flowing out of fine bubbles and occurrence of pressure loss by means of a simple configuration.
Further, in the present embodiment, a rib 65 by which the tip end surface of the UFB unit 51 is locked is proved in the inlet pipe 62. This makes it possible to easily position the tip end of the UFB unit 51 by means of the rib 65 at the time of assembling the UFB unit 51. Along with this, even when fitting failure occurs between the upstream side flow passage member 52 and the downstream side flow passage member 53, the tip end part of the UFB unit 51 is retained at that position by the rib 65, thus ensuring the flow passage 55.
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to
That is, the upstream side flow passage member 74 is made from a molding of synthetic resin, substantially as in the above described second embodiment, takes on cylindrical shape having a flange part 75 in a base end part (right end part in the figure), and is configured such that the outer circumference part excepting the flange part 75 has a constant outer diameter. Inside the upstream side flow passage member 74, an upstream side flow passage 76 which constitutes substantially a half part of the upstream side of the flow passage is formed. The upstream side flow passage 76 is reduced in diameter in a tapered shape from a large diameter inlet part 76a on the base end side, and thereafter extends in a straight manner. Moreover, a narrowed part 76b is formed in the upstream side flow passage 76 by a protruding part 77 integrally provided in the tip end part of the upstream side flow passage member 74.
On the other hand, an outlet pipe 64 of the water supply valve (first water supply valve) 63 is connected to the inlet pipe 72 of the water filling case 71 as in the above described second embodiment. The inlet pipe 72 takes on a shape in which its inner diameter is reduced in three steps in an order from the inlet side (right side in the figure), and is provided with a first large diameter part 72a, a second large diameter part 72b, and a small diameter part 72c. The inner diameter dimension of the first large diameter part 72a corresponds to the outer diameter dimension of the above described outlet pipe 64. The inner diameter dimension of the second large diameter part 72b corresponds to the outer diameter dimensions of the small diameter part 64a of the outlet pipe 64 and the flange part 75 of the above described upstream side flow passage member 74. The inner diameter dimension of the small diameter part 72c corresponds to the outer diameter dimension of the upstream side flow passage member 74.
Then, the above described communication part 73 is provided in continuous to the deep side (left side in the figure) of the inlet pipe 72, and has an abutment surface 73a with which the tip end surface of the upstream side flow passage member 74 comes into abutment. Along with this, the communication part 73 extends leftward in the figure from the central part of the abutment surface 73a, and includes a downstream side flow passage 78 which constitutes substantially a half part of the downstream side of the flow passage. The downstream side flow passage 78 is formed into a straight shape, and its tip end part (left end part in the figure) is configured to be the outflow port 78a in communication with inside the water filling case 61 (detergent storage case).
The above described upstream side flow passage member 74 is inserted into the deep side in the inlet pipe 72, and assembled so as to be interposed between the outlet pipe 64 of the water supply valve 63 and the inlet pipe 62. In this occasion, the tip end surface of the upstream side flow passage member 74 comes into abutment with the abutment surface 73a of the communication part 73, and outer circumference of substantially a half part on the tip end side of the upstream side flow passage member 74 fits with the inner circumference of the small diameter part 72c. The outer circumference of the flange part 54 fits with the inner circumference of the second large diameter part 62b. Moreover, an O-ring 66 as a seal member is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the upstream side flow passage member 74 and the inner peripheral surface of the second large diameter part 72b of the inlet pipe 72.
Then, in this state, the tip end part of the outlet pipe 64 of the water supply valve 63 is inserted into and connected to the open end part side in the inlet pipe 72. In this case, the outer circumference of the tip end part of the outlet pipe 64 fits into the inner circumference of the first large diameter part 72a of the inlet pipe 72. At the same time, the tip end surface of the outlet pipe 64 comes into abutment with the rear end surface of the upstream side flow passage member 64. Moreover, an O-ring 67 for preventing water leakage is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter part 64a of the outlet pipe 64 and the inner peripheral surface of the first large diameter part 72a of the inlet pipe 72. As a result of this, the upstream side flow passage 76 of the upstream side flow passage member 74 becomes continuous with the downstream side flow passage 78 of the communication part 73 to constitute a flow passage of the fine bubble generation device.
In the above described configuration, as with the above described second embodiment, it is possible to supply water which is discharged from the water supply valve 63 and has a relatively high water pressure, to the fine bubble generation device, thereby efficiently generating fine bubbles. Moreover, the fine bubble generation device is constituted by combining the upstream side flow passage member 74 with the communication part 73 which plays the function as the downstream side flow passage member. This makes it possible to simplify the shape and structure of molding dies, and simplify and stabilize the production process, thereby achieving a high quality and high performance fine bubble generation device while keeping its cost relatively low.
Then, particularly in the present embodiment, since the downstream side flow passage member (communication part 73) constituting the fine bubble generation device is integrally formed in the inlet pipe 72, a separate downstream side flow passage member becomes obviated. As a result of this, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, and accordingly to achieve further simplification of configuration, improvement in assemblability, and further cost reduction.
Note that the present invention will not be limited to each embodiment as described above, and though not shown, for example the following extensions and modifications can be made. That is, although, in the above described first embodiment, fine bubble water is used in the washing step, and water which has not passed through the UFB unit 31 is used in the rinsing step, for example, it may be configured such that the user switches the water supply valves 29, 30 based on specified operation in the operating panel 4. In this case, it becomes possible to use the two hinds of water (fine bubble water or ordinary water) independently depending on the need, or to mix them for use.
In the above described embodiment, although the UBE unit is provided so as to be interposed between the first water supply valve and the water filling case, it may be configured such that the fine bubble generation device is provided at any point of the water supply path (pipe line) from the water supply valve to the water filling case. Moreover, although in the above described each embodiment, a vertical axis type washing machine is adopted, the present invention can be applied to general types of washing machines such as drum-type washing machines. Besides, the configuration of the water filling case (detergent storage case) and the general configuration of the water supply mechanism may be modified in various ways.
The above described embodiments are provided by way of exemplification and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be practiced in various other forms, and various omission, substitution, and modification can be made within a range not departing from the spirit of the invention. The present embodiments and variations thereof are intended to be included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and also included in the scope of the invention defined in claims, and equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-176642 | Sep 2016 | JP | national |
| 2017-012076 | Jan 2017 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190177903 A1 | Jun 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2017/020465 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16274283 | US |
