# US 11,028,518 B2 · Washing machine having blade for circulating wash water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,518 B2 - Document ID: US11028518B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/766,678 - Filed: 2016-10-08 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-08 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Youngjun Kim; Youngjong Kim; Dongcheol Kim; Insik Yu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028518B2 ## CPC - D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)} - D06F 17/08: Driving arrangements for the impeller - D06F 37/12: adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis - D06F 37/14: Ribs or rubbing means forming part of the receptacle - D06F 37/145: {ribs or lifters having means for circulating the washing liquid} - D06F 37/24: in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis - D06F 37/42: Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door - D06F 39/083: {Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements} - D06F 39/085: {Arrangements or adaptations of pumps} - F16H 1/46: Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, {i.e. systems having three or more central gears} - D06F 17/10: Impellers - D06F 23/04: and rotating or oscillating about a vertical axis - D06F 37/304: {Arrangements or adaptations of electric motors} - D06F 39/088: {Liquid supply arrangements} - D06F 39/10: Filtering arrangements - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract A washing machine includes an inner tub assembly for accommodating laundry, a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly, a blade that is provided to a lower portion of the pulsator, that is configured to rotate independently of the pulsator, and that is configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly, a drive motor for providing power for rotating the pulsator and the blade, a power transmission unit transmitting the power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade, respectively, and a jig disposed between the pulsator and the blade and coupled with the power transmission unit. The jig is fastened to an inner bottom surface of the inner tub assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine comprising: an inner tub assembly configured to receive laundry; a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly; a blade installed below the pulsator and rotatable independently from the pulsator, the blade being configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly; a drive motor configured to provide power for rotating the pulsator and the blade; a washing shaft configured to transmit rotational power of the drive motor; a power transmission unit configured to transmit the rotational power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade; and a jig disposed between the pulsator and the blade and coupled to the power transmission unit, the jig being fastened to an inner bottom surface of the inner tub assembly, wherein the power transmission unit comprises: a sun gear connected to the washing shaft and configured to rotate with the washing shaft, a plurality of planetary gears configured to rotate based on engaging with an outer circumferential surface of the sun gear, a carrier comprising a plurality of planetary gear connection shafts that connect the plurality of planetary gears, that penetrate center portions of the plurality of planetary gears, and that are coupled to the plurality of planetary gears, a ring gear having an inner side engaged with the plurality of planetary gears, and a gearbox housing that is fixed to the jig and that accommodates the sun gear, the plurality of planetary gears, the ring gear, and the carrier, wherein the blade is configured to rotate with the sun gear, and wherein an upper surface of the jig is in contact with a lower surface of the gearbox housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the jig extends from an outer circumferential portion of the power transmission unit in a radial direction of the inner tub assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein, when viewed from an upper side of the pulsator, the blade is disposed to be fully hidden. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a base of the inner tub assembly is depressed downward to define a space, and the blade is disposed in the space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the blade is disposed between a lower portion of the pulsator and a bottom surface of the inner tub assembly. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a base of the inner tub assembly comprises: a first step portion formed to be stepped, the first step portion surrounding an outer circumferential surface the pulsator; and a second step portion formed to be stepped at a lower side of the first step portion, the second step portion surrounding an outer circumferential surface of the blade. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the jig is fastened to a seating surface connected between the first step portion and the second step portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the gearbox housing comprises: a ring gear accommodation groove concavely defined along an inner circumferential surface of the gearbox housing to accommodate the ring gear; and a plurality of ring gear rotation prevention lugs defined along the ring gear accommodation groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the gearbox housing is installed by being inserted into a concave groove defined at a center portion of a bottom surface of the pulsator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a wash water circulation module guiding the wash water moved by the blade to an upper side of the inner tub assembly to spray the wash water. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the wash water circulation module comprises: a wash water discharge portion communicatively connected with an outer circumferential portion of the blade to discharge the wash water pumped from the blade; a filter unit provided with a filter installed therein and installed at an upper end portion of the inner tub assembly, the filter unit spouting the pumped wash water into the inner tub assembly through an outlet directed to an interior of the inner tub assembly; and a circulation flow channel connecting the wash water discharge portion and the filter unit to circulate the wash water. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the wash water circulation module comprises: a wash water discharge portion communicatively connected with an outer circumferential portion of the blade to discharge the wash water pumped from the blade, wherein an end of the jig, a bottom surface of the inner tub assembly, and a coupling member of the wash water discharge portion are disposed to overlap in a thickness direction and triple-fastened by a fastening member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the jig comprises: a center coupling portion having a ring structure to surround a lower portion of the gearbox housing; a plurality of extensions radially extending from the center coupling portion, the plurality of extensions being spaced a distance from each other in a circumferential direction; and a connection portion connecting the extensions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the jig comprises: a plurality of projections protruding from a bottom surface of the center coupling portion and arranged in a circumferential direction, and wherein air gaps are defined between the projections. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the jig comprises a center coupling portion that defines an opening that receives at least a portion of the gearbox housing, and wherein an inner circumferential surface of the center coupling portion is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the gearbox housing. ### Claim 16 A washing machine comprising: an inner tub assembly configured to receive laundry; a pulsator rotatably provided to an inner lower portion of the inner tub assembly; a blade installed below the pulsator and rotatable independently from the pulsator, the blade being configured to pump wash water to raise the wash water to an upper end of the inner tub assembly; a drive motor configured to provide power for rotating the pulsator and the blade; a washing shaft configured to transmit rotational power of the drive motor; a power transmission unit configured to transmit the rotational power of the drive motor to the pulsator and the blade; and a jig disposed between the pulsator and the blade and coupled to the power transmission unit, the jig being fastened to an inner bottom surface of the inner tub assembly, wherein the power transmission unit comprises: a sun gear connected to the washing shaft and configured to rotate with the washing shaft, a plurality of planetary gears configured to rotate based on engaging with an outer circumferential surface of the sun gear, a carrier comprising a plurality of planetary gear connection shafts that connect the plurality of planetary gears, that penetrate center portions of the plurality of planetary gears, and that are coupled to the plurality of planetary gears, a ring gear having an inner side engaged with the plurality of planetary gears, and a gearbox housing that is fixed to the jig and that accommodates the sun gear, the plurality of planetary gears, the ring gear, and the carrier, wherein the blade is configured to rotate with the sun gear, wherein the jig comprises a center coupling portion that defines an opening that receives at least a portion of the gearbox housing, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the center coupling portion is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the gearbox housing, and wherein an upper surface of the center coupling portion is in contact with a lower surface of the gearbox housing.