Detergent supply device and washing machine including the same
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsWonseok Choi, Jindoo Kim, Bongjin Ko, Byeongwoo Kim, Byengbae Park
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A washing machine has a structure to facilitate the supply of a liquid detergent. A detergent supply device of the washing machine includes a valve housing in communication with a detergent container, a valve housing cap coupled to the valve housing and provided with an opening, a plunger configured to pass through the opening and disposed inside the valve housing to be guided by the valve housing cap, and a sealing configured to surround a circumference of the plunger to selectively open and close the opening according to the movement of the plunger.
Claims20
A detergent supply device of a washing machine, the detergent supply device comprising:
- a valve housing that communicates with a detergent container;
- a valve housing cap coupled to the valve housing and having an opening;
- a movable plunger comprising:
- an intermediate plate inside the valve housing, the intermediate plate being perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the valve housing and having a first side facing away from the opening and a second side facing toward from the opening,
- a first slider inside the valve housing and extending from the first side of the intermediate plate away from the opening,
- a second slider along a circumference of the second side and extending from the second side toward the opening so that a portion of the second slider is movable in the opening as the plunger moves, and
- a pressing guide part protruding from a center of the intermediate plate toward the opening;
- and
- a sealing surrounding a perimeter of the second slider to selectively open and close the opening according to the movement of the plunger.
A detergent supply device that is mountable to a housing of a washing machine, the detergent supply device comprising:
- a valve housing that communicates with a detergent container;
- a valve housing cap coupled to the valve housing and having an opening;
- a plunger comprising a first slider inside the valve housing and supported by the value housing, an intermediate plate inside the valve housing and combined with the first slider, a second slider along a circumference of the intermediate plate and extending from the intermediate plate into the opening, and a pressing guide part protruding from a center of the intermediate plate toward the opening, so that, when the detergent supply device is being mounted to the housing of the washing machine, a pressing part of a detergent pump unit of the washing machine presses the intermediate plate while the pressing guide part is surrounded by the pressing part, to thereby move the plunger inside the valve housing with the second slider moving in the opening and the movement of the plunger being guided by the valve housing cap;
- and
- a sealing surrounding a circumference of the plunger and configured to selectively open and close the opening according to the movement of the plunger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.