Washing machine having a water guide for forming vertical and horizontal

Abstract

Disclosed is a washing machine having a water guide for forming a vertical and a horizontal flow of wash water. The washing machine comprises a washing and dehydrating tub for receiving the wash water; a pulsator for forming a rotational water flow within the washing and dehydrating tub; and a water guide provided to an inner peripheral surface of the washing and dehydrating tub for defining a vertical passageway along the washing and dehydrating tub. While the wash water is rotated by the rotational movement of the pulsator, some of the water is guided along the passageway to the upper side of the washing and dehydrating tub where the wash water falls to the inner portion of the washing and dehydrating tub. The water guide has a main passageway and a pair of auxiliary passageways. A upper discharge port is formed at the upper portion of the main passageway, and the wash water is discharged through the upper discharge port. The auxiliary passageways have middle discharge ports for forming the side water stream. Thus, the wash water flows in to the inflow section of the water guide and then flows through the passageway upward. Some of the upwardly flowing wash water is discharged through the upper discharge port, while the other horizontally flows out from the middle discharge ports. Accordingly, during a washing/rinsing process, there are two streams of wash water, i.e., the vertically falling wash water which falls from the upper discharge port, and the horizontally flowing wash water which flows out from the middle discharge ports. The side water stream pushes the clothes to be washed to the center of the washing and dehydrating tub, while beating the clothes. Accordingly, the clothes to be washed are beaten by the vertical water stream and the horizontal water stream so that the washing/rinsing performance of the washing machine is much enhanced.