[invention Title]

WASHING MACHINE HAVING SILVER COLLOIDAL SOLUTION GENERATING APPARATUS USING SILVER-FOAM

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates, in general, to washing machines having silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatuses and, more particularly, to a washing machine having a silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus, which supplies a silver colloidal suspension to washing water, thus enhancing the washing performance of the washing machine.

Generally, a washing machine agitates laundry, washing water and detergent, which are input into a washing tub, using the driving force of a motor and thus washes the laundry using friction therebetween.

After such a washing process is completed, a rinsing process, in which water supply and water drain processes are repeated several times, is conducted. After the rinsing process has been completed, a spin-drying process, in which the washing tub is rotated at a high speed, is conducted. Thereafter, a drying process using a separate heat source may be selectively conducted.

The washing machine having the above-mentioned

construction removes dirt from the laundry during the washing process and removes detergent, which remains in the laundry, during the rinsing process. However, the conventional washing machine is problematic in that bacteria are not eliminated from the laundry even after the washing process has been completed.

[Background Art]

Meanwhile, recently, in response to increased public interest in well-being and health, silver (Ag ⁺ ) , which has superior antibacterial activity and sterilizing ability and can be safely used thanks to its lack of toxicity, and to which bacteria have developed no resistance, has gained popularity.

In the case of silver, antibacterial activity and sterilizing ability thereof increase in proportion to the reduction in size of the particles. Recently, according to the development of nano-technology, it has been possible to make a silver colloidal suspension from silver. Methods of making silver colloidal suspensions are classified into an electrolytic method and a chemical method.

Using these, the inventor of the present invention developed a washing machine, which includes a silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus using silver foam so that a silver colloidal suspension having superior antibacterial activity and sterilizing ability is supplied

along with washing water to the laundry, thus enhancing the efficiency with which detergent and bacteria are removed from the laundry, thereby increasing the washing performance of the washing machine. Here, in place of the silver foam, a lump of silver may be used in the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus of the washing machine. In this case, a silver colloidal suspension can also be produced.

However, in this case, because a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension cannot be produced in the short time during which washing water flows through the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus, the intended purpose of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus of the washing machine cannot be substantially achieved. The present invention provides the washing machine having the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus using the silver foam in order to solve the above problem.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a silver colloidal suspension- producing apparatus using a piece of silver foam, which

enhances the efficiency with which detergent and bacteria are removed from laundry, thus increasing the washing performance of the washing machine.

The technical problem of the present invention is to manufacture a washing machine that can produce a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension in a short time. For this, in the present invention, a piece of silver foam having a net structure, in which a lot of pores are formed to maximally increase the surface area, is used for producing a silver colloidal suspension through an electrolytic method.

[Technical Solution]

When the silver foam having the net structure having a lot of pores is used, because the contact surface area is increased several hundreds of times, even through washing water passes through the silver foam for a short time, the washing water can contact the very large surface of the silver foam, thus the contact efficiency thereof is maximized. Furthermore, washing water can smoothly flow through the many pores in the silver foam.

[Advantageous Effects]

As described above, the present invention provides a washing machine having a silver colloidal suspension- producing apparatus using a piece of silver foam, which

enhances the efficiency with which detergent and bacteria are removed from the laundry, thus increasing washing performance .

Furthermore, the washing machine of the present invention can produce a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension in a short time. As well, because the piece of silver foam having a net structure and a lot of pores is used such that the contact surface area between the silver foam and washing water is maximized, even through the washing water passes through the silver foam only for a short time, the washing water can contact the greatly increased surface of the silver foam. Furthermore, the washing water can smoothly flow through the many pores in the silver foam. Moreover, the present invention can sterilize the laundry during washing. As well, the silver colloidal suspension, which remains in the clothes after washing, performs an antibacterial function while a person wears the clothes. According to data obtained in tests, when the density of silver is 02ppm or over, 99.99% of fungus and bacteria were killed. The silver colloidal suspension is harmless to the body and does not cause a problem of environmental pollution. As well, the silver colloidal suspension does not change the properties of fibers and can eliminate all kinds of bacteria.

In addition, it was confirmed that, even if clothes

that have been washed using the silver colloidal suspension are contaminated with various kinds of bacteria, the bacteria are eliminated with the passage of time.

[Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine having a silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus using a piece of silver foam, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus using the piece of silver foam of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing critical parts of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of FIG. 2 in a state in which a cover is open.

* Description of the elements in the drawings 10: washing machine 11: washing machine body 13: door 15: washing tub

17: water supply hose 19: detergent supply device 21: silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 23: housing 25: inlet

27: outlet 29: water path 31: cover 41: positive terminal

43: silver foam support slot 45: negative terminal

47: electrode plate slot 55: silver foam

61 : silver foam support 63 : support plate

65: lattice hole 67: connection plate 69: silver foam seat 75: electrode plate 77: through hole

[Best Mode]

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a washing machine, including: a washing tub containing laundry therein; a water supply hose coupled to an outside water supply to supply washing water into the washing tub; and a silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus provided between the washing tub and the water supply hose and producing a silver colloidal suspension so that the silver colloidal suspension is supplied to the washing water to be supplied to the washing tub.

The silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus of the washing machine of the present invention uses a piece of silver foam having a net structure having many pores such that the silver foam has a large surface area, so that a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension can be produced through an electrolytic method in a short time.

In the present invention, the silver foam is not a sheet defined by the length and width thereof but is

defined as a silver hexahedron, which includes a lot of pores therein and has a predetermined volume defined by the length, width and height. Furthermore, the silver foam is made of silver and has a shape having a lot of pores like, for example, the fiber structure of a scrubbing brush.

The washing machine having the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus must be able to create a silver colloidal suspension from flowing water in a short time. This function can be most efficiently achieved through the electrolytic method using the silver foam, which has a net structure having a lot of pores for maximally increasing the contact surface area.

When the silver foam having the net structure having a lot of pores is used, because the contact surface area is increased several hundreds of times, even through washing water passes through the silver foam for a short time only, the washing water can contact the very large surface of the silver foam, thus the contact efficiency thereof is maximized. Furthermore, washing water can smoothly flow through the many pores in the silver foam.

The present invention provides a washing machine, having a silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus, including: a housing provided between the washing tub and the water supply hose and having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a plurality of electrode plates provided in the housing; and a piece of silver foam provided between

the electrode plates and made of silver, with a plurality of pores formed in the piece of silver foam. The piece of silver foam is electrically connected to the positive terminal, and the electrode plates are electrically connected to the negative terminal .

In the present invention, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus may further include a silver foam support, which supports the silver foam, has a lattice shape, and is made of conductive material. Furthermore, the silver foam support may be removably coupled to the positive terminal .

As such, it is preferable that the silver foam support be removably coupled to the positive terminal, such that the silver foam can be easily replaced with a new one when the silver foam is exhausted after use for a long period.

Furthermore, a plurality of through holes is formed through each electrode plate such that washing water can smoothly flow along a water path. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a washing machine using a piece of silver foam, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the drawing, the washing machine 1 of the present invention includes a washing machine body 11, which defines the external shape, a door 13, which

openably closes an open upper end of the washing machine body 11, a washing tub 15 and a water tub (not shown) , which are installed in the washing machine body 11 to contain the laundry, and a motor (not shown) , which is provided under the washing tub 15 and rotates the washing tub 15.

Furthermore, a water supply hose 17, which is connected to an external water supply to supply washing water into the washing tub 15, is connected to the washing machine above the washing tub 15.

As well, a detergent supply device 19, which supplies detergent into the washing tub 15, is provided above the washing tub 15. Detergent, which has been contained in the detergent supply device 19, is mixed with washing water supplied through the water supply hose 17 before being supplied into the washing tub 15.

A silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 for supplying a silver colloidal suspension to washing water supplied into the washing tub 15 is provided between the washing tub 15 and the water supply hose 17 above the washing tub 15. The silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 may be disposed adjacent to the detergent supply device 19.

Here, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 may be directly coupled to the washing tub 15 such that washing water, which has passed through the

silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21, is directly supplied into the washing tub 15. Alternatively, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 may be coupled to the detergent supply device 19 such that washing water, which has passed through the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21, is supplied into the washing tub 15 after being mixed with detergent in the detergent supply device 19.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 includes a housing 23, which has defined therein a water path 29, along which washing water flows, a positive terminal 41 and a negative terminal 45, which respectively form the anode and the cathode when power is applied thereto, the silver foam 55, which is electrically connected to the positive terminal 41, and a pair of electrode plates 75, which are electrically connected to the negative terminal 45 and conduct electrolyzation along with the silver foam 55.

In the embodiment, the housing 23 has a rectangular case shape, which is open at one side thereof. An inlet 25 and an outlet 27 are formed in opposite sidewalls of the housing 23, so that washing water is drawn into and discharged from the housing 23 therethrough. The water path 29 is defined in the housing 23 and communicates with the inlet 25 and the outlet 27, so that washing water flows along the water path 29 from the inlet 25 to the outlet 27.

A cover 31, which openably closes the housing 23, is provided on the open upper end of the housing 23. The cover 31 is coupled to the housing 23 using a plurality of bolts 33. A sealing member 35 is interposed between the housing 23 and the cover 31 to prevent water from leaking between the housing 23 and the cover 31. It is preferable that the housing 23 and the cover 31 be made of insulating material.

The positive terminal 14 and the negative terminal 45 are mounted in the housing using bolts, which are made of conductive material, at positions spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Each bolt 49 is fitted through the housing 23 and is locked by a washer 53 and a nut 51, which are disposed outside the housing 23.

Two silver foam support slots 43, which removably hold a silver foam support 61, which will be explained later herein, are formed in respective opposite ends of the positive terminal 41. Two electrode plate slots 47, into which the respective electrode plates 75 are inserted, are formed in respective opposite ends of the negative terminal 45.

The distance between the two electrode plate slots 47 is greater than the distance between the silver foam support slots 43, such that the silver foam support 61 can be placed between the electrode plates 75. The silver foam 55 is provided in the water path 29 defined in the housing 23. The silver foam 55 has a sponge

shape, which has a plurality of pores 77 for ensuring the flow of washing water. The silver foam 55 is seated in and supported by a silver foam seat 69 of the silver foam support 61, which will be explained later herein. The silver foam support 61 is made of conductive material and includes a pair of support plates 63, which support the opposite surfaces of the silver foam 55, and a connection plate 67, which couples edges of the support plates 63 to each other and defines the silver foam seat 69, into which the silver foam 55 is seated, along with the support plates 63.

Each support plate 63 has a lattice shape having a plurality of lattice holes 65, so that silver colloidal suspension created by the silver foam 55 can be readily mixed with washing water through the lattice holes 65 of the support plates 63.

Furthermore, the silver foam support 61 is removably fitted into the silver foam support slots 43 of the positive terminal 41. Thus, when the silver foam 55 is exhausted after use for a long period, the silver foam 55 can be easily replaced with a new one.

Because the silver foam support 61 is connected to the silver foam support slots 43 of the positive terminal 41, it becomes a (+) electrode, and the silver foam 55, which is supported in the silver foam support 61, also becomes a (+) electrode.

The electrode plates 75 are placed in the water path 29 in the housing 23, and the surfaces thereof face the inlet 35 and the outlet 27. The electrode plates 75, which are made of conductive material, conduct electrolyzation along with the silver foam and thus produce silver colloidal suspension from the silver foam 55. In the embodiment, the one pair of electrode plates 75 is provided, the one pair of electrode plates 75 is connected to the electrode plate slots 47 of the negative terminal 45, and the silver foam 55 is placed between the electrode plates 75. Thus, the electrode plates 75 become the (-) electrode.

A plurality of through holes 77 is formed through each electrode plate 75 to ensure the flow of washing water along the water path 29. In the present invention, because the silver foam 55 is used, the contact area between the silver foam 55 and washing water is increased, so that a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension can be produced from the washing water, thus providing superior antibacterial activity and sterilizing ability.

It is preferable that the silver foam support 61 and the electrode plates 75 are made of titanium dioxide, having superior corrosion resistance and electric conductivity. The operation of the washing machine 10 having the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus of the

present invention will be described herein below.

After washing water is supplied to the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 through the water supply hose 17, power is supplied to the positive terminal 41 and the negative terminal 45 of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21. Then, positive potential is applied to the silver foam 55, and negative potential is applied to the electrode plates 75. A silver colloidal suspension is produced from the silver foam 55 by electrolyzation.

Here, while washing water passes through the pores 77 formed in the silver foam 55 in the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21, the washing water contacts the relatively large surface area of the silver foam 55, which has a sponge shape. The silver colloidal suspension produced from the silver foam 55 flows along the water path 29 of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 and is mixed with washing water.

Meanwhile, in the present invention, because the large number of through holes 77 is formed through each electrode plate 75, which is provided adjacent to each of the inlet 25 and the outlet 27 of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21, washing water, which is drawn through the inlet 25, can be smoothly discharged through ■ the outlet 27 after flowing along the water path 29. Furthermore, the present invention increases the

contact area and time between the silver foam 55 and washing water such that a sufficient amount of silver colloidal suspension is made from the washing water, thus enhancing the efficiency with which silver colloidal suspension water is produced.

Washing water, which is discharged from the outlet 27 of the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21, may be directly supplied into the washing tub 15 of the washing machine 10 or, alternatively, may pass through the detergent supply device 19 such that the washing water is supplied into the washing tub 15 after being mixed with detergent.

As such, washing water containing the silver colloidal suspension is supplied into the washing tub 15 to wash laundry, thereby the washing machine has the effects of sterilizing the laundry and imparting a bactericidal property to the laundry.

To conserve the silver foam, it is preferable that the washing machine be constructed such that the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 is operated only when the washing machine conducts a rinsing process . In other words, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus 21 is constructed such that it is not operated during a washing process for washing off the dirt but is operated during the rinsing process, thus preventing the silver foam from being wasted.

The method of constructing an electric controller such that the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus is operated only when the washing machine conducts a rinsing function is a well known technique, therefore a detailed explanation is deemed unnecessary. However, in consideration of conservation of the silver foam, the above technique is very important for saving silver foam in the washing machine having the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus. As described above, in the present invention, the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus, which produces a silver colloidal suspension, is provided in the washing machine to supply a silver colloidal suspension to washing water supplied into the washing tub, thus enhancing the efficiency with which detergent and bacteria are removed from laundry, thereby increasing the washing performance of the washing machine.

Although the silver colloidal suspension-producing apparatus of the above-mentioned embodiment has a structure in which a single piece of silver foam is provided and the two electrode plates are placed on opposite sides of the piece of silver foam, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, several pieces of silver foam and electrode plates may be alternately provided. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are

possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, such modifications, additions and substitutions must be regarded as falling within the bounds of the accompanying claims of the present invention.