A washing machine includes a cabinet; an outer basket in the cabinet and configured to accommodate wash water; an inner basket in the outer basket and configured to accommodate laundry; a water supply valve unit in the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source to receive the wash water; and a micro-bubble generator configured to receive the wash water from the water supply valve unit, generate micro-bubbles, and supply the micro-bubbles. The micro-bubble generator includes a dissolving unit configured to mix or dissolve gas into the wash water. The dissolving unit includes a dissolving body having an open upper end and a dissolved water drain portion at one side, discharging wash water in which gas is mixed or dissolved; a cap fastened to the open upper end of the dissolving body and having a water supply line connection unit configured to introduce wash water and a supply hole configured to introduce gas into a dissolution space; and an air supply unit fastened to the cap at the supply hole.

A washing machine includes a cabinet; an outer basket in the cabinet and configured to accommodate wash water; an inner basket in the outer basket and configured to accommodate laundry; a water supply valve unit in the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source to receive wash water; and a micro-bubble generator configured to receive the wash water from the water supply valve unit, generate micro-bubbles, and supply the micro-bubbles to a washing space. The micro-bubble generator includes a dissolving unit configured to mix or dissolve gas into the wash water from the water supply valve unit; and a pressure regulating unit in a water supply line connecting the water supply valve unit and the dissolving unit, configured to discharge the wash water in the water supply line when the pressure in the water supply line equals or exceeds a set pressure.

A washing machine including a dissolving unit and a bubble generating unit. The dissolving unit includes a hollow outer body that has an open end, and a hollow inner body that has an open end. The inner body is disposed in the outer body. The gap between the inner and the outer body forms a dissolving flow path. The dissolving unit includes flow paths allowing water to mix with air efficiently as water flows through. The bubble generating unit includes a pressure reduction region to reduce pressures of bubbles. Bubbles can be supplied with washing water either to the upper side or the lower side of the tub.

A washing machine capable of generating bubbles from a water/air mixture and supplying bubbles to the tub to facilitate removal of residual detergent or the like from laundry during washing or rinsing operations. The washing machine has a dissolving unit with an air supply check valve and can receive air from outside of the dissolving unit in accordance with a pressure in the dissolving unit. Air contained in the dissolving unit can be dissolved in water contained therein to produce water/air mixture. A bubble generating unit receives the water/air mixture from the dissolving unit and generates bubbles as the mixture passes along a water flow path and a pressure reduction region in the bubble generating unit.

A microbubble treatment agent cartridge assembly and washing equipment having the microbubble treatment agent cartridge assembly. The microbubble treatment agent cartridge assembly includes a housing and a treatment agent cartridge accommodated in the housing. The housing is provided with at least one water inlet pipe portion. The at least one water inlet pipe portion is provided internally with at least one stage of diameter-decreasing tapered portion and a microbubble former, and the pipe wall thereof is further provided with an air inlet hole. The air inlet hole is positioned between the at least one stage of diameter-decreasing tapered portion and the microbubble former, and communicates with an air inlet pipe disposed on the housing. The top of the most downstream stage of diameter-decreasing tapered portion is provided with a spray hole. The spray hole enables the water flow flowing through the at least one stage of diameter-decreasing tapered portion.

A washing machine 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. The water supply mechanism includes 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.

A washing machine (10) including a wash tub configured by a water tub (13) and a rotary tub (14); a connecting port (21) connected to a water source; a water feeding case (40) connected to the connecting port (21) to receive water from the water source and containing a detergent storing part (42) in which a detergent is stored; a first water feeding port (41) configured to feed water flown into the water feeding case (40) into the wash tub; a minute bubble generator (22) configured to generate minute bubbles in water passing therethrough; a minute bubble water path (B) extending from the connecting port (21) and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port (41) after passing through the minute bubble generator (22) and the detergent storing part (42) inside the water feeding case (40); a tap water path (A) extending from the connecting port (21) to the wash tub without passing through the minute bubble generator (22); a water supplying valve for tap water (31) provided midway of the tap water path (A) and capable of opening and closing the tap water path (A); and a water supplying valve for minute bubble water (32) provided midway of the minute bubble water path (B) and capable of opening and closing the minute bubble water path (B)

A laundry appliance includes a drum that rotationally operates within a tub. A fluid delivery system selectively delivers wash fluid to the drum. A rotator rotationally operates within the drum. The rotator selectively operates independent of the drum and about a common rotational axis of the drum and the rotator. A sanitizing mechanism includes an ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic transducer selectively delivers waves of an ultrasonic frequency into an amount of the wash fluid disposed within the drum and the rotator. The ultrasonic frequency generates air bubbles and causes cavitation of the air bubbles that directs a micro jet of air through the wash fluid and into articles being processed within the drum.

A new method for generating micro-nano bubbles that uses water hammering, a bubble generating nozzle, and an apparatus for generating micro-nano bubbles are provided to construct a system. The system is for generating micro-nano bubbles in a large amount using only pure water, which does not include any nucleating agents, and for performing not only a clean washing and sterilization but also the generation of uncontaminated micro-nano bubbles. The method defined in the present invention uses water hammering power produced by a mutual collision of jets of dissolved-gas-including solution squirted from two or more spouts. The bubble generating nozzle by the present invention has a configuration, including: a hollow cylinder having two or more small through-holes arrayed in the circumferential direction thereof and a micro-nano bubble discharge port provided on the both ends of the hollow cylinder, wherein the small through-holes are arranged so that all of their extension lines passing through respective center of the cross-section of each of the small through-holes which intersect each other in the inside of the hollow of the cylinder. The apparatus for generating bubble by the present invention has such bubble generating nozzle and has a configuration that enables generation of micro-nano bubbles in a large amount.

A washing machine having a bubble generator includes a bubble spray part provided at an upper side of a tub and configured to discharge bubbles from a top to a bottom inside the tub, a wash liquid jet nozzle provided inside the bubble spray part and configured to jet wash liquid; a blowing fan provided in the bubble spray part and configured to blow air in a direction in which the wash liquid jet nozzle jets the wash liquid; and a porous plate member provided at a front end of the bubble spray part and including a plurality of holes, wherein when the wash liquid jetted from the wash liquid jet nozzle collides with the porous plate member, bubbles are generated.