Disclosed is an improved washing machine equipped with means for generating
microbubbles of air in the detergent-containing water circulated from and
to the stationary outer tub of the washing machine. Disclosed means for
generating microbubbles of air in the detergent-containing water
circulated therethrough comprises: (a) an upstream detergent-containing
water guide tube connected to the bottom portion of the stationary outer
tub; (b) strainer means for filtering out fiber and other foreign object
materials contained in the detergent-containing water, which is connected
to the upstream water guide tube; (c) air-bubble introducing/feeding means
into the detergent-containing water, which is connected to the strainer
means; (d) a high-speed single-stage type or multi-stage type pump for
generating microbubbles of air; (e) a motor coupled to the pump; (f) a
plenum for the mixture of the microbubbles of air and the
detergent-containing water under pressure; (g) a pressure-regulator valve
for buildup of pressure for the mixture in the plenum; and (h) a
downstream microbubble-containing water guide tube connected between the
pressure-regulator valve and the outer tub so that the
detergent-containing water in the outer tub is circulated therethrough as
far as the pump is in operation; whereby each of the air bubbles
introduced by suction or pressure feeding into the detergent-containing
water through the air-bubble introducing means either by suction or by
pressure feeding is dynamically broken into a plurality of microbubbles of
air by the leading edge of rotor and/or stator blade of either high-speed
single-stage or multi-stage pump.
