CN110857511A

CN110857511A - Laundry appliance

Info

Publication number: CN110857511A
Application number: CN201910776711.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金镇雄; 金永珉
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2018-08-23
Filing date: 2019-08-22
Publication date: 2020-03-03
Also published as: US20200063312A1; KR20200022690A; EP3613892A1; WO2020040490A1; EP3613892B1

Abstract

The invention discloses a laundry device, comprising: a housing; a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to hold water; a drum rotatably installed in the tub and configured to receive laundry; a through hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate communication between the tub and the drum; a pump housing including a chamber defining a predetermined space for storing water; a tub drain pipe provided to guide water held in the tub toward the chamber; a pump drain pipe provided to guide water stored in the chamber to an outside of the chamber; an impeller rotatably disposed in the chamber and configured to flow water stored in the chamber toward the pump discharge pipe; and an exhaust duct provided to guide air in the room toward the tub or the pump drain pipe.

Description

Laundry appliance

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a laundry device.

Background

Hereinafter, the structure of the conventional laundry device and its disadvantages will be described with reference to fig. 1.

Such a conventional laundry device includes: a tub T configured to hold water; a tub D rotatably installed therein to receive laundry; and a tub drain pipe TD connected to the tub to drain water from the tub T.

In addition, the conventional laundry device may further include: a pump P installed in an outer surface of the tub T and configured to provide a drainage power; a pump case PH connected to the tub drain TD and configured to accommodate the pump P; and a pump drain pipe PD connected to the pump case PH and configured to discharge water to the outside of the laundry device.

Under the above-indicated structure, the conventional laundry device has the following disadvantages during the process of draining water from the tub T.

First, the tub T may be depressed or sunk by the weight of the laundry or the rotation of the drum D, so that a curved or bent area may appear in the tub drain pipe TD as a T trap. Therefore, the upper end of the bent region caused in the tub drain pipe TD may become lower than the upper end of the pump case PH, with the result that air is trapped in the air mass in the pump case PH.

In other words, cavitation may occur in the pump case PH during the draining process and degrade the pumping efficiency enough to cause the water to fill the tub. Then, the bubbles may increase noise in the pump case PH enough to cause damage to the surface of the impeller provided in the pump P, which is a serious problem.

Second, when the drum D is rotated, the water held in the lower region of the tub T may continuously rise along the inner circumferential surface of the tub T by rotating the drum D, so that full water may occur in the tub, and drainage and laundry rotating effects may be disadvantageously deteriorated when noise increases.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

To overcome these disadvantages, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-identified and other problems and to provide a laundry device that can facilitate smooth discharge or circulation of wash water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry device that can reduce noise generated during drainage or water circulation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laundry device that can enhance durability of a pump configured to discharge or circulate wash water.

Technical scheme

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry device includes: a housing; a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to hold water; a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to receive laundry; a through hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate communication between the tub and the drum; a pump housing including a chamber defining a predetermined space for storing water; a tub drain pipe provided to guide water held in the tub toward the chamber; a pump drain pipe configured to guide water stored in the chamber to an outside of the chamber; an impeller rotatably provided in the chamber and configured to flow the water stored in the chamber toward the pump discharge pipe; and an exhaust duct provided to guide air in the room toward the tub or the pump drain pipe.

The exhaust pipe may be connected to an uppermost region among outer circumferential surfaces of the pump case.

The pump discharge pipe may include a first pump discharge pipe provided to guide the water held in the chamber toward the tub, and the impeller may include a circulation impeller configured to flow the water stored in the chamber toward the first pump discharge pipe, and the discharge pipe may connect a circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe to an upper region in a space defined by the pump housing, the upper region being an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through a rotational axis of the circulation impeller.

A region of the circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe to which the discharge pipe is connected may be higher than an upper end of the chamber.

The exhaust pipe may connect an upper region, which is an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through the rotational axis of the impeller, among a space defined by the pump housing and the circumferential surface of the tub.

The pump discharge pipe may include a second pump discharge pipe provided to guide the water stored in the chamber to the outside of the casing, and the discharge pipe may connect an upper region, which is an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through the rotation axis of the impeller, among a space defined by a circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe and the pump case.

A region of the circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe, to which the discharge pipe is connected, may be higher than an upper end of the chamber.

The laundry device may further include a discharge pipe connection pipe protruding upward from the top surface of the pump case and connected to the discharge pipe.

The laundry device may further include: a sump recessed from a lower region of a circumferential surface of the tub toward a bottom surface of the cabinet and configured to contain water; a drain hole penetrating a bottom surface of the sump and configured to communicate with the tub drain pipe; and a rib protruding from an upper end of a side surface of the sump in parallel with a ground surface, and configured to prevent water stored in the sump from flowing out of the sump.

The laundry device may further include: a lower support connected with a circumferential surface of the tub and configured to support the tub, wherein the lower support includes a damper configured to damp vertical vibration of the tub.

The pump housing may be located in a lower region of the tub, and the tub drain pipe may be extendable to have a length adjustable with movement of the tub.

Advantageous effects

Therefore, these embodiments have the following advantageous effects. According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the laundry device can smoothly discharge or circulate the washing water.

In addition, the laundry device can reduce noise.

Further, the laundry device can secure durability of the pump.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and the specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Drawings

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional laundry device;

fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating an inner structure of a laundry device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of a cabinet according to one embodiment of an exhaust duct;

fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a pump and peripheral components according to an embodiment;

fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a cabinet according to another embodiment of an exhaust duct;

fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a cabinet according to still another embodiment of an exhaust duct; and

fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating one embodiment of an inner structure of a tub provided in a laundry device according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or equivalent components may be provided with the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

For the sake of brevity with reference to the accompanying drawings, the size and contour of elements illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced, and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the drawings.

The accompanying drawings are provided to facilitate an easy understanding of various technical features, and it is to be understood that embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. It is therefore to be understood that the present disclosure is to be interpreted as extending to any alterations, equivalents, and alternatives in addition to those expressly set forth in the figures.

First, the overall construction of a laundry device according to the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2 illustrating a side view of the laundry device.

The laundry device may include: a cabinet 1 defining an exterior design; a tub disposed in the cabinet; and a drum 3 rotatably installed in the tub 2 and configured to receive laundry.

The cabinet 1 may have an opening formed in a front side thereof to introduce laundry, and the door 12 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open and close the opening.

The door 12 may be constructed of a circular door frame 121 and a transparent window 122 provided in the center of the door frame.

Here, the direction is defined so that a specific structure of the laundry device, which will be described below, is easily understood, and the direction toward the door 12 with respect to the center of the cabinet 1 may be defined as a front side.

The opposite direction to the direction toward the door 12 may be defined as a rear side. The right and left sides may be naturally defined by the front and rear sides.

The tub 2 may be provided in a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel or at an angle of 0-30 degrees with respect to the bottom surface of the cabinet so as to define a predetermined space for storing water. The tub 2 may include a tub opening 21 formed in the front side to communicate with the opening.

The tub 2 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the cabinet 1 by a lower support 91 having a support rod 91a and a damper 91b connected to the support rod 91 a. Accordingly, vibration generated in the tub 2 by the rotation of the drum 3 may be damped.

In addition, an elastic support 92 provided in the top surface of the cabinet 1 may be connected to the top surface of the tub 2. Accordingly, the vibration generated in the tub 2 and transmitted to the cabinet 1 can be damped.

The drum 3 may be provided in a cylindrical shape having a longitudinal axis which is disposed in parallel or at an angle of 0-30 degrees with the bottom surface of the cabinet so as to receive laundry. The drum may include a drum opening 31 formed in the front side to communicate with the tub opening 21.

Accordingly, the user may load laundry into the drum 3 through the opening, the tub opening 21, and the drum opening 31, or take laundry out of the inside of the drum 3.

Also, the drum 3 may include a plurality of through-holes 33 penetrating an outer circumferential surface of the drum 3 so as to draw water from the tub 2 into the drum and discharge water from the laundry into the tub 2.

Lifters 35 may also be provided in the inner circumferential surface of the drum 3 to agitate the laundry while rotating the drum. The drum 3 may be rotatable by a driving unit 8 provided behind the tub 2.

The driving unit 8 may include: a stator 81 fixed to a rear surface of the tub 2; a rotor 83 rotatable by electromagnetic action with the stator; and a shaft 85 connecting the drum 3 and the rotor 83 to each other via a rear surface of the tub 2.

The stator 81 may be fixed to a rear surface of the bearing housing 24 provided in the rear surface of the tub 2. The rotor 83 may be constructed from: a permanent magnet 832 spaced apart from the stator by a predetermined distance in a vertical direction with respect to the shaft; and a rotor case 831 provided to connect the permanent magnet 832 and the shaft 85 to each other.

The bearing housing 24 may include: a shell through-hole penetrating the bearing shell to facilitate communication between the inside and the outside of the tub 2; and a plurality of bearings 88 provided in the case through-hole 26 to support the shaft 85.

An arm 87 may be provided in the rear surface of the drum 3, and may be configured to easily transmit the rotational force of the rotor 83 to the drum 3. A shaft 85 configured to transmit a rotational force of the rotor 83 may be fixed to the arm 87.

Meanwhile, the laundry device according to an embodiment may further include: a water supply hose 51 provided to be supplied with water from an external supply source; and a detergent supply unit 55 provided in the cabinet 1 and configured to supply detergent to the tub 2.

The detergent supply unit 55 may include: a detergent box 551, the detergent box 551 being fixed to the inner wall of the cabinet 1; and a detergent box drawer 553 detachable from the detergent box 551 to be retractable from the front side of the cabinet 1.

In this case, the washing detergent supplied into the detergent box 551 may be mixed with water to easily flow into the tub 2. For this, the water supply hose 51 may be connected to the detergent box 551.

A gasket 4 may be disposed between the opening of the cabinet 1 and the tub opening 21. The gasket 4 may be configured to prevent water from leaking from the tub 2 into the cabinet 1 and vibration of the tub 2 from being transmitted to the cabinet 1.

Specifically, the gasket 4 may include: a case fixing part 43 connected to a region forming an opening of the case 1; a tub fixing part 42 connected to a region where the tub opening 21 is formed; and a circular gasket body 41 configured to connect the cabinet fixing part 43 and the tub fixing part 42 to each other.

The gasket 4 may be made of a flexible material (e.g., rubber) in order to damp vibration transmitted from the tub 2 to the cabinet 1. The vibration can be more effectively damped by the vibration isolating member 44 which is bent from the peripheral surface in the perpendicular direction with respect to the peripheral surface of the gasket main body 41.

The laundry device according to an embodiment may further include a water supply pipe 53 configured to supply water to the tub 2. The water supply pipe 53 may be provided to connect the detergent box 551 with the gasket 4 or to connect the detergent box 551 with the tub 2.

The water supply pipe 53 may be made of a flexible material having elasticity so as to damp vibration transmitted from the tub 2 to the detergent box 551 fixed to the inner surface of the cabinet 1.

A weight 93 may be provided in the front surface of the tub 2 outside the gasket 4, and may be configured to damp vibration generated in the drum. The balance weight 93 may include first and

second balance weights

931 and 932 respectively disposed at both sides of the tub 2 with respect to the center of the left and right width directions of the tub 2.

Meanwhile, a drain hole 25 may be formed in the bottom surface of the tub 2 to drain water held in the tub 2, and a tub drain pipe 61 may be connected to the drain hole 25, the tub drain pipe 61 being provided to form a drain path communicating with the drain hole 25 so as to allow water to flow to the outside of the tub 2.

A heater 95 configured to heat water and a sump 23 configured to receive the heater 95 may be provided in an area below the tub 2.

The sump 23 may be recessed downward from the bottom surface of the tub 2 to prevent the heater 95 from overheating while continuously containing a predetermined amount of water.

When the sump 23 is disposed under the tub 2, the drain hole 25 may be formed in the bottom surface of the sump 23, and the tub drain pipe 61 may be connected with the bottom surface of the sump 23 to facilitate communication between the tub drain pipe 61 and the drain hole 25.

The laundry device according to an embodiment may further include a pump assembly 7 connected to the tub drain pipe 61 to drain the water held in the tub 2.

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 3, the pump assembly 7 and the peripheral components will be described in detail.

The pump assembly 7 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and includes: a pump case 71 providing a chamber (71a, see fig. 4) in which water discharged via the tub drain pipe 61 is stored; and a circulation pump 75 configured to re-supply the water stored in the pump case 71 to the tub 2.

The circulation pump 75 may include: a circulation impeller 753 rotatably provided in the chamber 71 a; and a circulation motor 751 connected to one side of the pump case 71 and configured to circulate a circulation impeller 753 (see fig. 7).

The pump assembly 7 may include a drain pump 73 disposed in a side region of the pump case 71 and configured to generate a pressure difference in the tub drain pipe 61.

The drain pump 73 may include: a drain impeller 733 rotatably mounted in the chamber 71 a; and a drain motor connected to a side region of the pump case 71 and disposed in a region opposite to the circulation motor 751 to rotate the drain impeller 733 (see fig. 7).

In this case, the drain motor 731 has to be necessarily provided in the laundry device, but the circulation motor 751 may be selectively provided as necessary. The present embodiment is premised on the circulation motor 751 being provided in the laundry device.

The drain pump 73 and the circulation pump 75 may be selectively actuated. The water pumped by the drain pump 73 and the circulation pump 75 in the chamber 71a may be discharged from the pump case 71 via the

pump drain pipes

65 and 67 connected to the pump case 71.

The pump drains 65 and 67 may include: a first pump drain pipe 65 configured to re-supply the tub 2 with water pumped by the circulation pump 75; and a second pump drain pipe 67 provided to discharge the water pumped by the drain pump 73 to the outside of the cabinet 1.

The second pump drain pipe 67 may extend from the pump case 71 to an upper region of the rear surface of the cabinet 1, which is an upper region with respect to a horizontal surface passing through the shaft of the drum 3.

Also, the first pump discharge pipe 65 may be connected to a conduit 69, which is provided along the outer circumference of the gasket 4, and the conduit 69 may communicate with the plurality of nozzles 46 provided in the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 4.

A plurality of nozzles 46 may extend from an inner circumferential surface of the gasket 41 toward the drum side so as to spray water into the drum 3.

The filter member 77 may also be disposed in a predetermined region of the pump case 71, and configured to filter and remove foreign substances (e.g., lint) from the water drawn from the tub 2.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pump case 71 may be disposed under the tub 2, and the tub drain pipe 61 may be made of a flexible material that can be bent along the movement of the tub 2.

Therefore, when the drum 3 rotates or a large amount of laundry is loaded into the drum 3, the tub 2 and the tub drain pipe 61 may hang down enough to cause a problem of air interception in an upper region of the chamber provided in the pump case 71.

To solve the problem, the laundry device according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an exhaust duct 72 configured to guide air inside the chamber 71a toward the first pump drain duct 65, which communicates with the chamber 71 a.

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 4, the exhaust duct 72 and the peripheral structure provided to one embodiment of the laundry device will be described in detail.

The exhaust pipe 72 may connect a circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe 65 and an upper region of the pump case 71, which is located above a horizontal line passing through the rotation axis of the circulation impeller 753, to each other.

More specifically, the exhaust pipe 72 may extend from the outer circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe 65 in the lateral direction and be bent downward toward the top surface of the pump case 71, being connected only to the top surface of the pump case 71.

In other words, in order to directly discharge the air trapped in the chamber 71a of the pump case 71 through the first pump discharge pipe 65, a region connected to the discharge pipe among the circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe 65 may be formed higher than the upper end of the chamber 71 a.

Accordingly, the air inside the chamber 71a of the pump case 71 may be smoothly discharged via the exhaust duct 72, so that the water discharge may be facilitated enough to prevent the water between the tub 2 and the drum 3 from being filled, and reduce noise generated by the

impellers

733 and 753 hitting the water bubbles, and then prevent damage to the surfaces of the

impellers

733 and 753 caused by the air bubbles.

Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe 72 may be integrally formed with the pump case 71. Alternatively, it may be formed separately from the pump housing 71 for easy and smooth assembly.

To this end, the pump case 71 may further include a discharge pipe connection pipe 715 inserted into the discharge pipe 72. The discharge pipe connection pipe 715 may protrude upward from the top surface of the pump case 71 to communicate with the chamber 71 a.

Also, a tub drain connection part 711 may be provided in a rear surface of the pump case 71, and the tub drain connection part 711 may have an open surface communicating with the chamber 71 a. A circulation pump coupling portion 717 having an open surface communicating with the chamber 71a may be provided in one side surface of the pump case 71. A drain pump coupling portion 716 having an open surface communicating with the chamber 71a may be provided in the other surface of the pump case 71.

A first pump drain connection 712 connected with the first pump drain 65 may be disposed between the circulation pump coupling 717 and the pump case 71. The second pump drain pipe connection 713 may be disposed between the drain pump coupling portion 716 and the pump case 71.

The above-mentioned filter member 77 may be provided in the front surface of the pump case 71, and coupled to a filter coupling portion 718 having an open surface communicating with the chamber 71 a. A case fixing part 719 provided to fix the pump case 71 to the case 1 may be provided in an upper region of the filter coupling portion 718.

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 5, another embodiment of the exhaust pipe 72 will be described focusing on differences from the above-indicated embodiment.

As this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 72 may be provided to guide the air inside the chamber 71a toward the second pump discharge pipe 67.

The exhaust pipe 72 may connect an upper region of a horizontal line passing through the axis of the circulation impeller 753 among a space defined by the circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe 67 and the pump case 71.

More specifically, the exhaust pipe 72 may extend from the outer circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe 67 in the lateral direction and then be bent downward toward the top surface of the pump case 71 to be connected to the top surface of the pump case 71.

Similarly, a region connected to the exhaust pipe 72 among the circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe 67 may be higher than the upper end of the chamber 71 a.

Therefore, the air in the chamber 71a of the pump case 71 can be sufficiently smoothly discharged through the exhaust pipe 72 to efficiently promote the water circulation.

Here, when the water is discharged toward the second pump discharge pipe 67 by driving the drain pump 73, the water may flow back through the discharge pipe 72 by a pressure difference.

Accordingly, a valve (not shown) may be provided in the exhaust pipe 72 to selectively open and close the exhaust pipe. The exhaust pipe 72 may be shut off by using a valve.

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 6, additional embodiments of the exhaust pipe 72 will be described focusing on features different from those of the above-mentioned embodiments.

As another embodiment, the exhaust duct 72 may be provided to guide the air inside the chamber 71a toward the tub 2.

The exhaust pipe 72 may connect an upper region, which is an upper region of a horizontal plane passing through an axis of the circulating impeller 753, among a space defined by the circumferential surface of the tub 2 and the pump case 71.

More specifically, the exhaust pipe 72 may extend from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 2 and then extend downward to be connected with the top surface of the pump case 71.

In this case, the exhaust duct 72 may be connected from the outer circumferential surface of the tub 2 to an upper region of a horizontal plane passed by the shaft 85 of the drum 3. Therefore, the water held in the tub 2 can be prevented from being drawn into the exhaust pipe 72.

This embodiment may be applicable to a laundry device that does not include a water circulation structure (e.g., a first pump drain pipe and a drain pump).

Hereinafter, referring to fig. 7, an embodiment proposed to prevent water from being filled by modifying the inner structure of the tub 2 will be described.

Ribs 27 protruding from respective upper ends of both sides of the sump toward a flat surface perpendicular to the floor and the front surface of the cabinet 1 may be provided in the sump 23.

The ribs 27 may prevent water stored in the sump 23 from flowing out of the sump as the drum 3 rotates.

Accordingly, the water filled in the space between the tub 2 and the drum 3 may be reduced. Also, the liquid level may be maintained at a heater protection level, so that overheating of the heater 95 exposed to the outside of the water may be prevented.

As these features may now be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, unless otherwise specified.

It is therefore intended that the appended claims encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds.

Claims

1. A laundry appliance, comprising:

a housing;

a tub disposed in the cabinet and configured to hold water;

a drum rotatably mounted in the tub and configured to receive laundry;

a through hole penetrating the drum and configured to facilitate communication between the tub and the drum;

a pump housing including a chamber defining a predetermined space for storing water;

a tub drain pipe provided to guide water held in the tub toward the chamber;

a pump drain pipe configured to guide water stored in the chamber to an outside of the chamber;

an impeller rotatably provided in the chamber and configured to flow the water stored in the chamber toward the pump discharge pipe; and

an exhaust duct disposed to guide air in the room toward the tub or the pump drain pipe.

2. The laundry appliance according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust pipe is connected to an uppermost region among outer circumferential surfaces of the pump housing.

3. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the pump drain comprises a first pump drain arranged to direct water held in the chamber towards the tub, and

the impeller includes a circulation impeller configured to flow the water stored in the chamber toward the first pump discharge pipe, and

the exhaust pipe connects a circumferential surface of the first pump discharge pipe to an upper region in a space defined by the pump case, the upper region being an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through a rotational axis of the circulation impeller.

4. The laundry device according to claim 3, wherein a region of the circumferential surface of the first pump drain pipe connected to the exhaust pipe is higher than an upper end of the chamber.

5. The laundry device according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust duct connects an upper region, which is an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through a rotation axis of the impeller, within a space defined by the circumferential surface of the tub and the pump housing.

6. The laundry appliance of claim 1, wherein the pump drain pipe includes a second pump drain pipe arranged to guide the water stored in the chamber to an outside of the cabinet, and

the exhaust pipe connects an upper region, which is an upper region with respect to a horizontal line passing through the rotational axis of the impeller, in a space defined by the pump case and the circumferential surface of the second pump discharge pipe.

7. The laundry device according to claim 6, wherein a region of the circumferential surface of the second pump drain pipe connected to the exhaust pipe is higher than an upper end of the chamber.

8. The laundry appliance according to claim 1, further comprising:

a discharge pipe connection pipe protruding upward from the top surface of the pump case and connected with the discharge pipe.

9. The laundry appliance according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sump recessed from a lower region of a circumferential surface of the tub toward a bottom surface of the cabinet and configured to contain water;

a drain hole penetrating a bottom surface of the sump and configured to communicate with the tub drain pipe; and

a rib protruding from an upper end of a side of the sump in parallel with a ground surface, and configured to prevent water stored in the sump from flowing out of the sump.

10. The laundry appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising:

a lower support connected with a circumferential surface of the tub and configured to support the tub,

wherein the lower support includes a damper configured to damp vertical vibration of the tub.

11. The laundry appliance of claim 10 wherein the pump housing is located in a lower region of the tub and

the tub drain pipe may be extendable to have a length adjustable with movement of the tub.