US Patent 9157176 Washing machine

A washing machine capable of preventing damages of a clutch, a motor, etc., by sensing whether the clutch is normally operated. The clutch transmits a rotational force of the rotor to a dehydration shaft. The washing machine includes a washing shaft configured to rotate a pulsator, a dehydration shaft configured to rotate a drum disposed in a reservoir, a rotor coupled with the washing shaft and configured to transmit a rotational force to the washing shaft, a clutch configured to selectively transmit a rotational force of the rotor to the dehydration shaft a shielding member mounted to the clutch, a magnet provided at the rotor, and a magnetic sensor disposed to face the magnet. The magnetic sensor senses a position of the clutch as the shielding member shields a space between the magnet and the magnetic sensor by a motion of the clutch.