BE1030879B1 - Filter device for a washing machine, washing machine and method for operating a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter device (16) for a washing machine (2), comprising a filter (18) with a raw side (22) having a filter inlet (20) and a clean side (28) having at least one filter outlet (24, 26), wherein the filter inlet (20) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a pump outlet (12) of a waste water pump (14) of the washing machine (2) and one of the at least one filter outlet (24) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a drain line (10) of the washing machine (2) for discharging waste water from the washing machine (2), characterized in that the filter device (16) is designed for installation in the washing machine (2), wherein a first filter outlet (24) of the clean side (28) of the filter (18) is designed for flow-conducting connection to the drain line (10) and a second filter outlet (26) of the clean side (28) of the filter (18) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a pump inlet (8) of the waste water pump (14). The invention further relates to a washing machine (2) and a method for operating the washing machine (2).

Description

Description

Filter device for a washing machine, washing machine and method for operating a

washing machine

The invention relates to a filter device for a washing machine according to the preamble of patent claim 1, a washing machine according to the preamble of patent claim 6 and a method for operating the washing machine.

Such filter devices for washing machines, washing machines equipped therewith and methods for their operation are known from the state of the art in a large number of

Embodiments are already known. The known filter devices for 101 washing machines comprise a filter with a raw side having a filter inlet and a clean side having at least one filter outlet, wherein the filter inlet is designed for flow-conducting connection with a pump outlet of a waste water pump of the

Washing machine and one of the at least one filter outlet for flow-conducting

Connection to a drain line of the washing machine is designed to discharge waste water from the washing machine.

The invention therefore addresses the problem of filter devices for washing machines,

To improve washing machines with filter devices and methods for operating washing machines.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a filter device with the features of the

Claim 1 is solved, which is characterized in that the filter device for

Installation in the washing machine, with a first filter outlet on the clean side of the filter for flow-conducting connection with the drain line and a second

Filter outlet of the clean side of the filter for flow-conducting connection with a

Pump inlet of the sewage pump. Furthermore, this problem is solved by a

Washing machine with the features of claim 6 and a method with the

Features of patent claim 11. Advantageous embodiments and

Further developments of the invention emerge from the following subclaims.

The advantage achievable with the invention is in particular that

Filter devices for washing machines, washing machines with filter devices and

Methods for operating washing machines are improved. Due to the inventive design of the filter device, the washing machine and the

The method for operating the washing machine allows the washing machine's waste water system to be consistently separated from the washing machine's water inlet, so that, for example, the entry of germs or the like into the area of the washing machine's water inlet is effectively prevented. The water that is generated during pumping out, i.e. the drainage of the

The washing machine's detergent container, permanent bypass flow via the waste water pump and the filter rinses the filter with detergent and reduces, for example, the formation of biofilm.

This effectively counteracts the build-up of soot in the sewage pump. In addition, the permanent bypass flow prevents the so-called slurping operation of the

Sewage pump, which is comparable to a sewage pump running dry.

Instead, the sewage pump always pumps liquid during pumping, so that on the one hand the risk of a sewage pump motor overheating and on the other hand the noise emission of the sewage pump are significantly reduced.

Basically, the filter device according to the invention for a washing machine is of the type

Functionality, material, dimensions and arrangement in the washing machine can be freely selected within wide suitable limits. The same applies to the washing machine according to the invention.

For example, the invention can be used advantageously both in washing machines designed as household appliances according to the invention and in commercial washing machines, i.e. in washing machines for professional use. It is particularly advantageous if the filter of the filter device according to the invention is designed as a

Microparticle filter designed to remove microplastics or similar from wastewater. Microplastics have become a very big problem for the environment these days, so the entry of microplastics into the environment should be avoided as much as possible.

An advantageous development of the filter device according to the invention for a

Washing machine provides that the filter device has a valve, wherein the valve has a valve inlet connected to the pump outlet in a flow-conducting manner, a first valve outlet which can be connected to the valve inlet in a flow-conducting manner for the flow-conducting

connection to the filter inlet and a second valve outlet that can be connected to the valve inlet for direct flow-conducting connection to the

This way, the waste water can be discharged either directly into the

Drain line of the washing machine or via the filter into the drain line.

A particularly advantageous development of the filter device according to the invention provides that the filter device has a combined ventilation and venting for the filter, wherein the ventilation and venting is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the first filter outlet, preferably that the ventilation and venting is simultaneously connected in a flow-conducting manner to the drain line, particularly preferably that the ventilation and venting is carried out by means of a

Backflow preventer to prevent backflow from the drain line to the

Clean side of the filter is connected to the drain line in a flow-conducting manner. This ensures that the waste water pump reaches its capacity as quickly as possible and does not have to pump against a gas and/or foam cushion. Furthermore, the preferred

The embodiment of this further development has the further advantage that without any significant additional construction effort, the aforementioned ventilation and dehumidification can also be

The drain line can be ventilated and vented. In addition, according to the particularly preferred embodiment of this development, the backflow preventer prevents waste water from the drain line from flowing in an undesirable manner onto the clean side of the filter.

A further advantageous development of the filter device according to the invention provides that the filter device has a throttle arranged in the flow direction after the second filter outlet, preferably that the throttle is arranged in the flow-conducting

Connection of the filter to the pump inlet in the direction of flow in front of a return line connected in a flow-conducting manner to the aforementioned flow-conducting connection and the combined ventilation and venting for the return of gases from the ventilation and

Ventilation is arranged in a washing machine's tub. In this way, the ratio of the two partial streams of waste water, namely the one from the clean side of the

Filter via the first filter outlet into the drain line and from the clean side of the filter via the second filter outlet to the pump inlet of the

The preferred embodiment of this further development has the additional advantage that the return of gases from the supply and

Ventilation in the washing machine's suds container for the purpose of degassing by means of an emergency overflow that is connected to the suds container in a manner known to those skilled in the art, whereby line lengths can be saved.

Another advantageous development of the filter device according to the invention provides that the filter device is designed as a structural unit. This significantly simplifies storage, logistics and the production of the washing machine equipped with it. It is also possible to purchase the filter device according to the invention as a whole from a supplier in accordance with the present development.

An advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the

Filter in an upper part of the washing machine at a height above the

In this way, gravity-induced emptying of the filter after the drainage of the lye container has been completed can be achieved in a particularly simple manner in terms of design and production technology.

A further advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the second filter outlet of the filter is connected to the

Pump inlet, preferably, that the downpipe is designed for the purpose of separating gas flowing to a lye tank inlet of the lye tank and gas flowing to the

Sewage pump flowing wastewater by means of a discharge pipe outlet of the

The downpipe is connected to an upper area of the lye tank by a connecting line rising in the direction of the lye tank inlet. This creates a very direct and therefore as short as possible flow-conducting connection between the second filter outlet on the one side and the pump inlet on the other side. On the other hand, the formation of the flow-conducting

Connection as a downpipe the gravity-induced discharge of the waste water towards the

The preferred embodiment also has the further advantage that gas contained in the flow is not undesirably carried along by the waste water in the direction of the pump inlet, but is instead transported by means of the connecting line, the

The lye container and the emergency overflow are released into the open environment.

An advantageous further development of the above-mentioned further development of the inventive

Washing machine provides that the return line is connected to the downpipe in a flow-conducting manner by means of a downpipe connection arranged in the flow direction between the throttle and the downpipe outlet, preferably that a clear diameter ı5 of the downpipe is larger in the flow direction after the throttle than in the flow direction before the throttle. In this way, the ventilation of the filter or the filter and the

Drain line also via the downpipe and the connected flow-conducting

Connecting line connected to the emergency overflow for degassing purposes.

An additional flow-conducting connection from the aforementioned ventilation and deaeration to the open environment is not required. The preferred embodiment of this further development has the additional advantage that an undesirable entrainment of

The flow of gas from the waste water in the downpipe towards the waste water pump is effectively prevented in a structurally and technically simple manner.

A particularly advantageous development of the washing machine according to the invention provides that the washing machine is designed in such a way that the filter can be removed on site from the

washing machine. This allows the filter to be replaced or serviced, for example to remove the filter cake. Due to the invention, the

Removing the filter from the washing machine is much easier and requires less

dirt. This is because the filter is cleaned before it is removed.

Drainage system, for example by means of the aforementioned downpipe, of waste water in the

is essentially emptied.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawing and is described in more detail below. It shows the only figure,

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention with the filter device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention in a partial side view.

In Fig. 1, an embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention with the filter device according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention is shown purely by way of example. 5 The washing machine 2 designed as a household appliance comprises a tub 4, a fluid-conductingly connected to an upper region of the tub 4

Emergency overflow 6, one with the suds container 4 by means of a pump inlet 8 and with a

Drain line 10 of the washing machine 2 by means of a pump outlet 12 connected waste water pump 14 for pumping waste water (not shown) from the

Lye container 4 into the drain line 10 and a filter device 16 for filtering the

Waste water before it is discharged into the drain line 10.

The filter device 16 comprises a filter 18 designed as a microparticle filter for

Removal of non-illustrated microplastics from wastewater using a

Filter inlet 20 having raw side 22 and a clean side 28 having at least one filter outlet 24, 26 ı5, wherein the filter inlet 20 is for flow-conducting connection with the pump outlet 12 of the waste water pump 14 of the washing machine 2 and one of the at least one filter outlet 24 is for flow-conducting connection with the

Drain line 10 of the washing machine 2 for discharging waste water from the

Washing machine 2 is designed.

According to the invention, the filter device 16 is designed for installation in the washing machine 2, wherein a first filter outlet 24 of the clean side 28 of the filter 18 is for flow-conducting connection with the drain line 10 and a second filter outlet 26 of the

The clean side 28 of the filter 18 is designed for flow-conducting connection with the pump inlet 8 of the waste water pump 14.

The filter device 16 has a valve 30 designed as a 3-way valve, wherein the

Valve 30 has a valve inlet 32 connected to the pump outlet 12 in a flow-conducting manner, a first valve outlet 34 which can be connected to the valve inlet 32 in a flow-conducting manner for the flow-conducting connection to the filter inlet 20 and a second valve outlet 34 which can be connected to the

Valve inlet 32 has a flow-conductingly connectable valve outlet 36 for direct flow-conducting connection to the drain line 10.

Furthermore, the filter device 16 has a combined ventilation and venting system 38 for the filter 18, wherein the ventilation and venting system 38 is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the first filter outlet 24, and wherein the ventilation and venting system 38 is simultaneously connected in a flow-conducting manner to the drain line 10, namely in such a way that the ventilation and venting system 38 is connected by means of a

Backflow preventer 40 to prevent a backflow (not shown) from the

Drain line 10 is flow-conductingly connected to the drain line 10 on the clean side 28 of the filter 18.

The filter device 16 in the present embodiment also has a

Flow direction after the second filter outlet 26 arranged throttle 42, wherein the throttle 42 in the flow-conducting connection of the filter 18 with the pump inlet 8 in the flow direction before a return line 44 flow-conductingly connected to the aforementioned flow-conducting connection and the combined ventilation and venting 38 for the return of gases not shown from the ventilation and venting 38 into the

The detergent container 4 of the washing machine 2 is arranged.

Furthermore, the filter device 16 is designed as a structural unit here. See also the dash-dotted frame of the filter device 16 explained above in Fig. 1, which illustrates this fact. Of course, embodiments of the invention are also conceivable in which the filter device is not arranged as a structural unit, but rather distributed in the interior of the washing machine, for example.

Furthermore, it can be seen from Fig. 1 that the filter 18 is arranged in an upper region of the

Washing machine 2 is arranged at a height above the tub 4.

The second filter outlet 26 of the filter 18 is connected to the pump inlet 8 by means of a downpipe 46, whereby the downpipe 46 is

Separation of gas flowing to a lye tank inlet 48 of the lye tank 4 and waste water flowing to the waste water pump 14 by means of a

Downpipe outlet 50 of the downpipe 46 in the direction of the lye container inlet 48 rising connecting line 52 flow-conducting with an upper area of the

suds container 4.

The return line 44 is in the present embodiment by means of a

Flow direction between the throttle 42 and the downpipe outlet 50 arranged

Downpipe connection 54 is flow-conductingly connected to the downpipe 46, wherein an inside diameter of the downpipe 46 in the flow direction after the throttle 42 is larger than in the flow direction before the throttle 42.

For the purpose of replacing or maintaining the filter 18, the washing machine 2 is further designed such that the filter 18 can be removed from the washing machine 2 on site, i.e. at the installation location of the washing machine 2 at the end customer.

The functioning of the washing machine according to the invention with the filter device according to the invention and the method according to the invention according to the present embodiment are explained in more detail below with reference to Fig. 1.

If drainage of the suds container 4 of the washing machine 2 is started automatically, for example by a program sequence of an automatic program of the washing machine 2, the valve 30 is automatically adjusted in such a way that the pump outlet 12 is connected to the filter inlet 20 in a flow-conducting manner by means of the valve inlet 32 and the first valve outlet 34. When draining the suds container 4, i.e. the

Pumping out, the liquor, i.e. the waste water, flows from the tub 4 by means of the

Pump inlet 8 to the waste water pump 14. From the waste water pump 14, the liquor passes through the valve 30 to the raw side 22 of the filter 18. By means of the combined supply and

Venting 38 of the filter 18 ensures that the waste water pump 14 does not

Gas or foam cushions must be promoted.

The filtrate (not shown), i.e. the waste water filtered by means of the filter 18, of the clean side 28 is largely led via the backflow preventer 40 into the drain line 10.

This is done by means of the appropriately designed ventilation 38 and the

Backflow preventer 40 ensures that no filtrate is conveyed from the filter 18 through the ventilation 38 and that no filtrate can flow from the drain line 10 to the clean side 28 of the filter 18. The throttle 42 is used to prevent the

Volume flow of the filtrate is divided, whereby a defined smaller partial flow is directed to the

suction side of the sewage pump 14, i.e. to the pump inlet 8, while the larger part of the flow is fed into the drain line 10 and thus into the not shown

The return line 44 is used to return the waste water

Gases from the ventilation and venting 38 into the downpipe 46. The exchange of the ventilation and venting 38 takes place via the downpipe outlet 50 by means of the connecting line 52, the

lye tank 4 and the emergency overflow 6 with the open environment. The height difference between the downpipe outlet 50 and the lye tank inlet 48 ensures a

Separation of gas and liquor, so that rewetting of a load of the

Washing machine 2, i.e. laundry not shown and treated by means of washing machine 2, is prevented.

The division of the volume flow of the fleet by means of the filter 18 creates a permanent volume flow via the filter 18 and the waste water pump 14. The

Wastewater pump 14 pumps a partial amount of wastewater in a circle and thus does not enter the so-called shuffling mode. The wastewater pump 14 can thus reach

VWVolume flow increases react and the waste water pump 14 and the entire

The waste water system of the washing machine 2 does not need to be completely vented in advance, as the waste water pump 14 is already pumping. The partial volume flow through the filter 18 continuously rinses the latter with liquor during operation, effectively reducing the formation of biofilm. This in turn reduces the sooting of the waste water pump 14.

After a predetermined period of time, the valve 30 is automatically adjusted so that the pump outlet 12 is directly connected to the drain line 10 via the valve inlet 32 and the second valve outlet 36. The filter 18 is thus bypassed and the waste water pump 14 pumps directly into the drain line 10. The

Backflow preventer 40 prevents the filter 18 from being undesirably

clean side 28. The filter 18 is ventilated by means of the ventilation 38 and the liquid stored in the filter 18 can be fed via the throttle 42 to the suction side of the

Wastewater pump 14, i.e. in the direction of the pump inlet 8, and is drained by means of the

Waste water pump 14 and the drain line 10 from the washing machine 2. The liquid from the filter 18 is therefore not fed into the following process step during the program run of the

Automatic program is delayed. Draining of the detergent container 4 of the ı5 washing machine 2 is terminated automatically.

Due to the inventive design of the filter device 16, the washing machine 2 and the method for operating the washing machine 2, the waste water system of the

Washing machine 2 is consistently powered by a water supply (not shown) of the

Washing machine 2, so that, for example, a germ entry or the like in the

The water inlet area of the washing machine 2 is effectively prevented.

During pumping out, i.e. the drainage of the suds container 4 of the washing machine 2, permanent bypass flow via the waste water pump 14 and the filter 18 rinses the filter 18 with liquor and reduces, for example, the formation of biofilm. This prevents the

Wastewater pump 14 effectively counteracts this. In addition, the permanent

Bypass current causes a so-called slurping operation of the wastewater pump 14, which is comparable to the wastewater pump 14 running dry. Instead, the wastewater pump 14 always pumps liquid, i.e. wastewater, during pumping, so that on the one hand the risk of overheating of a motor (not shown) of the wastewater pump 14 and on the other hand the noise emission of the wastewater pump 14 are significantly reduced.

The ventilation 38 ensures that the waste water pump 14 quickly

Delivery capacity is achieved. The bypass or leakage volume flow is guided with the gas from the ventilation and venting 38 in the downpipe 46 to the suction side of the waste water pump 14.

The liquid is separated from the lye tank 4 by means of the downpipe outlet 50.

Phase and the gas phase. This means that only the gas phase is fed into the suds container 4

Zreturned. This reduces the risk of aerosol formation in a drum gap of a drum arranged in the tub 4 and not shown in Fig. 1 for

Loading washing machine 2 with laundry so that the spin result is improved.

By means of the second filter outlet 26 and the downpipe 46, the filter 18 is emptied in a defined manner and the liquor carried over in the filter 18 can be pumped out directly into the drain pipe 10 and thus into the house installation connected to it in a flow-conducting manner after the valve 30 is switched over at the end of the drainage of the suds container 4.

Filter 18 is emptied so that the filter 18 cannot leak into the installation room of the washing machine 2, for example if the drain line 10 designed as a drain hose falls. The removal of the filter 18 from the washing machine 2 is made easier because the filter 18 is free of liquid.

Since the filter 18 of the filter device 16 of the present embodiment is a

Microparticle filters designed to remove microplastics or the like from wastewater can effectively prevent, for example, the smallest fibers that come out of the

Textiles have dissolved, can be released into the environment in an undesirable manner with the waste water discharged from the washing machine 2 ı5 via the drain line 10.

Microplastics have become a very big problem for the environment nowadays, so the entry of microplastics into the environment should be avoided as much as possible.

However, the invention is not limited to the present embodiment. See, for example, the relevant statements in the introduction to the description.

Claims (11)

Patent claims 1. Filter device (16) for a washing machine (2), comprising a filter (18) with a raw side (22) having a filter inlet (20) and a clean side (28) having at least one filter outlet (24, 26), wherein the filter inlet (20) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a pump outlet (12) of a waste water pump (14) of the washing machine (2) and one of the at least one filter outlet (24) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a drain line (10) of the washing machine (2) for discharging waste water from the washing machine (2), characterized in that the filter device (16) is designed for installation in the washing machine (2), wherein a first filter outlet (24) of the clean side (28) of the filter (18) is designed for flow-conducting connection to the drain line (10) and a second filter outlet (26) of the clean side (28) of the filter (18) is designed for flow-conducting connection to a pump inlet (8) of the waste water pump (14) is formed. 2. Filter device (16) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter device (16) has a valve (30), wherein the valve (30) has a valve inlet (32) connected in a flow-conducting manner to the pump outlet (12), a first valve outlet (34) which can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to the valve inlet (32) for the flow-conducting connection to the filter inlet (20) and a second valve outlet (36) which can be connected in a flow-conducting manner to the valve inlet (32) for the direct flow-conducting connection to the drain line (10). 3. Filter device (16) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filter device (16) has a combined ventilation and venting (38) for the filter (18), wherein the ventilation and venting (38) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the first filter outlet (24), preferably that the ventilation and venting (38) is simultaneously connected in a flow-conducting manner to the drain line (10), particularly preferably that the ventilation and venting (38) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the drain line (10) by means of a backflow preventer (40) for preventing backflow from the drain line (10) to the clean side (28) of the filter (18). 4. Filter device (16) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filter device (16) has a throttle (42) arranged in the flow direction after the second filter outlet (26), preferably that the throttle (42) in the flow-conducting connection of the filter (18) with the pump inlet (8) in the flow direction before a return line flow-conductingly connected to the aforementioned flow-conducting connection and the combined aeration and venting (38) (44) for returning gases from the ventilation and exhaust system (38) into a suds container (4) of the washing machine (2). 5. Filter device (16) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the filter device (16) is designed as a structural unit. s 6. Washing machine (2), comprising a suds container (4), an emergency overflow (6) fluidly connected to an upper region of the suds container (4), a waste water pump (14) fluidly connected to the suds container (4) by means of a pump inlet (8) and to a drain line (10) of the washing machine (2) by means of a pump outlet (12) for conveying waste water from the suds container (4) into the drain line (10) and a filter device (16) for filtering the waste water before it is introduced into the drain line (10), characterized in that the filter device (16) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 5. 7. Washing machine (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the filter (18) is arranged in an upper region of the washing machine (2) at a height above the tub (4). 8. Washing machine (2) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the second filter outlet (26) of the filter (18) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to the pump inlet (8) by means of a downpipe (46), preferably that the downpipe (46) is connected in a flow-conducting manner to an upper region of the suds container (4) by means of a connecting line (52) rising from a downpipe outlet (50) of the downpipe (46) in the direction of the suds container inlet (48) for the purpose of separating gas flowing to a suds container inlet (48) of the suds container (4) and waste water flowing to the waste water pump (14). 9. Washing machine (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the return line (44) is connected to the downpipe (46) in a flow-conducting manner by means of a downpipe connection (54) arranged in the flow direction between the throttle (42) and the downpipe outlet (50), preferably that an inside diameter of the downpipe (46) in the flow direction after the throttle (42) is larger than in the flow direction before the throttle (42). 10. Washing machine (2) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the washing machine (2) is designed such that the filter (18) can be removed on site from the washing machine (2). 11. A method for operating a washing machine (2) according to one of claims 6 to 10, according to which the method comprises the following steps in the order given: - automatic start of drainage of the suds container (4), - automatic adjustment of the valve (30) such that the pump outlet (12) is fluidly connected to the filter inlet (20) by means of the valve inlet (32) and the first valve outlet (34), - after a predetermined period of time, automatic adjustment of the valve (30) such that the pump outlet (12) is directly connected to the drain line (10) by means of the valve inlet (32) and the second valve outlet (36), - automatic termination of drainage of the suds container (4).