EP3414385B1 - Laundry-care appliance having a pump - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a drain pump. Conventional laundry care devices for large loads or large items of laundry usually have a pumping system by means of which washing liquor can be pumped out of the tub and then be returned to the tub. In order to remove washing liquor from the laundry care device after the laundry care process, conventional laundry care devices also have a pumping system. In addition to the pumping system and the pumping system, further conveyor systems for pumping washing liquor can be present in the laundry care devices. Pumps are required for the pumping system, the pumping system and the other conveyor systems in order to ensure effective pumping of the wash liquor.

In the DE 38 03 615 A1 A program-controlled drum washing machine is disclosed, in which a circulating pump for conveying the washing liquor and a laundry item spraying device for spraying the laundry item are attached.

In the DE 1 610 190 discloses a washing machine with a tub which has a nozzle for the inlet and outlet of the water, the washing machine having a device for washing in detergents.

In the GB 1 103 360 A discloses a washing machine with an agitator which comprises a centrifugal pump with an impeller which can be rotated in one direction or the other in a cylindrical pump housing, the pump housing having a first outflow channel for pumping liquid and a second outflow channel for pumping out Liquid is provided.

It is the object of the invention to provide a laundry care device with a drain pump or a drain pump system which is or which is designed to pump wash liquor through different conveyor systems or different wash liquor circuits.

This object is achieved by objects with the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care device with a tub for receiving wash liquor and a drain pump for pumping wash liquor, the drain pump having a pump pressure chamber and a first pressure connection, fluidically connected to the pump pressure chamber, for dispensing wash liquor under pressure, and is provided with a variable-speed pump drive for driving the drain pump, a second pressure connection for dispensing wash liquor under pressure being fluidly connected to the pump pressure chamber, the first and second pressure connections connecting tangentially to the pump pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that the first pressure port and second pressure port, which are fluidically connected to the pump pressure chamber, provide two different pressure ports on the pump pressure chamber, in particular spiral or ring housings, through which wash liquor can be pumped into two different delivery circuits of the laundry care device. Both pressure ports are tangentially connected to the pump pressure chamber, in particular spiral or ring housing. However, the orientations of the two nozzles can be different, one nozzle being positioned clockwise and the other exactly in the opposite direction. Due to the different positioning of the two pressure ports, the different delivery circuits can be charged by reversing the direction of pump rotation, which means that the impeller in the pump pressure chamber is supplied to one pump port clockwise and the other pump port is charged with detergent solution in the counterclockwise direction.

In a conventional laundry care device, the drain pump has only one pressure port per pump pressure chamber, as is customary for normal centrifugal pumps. The pressure port can either be designed as a pump-out port in a pump-out system for pumping out wash liquor from the laundry care device, or as a pump-over port in a pump-over system for pumping out wash liquor into the tub or feed another system with a novel function.

As a result of the arrangement according to the invention of two pressure ports per pump pressure chamber, in addition to the pumping or pumping function of the first pressure port through the second pressure port, a further pumping function can be performed in the laundry care device. The further pumping function can comprise a further conveying circuit of the laundry care device, through which the wash liquor can be pumped, for example, into a washing-up bowl of the laundry care device in order to dissolve residues of laundry care substances in the washing-up bowl, or through which the washing liquor can be pumped into a storage container for storing washing liquor . Other additional functions are conceivable, such as Drum cleaning programs for removing limescale between washing cycles with a special rinsing device for the window, e.g. a disinfection cleaning interval between washing cycles with particularly heated water or steam, or e.g. a lint rinsing program for the condenser of a washer-dryer or other special function programs.

By using the second pressure port of the pump pressure chamber and by reversing the direction of pump rotation, additional, cost-intensive pump drives can be dispensed with in order to perform additional functions, such as a cleaning of a induction bowl, a cleaning of a pump filter or a storage of washing water.

A laundry care device is understood to be a device which is used for laundry care, such as a washer or dryer. Such a laundry care device is understood in particular to mean a household laundry care device. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of housekeeping, and with which laundry is treated in normal household quantities.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the variable-speed pump drive is designed to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation in order to pump wash liquor through the first pressure port or through the second pressure port depending on the direction of rotation and / or the speed of the impeller.

This achieves the technical advantage that pumping of wash water through the first pressure nozzle or through the variable-speed pump drive the second pressure port can be effectively controlled depending on the direction of rotation of the impeller, or the pump speed, or the design of the line cross section. As a result, it can be controlled with only one pump drive whether wash liquor can be pumped either through the first pressure port or through the second pressure port or through both pressure ports at the same time, which means that a further pump drive can be dispensed with. For radial centrifugal pumps, the system characteristics and the throttle characteristic related to the direction of rotation are coordinated in the design phase so that, for example, a directional pumping is possible without washing liquor being conveyed through the inactive pressure nozzle.

According to the invention, the drain pump has a further pump pressure chamber and a third pressure connection, which is fluidically connected to the further pump pressure chamber, for dispensing wash liquor under pressure, in particular a pump-out connection for pumping out wash liquor or a pump-over connection for pumping wash liquor into the tub.

This has the technical advantage that a further delivery circuit of the laundry care device can be provided by the further pump pressure chamber with the third pressure nozzle. The third pressure nozzle can in particular comprise a pump nozzle for pumping wash water into the tub.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, a fourth pressure connection for dispensing wash liquor under pressure is fluidly connected to the further pump pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that the fourth pressure nozzle connected to the further pump pressure chamber can ensure that the fourth pressure nozzle is connected to a further delivery circuit of the laundry care device. Thus, through the first and second pressure ports of the pump pressure chamber and the third and fourth pressure ports of the other Pump pressure chamber wash liquor can be pumped through a total of four delivery circuits in the laundry care device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the drain pump has a further speed-variable pump drive for driving the drain pump, the further speed-variable pump drive being designed to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation in order to wash water depending on the direction of rotation and / or speed of the Pump impeller through the third pressure port or through the fourth pressure port.

This achieves the technical advantage that pumping of washing water through the third pressure port or through the fourth pressure port can be effectively controlled or regulated as a function of the direction of rotation or speed of the impeller by the variable-speed pump drive. As a result, it can be controlled with only one pump drive whether wash liquor can be pumped either through the third pressure port or through the fourth pressure port, which means that an additional pump drive in the drain pump can be dispensed with.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the variable-speed pump drive or the further variable-speed pump drive comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless direct current motor (BLDC motor), or a permanently excited, brushless synchronous motor.

This achieves the technical advantage that an effective and effective pumping operation of the drain pump can be operated by the electric motor, in particular a brushless DC motor, since these electric drives can be operated at variable speeds.

According to the invention, the drain pump has a suction chamber and a suction port that is fluidly connected to the suction chamber, the suction chamber being fluidly connected to the respective pump pressure chamber of the drain pump.

This achieves the technical advantage that effective suction of wash liquor into the suction chamber is ensured by the suction nozzle that is fluidly connected to the suction chamber. Due to the fluidic connection of the suction chamber with the corresponding pump pressure chambers, the wash liquor sucked in through the suction chamber can be pumped or sucked into the respective pump pressure chamber particularly effectively.

According to the invention, a partition is arranged between the suction chamber and the respective pump pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that the partition ensures an effective delimitation between the suction chamber and the respective pump pressure chamber, so that foreign bodies are retained in the suction chamber and the pump function in the pressure chamber, i.e. the rotation of the impeller, is not affected.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the third and / or fourth pressure port connects tangentially to the further pump pressure chamber. This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly effective, flow-optimized pumping of wash liquor through the respective pressure ports is made possible by the tangential arrangement of the third or fourth pressure port on the further pump pressure chamber. The further pressure chamber can, if it is possible in terms of space, be provided on a common suction chamber and have a pump drive which is variable in the direction of rotation and two tangential pressure ports, in particular a fifth and sixth pressure port, a fifth and sixth additional function being provided by the fifth and sixth pressure ports can be ensured. It is conceivable, if it can be realized in terms of space technology, that n pressure chambers with two n pressure ports for two n special flushing functions are provided on the large, common suction chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the drain pump has a horizontal plane which is horizontal in one Pump housing of the drain pump extends, the horizontal plane extending from one long side of the pump housing to another long side of the pump housing, at least one of the pressure ports being inclined with respect to the horizontal plane at a neck angle, in particular at a neck angle between 1 ° and 180 °.

This has the technical advantage that the inclination of at least one pressure port, in particular all pressure ports, with respect to the horizontal plane, means that the pressure port of the pressure chamber is always vented, so that the drain pump can always start with the pressure chamber full.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the drain pump has a pump pressure chamber and a first pressure port and fluid pressure connection with the pump pressure chamber for dispensing wash liquor under pressure, the drain pump having a further pump pressure chamber and a third pressure port and fourth fluid connection with the further pump pressure chamber Pressure port for dispensing wash liquor under pressure, wherein the second pressure port is assigned to a first delivery circuit and wherein the fourth pressure port is assigned to a second delivery circuit.

This achieves the technical advantage that the two pump pressure chambers of the drain pump with the two pressure ports in each case allow a total of four circuits to be carried out for conveying wash liquor in the laundry care device. In each case, one of the pressure ports of the two pump pressure chambers is fluidically connected to a pumping system for pumping out wash liquor from the laundry care device or a pumping system for pumping wash liquor into the tub, or implements another function. Through the fluidic connection of the second pressure port to the first delivery circuit, or through the fluidic connection of the fourth delivery port to the second delivery circuit, two further delivery groups with different functions can be implemented in addition to the pumping system or pumping system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the first pressure nozzle comprises a pump nozzle for pumping out washing liquor from the Laundry care device, which is fluidly connected to a pump-off line, and the third pressure nozzle comprises a pump-around nozzle for pumping washing liquor into the tub, the pump-over connector being fluid-technically connected to the tub.

This achieves the technical advantage that the first pressure port comprises a pump-out port for pumping out wash liquor from the laundry care device and that the third pressure port comprises a pump-over port for pumping out wash liquor into the tub, so that the respective pressure port enables particularly effective pumping or pumping is made possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device has a washing-in bowl for receiving laundry care substances, the washing-in bowl being fluidly connected to the second pressure port or the fourth pressure port, and the drain pump being designed, washing liquor through the second pressure port or through the fourth pressure port pump into the induction bowl to loosen residues of laundry care substances in the induction bowl.

This achieves the technical advantage that washing fluid can be pumped into the induction bowl by the drain pump through the fluid connection of the induction bowl with the second pressure port or the fourth pressure port. This allows detergent residues to be removed from a contaminated induction bowl, which enables the detergent bowl to be cleaned effectively.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device has a storage container for storing washing liquor, the storage container being fluidically connected to the second pressure nozzle or the fourth pressure nozzle, and the washing pump being designed, washing solution through the second pressure nozzle or through the fourth pressure nozzle pump into the storage tank to store the pumped wash liquor in the storage tank and to use the stored wash liquor during a subsequent wash cycle.

This achieves the technical advantage that washing fluid can be pumped into the storage tank by the drain pump through the fluid connection of the storage tank to the second pressure port or the fourth pressure port. As a result, wash liquor, which is provided during a wash cycle, can be stored in the storage container, as a result of which the stored wash liquor can be used again during a later wash care process of the laundry care appliance.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the laundry care device comprises a washer dryer with a condenser for condensing water, the condenser being fluidly connected to the second pressure port or the fourth pressure port, and the drain pump is designed, wash liquor through the second pressure port or through the fourth Pump pressure ports into the condenser to clean the condenser or to cool the condenser to speed up the condensation process.

This achieves the technical advantage that by connecting the condenser of a washer dryer with the second pressure port or the fourth pressure port through the drain pump, wash liquor can be pumped into the condenser. The condenser can be effectively cleaned or effectively cooled by the pumped wash liquor in order to accelerate the condensation process.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht eines Umpumpsystems mit einem Laugenbehälter und mit einer Laugenpumpe; und

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht einer Laugenpumpe;

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a laundry care device;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a pumping system with a tub and with a tub pump; and

Fig. 3

a side view of a drain pump;

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a induction bowl 101 into which detergents or other liquid substances can be filled. The laundry care device 100 comprises a door 103 for loading the laundry care device 100 with laundry.

Fig. 2 shows a view of a pumping system 105 in a laundry care device 100 with a washing drum 107 for receiving laundry, with a tub 109 for receiving washing liquor, which comprises an inlet opening 111 and an outlet opening 113. The inlet opening 111 is connected to the outlet opening 113 by a line 115. The line 115 comprises a drain pump 117, which can pump the wash liquor either through the drain opening 113 out of the wash tub 109 and through the inlet opening 111 into the wash tub 109 during a pumping process, or during a pumping process, the wash liquor through the pump line 119 from the pumping system 105 can pump out.

In Fig. 3 the schematic representation of a drain pump is shown in a side view. The drain pump 117 comprises a suction chamber 121 into which wash liquor can be sucked out of the line 115 through a suction nozzle 123. The drain pump 117 comprises a pump pressure chamber 125 from which the sucked-in wash liquor can be dispensed at a higher pressure through a first pressure port 127. In particular, the first pressure port 127 can comprise a pump-out port in order to pump wash water out of the laundry care device 100. A second pressure port 129 is provided on the pump pressure chamber 125, through which the sucked-in wash liquor can be delivered to a second delivery circuit at an increased pressure. The drain pump 117 comprises a further pump pressure chamber 131 from which the sucked-in wash liquor can be dispensed at a higher pressure through a third pressure port 133. In particular, the third pressure port 133 can comprise a pump-around port in order to pump wash liquor into the tub 109. A fourth pressure port 135 is provided on the further pump pressure chamber 131, through which the sucked-in wash liquor can be delivered to a second, third or fourth delivery circuit at an increased pressure. The suction chamber 121, the pump pressure chamber 125 and the further pump pressure chamber 131 are shown in FIG Fig. 3 only shown schematically.

The drain pump 117 has a variable-speed pump drive 137, which in Fig. 3 is only shown schematically, and which is designed to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation and / or speed at variable speeds in order to pump wash liquor through the first pressure nozzle 127 or through the second pressure nozzle 129 depending on the direction of rotation of the impeller. The drain pump 117 has a further variable-speed pump drive 139, which in Fig. 3 is shown only schematically, and which is designed to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation in order to pump wash liquor through the third pressure port 133 or through the fourth pressure port 135 depending on the direction of rotation and / or the speed of the impeller. The pump drive 137 and the further pump drive 139 are designed as rotational direction-oriented and variable-speed pump drives 137, 139, and in particular comprise a brushless direct current motor (BLDC motor), or a permanently excited, brushless synchronous drive.

The total of four pressure ports 127, 129, 133, 135 thus result in a total of four circuits with which four functions can be performed in the drain pump 117. The first pressure port 127 can comprise a pump-out port, which is fluidly connected to a pump-out line 119 in order to pump wash water out of the laundry care device 100. The third pressure port 133 can comprise a pumping port, which is fluidly connected to a pumping line 115 in order to pump washing liquor into the tub 109. The second pressure port 129 can be fluidly connected to a first delivery circuit and the fourth pressure port 135 can be connected to a second delivery circuit. The first delivery circuit, or the second delivery circuit, can have a lower delivery flow or delivery pressure than the lines connected fluidically to the first pressure port 127 or the third pressure port 133 due to the geometrical, hydraulic design of the corresponding lines. Various functions can be assigned to the first or the second funding group. For example, the filling of a water reservoir, for example as part of a rinse water retention of the last rinse cycle to save process water in the next wash cycle, or other rinsing or cleaning functions can be assigned to the first or second conveyor circuit. For example, by the first or second conveyor circuit, a contaminated induction bowl 101 is cleaned of detergent residues or freed. For example, a condenser can alternatively be cleaned with water in a washer dryer or a condenser can be cooled with water in order to accelerate the drying process.

The solution according to the invention means that no additional, cost-intensive pump drives 137, 139 are necessary in order to generate the additional functions. For example, it is possible to clean a induction bowl 101 without additionally allowing water in from the outside via the appliance solenoid valve. The backwashing function for automated cleaning intervals of the pump filter or injection nozzle of the pumping system 105 is made possible without the user having to intervene manually. No changeover valves sensitive to foreign bodies and / or lint are required to provide additional functions. One or two pumps can therefore be used for two to four functions, which enables functional expansion without increasing the complexity of the components. No additional electronics or other expenditure for the novel functional expansion are necessary, since the change in the direction of rotation of the pump drives 137, 139 can be varied by software.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the subject matter of the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

Reference list

100

Laundry care appliance

101

Induction bowl

103

door

105

Pumping system

107

Washing drum

109

Tub

111

Inlet opening

113

Drain opening

115

management

117

Drain pump

119

Pump line

121

Suction chamber

123

Suction port

125

Pump pressure chamber

127

First pressure port

129

Second pressure port

131

Another pump pressure chamber

133

Third pressure port

135

Fourth pressure port

137

Variable speed pump drive

139

Another variable-speed pump drive

Claims (12)

1. Laundry care appliance (100) having a tub (109) for receiving water and a drain pump (117) for pumping water, wherein the drain pump (117) has a pump pressure chamber (125) and a first discharge port (127) fluidically connected to the pump pressure chamber (125) for discharging water under pressure, and having a variable-speed pump drive (137) for driving the drain pump (117), characterised in that a second discharge port (129) for discharging water under pressure is fluidically connected to the pump pressure chamber (125), wherein the first and second discharge ports (127, 129) tangentially abut the pump pressure chamber (125), wherein the drain pump (117) has a further pump pressure chamber (131) and a third discharge port (133) fluidically connected to the further pump pressure chamber (131) for discharging water under pressure, in particular a drain port for draining water or a transfer port for transferring water into the tub (109), wherein the drain pump (117) has a suction chamber (121) and a suction port (123) fluidly connected to the suction chamber (121), wherein the suction chamber (121) is fluidically connected to the respective pump pressure chamber (125, 131) of the drain pump (117), and wherein a partition wall is arranged in each case between the suction chamber (121) and the respective pump pressure chamber (125, 131), such that foreign bodies in the suction chamber are held back and the pump function in the pressure chamber is not affected.
2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the variable-speed pump drive (137) is embodied to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation, in order to pump water through the first discharge port (127) or through the second discharge port (129) as a function of the direction of rotation or speed of the impeller.
3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a fourth discharge port (135) for discharging water under pressure is fluidly connected to the further pump pressure chamber (131).
4. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that the drain pump (117) has a further variable-speed pump drive (139) for driving the drain pump (117), wherein the further variable-speed pump drive (139) is embodied to drive an impeller in a first or second direction of rotation in order to pump water through the third discharge port (133) or through the fourth discharge port (135) as a function of the direction of rotation and/or speed of the impeller.
5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the variable-speed pump drive (137) or the further variable-speed pump drive (139) comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless DC motor (BLDC motor), or a permanent-magnet, brushless synchronous motor.
6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the third or fourth discharge port (133, 135) tangentially abuts the further pump pressure chamber (131).
7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drain pump (117) has a horizontal plane which extends horizontally in a pump housing of the drain pump (117), wherein the horizontal plane extends from one longitudinal side of the pump housing to another longitudinal side of the pump housing, wherein at least one of the discharge ports (127, 129, 133, 135) is inclined at a port angle, in particular at a port angle between 1° and 180°, relative to the horizontal plane.
8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the drain pump (117) has a pump pressure chamber (125) and a first discharge port (127) and second discharge port (129) for discharging water under pressure which is fluidically connected to the pump pressure chamber (125), in that the drain pump (117) has a further pump pressure chamber (131) and a third discharge port (133) and fourth discharge port (135) for discharging water under pressure which is fluidically connected to the further pump pressure chamber (131), wherein the second discharge port (129) is associated with a first delivery circuit and wherein the fourth discharge port (135) is associated with a second delivery circuit.
9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first discharge port (127) comprises a drain port for draining water from the laundry care appliance (100), which is fluidly connected to a drain line (119), and in that the third discharge port (133) comprises a transfer port for transferring water into the tub (109), wherein the transfer port is fluidically connected to the tub (109).
10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a detergent dispenser tray (101) for receiving laundry care substances, wherein the detergent dispenser tray (101) is fluidically connected to the second discharge port (129) or the fourth discharge port (135), and in that the drain pump (117) is embodied to pump water through the second discharge port (129) or through the fourth discharge port (135) into the detergent dispenser tray (101) in order to release residues of laundry care substances in the detergent dispenser tray (101).
11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) has a storage vessel for storing water, wherein the storage vessel is fluidically connected to the second discharge port (129) or the fourth discharge port (135), and in that the drain pump (117) is embodied to pump water through the second discharge port (129) or through the fourth discharge port (135) into the storage vessel in order to store the pumped water in the storage vessel and in order to use the stored water during a subsequent wash cycle.
12. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the laundry care appliance (100) comprises a washer-dryer with a condenser for condensing water, wherein the condenser is fluidically connected to the second discharge port (129) or the fourth discharge port (135), and in that the drain pump (117) is embodied to pump water through the second discharge port (129) or through the fourth discharge port (135) into the condenser to clean the condenser or to cool the condenser in order to accelerate the condensation process.

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