A washing machine

Abstract

This invention provides a washing machine, comprising: a casing; a water tank disposed within the casing; a circulating water pipeline connected to the inlet and outlet of the water tank; a filter unit disposed on the circulating water pipeline; the filter unit comprising: multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters, sequentially arranged along the water flow direction on the circulating water pipeline; and an inner drum detachably installed within the casing, wherein the multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters are all disposed within the inner drum. The washing machine provided by this invention integrates multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters into a single inner drum, allowing all filters to be disassembled for cleaning or replacement with only one opening in the casing, making filter disassembly and installation more convenient and quick.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of household appliance technology, specifically, it relates to a washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] Microplastics and microfibers, typically referring to fibers or particles smaller than 5 mm, are increasingly polluting the marine environment. Due to their small size and large specific surface area, microplastics and microfibers have a strong ability to adsorb pollutants. They act like carriers for marine pollutants, easily being ingested by marine life as they float through the ocean, directly harming the marine ecosystem. Since humans are at the top of the food chain, microplastics and microfibers can enter the human body through the ecological cycle, posing a significant threat to human health.

[0003] According to research from the Centre for Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities at the University of Sydney, one of the main sources of microplastics and microfibers in the ocean is wastewater discharged from washing machines. The study indicates that more than 1,900 tiny fibers are washed away with each garment. Given the widespread use of washing machines globally and the generally high frequency of washing, preventing microplastic emissions has become a pressing technical problem.

[0004] Existing washing machine microfiber filters typically use only a single-stage microfiber filter. Because the filter mesh size can only be set to the smallest possible setting, and dirt and microfibers are widely distributed during washing, the filter quickly becomes clogged, thus losing its microfiber filtering function. Furthermore, when a washing machine has both a coarse filter and a microfiber filter installed, a water pump is usually placed between the two filters. Figure 1 As shown, the washing machine's water tank 11' is connected to the circulating water pipe 12'. Along the water flow direction of the circulating water pipe 12', a coarse filter 14', a water pump 18', a drain valve, and a microfiber filter 15' are sequentially arranged. The circulating water pipe 12' is connected to the drain pipe 16' via the drain valve. Because a water pump is located between the coarse filter and the microfiber filter, multiple installation ports need to be opened on the washing machine casing to allow for individual filter removal. This not only reduces the structural strength of the washing machine casing and affects its aesthetics but also increases the time required for disassembly and cleaning, reducing replacement efficiency.

[0005] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. The present invention provides a washing machine that allows multiple filters to be disassembled in a unified manner for easy cleaning or replacement.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0008] A washing machine, comprising,

[0009] shell;

[0010] A water container is housed inside the outer casing;

[0011] The circulating water pipeline is connected to the inlet and outlet of the water tank;

[0012] A filter unit is installed on the circulating water pipeline;

[0013] The filtering unit includes:

[0014] Multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters are sequentially arranged on the circulating water pipeline along the direction of water flow;

[0015] The inner cylinder is detachably installed inside the outer casing, and multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters are disposed in the inner cylinder.

[0016] In the above solution, by integrating multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters into one inner cylinder, all filters can be disassembled for cleaning or replacement simply by opening a port on the outer shell, making filter disassembly and installation more convenient and quick.

[0017] Furthermore, the filtering unit also includes,

[0018] An outer cylinder is disposed within the outer shell, and an inner cylinder is detachably installed within the outer cylinder;

[0019] The inner cylinder has two water passage holes on one side wall located between the two filters;

[0020] A water flow channel is provided between the inner wall of the outer cylinder and the side wall of the inner cylinder, located between two water holes and connected to the two water holes, and a water pump is provided in the water flow channel;

[0021] Preferably, the inner cylinder has two water passage holes on one side wall located between two adjacent filters.

[0022] In the above solution, by installing the water pump inside the water flow channel outside the inner cylinder side wall, when the water flow power in one or more of the multiple filters is insufficient, the water can be pumped through the water flow channel into the filter with insufficient water flow power, thereby improving the filtration efficiency. Furthermore, since the water pump is installed outside the inner cylinder, it is not affected by the water pump and the inner cylinder can be easily and directly disassembled from the outer cylinder.

[0023] Furthermore, the inner cylinder includes,

[0024] A first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are not connected;

[0025] The first chamber is provided with the coarse filter and / or microfiber filter, and the second chamber is provided with the microfiber filter;

[0026] The inner cylinder has a first water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the first chamber, and the inner cylinder has a second water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the second chamber.

[0027] The water flow channel is located between the first water inlet and the second water inlet, and is connected to the first water inlet and the second water inlet. A water pump is installed in the water flow channel.

[0028] Furthermore, the pore size of the multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters decreases sequentially along the flow direction of the water.

[0029] Furthermore, the circumferential edge of the water passage is provided with a sealing structure; preferably, the sealing structure is a sealing ring.

[0030] Furthermore, the washing machine also includes,

[0031] The drainage pipe is connected at one end to the circulating water pipe and at the other end to the external drainage pipe.

[0032] The filter unit is installed on the drain pipe;

[0033] Preferably, multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters are sequentially arranged on the drainage pipe along the direction of water flow.

[0034] Furthermore, the filtering unit also includes,

[0035] A bypass pipeline has one end connected to the first chamber and / or the second chamber via a drain valve, and the other end connected to the water tank and / or the drain pipeline.

[0036] Furthermore, the microfiber filter includes,

[0037] Filter housing;

[0038] A filter screen is disposed inside the filter housing, dividing the internal space of the filter housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber;

[0039] The upper chamber has a water inlet at one end, and the lower chamber has a water outlet at the other end.

[0040] Furthermore, the filtering unit also includes,

[0041] A sensor, installed inside the filter housing, is used to detect the content of microfibers in the microfiber filter;

[0042] The controller, electrically connected to the sensor and the drain valve, is used to control the opening and closing of the bypass pipeline.

[0043] Furthermore, an installation port is provided on the front panel of the outer shell, and the inner cylinder is detachably installed in the circulating water pipeline at the position corresponding to the installation port.

[0044] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0045] The washing machine provided by the present invention integrates multiple coarse filters and / or microfiber filters into one inner drum. All filters can be disassembled for cleaning or replacement simply by opening a hole in the outer shell, making filter disassembly and installation more convenient and quick.

[0046] The washing machine provided by this invention, by installing a water pump inside a water flow channel outside the side wall of the inner drum, allows water to be pumped into one or more filters when the water flow is insufficient, thereby improving filtration efficiency. Furthermore, because the water pump is installed outside the inner drum, it is not affected by the pump's operation, and the inner drum can be easily and directly removed from the outer drum.

[0047] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0048] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0049] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of multiple filters in a conventional washing machine.

[0050] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the washing machine of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of multiple filters in the washing machine of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a microfiber filter for a washing machine according to the present invention.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a microfiber filter for a washing machine of the present invention installed in the inner drum.

[0054] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the water flow direction within the washing machine filter unit of the present invention.

[0055] In the diagram: 1. Washing machine; 10. Outer casing; 11' and 11. Water tank; 12' and 12. Circulating water pipe; 13. Filter unit; 131. Inner drum; 132. Outer drum; 133. Water flow channel; 134. Water pump; 135. Water inlet; 136. First chamber; 137. Second chamber; 14' and 14. Coarse filter; 15' and 15. Microfiber filter; 151. Filter housing; 152. Filter screen; 153. Upper chamber; 154. Lower chamber; 155. Water inlet; 156. Water outlet; 16' and 16. Drain pipe; 17. Bypass pipe; 18' and 18. Drain valve; 19. Mounting port; 20. Detergent dispenser.

[0056] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0057] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0058] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0059] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0060] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0061] like Figures 2 to 6 As shown, the present invention provides a washing machine, including: a housing 10; a water tank 11 disposed inside the housing 10; a circulating water pipe 12 connected to the water inlet and outlet of the water tank 11; a filter unit 13 disposed on the circulating water pipe 12; the filter unit 13 includes: a plurality of coarse filters 14 and / or microfiber filters 15, which are sequentially disposed on the circulating water pipe 12 along the water flow direction; and an inner drum 131 detachably installed inside the housing 10, wherein the plurality of coarse filters 14 and / or microfiber filters 15 are disposed in the inner drum 131.

[0062] In the above solution, by integrating multiple coarse filters 14 and / or microfiber filters 15 into an inner cylinder 131, all filters can be disassembled for cleaning or replacement simply by opening a port on the outer shell 10, making filter disassembly and installation more convenient and quick.

[0063] The inner cylinder 131 can be equipped with one coarse filter 14 and one microfiber filter 15, or one coarse filter 14 and multiple microfiber filters 15, multiple coarse filters 14 and one microfiber filter 15, or multiple coarse filters 14 and multiple microfiber filters 15. It is understood that those skilled in the art can select the type and number of filters, as well as the location of the filters on the circulating water pipeline 12, according to actual usage. For example, the filters can be installed at the detergent dispensing box, and the filtered water from the circulating water pipeline 12 can be directly discharged into the detergent dispensing box and then flow into the water tank 11.

[0064] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the filter unit 13 further includes an outer cylinder 132 disposed inside the outer casing 10, and an inner cylinder 131 detachably installed in the outer cylinder 132; the inner cylinder 131 has two water passage holes 135 on one side wall between the two filters; a water flow channel 133 is provided between the inner wall of the outer cylinder 132 and the side wall of the inner cylinder 131, located between the two water passage holes 135 and communicating with the two water passage holes 135, and a water pump 134 is provided in the water flow channel 133.

[0065] By installing the water pump 134 inside the water flow channel 133 outside the side wall of the inner cylinder 131, when the water flow power in one or more of the multiple filters is insufficient, the water pump 134 can be used to pump water through the water flow channel 133 into the filter with insufficient water flow power, thereby improving the filtration efficiency. Furthermore, since the water pump 134 is installed outside the inner cylinder 131, it is not affected by the water flow power of the inner cylinder 132, and the inner cylinder 131 can be directly removed from the outer cylinder 132. In this embodiment, the water flow channel 133 can be set between any two filters among the multiple filters, that is, the water flow channel 133 is connected to the outlet and inlet of any two filters respectively through the water passage 135.

[0066] In the above scheme, the filter pore sizes of multiple filters can be the same or different, that is, the filter pore sizes of multiple filters decrease sequentially with the direction of water flow. Preferably, the filter pore sizes of multiple filters in the above scheme are the same.

[0067] Preferably, such as Figure 3 As shown, the inner cylinder 131 has two water passage holes 135 on one side wall between two adjacent filters.

[0068] In one preferred embodiment, the water flow channel 133 is connected to the outlet and inlet of two adjacent filters through the water passage 135.

[0069] In this technical solution, the pore sizes of multiple filters can be the same or different, that is, the pore sizes of multiple filters decrease sequentially along the direction of water flow.

[0070] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the inner cylinder 131 includes a first chamber 136 and a second chamber 137, the first chamber 136 and the second chamber 137 are not in communication; the first chamber 136 is provided with the coarse filter 14 and / or the microfiber filter 15, and the second chamber 137 is provided with the microfiber filter 15.

[0071] The inner cylinder has a first water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the first chamber 136, and the inner cylinder has a second water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the second chamber 137.

[0072] The water flow channel 133 is located between the first water passage and the second water passage, and is connected to the first water passage and the second water passage. A water pump 134 is provided in the water flow channel 133.

[0073] The direction of water flow within filter unit 13 is as follows: Figure 6As shown, by setting two non-communicating chambers in the inner cylinder 131, it can be ensured that the water flowing out of the first chamber 136 flows into the second chamber 137 through the water flow channel 133, thereby avoiding water flow dispersion and reducing the flow force of the water. As shown in the figure, the water flow channel 133 is a rectangular structure. In order to reduce the resistance of the water flow, the rectangular water flow channel 133 can be set into a smooth structure.

[0074] In some embodiments, the pore sizes of the multiple coarse filters 14 and / or microfiber filters 15 decrease sequentially along the direction of water flow. This can extend the service life of the filter unit 13.

[0075] In some embodiments, the circumferential edge of the water passage 135 is provided with a sealing structure; preferably, the sealing structure is a sealing ring.

[0076] In the above scheme, the flow capacity of water can be improved by setting a sealing structure at the water passage 135.

[0077] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the washing machine 1 also includes a drain pipe 16, one end of which is connected to the circulating water pipe 12 and the other end of which is connected to an external drain pipe; the filter unit 13 is disposed on the drain pipe 16.

[0078] Preferably, a plurality of coarse filters 14 and / or microfiber filters 15 are sequentially arranged on the drain pipe 16 along the flow direction of the water.

[0079] The wastewater is further filtered by installing the coarse filter 14 and / or the microfiber filter 15 on the drainage pipe 16, thereby reducing the content of impurities such as microfibers. Those skilled in the art can install multiple filter units 13 in appropriate locations according to actual usage and needs.

[0080] In some implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the filter unit 13 also includes a bypass pipe 17, one end of which is connected to the first chamber 136 and / or the second chamber 137 via a drain valve 18, and the other end is connected to the water tank 11 and / or the drain pipe 16.

[0081] When the filter becomes clogged, the bypass pipe 17 can be used to guide the water flow to the water tank 11 and / or the drain pipe 16. When the water flow is relatively clean, it can be directed to the water tank 11 for recycling. If the water flow is dirty, it can be directed to the drain pipe 16 to be discharged from the machine.

[0082] Preferably, one end of the bypass pipeline is connected to the second chamber near the first chamber via a drain valve.

[0083] In some implementations, such as Figure 4 As shown, the microfiber filter 15 includes a filter housing 151 and a filter screen 152 disposed inside the filter housing 151, dividing the internal space of the filter housing 151 into an upper chamber 153 and a lower chamber 154; one end of the upper chamber 153 is provided with a water inlet 155, and the other end of the lower chamber 154 is provided with a water outlet 156.

[0084] like Figure 5 As shown, the filter housing 151 is installed in the inner cylinder 131. Water flows through the upper chamber 153, passes through the filter screen 152, and flows into the lower chamber 154. When water flows into the inner cylinder 131, it takes a certain amount of time to flow into the water inlet of the first chamber 136. The impact force of the water flow is slowed down near the water inlet in the inner cylinder 131 to reduce the speed of the water flow through the first chamber 136, thereby improving the filtration effect of the microfiber.

[0085] In the above scheme, the filter housing 151 is cylindrical. Of course, the filter housing 151 can also adopt other shapes, such as cup-shaped, prism-shaped, parallelepiped-shaped, or other arbitrary box-shaped structures. In this case, the shape of the inner cylinder 131 can correspond to the shape of the filter housing 151.

[0086] In some embodiments, the filter unit 13 further includes a sensor installed inside the filter housing 151 for detecting the content of microfibers in the microfiber filter 15; and a controller electrically connected to the sensor and the drain valve 18 for controlling the opening and closing of the bypass pipeline 17.

[0087] In the above scheme, when the sensor detects a large amount of lint in the coarse filter 14 or the microfiber filter 15, the controller controls the drain valve 18 to open the bypass pipe 17.

[0088] It is understandable that the sensor can be a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a turbidimeter sensor, a color change indicator sensor, a precipitation analysis sensor, a flux sensor, an infrared sensor, or any other sensor, or any combination thereof.

[0089] In some implementations, such as Figure 2 As shown, the front panel of the outer shell 10 has an installation port 19, and the inner cylinder 131 is detachably installed on the circulating water pipe 12 at the position corresponding to the installation port 19.

[0090] Of course, a corresponding door cover can also be installed on the front panel at the mounting port 19. Users can open the door cover to remove the inner cylinder 131 to clean or replace the filter.

[0091] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine, comprising, Outer shell (10); A water container (11) is disposed inside the outer casing (10); The circulating water pipeline (12) is connected to the inlet and outlet of the water container (11); A filter unit is installed on the circulating water pipeline (12); The filter unit is characterized in that it comprises: Multiple coarse filters (14) and / or microfiber filters (15) are sequentially arranged on the circulating water pipeline (12) along the direction of water flow; The inner cylinder (131) is detachably installed inside the outer shell (10), and multiple coarse filters (14) and / or microfiber filters (15) are disposed in the inner cylinder (131); The filtering unit also includes, An outer cylinder (132) is disposed inside the outer shell (10), and an inner cylinder (131) is detachably installed in the outer cylinder (132); A water flow channel (133) is provided between the inner wall of the outer cylinder (132) and the side wall of the inner cylinder (131); The inner cylinder (131) has two water passage holes (135) on one side wall between two adjacent filters. The inner cylinder (131) includes, The first chamber (136) and the second chamber (137) are not in communication; The first chamber (136) is provided with the coarse filter (14) and / or the microfiber filter (15), and the second chamber is provided with the microfiber filter (15); The inner cylinder (131) has a first water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the first chamber (136), and the inner cylinder (131) has a second water passage hole on the side wall corresponding to the second chamber (137). The water flow channel (133) is located between the first water passage and the second water passage, and is connected to the first water passage and the second water passage. A water pump (134) is provided in the water flow channel (133). Each water passage (135) has a sealing structure on its circumferential edge.

2. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pore sizes of multiple coarse filters (14) and / or microfiber filters (15) decrease sequentially along the direction of water flow.

3. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sealing structure is a sealing ring.

4. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The washing machine (1) also includes, The drainage pipe (16) is connected at one end to the circulating water pipe (12) and at the other end to the external drainage pipe; The filter unit is installed on the drain pipe (16).

5. A washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, Multiple coarse filters (14) and / or microfiber filters (15) are sequentially arranged on the drain pipe (16) along the flow direction of the water.

6. A washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: The filtering unit also includes, The bypass pipe (17) is connected at one end to the first chamber (136) and / or the second chamber (137) via a drain valve (18), and at the other end to the water tank (11) and / or the drain pipe (16).

7. A washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The microfiber filter (15) includes, Filter housing (151); A filter screen (152) is disposed inside the filter housing (151), dividing the internal space of the filter housing (151) into an upper chamber (153) and a lower chamber (154); The upper chamber (153) is provided with a water inlet (155) at one end, and the lower chamber (154) is provided with a water outlet (156) at the other end.

8. A washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The filtering unit also includes, A sensor, installed inside the filter housing (151), is used to detect the content of microfibers in the microfiber filter (15); The controller, electrically connected to the sensor and the drain valve (18), is used to control the opening and closing of the bypass pipeline (17).

9. A washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front panel of the outer shell (10) has an installation port (19), and the inner cylinder (131) is detachably installed on the circulating water pipeline (12) at the position corresponding to the installation port (19).

Images