A flow-adaptive water flow system and cleaning method for a cleaning machine

Abstract

This invention relates to a flow-adaptive water flow system and cleaning method for a washing machine. The pump mechanism has a return water inlet at its bottom, whose opening increases with increasing water pressure and decreases with decreasing water pressure. A jet hole for vertically spraying water is located in the center of the top wall of the spray arm. A flow regulator is installed in the spray arm, which increases the jet intensity of the jet hole as the return water inlet opening increases and decreases the jet intensity as the return water inlet opening decreases. This invention allows for adjustment of the pump mechanism's power to regulate water pressure according to different dishwashing needs. The return water inlet opening automatically adjusts with water pressure, thus automatically adjusting the flow rate according to cleaning requirements, maintaining good cleaning results while saving water and cleaning costs. The flow regulator in the spray arm automatically adjusts the jet flow rate and spray intensity of the central jet hole of the spray arm according to the return water inlet opening, meeting the cleaning requirements of dishes placed directly above it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of dishwasher technology, specifically to a flow-adaptive water flow system and cleaning method for a dishwasher used to clean tableware. Background Technology

[0002] As people's living standards improve, dishwashers are gradually becoming a common appliance in the kitchen.

[0003] Currently, dishwashers mainly use two types of water flow systems: open and closed. In an open water flow system, the water pump is located inside the washing chamber and is directly connected to it. In a closed water flow system, the water pump is located outside the washing chamber but is connected to it via a pipe. Open water flow systems have a significant advantage in pump performance because they shorten the return water travel distance, thus reducing fluid energy loss.

[0004] The applicant's prior patent ZL 201310749864.9, "Tank-type Washing Machine," discloses a washing machine employing an open water flow system. The machine includes a tank body forming a washing space. The tank body has a recessed section at least in the center. A drain plate with the same shape as the recessed section covers the recessed section. The drain plate has multiple drain holes for draining water. The space between the recessed section and the drain plate forms a draining area. The drain plate is flush with the rest of the bottom of the tank body. A pump is provided within the draining area to pump water from the draining area to the top of the drain plate.

[0005] The above structure places the water pump in the drainage area of ​​the sink body, which has a good water replenishment effect. However, when the number of dishes to be washed or the degree of contamination are different, the requirements for water flow and water pressure are also different. In order to meet the washing needs, current washing machines can only provide a large enough flow and water pressure, resulting in high washing costs and waste of resources. When there are a lot of dishes to be washed, the dishes are placed relatively densely, and the central part of the spray arm generally does not have spray holes, resulting in poor cleaning of the dishes placed in the center of the dish rack. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cleaning flow adaptive water flow system that can automatically adjust the flow rate and water pressure according to the cleaning needs, thereby meeting the cleaning needs and saving cleaning costs, in light of the current state of the prior art.

[0007] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a flow-adaptive water flow system that can automatically adjust the local spray intensity according to the cleaning needs to improve the cleaning effect, in light of the current state of the prior art.

[0008] The third technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cleaning method that can automatically adjust the flow rate and water pressure according to the cleaning needs, thereby meeting the cleaning needs and saving cleaning costs, in view of the current state of the prior art.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows:

[0010] An adaptive water flow system for a cleaning machine includes a pump mechanism housed in the cleaning machine's housing and supported at the bottom of the housing. A spray arm is connected to the pump mechanism. A drive unit for providing power to the pump mechanism is provided outside the housing. The bottom of the pump mechanism has a return water inlet whose opening increases with increasing water pressure and decreases with decreasing water pressure. The top wall of the spray arm has multiple spray holes spaced apart along its length. The central part of the top wall of the spray arm has a jet hole for vertically spraying a water column upwards. The spray arm is equipped with a flow regulator that increases the jet intensity of the jet hole as the opening of the return water inlet increases and decreases the jet intensity as the opening of the return water inlet decreases.

[0011] Preferably, the pumping mechanism includes a pump casing, which comprises an upper casing and a lower casing that can be interlocked to enclose a pump chamber. The lower casing has a suction port at its bottom, and the upper casing has an outlet at its top that communicates with the spray arm. The lower casing has a downward-extending support edge at its bottom edge that rests against the bottom wall of the casing. The return water inlet is located on this support edge. The upper casing is vertically constrained above the lower casing. The edge of the upper casing has a surrounding edge that can seal the return water inlet when it sinks under its own weight and open it when it floats under hydraulic pressure. With this structure, the opening of the return water inlet can be automatically adjusted according to the water pressure within the pumping mechanism, eliminating the problems of spray arm swaying and jamming caused by unstable water flow.

[0012] Preferably, the flow regulator includes an adjusting plate and a connecting column. The adjusting plate is disposed in the spray arm and its bottom is constrained to the lower housing by the connecting column. The adjusting plate is arranged corresponding to the jet holes and encloses a flow channel between itself and the top wall of the spray arm, through which water is supplied and output. The width of the flow channel in the vertical direction increases or decreases as the spray arm moves up and down. The movement of the adjusting plate is synchronized with the movement of the lower housing, and the movement of the spray arm is synchronized with the movement of the upper housing. When the upper housing descends relative to the lower housing, the opening of the return water inlet decreases, the water intake decreases, and at the same time, the height of the flow channel decreases (i.e., the flow area decreases), and the water flow rate of the jet holes decreases. When the upper housing rises relative to the lower housing, the opening of the return water inlet increases, the water intake increases, and at the same time, the height of the flow channel increases, and the water flow rate of the jet holes increases. Thus, the water consumption and the flow rate of the jet holes can be adjusted according to the power of the driving component.

[0013] Preferably, the width of the adjusting plate matches the width of the spray arm's flow channel, and the long edge of the adjusting plate is arranged close to the inner wall of the spray arm and is guided vertically to the inner wall of the spray arm. This structure positions the inlet of the flow channel on both sides of the adjusting plate, and the lower surface of the adjusting plate faces the water inlet of the spray arm, effectively diverting the water flow and avoiding the impact of the jet holes on the water pressure flowing to both sides of the main flow channel of the spray arm. At the same time, the water flow enters the flow channel from both ends of the adjusting plate, reducing the interference between this part of the inlet water and the water flow flowing to the main flow channel of the spray arm.

[0014] Preferably, a vertically extending guide strip is provided at the length edge of the adjusting plate, and correspondingly, a guide groove is formed on the inner wall of the spray arm to cooperate with and limit the movement of the guide strip. Because the water pressure in the spray arm is very high, the above structure ensures that the adjusting plate moves stably and reliably relative to the spray arm.

[0015] In this invention, the pumping mechanism includes a spatial guide vane, an impeller, and a pump casing. The spatial guide vane includes a cover plate and guide vanes. The cover plate is horizontally disposed in the middle of the pump casing and divides the inner cavity of the pump casing into a relatively independent upper cavity and a lower cavity. The outlet is connected to the upper cavity. There are multiple guide vanes arranged vertically on the lower surface of the cover plate. The multiple guide vanes cover the circumferential area of ​​the cover plate and are arranged at intervals along the circumference. The guide vanes extend spirally inward from the edge of the cover plate against the direction of water flow. A flow channel is constrained between two adjacent guide vanes. The cover plate portion corresponding to the top of the guide vane is at least partially missing to form a gap for the flow channel to connect with the upper cavity. The impeller is rotatably disposed in the lower cavity. The bottom of the impeller has an inlet corresponding to the suction port and the side has an outlet corresponding to the gap. This invention incorporates a spatial guide vane and impeller within the pump casing to guide and pressurize axially incoming water before axially outputting it, thus meeting water pressure requirements. Furthermore, the spray arm is mounted on the pump casing without needing to engage with the impeller, improving the stability of the water flow entering the spray arm and consequently enhancing its rotational stability. Simultaneously, since the impeller no longer engages with the spray arm's inlet, the water pressure at the inlet is stabilized, preventing gas intake and water leakage issues.

[0016] Preferably, the outlet is located in the central part of the top wall of the upper shell, and the upper surface of the cover plate is provided with converging blades that extend spirally from the edge to the center to gather the water flow delivered through the notch to the outlet. This structure can rectify and guide the water flow entering the upper cavity, avoid energy loss caused by water flow turbulence, and improve water pressure and head.

[0017] Preferably, the inner ends of each of the return flow blades converge at the center of the upper surface of the cover plate to form a limiting groove. The lower end of the connecting column is rotatably inserted into the limiting groove, and the upper end of the connecting column is connected to the lower surface of the adjusting plate. This structure facilitates the rotational limiting of the connecting column. Furthermore, the vertical extension of the connecting column, passing through the pump casing outlet and the spray arm inlet, and extending into the spray arm, can serve to guide and rectify the flow.

[0018] To facilitate the limiting of the connecting column, the inner wall of the limiting groove contracts near the upper port to form a lower step surface, and the outer peripheral wall of the lower end of the connecting column is provided with a limiting rib that can cooperate with the lower step surface for limiting.

[0019] Preferably, the lower housing includes a first horizontal portion and a supporting edge extending downward from the edge of the first horizontal portion. The water inlet is located at the center of the first horizontal portion. The upper housing includes an annular second horizontal portion corresponding to the first horizontal portion. The surrounding edge extends downward from the outer edge of the second horizontal portion and is arranged around the supporting edge. An upwardly extending cylinder is provided at the inner edge of the second horizontal portion. The top of the cylinder gradually converges radially towards the center to form the water outlet. The cylinder and the upper surface of the first horizontal portion together enclose the pump chamber. This structure facilitates relative floating between the upper and lower housings.

[0020] To facilitate the connection between the spray arm and the pumping mechanism, the edge of the outlet extends upward to form an outlet sleeve, which is detachably connected to the inlet at the bottom of the spray arm.

[0021] Preferably, the upper surface of the first horizontal portion is provided with an upwardly extending limiting post, and correspondingly, the second horizontal portion has a limiting opening for the limiting post to pass through. The top of the limiting post is provided with a limiting part that can limit the upper shell after it floats. The limiting distance of the limiting post on the upper shell is basically the same as the height of the return water inlet, to ensure smooth opening and closing of the return water inlet.

[0022] Preferably, the upper surface of the first horizontal portion is recessed at its outer edge to form a receiving groove, in which a sealing ring is embedded that can contact and seal with the inner surface of the upper housing after the upper housing sinks.

[0023] One cleaning method is as follows:

[0024] When the number of tableware n > A sets, water is introduced into the tank. When the rotation speed of the drive component is set to a constant a revolutions per minute, the power of the drive component is just enough to maintain the opening of the return water port at the maximum state. The spray arm maintains a large jet water flow and jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm is at the highest position as the upper shell floats up, the height of the flow channel is at the maximum state, and the jet holes concentrate the large flow to rinse the tableware that is placed densely above the spray arm.

[0025] When the number of tableware B≤n≤A sets, water is introduced into the tank. When the rotation speed of the drive is set to a constant b revolutions / hour, b<a, the power of the drive keeps the opening of the return water port in a half-open state. The spray arm maintains a medium spray water flow rate and a large spray head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm is located in the middle position as the upper shell floats up, the height of the flow channel is in the middle state, and the jet hole rinses the tableware located directly above the spray arm with a medium flow rate.

[0026] When the number of tableware n < B sets, water is introduced into the tank. When the rotation speed of the drive is set to a constant c revolutions / hour, c < b, the power of the drive keeps the opening of the return water port less than half open. The spray arm maintains a small jet water flow rate and a large jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm is located at a low position as the upper shell floats up, the flow channel is at a low height, and the jet holes rinse the tableware located directly above the spray arm with a small flow rate.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: The present invention can adjust the power of the pump mechanism according to the quantity or degree of contamination of the tableware to achieve water pressure regulation. The opening of the return water port is automatically adjusted with the water pressure, thereby automatically adjusting the flow rate according to the cleaning needs, so that the head and pressure of the spray water column are always stable, maintaining a good cleaning effect while saving water and cleaning costs. At the same time, the flow regulator in the spray arm automatically adjusts the jet flow rate and spray intensity of the central jet hole of the spray arm according to the opening of the return water port, thereby meeting the cleaning requirements of the tableware placed directly above it. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cleaning machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Partial sectional view (with return water outlet fully open);

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Partial sectional view (return outlet partially open);

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the pumping mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure;

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Exploded view;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the space guide vane in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure;

[0036] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing the interaction between the spray arm and the flow regulator in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the flow regulator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0039] like Figures 1-10 As shown, the adaptive water flow system of the cleaning machine in this embodiment is applicable to dishwashers. The dishwasher includes a housing 01, a water pumping mechanism, a spray arm 02, and a drive unit 5. The bottom of the housing 01 is provided with a recessed water return area 011. The water pumping mechanism is located in the water return area 011 and supported on the inner bottom wall of the housing 01. The bottom of the water pumping mechanism has a water inlet 11 and the top has a water outlet 12. The bottom wall of the spray arm 02 has a water inlet 021. The spray arm 02 is rotatably mounted on the water pumping mechanism, and its water inlet 021 is connected to the water outlet 12. The drive unit 5 is a motor, located on the outer bottom of the housing 01. The power output shaft of the drive unit 5 passes through the bottom wall of the housing 01 and is connected to the water pumping mechanism to drive the water pumping mechanism to pump water from the water return area 011 to the spray arm 02.

[0040] In this embodiment, the bottom of the pumping mechanism has a return water inlet 131 whose opening increases with increasing water pressure and decreases with decreasing water pressure. The top wall of the spray arm 02 has multiple spray holes 022 arranged at intervals along its length. Each spray hole 022 is arranged at an angle relative to the top wall of the spray arm 02. The central part of the top wall of the spray arm 02 has a jet hole 023 for vertically spraying water columns. The jet holes 023 extend vertically and there are multiple jet holes 023 arranged in a dense array. The spray arm 02 is equipped with a flow regulator 7 that can increase the jet intensity of the jet holes 023 as the opening of the return water inlet 131 increases and decrease the jet intensity of the jet holes 023 as the opening of the return water inlet 131 decreases.

[0041] With the above structure, the power of the pump mechanism can be adjusted according to the quantity or degree of soiling of the tableware to achieve water pressure regulation. The opening of the return water inlet 131 is automatically adjusted with the water pressure, thereby automatically adjusting the flow rate according to the cleaning needs to keep the head and pressure of the spray water jet stable. This saves water and reduces cleaning costs while maintaining a good cleaning effect. At the same time, the flow regulator 7 in the spray arm 02 automatically adjusts the jet flow rate and spray intensity of the central jet hole of the spray arm 02 according to the opening of the return water inlet 131, thereby meeting the cleaning requirements of the tableware placed directly above it.

[0042] The pumping mechanism of this embodiment includes a spatial guide vane A, an impeller 3, and a pump casing 1. The spatial guide vane A and the impeller 3 are disposed in the pump casing 1 and are used to draw water from bottom to top.

[0043] The pump casing 1 includes an upper casing 14 and a lower casing 15 that can be interlocked to enclose the pump chamber 10. The lower casing 15 has a suction port 11 at its bottom, and the upper casing 14 has a water outlet 12 at its top that communicates with the spray arm 02. A support edge 13 extending downwards and supported on the bottom wall of the housing 01 is provided at the bottom edge of the lower casing 15. A return water port 131 is located on this support edge 13. The upper casing 14 is vertically constrained above the lower casing 15. The support edge 13 is located at the bottom edge of the lower casing 15. The edge of the upper casing 14 has a surrounding edge 141 that seals the return water port 131 when it sinks under its own weight and opens it when it floats up in the water. With this structure, the opening of the return water port 131 can be automatically adjusted according to the water pressure within the pump mechanism, eliminating the problems of spray arm swaying and jamming caused by unstable water flow.

[0044] The lower housing 15 includes a first horizontal portion 151 and a supporting edge 13 extending downward from the edge of the first horizontal portion 151. A water inlet 11 is located at the center of the first horizontal portion 151. The upper housing 14 includes an annular second horizontal portion 142 corresponding to the first horizontal portion 151. A surrounding edge 141 extends downward from the outer edge of the second horizontal portion 142 and is arranged around the supporting edge 13. An upwardly extending cylindrical body 143 is provided at the inner edge of the second horizontal portion 142. The top of the cylindrical body 143 gradually converges radially towards the center to form a water outlet 12. The cylindrical body 143 and the upper surface of the first horizontal portion 151 together enclose the pump chamber 10. This structure facilitates relative floating between the upper housing 14 and the lower housing 15.

[0045] To facilitate the connection between the spray arm 02 and the pump mechanism, the edge of the outlet 12 extends upward to form an outlet sleeve 121, which is detachably connected to the inlet 021 at the bottom of the spray arm 02 via a snap-fit ​​structure.

[0046] The upper surface of the first horizontal section 151 is provided with an upwardly extending limiting post 152. Correspondingly, the second horizontal section 142 has a limiting opening 1421 for the limiting post 152 to pass through. The top of the limiting post 152 is provided with a limiting part 1521 that can limit the upper housing 14 after it floats. The limiting distance of the limiting post 152 on the upper housing 14 is basically the same as the height of the return water port 131 to ensure smooth opening and closing of the return water port 131.

[0047] The upper surface of the first horizontal portion 151 is recessed at its outer edge to form a receiving groove 1522, in which a sealing ring 6 is embedded, which can contact and seal with the inner surface of the upper housing 14 after the upper housing 14 is sunk.

[0048] In this embodiment, the spatial guide vane A includes a cover plate 2 and guide vanes 21. The cover plate 2 is horizontally disposed in the middle of the pump casing 1 and divides the inner cavity of the pump casing 1 into a relatively independent upper cavity 101 and a lower cavity 102. The outlet 12 is connected to the upper cavity 101. There are multiple guide vanes 21 and they are arranged vertically on the lower surface of the cover plate 2. The multiple guide vanes 21 cover the circumferential area of ​​the cover plate 2 and are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction. The guide vanes 21 extend spirally from the edge of the cover plate 2 inward against the direction of water flow. A guide channel 23 is constrained between two adjacent guide vanes 21. The part of the cover plate 2 corresponding to the top of the guide vane 21 is at least partially missing to form a gap 24 for the guide channel 23 to connect with the upper cavity 101. The impeller 3 is rotatably disposed in the lower cavity 102. The impeller 3 is a centrifugal impeller. In this embodiment, a spatial guide vane and impeller are provided in the pump casing to guide and pressurize axially incoming water through circumferential means before axially outputting it, in order to meet the water pressure requirements. Based on this, the spray arm is set on the pump casing without needing to cooperate with the impeller, which improves the stability of the water flow entering the spray arm and thus improves the rotational stability of the spray arm. At the same time, since the impeller no longer corresponds to the water inlet of the spray arm, the water pressure at the water inlet of the spray arm is stabilized, avoiding the problems of gas intake and water leakage.

[0049] The outer ends of the guide vanes 21 are arranged close to the inner circumferential wall of the pump casing 1 and close to the edge of the impeller 3. In two adjacent guide vanes 21, the outer end portion of the first guide vane 21 and the inner end portion of the second guide vane 21 are staggered to enclose the guide channel 23. The cover plate 2 is missing from the corresponding outer end of the first guide vane 21 to the outer end of the second guide vane 21, forming a gap 24. This structure allows the gap to be properly connected to the outlet end of the guide channel, reducing energy loss.

[0050] The outlet 12 is located in the center of the top wall of the pump casing 1. The upper surface of the cover plate 2 is provided with a converging vane 25 that spirals from the edge to the center to gather the water flow delivered through the notch 24 to the outlet 12. This structure can rectify and guide the water flow entering the upper cavity, avoid energy loss caused by water flow turbulence, and improve water pressure and head.

[0051] In this embodiment, the flow regulator 7 includes an adjustment plate 71 and a connecting column 72. The adjustment plate 71 is disposed in the spray arm 02 and its bottom is constrained to the cover plate 2 by the connecting column 72. The adjustment plate 71 is arranged corresponding to the jet hole 023 and encloses a flow channel 024 between itself and the top wall of the spray arm 02, through which water is supplied and output through the jet hole 023. The width of the flow channel 024 in the vertical direction increases or decreases as the spray arm 02 moves up and down. The aforementioned regulating plate 72 moves synchronously with the lower housing 15, and the spray arm 02 moves synchronously with the upper housing 14. When the upper housing 14 descends relative to the lower housing 15, the opening of the return water port 131 decreases, the water intake decreases, and at the same time, the height of the flow channel 024 decreases (i.e., the flow area decreases), and the water flow rate of the jet orifice decreases. When the upper housing 14 rises relative to the lower housing 15, the opening of the return water port 131 increases, the water intake increases, and at the same time, the height of the flow channel 024 increases, and the water flow rate of the jet orifice 023 increases. Thus, the water consumption and the water jet flow rate of the jet orifice 023 can be adjusted according to the power of the driving component 5.

[0052] The width of the regulating plate 71 matches the width of the flow channel of the spray arm 02. The long edge of the regulating plate 71 is arranged close to the inner wall of the spray arm 02 and is guided and matched with the upper and lower inner wall of the spray arm 02. This structure places the inlet of the flow channel 024 on both sides of the regulating plate 71. The lower surface of the regulating plate 71 faces the water inlet 021 of the spray arm 02, which can effectively divert the water and avoid affecting the water pressure on both sides of the main flow channel of the spray arm 02 due to the setting of the jet hole 023. At the same time, the water flows into the flow channel 024 from both ends of the regulating plate 72, which can reduce the interference between the water inlet and the water flow to the main flow channel of the spray arm 02.

[0053] A vertically extending guide strip 711 is provided at the long edge of the adjusting plate 71. Correspondingly, a guide groove 025 is provided on the inner wall of the spray arm 02 to cooperate with and limit the guide strip 711. Since the water pressure in the spray arm 02 is very high, the above structure can make the movement of the adjusting plate 71 stable and reliable during the movement of the spray arm 02.

[0054] The inner ends of each return vane 25 converge at the center of the upper surface of the cover plate 2 to form a limiting groove 26. The lower end of the connecting column 72 is rotatably inserted into the limiting groove 26, and the upper end of the connecting column 72 is connected to the lower surface of the adjusting plate 71. This structure facilitates the rotational limiting of the connecting column 72. Furthermore, the vertical extension of the connecting column 72, passing through the outlet 12 of the pump casing 1 and the inlet 021 of the spray arm 02, extends into the spray arm 02, which can play a role in guiding and rectifying the flow.

[0055] In order to facilitate the limiting of the connecting column 72, the inner wall of the limiting groove 26 contracts near the upper port to form a lower step surface 261, and the outer peripheral wall of the lower end of the connecting column 72 is provided with a limiting rib 721 that can cooperate with the lower step surface 261 for limiting.

[0056] When the degree of contamination of the tableware is relatively uniform, the cleaning method in this embodiment is as follows:

[0057] When the number of tableware n > A sets (e.g., 17 sets), water is introduced into the tank 01. When the rotation speed of the drive component 5 is set to a constant 2800 rpm, the power of the drive component 5 is just enough to keep the opening of the return water port 131 at its maximum. The spray arm 02 maintains a large jet water flow and jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm 02 is at its highest position as the upper shell 14 floats up, the height of the flow channel 024 is at its maximum, and the jet hole 023 concentrates to rinse the tableware that is located directly above the spray arm 02 and is densely placed with a large flow rate.

[0058] When the number of tableware B≤n≤A sets (e.g., 12 sets), water is introduced into the tank 01. The rotation speed of the drive component 5 is set to a constant 1800 rpm. The power of the drive component 5 keeps the opening of the return water port 131 in a half-open state. The spray arm 02 maintains a medium spray water flow rate and a large spray head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm 02 is located in the middle position as the upper shell 14 floats up. The height of the flow channel 024 is in the middle state. The jet hole 023 rinses the tableware located directly above the spray arm 02 with a medium flow rate.

[0059] When the number of tableware n < B sets (e.g., 7 sets), water is introduced into the tank 01. When the rotation speed of the drive component 5 is set to a constant 1500 rpm, the power of the drive component 5 keeps the opening of the return water port 131 less than half open. The spray arm 02 maintains a small jet water flow rate and a large jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm 02 is located at a low position as the upper shell 14 floats up, the flow channel 024 is at a low height, and the jet hole 023 rinses the tableware located directly above the spray arm 02 with a small flow rate.

[0060] When the tableware is highly contaminated, the power of the drive unit 5 can be increased appropriately.

[0061] The specification and claims of this invention use terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of the invention. However, these terms are used herein merely for ease of explanation and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this invention can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

Claims

1. A flow-adaptive water flow system for a cleaning machine, comprising a pump mechanism disposed in a housing (01) of the cleaning machine and supported at the bottom of the housing (01), a spray arm (02) connected above the pump mechanism, and a drive component (5) for providing power to the pump mechanism disposed outside the housing (01), characterized in that: The bottom of the pumping mechanism has a return water inlet (131) whose opening increases with increasing water pressure and decreases with decreasing water pressure. The top wall of the spray arm (02) has multiple spray holes (022) arranged at intervals along its length. The central part of the top wall of the spray arm (02) has a jet hole (023) for vertically spraying water columns. The spray arm (02) is equipped with a flow regulator (7) that increases the jet intensity of the jet hole (023) as the opening of the return water inlet (131) increases and decreases the jet intensity of the jet hole (023) as the opening of the return water inlet (131) decreases.

2. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pumping mechanism includes a pump housing (1), which includes an upper housing (14) and a lower housing (15) that can be fastened together to enclose a pump chamber (10). The bottom of the lower housing (15) has a water inlet (11), and the top of the upper housing (14) has a water outlet (12) that communicates with the spray arm (02). The bottom edge of the lower housing (15) is provided with a support side (13) that extends downward and is supported on the bottom wall of the box (01). The return water inlet (131) is provided on the support side (13). The upper housing (14) can float up and down and is constrained above the lower housing (15). The edge of the upper housing (14) is provided with a surrounding edge (141) that can seal the return water inlet (131) when it sinks under its own weight and open the return water inlet (131) when it floats up under the action of water.

3. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 2, characterized in that: The flow regulator (7) includes an adjustment plate (71) and a connecting column (72). The adjustment plate (71) is located in the spray arm (02) and its bottom is constrained to the lower housing (15) by the connecting column (72). The adjustment plate (71) is arranged corresponding to the jet hole (023) and encloses a flow channel (024) between itself and the top wall of the spray arm (02) to supply water through the jet hole. The width of the flow channel (024) in the vertical direction increases or decreases as the spray arm (02) moves up and down.

4. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The width of the adjusting plate (71) matches the width of the flow channel of the spray arm (02). The long edge of the adjusting plate (71) is arranged close to the inner wall of the spray arm (02) and is guided and matched with the upper and lower inner wall of the spray arm (02).

5. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 4, characterized in that: A vertically extending guide strip (711) is provided at the length edge of the adjusting plate (71), and correspondingly, a guide groove (025) is provided on the inner wall of the spray arm (02) to cooperate with and limit the guide strip (711).

6. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pumping mechanism includes a spatial guide vane (A), an impeller (3), and the pump casing (1). The spatial guide vane (A) includes a cover plate (2) and guide vanes (21). The cover plate (2) is horizontally positioned in the middle of the pump casing (1) and divides the inner cavity of the pump casing (1) into a relatively independent upper cavity (101) and a lower cavity (102). The outlet (12) is connected to the upper cavity (101). There are multiple guide vanes (21) arranged vertically on the lower surface of the cover plate (2). The multiple guide vanes (21) cover the circumferential area of ​​the cover plate (2) and are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction. The guide vane (21) extends spirally inward from the edge of the cover plate (2) against the direction of water flow. A guide channel (23) is constrained between two adjacent guide vanes (21). At least part of the cover plate (2) corresponding to the top of the guide vane (21) is missing to form a notch (24) for the guide channel (23) to communicate with the upper cavity (101). The impeller (3) is rotatably disposed in the lower cavity (102). The bottom of the impeller (3) has an inlet (31) arranged corresponding to the water inlet (11), and the side has an outlet (32) arranged corresponding to the notch (24).

7. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outlet (12) is located in the center of the top wall of the upper shell (14). The upper surface of the cover plate (2) is provided with a converging blade (25) that extends spirally from the edge to the center and is used to gather the water flow delivered through the notch (24) to the outlet (12).

8. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inner ends of each of the busbar blades (25) converge at the center of the upper surface of the cover plate (2) and form a limiting groove (26). The lower end of the connecting post (72) is rotatably inserted into the limiting groove (26), and the upper end of the connecting post (72) is connected to the lower surface of the adjusting plate (71).

9. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 8, characterized in that: The inner wall of the limiting groove (26) contracts near the upper port to form a lower step surface (261), and the outer peripheral wall of the lower end of the connecting column (72) is provided with a limiting rib (721) that can cooperate with the lower step surface (261) for limiting.

10. The flow rate adaptive water flow system of the cleaning machine according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that: The lower housing (15) includes a first horizontal portion (151) and a support edge (13) extending downward from the edge of the first horizontal portion (151). The water inlet (11) is located in the center of the first horizontal portion (151). The upper housing (14) includes an annular second horizontal portion (142) arranged corresponding to the first horizontal portion (151). The surrounding edge (141) extends downward from the outer edge of the second horizontal portion (142) and is arranged around the support edge (13). An upwardly extending cylinder (143) is provided at the inner edge of the second horizontal portion (142). The top of the cylinder (143) gradually converges radially towards the center to form a water outlet (12). The cylinder (143) and the upper surface of the first horizontal portion (151) together enclose the pump chamber (10).

11. The flow rate adaptive water flow system of the cleaning machine according to claim 10, characterized in that: The edge of the outlet (12) extends upward to form an outlet sleeve (121), which is detachably connected to the inlet at the bottom of the spray arm (02).

12. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 10, characterized in that: The upper surface of the first horizontal portion (151) is provided with an upwardly extending limiting post (152). Correspondingly, the second horizontal portion (142) has a limiting opening (1421) for the limiting post (152) to pass through. The top of the limiting post (152) is provided with a limiting part (1521) that can limit the upper shell (14) after it floats up.

13. The adaptive water flow system for the cleaning machine according to claim 10, characterized in that: The upper surface of the first horizontal portion (151) is recessed at its outer edge to form a receiving groove (1522), in which a sealing ring (6) is embedded, which can contact and seal with the inner surface of the upper housing (14) after the upper housing (14) is sunk.

14. A cleaning method, characterized in that: The flow rate adaptive water flow system is applied to the cleaning machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13; When the number of tableware n > A sets, water is introduced into the box (01), and the rotation speed of the drive component (5) is set to a constant a revolutions / hour. The power of the drive component (5) just keeps the opening of the return water port (131) at its maximum. The spray arm (02) maintains a large jet water flow and jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm (02) is at its highest position as the upper shell (14) floats up, the height of the flow channel (024) is at its maximum, and the jet hole (023) concentrates to rinse the tableware that is located directly above the spray arm (02) and is densely placed with a large flow rate. When the number of tableware B≤n≤A sets, water is introduced into the box (01), and the rotation speed of the drive (5) is set to a constant b revolutions / hour, b<a. The power of the drive (5) keeps the opening of the return water port (131) in a half-open state. The spray arm (02) maintains a medium spray water flow and a large spray head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm (02) is located in the middle position as the upper shell (14) floats up, the height of the flow channel (024) is in the middle state, and the jet hole (023) rinses the tableware located directly above the spray arm (02) with a medium flow rate. When the number of tableware n < B sets, water is introduced into the box (01), and the rotation speed of the drive (5) is set to a constant c revolutions / hour, c < b. The power of the drive (5) keeps the opening of the return water port (131) less than half open. The spray arm (02) maintains a small jet water flow and a large jet head to clean the tableware. At this time, the spray arm (02) is located at a low position as the upper shell (14) floats up, the flow channel (024) is at a low height, and the jet hole (023) rinses the tableware located directly above the spray arm (02) with a small flow rate.

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