Washing machine drainage control method and device and washing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, and provides a washing machine drainage control method and device and a washing machine. According to the method, when the water level reaches a first preset water level, a drainage valve, a water inlet valve and a driving motor are controlled to be started, and the drainage valve drains water at a first drainage speed; the continuous operation of feeding water, discharging water and rotating at the same time is realized; the flowability of water is improved, the dissolution of a detergent on clothes and the falling of undissolved impurities adhered to the surface of the clothes are facilitated, and dissolved dirt and detergent residues in water in the barrel are taken away; when the water level reaches a second preset water level, the water inlet valve is controlled to feed water at a second water inlet speed, the water inlet flow can wash off undissolved impurities attached to the surface of the clothes or disturb the water body, the washing effect is more direct to the clothes exposed out of the water surface, and the washing or disturbing effect can be achieved at the lower second water inlet speed; dirt discharge is accelerated through dynamic drainage, and the drainage efficiency is improved. Meanwhile, invalid water injection and motor operation time are reduced, and the drainage period is shortened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of household appliance technology, specifically to a washing machine drainage control method, control device, and washing machine. Background Technology

[0002] The cleaning performance of top-loading washing machines is currently a key research focus in the washing machine industry. Most top-loading washing machines use an open-type detergent dispensing system, meaning users add detergent by opening the lid, rather than having a program-controlled metered dispensing method. This can easily lead to incomplete dissolution of detergent, especially laundry powder, in a single dispensing. Additionally, undissolved dirt and lint may remain on soiled clothes. These undissolved detergent residues, along with the undissolved dirt and lint on the clothes, are referred to as undissolved impurities.

[0003] Washing machines have a draining phase after both the main wash and rinse cycles. During this phase, clothes are piled up, and undissolved debris on the surface of the pile is easily washed away by the water. However, undissolved debris inside the pile is difficult to remove due to the pile's density. In such cases, users usually need to wash the clothes again. This increases user costs and wastes resources (water and electricity).

[0004] The information disclosed in the background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may contain information that is not part of the prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a washing machine drainage control method, control device, and washing machine to solve the problems of clothes piling up during the drainage stage and undissolved debris not being drained in time.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution: A method for controlling the drainage of a washing machine, comprising: Check the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine; When the water level reaches the first preset water level, the drain valve, the inlet valve and the drive motor are opened simultaneously. The drive motor is controlled to drive the inner tub and / or the impeller to rotate. The inlet pipe is controlled to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed. The drain pipe is controlled to drain water at a first drain speed. The first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches the second preset water level, the water inlet pipe is controlled to enter water at the second water inlet speed, and the drive motor is controlled to stop running; wherein, the second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level, and the second water inlet speed is lower than the first water inlet speed.

[0007] Optionally, before the water level reaches the first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level. If so, open the drain valve to drain the water until the water level drops to the first preset water level.

[0008] Optionally, before the water level reaches the first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine whether the water level is lower than the first preset water level. If so, open the water inlet valve to inject water until the water level rises to the first preset water level.

[0009] Optionally, the method further includes: When the water level is the third preset water level, the water inlet valve is closed. The third preset water level is the upper surface of the inner tub of the washing machine that is lower than the bottom of the tub.

[0010] Optionally, the method further includes: When the water level in the tub reaches the fourth preset water level, the drainage delay program is started, and the drain valve is closed after the drainage delay is completed; wherein, the fourth preset water level is lower than the bottom of the inner tub of the washing machine and higher than the bottom of the outer tub of the washing machine.

[0011] Optionally, when the water level in the bucket is higher than the first preset water level, the drain valve is opened and the water is drained at the first draining speed.

[0012] Optionally, when the water level in the tank is lower than the first preset water level, the water inlet valve is opened and water is injected at the first water inlet rate.

[0013] This application also provides a control device for a washing machine, including: A control device for a washing machine, comprising: The water level detection module is used to detect the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine. The water level judgment module is used to determine whether the water level has reached a first preset water level, and if so, to control the action control module to act in a first preset manner; and to determine whether the water level has reached a second preset water level, and if so, to control the action control module to act in a second preset manner. The motion control module is used to simultaneously open the drain valve, open the inlet valve, and start the drive motor when the water level reaches a first preset water level. Specifically, it controls the drive motor to rotate the inner tub and / or the impeller, controls the inlet pipe to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed, and controls the drain pipe to drain water at a first drain speed, where the first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches a second preset water level, it controls the inlet pipe to supply water at a second inlet speed and stops the drive motor. The second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level, and the second inlet speed is lower than the first inlet speed.

[0014] Optionally, the water level judgment module is further configured to determine whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level before the water level reaches the first preset water level; if so, control the action control module to start in a third preset mode. The motion control module is used to open the drain valve to drain water until the water level drops to the first preset water level.

[0015] This application also provides a washing machine, including the control device of the washing machine described in any of the above embodiments.

[0016] This application provides a washing machine drainage control method, comprising: detecting the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine; when the water level reaches a first preset water level, simultaneously opening the drain valve, opening the inlet valve, and starting the drive motor, wherein the drive motor is controlled to drive the inner tub and / or the pulsator to rotate, the inlet pipe is controlled to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed, and the drain pipe is controlled to drain water at a first drain speed, wherein the first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed; when the water level reaches a second preset water level, the inlet pipe is controlled to supply water at a second inlet speed, and the drive motor is controlled to stop operating; wherein the second preset water level is less than the first preset water level, and the second inlet speed is less than the first inlet speed.

[0017] The washing machine drainage control method, control device, and washing machine provided in this application embodiment have the following technical advantages compared to the prior art: When the water level reaches the first preset level, the drain valve, inlet valve, and drive motor are activated, and the drain valve drains water at a first drainage speed. This enables continuous operation with water intake, drainage, and rotation simultaneously, improving water flow and facilitating the dissolution of detergent on clothes and the removal of undissolved impurities adhering to the surface of the clothes. This, in turn, helps to quickly remove dissolved dirt and detergent residue from the water in the tub. When the water level drops to the second preset level, some clothes are exposed above the water surface. The rinsing effect is more direct on the exposed clothes, and a lower water flow can wash away impurities on the surface of the clothes. The inlet valve is then activated to allow water to enter at a second inlet speed. This lower water flow can wash away undissolved impurities adhering to the surface of the clothes or disturb the water, thereby reducing the overall drainage time. This method utilizes dynamic drainage to accelerate the effective removal of dirt, significantly improving the washing effect and drainage efficiency. It also reduces ineffective water injection and motor running time, shortening the drainage cycle. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the washing machine drainage control method according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0019] This invention discloses a washing machine drainage control method, control device, and washing machine to solve the problems of clothes piling up during the drainage stage and undissolved debris not being drained in time.

[0020] To make the technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the exemplary embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not an exhaustive list of all embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0021] Example 1 Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the washing machine drainage control method according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] In one specific embodiment, the washing machine drainage control method provided in this application includes: S11: Detect the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine; Real-time monitoring of the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine can be achieved by setting up a liquid level sensor or a vision sensor, providing input for subsequent control decisions based on water level thresholds.

[0023] S12: When the water level reaches the first preset water level, the drain valve, the inlet valve and the drive motor are opened simultaneously. The drive motor is controlled to drive the inner tub and / or the impeller to rotate. The inlet pipe is controlled to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed. The drain pipe is controlled to drain water at a first drain speed, and the first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches a specific high level, three actuators are activated simultaneously, including the drain valve, the inlet valve, and the drive motor. This enters a high-water-level agitation and drainage mode, enabling continuous operation with simultaneous water intake, drainage, and rotation. This increases the water flow rate, helping to quickly flush away dissolved dirt and detergent residue. It also reduces water consumption per cycle, improving water conservation. Simultaneously, the drive motor rotates the inner tub, enhancing the relative movement of clothes and water through mechanical agitation, improving cleaning effectiveness, and preventing clothes from tangling or settling at the bottom of the tub. During dynamic drainage, the clothes remain suspended, facilitating the removal of dirt.

[0024] The initial drainage speed is controlled to be greater than the initial water inflow speed, allowing drainage to occur simultaneously, with drainage exceeding water inflow, creating a net drainage trend. While maintaining a high water level, this continuously replaces the wastewater in the drum, achieving running water washing, significantly improving washing efficiency, avoiding repeated soaking of clothes in dirty water, and reducing secondary pollution. The first preset water level is preferably a level that completely submerges the clothes, allowing them to float in the water with a high degree of flexibility. Undissolved detergent on the clothes surface will further dissolve into the water, and undissolved lint and dirt adhering to the clothes surface will also be more easily removed from the clothes and enter the water. In other words, undissolved debris is more easily removed and enters the water under the rotation.

[0025] S13: When the water level reaches the second preset water level, control the water inlet valve to introduce water at the second water inlet speed, and control the drive motor to stop running; wherein, the second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level, and the second water inlet speed is lower than the first water inlet speed.

[0026] Understandably, when the water level reaches the second preset level, the drain valve continues to drain water at the first drainage rate, and the second preset level is lower than the first preset level. As the water level drops, when it falls to a lower threshold and the water level is no longer sufficient to completely submerge the clothes, the water inlet speed is reduced and the motor stops. When the water level drops, some debris in the water will adhere to the surface of the clothes, especially the surface of the clothes exposed above the water surface. However, the impact of the incoming water flow will wash away the surface of the clothes, causing the debris to enter the water and be carried away by the water flow. When the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the spacing between the clothes in the water becomes smaller, and the stretching of the clothes is greatly reduced. If the drive motor continues to drive the clothes to rotate at this time, undissolved debris in the water will re-enter between the clothes. Therefore, when the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the drive motor is directly shut off. The first stage primarily removes debris from clothing due to the higher water level. The rotation of the clothing allows it to float and expand, resulting in a longer submersion time and allowing undissolved debris to dislodge and be carried away by the water flow. However, as the water level drops and clothing becomes less submerged, more and more clothing emerges from the water. Undissolved debris then adheres to the surface, but this adhesion is less strong. The incoming water flow directly washes away the debris, resulting in a more direct rinsing effect. A lower second water flow rate is sufficient to achieve this rinsing effect, thus reducing the overall drainage time.

[0027] It utilizes dynamic drainage to accelerate the discharge of waste and improve drainage efficiency; at the same time, it reduces ineffective water injection and motor running time, shortening the drainage cycle.

[0028] In this embodiment, the first preset water level can be the normal washing water level. As an example, in this embodiment, before water enters, the pulsator washing machine first drives the inner tub to rotate at a low speed. By detecting the back electromotive force (Back EMF) pulse signal generated during motor operation, the weight of the clothes in the tub is estimated. Based on the obtained weight of the clothes, the system calculates the first preset water level for the first drainage stage. After determining the first preset water level, the system further calculates the second preset water level. The second preset water level is usually determined by a system preset or proportional scaling strategy, such as adjusting the first preset water level by a certain proportion (e.g., halving) to suit the subsequent second drainage stage. The specific second preset water level can be set according to actual needs. The determination of the first preset water level can be implemented by referring to the scheme of determining the washing water level based on the weight of the clothes in the art, which is a mature technology in the art, and this application does not specifically limit its implementation scheme. The following embodiments are optional schemes for determining the first and second preset water levels, and are only examples. Those skilled in the art can also implement them through other schemes.

[0029] Clothes load detection: Before washing, washing machines usually obtain information about the amount of clothes by using weighing sensors, such as estimating the weight of clothes by motor load current, image recognition, or user input. Establish a water level-load mapping relationship: Based on experimental data or a pre-stored database, map different amounts of clothing to a first preset water level and a second preset water level. For example: When the amount of laundry is 1kg, the first preset water level is 60% of the height of the outer tub, and the second preset water level is 40%. When the amount of clothing is 3kg, the first preset water level is 80%, and the second preset water level is 55%. Real-time water level detection and control: The water level in the outer tank is monitored in real time by a water level sensor (such as a pressure sensor, an electrode-type water level switch, etc.) and compared with the above dynamic set value to trigger corresponding control actions.

[0030] In one specific implementation, before starting the washing program, the washing machine estimates the weight of the clothes (M) by driving the motor under no-load rotation and detecting changes in current. The controller determines the weight based on a pre-stored mapping table: when M = 2 kg, the first preset water level corresponds to a water level sensor reading H1 = 15 cm, and the second preset water level corresponds to H2 = 9 cm. When the real-time water level reaches H1, synchronous water intake, drainage, and motor operation are executed; when the water level drops to H2, the water intake speed is reduced and the motor stops.

[0031] Furthermore, based on this, the first preset water level in this application refers to the lowest water level sufficient to completely submerge the current washing load (i.e., the clothes put in); the second preset water level refers to the water level that drops to the point where some clothes are exposed during the drainage process.

[0032] In one specific embodiment, before the water level reaches a first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine if the water level is higher than the first preset water level. If so, open the drain valve to drain the water until the water level drops to the first preset water level.

[0033] Before the water level reaches the first preset water level, it is determined whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level to prevent the water level from exceeding the expected first preset water level due to excessive water intake, sensor delay, or program abnormality; when an excessive water level is detected, the drain valve is actively activated to release water and quickly bring the excessively high water level back to near the first preset water level, creating conditions for the coordinated control of subsequent simultaneous water intake and drainage and inner tank rotation; this avoids the water level gauge being too high, which would result in an excessively long overall drainage time.

[0034] Furthermore, when the water level in the tank is higher than the first preset water level, the drain valve is opened and the water is drained at the first drain speed.

[0035] By unifying the drainage capacity parameters of abnormal high-water-level drainage and dynamic drainage in the main process, the consistency and predictability of the control strategy are achieved. If arbitrary or maximum drainage speed is used when the water level exceeds the limit, it may cause a sudden drop in water level and excessive water flow impact, affecting the distribution of clothing or the stability of sensors. However, by adopting the proven effective first drainage speed, the water level can be quickly restored within a safe range. This simplifies the design of the control system and reduces hardware costs. Once the water level drops from the over-limit state to the first preset water level, the system can seamlessly switch to the main process without mode switching or parameter reset.

[0036] In another embodiment, before the water level reaches a first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine if the water level is lower than the first preset water level. If so, open the inlet valve to inject water until the water level rises to the first preset water level.

[0037] This ensures that the water level in the tub reaches the target high level before the system starts dynamic drainage control, avoiding the direct entry into the washing and draining stage due to insufficient initial water volume, which would cause the cleaning process to fail; it also ensures the consistency of the starting conditions of the drainage program: regardless of the washing program selected before the drainage program, the system will first replenish the water level to the first preset water level to ensure the cleaning effect; and it prevents accidental triggering of the main process: if this judgment is not made, the drain valve and motor may be started incorrectly at a low water level, resulting in dry running, empty drainage, or clothes being agitated before they are wet, which may damage the clothes or the motor. Water is introduced by opening the inlet valve, and closed-loop water replenishment control is implemented to establish the initial water environment required for subsequent dynamic drainage and washing. The clean drainage mode is only activated after the water level has reached a high level. If the initial water level is insufficient, directly adding and draining water at the same time may result in the water level never being able to effectively cover the clothes, reducing the cleaning effect or even causing it to fail.

[0038] Furthermore, when the water level in the tank is lower than the first preset water level, the water inlet valve is opened and water is injected at the first water inlet speed.

[0039] The water intake strategy in the initial water replenishment stage is unified with the water intake parameters in the main process, realizing the standardization of control logic and parameter reuse. The first water intake speed is usually a high flow rate, which can shorten the waiting time and improve the overall operating efficiency of the machine when used for initial water replenishment. If a lower water intake speed is used in the initial stage, the time required to reach the first preset water level will be significantly extended, affecting the user experience. There is no need to set the water intake level or flow rate parameters separately for initial water replenishment. The first water intake speed that has been verified in the main process can be directly reused, reducing software complexity and hardware costs.

[0040] In one embodiment, the method further includes: When the water level is the third preset water level, the water inlet valve is closed. The third preset water level is the upper surface of the inner tub of the washing machine that is lower than the bottom of the tub.

[0041] When the water level drops to the third preset level, the inlet valve is forcibly closed to ensure the system enters a complete drainage or spin-drying state. Understandably, at the third preset level, the water surface is below the surface of the clothes; at this point, the incoming water flow has completely washed the outer surface of the clothes pile. Closing the inlet valve reduces overall drainage time and energy consumption.

[0042] The third preset water level is the highest point below the bottom of the inner tub, i.e., the top surface of the tub bottom, ensuring that there is no free water in the inner tub, only a small amount of water remaining in the clothes or pores; if the bottom of the inner tub is 10 cm from the bottom of the outer tub, the third preset water level can be set to 8 cm from the bottom of the outer tub, i.e., 2 cm below the bottom of the inner tub), ensuring that the inner tub itself is no longer filled with water; preventing ineffective water replenishment, saving water resources; and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the dehydration stage.

[0043] Furthermore, the methods also include: When the water level in the tub reaches the fourth preset water level, the drainage delay program is started, and the drain valve is closed after the drainage delay is completed. The fourth preset water level is lower than the bottom of the inner tub of the washing machine and higher than the bottom of the outer tub of the washing machine.

[0044] When the water level drops to the fourth preset level, do not immediately close the drain valve. Start a delayed draining program to drain as much residual water as possible from the bottom of the outer tub. Avoid closing the drain valve too early, which could result in too much water remaining at the bottom of the outer tub, affecting the subsequent dehydration balance or causing odors. Create a dry foundation for the dehydration stage: less water in the outer tub helps reduce shaking and noise during high-speed dehydration.

[0045] The fourth preset water level is located in the space between the inner tub and the outer tub. At this time, the clothes in the inner tub have basically been removed from the free water, but the bottom of the outer tub still has water filtered from the inner tub. If the water level is higher than the bottom of the inner tub, it means that there is still water in the inner tub. The water in the inner tub should be drained first, rather than delaying at the end of the start-up. If the water level is lower than the bottom of the outer tub, there is no water to drain, and the delay is meaningless. Assuming that the bottom of the outer tub is 0 mm and the bottom of the inner tub is 80 mm, the fourth preset water level can be set between 20 and 60 mm, which represents the shallow water accumulation area at the bottom of the outer tub.

[0046] After reaching the fourth preset water level, keep the drain valve open for a period of time, such as 10–30 seconds, and then close it; use gravity or a drain pump to continuously suction out the residual water adhering to the outer tub wall, drain pipe bend, or near the sensor. This ensures more thorough drainage, reduces residual water in the outer tub, and improves spin-drying stability and noise levels.

[0047] Understandably, the main operating process of a washing machine includes: water intake → main wash → drainage → spin-dry (first spin-dry) → water intake → rinsing → drainage → spin-dry (second spin-dry) → (may repeat rinsing-spin-drying) → final spin-dry.

[0048] The main wash process stirs and dissolves the detergent in the tub (which the user needs to add to the tub beforehand) to remove stains from clothes; the rinsing process washes the clothes a second time to remove stains and undissolved impurities; the spin-drying process removes residual water from the clothes after the main wash or rinsing process, resulting in clothes with low moisture content and cleanliness; and the draining process is performed after the main wash or rinsing process is completed.

[0049] Drainage process: (1) First, check the water level inside the outer tank and adjust the water level inside the tank until the first preset water level is reached; A. If the water level in the bucket is higher than the first preset water level, open the drain valve (or drain pump) to drain the water, while monitoring the water level in the bucket in real time until the first preset water level is reached; to avoid the water level being too high, which would make the overall drainage time too long. B. If the water level in the bucket is lower than the first preset water level, open the water inlet valve to add water, and monitor the water level in the bucket in real time until the first preset water level is reached; to avoid the water level being too low, which would prevent the cleaning purpose from being achieved.

[0050] (2) Simultaneously open the drain valve (or drain pump), inlet valve, and drive motor. The drive motor can drive the impeller and / or inner tub to rotate, controlling the water inlet speed to the first water inlet speed. The drain speed should be greater than the first water inlet speed. The inlet valve is in the conducting state and continuously feeds water into the tub. The water level in the tub remains high for a considerable period of time. The drive motor will drive the impeller and / or inner tub to rotate, causing the clothes in the tub to rotate. The clothes in the tub can be suspended in the water, and the clothes are highly flexible. Undissolved detergent on the surface of the clothes will further dissolve into the water, and undissolved lint and dirt adhering to the surface of the clothes will also be more easily removed from the clothes and enter the water. In other words, undissolved debris is more easily removed and enters the water under the action of rotation. Since the drain valve (or drain pump) is in the conducting state at this time, these undissolved debris that have entered the water will be discharged with the water flow.

[0051] (3) As the water level drops, when the water level reaches the second preset water level and the water level is too high to submerge the clothes, the water inlet speed is controlled to the second water inlet speed, and the drive motor is turned off; the drainage speed must be greater than the second water inlet speed. When the water level drops, some debris in the water will adhere to the surface of the clothes, especially the surface of the clothes exposed above the water surface. However, the impact of the incoming water flow will wash away the surface of the clothes, causing the debris to enter the water and be discharged with the water flow. When the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the spacing between the clothes in the water becomes smaller, and the stretching of the clothes is greatly reduced. If the drive motor continues to drive the clothes to rotate, it will cause undissolved debris in the water to re-enter between the clothes. Therefore, when the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the drive motor is turned off directly. When the water level reaches or falls below the second preset water level, the second water inlet speed should be lower than the first water inlet speed. Since the removal of debris from clothing in the previous stage primarily relied on the higher water level, the rotation of the clothing allowed it to float and expand significantly. A higher first water inlet speed allowed the clothing to remain submerged for a longer period, enabling undissolved debris to dislodge and be carried away by the water flow. However, when the water level drops to the second preset level, the clothing is usually not completely submerged. As the water level decreases, more and more clothing emerges from the water, and undissolved debris adheres to its surface. This adhesion is not strong, and the incoming water flow directly washes away the undissolved debris, making the rinsing effect more direct and effective. A lower second water inlet speed is sufficient to achieve this rinsing effect. Therefore, a lower second water inlet speed (lower than the first water inlet speed) is used in this stage to reduce the overall drainage time.

[0052] (4) When the water level is detected to be the third preset water level, close the water inlet valve; the third preset water level is when the water level is lower than the upper surface of the bottom of the inner barrel.

[0053] (5) When the water level is detected to be the fourth preset water level, start the drainage delay program. After the drainage delay is completed, close the drain valve (or drain pump) to complete the drainage process. After the drainage delay is completed, dehydrate and spin dry.

[0054] Example 2 Based on the above-described washing machine drainage control method, this application also provides a washing machine control device, which is configured to correspond one-to-one with the washing machine drainage control method; the control device specifically includes: The water level detection module is used to detect the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine. The water level judgment module is used to determine whether the water level has reached the first preset water level. If so, the control module is controlled to operate in the first preset manner. The water level judgment module is also used to determine whether the water level has reached the second preset water level. If so, the control module is controlled to operate in the second preset manner. The motion control module is used to simultaneously open the drain valve, open the inlet valve, and start the drive motor when the water level reaches a first preset water level. Specifically, it controls the drive motor to rotate the inner tub and / or the impeller, controls the inlet pipe to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed, and controls the drain pipe to drain water at a first drain speed. The first preset water level is preferably a level that completely submerges the clothing, and the first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches a second preset water level, it controls the inlet pipe to supply water at a second inlet speed and controls the drive motor to stop operating. The second preset water level is a level that partially exposes the clothing above the water surface, and the second inlet speed is less than the first inlet speed.

[0055] The water level detection module monitors the water level inside the washing machine drum in real time. This can be achieved by setting a liquid level sensor or a vision sensor, providing input for subsequent control decisions based on water level thresholds.

[0056] The water level judgment module is used to determine whether the water level has reached the first preset water level. If so, it controls the action control module to operate in the first preset mode. The first preset mode is that when the water level reaches a specific high water level, the action control module simultaneously activates three actuators, including the drain valve, the inlet valve, and the drive motor; enters a high water level agitation and drainage mode, realizing continuous operation of water intake, drainage, and rotation; improves the water flow renewal rate, which helps to quickly flush away dissolved dirt and detergent residue; reduces water consumption per cycle, and improves water-saving performance; at the same time, it controls the drive motor to drive the inner tub to rotate, and enhances the relative movement between clothes and water flow through mechanical agitation, improving the washing effect and preventing clothes from tangling or settling at the bottom of the tub; and maintains the clothes in a suspended state during dynamic drainage, which is conducive to the removal of dirt.

[0057] The initial drainage speed is controlled to be greater than the initial water inflow speed, allowing drainage to occur simultaneously, with drainage exceeding water inflow, creating a net drainage trend. While maintaining a high water level, this continuously replaces the wastewater in the drum, achieving running water washing, significantly improving washing efficiency, avoiding repeated soaking of clothes in dirty water, and reducing secondary pollution. The first preset water level is preferably a level that completely submerges the clothes, allowing them to float in the water with a high degree of flexibility. Undissolved detergent on the clothes surface will further dissolve into the water, and undissolved lint and dirt adhering to the clothes surface will also be more easily removed from the clothes and enter the water. In other words, undissolved debris is more easily removed and enters the water under the rotation.

[0058] The water level judgment module is also used to determine whether the water level has reached the second preset water level. If so, the action control module is controlled to operate in the second preset mode. The second preset mode is that when the water level reaches the second preset water level, the action control module controls the water inlet valve to enter water at the second water inlet speed and controls the drive motor to stop running. Understandably, the second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level. As the water level drops, when it falls to a lower threshold and the water level is no longer sufficient to completely submerge the clothes, the water inlet speed is reduced and the motor stops. When the water level drops, some debris in the water will adhere to the surface of the clothes, especially the surface of the clothes exposed above the water surface. However, the impact of the incoming water flow will wash away the surface of the clothes, causing the debris to enter the water and be carried away by the water flow. When the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the spacing between the clothes in the water becomes smaller, and the stretching of the clothes is greatly reduced. If the drive motor continues to drive the clothes to rotate at this time, undissolved debris in the water will re-enter between the clothes. Therefore, when the water level drops to the point where the clothes can no longer be submerged, the drive motor is directly turned off. The first stage primarily removes debris from clothing due to the higher water level. The rotation of the clothing allows it to float and expand, resulting in a longer submersion time and allowing undissolved debris to dislodge and be carried away by the water flow. However, as the water level drops and clothing becomes less submerged, more and more clothing emerges from the water. Undissolved debris then adheres to the surface, but this adhesion is less strong. The incoming water flow directly washes away the debris, resulting in a more direct rinsing effect. A lower second water flow rate is sufficient to achieve this rinsing effect, thus reducing the overall drainage time.

[0059] It utilizes dynamic drainage to accelerate the discharge of waste and improve drainage efficiency; at the same time, it reduces ineffective water injection and motor running time, shortening the drainage cycle.

[0060] The water level judgment module is also used to determine whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level before the water level reaches the first preset water level. If so, the control action module is started in the third preset mode. The motion control module is used to open the drain valve to drain water until the water level drops to the first preset level.

[0061] Before the water level reaches the first preset level, it is determined whether the water level is higher than the first preset level to prevent the water level from exceeding the expected first preset level due to excessive water intake, sensor delay, or program malfunction. When an excessive water level is detected, the drain valve is actively activated to release water, quickly reducing the excessively high water level to near the first preset level, creating conditions for subsequent coordinated control of simultaneous water intake and drainage and inner tank rotation; this avoids the water level gauge being too high, resulting in an excessively long overall drainage time. The third preset mode involves opening the drain valve and draining water at the first drainage speed when the water level in the tank is higher than the first preset level.

[0062] By unifying the drainage capacity parameters for abnormal high-water-level drainage and dynamic drainage in the main process, the consistency and predictability of the control strategy are achieved. If arbitrary or maximum drainage speed is used when the water level exceeds the limit, it may cause a sudden drop in water level and excessive water flow impact, affecting the distribution of clothing or the stability of sensors. However, by adopting the proven effective first drainage speed, the water level can be quickly restored within a safe range. There is no need to define new drainage levels or valve openings, which simplifies the design of the control system and reduces hardware costs. Once the water level drops from the over-limit state to the first preset water level, the system can seamlessly switch to the main process without mode switching or parameter reset.

[0063] Although preferred embodiments of this application have been described, those skilled in the art, upon learning the basic inventive concept, can make other changes and modifications to these embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments as well as all changes and modifications falling within the scope of this application.

[0064] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the drainage of a washing machine, characterized in that, include: Check the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine; When the water level reaches the first preset water level, the drain valve, the inlet valve and the drive motor are opened simultaneously. The drive motor is controlled to drive the inner tub and / or the impeller to rotate. The inlet pipe is controlled to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed. The drain pipe is controlled to drain water at a first drain speed. The first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches the second preset water level, the water inlet pipe is controlled to enter water at the second water inlet speed, and the drive motor is controlled to stop running; wherein, the second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level, and the second water inlet speed is lower than the first water inlet speed.

2. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the water level reaches the first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level. If so, open the drain valve to drain the water until the water level drops to the first preset water level.

3. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before the water level reaches the first preset water level, the method further includes: Determine whether the water level is lower than the first preset water level. If so, open the water inlet valve to inject water until the water level rises to the first preset water level.

4. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the water level is the third preset water level, the water inlet valve is closed. The third preset water level is the upper surface of the inner tub of the washing machine that is lower than the bottom of the tub.

5. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the water level in the tub reaches the fourth preset water level, the drainage delay program is started, and the drain valve is closed after the drainage delay is completed; wherein, the fourth preset water level is lower than the bottom of the inner tub of the washing machine and higher than the bottom of the outer tub of the washing machine.

6. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the water level in the bucket is higher than the first preset water level, the drain valve is opened and the water is drained at the first draining speed.

7. The washing machine drainage control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, When the water level in the bucket is lower than the first preset water level, the water inlet valve is opened and water is injected at the first water inlet speed.

8. A control device for a washing machine, characterized in that, include: The water level detection module is used to detect the water level inside the outer tub of the washing machine. The water level judgment module is used to determine whether the water level has reached a first preset water level, and if so, to control the action control module to act in a first preset manner; and to determine whether the water level has reached a second preset water level, and if so, to control the action control module to act in a second preset manner. The motion control module is used to simultaneously open the drain valve, open the inlet valve, and start the drive motor when the water level reaches a first preset water level. Specifically, it controls the drive motor to rotate the inner tub and / or the impeller, controls the inlet pipe to supply water to the tub at a first inlet speed, and controls the drain pipe to drain water at a first drain speed, where the first drain speed is greater than the first inlet speed. When the water level reaches a second preset water level, it controls the inlet pipe to supply water at a second inlet speed and stops the drive motor. The second preset water level is lower than the first preset water level, and the second inlet speed is lower than the first inlet speed.

9. The control device for a washing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that, The water level judgment module is also used to determine whether the water level is higher than the first preset water level before the water level reaches the first preset water level. If so, the action control module is controlled to start in a third preset mode. The motion control module is used to open the drain valve to drain water until the water level drops to the first preset water level.

10. A washing machine, characterized in that, The control device for the washing machine as described in any one of claims 8-9.

Images