FILTER DEVICE FOR A DISHWASHING MACHINE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter device for connection to a water drain side of industrial washing machines, dishwashers or other appliances with water drainage into the public sewer system, comprising a filter housing, an inlet opening for process water, an outlet opening for clean water, wherein the inlet opening is formed in a first housing wall, and a filter device for filtering the process water, which is arranged downstream of the inlet opening in the flow path of the process water, wherein the filter device comprises a sieve element extending transversely across the flow path of the process water and wherein the outlet opening is formed in the first housing wall and a flow path between the sieve element and the outlet opening leads through a flow channel at least in a final section before the outlet opening.

[0002] Such a filter device, which can be arranged outside an industrial machine with a water drain, is generally known from the prior art. A filter device arranged inside a household washing machine, such as a lint filter box or filter housing, is also known. Industrial machines with a water drain generally do not have lint screens or lint filters.

[0003] A filter unit integrated into a household washing machine is known from JP2010057651 A as a lint filter box or filter box. Such a filter unit only needs to trap lint. Other solids, such as sludge, sand, or the like, are not filtered by it. Nor is there any need for them to be.

[0004] A filter device integrated into a household washing machine is also known from WO2005 / 118939 A1. It has a funnel-shaped lint filter in which lint can become trapped. Such a filter device is also not suitable for filtering other solids, such as sludge, sand, or the like, and therefore cannot be cleaned accordingly.

[0005] A filter device designed for filtering lint, also known as a filter box, filter housing or filter housing, is a component used in a water-based cleaning device, e.g. a washing machine, to remove coarse residues, such as foreign objects of all kinds like lint, sand, buttons, coins, etc., from the process water after a washing cycle.

[0006] Filter devices for industrial washing machines, dishwashers or the like, on the other hand, are connected to the water drain side of the industrial washing machines, dishwashers or other devices with water drainage into the public sewer system, i.e. outside of it, in order to roughly clean the wastewater before it is introduced into the sewer system.

[0007] The external filter devices typically used in this industrial application, as considered state of the art, have an inlet opening through which process water from the rinsing or washing process is introduced into a filter housing, and an outlet opening through which the filtered process water is discharged as clean water from the filter device. A filter element is arranged in the water flow path between the inlet and outlet openings, through which the process water flows from the direction of the inlet opening to be freed from the aforementioned coarse residues. The outlet opening is located on the opposite side of the filter housing, so that the flow path through the filter housing essentially runs from one side to the other.The inlet and outlet openings each have an inlet and an outlet nozzle, to which a pipe can be connected to ensure the water supply to the inlet and the water drainage from the outlet. This design has the disadvantage that, when installing, for example, an industrial washing machine, pipe connections must be provided and / or prepared on two different sides. Maintenance also requires consideration of diametrically opposed connection points for the water inlet and outlet, which is generally cumbersome and can often be problematic in confined spaces.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to further develop a filter device for industrial use of the type mentioned above in such a way that the installation and maintenance of the filter devices is significantly simplified compared to prior art filter devices.

[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the filter device extends with a first support element parallel to the first housing wall and with a second support element parallel to a second housing wall, and that the second support element extends from the first support element to the first housing wall, and that the flow channel is arranged below the filter device and the filter device with the second housing wall forms the flow channel over at least one section.

[0010] By integrating the inlet and outlet openings into the same first housing wall of the filter device, all piping between the filter device and an industrial washing machine can be routed from one side of the dishwasher or washing machine. This significantly simplifies the installation and maintenance of the dishwasher or washing machine, even in confined spaces.

[0011] A further advantage of the present invention is that, in an operating position of the filter housing, the outlet opening is arranged at a distance below the inlet opening. The arrangement of the outlet opening below the inlet opening creates a flow gradient that has a beneficial effect on the flow path.

[0012] A further advantage of the present invention is that the filter device, together with a second housing wall, forms a flow channel over at least a section of the flow path. This makes it possible to use the filter device and the filter housing as a flow channel without additional components.

[0013] A further advantage of the present invention is that the flow channel is arranged below the filter assembly. Due to the arrangement of the inlet opening above the outlet opening, it is advantageous if the second housing wall is the bottom of the filter housing and the filter assembly is arranged at a distance from the bottom of the filter housing. This allows the backflow of the purified process water or clean water to occur below the filter assembly towards the outlet opening.

[0014] A further advantage of the present invention is that the filter device comprises a sieve element that extends transversely across the flow path of the process water. The sieve element thus presents an obstacle to the coarse residues in the process water, but not to the water itself. This allows the filtration of the process water to be adjusted depending on the sieve size. The sieve element is generally positioned at an angle of 45° or 90° to the water flow. All the filter sludge must be scraped from the bottom of the filter box and forms a sump on the bottom, especially if cleaning is not carried out regularly. This can lead to blockage of the pump, particularly when using a sump pump. The exclusive collection of residues on the bottom of filter boxes also makes cleaning them more difficult.

[0015] Because the filter unit is mounted at an elevated height, it has a base that can be designed as a collection tray to better trap residue, preventing it from accumulating on the floor and forming a sludge. The fact that the filter unit can be removed using a handle also makes cleaning easier.

[0016] The sieve element is arranged at an obtuse angle of approach to the flow path of the process water. This obtuse angle of approach results in a more even distribution of the process water over a larger area of ​​the sieve element upon impact, allowing the water to penetrate this larger area and find a path, even if coarse residues are retained on the sieve surface.

[0017] A further advantage of the present invention is that a deflection zone is formed in the filter housing between the filter element and an inlet of the flow channel, in which the flow direction of the clean water is redirected towards the flow channel. As a result, the clean water flowing from the sieve element into the deflection zone is not discharged from the rear of the filter housing, but rather rebounds off the rear wall, thus redirecting the flow direction by approximately 180°. The rebounding clean water is then guided through the flow channel under the filter element to the outlet opening.

[0018] Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the additional features of the dependent claims.

[0019] One embodiment of the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view in longitudinal section through a filter housing of a filter device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view through the filter housing made of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view in a horizontal section through the filter housing made of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view in longitudinal section of a prior art filter housing; and Fig. 5 a sectional view of the filter housing Fig. 4 .

[0020] In Fig. 1 A filter device 1 according to the present invention is shown schematically. The filter device 1 comprises a filter housing 3, which in the present embodiment is designed as a rectangular box. In other embodiments, the filter housing 3 can also have other shapes.

[0021] The filter housing 3 has several housing walls that enclose the filter housing 3 on all sides. Of importance for the present invention are a first housing wall 3.1 and a second housing wall 3.2. An inlet opening 5 is formed in the first housing wall 3.1, to which an inlet nozzle 5.1 is attached externally. At a distance from the inlet opening 5, an outlet opening 7 is formed in the first housing wall 3.1. The outlet opening 7 also has an outlet nozzle 7.1 on the outside of the first housing wall 3.1. The inlet nozzle 5.1 and the outlet nozzle 7.1 are also located at a distance from each other.

[0022] A filter assembly 9 is arranged in the filter housing 3. The filter assembly 9 extends with a first support element 9.1 parallel to the first housing wall 3.1 and with a second support element 9.2 parallel to a second housing wall 3.2. The second support element 9.2 extends from the first support element 9.1 to the first housing wall 3.1. A screen element 9.5 extends from a free end of the first support element 9.1, that is, from an end 9.3 distal to the second housing wall 3.2, and from an end 9.4 of the second support element 9.2 adjacent to the first housing wall 3.1. The screen element 9.5 extends such that the inlet opening 5 is located completely above the screen element 9.5 in an operating position of the filter housing 3.

[0023] In the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the process water from the inlet opening 5 strikes the sieve element 9.5 at an obtuse angle of approach α. Coarse residues in the process water are retained by the sieve element 9.5, while the water itself can flow through it. A flow path between the sieve element 9.5 and the outlet opening 7 is guided, at least in a final section 11 before the outlet opening 7, through a flow channel 11.1. The flow channel 11.1 opens into the outlet opening 7 from the inside.

[0024] The UNI filter box can be continuously adjusted in height by sawing off the plastic pipe fittings 13 located under the second housing wall 3.2 (the bottom) or by attaching longer plastic pipes.

[0025] In Fig. 2 The diagram schematically shows a cross-section through the filter housing 3, illustrating how the sieve element 9.5 extends within the filter housing 3. The filter assembly 9 has a handle 15 with which it can be removed from the filter housing 3. The filter housing 3 also has a handle ( Fig. 1 ), with which a cover 17 of the filter housing 3 can be lifted. In Fig. 2 It can be seen that the outlet opening 7 is not only formed below the inlet opening 5, but is also horizontally offset from the inlet opening 5.

[0026] In Fig. 3 A schematic top view in horizontal section of the filter housing 3 is shown. The filter assembly 9 is adapted in its geometry to the geometry of the internal dimensions of the filter housing 3, such that the filter assembly 9 can be detachably but firmly inserted into the filter housing 3.

[0027] In Fig. 4 und Fig. 5Figure 3 shows a prior art filter housing 3. It can be seen that, on the one hand, the inlet opening 5 and the outlet opening 5 are diametrically opposed to each other, i.e., formed in two opposing housing walls, and on the other hand, are arranged in the same vertical plane, i.e., not laterally offset from each other. Reference symbol list

[0028] 1 Filter device 3 Filter housing 3.1 First housing wall 3.2 Second housing wall 5 Inlet opening 7 Outlet opening 9 Filter assembly 9.1 First support element 9.2 Second support element 9.3 Distal end 9.4 Adjacent end 9.5 Sieve element 11 Last section 11.1 Flow path 13 Pipe connection 15 Handle 17 Cover

Claims

1. A filter device intended to be connected to a water-outlet side of industrial washing machines, dishwashers or other appliances with water drainage into the public sewer system, with a filter housing (3) with an inlet opening (5) for service water and an outlet opening (7) for pure water, wherein the inlet opening (5) is formed in a first housing wall (3.1), and with a filtering means (9) for filtering the service water that is arranged downstream of the inlet opening (5) in the flow path of the service water, wherein the filtering means (9) includes a sieve element (9.5) which extends transversely across the flow path of the service water and wherein the outlet opening (7) is formed in the first housing wall (3.1) and a flow path between the sieve element (9.5) and the outlet opening (7) runs through a flow channel (11.1) at least in a final section (11) before the outlet opening (7), characterised in that the filtering means (9) extends with a first support element (9.1) parallel to the first housing wall (3.1) and with a second support element (9.2) parallel to a second housing wall (3.2), and the second support element (9.2) extends from the first support element (9.1) to the first housing wall (3.1), and the flow channel (11.1) is arranged underneath the filtering means (9) and the filtering means (9) and the second housing wall (3.2) together form the flow channel (11.1) over the at least one section (11).

2. A filter device according to claim 1, characterised in that the outlet opening (7) is arranged at a distance below the inlet opening (5) in an operating position of the filter housing (3).

3. A filter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the flow channel (11.1) discharges downstream into the outlet opening (7).

4. A filter device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sieve element (9.5) is arranged at an angle in the filtering means (9).

5. A filter device according to claim 4, characterised in that the sieve element (9.5) is arranged at an essentially obtuse angle (α) in relation to the direction of flow of the service water.

6. A filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inlet opening (5) on the first housing wall (3.1) has an inlet pipe connector (5.1) and the outlet opening (7) on the first housing wall (3.1) has an outlet pipe connector (7.1).

7. A filter device according to claim 6, characterised in that the inlet pipe connector (5.1) and the outlet pipe connector (7.1) are oriented essentially parallel to each other.