Filter assembly and washing machine including same

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention may provide a filter assembly and a washing machine including same. The filter assembly may comprise: a filter housing including an inlet unit, through which washing water is introduced, and an outlet unit, through which the filtered washing water is discharged; a filter unit for filtering the washing water introduced through the inlet unit; a pump fluidly communicating with the inlet unit and supplying the washing water such that the washing water is introduced into the inlet unit from the drain line of a washing machine; and a detection unit for detecting at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine.

Description

Filter assembly and washing machine including same

[0001] The present invention relates to a filter assembly and a washing machine including the same.

[0002] In general, laundry treatment equipment refers to various devices that treat fabrics by applying physical and chemical actions to the fabric, such as washing machines that remove stains from clothes, bedding, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "fabric") using water, detergent, and mechanical action, dryers that dry wet fabrics using dry hot air heated by a heater and mechanical action, washing machines that have both washing and drying functions, and refreshers that prevent allergies caused by fabrics by spraying heated steam on the laundry.

[0003] In addition, the washing machine can be divided into a top-load type washing machine in which a laundry entry / exit hole is formed on the upper surface of the cabinet and washing is performed by a rotating water flow generated when the washing tub rotates, and a drum type washing machine in which a laundry entry / exit hole is formed on the front of the cabinet and washing is performed by the drop of laundry when the drum rotates.

[0004] A conventional top-load type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior and having an open top, a base installed at the bottom of the cabinet, an outer drum installed inside the cabinet to store water, a washing tub arranged inside the outer drum and in which laundry is washed, a driving device including a motor arranged at the bottom of the washing tub to rotate the washing tub, a water supply device for supplying water into the outer drum, and a drainage device for draining water inside the outer drum.

[0005] Meanwhile, the spread of synthetic fibers has recently increased. Consequently, the amount of microfibers in wastewater and the environment has increased, further exacerbating environmental pollution. In particular, synthetic microfibers are produced and released during the laundry process for non-biodegradable synthetic fibers, further exacerbating water pollution caused by microplastics.

[0006] In this way, various types of fine dust (fine, plastic, laundry dust, fiber dust, yellow dust, heavy metals, radioactive substances, fine dust, other harmful bacteria, etc.) emitted from laundry such as clothing remain and are emitted to the outside, which may pollute the environment.

[0007]

[0008] [Prior Art Literature]

[0009] [Patent Document]

[0010] (Patent Document 0001) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2179793

[0011] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described technical problem, and its purpose is to provide a filter assembly that can be used regardless of the formation position of a drain port of a washing machine mounted on a drainage part of a clothing appliance, and a washing machine including the same.

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a filter assembly capable of easily removing residual microfiber plastics and the like that may be included in the wastewater of a clothing appliance, and a washing machine including the same.

[0013] The tasks of the present invention are not limited to the tasks mentioned above, and other tasks not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description below.

[0014] A filter assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises:

[0015] A filter housing including an inlet for receiving wash water and an outlet for discharging the filtered wash water;

[0016] A filtering unit that filters the washing water introduced through the inlet unit;

[0017] A pump that is in fluid communication with the inlet and supplies the washing water to the inlet from the drain line of the washing machine; and

[0018] It may include a sensing unit that senses at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0020] The above detection unit,

[0021] The pump can be controlled to operate by detecting the flow rate or drainage by receiving a signal from the washing machine control unit.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0023] The above pump,

[0024] It can be powered by the washing machine.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0026] The above pump,

[0027] It can be powered from an external power source.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0029] The above pump,

[0030] It can operate by receiving a drain signal from the above detection unit.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0032] The above filtering unit can be formed into a structure capable of filtering fine particles having a fine size of less than 5 mm.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present invention,

[0034] The above pump,

[0035] It may include a pump filter unit that filters foreign substances contained in the washing water flowing into the pump.

[0036] A washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention

[0037] A washing machine housing having the exterior of a washing machine and a door formed on one side so as to be opened and closed;

[0038] A washing tub included inside the washing machine housing and containing laundry; and

[0039] A filter assembly for filtering washing water discharged from the washing tank;

[0040] The above filter assembly,

[0041] A filter housing including an inlet port through which the washing water is received and a discharge port through which the filtered washing water is discharged;

[0042] A filtering unit that filters the washing water introduced through the inlet unit;

[0043] A pump that is in fluid communication with the inlet and supplies the washing water to the inlet from the drain line of the washing machine; and

[0044] It may include a sensing unit that senses at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the installation location of a filter device mounted on a drainage portion of a clothing appliance can be improved.

[0046] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a filter assembly including a structure capable of easily removing residual microfiber plastics and the like that may be included in the wastewater of a clothing appliance and a washing machine including the same can be provided.

[0047] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a filter housing according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figures 3 and 4 are drawings showing the flow of fluid in a filter housing according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating washing water filtered through a filter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a filter assembly according to the present invention and a washing machine including the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0052] When assigning reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that identical components are assigned the same numerals whenever possible, even if they appear on different drawings. Furthermore, when describing embodiments of the present invention, if a detailed description of a related known configuration or function is deemed to hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0053] In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. These terms are only intended to distinguish the components from other components, and the nature, order, or sequence of the components are not limited by the terms. In addition, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning they have in the context of the relevant technology, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0054]

[0055] As described above, in the case of a clothes washing machine, a discharge portion is included to discharge wash water, and a filter structure may be included in the washing machine to remove microplastics that may be included in the wash water. Such a filter structure has a limited installation location depending on the location of the discharge portion, which causes problems in filter installation. Therefore, in the present invention, a pump is included in the filter to easily remove foreign substances such as microplastics from the filtration filter, so that the filter can be installed in the washing machine without being limited to the location where the drain port is formed in the washing machine.

[0056]

[0057] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a filter housing according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 are drawings showing the flow of fluid in a filter housing according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a drawing showing washing water filtered in a filter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0058]

[0059] Referring to these drawings, a filter housing (110) including an inlet (111) for receiving washing water and a discharge (112) for discharging the filtered washing water, a filtering unit (F) for filtering the washing water introduced through the inlet (111), a pump (P) in fluid communication with the inlet (111) for supplying the washing water from the drain line (12) of the washing machine to the inlet (111), and a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine (10), can be installed in the washing machine to remove microplastics that may be included in the wash water. By including the pump and the sensing unit in the filter assembly, the formation position of the drain port (not shown) of the washing machine (10) is not limited to the selection of a person skilled in the art, and the formation position of the drain port can be varied according to the selection of a person skilled in the art.

[0060]

[0061] The filter assembly (100) can be arranged according to the selection of a person skilled in the art regardless of the path along which the washing water discharged from the washing tub (not shown) of the washing machine (10) flows after washing is completed, and a pump (P) can be included in the path along which the washing water discharged from the washing tub flows so that the washing water can be introduced into the filter housing (110) and discharged to the outside through a drain (not shown) formed on one side of the washing machine (10) via the filter assembly (100).

[0062]

[0063] The filter assembly (100) may include a filter bracket (101) that forms the outer shape of the filter assembly (100) and includes a filter housing (110) inside, and the filter housing (110) inserted into the filter bracket (101) may be formed in a cylindrical shape that forms an internal space so that the washing water flows in and is filtered. The filter bracket (101) may include a fastening member (not shown), and may be fastened and fixed inside the washing machine by the fastening member.

[0064] On one side of the filter housing (110), an inlet (111) may be formed centrally or eccentrically so that the washing water can flow in, and on the other side of the filter housing (110), a discharge (112) may be formed so that the washing water filtered in the filter (F) can be discharged. The inlet (111) and the discharge (112) may be formed in a hole shape so that the washing water can easily flow in. It goes without saying that the formation positions and numbers of the inlet (111) and discharge (112) are not particularly limited.

[0065]

[0066] The filter housing (110) may include a space that can accommodate the filtering unit (F) and may include a filtering unit (F), and may include an inlet (111) through which washing water is received and a discharge unit (112) through which the filtered washing water is discharged. Washing water received through the inlet (111) can have microplastics removed through the filtering unit (F), and washing water from which microplastics have been removed through the filtering unit (F) can be discharged through the discharge unit (112).

[0067]

[0068] The filtering unit (111) may be included inside the filter housing (110) forming the outer shape. That is, the filtering unit (F) may be arranged along the inner surface of the filter housing, excluding the inlet (111) and the outlet (112). Accordingly, the washing water may be filtered and easily discharged after flowing into the filter housing (110) of the filter assembly (100) and passing through the filtering unit (F). This filtering unit (F) may be formed, for example, by bonding both ends using a hot melt adhesive, thermal adhesive, or the like to implement a sheet shape into a cylindrical shape. Alternatively, it may of course be formed using an insert injection molding method. The filtering unit (F) may be deformed depending on the shape of the filter housing, and for example, in addition to a cylindrical shape, may also be formed in a cross-section having a triangular, square, or polygonal shape.

[0069] According to the present invention, the filter unit (F) can filter foreign substances contained in the wash water, such as microplastics discharged in large quantities from fibers. The filter unit (F) can be provided as an independent component that can be detached from the washing machine (10). Therefore, the user can easily replace the filter unit (F) when replacement is necessary, such as when the filter unit reaches the end of its service life.

[0070] Preferably, the filtering unit (F) may be formed in a structure capable of filtering fine particles having a fine size of less than 5 mm. In some cases, the filtering unit (F) may be configured to filter particles having a fine size of 0.1 μm or less, which may filter ultrafine plastic particles. In one example, the filtering unit (F) may be provided in the form of a mesh net in which a single or double or more layers of sheet materials such as fabric, plastic, stainless steel (Steel Use Stainless, SUS), or metal are laminated, or in the form of a non-woven fabric formed in the shape of a tube or cylinder. It goes without saying that the filtering unit (F) is not particularly limited as long as it has a shape or material that can capture fine fiber particles filtered by the washing water.

[0071] In one example, the filter (F) may be formed of a carbon block filter, a nano-electrostatic sheet arranged to surround the outer surface of the carbon block filter, and a UF (Ultrafiltration) sheet. The carbon block filter may include, but is not limited to, activated carbon, a binder, and an additive. The nano-electrostatic sheet may include, but is not limited to, glass fiber, cellulose, alumina fibers, polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE), and the UF sheet may include, but is not limited to, polysulfone (PSF), polyethersulfone (PES), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene (PE).

[0072]

[0073] Meanwhile, the pump (P) according to the present invention may be included so as to be in fluid communication with the drainage channel (12) of the washing tub and the inlet (111) included in the filter housing (110), but is not limited thereto. The location of the pump (P) may be included at a location where the washing water discharged from the washing tub can be introduced into the filter housing (110), and is not limited to a specific location. More preferably, the pump (P) may be included between the drainage channel (12) and the inlet (111) so as to introduce the washing water discharged from the washing tub into the filter housing (110), and the washing water discharged from the washing tub can be introduced into the filter housing (110) by the pump (P). Since the washing water discharged from the washing tub by the pump (P) is formed to be able to flow into the inside of the filter housing (110), the location where the filter assembly (100) is included is not limited to between the drainage path (12) and the inlet (111) of the washing machine (10), but can also be arranged on the outlet (112) side according to the choice of a person skilled in the art to allow the washing water to flow into the inside of the filter housing (110). The power required for the operation of the pump (P) may be supplied through the power supply of the washing machine (10) or may be supplied from a separate external power supply source, but is not limited to any one power supply source. In addition, the inlet (not shown) of the pump (P) may include a pump filter unit (not shown) that filters foreign substances such as hair and buttons that may be included in the washing water being introduced, and the pump filter unit prevents the inflow of foreign substances into the pump (P), thereby preventing a malfunction of the pump, etc.

[0074]

[0075] In addition, the filter assembly (100) may include a detection unit (not shown). The detection unit may detect at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine (10), and the pump (P) may be operated by a detection signal of the detection unit so that the washing water may flow into the filter housing (110). The detection of the drainage of the washing machine (10) by the detection unit may include all detections capable of detecting the washing water drainage operation of the washing machine (10), such as receiving a signal from the control unit of the washing machine (10) or detecting washing water in a path through which washing water discharged from the washing tub flows, and is not limited to any one detection method.

[0076]

[0077] According to one embodiment of the present invention, washing water is first supplied to the washing tub of the washing machine. The washing water supplied may be discharged from the washing tub through a pipe or hose after the washing of clothes, etc. is completed. The washing water discharged from the washing tub is introduced into the filter housing (110) according to the present invention, which is formed on one side of the washing machine (10), by the pump (P) of the filter assembly (100) according to the present invention, and may be filtered before being discharged to the outside.

[0078] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the filter assembly (100) includes a detection unit and a pump (P), and the washing water discharged from the washing tub is formed to be able to flow into the inside of the filter housing (110) regardless of the installation position of the filter housing (110), so that the position where the filter housing (110) is included is not limited to the drain side of the washing machine, but can be arranged according to the selection of a person skilled in the art, and the formation position of the drain for discharging the washing water of the washing machine to the outside of the washing machine can also be freely formed according to the selection of a person skilled in the art.

[0079]

[0080] A washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a washing machine housing having an outer shape of the washing machine (10) and having a door formed on one side to be openable and closable, a washing tub included inside the washing machine housing and containing laundry, and a filter assembly (100) that introduces and filters washing water discharged from the washing tub.

[0081] The above filter assembly (100) includes a filter housing (110) including an inlet (111) through which the washing water is received and a discharge outlet (112) through which the filtered washing water is discharged, a filtering unit (F) for filtering the washing water introduced through the inlet (111), a pump (P) in fluid communication with the inlet (111) for supplying the washing water from the drain line (12) of the washing machine to the inlet (111), and a sensing unit (not shown) for detecting at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine (10), so that the washing water discharged from the washing tub can be introduced into the filter housing (110) regardless of the installation location, and thus the location where the filter housing (110) is included is not limited to the drain side of the washing machine (10), but can be arranged according to the selection of a person skilled in the art, and it goes without saying that the formation location of the drain outlet for discharging the washing water of the washing machine (10) to the outside of the washing machine (10) can also be freely formed according to the selection of a person skilled in the art.

[0082]

[0083] It should be understood that the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiments, and that those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the possibility of various modifications and implementations within an equivalent scope. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below.

[0084]

[0085] [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10: Washing machine

[0087] 11: Washing machine housing

[0088] 12: Drain line

[0089] 100: Filter assembly

[0090] 101: Filter Bracket

[0091] 110: Filter housing

[0092] 111: Intake

[0093] 112: Discharge

[0094] F: Filtration section

[0095] P: Pump

Claims

1. A filter housing including an inlet for receiving wash water and an outlet for discharging the filtered wash water; A filtering unit for filtering the washing water introduced through the inlet unit; A pump that is in fluid communication with the inlet and supplies the washing water from the drain line of the washing machine to the inlet; and A filter assembly, comprising a sensing unit that detects at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine.

2. In paragraph 1, The above detection unit, A filter assembly that receives a signal from a washing machine control unit, detects the drainage or flow rate, and controls the pump to operate.

3. In paragraph 1, The above pump, Filter assembly, powered by the washing machine.

4. In paragraph 1, The above pump, A filter assembly that is powered from an external power source.

5. In paragraph 1, The above pump, A filter assembly that operates by receiving a drainage signal from the above detection unit.

6. In paragraph 1, A filter assembly in which the above filtering part is formed into a structure capable of filtering fine particles having a fine size of less than 5 mm.

7. In paragraph 1, The above pump, A filter assembly including a pump filter unit that filters foreign substances contained in the washing water flowing into the pump.

8. A washing machine housing having the exterior shape of a washing machine and a door formed on one side so as to be openable; A washing tub included inside the washing machine housing and containing laundry; and A filter assembly for introducing and filtering wash water discharged from the washing tank; The above filter assembly, A filter housing including an inlet for receiving the washing water and a discharge for discharging the filtered washing water; A filtering unit for filtering the washing water introduced through the inlet unit; A pump that is in fluid communication with the inlet and supplies the washing water from the drain line of the washing machine to the inlet; and A washing machine, comprising: a sensing unit that detects at least one of the flow rate and drainage of the washing machine.

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