Changeable water filter in combination with a mixing valve for pretreatment of water in a home appliance and method of pretreating water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water filters for home appliances are inadequate in addressing the wide variations in water quality and are not designed to handle hot water effectively, leading to reduced performance and increased maintenance in appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and steam ovens.
Innovation Solution
A water pretreatment system combining a changeable filter with a controlled mixing valve that directs preheated water to be unfiltered, partially filtered, or fully filtered based on specific cycles of the appliance, reducing the filter's exposure to hot water and enhancing cleaning and hygiene performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water is always fully filtered through the water filter, then water quality and hygiene performance are improved, but the filter lifetime is drastically reduced due to exposure to hot water
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between filtered and unfiltered water pathways based on the appliance cycle. The mixing valve is controlled to direct water flow differently during various cycles (e.g., pre-wash, main wash, rinse), allowing the filter to process only cold or lukewarm water during cycles where filtration is most beneficial, while bypassing hot water to preserve filter lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply is segmented into multiple pathways: a filtered water pathway and an unfiltered bypass pathway. The mixing valve enables selective routing of water through different pathways depending on the cycle requirements, separating the treatment of hot and cold water streams to optimize both filtration effectiveness and filter durability.
2Reliability
If hot water is filtered through the water filter, then hygiene performance is improved, but the filter lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the filtration based on water temperature and cycle requirements. During cycles where hot water is required (main wash), the mixing valve directs hot water through the bypass line to protect the filter. During cycles where cold or lukewarm water is used (pre-wash, rinse), the filter is activated to provide hygiene benefits without excessive thermal stress.
3Reliability
If a mixing valve system is added to control filtered and unfiltered water, then filter lifetime and performance are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing valve serves multiple functions: it acts as a flow splitter, a temperature mixer, and a cycle-dependent routing controller. By integrating these functions into a single component controlled by the appliance's existing control system, the patent avoids adding multiple separate valves or complex control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving the desired performance improvements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution improves the cleaning and hygiene outcomes in home appliances by optimizing water filtration based on appliance cycles, extending the filter's lifespan and reducing mineral buildup and staining, while maintaining effective filtration of impurities like chlorine, lead, and iron.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve
Implementation Method 2
a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance
Data Source
AI summary
A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.