Laundry-care appliance having a circulation pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Impurities such as hair, fluff, detergent residues, and lime deposits accumulate in the circulation system of laundry care appliances, potentially clogging the system and impeding liquid flow, which can lead to increased cleaning efforts and reduced effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A laundry care appliance with a controller that activates the circulation pump to increase pump pressure after the washing process, conveying impurities from the circulation system into the tub for removal, and utilizing a power detection element to adjust pumping capacity based on detected electrical power values to ensure efficient impurity removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the circulation pump operates at normal pump pressure during the washing process, then washing suds are effectively circulated to wet the laundry, but impurities accumulate in the circulation system and may cause clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump operates in periodic cycles: during the washing process it circulates washing suds at normal pressure to wet the laundry, and after the washing process it operates at increased pressure to transport impurities to the tub. This periodic switching of operational modes prevents impurity accumulation while maintaining effective laundry wetting during the washing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump pressure parameter is dynamically changed based on the washing process stage. During washing, the pump operates at a first pump pressure sufficient for circulating washing suds. After washing, the controller increases the pump pressure to a second, higher pressure level to effectively transport impurities from the circulation system into the tub for removal.
2Reliability
If the circulation pump operates at increased pump pressure to remove impurities, then impurities are effectively transported from the circulation system, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller activates the circulation pump at increased pump pressure only during specific periods - after the washing process has completed - rather than continuously. This periodic operation limits energy consumption to only when impurity removal is necessary, while maintaining circulation system cleanliness through targeted high-pressure operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller activates the circulation pump at increased pressure after the washing process to perform preliminary cleaning of the circulation system before the next washing cycle begins. This preliminary action prevents impurity accumulation that would otherwise require more extensive cleaning later, thereby optimizing energy usage over the complete washing cycle.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the circulation pump operates continuously at high pump pressure, then impurities are effectively removed from the circulation system, but the washing suds circulation efficiency during washing decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump operates at normal pressure during the washing process to maintain effective washing suds circulation for laundry wetting. After washing completes, it switches to increased pressure mode for impurity removal. This periodic switching ensures high washing suds circulation efficiency during washing while achieving effective impurity removal during the post-washing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump pressure is dynamically adjusted based on the washing process stage rather than operating continuously at a fixed high pressure. During washing, the pump operates at a lower pressure optimized for washing suds circulation. After washing, it dynamically increases pressure to optimize impurity transport, thereby maintaining washing suds circulation efficiency while achieving effective impurity removal.
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
Effectively prevents clogging by removing impurities from the circulation system, maintaining system effectiveness and reducing cleaning efforts, while using power detection to optimize pumping capacity for efficient contamination removal.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump (117), which is connected to the circulation line (115), and with a controller (125) for controlling the circulation pump (117)
Implementation Method 2
the controller (125) is designed according to the washing process to control the circulation pump (117) to pump washing suds with an increased pump pressure in the circulation system in order to transport impurities from the circulation system into the tub
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry-care appliance (100), comprising: a suds container (109) for accommodating washing suds, wherein the suds container (109) has a removal opening (113) for removing washing suds and a feed opening (111) for feeding washing suds; a circulation system (105), wherein the circulation system (105) has a circulation line (115), which fluidically connects the removal opening (113) to the feed opening (111), and a circulation pump (117), which is connected to the circulation line (115); and a controller (125) for controlling the circulation pump (117) in accordance with a laundry-care program having a washing process. The controller (125) is designed to activate the circulation pump (117) during the washing process in order to pump washing suds from the suds container (109) into the circulation line (115) through the removal opening (113) and to convey the pumped-out washing suds from the circulation line (115) into the suds container (109) through the feed opening (111). The controller (125) is designed to activate the circulation pump (117) after the washing process in order to pump washing suds with an increased pump pressure in the circulation system (105) in order to convey contaminants from the circulation system (105) into the suds container (109).