Self-cleaning method for filter assembly of washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines waste significant water due to inefficient filtration and lack of thorough cleaning of the filter assembly, leading to blockages and reduced filtration efficiency over time.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning method for the filter assembly that includes user-initiated and automated processes, using alkaline and acid liquid cleaning stages with air cleaning, and a system to manage user interactions during the cleaning process, ensuring thorough cleaning and extending the filter's service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a filter assembly is used to filter and recycle washing water, then water consumption is reduced, but the filter membrane becomes blocked and polluted over time
Solution Approach 1:
The filter assembly performs self-cleaning through a automated cleaning mechanism that injects cleaning liquid and uses air blowing to remove accumulated impurities from the filter membrane surface, enabling the system to maintain its own performance without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates and removes accumulated impurities and separated substances from the filter membrane through cleaning liquid injection and air blowing, discarding the contaminants while preserving and recovering the filter membrane for continued use
2Extent of automation
If automatic cleaning function is added to the filter assembly, then cleaning is automated, but cleaning agent remains on the filter assembly and cleaning is not thorough
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process continues sequentially with multiple stages: cleaning liquid injection followed by air blowing, ensuring the cleaning action is continuous and complete rather than interrupted or incomplete
Solution Approach 2:
The air blowing step extracts and removes cleaning agent residues from the filter assembly surface after the cleaning liquid has done its cleaning work, ensuring no cleaning agent remains on the filter
3Adaptability or versatility
If user operation instructions are accepted during self-cleaning process, then user control is flexible, but cleaning process may be interrupted or compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system preemptively prevents potential interruptions by prohibiting user operation instructions during the critical cleaning phases, ensuring the cleaning process completes without interruption before allowing user input again
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning process is designed to complete all essential cleaning actions before the process ends, with the control unit ensuring all cleaning steps are finished before resetting to accept new user commands
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
The method effectively prolongs the service life of the filter assembly by ensuring thorough cleaning, maintaining high filtration flux and reducing water consumption by recycling and purifying washing water.
Implementation Method 1
an alkaline liquid cleaning stage and an acid liquid cleaning stage executed successively
Implementation Method 2
an air cleaning step of injecting an air flow into the filter assembly, and cleaning the filter assembly with the air
Implementation Method 3
a filter assembly can be used to filter the water and/or rinsing water of the washing machine for recycling
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a self-cleaning method for a filter assembly of a washing machine, the method comprising: receiving a user operation instruction for starting a self-cleaning process; executing the self-cleaning process, so as to clean the filter assembly of the washing machine, and before the self-cleaning process is completed, only receiving user operation instructions for turning off the washing machine, pausing the self-cleaning process and unpausing the self-cleaning process, and prohibiting receipt of or ignoring the user operation instructions other than user operation instructions for turning off the washing machine, pausing the self-cleaning process and unpausing the self-cleaning process. According to the present invention, during cleaning of the filter assembly, the self-cleaning process of the washing machine prohibits receipt of or ignores user operation instructions other than user operation instructions for turning off the washing machine, pausing the self-cleaning process and unpausing the self-cleaning process, so that the filter assembly of the washing machine is thoroughly cleaned, prolonging the service life of the filter assembly in the washing machine and ensuring that the filter assembly always has a high filtration flux.