Cleaning device for a component loaded with lint in a household appliance, and method for cleaning a component loaded with lint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for lint-laden components in domestic appliances often fail to distribute rinsing liquid evenly, leading to incomplete removal of lint, as the current designs result in uneven flushing and partial attachment of fluff to the components.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a flow element that creates dynamic pressure through a constriction, allowing for uniform application of rinsing liquid over the component, featuring an elongate part with a narrowing cross section and an opening that extends over the component's width, ensuring efficient removal of lint by uniformly distributing the liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spray nozzles are arranged spatially above the heat exchanger plates to rinse them, then the heat exchanger can be cleaned, but the rinsing liquid is distributed unevenly and lint remains partially attached
Solution Approach 1:
The flow element is divided into multiple outlet openings distributed across its surface, with each opening delivering rinsing liquid to a specific zone of the heat exchanger. This segmentation ensures comprehensive and uniform coverage of the entire heat exchanger surface, preventing areas from being missed and ensuring even lint removal across all plates.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow element incorporates a constriction in its flow path that creates localized high-pressure zones at the outlet openings. This local quality enhancement ensures that each point of contact between rinsing liquid and heat exchanger receives sufficient pressure for effective lint removal, while the overall distribution remains uniform across the entire surface.
2Reliability
If a brush is used to remove fluff from the heat exchanger, then lint can be mechanically removed, but the cleaning process becomes more complex and may not address accumulated lint effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces mechanical brush cleaning with a hydraulic cleaning system that uses pressurized rinsing liquid delivered through the flow element. The high-pressure liquid flow effectively removes accumulated lint from the heat exchanger surfaces without requiring complex mechanical brushing mechanisms, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining reliable lint removal effectiveness.
3Productivity
If washing liquor is pumped through the lint filter in a T-shaped manifold, then the filter can be cleaned, but the flow distribution through the filter may be uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The flow element distributes rinsing liquid through multiple outlet openings positioned across its surface, ensuring that cleaning action is applied uniformly to all sections of the lint filter. This segmented distribution prevents concentration of cleaning effort in single areas and ensures comprehensive coverage for consistent lint removal across the entire filter surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The constriction in the flow element creates localized pressure increases that enhance the cleaning effectiveness at each outlet opening. By modifying the pressure parameter locally at each distribution point, the system ensures sufficient cleaning force is delivered uniformly across the entire filter surface, maintaining both high productivity and uniform cleaning quality.
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 solution enables efficient and uniform removal of lint from components by ensuring uniform pressure application and liquid distribution, effectively addressing the issue of incomplete lint removal in existing devices.
Implementation Method 1
a flow element which is arranged above the component and has an inner shape, due to which a dynamic pressure in the flushing liquid flowing through the flow element within the flow element can be built up
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning device for a component (7) loaded with lint in a household appliance for laundry care, having a rinsing unit by means of which rinsing fluid (S) can be conducted to the component (7) for removing lint, wherein the rinsing unit has a flow element (2, 2'), which is disposed above the component (7) and is configured for building up of dynamic pressure of the rinsing fluid (S) in the flow element (2, 2'). The invention further relates to a method for cleaning a component of a household appliance that is loaded with lint.