Laundry Pump Filter With Constriction to Prevent Impurity Re-Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry care appliances face challenges in effectively filtering out impurities such as hair and fluff from washing liquid, which can lead to clogged filters and inefficient pumping processes.
Innovation Solution
A laundry care appliance with a pump system that includes a suction chamber, pump-out pressure chamber, and pump-over pressure chamber connected in series, featuring a filter element with a constriction that prevents contaminants from being conveyed into the pump-over pressure chamber, ensuring effective filtration and prevention of re-pumping impurities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter element is used to filter impurities from washing liquid, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but the filter element can become clogged by retained contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is divided into multiple hollow channels (first hollow channel, second hollow channel) with a constriction between them. This segmentation allows the filter to handle different functions in different sections: the first channel receives washing liquid, the constriction traps contaminants, and the second channel conveys filtered liquid, preventing clogging by distributing the filtration function across multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The constriction acts as an intermediary element between the first and second hollow channels. It serves as a mediator that captures contaminants before they can block the entire filter system, allowing the filter element to maintain its filtration function while preventing complete clogging by trapping particles in the intermediate constriction zone.
2Productivity
If washing liquid is pumped directly from suction chamber to transfer pressure chamber, then pumping efficiency is improved, but impurities are re-pumped causing system contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The design extracts the impurity removal function from the direct pumping path by introducing a filter element with a constriction into the flow path between the suction chamber and transfer pressure chamber. This extraction ensures that contaminants are removed from the washing liquid before it enters the transfer pressure chamber, preventing re-pumping while maintaining system efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element with its constriction performs preliminary filtration action on the washing liquid before the liquid is transferred to the transfer pressure chamber. By filtering out impurities in advance during the pumping process, the system prevents contaminants from being re-pumped, ensuring clean liquid transfer while maintaining pumping efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple pump chambers are connected in series with filtration, then impurity removal is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is merged into the pump housing structure, with the first and second hollow channels and constriction integrated as part of the pump's internal architecture. This merging combines the filtration function with the pumping chambers, achieving effective impurity removal while avoiding the complexity of separate external filtration systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter element serves multiple functions within a single component: it acts as a filter medium, provides structural support between chambers, and creates flow distribution paths through its hollow channels. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, maintaining reliability while controlling system complexity.
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 effectively filters out impurities during the pumping process, preventing them from being re-pumped and reducing the risk of filter clogging, thereby enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the laundry care appliance's pumping systems.
Implementation Method 1
the filter element defines a constriction which fluidly connects the first hollow channel and the second hollow channel, wherein the constriction is designed to retain contaminants conveyed in the first hollow channel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry care device (100) with a pump (105) for pumping washing liquid, wherein the pump (105) comprises a suction chamber (107) which has a suction port (109) for fluid connection to a suction line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a transfer pressure chamber (115) which has a transfer pressure port (117) for fluid connection to a transfer line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a discharge pressure chamber (111) which has a discharge pressure port (113) for fluid connection to a discharge line, wherein the discharge pressure chamber (111) and the suction chamber (107) are fluidly connected, wherein the discharge pressure chamber (111) and the transfer pressure chamber (115) are fluidly connected, and wherein the pump (105) has a filter element (123) which is located in the discharge pressure chamber (111) is recorded, wherein the filter element (123) has a first hollow channel (125-1),which fluidically connects the discharge pressure chamber (111) to the discharge pressure port (113), wherein the filter element (123) has a second hollow channel (125-2) which fluidly connects the discharge pressure chamber (111) to the transfer pressure chamber (115), wherein the filter element (123) defines a constriction (127) which fluidly connects the first hollow channel (125-1) and the second hollow channel (125-2), wherein the constriction (127) is designed to retain contaminants conveyed in the first hollow channel (125-1) in order to prevent the contaminants from being conveyed through the second hollow channel (125-2) into the transfer pressure chamber (115).