Method and device for washing, in particular laundry items
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines fail to effectively separate lighter contaminants like foam and lint from heavier dirt particles during the washing process, leading to reduced washing efficiency due to contamination of the treatment liquid.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and device for continuous filtration of the treatment liquid outside the washing machine drum, allowing for the separation of both lighter and heavier components, with options for simultaneous or alternating filtration, and using a gravity filter to maintain the liquid level and ensure continuous washing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter is installed inside the drum to filter treatment liquid, then washing effectiveness is improved, but the washing process is disrupted and performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is extracted from the drum interior and relocated to the exterior of the washing machine. The treatment liquid is pumped from the drum, passed through the external filter, and returned to the drum. This allows filtration to occur without disrupting the washing process inside the drum, resolving the contradiction between improving washing effectiveness through filtration and maintaining washing performance.
2Reliability
If treatment liquid is continuously filtered outside the drum, then contamination is reduced and washing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pump is introduced as an intermediary component to transfer treatment liquid between the drum and the external filter. This mediator enables continuous filtration without requiring the filter to be integrated into the drum structure, thereby improving washing effectiveness while adding only minimal system complexity through a single additional component.
3Quantity of substance
If only a filter for heavy impurities is installed, then some contamination is removed, but lighter contaminants like foam and lint remain in the treatment liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed with adjustable filtration parameters, including multiple filter elements with different pore sizes and filtration characteristics. This allows the system to capture both heavy impurities and lighter contaminants like foam and lint by changing the filtration parameters, thereby improving washing effectiveness while maintaining efficient contaminant 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
This approach enhances washing efficiency by continuously removing impairing substances, maintaining the treatment liquid level, and enabling the reuse of filtered liquid, thus improving the overall washing process.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pump (24) for removing treatment liquid from the outer drum (19) and for passing the treatment liquid through the filter (22)
Implementation Method 2
previously described filtering of the treatment liquid takes place in such a way that the treatment liquid is successively pumped in the circuit through or over the filter (22)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The method involves washing the laundry items with a treating liquid in a rotationally driven drum (12). The treating liquid is discharged on demand from the drum by an outer drum (19) that is assigned to a part of the drum. The treating liquid is filtered outside of the drum and the outer drum during the washing. An independent claim is also included for a device for washing laundry items.