Method for operating a rinsing liquid device in a household appliance for cleaning pieces of laundry, and rinsing liquid device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry care appliances lack a flexible and hygienic method for disposing of condensate and rinsing liquid, particularly in situations where a connection to an external sewage system is not available, leading to inefficient liquid management and potential overflow issues.
Innovation Solution
A method and appliance design that collects condensate in a rinsing container and routes it through a heat exchanger to remove fluff, with automatic initialization of connection type to either an external waste water system or internal collection, ensuring efficient disposal based on installation conditions, using a control unit to manage liquid flow and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If condensate is collected in a rinsing container and routed through a heat exchanger, then fluff removal from the heat exchanger is improved, but liquid disposal becomes complex when no external sewage system is available
Solution Approach 1:
The rinsing container is nested within the collection tank, with the collection tank serving as an overflow basin for the rinsing container. This nested arrangement allows the system to handle both rinsing liquid and overflow condensate using a single integrated structure, simplifying the disposal system while maintaining effective fluff removal capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The collection tank serves multiple functions: it collects overflow from the rinsing container, stores condensate for later disposal, and acts as an overflow basin. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate disposal systems, reducing device complexity while ensuring reliable liquid management.
2Reliability
If a collection tank is used to store condensate, then overflow is prevented, but the system lacks flexibility for different installation conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its operation based on the connection type initialized during first operation. The control unit stores information about whether an external sewage system connection is available, and the system automatically adjusts its liquid disposal behavior accordingly - routing to external system or internal collection tank. This dynamic adaptation provides both overflow prevention and installation flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-initialization during first operation to determine the connection type and configure its own operation mode. The control unit automatically stores this information and uses it to control liquid routing without requiring user intervention during subsequent operations, providing both reliability and adaptability.
3Productivity
If the rinsing container is arranged in the collection container, then liquid collection efficiency is improved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The rinsing container is positioned within the collection tank, creating a nested container arrangement. This design allows the collection tank to serve as both a storage vessel and an overflow basin for the rinsing container, improving liquid collection efficiency by capturing all overflow in a single location while using a unified structural approach rather than separate external components.
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 enables flexible and hygienic liquid disposal, preventing overflow and ensuring effective condensate management, whether connected to an external sewage system or not, optimizing the rinsing and disposal processes while maintaining appliance hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
routed through the heat exchanger of a heat pump of the domestic appliance in a manner specific to the operating phase in order to remove fluff
Implementation Method 2
routed through the heat exchanger of a heat pump of the domestic appliance
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a rinsing liquid device (2) in a household appliance (1) for cleaning pieces of laundry, wherein the condensation created during the cleaning process is collected as rinsing liquid in a rinse container (5), and is guided specific to the operating phase for removing lint from a heat exchanger (8) of a heat pump of the household appliance (1) by said heat pump, wherein the rinse liquid guided through the heat exchanger (8) is automatically guided into a collection container (4) of the rinsing liquid device (2) or into an external waste water system (19) as a function of a specific connection type of the rinsing liquid device (2). The invention further relates to a rinsing liquid device.