Movable Filter Pump Assembly for Self-Cleaning Washing Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
In household appliances like washing machines and dishwashers, the filter in the recirculation circuit often clogs due to impurity accumulation, making maintenance difficult and reducing the effectiveness of the recirculation process, especially during 'low consumption' wash cycles.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with a filter that can move between two positions, allowing for efficient filtration and cleaning, ensuring the filter can be accessed and maintained without external tools, and enabling water drain even if the filter is irreversibly clogged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed filter is used in the recirculation circuit, then the pump is protected from clogging, but the filter accumulates impurities that are difficult to remove and require frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made movable between a first position (in front of recirculation pump intake) and a second position (in front of drain pump intake) rather than being fixed. This dynamic positioning allows the filter to be accessed and cleaned by moving it to the second position where it is accessible from the outside, resolving the maintenance difficulty while maintaining pump protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable filter acts as an intermediary element between the recirculation circuit and the drain circuit. By positioning the filter in different locations, it mediates between the need for continuous pump protection and the need for accessible maintenance, allowing impurity removal without disassembling the appliance.
2Reliability
If the filter is positioned to protect the recirculation pump, then effective filtration is achieved, but the filter cannot be accessed from the outside for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The filter's position is made dynamic rather than static. It can be moved between protecting the recirculation pump (first position) and being accessible for cleaning (second position). This resolves the contradiction by allowing the filter to fulfill both functions at different times through controlled movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is segmented into two operational modes: filtration mode (filter in first position) and maintenance mode (filter in second position). This segmentation allows the same filter to serve different purposes in different positions, making it both effective for filtration and accessible for cleaning.
3Productivity
If the filter is cleaned frequently to remove impurities, then the recirculation process remains effective, but the service life of the appliance is reduced due to frequent maintenance interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The filter cleaning process is simplified to a self-service operation. By moving the filter to the second position, it becomes accessible from the outside for easy cleaning without requiring appliance disassembly. This reduces maintenance time and complexity, allowing frequent cleaning without significantly reducing overall appliance service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is designed to be movable to a maintenance position before cleaning is needed. This preliminary positioning action prepares the filter for easy access, making the actual cleaning process quick and simple, thereby minimizing maintenance interruptions and preserving appliance service life.
4Ease of repair
If a movable filter is implemented to enable cleaning, then filter maintenance becomes easier, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is made movable between two positions using a movement mechanism integrated into the pump assembly. This dynamic capability enables easy maintenance access without requiring complex external mechanisms or disassembly procedures, balancing improved ease of repair with controlled device 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 extends the service life of the filter and the appliance, maintaining effective recirculation and drainage processes by facilitating filter maintenance and ensuring uninterrupted operation even when the filter is clogged.
Implementation Method 1
in the first position, the filter is run through by a fluid flow directed towards a first side of the filter, thereby allowing said flow to be filtered
Implementation Method 2
in the second position, the filter is run through by a fluid flow directed towards the opposite side of the filter, thereby allowing the filter to be cleaned
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pump assembly (1,1') for household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and the like, comprising a body (2, 2') fitted with fluid passage means (23, 24, 27) for letting a wash fluid flow therethrough, at least one pump (3,4,3',4') associated with the body for pumping the fluid, a filter (9, 9') for filtering the fluid flowing through the body (2, 2'),wherein the filter (9,9') is movable between a first position, in which a fluid flow runs through it towards a first side of the filter, and a second position, in which a fluid flow runs through it towards the opposite side of the filter, wherein the pump assembly (1,1') comprises two pumps (3, 4; 3', 4') associated with respective outlet ducts (24, 25; 24', 25') arranged in the body (2, 2') of the assembly. According to the invention, the cross-section of the second outlet duct (25, 25') is greater than the cross-section of the first outlet duct (24, 24'), so that, in particular, said filter (9,9') covers the cross-section of the second outlet duct (25, 25') only partially.