Ozone Circuit Siphon Bypass for Selective Filter Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances with ozone circuits have a fixed activated carbon filter that continuously destroys ozone during both enrichment and usage phases, leading to inefficiency and reduced filter lifespan due to continuous operation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a switching siphon that can divert the ozone flow around the filter, allowing it to be switched on and off, and integrating it with the fog generator's liquid level control system to manage the filter's air-impermeable and air-permeable states, thereby optimizing ozone production and extending filter life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter is fixed and continuously active in the ozone circuit, then safety is improved by continuously removing excess ozone, but ozone production efficiency deteriorates because the filter destroys ozone during the enrichment phase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidozone production efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter is integrated into a switching siphon system that dynamically changes its state between air-impermeable and air-permeable based on operational phase. During ozone enrichment, the siphon is liquid-filled making the filter bypassed; during usage, the siphon empties allowing the filter to activate. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by making the filter active only when needed for safety while inactive during enrichment to preserve ozone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The filter operates periodically rather than continuously, synchronized with the operational phases of the household appliance. It is activated during the usage phase when ozone needs to be removed for safety, and deactivated during the enrichment phase to maintain ozone concentration. This periodic operation pattern resolves the contradiction between continuous safety monitoring and efficient ozone production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the filter operates continuously to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but filter lifespan deteriorates due to continuous wear and moisture saturation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidfilter lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter operates periodically only during the usage phase rather than continuously, which reduces cumulative wear and moisture saturation while maintaining safety when ozone is present. This periodic operation extends filter lifespan while preserving its safety function during critical phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The filter is extracted from continuous operation and selectively engaged only when needed through the switching siphon mechanism. This separation of continuous operation from intermittent need allows the filter to maintain reliability during usage while avoiding unnecessary wear during enrichment phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the filter is always active to remove ozone, then safety is improved, but ozone enrichment efficiency deteriorates because ozone is destroyed during the build-up phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexcess ozone removalVSAvoidozone enrichment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The switching siphon dynamically controls filter activation based on operational phase. During ozone enrichment, the siphon remains liquid-filled to keep the filter bypassed, allowing efficient ozone buildup. During usage, the siphon empties to activate the filter for ozone removal. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between removing harmful excess ozone and maintaining enrichment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The switching siphon acts as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the need for ozone removal and the need for ozone enrichment. It selectively connects or disconnects the filter from the ozone circuit based on operational requirements, allowing both enrichment efficiency and safety to be optimized at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution allows for selective activation of the filter during ozone build-up phases, reducing wear and tear, and maintaining filtering efficiency only when necessary, thus enhancing the appliance's operational efficiency and extending the filter's service life.

Implementation Method 1

a switching siphon for diverting an ozone flow around the filter and the switching siphon has an opening for controlling a liquid level in the switching siphon. This achieves the technical advantage, for example, that by filling and emptying the switching siphon with a liquid, an air-impermeable and an air-permeable state of the switching siphon is achieved.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSiphon effect: Syphon

Implementation Method 2

the filter is designed as an activated carbon filter... the filter for filtering the ozone from the ozone circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3171749B1Household appliance
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3171749B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3171749B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3171749B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a household appliance comprising an ozone generator (101) for producing ozone in an ozone circuit (103) as well as a filter (105) for filtering the ozone out of the ozone circuit (103); the ozone circuit (103) includes a switchable siphon (207) for rerouting an ozone flow around the filter (105), said switchable siphon (207) being provided with an opening (109) for controlling a liquid level in the switchable siphon (207).