Pivotable Filter Element for Self-Cleaning Water Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water-bearing household appliances, such as washing machines, require frequent maintenance to remove filter residues, which can lead to clogging and negative effects on deeper system components, increasing user effort and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A filter design with a pivotable elliptical filter element within a cylindrical housing, allowing reverse flow for self-cleaning, combined with a magnetic actuating system and measuring device to assess clogging, enabling automatic and efficient cleaning without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter element is used to remove particles from water in household appliances, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but maintenance effort increases due to regular cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element is designed to clean itself automatically by reversing the flow direction through the element. The control unit activates the pump to circulate water in reverse, flushing accumulated particles off the filter surface without requiring user intervention, thus maintaining filtration effectiveness while eliminating manual maintenance effort
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic automatic cleaning cycles where the control unit reverses the flow direction through the filter element at predetermined intervals. This periodic reverse flow removes accumulated particles before they cause clogging, ensuring continuous filtration effectiveness while reducing maintenance burden on the user
2Quantity of substance
If filter residues accumulate on the filter element, then filtration capacity is improved initially, but clogging occurs leading to system failure
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is configured to automatically initiate reverse flow cleaning cycles at predetermined time intervals or based on usage criteria. This periodic action prevents filter residues from accumulating to clogging levels by regularly flushing them off, thereby maintaining both filtration capacity and system continuity without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors filtration performance and automatically triggers cleaning cycles when residues reach critical levels. This feedback mechanism ensures that the filter element is cleaned before clogging occurs, maintaining continuous system operation while maximizing the utilization of filtration capacity
3Ease of manufacture
If manual cleaning of the filter is required, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but user effort and potential damage to system components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system incorporates an automatic self-cleaning function where the control unit reverses water flow through the filter element to flush residues. This eliminates the need for manual disassembly and cleaning by the user, reducing both user effort and the risk of damaging system components, while adding only minimal complexity to the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches the flow direction through the filter element based on operational needs. The pump and control unit enable the filter to transition between normal filtration mode and reverse cleaning mode, automating the cleaning process and eliminating manual user intervention while maintaining relatively simple filter construction
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 design reduces maintenance effort, prevents clogging, and ensures effective cleaning, maintaining system integrity by utilizing high water pressure and flow to flush out residues, while stabilizing the filter element's position for efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
flushing the backwashable filter with a sufficiently high water pressure
Implementation Method 2
magnetic actuating system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a filter (2) that is used in particular for water-bearing domestic appliances, comprising a filter housing (18) and a filter element (19) arranged in the filter housing (18). The filter housing (18) has an inlet (25) and an outlet (26). The filter element (19) can be pivoted about an axis (17) in such a way that flow through the filter element (19) in the opposite direction with regard to a flow direction (29) from the inlet (25) to the outlet (26) is possible. The invention further relates to a water-bearing domestic appliance (1) having such a filter (2). By pivoting the filter element (19), filter residues (28) can be removed.