A filter group suitable for use in laundry washing and/or drying machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry washing and drying machine filters have limited active filtration surface area, leading to rapid clogging and increased mechanical wear, and often require user intervention for proper function, with potential environmental and machine damage if not used correctly.

Innovation Solution

A filter group with a hollow, three-dimensional body having multiple openings covered by filtering members with pores of 5 to 150 microns, increasing the active filtration area and incorporating features like inclined surfaces and nested bodies to enhance filtration efficiency and longevity, along with a casing for protection and easy installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a filtering member is supported by a planar frame, then the filter structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the active filtration surface area is limited causing rapid clogging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactive filtration surface areaVSAvoidfilter structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar frame support to a three-dimensional hollow body structure. The filtering member is supported by a hollow body with multiple openings distributed across its surface, creating a volumetric filtration structure that dramatically increases the active filtration surface area while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow body is divided into multiple sections with openings distributed across different surfaces (front, rear, side surfaces). Each opening is covered by a filtering member, effectively segmenting the filtration function across multiple locations to maximize the total active filtration area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If filters move together with laundry in the drum, then the filter is automatically positioned, but mechanical wear of laundry is accelerated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic filter positioningVSAvoidmechanical wear of laundry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cage structure as an intermediary between the filter assembly and the laundry. The cage contains the filtering members and provides a protective framework that allows the filter to be automatically positioned in the drum while preventing direct contact between the filtering members and laundry, thereby reducing mechanical wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If filtering members have small pore sizes to capture fine particles, then filtration effectiveness increases, but the filtering members clog more quickly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidfiltering member service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a three-dimensional hollow body with openings distributed across multiple surfaces to create a volumetric filtration structure. This increases the total active filtration area, allowing the system to maintain high filtration effectiveness with small pore sizes while extending service life by distributing the particle capture load across a larger surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 filter group significantly reduces filtration time, increases the economic life of filtering members, and prevents foreign particles from entering the environment, ensuring efficient and prolonged filtration performance with reduced user effort.

Implementation Method 1

at least one filtering member (6) which is placed onto the body (3) so as to cover the openings (2) and which has a plurality of pores with dimensions allowing the fluid taken into the volume (V) to pass therethrough so as to leave the volume (V) and preventing the passage of foreign particles such as fibers, lints, etc. with a size above a certain volume in the fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3789530B1A filter group suitable for use in laundry washing and/or drying machines
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3789530B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3789530B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3789530B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a filter group (1) suitable to be used in the laundry washing and/or drying machines, comprising at least one body (3) which defines a volume (V) almost completely isolated from the outer environment and which has a plurality of openings (2) thereon; at least one plate (5) which covers at least one side of the body (3) and which has at least one inlet port (4) allowing the fluid to be filtered to enter the volume (V); and at least one filtering member (6) which is placed onto the body (3) so as to cover the openings (2) and which has pores at least allowing the passage of the fluid therethrough so as to allow the fluid taken into the volume (V) to leave the volume (V).