Domestic appliance and method for checking an electrical load of a domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and tumble dryers lack effective methods to independently check the status of electrical consumers, such as heaters, for defects like ground faults or interruptions, which can lead to safety issues and improper operation.
Innovation Solution
A circuit arrangement with two switches and a voltage divider, comprising resistors, allows the control device to evaluate the electrical voltage across the switches' different states, detecting ground faults and interruptions by comparing the voltage values, ensuring the electrical load is disconnected if defective, and preventing reactivation of faulty components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If no circuit arrangement for checking electrical load functionality is provided, then the appliance structure remains simple, but safety issues arise due to undetected defects like ground faults or interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
A voltage divider circuit with two resistors is introduced as an intermediary element to enable safe voltage measurement for defect detection. The voltage divider reduces the mains voltage to a safe level that can be evaluated by the control device, allowing the control device to detect ground faults and interruptions without direct exposure to high voltage, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and circuit complexity.
2Reliability
If manual checking methods are used for electrical load defects, then additional safety checks are possible, but productivity decreases due to increased time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The control device automatically performs defect checking of the electrical load before the load is activated. The voltage divider circuit continuously monitors the electrical load status, and the control device evaluates the voltage to detect ground faults or interruptions in advance, eliminating the need for manual checking and saving time while maintaining high reliability.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the electrical load is not automatically disconnected when defective, then operational flexibility is maintained, but harmful factors increase due to continued operation of faulty components
Solution Approach 1:
The control device continuously monitors the voltage across the electrical load through the voltage divider circuit and uses this feedback to automatically detect defects such as ground faults or interruptions. When a defect is detected, the control device automatically switches off the electrical load to prevent further damage or safety hazards, resolving the contradiction between damage prevention and operational flexibility by enabling automatic protective action based on real-time feedback.
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 enhances electrical safety by automatically detecting and preventing the operation of defective electrical consumers, potentially saving costs by avoiding damage and ensuring the appliance operates within safe parameters.
Implementation Method 1
The voltage divider (18) has a first resistor (R1) and a series circuit of a second resistor (R2) and a third resistor (R3)... the control device (4) is set up to detect the electrical voltage of the voltage divider (18)... the resistance values of the two resistors of the voltage divider or at least the resistance value of the second resistor is significantly greater than the resistance value of the electrical load
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
In a domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, washing machine or tumbler drier, having a control apparatus (4), at least one series circuit which has a first switch (15), which can be controlled by means of the control apparatus (4), a second switch (16), which can be controlled by means of the control apparatus (4), and an electrical load (10a), which is arranged between the two switches (15, 16) and can be disconnected at all poles from an electrical power supply system which provides a supply voltage (U) for the domestic appliance, and having a circuit arrangement which is intended to check the functionality of the electrical load (10a), the circuit arrangement comprises a voltage divider (18) which is connected in parallel with the series circuit and has at least one first and at least one second resistor (R1; R2, R3). The first resistor (R1) of said voltage divider is connected in parallel with the first switch (15) in such a way that the first switch (15), in its closed state, substantially bridges the first resistor (R1). The control apparatus (4) uses the electric voltage of the voltage divider (18) or an electric voltage which is associated with this electric voltage of the voltage divider (18) for evaluation purposes in order to check the functionality of the electrical load (10a), and in particular the switching states of the two switches (15, 16).