Washer Filter Assembly Housing for Compact Drain Circuit Integration

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of manufacturing and assembly in household laundry treatment appliances increases due to the need for multiple components to be connected in a small spatial region for draining and filtering washing liquid, leading to higher costs and assembly failure probabilities.

Innovation Solution

A common assembly housing integrates the pump, filter, air chamber, and drain hose connections, allowing for easier installation and maintenance, with a filter assembly that includes a floating valve body and labyrinth design to manage fluff and contaminants, and a recirculation pump for efficient liquid management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If multiple components (pump, filter, air chamber, drain hose) are connected in a small spatial region, then draining and filtering functionality is achieved, but device complexity and assembly failure probability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent connection complexityVSAvoidassembly failure probability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pump, filter, air chamber, and drain hose connections into a single integrated filter assembly housing. This merging of multiple separate components into one unified assembly reduces the number of connection points and simplifies the overall system architecture, directly addressing the technical contradiction by lowering device complexity while improving reliability through fewer potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter assembly housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the pump, contains the filter, accommodates the air chamber, and provides connection points for the drain hose. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and improving reliability by eliminating the need for multiple separate connections and installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If multiple components are connected in a small spatial region, then draining and filtering functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent connection complexityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pump, filter, air chamber, and drain hose connections into a single integrated filter assembly housing. This merging of multiple separate components into one unified assembly reduces the number of connection points and simplifies the overall system architecture, directly addressing the technical contradiction by lowering device complexity while improving reliability through fewer potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter assembly housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the pump, contains the filter, accommodates the air chamber, and provides connection points for the drain hose. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and improving reliability by eliminating the need for multiple separate connections and installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If multiple components are connected in a small spatial region, then draining and filtering functionality is achieved, but assembly difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent connection complexityVSAvoidassembly ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pump, filter, air chamber, and drain hose connections into a single integrated filter assembly housing. This merging of multiple separate components into one unified assembly reduces the number of connection points and simplifies the overall system architecture, directly addressing the technical contradiction by lowering device complexity while improving reliability through fewer potential failure points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter assembly housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the pump, contains the filter, accommodates the air chamber, and provides connection points for the drain hose. This multi-functional design allows a single component to replace multiple separate components, reducing assembly complexity and improving reliability by eliminating the need for multiple separate connections and installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3699348B1Household appliance

Publication Date: 2023.06.07 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

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AI summary

Household appliance (2), comprising a casing (6) in which a tub (30) is arranged, further comprising a drum (36) rotatable mounted in said tub (30), further comprising a tub outlet through which washing liquid can be drained from said tub (30), further comprising an air chamber (136) which is suitable to be associated to water level sensor for measuring the level of said washing liquid in said tub (30), further comprising a drain hose for draining washing liquid to the outside of said appliance (2), whereby a filter assembly (80) is provided comprising: an assembly housing (86), a tub inlet (102) fluidly connected/connectable to said tub outlet, an air chamber (136) inlet fluidly connected/connectable to said air chamber (136), a drain outlet (120) fluidly connected/connectable to said drain hose, said filter assembly (80) further comprising a filter (92) and a pump (98), whereby said assembly housing is configured to receive said filter (92) and to get connected to said pump (98).