Washing Appliance Filter With Self-Cleaning Rotational Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing appliance filters fail to effectively remove particulate matter and debris from re-circulated wash water, leading to scale buildup and clogging issues in water softeners due to hard water conditions, which affects wash performance and longevity of the appliance.
Innovation Solution
A filter design featuring a mesh strainer with a constricted flow path and rotational flow patterns within a filter chamber, where water flows tangentially across the mesh strainer to dislodge particulate matter, which settles in a lower collection chamber, preventing clogging and maintaining filter effectiveness over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mesh strainer is used to filter particulate matter from water, then filtration effectiveness is improved, but the mesh strainer becomes clogged with trapped particulate matter, reducing water flow
Solution Approach 1:
The filter chamber is designed to create rotational water flow that dynamically cleans the mesh strainer surface. The rotating water current dislodges trapped particulate matter from the mesh strainer, preventing clogging and maintaining both filtration effectiveness and water flow throughout operation
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system performs self-cleaning through the rotational flow mechanism. The water flow pattern automatically removes debris from the mesh strainer without external intervention, allowing the system to maintain its own performance over time without manual maintenance
2Reliability
If water flows directly through a filter medium, then filtration occurs, but particulate matter accumulates on the filter surface, causing pressure drop and reduced flow
Solution Approach 1:
The filter chamber geometry creates rotational water flow that continuously moves particulate matter away from the mesh strainer surface. This dynamic flow prevents accumulation and maintains pressure differential, ensuring consistent filtration performance without significant pressure drop
Solution Approach 2:
The filter chamber is divided into an upper portion containing the mesh strainer and a lower portion for particulate collection. This segmentation separates the filtration function from the debris collection function, allowing particulate matter to be trapped and collected in the lower portion while maintaining flow through the upper portion
3Reliability
If hard water is used in washing appliances, then water softeners are required to prevent scale buildup, but the water softeners become clogged by solid particles in the mains supply
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh strainer filter is positioned upstream of the water softener to preliminarily remove solid particles from the mains water supply. This preliminary filtration prevents particles from reaching and clogging the water softener, protecting its performance and extending its service life
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh strainer acts as an intermediary component between the mains water supply and the water softener. It intercepts and traps solid particles before they can affect the water softener, allowing the water softener to focus on its primary function of removing hardness without being compromised by particulate contamination
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 effectively removes particulate matter and debris, reducing scale buildup and extending the lifespan of water softeners by ensuring continuous water flow and preventing clogging, thus enhancing wash performance and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
the mesh strainer filtering particulate matter from water flowing through it to the outlet
Implementation Method 2
the flow of water across the mesh strainer causes particulate matter trapped on the mesh strainer to be dislodged
Implementation Method 3
dislodged matter settling to a lower portion of the filter chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A filter for use in a washing appliance is disclosed. The filter includes an inlet, an outlet, a filter chamber and a mesh strainer placed between the inlet and outlet. The mesh strainer strains water or liquid flowing into the filter as the water flows into the inlet and out of the outlet. The mesh strainer filters out particulate matter from the flow through the filter. The liquid flowing into the filter flows across the mesh to clean the filter and dislodge at least some of the particulate matter trapped in the mesh. The filter chamber includes at least one baffle within it. The baffle divides the filter chamber into an upper portion and lower portion. The particulate matter washed off collects in the lower portion of the filter chamber due to rotational flows created in the filter due to the filter chamber boundaries and the baffles.