CN110714309B

CN110714309B - Washing machine with hydraulic rotating separator and operation method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN110714309B
Application number: CN201910602502.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: H·G·阿尔巴拉克; C·布里克斯纳; K·根奇; J·斯格里派克
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2018-07-12
Filing date: 2019-07-05
Publication date: 2023-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-05
Also published as: CN110714309A; DE102019117652A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine 1 having a lye container 3, a drum 2 arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry 8, a drive motor 11, at least one water feed 5,6, a control device 4, a circulation pumping line 9 in which a circulation pumping system 12 having circulation pumping pumps 23, 31 is arranged, wherein a hydrodynamic rotating separator 17 is arranged in the circulation pumping system 12, which hydrodynamic rotating separator comprises a cavity 18 having an upper half 19 and a lower half 20 and a circular cross section, a submerged pipe 21 projecting centrally into the upper half 19, an inlet pipe 22 arranged between the lye container 3 and the hydrodynamic rotating separator 17, whereby aqueous liquid to be circulated and pumped can be fed from the lye container 3 into the hydrodynamic rotating separator 17 via the inlet pipe 22, such that the submerged pipe 21 and the inlet pipe 22 are integral parts of the circulation pumping line 9 and a discharge pipe 24 projecting into the lower half 20. The invention also relates to a method for operating the washing machine.

Description

Washing machine with hydraulic rotating separator and operation method thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to a washing machine having a hydrodynamic rotating separator and to a method for operating the washing machine. The invention relates in particular to a washing machine having a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a drive motor, at least one water supply device, a control device, a circulating pumping line in which a circulating pumping system having a circulating pumping pump is arranged.

Background

There are nowadays more and more washing machines that allow a higher load of laundry. It is very important that the washing machine drains as well as possible after the washing process due to the higher loading. This task becomes more and more demanding with higher loads of laundry, since the draining process is considerably more difficult to design technically due to the given conditions of the construction of the oscillating system of the washing machine, i.e. the lye container drum unit. This is due, firstly, to the fact that the aqueous liquid to be pumped out or the liquid or medium to be pumped out as a rule no longer exists in a single phase in the washing machine, but rather as a two-phase foam-water mixture on account of the narrow structural spatial relationship, the narrow constructional geometry in the washing machine associated therewith and the steep, i.e. large, speed gradient of the liquid resulting therefrom. The requirements for the evacuation method and its implementation are thereby greatly changed.

Furthermore, an increased load in the washing machine generally leads to a pile Mao Guoliang overstock in the wash cycle due to the likewise increased washing mechanism.

In order to better match the washing process to increased laundry loads, modern high-volume washing machines are usually equipped with a circulating pumping system which delivers the washing lye better and in particular faster into the laundry. Thereby, rinsing off the washing lye can also be achieved faster and more efficiently in the rinsing phase.

The publication DE 10 2016 210 A1 describes a method for operating a washing machine having a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a drive motor, at least one water feed device, which is usually used for feeding water into the lye container, a circulation pumping system having a lye pump and a circulation pumping line, and a control device, in which at least one operating program is stored, wherein the operating program comprises a pretreatment phase and a subsequent washing phase, wherein a predefined first volume V is to be set in the pretreatment phase, in particular at the beginning of the treatment phase _Start Is introduced into the lye container, wherein a part of the aqueous liquid is absorbed by the laundry and the part of the aqueous liquid not absorbed by the laundry is pumped out of the lye container as free rinsing liquid by means of a circulating pumping system and then conveyed back to the lye container, wherein the drum is driven by means of the drive motor in at least one first drive step at least in a pretreatment phase, wherein a predefined second volume V is provided before the washing phase, usually at the end of the pretreatment phase _rem Is pumped out of the lye container, the second volume being smaller thanThe volume of the rinsing liquid is not fed back into the lye container, and a third volume V is fed back into the washing phase, preferably at the beginning of the washing phase _add Is fed to the lye container.

Publication DE 103 241A1 describes a method for continuously removing undissolved dirt from a washing or cleaning machine, in which a vortex separation is carried out in a pumping cycle. In this case, use is made in particular of devices for vortex separation (hydrodynamic rotating separators) which in the simplest case consist of a cylindrical tube with a tangentially extending inlet, an outlet which is arranged in the center of the lower part and can be closed by means of a valve, and an overflow outlet which is arranged in the center of the upper part.

Publication KR 2003 0004714A describes a device for a washing machine for collecting dirt. The device for the washing machine further comprises a cylindrical rotary separator body, the rotary separator body is communicated with a discharge pipe, the discharge pipe is connected with the lye container at one side, the rotary separator body is communicated with a circulating pipe, and the circulating pipe is connected with a circulating pump at the other side.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which is suitable, in particular, also for large-volume loading of laundry, wherein preferably a better throughflow of the aqueous solution, in particular of the washing lye, can be achieved and the laundry can be better cleaned. Preferably, the operation of the washing machine should also be possible with a high amount of lint or dirt being generated.

Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention and vice versa, also when this is not specifically determined here.

The subject matter of the invention is therefore a washing machine with a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a drive motor, at least one water conveying device, a control device, a circulation pumping line in which a circulation pumping system with a circulation pumping pump is arranged, wherein a hydrodynamic rotating separator is arranged in the circulation pumping system, which hydrodynamic rotating separator comprises a cavity with an upper half and a lower half and a circular cross section, wherein a submerged pipe projects centrally into the upper half and an inlet pipe is arranged between the lye container and the hydrodynamic rotating separator, whereby aqueous liquid to be circulated and pumped can be conveyed from the lye container into the hydrodynamic rotating separator via an inlet pipe, so that the submerged pipe and the inlet pipe are integral parts of the circulation pumping line and an outlet pipe projects into the lower half, which outlet pipe is preferably connected to a drain pipe. The driving motor of the washing machine particularly means a driving motor for a drum.

The hydrodynamic rotating separator used according to the invention generally has a circular cross section. Further, the shape of the hydrodynamic rotary separator is not limited as long as the function as the hydrodynamic rotary separator is not negatively affected. Thereby, the hydrodynamic rotating separator may have a substantially spherical configuration, a substantially hemispherical configuration or, for example, also a shape in which the diameter of the cavity decreases downwards according to a function different from a circular function. Thereby, the diameter of the cavity with a circular cross-section also decreases, for example according to a parabolic shape, downwards, i.e. against the flow direction of the aqueous liquid.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the feed line projects laterally offset with respect to the immersion tube into the hydrodynamic spin separator, and the circulation pump for conveying the aqueous liquid is arranged above the immersion tube.

In a preferred embodiment of the laundry washing machine, the circulation pumping pump comprises a circulation pumping electric motor, the motor rotor of which has rotor magnets and is configured as an impeller of the circulation pumping pump.

In an alternative preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, a centrifugal pump is arranged as a circulating pump for conveying the aqueous liquid between the feed line and the hydrodynamic rotary separator.

More specifically, the electric circulating pumping motor is not limited according to the present invention. Preferably, however, the recirculating pumping electric motor is a brushless direct current motor (BLDC). The variable-speed and directionally rotatable drive motor can identify the current pump state by the controlled detection of operating parameters, such as speed and torque. It can thus be detected, for example, whether the pump used is pumping the entire delivery flow or is, for example, pumping air, so that the delivery flow is interrupted and the pump merely forms a pressure column and is therefore in so-called "intake submersible" or "drinking pop" operation. It can also be determined when the lye pump pumps out the two-phase washing lye with a reduced density at a constant reduced power requirement.

Different pumping power requirements, which can be determined from the motor torque and thus from the torque-generating current Iq, can also be set for different operating states of the pump, in this case in particular of the recirculating pump. The washing phase and the rinsing phase carried out in the washing machine can thus also be started or changed accordingly on the basis of the determined operating state of the pump. Depending on requirements or with optimized efficiency, a completely single-phase feed flow can thus be fed and the heat generation of the pump electric motor can be minimized, or a two-phase medium can be fed at a high pressure and a slow flow rate without separating the two-phase medium to be fed, which is also referred to herein simply as an aqueous liquid, in the pressure chamber of the pump and without continuously feeding it uniformly in the low feed flow.

According to the invention, a laundry washing machine is anyhow preferred in which the pumping cycle system comprises a cycle pumping control unit which can detect the cycle pumping motor power P according to the time t. The circulating pumping motor power P is generally taken into account here as a function of measured variables, the motor current or the motor torque of the electric motor used.

Preferably, a pump-out pump is arranged on the discharge pipe. In the washing machine according to the invention, it is preferred that the pump-out pump comprises a pump-out electric motor, the motor rotor of which has rotor magnets and is designed as an impeller of the pump-out pump.

The preferably used pump-out pump firstly makes it possible to pump out the collected dirt particles and/or fluff briefly during the circulating pumping of the aqueous liquid, but also makes it possible to pump out the used washing lye and accordingly the used washing liquid subsequently before the washing phase at the end of the washing phase when the circulating pump-out pump is normally switched off.

This results in a particularly compact design of the circulating pumping system and thus in a relatively small installation space requirement.

Clearing of blockages is achieved particularly well in geometrically oppositely arranged pump-out electric motors and circulating pump-in motors, in that both pumps run in the same flow direction.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the washing machine, a filter is arranged on the lower end of the immersion tube in the cavity. The filter is used in particular for removing also those relatively light particles, such as fluff, which may not or not be sufficiently separated on account of the operation of the hydrodynamic rotating separator, from the aqueous liquid pumped in circulation. It is also preferred here that the control device of the washing machine is provided for identifying the degree of contamination of the filter and taking countermeasures on the basis of an evaluation of the circulating pumping motor power P. The countermeasure may be a prompt on a display unit of the washing machine to clean the filter and/or may be an internal cleaning process.

The cleaning of the filter can take place in the case of an access opening on the hydrodynamic rotating separator, which is opened by the user or service personnel of the washing machine, and the filter is cleaned or, if necessary, replaced by flushing in the washing machine or, however, after removal from the outside of the washing machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, an inlet opening to the cavity is thereby provided on the hydrodynamic rotating separator for cleaning the cavity (18) and/or the filter on the immersion tube.

In a further preferred embodiment of the washing machine, the pump-out pump and the circulation pump as well as the hydrodynamic rotary separator are arranged in a common, i.e. one-piece, housing. The housing can be produced particularly well by plastic injection molding. A pump-out function and a circulation pump function are then contained in the common pump housing. The physical pump state can be inferred from the motor operating parameters, for example the torque-generating current Iq, by two separate pump drives, which are preferably designed as permanent magnet synchronous machines. It can thus be indirectly detected whether the respective pump delivery flow is set for a selected pump speed or whether a noticeable delivery flow cannot be set despite a rotation of the pump impeller, because, for example, a blockage of the outlet flow path is present. The characteristics of the fluid to be pumped (density or biphasicity of the medium to be pumped, degree of flow of the washing liquid, foreign-body detection) can be inferred from the operating state of the pump.

The invention also advantageously makes it possible, however, for the hydrodynamic rotating separator to be used as a separate structural unit, i.e. for no pump to be integrated into the hydrodynamic rotating separator in the structural unit.

The washing machine according to the present invention generally has a heating device. In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the washing machine has a heating device for heating the aqueous liquid in the lye container and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the aqueous liquid in the lye container. The heating device is usually arranged in the circulation pumping circuit of the washing machine. This has the advantage that space for the heating device can be eliminated in the lye container, thereby reducing the free rinsing liquid in the lye container. The amount of aqueous liquid required for treating the laundry can thereby be advantageously reduced. The heating device and the temperature sensor can advantageously be controlled by the control device.

The at least one water delivery device may, for example, be a fresh water connection controlled by a valve, wherein the valve is preferably controllable by the control device. In particular, the fresh water supply line to the lye container then additionally has a flow sensor for determining the volume of fresh water supplied.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the washing machine has a dirt sensor. Such a dirt sensor is not restricted according to the invention, but preferably an optical sensor is used which, for example, measures the turbidity of the aqueous liquid, i.e. is a turbidity sensor. The contamination sensor is advantageously arranged in the lye container, in the circulating pumping line or in the circulating pumping system. In a preferred embodiment, the dirt sensor is used in particular for determining the degree of contamination of the aqueous liquid, so that the operation of the hydrodynamic rotary separator and/or the cleaning of the hydrodynamic rotary separator can be better performed.

In a further preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the washing machine has a load sensor. The load sensor is advantageously arranged in the lye container and connected to the control device. Preferably, the load sensor is used to determine the mass of the laundry in the washing drum. This enables in particular the determination of the loading for the running program, but also in particular the evaluation of the expected fluff production. The operation of the hydrodynamic rotary separator and/or the cleaning of the hydrodynamic rotary separator can thereby be carried out better.

Furthermore, the subject matter of the invention is a method for operating a washing machine having a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a drive motor, at least one water conveying device, a control device, a circulation pumping line in which a circulation pumping system having a circulation pumping pump is arranged, wherein a hydrodynamic rotary separator is arranged in the circulation pumping system, which hydrodynamic rotary separator comprises a cavity having an upper half and a lower half and a circular cross section, wherein a submerged pipe projects centrally into the upper half and an inlet pipe is arranged between the lye container and the hydrodynamic rotary separator, whereby aqueous liquid to be circulated and pumped can be conveyed from the lye container into the hydrodynamic rotary separator via an inlet pipe, so that the submerged pipe and the inlet pipe are constituent parts of the circulation pumping line and an outlet pipe projects into the lower half, which outlet pipe is preferably connected to a drain line, wherein the method comprises step (a),

(a) The aqueous liquid is circulated in a circulation pumping direction from the lye container through the circulation pumping line circulation pump into the hydrodynamic spin separator and back into the lye container using the circulation pumping pump, so that the aqueous liquid enters the hydrodynamic spin separator directly or indirectly through the inlet pipe and the aqueous liquid leaves the hydrodynamic spin separator again through the submerged pipe.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the aqueous liquid is introduced laterally offset from the lye container into the upper half of the cavity with a circular cross section. The aqueous liquid is thereby forced onto a substantially circular trajectory in the hydrodynamic rotating separator. This generates a vortex in the aqueous liquid at a sufficiently high flow rate, since the vortex is expelled, for example, by dirt particles and/or fluff contained in the washing liquor onto the outer edge of the cavity in the hydrodynamic rotary separator (rotational separation effect).

"indirectly" in the method according to the invention means in particular that a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, is arranged between the supply line and the hydrodynamic rotary separator.

The method according to the invention, in which the circulation pumping power P of the circulation pumping pump is selected such that a predetermined separation of dirt particles and fluff is possible in the hydrodynamic rotating separator, is preferred.

The aqueous liquid is anyway conveyed back into the circulating pumping line to the lye container through a submerged pipe which is usually arranged in the center of the cavity. The circulation of the aqueous liquid is generally conducted continuously, for example during the duration of a washing program. The circulation of the aqueous liquid can be guided, for example, by switching off the circulation pump.

The circulation pump of the circulation pump system is usually after the initial introduction of the aqueous liquid, in particular water, in particular after a first volume V to be predefined _Start Is connected after the water is fed into the lye container. The aqueous liquid may be fresh water, but may also be spent water, which is stored in the washing machine, for example in the form of grey water, or else a mixture of fresh water and grey water. Greywater is understood to be wastewater which is slightly contaminated. The liquid of the last washing process of a treatment program of, for example, a washing machine, may not be pumped into the drain line but be temporarily stored in an optional container of the washing machine.In the next treatment sequence, the temporarily stored liquid can be flushed into the lye container at the beginning of the pretreatment phase. This has the advantage that fresh water and thus resources for treating the laundry are saved. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, fresh water is fed into the lye container.

Preferably, the aqueous liquid is pumped out at the bottom of the lye container and conveyed back to the upper side of the lye container, so that the laundry is applied with the conveyed aqueous liquid from above in the drum. The point at which the treatment liquid pumped in circulation is fed to the lye container is also referred to herein as the lye container inlet. Alternatively, the treatment liquid can also be conveyed directly back into the drum and thus onto the laundry, in which case the lye container inlet can be arranged in the region of the loading opening of the drum.

Furthermore, a method is preferred according to the invention in which the pump-out pump is additionally operated briefly in order to pump out dirt particles and/or fluff that have accumulated in the lower half of the cavity via the drain pipe and the drain line. The pumping-out preferably takes place in pulses, i.e. at a predetermined frequency.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the circulation pumping system comprises a circulation pumping control unit, and the circulation pumping control unit detects the circulation pumping motor power P and evaluates it in terms of density, degree of flow (verfluxusgrad) and biphasic properties of the medium to be circulated pumped, presence of foreign bodies in the circulation pumping line and/or contamination of filters present in the circulation pumping line. In this case, the relationship between the circulating pumping power and the different contamination states of the filter used, for example, is preferably stored in the circulating pumping control unit and/or in the control device of the washing machine.

Furthermore, a method is preferred according to the invention in which, for cleaning the filter arranged at the lower end of the immersion tube, the circulation pump is operated counter to the circulation pumping direction in order to wash away dirt particles and/or fluff adhering to the filter and to remove them from the hydrodynamic rotary separator by means of the pump-out pump via the outlet pipe and the drainage pipe.

In the method according to the invention, it is also advantageous to consider the load of the laundry, since the amount of dirt particles and/or fluff to be separated in the hydrodynamic rotating separator increases with increasing load.

The load of the laundry can be predetermined for the respective operating program as a setpoint load or can be determined by means of a suitable measuring device, for example a load sensor. The degree of contamination of the laundry can likewise be taken into account. For this purpose, the washing machine according to the invention can advantageously have a sensor for determining the degree of contamination, for example a turbidity sensor, by means of which the degree of contamination of the aqueous liquid can be determined. The operation of the circulation pumping system and thus of the hydrodynamic rotating separator can be optimized anyway in the manner described.

The invention has several advantages. In particular, the washing efficiency of the operating program can be increased by the method according to the invention. The washing stage can be designed to be more efficient because a part of the dirt and fluff is removed from the wash liquor in the hydrodynamic rotating separator and a part of the wash liquor can be pumped out. The improved washing efficiency can result in a reduction of the overall duration of the operating program, as a result of which a particularly energy-saving operation is achieved. Furthermore, the improved washing efficiency likewise leads to a more hygienic cleaning of the laundry. The hydrodynamic rotary separator can be used here as a separate component, but also as a component, so to speak, integrated with a circulation pump.

The invention also makes it possible in particular to control the quantity of water flowing through the recirculating pumping system, in particular when the recirculating pump and the pump-out pump are in operation. It is possible to achieve a regulated flow of washing lye or water through the laundry and thus a better washing result. Finally, blockages in the circulation pump line can also be avoided by using a hydrodynamic rotary separator and in the embodiment of the invention the blockage of the filter used is displayed to the user for cleaning or even automatically. In summary, a laundry washing machine is provided which offers increased comfort to the user due to reduced maintenance requirements and which is as lint-free as possible.

Drawings

Further details of the invention emerge from the following description of two examples of washing machines according to the invention with a circulation pumping system provided according to the invention, however different, in which a hydrodynamic rotary separator is arranged. Reference is made herein to fig. 1 to 8.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a washing machine according to the invention in a sectional view, in which the method according to the invention can be implemented.

Fig. 2 shows a circulation pumping system with a hydrodynamic rotating separator provided for this purpose according to the invention in a sectional view of a first embodiment of a laundry washing machine according to the invention.

Fig. 3 shows the relationship between the pumping power P of the circulation pumping pump and the degree of contamination of the filter for the filter placed on the end of the submerged tube in the cavity of the hydrodynamic rotating separator in the first embodiment of the laundry machine according to the invention.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a circulation pumping system having a hydrodynamic rotating separator according to the present invention used in a first embodiment of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cyclical pumping system of fig. 4 in a top view.

Fig. 6 illustrates the circulation pumping system of fig. 4 in perspective view supplemented with a housing for the circulation pumping motor and the pump-out electric motor.

Fig. 7 illustrates in perspective a cross-sectional view of the cyclical pumping system illustrated in fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows a circulation pumping system with a hydrodynamic rotating separator provided for this purpose according to the invention in a sectional view of a second embodiment of a laundry washing machine according to the invention.

Detailed Description

The washing machine 1 shown schematically in fig. 1 comprises a drum 2 with laundry 8 rotatably mounted in a lye container 3. The washing machine 1 also has a fresh-water supply, which is formed by a valve 5, which can be controlled by the control device 4, a flow sensor 15 and a fresh-water supply line 6. The fresh-water feed line 6 leads through a metering device 7 for the treatment agent, so that the treatment agent can be fed from the metering device 7, by means of the fresh-water feed device, through the fresh-water feed line 6 into the lye container 3, if necessary.

The drum 2 is driven by a drive motor 11. The drive motor 11 is in this non-limiting embodiment a brushless and thus noiseless drive motor 11.

The washing machine 1 also has a circulation pumping system 12, which is shown in detail here and which in this embodiment has a hydrodynamic rotary separator, a circulation pumping pump and a pump-out pump. The lye container outlet 10, the circulating pumping line 9 with the lye container inlet 14 and the pump-out line 13 for discharging the aqueous liquid used in the lye container 3 or the drum 2, e.g. the washing lye, are connected to the circulating pumping system 12. Aqueous liquid, for example pretreatment liquid in a pretreatment stage of the laundry or washing lye in a washing stage, can be pumped out of the lye container 3 through the lye container outlet 10 by means of the circulating pumping pump of the circulating pumping system 12 and conveyed back into the lye container 3 again through the circulating pumping line 9 and the lye container inlet 14. In this way, a circulating transport of the aqueous liquid is achieved. The lye container inlet 14 is arranged here such that the laundry 8 is supplied with aqueous liquid from above. This results in a particularly efficient use of the aqueous liquid for wetting and ultimately washing the laundry 8.

In an alternative, not shown washing machine, the lye container inlet connected to the circulation pump line is arranged at the loading opening of the lye container and the drum, in particular at a sealing ring arranged between the lye container and the housing of the washing machine for sealing the loading opening. In this arrangement, the aqueous liquid conveyed back into the lye container passes directly into the drum and thus onto the laundry. In this case, it is advantageous if the drum rotates at a rotational speed greater than the contact rotational speed, since the returned liquid reaches the laundry contacting the drum shell and presses the laundry on the basis of the forces acting during the rotation of the drum. This allows rapid wetting of the laundry, separation of the dirt from the laundry and discharge.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a display unit, i.e., a display device. The display unit may be part of an operating unit of the washing machine 1, on which display unit 29 running programs and other information may be displayed for the user. In particular, information about the operation of the hydrodynamic rotary separator, for example about foreign bodies which may be present and the degree of contamination of a filter which may be used in the hydrodynamic rotary separator, may also be displayed. The information may also contain an aid to be performed, for example a prompt to clean the filter.

Fig. 2 shows in a sectional view a circulation pumping system 12 with a hydrodynamic rotating separator 17, which is provided according to the invention, comprising a cavity 18 with an upper half 19 and a lower half 20 and a circular cross section. The dip tube 21 projects centrally into the upper half 19, and the feed tube 22 is offset laterally from the dip tube, so that the dip tube 21 and the feed tube 22 are integral parts of the circulating pumping line 9. The arrows here indicate the direction of flow of the aqueous liquid from the lye container which is not shown here. In order to supplement the separation of dirt particles and/or fluff, a filter 28 is additionally arranged at the lower end of the immersion tube 21.

Arranged above the immersion tube 21 is a circulation pumping pump 23, which contains a corresponding circulation pumping electric motor, the motor rotor of which has rotor magnets and is constructed as an impeller of the circulation pumping pump 23, only of which is shown in fig. 2. Furthermore, the recirculating pump electric motor is here a brushless direct current motor (BLDC).

The control device of the washing machine shown in detail here, however, is provided for identifying the degree of contamination of the filter 28 and taking countermeasures in dependence on an evaluation of the circulating pumping motor power P.

Furthermore, a drain 24 projects into the lower half 20, said drain being connected to a drain line 13 for draining used aqueous liquid. In the embodiment shown here, a pump-out pump is arranged on the discharge line 24. The pump-out pump comprises a pump-out electric motor, which is only schematically illustrated here, and whose motor rotor has rotor magnets and is designed as an impeller of the pump-out pump.

Fig. 3 shows the relationship between the pumping power P of the circulation pump and the degree of filter contamination for a filter which is arranged on the end of the immersion tube in the cavity of the hydrodynamic rotating separator in one embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention. The relationship can be stored, for example, in a control device of the washing machine, wherein an upper limit value can be predefined for the degree of soiling, the required cleaning measures being displayed on a display unit when the upper limit value is reached and/or being carried out automatically in the washing machine.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a recirculating pumping system 12 with a hydrodynamic rotating separator 17 for use in accordance with the present invention. The dip pipe 21 projects centrally into the upper half of the hydrodynamic rotary separator 17, and the feed pipe 22 is offset laterally from the dip pipe, so that the dip pipe 21 and the feed pipe 22 are part of the recirculating pumping line 9. The arrows here indicate the direction of flow of the aqueous liquid from the lye container which is not shown here.

Furthermore, a discharge pipe 24 projects into the lower half of the hydrocyclone 17, which discharge pipe is connected to a drain line 13 for discharging the used aqueous liquid.

In the circulation pump system 12 shown here of one embodiment of the washing machine, an inlet opening to the cavity of the hydrodynamic spin separator 17, not shown here, or a cover 30 closing the inlet opening, is arranged on the hydrodynamic spin separator 17. The cover 30 can be removed to clean the cavity and/or the filter if necessary in the cavity.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cyclical pumping system 12 of fig. 4 in a top view. Fig. 4 shows a submerged pipe 21, which has a filter 28 arranged thereon, in particular, in a manner that differs from that of fig. 4 except for the parts having the same reference numerals.

Fig. 6 shows the circulation pumping system 12 of fig. 4 in perspective view, supplemented with housings for the circulation pumping motor 25 and the pump-out electric motor 27. The arrows here indicate the direction of flow of the aqueous liquid from the lye container which is not shown here.

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the cyclical pumping system 12 shown in fig. 6 in perspective. Fig. 6 shows a submerged pipe 21, which has a filter 28 arranged thereon, in particular, in a manner that differs from that shown in fig. 6 except for the parts having the same reference numerals.

Fig. 8 shows a circulation pumping system with a hydrodynamic rotating separator 17 provided for this purpose according to the invention in a sectional view of a second embodiment of a laundry washing machine according to the invention. In contrast to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, a centrifugal pump 31 is arranged as a circulating pump between the feed line 22 and the hydrodynamic rotary separator 17. The circulation pump and the hydrodynamic rotary separator are thus separate components, so that the hydrodynamic rotary separator can be used as a separate component. Further, reference numerals of fig. 8 have the same meaning as those of other drawings. The arrows indicate the direction of flow of the aqueous liquid. For example, 24 denotes a drain pipe, which, not shown here, can be connected to a separate drain line 13.

List of reference numerals

1 washing machine

2 roller

3 lye container

4 control device

5 fresh water delivery valve

6 fresh water conveying pipeline

7 dosing device

8 washing article

9 circulation pumping pipeline

10 outlet of alkali liquor container

11 drive motor and brushless drive motor

12. Circulating pumping system

13. Drainage pipeline

14 alkali liquor container inlet of circulating pumping system

15. Flow sensor

16. Heating device

17. Hydraulic rotary separator

18 Hollow space (of a hydrodynamic rotating separator)

19. The upper half of the cavity

20. Lower half of the cavity

21. Submerged pipe

22. Input tube

23. Circulating pump

24. Discharge pipe

25. Circulating pumping electric motor

27. Pump-out electric motor

28. Filter

29 display unit (display device)

30 to the access opening of the cavity or a cover closing said access opening

31 centrifugal pump.

Claims

1. Washing machine (1) with a lye container (3), a drum (2) arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry (8), a drive motor (11), at least one water conveying device (5,6), a control device (4), a circulating pumping line (9) in which a circulating pumping system (12) with a circulating pumping pump is arranged, characterized in that a hydrodynamic rotating separator (17) is arranged in the circulating pumping system (12), which hydrodynamic rotating separator comprises a cavity (18) with an upper half (19) and a lower half (20) and a circular cross section, wherein a submerged pipe (21) projects centrally into the upper half (19) and an inlet pipe (22) is arranged between the lye container (3) and the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17), whereby aqueous liquid to be circulated pumped can be conveyed from the lye container (3) through the inlet pipe (22) into the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17) such that the submerged pipe (21) and the inlet pipe (22) are the upper half (24) and the discharge pipe (24) comprises the motor pump, wherein the discharge pipe (24) is arranged in the upper half (24), the motor rotor of the pump-out electric motor has rotor magnets and is configured as an impeller of the pump-out pump, in order to achieve a brief pumping-out of collected dirt particles and/or fluff during the circulating pumping of the aqueous liquid and to achieve a clearing of blockages in a manner that the pump-out pump and the circulating pump are operated in the same flow direction.

2. A washing machine (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the input pipe (22) that projects laterally offset with respect to the submerged pipe (21) into the hydrodynamic spin separator (17), and by a circulation pump (23) for conveying aqueous liquid being arranged above the submerged pipe (21).

3. A washing machine (1) as in claim 1, characterized by a centrifugal pump (31) arranged as a circulating pumping pump for transporting aqueous liquid between the input pipe (22) and the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17).

4. A washing machine (1) as in claim 2, characterized by the circulation pumping pump (23) that contains a circulation pumping electric motor (25) whose motor rotor has rotor magnets and is configured as an impeller of the circulation pumping pump (23).

5. A washing machine (1) as in claim 4, characterized by the circulating pumping electric motor (25) which is a brushless direct current motor (BLDC).

6. A washing machine (1) as in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the circulation pumping system (12) comprising a circulation pumping control unit that can detect the circulation pumping motor power P according to time t.

7. A washing machine (1) as in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by a filter (28) arranged on the lower end of the dip tube (21) in the cavity (18).

8. A washing machine (1) as in claim 7, characterized by the control device (4) that is arranged to identify the degree of contamination of the filter (28) and take countermeasures based on an evaluation of the circulating pumping motor power P.

9. A washing machine (1) as in claim 8, characterized by the counter-measure is a prompt on a display unit (29) of the washing machine (1) to clean the filter (28) and/or an internal cleaning process.

10. Washing machine (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, 8, 9, characterized in that an access opening to the cavity (18) is provided on the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17) for cleaning the cavity (18) and/or a filter (28) on the dip tube (21).

11. Method for operating a washing machine (1) having a lye container (3), a drum (2) arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry (8), a drive motor (11), at least one water conveying device (5,6), a control device (4), a circulation pumping line (9) in which a circulation pumping system (12) having a circulation pumping pump is arranged, wherein a hydraulic rotary separator (17) is arranged in the circulation pumping system (12), which hydraulic rotary separator comprises a cavity (18) with an upper half (19) and a lower half (20) and a circular cross section, wherein a submerged pipe (21) projects centrally into the upper half (19) and an inlet pipe (22) is arranged between the lye container (3) and the hydraulic rotary separator (17), whereby aqueous liquid to be pumped in circulation can be conveyed from the lye container (3) through the inlet pipe (22) into the hydraulic rotary separator (17) so that the submerged pipe (21) and the inlet pipe (22) are arranged in the upper half (24) of the circulation pumping pump and the discharge pipe (24) comprises the electric pump (24), the motor rotor of the pump-out electric motor has rotor magnets and is configured as an impeller of the pump-out pump, so that a brief pumping-out of collected dirt particles and/or fluff during the circulating pumping of the aqueous liquid is achieved, and a clearing of blockages is achieved in a manner that the pump-out pump and the circulating pump are operated in the same flow direction, wherein the method comprises the steps (a),

(a) -circulating an aqueous liquid from the lye container (3) through the circulation pumping line (9) in a circulation pumping direction into the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17) and back into the lye container (3) using the circulation pumping pump such that the aqueous liquid enters the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17) directly or indirectly through the input pipe (22) and the aqueous liquid in turn leaves the hydrodynamic rotating separator through the submerged pipe (21).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the circulation pumping power P of the circulation pumping pump (23) is selected such that a predetermined separation of dirt particles and fluff is possible in the hydrodynamic rotating separator (17).

13. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a pump-out pump is additionally operated briefly in order to pump out dirt particles and/or fluff accumulated in the lower half (20) of the cavity (18) through the discharge pipe (24) and the discharge line (13).

14. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the circulation pumping system (12) comprises a circulation pumping control unit and that the circulation pumping control unit detects and evaluates the circulation pumping motor power P in terms of density, fluidity and biphasicity of the medium to be circulated, presence of foreign matter in the circulation pumping line (9) and/or contamination of a filter (28) present in the circulation pumping line (9).

15. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, for cleaning a filter (28) arranged on the lower end of the immersion pipe (21), the circulation pump is operated counter to the circulation pumping direction in order to wash off dirt particles and/or fluff adhering to the filter (28) and to remove them from the hydrodynamic rotary separator (17) by means of the pump-out pump through the discharge pipe (24) and a drain line (13).