CN115012174A - Washing machine with a recirculating pumping system and method for operating a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a washing machine, comprising: an alkali liquor container; a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry; a heating device; a drive motor; a water supply device; and a control or regulating device, wherein the essentially cylindrical filter insert (8) has a screw closure (7) to be opened at a first end (15), a pump-out seal (17) for sealing the pump-out pressure chamber (11) from the essentially cylindrical suction chamber (10) at a second end (16), and a circulation pump opening (9) to the circulation pump pressure chamber (12) at the periphery of the filter insert, wherein the periphery has a sheet (18) surrounding the circulation pump opening (9), which sheet is surrounded by a labyrinth seal (20) and seals the circulation pump pressure chamber (12) from the suction chamber (10).

Description

Washing machine with a recirculating pumping system and method for operating a washing machine

Technical Field

The invention relates to a washing machine with a circulation pumping system and a method for operating a washing machine. The invention relates in particular to a washing machine, comprising: lye container, drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry (washing stock), heating device, drive motor, water feed device and control or regulating device (Steuer-bzw. Regeleinrichtung), wherein the circulation pumping system comprises a pump housing with a pump outlet, a circulation pumping outlet and a suction inlet, wherein the pump motor, circulation pumping motor and a screw closure (Schraubwershuss) to be opened are arranged on the pump housing, on which a substantially cylindrical filter insert is mounted which can be removed from the washing machine and has at least one opening along its circumference (Umfang) for the passage of an aqueous liquid, so that the pump housing comprises a substantially cylindrical suction chamber, a pump outlet pressure chamber and a circulation pumping pressure chamber, and wherein the pump motor is arranged in such a way that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber through the pump outlet pressure chamber and the pump outlet inlet into the pump outlet And the circulation pumping motor is arranged such that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber through the circulation pumping pressure chamber and the circulation pumping connection into the circulation pumping line.

Background

There are more and more washing machines that allow a higher degree of loading with laundry. In order to better adapt the washing process to an increased laundry load, modern high-capacity washing machines are often equipped with a circulating pumping system which delivers the washing lye better (in particular more quickly) into the laundry. The rinsing of the washing lye in the washing stage can be carried out more quickly and more efficiently. Finally, due to the new washing appliance label requirements (EN19) regarding washing effectiveness and energy efficiency, nowadays large capacity washing machines are equipped with circulation pumping systems. It is thus possible to achieve a low washing lye level in the washing machine (or in the lye container) for the washing process, so that the washing lye can be brought quickly to the desired washing process temperature with a low water level in the lye container and thus with a low heating power of the existing heating device, in order to achieve labeling requirements, for example, with regard to energy consumption. Even at such a liquid level in the lye container, the introduction of washing lye into the laundry items can already be achieved by means of the circulating pumping system: at this level, it is not possible to flush the items of laundry without a circulation system, since the laundry drum is not yet immersed in "dead liquor" (wash liquor in the liquor container) at such a low liquid level and therefore it is not possible to flush the items of laundry by a diffusion process from the outside inward into the laundry.

Publication DE 102016210320 a1 presents a method for operating a washing machine comprising: the laundry washing machine comprises a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving the laundry, a drive motor, at least one water feed device which is usually used for feeding water into the lye container, a circulating pumping system with a lye pump and a circulating pumping line, and a control device, in which at least one operating program is stored.

The publication DE 102018206364 a1 discloses a household appliance for treating laundry, having a lye container in which a laundry drum configured to receive the laundry is arranged, and also having a pump system comprising a circulation pump by means of which fluid can be conveyed out of a lower region of the lye container. In one embodiment, the pump system comprises an evacuation pump, wherein the circulation pump and the evacuation pump are arranged in a common pump housing of the pump system. In a further embodiment, the inlet-side chamber of the pump housing has a closure element, wherein the filter device is accessible and/or removable from the chamber for maintenance after the closure element has been opened.

Publication DE 102016212478 a1 discloses a laundry care appliance having a circulation pumping system which comprises a suction chamber, wherein the pump has a filter and/or a foreign-matter trap for filtering foreign matter from the washing liquid, and wherein the suction chamber has a filter inlet opening for introducing the filter into the suction chamber. The filter has a filter insert arranged inside the intake chamber and a filter cover which forms a filter inlet opening which is sealed in a fluid-tight manner.

A circulation pumping system (also referred to as a circulation pump system) in most cases comprises a discharge pump (evacuation pump) and a circulation pump (also referred to as a circulation pump) which are united by a common pump housing. The pump housing is usually designed such that both pumps use a common suction chamber, in which a foreign-matter trap or a fluff screen is integrated, in order to be able to filter out foreign matter and/or fluff from the flow on the suction side and to partially achieve accessibility to the impeller of the pump-out motor and the circulating pump motor, whereby the user can eliminate possible impeller jams caused by foreign matter. In this case, the discharge pump is in most cases arranged in an axial orientation, while the circulation pump is in most cases placed radially. The geometric arrangement of the two pumps on the common intake chamber is preferably implemented such that a passage to the running wheels of the pump-out motor is provided. Such a channel should be very well sealed. Here, the axially arranged pump housing is usually closed and sealed in the axial direction by a screw cap. In addition, the filter insert integrated in the intake chamber is simultaneously axially preloaded due to the axial screwing in such a way that, in the case of pumping out, a good sealing of the pump-out pressure chamber from the intake chamber can be achieved. Such a seal must be functionally reliable, in particular for the outlet pump (pump-out), since there are VDE requirements regarding and maintaining the delivery flow, in particular for the outlet pump (pump-out), over the service life of the washing machine.

It is, however, necessary to seal the radially arranged pressure chambers (circulating pumping pressure chambers) of the circulation pump against the intake chamber. That is, a gap typically occurs between the removable filter insert and the pump housing, even if attempts are made to keep this gap as small as possible during manufacture. Such gaps are a result of the production of the pump housing and the filter insert, which are usually produced by injection molding, wherein certain tolerances are specified. That is, if such sealing is not achieved, this may result in a large leakage flow which may make control of the washing program and especially of the circulation of the aqueous liquid in the circulation pumping system very difficult or even impossible. That is, the aqueous liquid stream should preferably enter the drum at a certain velocity and at a certain angle. Furthermore, the hydraulic separation of the suction chamber from the recirculating pumping pressure chamber cannot be optimally used for the further development of improved washing methods in terms of hydraulically adjustable operating points and possible foreign body adhesion, since excessive leakage flows can occur by means of simple gap seals. The leakage flow should be as small as possible over the aforementioned system-dependent clearances.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a recirculating pumping system which is suitable in particular for large-volume loading with laundry, wherein a better filling of the laundry with an aqueous liquid (in particular washing lye) and an improved cleaning of the laundry can be achieved by improved control of the recirculating pumping system.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a washing machine and a method for operating a washing machine having the features of the respective independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention are listed in the respective dependent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention correspond to preferred embodiments of the washing machine according to the invention and vice versa, even if this is not explicitly emphasized here.

The subject of the invention relates to a washing machine having: a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a heating device, a drive motor, a water feed device and a control or regulating device, wherein the circulation pumping system comprises a pump housing having a pump-out connection, a circulation pumping connection and a suction connection, wherein the pump-out motor, the circulation pumping motor and a screw closure to be opened are arranged on the pump housing, on which screw closure a filter insert is mounted which can be removed from the washing machine and which has at least one opening along its circumference for the passage of an aqueous liquid, so that the pump housing comprises a substantially cylindrical suction chamber, a pump-out pressure chamber and a circulation pumping pressure chamber, and wherein the pump-out motor is arranged such that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber through the pressure chamber and the pump-out connection into a pump-out line, and the circulation pumping motor is arranged in such a way that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the essentially cylindrical intake chamber via the filter insert through the circulation pumping pressure chamber and the circulation pumping connection into the circulation pumping line, wherein the filter insert has a screw closure to be opened on a first end, a pump-out seal for sealing the pump-out pressure chamber from the essentially cylindrical intake chamber on a second end, and a circulation pumping opening to the circulation pumping pressure chamber on its periphery (in most cases orthogonally thereto), wherein the periphery has a sheet piece (Schild) surrounding the circulation pumping opening, which sheet piece is surrounded by the labyrinth seal and seals the circulation pumping pressure chamber from the intake chamber. Preferably, the sheet is surrounded by a labyrinth seal outside the connection region. In general, i.e. for stabilization, the sheet-like element is connected to the rest of the filter insert by a connecting region.

Thus, the at least one opening along the periphery of the filter insert is here a circulation pumping opening. In general, the filter insert is configured in such a way that it has three openings for the passage of the aqueous liquid (i.e. one opening on the suction side and two openings on the pressure side) in order to supply the circulation pump and the evacuation pump (i.e. one inlet from the suction chamber and two outlets or discharge openings to the pressure chamber).

The pump housing is generally almost cylindrical except for the stripper bevels, while the filter insert does not necessarily have to be cylindrical in its apparent geometry.

According to the invention, a pump housing is used: a pump-out function and a circulation pump function are incorporated in the pump housing. This enables a particularly compact configuration of the circulating pumping system and relatively small installation space requirements. Such a housing can be produced particularly well by plastic injection molding.

A filter insert which can be removed from the washing machine can be detachably mounted on the screw closure to be opened. In principle, it is possible to design the closure and the filter insert in one piece and to manufacture them, for example, as a one-piece injection molded part, wherein simultaneous sealing of the circulation pumping chamber and the pumping-out pressure chamber can be difficult or even impossible, since the filter insert formed thereon must be rotated together when screwing such a closure cap (Verschlusskappe) and therefore, depending on the principle, it is not possible to use such a labyrinth seal.

In the circulation pumping phase, the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical intake chamber via the circulation pumping pressure chamber and the circulation pumping connection into the circulation pumping line, which is in turn connected to the inlet opening into the drum, so that the circulated aqueous liquid finally reaches the laundry in the drum again.

In general, the control or regulating device is provided for: and the circulating pumping or pumping of the aqueous liquid is realized.

In the broadest sense, the filter insert is a cylindrical filter insert, the external dimensions or geometry of which are designed in such a way that it can be inserted into the substantially cylindrical suction chamber and removed therefrom without obstruction by the user of the washing machine. The filter insert generally has structural elements which contribute to the mechanical stability of the filter insert itself and enable a stationary positioning in the cylindrical intake chamber. Irrespective of the demolding slope, the pump housing is almost cylindrical, whereas the filter insert does not necessarily have to be cylindrical in its outer geometry.

In contrast, in the pump-out phase, the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the cylindrical intake chamber via the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-out connection into the pump-out line, which is generally connected to a waste water system, so that the pumped-out aqueous liquid can be removed.

In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine, the sheet-like element molded on the filter insert has a connection region, via which the sheet-like element is connected directly or indirectly to the first end of the substantially cylindrical filter insert.

The function of the sheet-like element is to improve the sealing between the circulating pumping pressure chamber and the suction chamber and to also achieve accessibility to the circulating pumping pressure chamber and thus also to the running wheel of the circulating pump. In general, therefore, the sheet-like element is adapted to the shape of the circulating pumping pressure chamber in order to achieve good flow guidance. In a preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the sheet is therefore concavely shaped in order to seal the convexly configured circulating pumping pressure chamber from the cylindrical suction chamber. Thus, the sheet may be concavely shaped in order to seal a convex cyclic pumping pressure chamber.

According to the invention, the sheet-like element for closing (or sealing) the circulating pumping chamber is surrounded on the peripheral side by a labyrinth seal, in particular outside the connecting region. In general, labyrinth seals are non-contact seals for which the sealing effect is based on an extension of the flow path (i.e. usually by flow diversion, through the gap to be sealed), whereby the flow resistance is significantly increased. This can be achieved, for example, by: one or more steps are provided along the flow path (in this case the aqueous liquid) so that the flow is diverted inside the labyrinth seal (or step seal) a number of times. The labyrinth seal preferably has at least one step, more preferably two or three steps.

According to the invention, the normally circumferential gap between the filter insert and the pump housing is widened in such a way that it is covered by a sheet-like element (which may also be referred to as a flange or a bridge) on the filter insert and, if appropriate, also a complementary counterpart on the filter housing. Such a generally radially projecting sheet-like element above the axially extending gap is preferably as parallel as possible to the pressure gradient which builds up radially in the circulating pumping pressure chamber. The filter insert installed according to the invention can lead to a large diversion of the flow for the leakage flow, by means of which a pressure loss is increased, which leads to a reduction of the leakage flow.

One such washing machine is preferred according to the invention: in the washing machine, the angle α between the pump-out motor shaft and the filter insert axis is in the range >0 ° to 30 °, for example in the range 3 ° to 15 °. It is particularly preferred that the angle α is selected such that the static friction between the usually used disk spring of the filter insert (i.e. the sealing element for the recirculating pumping pressure chamber) and the pump housing is eliminated.

This embodiment of the invention enables: the sealing achieved by the disk according to the invention is further improved by the axial pressing force acting on the pump-out seal (in particular if the pump-out seal is in the form of a disk spring), since a better closure of the circulating pump pressure chamber by the disk on the filter insert, which better closes the gap determined by the principle, can be achieved by the "sliding off" of the filter insert on the partition wall toward the pump-out pressure chamber. Thus, higher pressure losses may be created, which also restrict (or limit) the leakage flow more. In order to achieve such a pressing force for better sealing of the recirculating pumping pressure chamber, the filter insert can be tensioned axially relative to the pump housing with respect to the recirculating pump (or the recirculating pumping motor) in such a way that a sliding movement of the filter insert in the radial direction towards the recirculating pumping pressure chamber is achieved with respect to the intake chamber. Such a sliding-off of the filter insert on the boundary wall of the pump housing towards the pump-out pressure chamber can be achieved, in particular, if the angle α between the pump-out motor shaft and the filter insert axis is in the range from 3 ° to 15 °, wherein the angle α to be selected depends on the material used, i.e., for example, whether plastic contacts each other or metal contacts the plastic. If the self-locking (stiction) between the filter insert and the pump housing is released, the filter insert in the suction chamber (i.e. in the pump housing) can be pressed radially against the circulating pumping pressure chamber in order to seal it as much as possible.

Also, one such washing machine is preferred according to the invention: in the washing machine, the angle β between the axis of the circulation pumping motor and the axis of the filter insert is in the range 70 ° to 110 ° and preferably in the range 85 ° to 95 °.

Preferably, the pump-out seal is a disk spring which acts in the axial direction in general in order to seal an axially or almost axially arranged pressure chamber of the outlet pump (i.e. of the pump-out motor). In some embodiments of the invention, the axial sealing between the common suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber is achieved by elastic deformation of a disk spring on the filter insert, in which embodiments the invention implements a novel structural sealing principle for a recirculating pumping pressure chamber which is usually arranged radially on the common suction chamber of the recirculating pumping system and which is conditionally accessible to the user, that is to say a hydraulic short-circuit from the pressure chamber to the suction chamber which requires a double transmission of the leakage flow between the pump housing and the pump filter insert, in order to minimize the leakage flow.

In principle, the filter insert can be configured as a fluff filter and/or as a foreign-matter trap. The filter insert as a fluff filter can be configured in accordance with the form of a sieve, which is used in particular for retaining hair, fluff and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the filter insert can be configured as a foreign-matter trap, which is used to trap large foreign matter, such as coins, hairpins, or the like, for example.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the filter insert is configured as a foreign-matter trap. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a fluff filter is connected in front of the suction chamber.

Furthermore, such a washing machine is preferred according to the invention: in the washing machine, the filter insert has at least one guide strip (fuhrungssteg) parallel to the filter insert axis. This achieves a stable, positionally fixed positioning of the filter insert, which contributes to an optimum sealing between the circulating pumping pressure chamber and the suction chamber.

Generally, the pump-out motor and the circulating pump-in motor are electric motors. In this case, the pump-out motor and the recirculating pump motor are preferably, for example, brushless direct current motors (BLDC). These drives, which are variable in the number of revolutions and can be aligned in the direction of rotation, allow the current pump state to be detected by actuating-dependent detection of operating parameters (e.g., number of revolutions and torque). Thus, for example, it is possible to detect: the pump used is either pumping a full delivery flow or, for example, drawing in air, the delivery flow is interrupted and the pump merely builds up a pressure column and is therefore in an operating state ventilated on the suction side to a certain extent. Here, it can be concluded that the situation is when the pump-out motor pumps out the two-phase washing lye with a reduced density with a constant reduced power requirement.

Finally, one such washing machine is preferred according to the invention: in the washing machine, the suction connection has a larger diameter than the pump-out connection and the circulation pump connection. Naturally, this dimensional relationship (or diameter relationship) can also be configured differently.

The washing machine according to the present invention 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 and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the aqueous liquid in the lye container. Generally, the heating device is arranged in the lower part of the lye container. Alternatively, the heating device may be integrated in the water path of the circulation pumping system, thus being provided, for example, in the pump or in the circulation pumping line on the pressure side or in the air conducting circuit or the evaporation/steam unit of the washing machine. This has the advantage that: in the lye container, space for the heating device can be dispensed with, whereby free liquid or also dead liquid in the lye container is reduced. The amount of aqueous liquid necessary for the treatment of the laundry can thereby advantageously be reduced, so that, in addition, less thermal energy is also used to achieve comparable temperature levels. The heating device and the temperature sensor can advantageously be controlled (or processed analytically) by the control device, so that temperature regulation can be achieved.

The water supply device can be, for example, a fresh water connection which is controlled in time by a valve, wherein the valve is preferably controllable by the control device. In a particularly preferred manner, the fresh water supply line to the lye container then additionally has a flow sensor for determining the volume of fresh water introduced. By additionally detecting the liquid level in the lye container by means of the pressure sensor, the water feed for the laundry batch used can be precisely predefined (or set).

In a further preferred embodiment of the washing machine according to the invention, the washing machine additionally has a load sensor for determining the quantity of laundry in the drum. The load sensor is advantageously arranged on the lye container and connected to the control device. Therefore, according to the invention, the control device preferably takes into account the load capacity and, if possible, the type of loading of the drum with laundry when controlling the recirculating pumping system.

Furthermore, the subject matter of the invention relates to a method for operating a washing machine having: a lye container, a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry, a heating device, a drive motor, a water feed device and a control or regulating device, wherein the circulation pumping system comprises a pump housing having a pump-out connection, a circulation pumping connection and a suction connection, wherein the pump-out motor, the circulation pumping motor and a screw closure to be opened are arranged on the pump housing, on which screw closure a substantially cylindrical filter insert is mounted which can be removed from the washing machine and which has at least one opening along its circumference for the passage of an aqueous liquid, so that the pump housing comprises a substantially cylindrical suction chamber, a pump-out pressure chamber and a circulation pumping pressure chamber, and wherein the pump-out motor is arranged such that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber via the filter insert through the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-out connection into a pump-out line, and the circulation pumping motor is arranged in such a way that the aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical intake chamber via the filter insert through the circulation pumping pressure chamber and the circulation pumping connection into the circulation pumping line, wherein the substantially cylindrical filter insert has a removable closure element at a first end, a pump-out seal at a second end for sealing the pump-out pressure chamber from the cylindrical intake chamber, and a circulation pumping opening on its periphery to the circulation pumping pressure chamber, wherein the periphery has a sheet surrounding the circulation pumping opening, which sheet is surrounded by a labyrinth seal and seals the circulation pumping pressure chamber from the intake chamber, the method comprising the following steps

(a) The control device actuates the pump-out motor and/or the circulation pump motor in such a way that one of the motors is switched on (i.e. activated or actuated);

(b) drawing the aqueous liquid into the suction chamber by means of the operated pump-out motor or the operated circulation pump-in motor; and

(c1) conveying the aqueous liquid from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber via the filter insert through the circulation pumping pressure chamber and the circulation pumping connection into the circulation pumping line; or

(c2) The aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical intake chamber through the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-out connection into the pump-out line.

Generally, the aqueous liquid is delivered to a waste water line of a household after step (c 2).

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control or regulating device is provided to take into account the loading with laundry.

The circulation pumping motor of the circulation pumping system is usually after the start of the introduction of the aqueous liquid, in particular water (in particular in a predetermined first volume V) _{Start of} Is introduced into the lye container) is switched on. The aqueous liquid may be fresh water or domestic water (which may be stored, for example, in the form of grey water in a washing machine) or a mixture of fresh water and grey water. Such waste water is understood to be grey water: the wastewater is lightly contaminated. For example, the liquid of the last rinsing process of a treatment program of a washing machine may not be pumped into the waste water line, but temporarily stored in an optional container of the washing machine. In the subsequent processing proceduresIn this way, 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 is saved, thereby saving resources for treating the laundry. In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, fresh water is supplied to the lye container.

Preferably, the aqueous liquid at the bottom of the lye container is pumped out and conducted back again to the drum or to a position as central as possible of the lye container, so that the laundry in the drum is loaded in the middle (or centrally) by the aqueous liquid conducted back. For this spraying process, a so-called laundry tunnel can be formed in particular

The water supply is then optimally sprayed centrally into the laundry tunnel. The circularly pumped treatment liquid is supplied to the lye container at a location referred to as the inlet of the lye container. Alternatively, the treatment liquid can be guided directly back into the drum and onto the laundry. In this alternative case, the lye container inlet may be arranged in the region of the loading opening of the drum. It is also conceivable to feed from the rear side, in which case, for example, the aqueous medium is fed through a hollow drive shaft.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the circulation pumping system (preferably in the control or regulating device) comprises a circulation pumping control unit, and the circulation pumping control unit detects the circulation pumping motor power P and evaluates it with respect to the density of the medium to be circulated, the fluff filling degree and the biphasic (zweiplisigkeit) of the medium to be circulated, the presence of foreign bodies in the circulation pumping line and/or the contamination of the filter present in the circulation pumping line. Here, the interrelationship between the circulating pumping power and the various contamination states (of the filter used, for example) is preferably stored in the circulating pumping control unit and/or the control device of the washing machine.

The present invention has numerous advantages. A very good hydraulic separation between the suction side and the pressure side of a circulation pump for a circulation pumping system can thus be achieved without additional, cost-intensive sealing elements having to be provided on the filter insert. In addition, good contact with and visibility into the impeller of the circulating pump, which is in most cases arranged radially, on the pump housing can be achieved. Here, the filter insert can be easily removed by the user of the washing machine for cleaning purposes.

In the case of a one-dimensional gap representation, manufacturing tolerances have a large influence on the functional design of the leakage flow. By the representation that can be achieved according to the invention in terms of the representation of the housing gap between the pump housing and the filter insert in the axial direction and in the radial direction and by corresponding centering, the sealing effect can be manifested to a certain extent independently of the manufacturing tolerances of the one-dimensional gap representation.

The manufacturing cost for the tool may be lower if there is no need to be as much care to maintain the clearance radial geometry. It is particularly important to use even a plurality of tools or tool chambers (tool nests) in one tool to meet the part requirements, for which tool or tool chamber individual tool costs are incurred in order to keep the differences in leakage flow between the tools small. In this connection, according to the invention, a longer tool maintenance cycle results, in which the disruptive gap flow (or leakage flow) must be monitored and limited over and over again if the gap shape is one-dimensional, since the filter insert used according to the invention is less sensitive in this connection and therefore requires less maintenance.

In one embodiment of the invention, in order to better close the circulating pumping pressure chamber, a contact pressure is additionally achieved, in which there is little need for complex tolerances, since the sealing principle is based on a seal that acts in a somewhat planar manner and, as in the first one-dimensional gap representation, does not have to be a line contact only to some extent, which is very sensitive to tolerances in the components with regard to its sealing effect.

A recirculating pumping system sealed in accordance with the present invention may be more reliable over the entire operating time (service life). For example, in one embodiment, the prestressing is carried out on a doubly (axially and radially) active seal, in which embodiment, for example, not only can the manufacturing tolerances be greater, but also relaxation processes of the plastics, for example for the filter insert or the pump housing, which occur over the service life as a function of the temperature load, can be counteracted. The radial ribbing (verripsung) of the suction side of the filter insert's sheet, which closes the recirculating pumping chamber and extends even beyond the sealing flange, can also influence this effect more positively and thus ensure a constant small leakage flow over the entire operating time and the main function of the pump-out and recirculating pumping in accordance with the functional requirements over the service life of the washing machine.

An additional positive side effect is that the risk of filling the pump with fluff during the operating time (service life) is reduced by reducing the leakage flow between the pressure chamber and the suction chamber. This is because the fluff which has reached the pressure chamber is pumped out or circulated more reliably, without reaching the suction chamber again via the leakage flow and being conveyed doubly, which means a higher risk of filling with fluff for the pump. A functionally more reliable closure of the sealing gap hardly allows fluff to adhere to the gap geometry (or the sealing geometry), which is significantly more risky to adhere in the case of one-dimensional gap seals, as the inventors have shown from experimental studies.

Drawings

Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are subsequently explained in more detail on the basis of the accompanying drawings. Here, reference is made to fig. 1 to 8. The figures show:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a pump housing used in accordance with the present invention having a pump-out motor and a circulating pump motor connected thereto;

fig. 2a) shows a perspective view of a pump-out motor/recirculating pump motor with running wheels; FIG. 2b) shows a side view of the pump-out motor/circulation pump motor of FIG. 2 a);

fig. 3a) shows a perspective view of a filter insert used according to the invention; fig. 3b) shows a further perspective view of such a filter insert used according to the invention;

fig. 4a) shows a side view of a substantially cylindrical filter insert provided with a screw closure to be opened, which is not used according to the invention, in which a sheet-like part without a labyrinth seal is used;

fig. 4b) shows a side view of a cylindrical filter insert provided with a screw closure to be opened in an embodiment used according to the invention, in which a sheet with a labyrinth seal is used;

fig. 5 shows vertical longitudinal sections through the closure, through the filter insert, through the common suction chamber and through the pump-out pressure chamber;

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the recirculating pumping system with the recirculating pumping motor disassembled to reveal the clearance geometry between the pump housing and the filter insert;

fig. 7 shows a sectional view through a circulating pumping system in which the pump-out pressure chamber has a relatively small angle α with respect to the suction chamber in order to achieve a still better seal between the suction chamber and the circulating pumping pressure chamber; and

fig. 8 shows a labyrinth seal, in particular with a two-step labyrinth seal shown on the left and a three-step labyrinth seal shown on the right.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pump housing 1 used according to the invention, with a pump-out motor 5 and a circulating pump motor 6 connected thereto. The pump housing 1 has a pump outlet connector 2, a circulating pump connector 3 and a suction connector 4. Furthermore, a removable closure 7 is arranged on the pump housing 1, on which closure 7 a cylindrical filter insert, not visible here, is mounted. Reference numeral 10 denotes a suction chamber.

Fig. 2a) shows a perspective view of the pump-out motor/circulation pump motor 5, 6 with running wheel 27, and fig. 2b) shows a side view of the pump-out motor/circulation pump motor 5, 6 of fig. 2a), in which the shape of the running wheel 27 can also be seen more clearly.

Fig. 3a) shows a perspective view of a filter insert 8 used according to the invention, on which filter insert 8 a removable closure, not shown here, is generally attached to the left end, by means of which a user of the washing machine can remove the filter insert 8 from the washing machine, also not shown here. The filter insert 8 generally has a removable closure element, not shown here, at a first end 15, a belleville spring 17 as a pump-out seal for sealing a pump-out pressure chamber, not shown here, from a cylindrical suction chamber, also not shown here, at a second end 16, and a circulation pump opening 9, here circular, which opens into a circulation pump pressure chamber, not shown here, at its periphery, wherein the periphery has a sheet element 18 surrounding the circulation pump opening 9, which sheet element 18 seals the circulation pump pressure chamber from the suction chamber. The sheet-like element 18 has a connecting region 19, by means of which connecting region 19 the sheet-like element 18 is connected directly or indirectly to the first end 15 of the cylindrical filter insert 8. Since the sheet-like element 18 is here part of the cylindrical filter insert 8, which is formed by injection molding of a plastic material, the connecting region 19 is here an integrated plastic part. In this non-limiting embodiment, the sheet 18 is concavely shaped in order to seal the convexly configured cyclical pumping pressure chamber from the cylindrical suction chamber. Furthermore, the sheet-like element 18 is surrounded outside the connecting region 19 by a labyrinth seal 20, which is not shown in greater detail here.

Fig. 3b) shows a further perspective view of the filter insert 8 shown in fig. 3a), wherein the filter insert 8 has guide tabs 28 parallel to the filter insert axis 25 for better positioning.

Fig. 4a shows a side view of a filter insert 8 provided with a removable closure 7, which is only outlined here, the filter insert 8 not being used according to the invention, i.e. in this filter insert 8 a sheet 18 without a labyrinth seal is used. Reference numeral 17 denotes a disk spring, reference numeral 9 denotes a circular opening in the sheet piece 18, reference numeral 19 denotes a connecting region, by means of which connecting region 19 the sheet piece 18 is connected to the second end 16 of the cylindrical filter insert 8. Reference numeral 28 denotes a guide bar, and reference numeral 15 denotes a second or first end of the cylindrical filter insert 8.

In contrast to fig. 4a), fig. 4b) shows a side view of a substantially cylindrical filter insert 8 provided with a screw closure to be opened in an embodiment used according to the invention, in which a sheet 18 with a labyrinth seal 20 is used.

Fig. 5 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the closure element 7, through the filter insert 8, through the common intake chamber 10 and through the pump-out pressure chamber 11. Reference numeral 28 denotes a guide bar, reference numeral 12 denotes a circulation pumping pressure chamber, and reference numeral 25 denotes a filter insert axis. Reference numeral 27 denotes a running wheel of the pump-out motor 5. Reference numeral 2 denotes a pump-out connection pipe, and reference numeral 24 denotes a pump-out motor shaft.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of the circulation pumping system, with the circulation pumping motor disassembled, in order to reveal the gap geometry between the pump housing 1 and the filter insert 8. Reference numeral 7 denotes a removable closure element, reference numeral 10 denotes a suction chamber, reference numeral 4 denotes a circulation pumping nipple, reference numeral 2 denotes a pumping nipple, reference numeral 5 denotes a pumping motor, reference numeral 25 denotes a filter insert axis, reference numeral 18 denotes a sheet element, in which sheet element 18 a circular opening 9 to a circulation pumping pressure chamber 12 is arranged. Reference numeral 20 denotes a labyrinth seal surrounding the sheet 18.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view through a circulating pumping system in which the pump-out pressure chamber 11 has a relatively small angle α with respect to the suction chamber 10 in order to achieve a still better sealing between the suction chamber 10 and the circulating pumping pressure chamber 12. Reference numeral 17 denotes a disk spring and reference numeral 18 denotes a sheet-like element which has an opening, not visible here, to the circulating pumping pressure chamber 12. Reference numeral 29 denotes the generated pressing force and reference numeral 30 denotes the axial tensioning caused by the (screwable) closure cap 7. Reference numeral 8 denotes a filter insert.

The embodiment shown in fig. 7 achieves a sliding-off of the filter insert 8 in the radial direction with reference to the common intake chamber 10 in order to better enclose the circulating pumping pressure chamber 12. The disk spring 17 acts as a sealing element for the pump-out pressure chamber 11. This embodiment achieves: the filter insert 8 is removed from the circulating pumping pressure chamber 12 after the stress is axially removed by unscrewing the filter cover 7. This results in: although additional resistance is created when the filter insert 8 is placed into the suction chamber 10, which resistance forces the filter insert 8 against the sealing surface of the circulation pumping pressure chamber 12, there is sufficient latitude when removing the filter insert 8, so that when a user of the washing machine is forced to clean the circulation pumping system for maintenance purposes, the filter insert 8 is prevented from jamming in the pump housing 1 when removing the filter insert 8.

Fig. 8 shows the labyrinth seal 20 in detail, wherein for the sake of explanation the labyrinth seal 20 is here, on the left, a two-step labyrinth seal 13 with two steps 21, 22 and, on the right, a three-step labyrinth seal 14 with three steps 21, 22, 23.

List of reference numerals

1 Pump case

2 pump out connecting pipe

3 circulation pumping connecting pipe

4 suction connection pipe

5 Pump out motor

6 circulation pumping motor

7 a screw closure to be opened; removable closure cap

8 substantially cylindrical filter insert

9, opening; circulation pumping opening

10 substantially cylindrical suction chamber

11 pump-out pressure chamber

12 cycle pumping pressure chamber

13 two-step labyrinth seal

14 three-step labyrinth seal

15 (of a substantially cylindrical filter insert) first end portion

16 (of a substantially cylindrical filter insert) second end

17 pumping out the seal; disc spring

18 sheet-like member

19 connecting region

20 labyrinth seal

21 first step of labyrinth seal

22 second step of labyrinth seal

23 third step of labyrinth seal

24 pump out motor shaft

25 filter insert axis

26 cycle pumping motor shaft

27-cycle pump motor or pump-out motor running wheel

28 guide connecting strip

29 axial tensioning by a (screwable) closure cap

30, the generated pressing force.

Claims (14)

1. A washing machine is provided with:

-a lye container;

-a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry;

-a heating device;

-a drive motor;

-a water feeding device; and

-a control or regulating device for controlling the operation of the motor,

wherein the circulation pumping system comprises a pump housing (1) having a pump outlet connection (2), a circulation pumping connection (3) and a suction connection (4),

wherein a pump-out motor (5), a circulating pump motor (6) and a screw closure (7) to be opened are arranged on the pump housing (1), on which screw closure a substantially cylindrical filter insert (8) is mounted which can be removed from the washing machine and which has at least one opening (9) along its periphery for the passage of an aqueous liquid, whereby the pump housing (1) comprises a substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10), a pump-out pressure chamber (11) and a circulating pump pressure chamber (12), and

wherein the pump-out motor (5) is arranged to convey aqueous liquid from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10) via the filter insert through the pump-out pressure chamber (11) and the pump-out connection (3) into a pump-out line, and

the circulation pumping motor (6) being arranged to convey aqueous liquid from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10) via the filter insert through the circulation pumping pressure chamber (12) and the circulation pumping connection (3) into a circulation pumping line,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the essentially cylindrical filter insert (8) has a screw closure (7) to be opened at a first end (15), a pump-out seal (17) for sealing the pump-out pressure chamber (11) from the essentially cylindrical suction chamber (10) at a second end (16), and a circulating pumping opening (9) to the circulating pumping pressure chamber (12) at the periphery of the filter insert,

wherein the periphery has a sheet (18) surrounding the circulation pumping opening (9), which sheet is surrounded by a labyrinth seal (20) and seals the circulation pumping pressure chamber (12) from the suction chamber (10).

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the sheet element (18) has a connecting region (19) by means of which the sheet element (18) is connected directly or indirectly to the first end (15) of the cylindrical filter insert (8).

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 2,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the sheet-like element (18) is concavely shaped in order to seal the convexly configured recirculating pumping pressure chamber (12) from the substantially cylindrical intake chamber (10).

4. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the labyrinth seal (20) has at least one step (21, 22, 23), preferably two or three steps.

5. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the angle alpha between the pump-out motor shaft (24) and the filter insert axis (25) is in the range >0 DEG to 30 deg.

6. The washing machine as set forth in claim 5,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the angle a is selected such that static friction between the filter insert (8) and the pump housing (1) is eliminated.

7. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the angle beta between the circulation pumping motor shaft (26) and the filter insert axis (25) is in the range of 70 DEG to 110 deg.

8. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the pump-out seal (17) is a belleville spring.

9. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

a fluff filter is connected upstream of the intake chamber (8).

10. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the filter insert (8) is configured as a foreign-body trap (8).

11. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the filter insert (8) has at least one guide strip (28) parallel to the filter insert axis (25).

12. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the pump-out motor (5) and the circulating pump-in motor (6) are brushless direct current motors (BLDC), respectively.

13. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the suction connection (4) has a larger diameter than the pump-out connection (2) and the circulation pump connection (3).

14. A method for operating a washing machine having:

-a lye container;

-a drum arranged in the lye container for receiving laundry;

-a heating device;

-a drive motor;

-a water feeding device; and

-a control or regulating device for controlling the operation of the motor,

wherein the circulation pumping system comprises a pump housing (1) having a pump outlet connection (2), a circulation pumping connection (3) and a suction connection (4),

wherein a pump-out motor (5), a circulating pump motor (6) and a screw closure (7) to be opened are arranged on the pump housing (1), on which screw closure a substantially cylindrical filter insert (8) is mounted which can be removed from the washing machine and which has at least one opening (9) along its periphery for the passage of an aqueous liquid, whereby the pump housing (1) comprises a substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10), a pump-out pressure chamber (11) and a circulating pump pressure chamber (12), and

wherein the pump-out motor (5) is arranged to convey aqueous liquid from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10) through the pump-out pressure chamber (11) and the pump-out connection pipe (3) into a pump-out line, and

the circulation pumping motor (6) being arranged to convey aqueous liquid from the substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10) through the circulation pumping pressure chamber (12) and the circulation pumping connection (3) into a circulation pumping line,

wherein the essentially cylindrical filter insert (8) has a removable closure element (7) at a first end (15), a pump-out seal (17) at a second end (16) for sealing the pump-out pressure chamber (11) from the essentially cylindrical suction chamber (10), and a circulation pump opening (9) on the periphery of the filter insert to the circulation pump pressure chamber (12),

wherein the periphery has a sheet (18) surrounding the circulation pumping opening (9), which sheet is surrounded by a labyrinth seal (20) and seals the circulation pumping pressure chamber (12) with respect to the suction chamber (10),

the method comprises the following steps:

(a) actuating the pump-out motor (5) and/or the recirculating pump motor (6) by means of the control or regulating device in such a way that at least one of the motors (5, 6) is switched on, i.e. activated or actuated, while the other motor is switched off;

(b) -sucking an aqueous liquid into the suction chamber (10) by means of an operated pump-out motor (5) or an operated circulation pump-in motor (6); and

(c1) conveying an aqueous liquid from a substantially cylindrical suction chamber (10) through the circulation pumping pressure chamber (12) and the circulation pumping connection (3) into the circulation pumping line; or

(c2) The aqueous liquid is conveyed from the substantially cylindrical intake chamber (10) through the pump-out pressure chamber (11) and the pump-out connection (2) into the pump-out line.

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