EP3423625B1 - Laundry-care appliance having a pump and method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a laundry care device with a pump.

Conventional laundry care devices have a pumping system for large loads, through which washing liquid can be pumped out of the tub and can then be supplied to the tub again. In order to remove washing liquid from the laundry care device after the laundry care process, conventional laundry care devices also have a pumping system. Pumps are required for the pumping system and the pumping system in order to ensure an effective pumping of the washing liquid in the laundry care device or an effective pumping out of the washing liquid from the laundry care device.

Since a large number of impurities, e.g. Foreign bodies, hair or lint, which are pumped by the pump, are used in conventional laundry care filter elements or foreign body traps to filter the contaminants from the washing liquid.

In the US 3,727,435 A discloses a household washing machine with a self-cleaning lint filter which is arranged between a water container and two reversible pumps.

In the EP 2 772 582 A1 discloses a washing machine which contains a housing, a tub, a pump housing and a pump filter, the pump filter filtering foreign substances from the wash water and being able to detach from the pump housing.

In the WO 2011/147009 A2 discloses a self-cleaning filter for washing machines, which retains threads and residues of the laundry when washing water is pumped over and is self-cleaning in the case of washing water drainage, since the threads and residues are pumped out.

In the US 6 167 733 B1 discloses a drum type washing machine with a pump which is integrally formed with a filter for removing impurities from the washing liquid.

In the EP 2 479 336 A1 discloses a washing machine with a water tub, a pump housing and a filter, the filter reducing the accumulation and growth of foreign substances while the foreign substances are effectively filtered out of the washing water.

It is the object of the invention to provide a laundry care device with a pump which enables effective washing liquid pumping in the laundry care device.

This object is achieved by objects with the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a laundry care device with a pump for pumping washing liquid, the pump comprising a suction chamber which has a suction port for fluid-technical connection to a suction line, the pump comprising a pump-around pressure chamber which has a pump-around pressure port fluid connection with a The pump comprises a pump-down pressure chamber, which has a pump-off pressure connection for fluid-technical connection to a pump-off line, wherein the pump-off pressure chamber and the suction chamber are connected by fluid technology, wherein the pump-off pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber are connected by fluid technology, the pump comprising a filter element, which in of the pump-down pressure chamber, and wherein the filter element is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed out of the pump-down pressure chamber into the pump-over pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that the pump-around pressure chamber is fluidly connected to the suction chamber exclusively through the pump-off pressure chamber, as a result of which contaminants carried in the washing liquid remain in the filter element of the pump-off pressure chamber and thus prevent the contaminants from being conveyed into the pump-around pressure chamber.

In conventional laundry care devices with a pumping system and a pumping system, the pumping pressure chamber and the pumping pressure chamber are each independently, in particular separately and independently, fluidly connected to the suction chamber. Depending on the pumping situation, wash liquor can thus be conveyed either through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line or through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line. Pre-filtering is achieved by connecting the chambers in series. With such a fluid-technical connection of the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber to the suction chamber, there is the risk that contaminants can accumulate on the fluid-technical connection between the suction chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber and can block the fluid-technical connection. Due to quasi-parallel flow conditions in the pump, impurities accumulated at this connection may no longer be able to be removed during the pumping process through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line. Under certain circumstances, this can lead to an after-sales service in order to remove the accumulated impurities from the pump.

In the pump according to the invention the amount of impurities, e.g. Foreign bodies and / or accumulations of hair or lint, which are attached to the fluid connection between the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber, are reduced. This is made possible in that the pumping pressure chamber, the pumping pressure chamber and the suction chamber are connected in series, so that the pumping pressure chamber is not fluidly connected to the suction chamber but rather through the pumping pressure chamber. As a result, a large part of the impurities remain in the suction chamber. Some of the impurities are conveyed from the suction chamber into the pump-out pressure chamber, are filtered there by the filter element, and remain in the pump-out pressure chamber without being conveyed into the pump-over pressure chamber. In the case of a subsequent pumping process, the contaminants remaining in the pumping pressure chamber can be removed from the pump system. This can prevent the fluidic connection between the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber from becoming clogged by the accumulation of impurities.

A laundry care device is understood to be a device which is used for laundry care, such as a washer or dryer. Such a laundry care device is understood in particular to mean a household laundry care device. So a laundry care device, which is used in the context of housekeeping, and with which laundry is treated in normal household quantities.

According to the invention, the pump comprises a further filter element which is received in the suction chamber, the further filter element being designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed from the suction chamber into the pump-down pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that a particularly effective filtering of impurities from the washing liquid is made possible by the additional filter element which is received in the suction chamber. As a result, the amount of impurities which are conveyed from the suction chamber into the pump-out pressure chamber can be reduced. In combination with the filter element in the pump-down pressure chamber, this can result in a particularly effective reduction of the impurities in the Umpumpdruckkammer be reached. In particular, the further filter element can be designed to filter large impurities from the washing liquid, which can prevent the large impurities from getting into the pump-out pressure chamber and from there into the pump-over pressure chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the filter element or the further filter element comprises a foreign body trap for removing impurities from the washing liquid, the foreign body trap in particular comprising a plate which extends in the pumping direction and in particular has a front edge in the pumping direction, the impurities on the front edge can be attached and / or wherein the foreign body trap in particular comprises a receiving area for receiving the contaminants.

This has the technical advantage that a foreign body trap, in contrast to other filter elements, such as a sieve, is not clogged by the accumulated impurities, which means that periodic cleaning of the foreign body trap is not necessary over the service life of the laundry care device, since the foreign body trap is designed in this way that it retains foreign objects over the life of the device. Contaminants removed from the washing liquid by the foreign body trap can be pumped out of the pump through the pumping pressure chamber and through the pumping line during a pumping process. Effective accumulation of impurities is made possible by a plate which extends, for example, in the pumping direction and has a front edge in the pumping direction. At the same time, the front edge has a low flow resistance, as a result of which the liquid flow of the washing liquid pumped by the pump through the plate is not significantly impaired, but foreign bodies can be separated successfully. Furthermore, the foreign body trap can include a receiving area, in which contaminants can settle, in particular by calming the flow of the washing liquid, and can thereby be received in the receiving area. Due to the concept, foreign bodies or lint-hair accumulations can be collected in this recording area over a longer maintenance interval or over the entire life of the device.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump has a pump motor and an impeller which are arranged on the pumping pressure chamber, the pump motor being designed to drive the impeller in a direction of rotation at a predetermined speed in order to wash liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure chamber and to be pumped through the pumping pressure nozzle into the pumping line.

This achieves the technical advantage that the pump motor drives the impeller to effectively pump washing liquid out of the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump has a further pump motor and a further impeller, which are arranged on the pump-down pressure chamber, the further pump motor being designed to drive the further impeller in a direction of rotation in order to wash liquid from the suction chamber into the pump-down pressure chamber and to be pumped through the pump discharge nozzle into the pump line.

The technical advantage is thereby achieved that by driving the further impeller through the further pump motor, washing liquid is effectively pumped out of the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump motor or the further pump motor comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless DC motor (BLDC motor), or a permanently excited, brushless synchronous motor which can be driven in a variable-speed and direction-oriented manner.

This has the technical advantage that the electric motor, in particular a brushless DC motor or synchronous motor, can be used to operate an effective and effective pumping or pumping process with variable speed.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the further pump motor is designed, the further impeller in a first or second direction of rotation to drive, in order to pump washing liquid depending on the direction of rotation and the speed of the further impeller through the pump-out connection in the pump-down line or from the pump-out pressure chamber into the pump-back pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that it can be effectively controlled by regulating the direction of rotation and the speed of the further impeller by the further pump motor, whether the washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line and thus from the laundry care device or from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure chamber and so that it can be pumped into a pumping system.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, a partition is arranged between the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber in order to delimit the suction chamber from the pump-out pressure chamber, the partition having an opening, in particular a central, concentric opening, in order to fluidly connect the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber .

This achieves the technical advantage that the partition also ensures an effective delimitation for foreign bodies and hair and lint accumulations between the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber, the opening permitting an effective fluid-technical connection between the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber. This, in particular, concentric opening is often realized as a suction pipe between the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, a further partition is arranged between the pumping pressure chamber and the pumping pressure chamber in order to delimit the pumping pressure chamber from the pumping pressure chamber and to retain foreign bodies or impurities, the further partition wall having a further opening in order to connect the pumping pressure chamber and the pumping pressure chamber to one another to connect fluidically.

This achieves the technical advantage that, for example, the additional partition ensures an effective delimitation also for foreign bodies and accumulations of hair and lint between the suction chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber, whereby the further, in particular concentric, opening enables an effective fluid-technical connection between the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-over pressure chamber. The pump-out pressure chamber acts as an upstream suction chamber for the pump-over pressure chamber. A flow-calmed area for the precipitation and storage of foreign bodies is difficult to implement in the pump-down pressure chamber, i.e. a suction chamber of the pump-over pressure chamber. The retained foreign bodies are therefore removed from the pump in a subsequent pumping process.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, a suction pipe is arranged between the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber in order to fluidly connect the suction chamber and the pump-out pressure chamber, and / or another suction pipe is arranged between the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-over pressure chamber around the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-over pressure chamber to connect with each other fluidically.

The technical advantage is thereby achieved that an effective fluid-technical connection between the respective chambers of the pump is ensured by the suction pipe or by the further suction pipe. The suction pipe is also intended, among other things, to keep foreign objects away from the pump-out pressure chamber in order to enable safe pumping operation. Furthermore, the suction pipe leads the suction-side flow axially and concentrically to the impeller in order to create the best conditions for an effective and successful pressure increase in the radial flow machine.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the further suction pipe connects tangentially to the pump-out pressure chamber in order to enable effective washing of pumping liquid from the pump-out pressure chamber through the further suction pipe into the pump-over pressure chamber at a predetermined direction of rotation and speed.

This achieves the technical advantage that the tangential arrangement of the further suction pipe on the pump-out pressure chamber enables effective pumping of Washer fluid is ensured by the further suction pipe depending on the direction of rotation and / or speed of an impeller of a pump motor.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump-out pressure port connects tangentially to the pump-out pressure chamber, and the pump-over pressure port connects tangentially to the pump-over pressure chamber in order to enable effective pumping-off of washing liquid from the pump-off pressure chamber and effective pumping-over of washing liquid from the pump-over pressure chamber, whereby the pump-out pressure port and the pump-over pressure port extend in particular in different directions on the outer surface of a cylindrical ring housing of the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-over pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that an effective pumping of washing liquid through the respective nozzle is ensured as a function of the direction of rotation and / or the speed of an impeller of a pump motor through the tangential arrangement of the pump-out pressure nozzle or the pump-around pressure nozzle.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care device with a pump for pumping washing liquid, the pump having a suction chamber with a suction nozzle for fluid-technical connection with a suction line, a pump-around pressure chamber with a pump-around pressure nozzle for fluid technology Connect to a pump-around line, and has a pump-down pressure chamber with a pump-off pressure connection for fluid-technical connection to a pump-off line, the pump-down pressure chamber and the suction chamber being connected in fluid-technical terms, the pump-down pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber being connected in fluid-technical terms, the pump comprising a filter element which is in the pump-down pressure chamber is accommodated, wherein the filter element is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed into the pump-around pressure chamber, and the method which comprises activating the pump during a pumping operation to pump washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line or from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line, and activating the pump during a pumping process subsequent to the pumping process includes to act on the filter element pumping accumulated contaminants together with washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line and out of the laundry care device.

This has the technical advantage that the filter element in the pump-out pressure chamber and the series connection of pump-out pressure chamber and pump-over pressure chamber during the pump-over process filter impurities in the pump-out pressure chamber from the washing liquid and cannot get into the pump-over pressure chamber. During a pumping process following the pumping process, the impurities accumulated in the pumping pressure chamber, together with washing liquid, can be pumped out of the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line and thus out of the laundry care device, and thus removed from the pump.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the pump has a pump motor for pumping washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber, a further pump motor for pumping washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber and a controller for controlling the pump motor and the further pump motor, and the method comprises the mutual or simultaneous Activation of both pump motors during the pumping process or during the pumping process in order to pump impurities accumulated on the filter element together with washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping line.

This achieves the technical advantage that the reciprocal or simultaneous activation of both pump motors during the pumping-over process or during the pumping-down process ensures that contaminants are effectively pumped out of the pumping-off pressure chamber.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises the mutual or simultaneous activation of both pump motors with a predetermined direction of rotation and speed during the pumping process or during the pumping process in order to pump air contained in the washing liquid through the pumping line and through the pumping line, and thus the To accelerate the pump ventilation process of the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber.

This has the technical advantage that, in addition to the cleaning purpose, the mutual or simultaneous activation of both pump motors during the pumping process or during the pumping process ensures effective ventilation of the pumping pressure chamber or the pumping pressure chamber.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer Pumpe des Wäschepflegeräts in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 3

eine rückwärtige Ansicht einer Pumpe des Wäschepflegegeräts; und

Fig. 4

einen Ablauf eines Verfahrens zum Pumpen von Waschflüssigkeit in einem Wäschepflegegerät.

Further exemplary embodiments are explained with reference to the attached drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a laundry care device;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a pump of the laundry care device in a sectional view;

Fig. 3

a rear view of a pump of the laundry care device; and

Fig. 4

a sequence of a method for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care device.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a general laundry care appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 comprises a induction bowl 101 into which detergents or other liquid substances can be filled. The laundry care device 100 comprises a door 103 for loading the laundry care device 100 with laundry.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a pump of the laundry care device in a sectional view. The laundry care device 100 comprises a pump 105 for pumping washing liquid. The pump 105 is fluidly connected to a suction line in order to draw in washing liquid through the suction line. The pump 105 is connected to a drain line of the laundry care device 100 in order to pump washing liquid out of the laundry care device 100 through the drain line. The pump 105 is connected to a pump-around line of the laundry care device 100 in order to wash liquid in the Pumping the laundry care device 100, ie pumping the washing liquid out of a tub of the laundry care device 100 through the pumping line, and supplying the pumped-out washing liquid to the tub again. The suction line, pump down line and pump down line are in Fig. 2 not shown.

The pump 105 comprises a suction chamber 107, which has a suction nozzle 109, which in turn can be fluidly connected to a suction line. The pump 105 further comprises an exhaust pressure chamber 111 which has an exhaust pressure connection 113, which in turn can be fluidly connected to an exhaust line. The pump 105 further comprises a pumping pressure chamber 115, which has a pumping pressure connection 117, which in turn can be connected in terms of fluid technology to a pumping line of a pumping system.

The suction chamber 107 is fluidly connected to the pumping pressure chamber 111 by a suction pipe 119. As in Fig. 2 The pumping pressure chamber 111 is also fluidly connected to the pumping pressure chamber 115 by means of a further suction pipe 121.

Here, a filter element or foreign body trap is accommodated in the pump-out pressure chamber 111, which filter filter is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed into the pump-over pressure chamber 115. Furthermore, a further filter element or foreign body trap is accommodated in the suction chamber 107, which filter filter is designed to filter impurities from the washing liquid in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed into the pumping pressure chamber 111 and from the pumping pressure chamber 111 into the pumping pressure chamber 115 . The filter element and the further filter element are in the Fig. 2 not shown.

In order to reduce or remove foreign bodies and / or accumulations of hair and lint accumulations in front of the pumping pressure chamber 115, the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the pumping pressure chamber 115 are connected in series and the pumping pressure chamber 115 is not directly connected to the suction chamber 107 in terms of fluid technology . The fluid connection from the upstream suction chamber 107 to Pumping pressure chamber 115 is only possible by flowing through the pumping pressure chamber 111. As a result, the foreign bodies and larger accumulations of hair and lint initially remain in the pump-down pressure chamber 111 and are only conveyed out of the pump-out pressure connection 113 into the pump-out line from the laundry care device 100 during a pump-down process which follows afterwards.

Fig. 3 shows a rear view of a pump of the laundry care device. The pump 105 comprises a suction chamber 107 with a suction port 109, a pump-out pressure chamber 111 with a pump-out pressure port 113 and a pump-over pressure chamber 115 with a pump-over pressure port 117. A partition 123 is arranged between the suction chamber 107 and the pump-out pressure chamber 111, the partition 123 having an opening 125 in order to fluidly connect the suction chamber 107 to the pump-out pressure chamber 111 through the opening 125 or through the suction pipe 119.

The pump-out pressure chamber 111 is fluidly connected to the pump-back pressure chamber 115 by a further suction pipe 121.

On an outside of the pump 105, a damping section 127 is arranged, which on an in Fig. 2 Not shown device housing of the laundry care device 100 is present to ensure vibration damping of the pump 105 on the device housing.

A pump motor 129 is arranged on the pumping pressure chamber 115 and is designed to pump washing liquid through the pumping pressure port 117 of the pumping pressure chamber 115 by rotating the impeller or impeller.

A further pump motor is arranged on the pump-out pressure chamber 111, which in Fig. 3 is not shown and is designed to pump washing liquid through the pump discharge port 113 by rotating the impeller or impeller, or is designed to reverse the direction of rotation of the impeller to pump washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber 111 into the pumping pressure chamber 115.

So that there are different flow rates for pumping or pumping, not only the direction of rotation of the further pump motor has to be reversed when changing the function and the speed must be adjusted, but also the structural, geometric arrangement of the pumping pressure connection 113 on the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the further suction pipe 121 between the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the pumping pressure chamber 115 can be adapted. It is important here that the pump-out pressure connection 113 and the further suction pipe 121 connect tangentially to the pump-out pressure chamber 111, the pump-out pressure connection 113 and the further suction pipe 121 extending in different directions on the lateral surface of a cylindrical ring body of the pump-out pressure chamber 111. For example, as in Fig. 3 Shown, the pumping pressure connection 113 and the further suction pipe 121 on the pumping pressure chamber 111 can be oriented upward, but have a different geometric orientation with respect to the direction of rotation of the impeller of the further pump motor. If the fluid, in particular washing liquid, rotates clockwise in the pump-out pressure chamber 111, the pump-out pressure connection 113 is preferred in terms of flow. If the fluid, in particular washing liquid, rotates counterclockwise in the pump-out pressure chamber 111, the further suction pipe 121 is preferred in terms of flow. Thus, with a different direction of rotation and an adapted rotational speed of the impeller driven by the further pump motor, a delivery flow can result which is either directed through the further suction pipe 121 into the pumping pressure chamber 115, or which is directed through the pumping pressure connection 113 out of the pumping pressure chamber 111.

This new, conceptual interconnection of the different pump functions enables two different foreign body traps to be connected in series. In this way, foreign bodies can be systematically precipitated according to their geometric dimensions at different locations. Large foreign bodies are already filtered in the further filter element, in particular foreign body traps, in the suction chamber 107, as a result of which the foreign bodies cannot get into the pump-out pressure chamber 111 or the pump-around pressure chamber 115. Smaller foreign bodies are separated by the filter element in the pumping pressure chamber 111 of the drainage pump and thus do not get into the pumping pressure chamber 115, but are pumped out of the device in a pumping process 113 which is carried out afterwards pumped out and thus removed before they clog the further suction pipe 121 to the pumping pressure chamber 115 before the next circulation process.

The advantages for this new type of pre-filtering are made clear below. The pump 105, or the entire pumping system, which usually has smaller flow cross sections than the emptying system, is more robust against foreign bodies, as a result of which there are fewer blockages in the pumping pressure chamber 115 and in the downstream circuit, which in turn means fewer customer service calls are required for the user of the laundry care device 100 . The lower customer service visits reduce the factory quality costs. The series connection of the filter elements results in a better quality selection of the foreign bodies according to their dimensions. Blockages on the suction side of the pumping pressure chamber 115 can be actively released by the pulsating discharge impeller flow in the pumping pressure chamber 111. Large blockages of the flow to the pumping pressure chamber 115 can even be removed mechanically by the impeller blades of the pump 105 in the pumping pressure chamber 111.

Fig. 4 shows a sequence of a method 200 for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care device 100 with a pump 105, which according to the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is described. As a first method step, the method comprises activating 201 the pump 105 during a pumping operation in order to pump washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber 111 into the pumping line or through the pumping pressure chamber 115 into the pumping line. As a second method step, the method comprises activating 203 the pump 105 during a pumping process following the pumping process in order to pump impurities accumulated on the filter element together with washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber 111 into the pumping line and thus out of the laundry care device 100.

In the case of foamed washing liquid, due to the delayed restart process of the pump 105, there is a certain dead time in the flow build-up due to the venting process of the pump chambers 107, 111, 115. In order to accelerate this venting process significantly with independent control of the Pump motor 129 and the further pump motor both pump motors 129 are switched on. The series connection of the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the pumping pressure chamber 115 thus significantly increases the delivery rate for the filter system and speeds up the venting process. A restart of the further pump motor of the pumping pressure chamber 111 can then take place significantly faster in a ventilated suction chamber 107, pumping pressure chamber 111 or pumping pressure chamber 115 than in a parallel connection of the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the pumping pressure chamber 115 or also in comparison with a conventional drain pump. When the venting process of the pumping pressure chamber 111 and the pumping pressure chamber 115 is completed and the delivery flow builds up, the inactive pump motor 129 can be switched off and only the active pump motor 129 can continue to deliver washing liquid. The start of the pump 105 with the venting process can thus be significantly accelerated with the brief activation of the inactive pump motor 129. This can be particularly helpful in order to keep pump interruptions or an interruption of the delivery flow when spinning with high revolutions of the drum drive and to allow the pump 105 to be restarted quickly, so that the drum does not plunge into the amount of water in the tub. Finally, immersing the drum in the amount of water behind the spinner causes a massive engine load, i.e. a sharp increase in the torque, and usually leads to a spin-off process-related, since a water ring is set in the tub, which can be detected via the pressure sensor, but cannot be pumped out leaves, as the wash liquor no longer reaches the pump.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the subject matter of the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures.

Reference list

100

Laundry care appliance

101

Induction bowl

103

door

105

pump

107

Suction chamber

109

Suction port

111

Pump down pressure chamber

113

Pump-out pressure connection

115

Transfer pump chamber

117

Transfer pump nozzle

119

Intake manifold

121

Another suction pipe

123

partition wall

125

opening

127

Damping section

129

Pump motor

200

Method for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care device

201

Activate the pump during a pump transfer process

203

Activate the pump during a pump down process

Claims (14)

1. Laundry care appliance (100) with a pump (105) for pumping washing liquid, wherein the pump (105) comprises a suction chamber (107), which has a suction piece (109) for fluidic connection to a suction pipe, wherein the pump (105) comprises a recirculation pressure chamber (115), which has a recirculation pressure piece (117) for fluidic connection to a recirculation pipe, wherein the pump (105) comprises a pump-down pressure chamber (111), which has a pump-down pressure piece (113) for fluidic connection to a pump-down pipe, and wherein the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the suction chamber (107) are fluidically connected, wherein the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) are fluidically connected, and wherein the pump (105) comprises a filter element which is received in the pump-down pressure chamber (111), wherein the filter element is embodied to filter impurities out of the washing liquid, in order to prevent impurities from being conveyed out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the recirculation pressure chamber (115),
   characterised in that
   the pump (105) comprises a further filter element which is received in the suction chamber (107), wherein the further filter element is embodied to filter impurities out of the washing liquid, in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed out of the suction chamber (107) into the pump-down pressure chamber (111).
2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the filter element or the further filter element comprises a foreign body trap for removing impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the foreign body trap comprises in particular a plate which extends in the pump direction and which in particular has a front edge in the pump direction, wherein the impurities can be deposited on the front edge or wherein the foreign body trap comprises in particular a receiving region for receiving the impurities.
3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pump (105) has a pump motor (129) and a rotor, which are arranged on the recirculation pressure chamber (115), wherein the pump motor (129) is embodied to drive the rotor in a direction of rotation at a predetermined rotational speed, in order to pump washing liquid out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the recirculation pressure chamber (115) and through the recirculation pressure piece (117) into the recirculation pipe.
4. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pump (105) has a further pump motor and a further rotor, which are arranged on the pump-down pressure chamber (111), wherein the further pump motor is embodied to drive the further rotor in a direction of rotation at a predetermined rotational speed in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107) into the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and through the pump-down pressure piece (113) into the pump-down pipe.
5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the pump motor (129) or the further pump motor comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless direct current motor (BLDC motor) or a permanently excited, brushless synchronous motor, which can be driven in a manner which is variable in terms of rotational speed and oriented in the direction of rotation.
6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the further pump motor is embodied to drive the further rotor in a first or second direction of rotation, in order to pump washing liquid through the pump-down piece (113) into the pump-down pipe or from the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the recirculation pressure chamber (115) as a function of the direction of rotation and the rotational speed of the further rotor.
7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a separating wall (123) is arranged between the suction chamber (107) and the pump-down pressure chamber (111), in order to demarcate the suction chamber (107) from the pump-down pressure chamber (111), wherein the separating wall (123) has an opening (125), in particular central, concentric opening (125), in order to connect the suction chamber (107) and the pump-down pressure chamber (11) fluidically with one another.
8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a further separating wall is arranged between the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115), in order to demarcate the pump-down pressure chamber (111) from the recirculation pressure chamber (115), and in order to retain foreign bodies or impurities, wherein the further separating wall has a further opening in order to connect the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) fluidically with one another.
9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a suction pipe (119) is arranged between the suction chamber (107) and the pump-down pressure chamber (111), in order to connect the suction chamber (107) and the pump-down pressure chamber (111) fluidically with one another, or that a further suction pipe (121) is arranged between the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) in order to connect the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) fluidically with one another.
10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 9, characterised in that the further suction pipe (121) connects tangentially to the pump-down pressure chamber (111) in order, with a predetermined direction of rotation and rotational speed, to enable an effective pumping of washing liquid out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) through the further suction pipe (121) into the recirculation pressure chamber (115).
11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pump-down pressure piece (113) connects tangentially to the pump-down pressure chamber (111), and that the recirculation pressure piece (117) connects tangentially to the recirculation pressure chamber (115) in order to enable an effective pumping down of washing liquid out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and an effective recirculation of washing liquid out of the recirculation pressure chamber (115), wherein the pump-down pressure piece (113) and the recirculation pressure piece (117) extend on the lateral area of a cylindrical annular housing of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) in particular in different directions.
12. Method (200) for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care appliance (100) with a pump (105) for pumping washing liquid, wherein the pump (105) has a suction chamber (107) with a suction piece (109) for fluidic connection to a suction pipe, a recirculation pressure chamber (115) with a recirculation pressure piece (117) for fluidic connection to a recirculation pipe and a pump-down pressure chamber (111) with a pump-down pressure piece (113) for fluidic connection to a pump-down pipe, wherein the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the suction chamber (107) are fluidically connected, wherein the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115) are fluidically connected, wherein the pump (105) comprises a filter element which is received in the pump-down pressure chamber (111), wherein the filter element is embodied to filter impurities out of the washing liquid, in order to prevent the impurities from being conveyed into the recirculation pressure chamber (115), characterised in that the method (200) comprises the activation (201) of the pump (105) during a recirculation process, in order to pump washing liquid out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the pump-down pipe or out of the recirculation pressure chamber (115) into the recirculation pipe, and
    comprises the activation (203) of the pump (105) during a pump-down process following the recirculation process, in order to pump impurities collected on the filter element, together with washing liquid, out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the pump-down pipe and out of the laundry care appliance (100),
    wherein the pump (105) comprises a further filter element which is received in the suction chamber (107), wherein the further filter element is embodied to filter impurities out of the washing liquid, in order to prevent impurities from being conveyed out of the suction chamber (107) into the pump-down pressure chamber (111).
13. Method (200) according to claim 12, characterised in that the pump (105) comprises a pump motor (129) for pumping washing liquid out of the recirculation pressure chamber (115), a further pump motor for pumping washing liquid out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and a controller for controlling the pump motor (129) and the further pump motor, and that the method (200) comprises the alternate or simultaneous activation (201, 203) of both pump motors (129) during the recirculation process or during the pump-down process in order to pump impurities collected on the filter element, together with the washing liquid, out of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) into the pump-down pipe.
14. Method (200) according to claim 12, characterised in that the method (200) comprises the alternate or simultaneous activation (201, 203) of both pump motors (129) with a predetermined direction of rotation and rotational speed during the recirculation process or during the pump-down process, in order to recirculate air contained in the washing liquid through the pump-down pipe and through the recirculation pipe and thus to accelerate the pump ventilation process of the pump-down pressure chamber (111) and the recirculation pressure chamber (115).

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