EP3663457A1 - Water-transporting household device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a water-carrying household appliance (1) with a pump unit (53) for pumping around and / or pumping off the fluid (34) present during a cleaning and / or drying process. Furthermore, the water-carrying household appliance (1) comprises a drive unit (55) for essentially driving the pump unit (53), a control unit (57) for controlling the drive unit (55) and a filter unit (15) for filtering the fluid (34) The filter unit (15) has a filter surface (36) through which the first filter area (41) for flowing through the fluid (34) and at least a second filter area (43) for flowing through the fluid (34), wherein between the first filter area ( 41) and the at least one second filter area (43) a movable separating element (19) is arranged so that in a closed state of the filter unit (15) the fluid (34) essentially flows through only one of the two filter areas (41, 43).

Description

The invention relates to a water-bearing household appliance.

Filter units used for filtering fluids are used in water-bearing household appliances. This fluid can be a water-soap mixture, such as is used in washing machines or dishwashers and / or washer-dryers, or can consist of steam or process air, such as is used in dryers and / or washer-dryers. In the operation of these water-carrying household appliances, dirt particles get into the respective fluid during a cleaning or drying process. The dirt particles can Food residues, hair, fats, sand, fibers from laundry items, microplastic particles and / or dust or dirt particles.

These dirt particles can be filtered by a filter unit during and / or after the cleaning or drying process. During the cleaning or drying process, one and / or several pumping processes can be carried out, in which the fluid is pumped around, cleaned of dirt particles and reintroduced into the cleaning or drying process. After a cleaning or drying process, the so-called residual fluid remains, which is rich in dirt particles. This residual fluid is generally no longer required and is pumped out of the water-carrying household appliance and fed into a spout or a drain line. Before it is fed into the pouring spout, the fluid is again passed through the filter unit, as a result of which less or almost no dirt particles get into the waste water or into the waste water system.

Filter systems in washing machines are, among other things, from the font WO 201720725 A1 known. In this document, a washing machine with a filtration unit is described, in which the filtration unit is arranged between a tub and a feed line to the tub. The filtration unit consists of several filter elements that are arranged in a row next to each other. Each of these filter elements has a first membrane structure with a large pore size and a second Membrane structure with a small pore size, the second membrane structure being suitable for filtering out microfibers.

In another publication, the WO 2013068300 A1 , a filter unit of a washing machine or a dishwasher is disclosed. The filter unit has a plurality of individual filter assemblies, which are arranged either in series, partially in succession or next to one another. Each filter assembly has a filtrate line that essentially directs the fluid to the tub. The individual filter assemblies each have a filter membrane with different pore sizes.

As can be seen from the two documents cited above, various filter systems for water-bearing domestic appliances are known from the prior art, which filter dirt particles and fibers from a fluid. Since the filters clog very quickly, it is imperative to clean these filters, especially the filter membrane.

It is therefore the object of the invention to design a water-conducting household appliance with a filter unit, in which the cleaning of the filter unit can be carried out simply, quickly and cleanly by the user.

This object is achieved by the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

According to one aspect, the object according to the invention is achieved by a water-carrying household appliance, the water-carrying household appliance comprising a pump unit for pumping around and / or pumping off the fluid present during a cleaning and / or drying process. Furthermore, the household appliance according to the invention has a drive unit for essentially driving the pump unit, a control unit for controlling the drive unit and a filter unit for filtering the fluid, the filter unit having a filter surface that can be flowed through, which has a first filter area for flowing the fluid and at least a second filter area for flowing through the fluid. There is a between the first filter area and the at least one second filter area Movable separating element arranged so that in a closed state of the filter unit, the fluid essentially flows through only one of the two filter areas.

Since the fluid only flows through one of the two filter areas in a closed state of the filter unit, the fluid can flow through the at least one further filter area if the one filter area becomes blocked.

Advantageously, a filter container is provided on the inflow side, which has at least one opening through which the fluid flows into the filter container, a filter frame and the filter surface, which can be at least partially flowed through, being arranged on the filter container in the flow direction, the separating element being arranged on the filter frame is.

The fluid is pumped into the filter unit by the pump unit and acts on the filter frame in the direction of flow. The fluid is conducted from the separating element arranged on the filter frame to the first filter area. In this filter area, the fluid is filtered from the filter surface. The fluid moves on by gravity alone. This eliminates the need for additional pump units that pump the fluid through the pump unit, as well as drive and control units.

The filter frame preferably has a circumferential wall, the separating element being arranged within the circumferential wall and the circumferential wall and the separating element each having sealing elements on an end face facing the filter surface. The sealing elements of the surrounding wall and the separating element lie on the filter surface in the closed state.

In the closed state of the filter unit, the sealing elements of the peripheral wall and the separating element rest on the filter surface in such a way that it is ensured that the fluid flows into the filter area provided for this purpose and makes flow into the at least one further filter area almost impossible.

Another aspect of the invention is that the filter frame is in the closed state, in a partially closed state, and in an open state can be arranged, the sealing element of the circumferential wall and the sealing element of the separating element abutting the filter surface in the closed state. In the partially closed state, the sealing element of the circumferential wall lies against the filter surface and the sealing element of the separating element is essentially spaced from the filter surface. In the open state, the sealing element of the peripheral wall and the sealing element of the separating element are spaced from the filter surface.

It is thereby achieved that the fluid flows through the first filter area in the closed state of the filter frame without flowing into the at least one second filter area. In contrast, in the partially closed state of the filter frame, the sealing element of the separating element is spaced from the filter surface, so that the fluid can flow from the first filter area into the at least one second filter area, while the sealing element of the peripheral wall still lies on the filter surface, so that the fluid is held in the filter unit. If the fluid that has collected in the first filter area when the first filter area is clogged has flowed through the at least one second filter area by slightly lifting the filter frame, the filter frame can be opened completely without the fluid being able to flow out of the filter unit in an uncontrollable manner.

It is particularly advantageous if the circumferential wall of the filter frame has at least one extendable element. If the filter area of the filter unit to be flowed through becomes blocked, the filter unit or the filter surface must be cleaned. The separating element is spaced from the filter surface, while the peripheral wall with the at least one extendable element still rests on the filter surface. This prevents that when the filter unit is opened, the fluid containing dirt particles in the filter unit flows into the household appliance comprising the filter unit and / or, for example, into a living area and / or the user's laundry room.

The at least one extensible element of the circumferential wall of the filter frame preferably has elastic elements. The elastic elements can be made of shape memory alloys, spring-like and / or rubber-like elements consist. Other stretchable and regressive elements are also conceivable. The sealing elements of the at least one circumferential wall rest against the filter surface when the filter frame is slightly raised, while the separating element is spaced from the filter surface.

It is also conceivable that the at least one extensible element of the circumferential wall of the filter frame is movably mounted. This can be done for example by means of an electrical and / or mechanical drive.

In an advantageous embodiment, the first filter area is larger than the at least one second filter area. The first filter area is the filter area through which the fluid flows when the water-carrying household appliance is in operation. The at least one second filter area is required to drain the fluid when the first filter area is blocked.

Preferably the fluid flows through the first filter area in the closed state of the filter frame and the fluid flows predominantly through the second filter area in the partially closed state of the filter frame. The fluid only flows through the at least one second filter area when the first filter area should be blocked and the filter frame is brought into the partially closed state. This ensures that the at least one second filter area can be flowed through in the partially closed state, so that the fluid can properly flow out of the filter unit when the first filter area is blocked.

In order to make cleaning the filter unit as simple as possible, the filter frame and / or the filter surface of the filter container are designed to be removable.

If the first filter area becomes blocked, the fluid can no longer flow out of the first filter area and collects in this area. In the following we speak of residual fluid. In order to achieve a rapid outflow of the residual fluid, it is therefore advantageous if the filter surface comprises a plurality of individual second filter areas, the plurality of individual second filter areas in each case being the first Filter area are formed sealing when the filter frame is in the closed state.

The separating element is advantageously designed in the form of a stamp and the end face of the separating element lies flat on the filter surface in the closed state. The stamp-shaped separating element enables a simple manufacturing process for the separating element and the sealing element attached to it.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for filtering fluids in a water-bearing household appliance. The water-conducting household appliance comprises a pump unit for pumping around and / or pumping off the fluid present during a cleaning and / or drying process, a drive unit for essentially driving the pump unit, a control unit for controlling the drive unit and a filter unit for filtering the fluid. Furthermore, the filter unit has a filter surface that can be flowed through, which has a first filter area through which the fluid flows and at least one second filter area through which the fluid flows at least partially, with a between the first filter area and the at least one second filter area movable separating element is arranged such that in a closed state of the filter frame, the fluid essentially flows through only one of the two filter oaks.

This achieves the technical advantage that an area of the filter surface is spared from flowing through the fluid during a filtering process, so that if one filter area becomes blocked, the fluid can flow or flow through the recessed filter area.

The filter unit preferably has a filter frame and the filter surface, the separating element and a circumferential wall being arranged on the filter frame. Furthermore, sealing elements are provided on an end face of the separating element and on the circumferential wall. The filter frame can be arranged in the closed state. The filter frame can be moved into a partially closed state by moving and into an open state by further movement, the sealing element of the surrounding wall and the In the closed state, the sealing element of the separating element should rest on the filter surface. By moving the filter frame into the partially closed state, the sealing element of the circumferential wall lies against the filter surface and the sealing element of the separating element is essentially spaced apart from the filter surface. By moving the filter frame further into the open state, the sealing element of the circumferential wall and the sealing element of the separating element are spaced from the filter surface.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Frontansicht eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts, hier beispielsweise eine Waschmaschine;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht eines Filterrahmens;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Filtereinheit mit einem beispielhaften Filterrahmen;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Filtereinheit mit einem beispielhaften Filterrahmen, wobei sich der Filterrahmen in einem geschlossenen Zustand befindet;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Filtereinheit mit einem beispielhaften Filterrahmen, wobei sich der Filterrahmen in einem teilweise geschlossenen Zustand befindet;

Fig. 6

zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Filtereinheit mit einem beispielhaften Filterrahmen, wobei sich der Filterrahmen in einem offenen Zustand befindet;

Fig. 7a

zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Filterrahmens;

Fig. 7b

zeigt eine schematische Unteransicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Filterrahmens, wobei ein Trennelement stempelförmig ausgebildet ist;

Fig. 7c

zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Filterrahmens;

Fig. 8

zeigt schematisch, in stark vereinfachter Form, ein Zirkulationsprinzip eines wasserführenden Haushaltsgeräts.

Further properties and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic front view of a water-carrying household appliance, here for example a washing machine;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic plan view of a filter frame;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic side view of a filter unit with an exemplary filter frame;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic side view of a filter unit with an exemplary filter frame, wherein the filter frame is in a closed state;

Fig. 5

shows a schematic side view of a filter unit with an exemplary filter frame, wherein the filter frame is in a partially closed state;

Fig. 6

shows a schematic side view of a filter unit with an exemplary filter frame, wherein the filter frame is in an open state;

Fig. 7a

shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a filter frame;

Fig. 7b

shows a schematic bottom view of a further embodiment of a filter frame, wherein a separating element is designed in the form of a stamp;

Fig. 7c

shows a schematic plan view of a further embodiment of a filter frame;

Fig. 8

shows schematically, in a greatly simplified form, a circulation principle of a water-bearing household appliance.

In Fig. 1 a schematic front view of a water-carrying household appliance 1, in particular a washing machine, is shown. The water-carrying household appliance 1 is suitable for treating laundry in particular. Furthermore, a dryer, a washer dryer or a dishwasher can also be read under a water-carrying household appliance 1. For the sake of simplicity, only the washing machine as a water-carrying household appliance 1 is described in more detail below.

The water-bearing household appliance 1 in Fig. 1 has a washing machine front wall 3. Arranged on the washing machine front wall 3 is, inter alia, a movable induction bowl 5, into which a washing care substance, such as a detergent and / or a fabric softener, can be filled, and a washing machine display unit 7, with which a washing program can be set, among other things. Furthermore, a pivotable washing machine door 9 and a cleaning hatch (not shown), which is covered by a cleaning hatch cover 11, are arranged on the washing machine front wall 3 of the water-carrying household appliance 1.

A schematic plan view of a filter frame 13, which is arranged in a filter unit 15, is shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown. The filter frame 13 has a circumferential wall 17 and a separating element 19, the separating element 19 being arranged within the circumferential wall 17. The separating element 19 is preferably firmly connected to the filter frame 13. It is also conceivable that the separating element 19 is designed to be separable from the filter frame 13. A sealing element 23 is formed on an end face 21 of the filter frame 13 and thus on the end face of the circumferential wall 17. The sealing element 23 can be designed as a sealing ring. However, other configurations of the sealing element 23 known to the person skilled in the art are also conceivable. Furthermore, the separating element 19 has a further sealing element 25. The sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 is preferably arranged on an end face of the separating element 19 and preferably has identical or similar properties and configurations to the sealing element 23 of the circumferential wall 17. The sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 can also differ in its properties and configurations from the sealing element 23 of the circumferential wall 17.

The filter frame 13 is preferably designed such that bending of the filter frame 13 when inserting and / or removing it from the filter unit 15 is prevented. The filter frame 13 preferably consists of a polymer or a polymer-like material. However, other types of materials which are known to those skilled in the art can also be used to produce the filter frame 13. Furthermore, the filter frame 13 can be designed as a type of cover element and is therefore suitable for closing the filter unit 15.

As already described above, the separating element 19 of the filter frame 13 is designed as a predominantly rigid element. However, if a desired flexibility of the separating element 19 is desired, it is also conceivable that the separating element 19 is designed as an at least partially flexible element.

The circumferential wall 17 has at least one extendable element 27, which in 3 to 7c is shown. The at least one extendable element 27 is preferably formed in the region of the end face 21 of the filter frame 13. The at least one extensible element 27 can be designed as an elastically extensible element. However, it is also conceivable that the at least one extendable element 27 forms the circumferential wall 17 of the filter frame 13. The at least one elastic element 27 can be provided, for example, with spring elements and / or rubber-like elements. However, other elastic elements are also conceivable.

It is also conceivable that the extendable elements 27 of the circumferential wall 17 of the filter frame 13 are movably mounted. This embodiment is discussed in more detail below.

Furthermore, in Fig. 3 an outlet connection 29 of the filter unit 15 is shown. The drain connector 29 has a circumferential wall element 31 and is tubular. A first shut-off stage 33, which preferably runs around the inside of the filter unit 15, is formed in the peripheral wall 31 of the outlet connection 29, on which the extendable elements 27 rest when the filter unit 15 is closed. A filter membrane 35 is arranged in the filter unit 15 in the area of the shutoff stage 33. The filter membrane 35 has a filter surface 36 which extends over the entire cross-section B of the drain connector 29. From a flow direction A (arrow in Fig. 3 ) considered a fluid 34, the outlet connection 29 can have a partition 37. The partition 37 is preferably only partially formed in the drain port 29. Furthermore, the partition wall 37 has a second storage stage 39 which faces the filter frame 13 and in particular the partition element 19. In the closed state of the filter unit 15, the separating element 19 with the sealing element 25 rests on the second setting stage 39 such that the filter membrane 35 is received between the sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 and the second setting step 39 of the dividing wall 37.

The movably mounted at least one extensible element 27 is understood to mean that the at least one extensible element 27 extends from the movement. Just to name one example, the extendable element 27 can be constructed like a two-part telescopic rod, the two elements forming the telescopic rod not being rigidly connected to one another.

In relation to the present case, when the filter frame 13 is lifted, the at least one extendable element 27 is moved in the direction of the filter membrane 35 or the first shut-off stage 33 of the drain connector 29, so that the circumferential wall 17 is thereby lengthened. The movably mounted at least one extendable element 27 can be driven, for example, by an electrical and / or mechanical drive, for example by a gear, in particular by a link mechanism. As a result, when the filter frame 13 is moved from the closed state into the open state, loosening of the sealing element 23 of the circumferential wall 17 can be delayed in time, so that the filter frame 13 is first moved into the partially closed state. The time delay is described in more detail below. But others can too Gear types, such as a gear and / or chain gear, can be used. A combination of different types of gear and / or an electrically controllable gear is also conceivable.

In Fig. 4 the closed state of the filter frame 13 is shown. In the closed state of the filter frame 13, the at least one extendable element 27 is at least partially accommodated in the peripheral wall element 31 of the drain socket 29. The end face 21 of the circumferential wall 17 and the separating element 19 and thus the two sealing elements 23, 25 of the circumferential wall 17 and the separating element 19 lie on the first setting step 33 and on the second setting step 39. The filter membrane 35 is accommodated between the sealing elements 23, 25 and the two shut-off stages 33, 39. The filter surface 36 is divided by the separating element 19 and the sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 into a first filter area 41 and at least a second filter area 43. The first filter area 41 is preferably larger than the at least one second filter area 43.

The filter unit 15 has a filter container 44. The filter frame 13 and the filter membrane 35 are arranged in this filter container 44. Furthermore, the outlet connection 29 can be arranged in the filter container 44. However, it is also conceivable that the outlet connection 29 is designed to be integrated in the filter container 44.

The filter container 44 comprises an opening 46 ( Fig. 8 ), through which the fluid 34 flows into the filter container 44. The opening 46 is formed in the area of the filter frame 13, so that the fluid 34 can flow through the filter membrane 35. Within the filter container 44 of the filter unit 15, the fluid 34, which in washing machines and / or dishwashers mainly consists of water or a wash liquor, flows due to gravity. In the Fig. 3 the direction of flow of the fluid 34 is represented by the arrow A, when viewed from above Fig. 3 from top to bottom. The fluid 34 does not require any further drive means in order to flow through the filter membrane 38.

The fluid 34, which is fed into the filter unit 15, flows through the filter membrane 35 into the outlet connection 29, and is thereby freed from dirt particles 16. In the closed state of the filter frame 13, the fluid 34 flows through the first Filter area 41. The at least one second filter area 43 is not flowed through. The dirt particles 16 thus only settle on the filter surface 36 in the first filter area 41, the at least one second filter area 43 remaining free of dirt particles 16.

An at least partially closed state of the filter frame 13 is shown in FIG Fig. 5 shown. In the partially closed state, due to the at least one extendable element 27, the sealing element 23 of the circumferential wall 17 is still on the first shut-off stage 33 of the drain connector 29. In contrast, the sealing element 25 of the separating element 19, which is arranged on the end face 21 of the separating element 19, is spaced apart from the filter membrane 35 and the second shut-off stage 39.

The fluid 34, which in the closed state of the filter frame 13 predominantly flows through the first filter area 41, now flows through a gap 45 which, when the filter frame 13 is slightly raised in the direction of arrow C, against the flow direction of the fluid 34, between the sealing element 25 and the second shutdown stage 39 arises. The fluid 34 can now flow into the second filter area 43 and pass through the filter membrane 35 and then flow into the outlet connection 29.

Lifting the filter frame 13 is necessary when the filter unit 15 needs to be cleaned. This is the case when so many dirt particles 16 have already accumulated in the first filter area 41 that flowing through the first filter area 41 is almost impossible or has become impossible. The specialist speaks here of constipation. The blockage can occur after only a few cleaning and / or drying processes or after a cleaning and / or drying process.

The filter frame 13 is lifted when the pump unit 53 is switched off, so that there is only a so-called residual fluid 34 in the filter unit 15. Residual fluid 34 is the fluid 34 that is in the filter unit 15 when the pump unit 53 is switched off and can no longer flow out of the filter unit 15. By lifting the filter frame 13, the residual fluid 34 flows into the at least one second filter area 43 and flows through the filter membrane 35 there and then reaches the Drainage spout 29. By flowing through the at least one second filter area 43, it is ensured that the residual fluid 34, although for example the first filter area 41 is blocked, can flow out of the filter container 44 without coming into contact with the user.

If the first filter area 41 becomes blocked, it must be cleaned manually by a user in order to achieve the optimum filter performance of the filter unit 15 again. Information and / or a signal from the water-carrying domestic appliance 1 can be displayed to the user on the washing machine display unit 7 if the filter unit 15 needs to be cleaned. However, it is also conceivable for information and / or a message to be transmitted to another displayable medium, for example a smartphone. It would also be conceivable for a voice message to be transmitted. However, other information transmission systems are also conceivable.

In Fig. 6 an open state of the filter frame 13 is shown. In the open state, the sealing element 23 of the circumferential wall 17 and the sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 are spaced from the filter surface 36 of the filter membrane 35. The filter frame 13 can be completely removed from the filter unit 15, so that a user can directly access the entire filter surface 36 and clean it. The filter membrane 35 of the filter unit 15 can now preferably also be removed for cleaning purposes or for replacement.

In the 7a to 7c Various conceivable variants of the separating element 19 are shown. Except for another embodiment and arrangement of the separating element 19, the structure of the filter frame 13 is identical to the embodiment already described above.

In the Fig. 7a . the separating element 19 is designed as an annular separating element 19 rotating in the filter frame 13. The circumferential sealing element 25 is formed on the end face 21 of the separating element 19. In the closed state of the filter frame 13, the at least one second filter area 43 is surrounded by the separating element 19. The first filter area 41 extends between the separating element 19 and the circumferential wall 17 of the filter frame 13 annular separating element 19 can be arranged anywhere within the circumferential wall 17. It must be ensured that the fluid 34 in the closed state of the filter unit 15 only flows through the first filter area 41 and the second filter area 43, in Fig. 7a only one is shown, is formed sealingly to the first filter area 41. Either the filter membrane 35 has such a tension that the separating element 19 can lie sealingly on the filter membrane 35, or the partition 37 of the drain connector 29 with the second shut-off stage 39 is arranged opposite the separating element 17 so that the separating element 17 can rest there.

The separating element 19 can also, as in Fig. 7b shown, be designed as a stamp-shaped separating element 19. The end face 21 of the separating element 19 is preferably designed as a flat surface and comprises the sealing element 25. In this embodiment, the sealing element 25 is formed over the entire end face 21 of the separating element 17. But one would also be conceivable as in Fig. 7a Form of the sealing element 25 described. In this embodiment, the at least one second filter region 43 is covered by the separating element 19 in the closed state.

It is also conceivable that in Fig. 7a Separating element 19 described is formed several times on the filter frame 13. In Fig. 7c four such separating elements 19 are shown, for example. However, it is also conceivable that fewer than four separating elements 19 or more than four separating elements 19 are formed. The advantage of a plurality of separating elements 19 is that a plurality of clean second filter areas 43 are present, through which the residual fluid 34 can flow out from the closed state into the at least partially closed state when the filter frame 13 is moved. A faster drainage of the residual fluid 34 is thereby achieved. However, the first filter area 41 should not be reduced too much, since this reduces the filter performance when the filter unit 15 is closed.

The mode of operation of the object according to the invention in a water-carrying household appliance 1 will be briefly explained below.

This is in Fig. 8 schematically shows a circulation principle of a water-carrying household appliance 1 shown in a highly simplified representation. The water-bearing Household appliance 1 has a receiving area 47 for objects to be cleaned and / or dried, for example laundry or dishes. During a cleaning and / or drying process, fluid 34 is located in the receiving container 47. In a pumping and / or pumping process, the fluid 34 is pumped from the receiving container 47 into a pumping or pumping line 51 by means of the pump unit 53 via an outlet opening 49 .

The pump unit 53 is driven by a drive unit 55, the drive unit 55 being driven or controlled by a control unit 57. The drive unit 55 is coupled to the control unit 57 via a transmission element 59. The pump unit 53 pumps the fluid 34 to the filter container 44 of the filter unit 15, in which the fluid 34 is filtered. After the filter unit 15, the fluid 34 either flows into a drain 61 and exits from the water-carrying domestic appliance 1 or via a return line 51a to an inlet opening 63, which leads the fluid 34 back into the receiving area 47 of the water-carrying domestic appliance 1. However, it is also conceivable that the fluid 34, for example in a washing machine, is passed over the induction bowl 5 and mixed there for example with detergent and / or fabric softener.

The fluid 34 is pumped into the filter unit 15 by the pump unit 53 via an opening 65. The filter frame 13 is in the closed state, so that the fluid 34 flows through only one of the two filter areas 41, 43. In the present exemplary embodiment, the fluid 34 flows through the first filter area 41, while the second filter area 43 is separated from the first filter area 41 by the separating element 19. If it now appears that the first filter area 41 has become impermeable to fluid 34 flowing in further, this can be signaled to the user as already described above. It is now necessary to clean the filter unit 15. For this purpose, the filter frame 13 must be removed from the filter container 44 of the filter unit 15 so that the user can access the filter membrane 35 or remove it for cleaning.

First, the pump unit 53 is stopped so that no further fluid 34 is pumped into the filter unit 15. Since there is residual fluid 34, fluid 34 in a heavily soiled filter unit 15 due to the blockage of the first filter area 41 Filter membrane 35 can not penetrate, accumulates in the first filter area 41, this residual fluid 34 must first drain when opening the filter unit 15 so that the user does not have to come into contact with it. The user now releases the filter frame 13 from the closed state and moves the filter frame 13 into the partially closed state. The separating element 19 is spaced apart from the filter membrane 35 and the second storage surface 39 such that the gap 45 is formed between the sealing element 25 of the separating element 19 and the filter membrane 35. The circumferential wall 17 with the at least one extendable element 27 remains in contact with the first shutdown stage 33 in such a way that the residual fluid 34 is prevented from escaping from the filter unit 15.

The residual fluid 34 flows through the gap 45 into the at least one second filter area 43 and flows through the filter membrane 35 there, so that only the dirt particles 16 remain on the filter membrane 35 in the filter unit 15. By moving the filter frame further from the partially closed state into the open state, the peripheral wall 17 is spaced from the first storage surface 33. Ideally, the filter frame 13 can be detached from the filter unit 15, so that the user can conveniently access the filter membrane 35 to be cleaned. It is also conceivable that the filter membrane 35 of the filter unit 15 is designed to be removable, so that a user can simply strip off the dirt particles 16 and dispose of them properly. For example, the user can easily access the filter unit 15 by removing the cleaning hatch cover 11. However, other types of access are also conceivable, such as that via the induction bowl 5.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

1

Water-bearing household appliance

3rd

Washing machine front wall

5

Induction bowl

7

Washing machine display unit

9

Washing machine door

11

Cleaning hatch cover

13

Filter frame

15

Filter unit

16

Dirt particles

17th

All-round wall

19th

Separating element

21st

Face

23

Sealing element surrounding wall

25th

Sealing element separating element

27th

at least one renewable element

29

Drain connector

31

Wall element

33

1st parking level

34

Fluid

35

Filter membrane

36

Filter surface

37

partition wall

39

2nd parking level

41

1. Filter area

43

2. Filter area

44

Filter container

45

gap

46

opening

47

Recording area

49

Outlet opening

51

Pumping or pumping line

51a

Return line

53

Pump unit

55

Drive unit

57

Control unit

59

Delivery element

61

Outflow

63

Inlet opening

A

Flow direction

B

Cross-section of drain socket

C.

Contrary to the flow direction

Claims (14)

Water-bearing household appliance (1), with
a pump unit (53) for pumping around and / or pumping off the fluid (34) present during a cleaning and / or drying process,
a drive unit (55) for essentially driving the pump unit (53), a control unit (57) for controlling the drive unit (55),
a filter unit (15) for filtering the fluid (34),
characterized in that
the filter unit (15) has a filter surface (36) through which the first filter area (41) for flowing through the fluid (34) and at least a second filter area (43) for flowing through the fluid (34), wherein between the first filter area ( 41) and the at least one second filter area (43) a movable separating element (19) is arranged so that in a closed state of the filter unit (15) the fluid (34) essentially flows through only one of the two filter areas (41, 43). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a filter container (44) is provided on the inflow side, which has at least one opening (46) through which the fluid (34) flows into the filter container (44), and on the filter container (44) in the flow direction (A) a filter frame (13) and the filter surface (36), which can be flowed through at least partially, are arranged, the separating element (19) being arranged on the filter frame (13). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filter frame (13) has a circumferential wall (17), the separating element (19) being arranged within the circumferential wall (17) and in that the circumferential wall (17 ) and the separating element (19) each have sealing elements (23, 25) on one end face (21) facing the filter surface (36), and the sealing elements (23, 25) of the circumferential wall (17) and the separating element (19) lie in the closed state on the filter surface (36). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter frame (13) can be arranged in the closed state, in a partially closed state and in an open state, the sealing element (23) of the circumferential in the closed state The wall (17) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) lie against the filter surface (36) and, in the partially closed state, the sealing element (23) of the circumferential wall (17) lies against the filter surface (36) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) is essentially spaced from the filter surface (36) and, in the open state, the sealing element (23) of the circumferential wall (17) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) from the filter surface ( 36) are spaced. Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circumferential wall (17) of the filter frame (13) has at least one extendable element (27). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one extendable element (27) of the peripheral wall (17) of the filter frame (13) has elastic elements. Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one extendable element (27) of the circumferential wall (17) of the filter frame (13) is movably mounted. Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first filter area (41) is larger than the at least one second filter area (43). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closed state of the filter frame (13) the first filter area (41) is flowed through by the fluid (34) and predominantly in the partially closed state of the filter frame (13) the second filter area (43) has the fluid (34) flowing through it. Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter frame (13) and / or the filter surface (36) of the filter container (44) are designed to be removable. Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter surface (36) comprises a plurality of individual second filter areas (43), the plurality of individual second filter areas (43) each being designed to form a seal towards the first filter area (41). Water-conducting household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating element (19) is designed in the form of a stamp and the end face (21) of the separating element (19) lies flat on the filter surface (36) in the closed state. Method for filtering fluids (34) in a water-bearing household appliance (1), with a pump unit (53) for pumping around and / or pumping out the fluid (34) present during a cleaning and / or drying process,
a drive unit (55) for essentially driving the pump unit (53), a control unit (57) for controlling the drive unit (55),
a filter unit (15) for filtering the fluid (34),
characterized in that
the filter unit (15) has a filter surface (36) through which the fluid (34) flows and a first filter area (41) and at least a second filter area (43) through which the fluid (34) at least partially is flowed through, a movable separating element (19) between the first filter area (41) and the at least one second filter area (43) is arranged such that in a closed state of the filter frame (13) the fluid (34) essentially flows through only one of the two filter areas (41, 43). A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the filter unit (15) has a filter frame (13) and the filter surface (36), the separating element (19) and a circumferential wall (17) being arranged on the filter frame (13), wherein in each case sealing elements (23, 25) are provided on an end face (21) of the separating element (19) and on the circumferential wall (17), and the filter frame (13) in the closed state, by moving into a partially closed state and by further means Moving can be moved into an open state, the sealing element (23) of the circumferential wall (17) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) in the closed state lying against the filter surface (36) and by moving the filter frame (13 ) in the partially closed state, the sealing element (23) of the peripheral wall (17) bears against the filter surface (36) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) essentially from the filter surface ( 36) is spaced apart and the sealing element (23) of the circumferential wall (17) and the sealing element (25) of the separating element (19) are spaced apart from the filter surface (36) by further moving the filter frame (13) into the open state.

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