EP3853403B1 - A washing machine comprising a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid arrangement. - Google Patents
A washing machine comprising a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid arrangement. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3853403B1 EP3853403B1 EP19748522.0A EP19748522A EP3853403B1 EP 3853403 B1 EP3853403 B1 EP 3853403B1 EP 19748522 A EP19748522 A EP 19748522A EP 3853403 B1 EP3853403 B1 EP 3853403B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- discharge
- water
- fibers
- circulation
- washing machine
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Active
Links
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 title claims description 23
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 title description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 32
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 26
- 239000003599 detergent Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002351 wastewater Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 229920000426 Microplastic Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 3
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 2
- FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium chloride Chemical compound [Na+].[Cl-] FAPWRFPIFSIZLT-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000002639 sodium chloride Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011780 sodium chloride Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/10—Filtering arrangements
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/02—Devices for adding soap or other washing agents
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/08—Liquid supply or discharge arrangements
- D06F39/083—Liquid discharge or recirculation arrangements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a washing machine wherein the fibers from the laundry washed are collected.
- the water from the mains passes through the detergent box to be transferred to the tub and the drum rotating therein such that the washing process is performed.
- mechanical effects arising from the rotation of the drum and rubbing with water, effects of the spin-drying, type of fabric, temperature and amount of load, wearing down of the fabric by the detergent used cause the fibers to break off from the laundry.
- Fibers breaking off from the fabric during the main washing, rinsing and spin-drying steps are delivered from the tub together with the washing water to the discharge hose by means of the discharge pump. Consequently, the fibers breaking off from the laundry are released to the sewer system, underground waters and oceans.
- Said fibers which are generally synthetic are called microplastics. Microplastics are released into the environment and enter into the food change, thus threatening the lives of living beings.
- the pump filter Due to the size of the pore openings the pump filter is insufficient in separating these waster materials. When the pore dimensions of the pump filter are reduced in order to retain the micro or millimetric fibers, the filter may get clogged, causing the failure of the pumping process or the disruption of the program flow.
- Korean Patent Document No. KR20010040355 it is disclosed that the washing water is passed through a hydrocyclone and that the fibers collected are discharged together with the discharge water at the end of the program.
- the aim of the present invention is to separate the fibers to be discharged with the discharge water from the discharge water, thus preventing the microplastic fibers from being released into the environment.
- the washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in independent claim 1 and dependent claims 2-5 comprises a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid system.
- the fibers breaking off during the washing process are passed through the hydrocyclone to be separated from the discharge water, and then the cleaned water is discharged.
- the fibers separated from the discharge water are transferred to the microfilter structure positioned behind the detergent box together with the water remaining in the tub by means of the circulation system at the end of the pumping process duration. While the fibers are retained by said filter structure, the cleaned water is delivered to the tub and discharged. breaking off during the washing process are passed through the hydrocyclone to be separated from the discharge water, and then the cleaned water is discharged.
- the fibers separated from the discharge water are transferred to the microfilter structure positioned behind the detergent box together with the water remaining in the tub by means of the circulation system at the end of the pumping process duration. While the fibers are retained by said filter structure, the cleaned water is delivered to the tub and discharged.
- the washing machine comprises
- the discharge pump comprises a discharge filter which can be accessed from the front wall.
- the water from the mains is mixed with detergent in the detergent dispenser and then delivered to the tub.
- the water to be discharged is passed through the discharge pump and then delivered to the hydrocyclone to be cleaned.
- the discharge valve is open while the circulation valve is closed.
- the cleaned water is directed to the discharge outlet from the upper part of the hydrocyclone as a result of the centrifugal movement generated due to the geometry of the latter, and then is discharged. At this time, particles in the water hit the walls of the hydrocyclone to be collected in the collection chamber.
- the discharge valve is closed while the circulation valve is open.
- the particles collected in the collection chamber are passed together with the water remaining inside through the microfilter cartridge positioned behind the detergent dispenser, and the particles are collected in said cartridge.
- said microfilter cartridge can be removed together with the detergent dispenser.
- the pumping duration can be adjusted as the two-thirds of the total pumping duration while the circulation and fiber collection duration can be adjusted as the one-third of the total pumping duration.
- the microfilter is fixed at the rear side of the detergent dispenser. The user cannot see the filter while adding detergent; however, the filter can be cleaned when the dispenser is removed.
- fibers can be collected by circulation at once after the last pumping step before the end of the program.
- a special fiber collection program can be activated by pushing a function button.
- microplastic fibers which are generally released into the environment with the discharge water are separated from the discharge water. When not filtered, said fibers are released into the sewer system and the oceans and swallowed by the fish. This causes the fish to move more slowly and to be more easily hunted by other fish, thus disrupting the food chain. Moreover, said fibers mix into the table salt and then are ingested by humans, causing health risks. By means of the present invention, the fibers collected in the washing machine are not released into the environment.
Description
- The present invention relates to a washing machine wherein the fibers from the laundry washed are collected.
- In washing machines, the water from the mains passes through the detergent box to be transferred to the tub and the drum rotating therein such that the washing process is performed. During the washing process, mechanical effects arising from the rotation of the drum and rubbing with water, effects of the spin-drying, type of fabric, temperature and amount of load, wearing down of the fabric by the detergent used cause the fibers to break off from the laundry. Fibers breaking off from the fabric during the main washing, rinsing and spin-drying steps are delivered from the tub together with the washing water to the discharge hose by means of the discharge pump. Consequently, the fibers breaking off from the laundry are released to the sewer system, underground waters and oceans. Said fibers which are generally synthetic are called microplastics. Microplastics are released into the environment and enter into the food change, thus threatening the lives of living beings.
- Due to the size of the pore openings the pump filter is insufficient in separating these waster materials. When the pore dimensions of the pump filter are reduced in order to retain the micro or millimetric fibers, the filter may get clogged, causing the failure of the pumping process or the disruption of the program flow.
- In the state of the art Korean Patent Document No.
KR20010040355 - In the state of the art International Patent Application No.
WO2014153924 , a washing machine having a filtering component for filtering the water discharged by the washing tub is disclosed. - The aim of the present invention is to separate the fibers to be discharged with the discharge water from the discharge water, thus preventing the microplastic fibers from being released into the environment.
- The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in independent claim 1 and dependent claims 2-5 comprises a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid system. Thus, the fibers breaking off during the washing process are passed through the hydrocyclone to be separated from the discharge water, and then the cleaned water is discharged. The fibers separated from the discharge water are transferred to the microfilter structure positioned behind the detergent box together with the water remaining in the tub by means of the circulation system at the end of the pumping process duration. While the fibers are retained by said filter structure, the cleaned water is delivered to the tub and discharged.
breaking off during the washing process are passed through the hydrocyclone to be separated from the discharge water, and then the cleaned water is discharged. The fibers separated from the discharge water are transferred to the microfilter structure positioned behind the detergent box together with the water remaining in the tub by means of the circulation system at the end of the pumping process duration. While the fibers are retained by said filter structure, the cleaned water is delivered to the tub and discharged. - The washing machine comprises
- a detergent box having a detergent dispenser,
- a tub wherein the washing process is performed,
- a drum which is disposed into the tub and wherein the laundry to be washed is placed,
- a discharge pump and a discharge outlet for discharging the water outside.
- The discharge pump comprises a discharge filter which can be accessed from the front wall.
- The water from the mains is mixed with detergent in the detergent dispenser and then delivered to the tub. During the two-thirds of the pumping process duration, the water to be discharged is passed through the discharge pump and then delivered to the hydrocyclone to be cleaned. At this stage, the discharge valve is open while the circulation valve is closed. The cleaned water is directed to the discharge outlet from the upper part of the hydrocyclone as a result of the centrifugal movement generated due to the geometry of the latter, and then is discharged. At this time, particles in the water hit the walls of the hydrocyclone to be collected in the collection chamber.
- During the remaining one-third of the pumping process duration, the discharge valve is closed while the circulation valve is open. At this stage, the particles collected in the collection chamber are passed together with the water remaining inside through the microfilter cartridge positioned behind the detergent dispenser, and the particles are collected in said cartridge. At the end of the program, said microfilter cartridge can be removed together with the detergent dispenser. Thus, waste water is prevented from being released into the environment.
- The pumping duration can be adjusted as the two-thirds of the total pumping duration while the circulation and fiber collection duration can be adjusted as the one-third of the total pumping duration.
- In an embodiment of the present invention, the microfilter is fixed at the rear side of the detergent dispenser. The user cannot see the filter while adding detergent; however, the filter can be cleaned when the dispenser is removed.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, fibers can be collected by circulation at once after the last pumping step before the end of the program.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, during the circulation process a special fiber collection program can be activated by pushing a function button.
- With the hydrocyclone and microfilter hybrid design, microplastic fibers which are generally released into the environment with the discharge water are separated from the discharge water. When not filtered, said fibers are released into the sewer system and the oceans and swallowed by the fish. This causes the fish to move more slowly and to be more easily hunted by other fish, thus disrupting the food chain. Moreover, said fibers mix into the table salt and then are ingested by humans, causing health risks. By means of the present invention, the fibers collected in the washing machine are not released into the environment.
Claims (5)
- A washing machine comprising a detergent box having a detergent dispenser, a tub wherein the washing process is performed, a drum which is disposed into the tub and wherein the laundry to be washed is placed, a discharge pump and a discharge outlet for discharging the water inside the tub, a discharge valve, a circulation valve characterized by a hydrocyclone disposed on the discharge line for separating fibers breaking off during the washing process from the discharge water and a microfilter cartridge disposed at the rear side of the detergent box and whereto the fibers separated from the discharge water are transferred with the water remaining in the tub by means of the circulation system at the end of a pumping process duration such that the fibers are retained by said filter structure of the microfilter cartridge and the cleaned water is delivered to the tub and discharged.
- A washing machine as in Claim 1, characterized by the hydrocyclone which enables the waste water discharged by the discharge pump when the discharge valve is open to be filtered, and by a collection chamber connected to the hydrocyclone for collecting the waste fibers and particles.
- A washing machine as in Claim 2, characterized by the discharge pump which circulates the water required for collecting the fibers and waste collected in the collection chamber, and by a circulation valve which closes the discharge valve and opens the circulation line for the performance of the circulation process.
- A washing machine as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that during the two-thirds of the discharge process duration the discharge valve is open and the circulation valve is closed.
- A washing machine as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that during the one-third of the discharge process duration the discharge valve is closed and the circulation valve is open such that the circulation process is performed.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
TR201813337 | 2018-09-17 | ||
PCT/EP2019/070491 WO2020057820A1 (en) | 2018-09-17 | 2019-07-30 | A washing machine comprising a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid arrangement |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3853403A1 EP3853403A1 (en) | 2021-07-28 |
EP3853403B1 true EP3853403B1 (en) | 2023-11-08 |
Family
ID=67513518
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19748522.0A Active EP3853403B1 (en) | 2018-09-17 | 2019-07-30 | A washing machine comprising a hydrocyclone and a filtration hybrid arrangement. |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3853403B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2020057820A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US11795605B2 (en) | 2022-01-20 | 2023-10-24 | Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. | Washing machine appliance and filtration assembly |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DK1053104T3 (en) | 1998-01-23 | 2004-02-02 | Benq Corp | Device and method for using air bubbles as virtual valve in a liquid injection microinjection equipment |
DE10322241A1 (en) * | 2003-05-17 | 2004-12-09 | Manfred Weichs | Method for separating undissolved particles from a cleaning liquid has a hydraulic cyclone forcing the particles to the wall of a cylinder for extraction |
IT1404532B1 (en) * | 2011-02-24 | 2013-11-22 | Indesit Co Spa | WASHING MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE FILTER SELECTIVE. |
CN104074023B (en) * | 2013-03-25 | 2017-11-28 | 海尔集团技术研发中心 | Washing machine and control method for washing |
-
2019
- 2019-07-30 WO PCT/EP2019/070491 patent/WO2020057820A1/en unknown
- 2019-07-30 EP EP19748522.0A patent/EP3853403B1/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2020057820A1 (en) | 2020-03-26 |
EP3853403A1 (en) | 2021-07-28 |
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