EP3449053B1 - Laundry treating apparatus with a pump control - Google Patents

Description

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

Conventional laundry care devices usually have a pumping system for large loads, through which washing liquid is pumped out of the tub and then returned to the tub. 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. Conventionally used centrifugal pumps have filter elements in a suction chamber which are designed to filter out impurities carried in the washing liquid from the washing liquid, as a result of which the function of the pumps can be ensured.

In the DE 100 46 349 A1 a washing machine with a circulation pump and a drain pump is shown, the circulation pump being preceded by a fine sieve on its suction side in order to filter out fluff and small dirt particles from the washing liquid.

In the DE 103 39 130 A1 is a household machine with a circulation pump and a drain pump is shown, which can be controlled by a central control unit.

The WO 2011/147009 A2 shows a washing machine with a drain pump, which has a flexible filter insert for the pumping branch. When the drain pump is being pumped out, the filter insert can be backwashed with the residual water remaining in the pump line.

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, according to one of claims 1 or 4.

This achieves the technical advantage that impurities attached to one of the two suction connections can be effectively pumped out and thus removed by the other of the two suction connections due to the fluidically coupled pump-around suction connection and pump-off suction connection. Thereby the contaminants carried in the washing liquid, such as lint bales and / or foreign bodies, can be pumped out by means of the respective pump motor through the respective suction connection and through the respective 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 connected to the suction chamber by fluid technology, so that the flow paths do not influence one another and a cleaning function of the flow paths in a filter element of the suction chamber is not possible. Usually a sieve filter element is used, which filters out impurities such as foreign bodies or lint accumulation and thus enables pump protection, but often causes frequent maintenance intervals for cleaning the filter element.

The pump according to the invention has a filter element with a flow guide, the flow paths mutually influencing one another in time, as a result of which a mutual cleaning of the flow paths is made possible. In particular, the deposition of fluff and the associated complete clogging of the flow paths and the elaborate cleaning of the filter element caused thereby can be avoided. The filtering out of large foreign bodies to protect the pump impellers or to prevent pump motor blockages must be ensured further. The filter element should in particular be designed in such a way that particularly narrow flow cross sections of the pump-around suction connection and the pump-around pressure chamber are cleaned when the pump is being pumped out. For this purpose, the flow cross sections in the filter element are designed in such a way that the suction openings of the pump suction connection and the pump suction connection are arranged close to one another, and any blockage of the pump suction connection on the suction side can be eliminated by pumping in after the pump suction connection.

Another constructive possibility of using this cleaning function especially for the pumping system of the pump is to position the suction opening of the pumping suction connection in a region of the suction chamber, in particular in the filter element, where a high flow rate occurs during pumping through the pumping suction connection. If, for example, at right angles from the pumping pressure connection through the pump suction connection during a Pumping process is sucked in, then the pumping suction connection is cleaned again of impurities in a subsequent pumping process by the pumping pressure connection.

As a result, depending on the pumping situation, or the controlled function of the pump, in particular the pumping process or pumping process, washing liquid can be conveyed either through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure line or through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure line. With such a fluid-technical connection of the pump-out pressure chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber to the suction chamber, however, there is the risk that contaminants can accumulate on the fluid-technical connection between the suction chamber and the pump-around pressure chamber, in particular in the filter element, and block the fluid-technical connection. Due to a quasi parallel suction-side flow in the pump, impurities accumulated on this connection can be removed during the pumping process through the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure line. This novel cleaning concept of the pumping system can be implemented for the pumping circuit in that the flow cross sections of the pump suction connection and the pump pressure chamber are generally larger than the flow cross sections of the pump suction connection and the pump pressure chamber. This cleaning effect can avoid customer service missions and enable washing machines with a pumping system to have a similar quality to washing machines that are only equipped with a pumping system.

In the pump according to the invention, when the first or second pump motor is activated, washing liquid is actively pumped through the suction nozzle into the suction chamber, then into the filter element, in which the flow paths are divided, either through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber or through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber. Due to the fluid coupling of the pump suction connection with the pump suction connection, washing liquid is sucked out of the suction chamber and the associated inactive suction connection. Here, lint and hair attached to the associated inactive suction connection are sucked in together with the washing liquid, as a result of which the associated inactive suction connection can be freed of accumulated impurities, such as lint and hair.

The pump according to the invention thus enables the accumulated impurities to be effectively removed from the pump, particularly on the suction side of the pumping circuit, as a result of which blockage of the suction-side flow paths or a blockage of an impeller of the first or second pump motor with impurities or foreign bodies can be prevented. This creates the possibility of an almost completely maintenance-free pump with a self-cleaning function. This means that there is less likelihood of customer service calls in the event of a complete pump blockage due to massive accumulation of foreign bodies or lint, especially since the user can remove blockages on the filter element himself.

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 in particular understood to be 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.

In an alternative embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump-around suction connection comprises a pump-around suction pipe, the pump-around suction pipe having a pump-around suction pipe inlet on a side facing the suction chamber, and the pump-off suction connection comprises a pump-off suction pipe, the pump-off suction pipe on a side facing the suction chamber having a pump-off suction pipe inlet, with the pump-off pipe Umpumpsaugrohre inlet is fluidically coupled, wherein the pump control is designed to activate one of the two pump motors in the activation period to pump washing liquid from the suction chamber through the filter element and through one of the suction pipe inlets and one of the suction pipes into one of the pressure chambers, and wherein the activated pump motor is designed to suck in washing liquid from the other intake manifold inlet during the activation period, in order to prevent impurities accumulated on the other intake manifold inlet by the filter element t and to pump through the one intake pipe inlet and the one intake pipe into the one pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that the pump-around suction pipe provides a particularly effective fluid connection between the suction chamber and the Umpumpdruckkammer, and that a particularly effective fluid connection between the suction chamber and the Abpumpdruckkammer is ensured by the Abpumpsaugrohr. The pump control can ensure that impurities attached to the pump suction pipe inlet or pump suction pipe inlet can be effectively removed or pumped around. The pump-in suction pipe inlet can be designed as a transverse bore or flanged elbow, or the pump-over suction pipe and the pump-out suction pipe are arranged parallel to one another, for example, the pump-out suction pipe inlet and the pump-over suction pipe inlet being aligned with one another. The suction-side flow paths in the filter element are thus fluidically coupled in such a way that a self-cleaning function of the non-activated intake track can be made possible. The loosened impurities are either conveyed out of the device during the pumping operation through the pumping pressure chamber or are at least conveyed back into the washing drum through the pumping pressure chamber during the pumping operation.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump suction pipe and the pump suction pipe are arranged at least in sections in parallel, and / or wherein the pump suction pipe inlet and the pump suction pipe inlet face each other, and / or wherein the pump suction pipe inlet is arranged to the side of the pump suction pipe inlet in the suction chamber, and wherein the pump suction pipe and in particular enclose the pump suction pipe at an angle.

This achieves the technical advantage that the at least sectionally parallel arrangement of the pump suction pipe and the pump suction pipe, that the pump suction pipe inlet and the pump suction pipe inlet face each other, that the lateral arrangement of the pump suction pipe inlet next to the pump suction pipe inlet and / or that the angled one Arrangement of the two intake manifolds to one another, the two intake manifold entrances are arranged in spatial proximity to one another in a particularly advantageous fluidic manner within the pump. In this way it can be ensured that in the event of a pumping-off process or a pumping-over process, contaminants attached to the correspondingly inactive intake manifold inlet can be removed particularly effectively.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump suction pipe inlet is fluidly coupled to the pump suction pipe inlet in order to ensure a cleaning function of the pump suction pipe inlet or the pump suction pipe inlet.

This has the technical advantage that the suction-side connection of the flow paths enables a particularly effective fluidic coupling between the pump-around suction pipe inlet and the pump-off suction pipe inlet, in order to remove contaminants attached to one of the two suction pipe inputs particularly effectively.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump-off suction pipe has a pump-off suction pipe outlet on a side facing the pump-off pressure chamber, the pump-off suction pipe has a pump-off suction pipe inlet between the pump-off suction pipe inlet and the pump-off pressure outlet inlet, the pump-off suction pipe opening being connected to the pump-around suction pipe inlet of the pump-over suction pipe.

The technical advantage is thereby achieved that a particularly effective fluidic coupling between the pumping suction pipe and the pumping suction pipe can be established through the pumping suction pipe opening of the pumping suction pipe connected to the pumping suction pipe inlet of the pumping suction pipe. Thus, the pump suction pipe is fluidly connected to the pump suction pipe, so that washing liquid is pumped in sections through the pump suction pipe during a pumping process, and the pumped washing liquid is then pumped through the pump suction pipe opening through the pump suction pipe inlet into the pump suction pipe. Because the pump-around suction pipe is connected to the pump-off suction pipe between the pump-off suction pipe inlet and the pump-off pressure outlet inlet, contaminants attached to the pump-around suction pipe inlet can be removed particularly effectively during the pumping of liquid through the pump-off suction pipe.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump-around suction connection comprises a pump-around pressure chamber opening which forms the suction chamber and fluidly connects the pump-around pressure chamber, the pump-off suction connection comprising a pump-off suction pipe with a pump-off suction pipe inlet and a pump-off suction pipe outlet, wherein a number of pump-off suction pipe openings are arranged between the pump-off suction pipe inlet and the pump-off suction pipe outlet, the pump-off suction pipe openings being coupled in terms of flow technology.

This achieves the technical advantage that impurities accumulated on the pump suction pipe openings, in particular on the two pump suction pipe openings, such as e.g. Lint or hair can be pumped out particularly effectively through the pump suction tube during a pumping process. During a pumping-over process, washing liquid is fed from the suction chamber into the common filter element through the pump-off suction pipe inlet, through the pump-off suction pipe, through the pump-off suction pipe openings and through the pump-over pressure chamber opening of the pump-over pressure chamber. In this case, impurities carried along in the washing liquid can accumulate on the pump suction pipe openings and block the pump suction pipe openings. When washing liquid is pumped out of the suction chamber into the pump-off pressure chamber through the pump-off suction pipe, the impurities attached to the pump-off suction pipe openings are sucked in and conveyed with the pumped washing liquid into the pump-off pressure chamber and out of the pump.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump-off suction pipe openings have a pump-off suction opening diameter, and the pump-around pressure chamber opening has a pump-around pressure chamber opening diameter, the pump-off suction port diameter being smaller than the pump-around pressure chamber opening diameter.

This achieves the technical advantage that, due to the smaller pumping suction opening diameter compared to the pumping pressure chamber opening diameter, impurities are deposited on the pumping suction pipe openings, as a result of which the impurities can be pumped off particularly effectively during a subsequent pumping process.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump control is designed to activate the first pump motor in the activation time period in order to pump washing liquid from the suction chamber through the pump-off suction connection into the pump-off pressure chamber, the first pump motor being designed to suck washing liquid out of the pump-around suction connection during the activation time period. to pump impurities attached to the pump suction connection through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber and through the pump pressure line out of the laundry care device.

This achieves the technical advantage that by activating the first pump motor by the pump control during the pumping-off process of washing liquid through the pump-off suction connection into the pump-off pressure chamber, impurities attached to the pump-around suction connection can be effectively removed and fed to the pump-off pressure chamber in order to then discharge them via the pump-off pressure line to transport the laundry care device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the pump control is designed to activate the second pump motor in the activation time period in order to pump washing liquid from the suction chamber through the pump-around suction connection into the pump-around pressure chamber, the second pump motor being designed to suck washing liquid out of the pump-off suction connection during the activation time period. to pump impurities attached to the pump suction connection through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that by activating the second pump motor by the pump control during the pumping process of washing liquid through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber, impurities attached to the pump suction connection can be effectively removed and fed to the pump pressure chamber.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the filter element has a pump-off flow path and a pump-around flow path, the pump-off flow path being fluidly connected to the suction nozzle and the Pump-off suction connection is connected, wherein the pump-around flow path is connected to the suction nozzle and the pump-around suction connection in terms of flow, and wherein the respective pump motor is designed to loosen contaminants taken up in the respective flow path during the activation period and to pump them through the respective suction connection into the respective pressure chamber.

This has the technical advantage that the different flow paths in the filter element, which is accommodated in the suction chamber, enable particularly effective filtering or retention of impurities from the washing liquid. As a result, the amount of impurities which are conveyed from the suction chamber into the pump-out pressure chamber or pump-around pressure chamber can be reduced. Foreign bodies or lint bales that cannot be pumped or pumped around are retained on the filter element, small deposits are filtered out, and are rinsed off by the self-cleaning effect when switching between pumping and pumping and then pumped out of the pump.

In an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the filter element comprises a foreign body trap for removing contaminants from the washing liquid, the foreign body trap comprising a plate which extends in the flow direction and in particular has a front edge in the flow direction, the contaminants being attachable to the front edge or wherein the foreign body trap in particular includes 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 blocked 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, but cannot become blocked by lint, as can occur with a sieve-like filter. 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 pressure line during a pumping process. For example In the pumping direction extending plate with a front edge in the pumping direction an effective accumulation of contaminants is made possible. 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. This filter function can also be achieved with suction pipes that allow suction from a collection area for foreign bodies or other contaminants. A distinction is made here between arrangements with a parallel intake pipe guide and intake pipes which are arranged at right angles to one another. 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 an advantageous embodiment of the laundry care device, the first pump motor or the second pump motor comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless DC motor (BLDC motor), or a permanently excited, brushless synchronous motor, which can be operated in particular at variable speeds.

This achieves the technical advantage that the first pump motor and the second pump motor enable effective pumping of washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure line or effective pumping of washing liquid from the pumping pressure chamber into the pumping pressure line. In addition, this drive concept can be used to increase the pump power for the pump motors by increasing the speed in order to enable cleaning or rinsing through increased flow speeds in the event of blockages on the filter element on the suction side.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care appliance, according to one of claims 12 or 13.

This achieves the technical advantage that, due to the fluidic coupling of the pump suction connection and the pump suction connection during the activation period, impurities attached to one of the suction connections can be pumped out by the other of the suction connection into the associated pressure chamber and then pumped out of the laundry care device or pumped around in the laundry care device that the accumulated impurities are not on one of the two pump motors, e.g. on one of the impellers of the pump motors.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises activating the first pump motor during the activation period in order to remove washing liquid from the suction chamber through the filter element and through the Pumping suction pump connection into the pumping pressure chamber, wherein the first pump motor is designed to suck in washing liquid from the pumping suction connection during the activation period in order to pump impurities attached to the pumping suction connection through the filter element and through the pumping suction connection into the pumping pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that impurities attached to the pump suction connection can be effectively pumped into the pump pressure chamber through the pump suction connection.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, the method comprises activating the second pump motor during the activation period in order to pump washing liquid from the suction chamber through the filter element through the pump suction connection into the pumping pressure chamber, the second pump motor being designed to draw washing liquid out of the pump suction connection during the activation period to pump impurities attached to the pump suction connection through the filter element and through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber.

This achieves the technical advantage that impurities attached to the pump suction connection can be effectively pumped through the pump suction connection into the pump pressure chamber.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Wäschepflegegeräts;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer Pumpe des Wäschepflegeräts in Schnittdarstellung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht einer Pumpe des Wäschepflegeräts in Schnittdarstellung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform, die nicht unter den Umfang der Ansprüche fällt; und

Fig. 4

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

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

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a laundry care device;

Fig. 2

is a schematic view of a pump of the laundry care device in a sectional view according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

is a schematic view of a pump of the laundry care device in a sectional view according to a further embodiment, which does not fall under the scope of the claims; 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 according to an embodiment of the invention. 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 pump-out pressure line of the laundry care device 100 in order to pump washing liquid out of the laundry care device 100 through the pump-out pressure line. The pump 105 is connected to a pump-around pressure line of the laundry care device 100 in order to pump around washing liquid in the laundry care device 100, that is to say to pump the washing liquid out of a tub of the laundry care device 100 through the pump-over pressure line, and to supply the pumped-out washing liquid to the tub again. The suction line, pump down pressure line and pump down pressure 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 the 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 the exhaust pressure line. The pump 105 further comprises a pumping pressure chamber 115, which has a pumping pressure connection 117, which in turn can be fluidly connected to a pumping pressure line of a pumping system. A filter element for filtering washing liquid is arranged in the suction chamber 107, the filter element in FIG Fig. 2 is not shown.

The suction chamber 107 is connected to the pump-out pressure chamber 111 by a pump-out suction connection 119, which in particular as a pump-out suction pipe 121 is formed. The pump-off suction pipe 121 has a pump-off suction pipe outlet 123 on a side facing the pump-off pressure chamber 111 and has a pump-off suction pipe inlet 125 on a side facing the suction chamber 107. A pump suction pipe opening 127 is arranged between the pump suction pipe inlet 125 and the pump suction pipe outlet 123. In particular, the pump-off suction pipe opening 127 can comprise a number of pump-off suction pipe openings 127, in particular two or more pump-off suction pipe openings 127.

The suction chamber 107 is fluidly connected to the pumping pressure chamber 115 by a pumping suction connection 129, the pumping suction connection 129 comprising in particular a pumping pressure chamber opening 131.

When a pump controller 133 of the laundry care device 100 activates the first pump motor 135, which is connected to the pump-down pressure chamber 111, washing liquid is sucked through the suction nozzle 109 into the suction chamber 107 and the sucked-in washing liquid through an in Fig. 2 Pump element, not shown, is pumped through the pump-off suction pipe inlet 125 through the pump-off suction pipe 121 and through the pump-off suction pipe outlet 123 in a pump-down flow direction 137 into the pump-down pressure chamber 111. Contaminants, such as fluff or hair, arranged on the pump suction connection 129, in particular on the pumping pressure chamber opening 131, are sucked in from the pumping suction connection 129 during the pumping-down process in order to pump the contaminants through the pumping suction connection 119 into the pumping pressure chamber 111.

When the pump controller 133 of the laundry care device 100 activates the second pump motor 139, which is connected to the pumping pressure chamber 115, washing liquid is sucked through the suction nozzle 109 into the suction chamber 107 and the washing liquid sucked through Fig. 2 Filter element, not shown, pumped through the pump suction connection 129 in a pumping flow direction 141 into the pumping pressure chamber 115. Contaminants, such as fluff or hair, arranged in the pump suction connection 119, in particular in the pump suction pipe 121, are sucked in from the pump suction connection 119 in order to pump the contaminants through the pump suction connection 129 into the pump pressure chamber 115.

As a rule, when pumping washing liquid through the pump suction connection 119, larger flow rates occur than when pumping washing liquid through the pump suction connection 129. For this reason, the pump suction connection 119, in particular the pump suction pipe 121, has a larger inner diameter than the pump suction connection 129, in particular a pump suction pipe 143. In this way, approximately similar flow rates of washing liquid can be achieved for pumping through the pump suction connection 119 and for pumping through the pump suction connection 129. Similar cleaning effects can thus be achieved with a targeted flow of the washing liquid.

Due to the lower flow rates when pumping around washing liquid, smaller flow cross sections can result for the pump suction connection 129 than for the pump suction connection 119. Therefore, the cleaning of the pump suction connection 129 is of greater importance than the cleaning of the pump suction connection 119, since the risk of clogging is higher with smaller flow cross sections and comparable flow velocities.

In the in Fig. 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the suction suction pipe opening 127 is designed to be structurally smaller than the pumping pressure chamber opening 131 for the retention of foreign bodies and the blocking of accumulations of lint. The product of the number and size of the pumping suction pipe openings 127, the total flow cross section, is in particular the same size or smaller than the pumping pressure chamber opening To design 131, also the suction suction pipe inlet 125 of the suction suction pipe 121 should be smaller than or equal to the diameter of the suction suction pipe outlet 123 in order to filter out blockages or contaminants in front of the pumping pressure chamber 111 and thus in front of the rotating pump impeller. Furthermore, these flow cross sections should be kept as large as possible in order not to generate any additional, larger pressure losses in the filter element. The geometry of the suction suction pipe 121, the number and the inner diameter of the suction suction pipe openings 127 are particularly advantageously determined experimentally and can then be adapted to the conditions of the pump 105. Depending on the design of the laundry care device 100, in particular the geometric one The design of the drum perforation and the sleeve gap create different requirements for the pump with regard to the risk of contamination, in particular the hair and lint load.

The pump 105 according to the invention thus provides effective protection against impeller blockages of the first or second pump motor 135, 139. Here, the flow paths within the pump 105 can be designed such that by operating the pump 105 in a pump-down function and that by operating the pump 105 in a pump-over function, cleaning of the filter element is achieved by rinsing filter impurities, so that the pump 105 has a self-cleaning effect.

The following advantages result for the user of the laundry care appliance 100. An almost maintenance-free pump 105 with a self-cleaning function is provided on the filter element, so that pump maintenance intervals occur less frequently in the event of a blocked filter element in the event of massive lint or foreign body infestation. There is less likelihood of customer service calls when the pump is completely blocked due to foreign bodies or massive lint infestation.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a pump of the laundry care device in a sectional view according to a further embodiment, which does not fall under the scope of the claims, in which the suction pipes of the pump 105 are arranged parallel to one another and openings of the suction pipes are facing or facing each other. The laundry care device 100 comprises a pump 105 for pumping washing liquid. 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 a pump-down pressure chamber 111 which has a pump-out pressure connection 113, which in turn can be fluidly connected to a pump-out pressure line in order to pump washing liquid out of the laundry care device 100 through the pump-out pressure line. The pump 105 further comprises a pumping pressure chamber 115, which has a pumping pressure connection 117, which in turn can be fluidly connected to a pumping pressure line of a pumping system in order to pump washing liquid in the laundry care device 100. In the suction chamber 107 a filter element for filtering washing liquid is arranged, the filter element in Fig. 3 is not shown.

The suction chamber 107 is connected to the pump-down pressure chamber 111 by a pump-off suction connection 119, which is designed in particular as a pump-off suction pipe 121. The pump-off suction pipe 121 has a pump-off suction pipe outlet 123 on a side facing the pump-off pressure chamber 111 and has a pump-off suction pipe inlet 125 on a side facing the suction chamber 107.

The suction chamber 107 is connected to the pumping pressure chamber 115 by a pumping suction connection 129, which in particular comprises a pumping suction pipe 143. The pump suction pipe 143 has a pump suction pipe outlet 145 on a side facing the pump pressure chamber 115 and has a pump suction pipe inlet 147 on a side facing the suction chamber 107.

Here, the pump-off suction pipe inlet 125 of the pump-off suction pipe 123 is fluidly coupled to the pump-around suction pipe inlet 147 of the pump-off suction pipe 143. The fluidic coupling between the pumping suction pipe inlet 125 and the pumping suction pipe inlet 147 is achieved in that the pumping suction pipe 143 and the pumping suction pipe 121 are arranged in parallel at least in sections and the pumping suction pipe inlet 125 and the pumping suction pipe inlet 147 are arranged laterally next to one another in the suction chamber 107, or the pumping suction pipe inlet 125 the Umpumpsaugrohre inlet 147 are facing each other.

When a pump controller 133 of the laundry care device 100 activates the first pump motor 135, which is connected to the pump-down pressure chamber 111, washing liquid is sucked through the suction nozzle 109 into the suction chamber 107 and the sucked-in washing liquid through an in Fig. 3 Pump element, not shown, is pumped through the pump-off suction pipe inlet 125 through the pump-off suction pipe 121 and through the pump-off suction pipe outlet 123 in a pump-down flow direction 137 into the pump-down pressure chamber 111 and then out of the laundry care device 100. Contamination, such as fluff or hair, deposited on the pump suction connection 129, in particular on the pump suction pipe inlet 147 of the pump suction pipe 143. are sucked in by the fluidic coupling between the pump suction pipe inlet 147 and the pump suction pipe inlet 125 from the pump suction connection 129 in order to pump the contaminants through the pump suction connection 119 into the pumping pressure chamber 111.

When the pump controller 133 of the laundry care device 100 activates the second pump motor 139, which is connected to the pumping pressure chamber 115, washing liquid is sucked into the suction chamber 107 through the suction nozzle 109 and the washing liquid sucked in through the pumping suction connection 129, in particular through the pumping suction pipe inlet 147, through the Pumped suction pipe 143 and pumped through the pumped suction pipe outlet 145 in a pumping flow direction 141 into the pumping pressure chamber 115. Contamination accumulated in the pump suction connection 119, in particular in the pump suction pipe inlet 125 of the pump suction pipe 121, e.g. Lint or hair is sucked out of the pump suction connection 119 in order to pump the impurities through the pump suction connection 129 into the pump pressure chamber 115 in order to feed them again to the washing drum.

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.

The method 200 comprises, as a single method step, activating 201 one of the two pump motors 135, 139 during an activation period in order to pump washing liquid from the suction chamber 107 through one of the suction connections 119, 129 into one of the pressure chambers. Here, the activated pump motor 135, 139 is designed to suck in washing liquid from the other suction connection 119, 129 during the activation period in order to pump impurities attached to the other suction connection 119, 129 through the one suction connection 119, 129 into the one pressure chamber 111, 115. This allows effective removal of contaminants attached to the suction connection 119, 129.

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 symbol 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

Pumping pressure chamber

117

Transfer pump nozzle

119

Pump suction connection

121

Pump suction pipe

123

Pump suction pipe outlet

125

Pump suction pipe inlet

127

Pump suction pipe opening

129

Pump suction connection

131

Pumping chamber opening

133

Pump control

135

First pump motor

137

Pump down flow direction

139

Second pump motor

141

Pump flow direction

143

Umpumpsaugrohr

145

Pump suction pipe outlet

147

Pump suction tube inlet

200

Method for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care device

201

Activate one of the two pump motors

Claims (13)

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 nozzle (109) for fluidically connecting to a suction line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a repumping pressure chamber (115), which has a repumping pressure nozzle (117) for fluidically connecting to a repumping pressure line, wherein the repumping pressure chamber (115) is fluidically connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a repumping suction connection (129), wherein the pump (105) comprises a pumping-out pressure chamber (111), which has a pumping-out pressure nozzle (113) for fluidically connecting to a pumping-out pressure line, wherein the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) is connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a pumping-out suction connection (119), wherein the pump (105) has a first pump motor (135) for pumping the washing liquid out of the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and a second pump motor (139) for pumping the washing liquid out of the repumping pressure chamber (115), and a pump controller (133) for controlling the first and second pump motor (135, 139), wherein
   the repumping suction connection (129) and the pumping-out suction connection (119) are coupled in the suction chamber (107) in terms of flow, and
   the pump (105) comprises a filter element for filtering out impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the filter element is arranged in the suction chamber (107), wherein
   the pump controller (133) is embodied to activate one of the two pump motors (135, 139) in an activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107), through the filter element and through one of the suction connections (119, 129), into one of the pressure chambers (111, 115), and wherein
   the activated pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the other suction connection (119, 129) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the other suction connection (119, 129) through the filter element and through the one suction connection (119, 129) into the one pressure chamber (111, 115),
   characterised in that
   the repumping suction connection (129) comprises a repumping pressure chamber opening (131), which fluidically connects the suction chamber (107) and the repumping pressure chamber (115),
   wherein the pumping-out suction connection (119) comprises a pumping-out suction pipe (121) with a pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and a pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123),
   wherein at least one pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) is arranged between the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and the pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123),
   wherein the at least one pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) is coupled to the repumping pressure chamber opening (131) in terms of flow.
2. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that two or more pumping-out suction pipe openings (127) are arranged between the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and the pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123), wherein the pumping-out suction pipe openings (127) are coupled to the repumping pressure chamber opening (131) in terms of flow.
3. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pumping-out suction pipe openings (127) have a pumping-out suction opening diameter, and that the repumping pressure chamber opening (131) has a repumping pressure chamber opening diameter,
   wherein the pumping-out suction pipe opening diameter is less than the repumping pressure opening diameter.
4. 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 nozzle (109) for fluidically connecting to a suction line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a repumping pressure chamber (115), which has a repumping pressure nozzle (117) for fluidically connecting to a repumping pressure line, wherein the repumping pressure chamber (115) is fluidically connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a repumping suction connection (129),
   wherein the pump (105) comprises a pumping-out pressure chamber (111), which has a pumping-out pressure nozzle (113) for fluidically connecting to a pumping-out pressure line, wherein the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) is connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a pumping-out suction connection (119), wherein the pump (105) has a first pump motor (135) for pumping the washing liquid out of the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and a second pump motor (139) for pumping the washing liquid out of the repumping pressure chamber (115), and a pump controller (133) for controlling the first and second pump motor (135, 139), wherein
   the repumping suction connection (129) and the pumping-out suction connection (119) are coupled in the suction chamber (107) in terms of flow, and
   the pump (105) comprises a filter element for filtering out impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the filter element is arranged in the suction chamber (107), wherein
   the pump controller (133) is embodied to activate one of the two pump motors (135, 139) in an activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107), through the filter element and through one of the suction connections (119, 129), into one of the pressure chambers (111, 115), and wherein
   the activated pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the other suction connection (119, 129) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the other suction connection (119, 129) through the filter element and through the one suction connection (119, 129) into the one pressure chamber (111, 115),
   the repumping connection (129) comprises a repumping suction pipe (143), wherein the repumping suction pipe (143) has a repumping suction pipe inlet (147) on a side facing towards the suction chamber (107), and that the pumping-out suction connection (119) comprises a pumping-out suction pipe (121), wherein the pumping-out suction pipe (121) has a pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) on a side facing towards the suction chamber (107), wherein the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) is coupled to the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) in terms of flow, wherein
   the pump controller (133) is embodied to activate one of the two pump motors (135, 139) in the activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107), through the filter element and through one of the suction pipe inlets (125, 147) and one of the suction pipes (121, 143), into one of the pressure chambers (111, 115), and wherein
   the activated pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the other suction pipe inlet (125, 147) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the other suction pipe inlet (125, 147) through the filter element and through the one suction pipe inlet (125, 147) and through the one suction pipe (121, 143) into the one pressure chamber (111, 115),
   characterised in that the pumping-out suction pipe (121) has a pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123) on a side facing towards the pumping-out pressure chamber (111), that the pumping-out suction pipe (121) has a pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) between the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and the pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123), and the pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) is connected to the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) of the repumping suction pipe (143) in terms of flow.
5. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 4, characterised in that the repumping suction pipe (143) and the pumping-out suction pipe (121) are arranged in parallel, at least in sections, wherein the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) and the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) are facing towards one another, or wherein the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) is arranged laterally next to the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) in the suction chamber (107), and wherein the repumping suction pipe (143) and the pumping-out suction pipe (121) in particular enclose an angle.
6. Laundry care appliance (100) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) and the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) are coupled in terms of flow, in order to ensure a cleaning function of the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) or the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125).
7. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pump controller (133) is embodied to activate the first pump motor (135) in the activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107) through the pumping-out suction connection (119) and into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111), wherein the first pump motor (135) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the repumping suction connection (129) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the repumping suction connection (129) through the pumping-out suction connection (119) into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and through the pumping-out pressure line out of the laundry care appliance (100).
8. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the pump controller (133) is embodied to activate the second pump motor (139) in the activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107) through the repumping suction connection (129) and into the repumping pressure chamber (115), wherein the second pump motor (139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the pumping-out suction connection (119) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the pumping-out suction connection (119) through the repumping suction connection (129) and into the repumping pressure chamber (115).
9. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element has a pumping-out flow path and a repumping flow path, wherein the pumping-out flow path is connected to the suction nozzle (109) and the pumping-out suction connection (119) in terms of flow, wherein the repumping flow path is connected to the suction nozzle (109) and the repumping connection (129) in terms of flow, and wherein the respective pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to loosen impurities gathered in the respective flow path during the activation time period and to pump these through the respective suction connection (119, 129) and into the respective pressure chamber (111, 115).
10. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the filter element comprises a foreign matter trap for the removal of impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the foreign matter trap comprises a plate extending in the direction of flow, which in particular has a front edge in the direction of flow, wherein the impurities are able to accumulate at the front edge or wherein the foreign matter trap in particular comprises a gathering region for gathering the impurities.
11. Laundry care appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first pump motor (135) or the second pump motor (139) comprises an electric motor, in particular a brushless direct-current motor (BLDC motor) or a permanently excited brushless synchronous motor, which in particular is able to be operated at a variable speed.
12. Method (200) for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care appliance (100) with a pump (105) for pumping washing liquid according to claim 1, wherein the pump (105) comprises a suction chamber (107), which has a suction nozzle (109) for fluidically connecting to a suction line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a repumping pressure chamber (115), which has a repumping pressure nozzle (117) for fluidically connecting to a repumping pressure line,
    wherein the repumping pressure chamber (115) is fluidically connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a repumping suction connection (129), wherein the pump (105) comprises a pumping-out pressure chamber (111), which has a pumping-out pressure nozzle (113) for fluidically connecting to a pumping-out pressure line,
    wherein the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) is connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a pumping-out suction connection (119),
    wherein at least one pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) is arranged between a pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and a pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123), wherein the pump (105) has a first pump motor (135) for pumping the washing liquid out of the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and a second pump motor (139) for pumping the washing liquid out of the repumping pressure chamber (115), and a pump controller (133) for controlling the first and second pump motor (135, 139), wherein the pumping-out suction connection (119) is coupled to the repumping suction connection (129) in the suction chamber (107) in terms of flow, wherein the pump (105) comprises a filter element for filtering out impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the filter element is arranged in the suction chamber, the method (200)
    comprises the activation (201) of one of the two pump motors (135, 139) during an activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107), through the filter element and through one of the suction connections (119, 129), into one of the pressure chambers (111, 115), wherein
    the activated pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the other suction connection (119, 129) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the other suction connection (119, 129) through the filter element and through the one suction connection (119, 129) into the one pressure chamber (111, 115),
    characterised in that
    the first pump motor (135), which is connected to the pumping-out pressure chamber (111), is activated in order to draw in washing liquid through the suction nozzle (109) and into the suction chamber (107) and to pump the drawn-in washing liquid through a filter element, through a pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125), through a pumping-out suction pipe (121) and through a pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123) in a pumping-out direction of flow (137), into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111), wherein impurities arranged at the repumping suction connection (129) are drawn in from the repumping suction connection (129) during the pumping-out procedure, in order to pump the impurities through the pumping-out suction connection (119) and into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111).
13. Method (200) for pumping washing liquid in a laundry care appliance (100) with a pump (105) for pumping washing liquid, according to claim 4, wherein the pump (105) comprises a suction chamber (107), which has a suction nozzle (109) for fluidically connecting to a suction line, wherein the pump (105) comprises a repumping pressure chamber (115), which has a repumping pressure nozzle (117) for fluidically connecting to a repumping pressure line, wherein the repumping pressure chamber (115) is fluidically connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a repumping suction connection (129), wherein the pump (105) comprises a pumping-out pressure chamber (111), which has a pumping-out pressure nozzle (113) for fluidically connecting to a pumping-out pressure line, wherein the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) is connected to the suction chamber (107) by way of a pumping-out suction connection (119), wherein the pump (105) has a first pump motor (135) for pumping the washing liquid out of the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and a second pump motor (139) for pumping the washing liquid out of the repumping pressure chamber (115), and a pump controller (133) for controlling the first and second pump motor (135, 139), wherein the pumping-out suction connection (119) is coupled to the repumping suction connection (129) in the suction chamber (109) in terms of flow, wherein the pump (105) comprises a filter element for filtering out impurities from the washing liquid, wherein the filter element is arranged in the suction chamber, the method (200)
    comprises the activation (201) of one of the two pump motors (135, 139) during an activation time period, in order to pump washing liquid out of the suction chamber (107), through the filter element and through one of the suction connections (119, 129), into one of the pressure chambers (111, 115), wherein
    the activated pump motor (135, 139) is embodied to draw in washing liquid from the other suction connection (119, 129) during the activation time period, in order to pump impurities which have accumulated at the other suction connection (119, 129) through the filter element and through the one suction connection (119, 129) into the one pressure chamber (111, 115),
    characterised in that
    the first pump motor (135), which is connected to the pumping-out pressure chamber 111, is activated in order to draw in washing liquid through the suction nozzle (109) and into the suction chamber (107) and to pump the drawn-in washing liquid through a filter element, through the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125), through a pumping-out suction pipe (121) and through a pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123) in a pumping-out direction of flow (137), into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111) and then out of the laundry care appliance (100), wherein the pumping-out suction pipe (121) has a pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) between the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) and the pumping-out suction pipe outlet (123), and the pumping-out suction pipe opening (127) is connected to the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) of the repumping suction pipe (143) in terms of flow,
    wherein impurities which have accumulated at a repumping suction pipe inlet (147) of a repumping suction pipe (143) at the repumping suction connection (129) are drawn in through a flow-based coupling between the repumping suction pipe inlet (147) and the pumping-out suction pipe inlet (125) out of the repumping suction connection (129), in order to pump the impurities through the pumping-out suction connection (119) and into the pumping-out pressure chamber (111).

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