Patent Application
20250075403
This application claims benefit of Italian Patent Application No. 102023000018126, filed Sep. 4, 2023, which application is incorporated herein by reference. To the extent appropriate, a claim of priority is made to the above-disclosed application.
The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a microplastic filtering system.
Washing machines provided with microplastic filtering systems are known in the art.
In recent years, the use of synthetic fabrics has increased, resulting in larger amounts of micrometric synthetic microfibres contained in wastewater and hence in the environment, leading to more environmental pollution. In particular, when synthetic fabrics are washed, synthetic microfibres are produced/released which are not biodegradable, thus causing increased water pollution from microplastics (this term refers to particles and/or fibres less than 5 mm in length).
Patent publication EP 4 148 178 A1 by the present Applicant describes a microplastic filtering system specifically intended for use in a laundry washing machine. The system can filter microplastics contained in the washing liquid, which is then drained from the washing tub. Although such system is particularly advantageous and effective in comparison with those previously known in the art, it is nonetheless desirable to add thereto some improvements and refinements.
One drawback of the system disclosed by patent publication EP 4 148 178 A1 lies in the fact that it does not propose a mode of installation of such system in the washing machine that will allow a user to easily gain access to such system, e.g. for inspecting and/or replacing components thereof.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a washing machine which is provided with a microplastic filtering system, and which can remedy one or more drawbacks of the prior art.
In particular, compared with the prior art, the washing machine made in accordance with the present invention solves the technical problem of allowing a user to easily gain access to the microplastic filtering system in order to inspect and/or replace the components thereof.
According to the present invention, this and other objects are achieved through a washing machine having the technical features set out in the appended independent claim. In particular, the fact that the microplastic filtering system is housed inside the drawer makes for easier access by the user.
It is understood that the appended claims are an integral part of the technical teachings provided in the following detailed description of the present invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention that include some optional technical features.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following detailed description, provided herein merely as a non-limiting example and referring, in particular, to the annexed drawings as summarized below.
For completeness' sake, the following is a list of alphanumerical references and names used herein to identify parts, elements and components illustrated in the above-summarized drawings.
With reference to
With particular reference to
Laundry washing machine WM comprises a discharge piping, designated as a whole as D. Discharge piping D is fluidically connected to washing tub T on one side and connectable to the waste system WS on the other side.
In addition, washing machine WM comprises a discharge pump DP situated in discharge piping D and configured to push the washing liquid, containing microplastics and coming from washing tub T, towards waste system WS.
Furthermore, washing machine WM comprises a discharge pump filter PF situated in discharge piping D fluidically upstream of discharge pump DP and configured to trap any foreign bodies that may be present in the microplastic-containing washing liquid. Typically, foreign bodies are much bigger than microplastic particles, and may damage discharge pump DP.
As mentioned above, washing machine WM comprises also a system 10, which is situated in discharge piping D fluidically downstream of discharge pump DP and is configured to internally trap the microplastics contained in the washing liquid.
Washing machine WM comprises also a drawer DR in which system 10 is housed. This makes it easier for the user to gain access to system 10.
In the illustrated embodiment, drawer DR is mounted movable relative to cabinet C. However, in further variant embodiments (not shown), the drawer may be mounted stationary relative to the cabinet of the washing machine. More generally, drawer DR essentially forms a housing (which may be, as aforementioned, either fixed or movable)—or, even more generally, a support—in which system 10 is housed.
Advantageously, but not necessarily, drawer DR defines a receptacle R configured to house a quantity of a washing agent intended to be delivered into washing tub T. By way of example, in the illustrated embodiment such quantity of washing agent can be loaded into receptacle R by a user; as an alternative, receptacle R can be loaded with such quantity of washing agent by a so-called “autodosing” system. In particular, if drawer DR is provided with one or more of such receptacles R, there is a further advantage that it is accessible by simply operating the same drawer DR which is used for loading the washing agent.
In the illustrated embodiment, receptacle R is open at the top and perimetrically delimited by sidewalls of drawer DR. In the illustrated embodiment, drawer DR has just one receptacle R, but in further variant embodiments the drawer may include more than one receptacle R to receive more than one washing agent.
Preferably, drawer DR is mounted extractable from a front wall FW of cabinet C. In particular, drawer DR is located above washing tub T. In the illustrated embodiment, washing machine WM is of the so-called “front-load” type, wherein the basket is loaded through front door FD, which is mounted to front wall FW of cabinet C.
In particular, discharge piping D comprises an initial duct D1 fluidically connected to washing tub T on one side and to an inlet 16 of system 10 on the other side; in addition, discharge piping D comprises a terminal duct D2, in turn fluidically connected to an outlet 18 of system 10 on one side and fluidically connectable to waste system WS on the other side. Therefore, the “dirty” washing liquid, which contains microplastics, coming from washing tub T flows in initial duct D1, while the “filtered” washing liquid, substantially free from such microplastics, flows in terminal duct D2. In particular, discharge pump filter PF is situated in initial duct D1 and is fluidically connected downstream of washing tub T. Discharge pump filter PF is configured for filtering any foreign bodies from the microplastic-containing washing liquid coming from washing tub T before the washing liquid enters discharge pump DP. Typically, the outlet of discharge pump filter PF is hydraulically connected to the inlet of discharge pump DP. Therefore, discharge pump filter FP and discharge pump FP are fluidically connected in series in initial duct D1, upstream of inlet 16 of system 10.
In the illustrated embodiment, cabinet C comprises a drawer holder DH in which said drawer DR is slidably, in particular translatably, mounted. In more detail, drawer DR is configured to translate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by front wall FW of washing machine WM.
In the illustrated embodiment, drawer DR defines a housing H in which system 10 is inserted. Housing H is perimetrically defined by sidewalls of drawer DR and borders on receptacle R. In particular, drawer DR comprises a divider wall DW that laterally separates receptacle R from housing H.
In addition, drawer DR comprises a cover CV, which is mounted over housing H and, as will be described in more detail below, covers at least a portion of system 10.
As will be further described below also with reference to
In the embodiment described in the following, as concerns the elements and components of system 10, terms or expressions such as “axial” or “axially”, “transversal” or “transversally”, “radial” or “radially”, “lateral” or “laterally”, “internal” or “internally”, “external” or “externally”, “annular” or “annularly”, “peripheral” or “peripherally” are meant with reference to longitudinal axis X-X.
As aforementioned, inlet 16 is configured to receive a microplastic-containing fluid and leads into cavity 14. Further, outlet 18 is configured to deliver the fluid contained in cavity 14, from which the microplastics have been substantially removed.
System 10 further comprises a filtering assembly 100 contained in cavity 14. Filtering assembly 100 is configured to be crossed by the fluid (i.e. the above-defined washing liquid) entering casing 12 through inlet 16 and exiting through outlet 18, thus internally trapping the microplastics contained in said fluid. In particular, filtering assembly 100 is, in a per se known manner, configured for trapping particles and/or fibres of synthetic or plastic material less than 5 mm in length, which may also, in particular, have micrometric dimensions.
In the illustrated embodiment, casing 12 comprises a tubular portion 22 and a closure member 26 sealingly connected on opposite sides to tubular portion 22. Tubular portion 22 and closure member 26 internally define cavity 14. In particular, cavity 14 is laterally delimited by tubular portion 22 and axially delimited, on opposite sides, by tubular portion 22 and by closure member 26. In addition, tubular portion 22 develops around longitudinal axis X-X. Preferably, cover CV covers tubular portion 22, leaving closure member 26 uncovered and accessible, particularly when drawer DR is brought into an extracted position (or a raised position, in the embodiment illustrated in
As will be described in more detail below, inlet 16 and outlet 18 lead into cavity 14 through casing 12 in a substantially transversal direction (i.e. a direction substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis X-X).
In the illustrated embodiment, inlet 16 essentially consists of an L-shaped fitting, which is connected in the axial direction, at one end thereof, to initial duct D1 and connected in the transversal or radial direction, at the other end thereof, to casing 12. Outlet 18 consists of a fitting that protrudes laterally from casing 12, i.e. with an axis oriented transversally to longitudinal axis X-X. In more detail, inlet 16 and outlet 18 are formed on the tubular portion 22.
Preferably, filtering assembly 100 comprises a hollow filtering body 102 having an axial through aperture 104. Hollow filtering body 102 comprises, advantageously, a plurality of concentrical cylindrical filtering layers of different mesh gauges suitable for trapping microplastic particles of different sizes. In the embodiment illustrated herein, filtering assembly 100 is removable from casing 12.
System 10 comprises also a compacting assembly 200 situated in cavity 14 and configured for collecting and compacting the microparticles trapped by filtering assembly 100.
In addition, washing machine WM comprises a driving assembly 300 configured to drive compacting assembly 200. Preferably, driving assembly 300 comprises a motor, in particular an electric motor 302. In the illustrated embodiment, electric motor 302 co-operates with a reduction gear train 303 to drive compacting assembly 200. In particular, driving assembly 300 is housed in cover member 24.
Preferably, as will be described hereafter, compacting assembly 200 extends axially through filtering assembly 100. In particular, axial through aperture 104 of hollow filtering body 102 is crossed by compacting assembly 200.
In the illustrated embodiment, compacting assembly 200 is configured to remove microplastics from the inner surface of hollow filtering body 102, in particular conveying them out of filtering assembly 100. In other words, compacting assembly 200 is operatively mounted in contact with the inner lateral surface of hollow filtering body 102, defined by axial through aperture 104, for removing microplastics from the filtering assembly. In this manner, compacting assembly 200 is configured to operatively slide against said inner lateral surface of hollow filtering body 102, thereby removing microplastics from such surface.
In the illustrated embodiment, compacting assembly 200 comprises an endless screw 202 configured to be rotatably driven by driving assembly 300, so as to axially push the solid particles trapped by filtering assembly 100.
In addition, endless screw 202 is housed in axial through aperture 104 of hollow body 102, and is substantially aligned axially with longitudinal axis X-X.
In particular, endless screw 202 has a helicoidal profile 204 that, in a per se known manner, facilitates the conveyance of microplastics out of filtering assembly 100. In other words, helicoidal profile 204 is operatively mounted in contact with the inner lateral surface of hollow filtering body 102. In this way, helicoidal profile 204—rotatably driven by driving assembly 300—can effectively remove the microplastics deposited on said surface of hollow filtering body 102. In fact, helicoidal profile 204 is configured to rotatably slide against said surface of hollow filtering body 100, thereby removing microplastics therefrom.
As clearly visible in
In particular, closure member 26 comprises a storing container 20 facing towards compacting assembly 200. Storing container 20 is configured for receiving the microplastics collected and compacted by compacting assembly 200. In particular, storing container 20 is made as one piece with closure member 26. Preferably, the assembly including closure member 26 and storing container 20 is mounted integrally removable from tubular body 22. In some alternative variant embodiments, the storing container may be separable from the closure member, e.g. being housed therein.
Storing container 20, which in the illustrated embodiment is made as one piece with closure member 26, internally defines storing chamber 14c. In particular, closure member 26 and storing container 20, which is defined by the former, create as a whole a substantially cup-shape profile. In addition, axial through aperture 104 of hollow body 102 faces towards storing container 20. As aforementioned, closure member 26 is mounted to tubular portion 22 and removable, in particular repeatably and reversibly, therefrom. For example, as visible in
In the system arrangement shown in
Driving assembly 300, which is preferably housed in cover member 24, comprises a driven member 304 configured to be rotatably driven by electric motor 302, in particular through reduction gear train 303, so as to drive compacting assembly 200.
In particular, driven member 304 is an element configured to be engaged with compacting assembly 200. In the embodiment illustrated herein, driven member 304 can be coupled to endless screw 202 to control the rotation thereof, such elements being, in particular, mutually integral in rotation (e.g. keyed to each other). In more detail, when mutually coupled, driven member 304 and endless screw 202 are substantially coaxial to each other and to longitudinal axis X-X. In particular, endless screw 202 is sealingly supported in rotation by casing 12, in particular at an axial end of tubular portion 22.
In particular, cover member 24 and the associated driving assembly 300 are mounted on a stationary support structure of cabinet C, which in the embodiment illustrated herein is drawer holder DH. In other words, they form an assembly that is fluidically separate and mechanically separable and removable from casing 12 (and hence from system 10), in particular from tubular portion 22 and closure member 26, which are housed in drawer DR. For example, cover member 24 and the associated driving assembly 300 are mounted to the outside of a back wall of drawer holder DH, while compacting assembly 200 is configured to face towards and be engaged with driving assembly 300 through a back wall of drawer DR. Thus, when drawer DR is moved into a retracted position in drawer holder DH (
By way of example, fluid-tightness of casing 12 is obtained by means of a plurality of sealing gaskets 30 interposed between closure member 26 and tubular portion 22. In particular, sealing gaskets 30 have a substantially annular shape, e.g. they are O-rings.
For completeness' sake, the following will briefly describe the path followed by the washing liquid in system 10, from washing tub T to waste system WS.
Inlet 16, which is hydraulically connected to initial duct D1 of discharge piping D, is configured to receive, substantially in a transversal or radial direction, the microplastic-containing washing liquid delivered by pump DP. Subsequently, inlet 16 runs through tubular portion 22 of casing 12 and into central chamber 14a defined in filtering assembly 100 by hollow filtering body 102.
Central chamber 14a receives the microplastic-containing washing liquid and hydraulically communicates, transversally or radially, with peripheral chamber 14b through the sidewalls of hollow filtering body 102. In particular, in the substantially horizontal arrangement of system 10 shown in
At the same time, central chamber 14a hydraulically communicates, in the axial direction, with storing chamber 14c, which, due to the action of compacting assembly 200, receives the microplastics retained within the hollow filtering body, and traps them in the storing container 20.
Subsequently, the washing liquid, from which microplastics have been substantially removed, flows out of peripheral chamber 14b, transversally or radially, through outlet 18 to exit tubular portion 22 of casing 12. Outlet 18 is fluidically connected to terminal duct D2 of discharge piping D2, thus delivering to waste system WS washing liquid which is substantially free from microplastics. In the illustrated embodiment, outlet 18 runs through a bottom opening BH formed in drawer DR, so as to fluidically connect to terminal duct D2 through the back wall and/or the bottom of drawer holder DH. As shown in
With reference to
Those parts and elements which are similar to—or which perform the same function as—those of the previously illustrated embodiment have been assigned the same reference numerals. For brevity, the description of such parts and elements will not be repeated below, and reference should be made to the description of the previous embodiment.
The washing machine illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, drawer DR is mounted on an inner face IF of top door TD hinged to cabinet C. In particular, drawer DR is situated above washing tub T. Therefore, unlike the previously described embodiment, drawer DR is not mounted slidable in a drawer holder.
Unlike the previously described embodiment, the stationary support structure whereon cover member 24, which supports driving assembly 300, is mounted is not a drawer holder—which, as mentioned above, is absent—but a support bracket SB mounted to the top of cabinet C. In particular, support bracket protrudes towards washing tub T, e.g. near the opening where top door TD is hinged. In this case, the position of engagement of driven member 303 of driving assembly 300 into endless screw 202 of compacting assembly 200 is obtained when drawer DR is rotated integrally with top door TD into a closed position (
Support bracket SB supports also initial duct D1, which is connected to inlet 16 of tubular portion 22, and terminal duct D2, which is connected, in turn, to inlet 16 of tubular portion 22.
Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the forms of embodiment and the implementation details may be extensively varied from those described and illustrated herein by way of non-limiting example, without however departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102023000018126 | Sep 2023 | IT | national |
