Auxiliary power source for a washing machine

Abstract

Washing machine (1) having a method for powering it in the event of a power supply failure, wherein said washing machine (1) comprises: a drum, an opening with a water-tight door, a water inlet, at least one electronic control unit (5) and an auxiliary power source (3), wherein when the control unit (5) detects a power supply failure the washing machine (1) switches powering means from a main external power source (2) to said auxiliary power source (3) through the use of a switch (4). The auxiliary power source (3) supplies energy to the control unit (5) for a limited amount of time in order for the control unit (5) to execute one or more sets of pre-established actions according to data obtained by different sensors (6, 7).

Claims

1. Method for powering a washing machine, in the event of a power supply failure, wherein said washing machine comprises: a drum within a hollow enclosure, an opening in said enclosure for inserting and removing clothes from inside said drum, said opening including a water-tight door with a locking mechanism, a water inlet, at least one electronic control unit including a memory and a processor, and an auxiliary power source, wherein when said at least one electronic control unit detects a power supply failure the washing machine switches powering means from a main external power source to said auxiliary power source through the use of a switch, and wherein when the auxiliary power source is activated, the at least one electronic control unit of the washing machine carries out the following steps: i. determining if a water level is above or below a predetermined threshold value by means of a first sensor, and further determining if said drum is static or in motion by means of a second sensor, wherein if the drum is static the control unit proceeds to step ii., and wherein if the drum is in motion, the control unit waits until said second sensor indicates that the drum is static before proceeding to step ii., ii. automatically executing a first set of pre-established actions if said water level is above said predetermined threshold value, or automatically executing a second set of pre-established actions if said water level is below said predetermined threshold value, and iii. switching off the washing machine once the control unit has finished executing either one of said first or second set of pre-established actions, and iv. switching said powering means back to the external power source, wherein said first and second set of pre-established actions are selected manually by a user through a control panel of the washing machine.

2. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said first set of pre-established actions comprises, at least, draining the water from inside the washing machine by means of a draining system, and unlocking the door of the washing machine.

3. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said second set of pre-established actions comprises, at least, unlocking the door of the washing machine.

4. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein in step ii., said locking mechanism of the door is an electromechanical lock powered by the auxiliary power source.

5. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary power source is charged by said external power source when the washing machine is powered by the external power source.

6. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary power source comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.

7. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor is selected from a group comprising a pressure sensor and a level sensor.

8. Method for powering a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor is selected from a group comprising a speed sensor and a rotation sensor.

9. Washing machine with an auxiliary power source comprising: a drum, a water-tight door in order to insert and remove clothes from inside said drum including a locking mechanism, an external power source, a water inlet, a draining system, and a control panel including a control unit, a memory and a processor, wherein said control unit is configured to switch powering means from said external power source to said auxiliary power source in the event of a power supply failure, and wherein the control unit is configured to carry out either a first set or a second set of pre-established actions by performing the following steps: i. determining if a water level is above or below a predetermined threshold value by means of a first sensor, and further determining if said drum is static or in motion by means of a second sensor, wherein if the drum is static the control unit proceeds to step ii., and wherein if the drum is in motion, the control unit waits until said second sensor indicates that the drum is static before proceeding to step ii., ii. automatically executing a first set of pre-established actions if said water level is above said predetermined threshold value, or automatically executing a second set of pre-established actions if said water level is below said predetermined threshold value, and iii. switching off the washing machine once the control unit has finished executing either one of said first or second set of pre-established actions, and iv. switching said powering means back to the external power source, wherein said first and second set of pre-established actions are selected manually by a user through a control panel of the washing machine.

10. Washing machine according to claim 9, wherein said external power source is selected from a group comprising an electric grid and a renewable energy power source.

11. Washing machine according to claim 9, wherein said auxiliary power source comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing or drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of the main components which intervene in the method previously disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(3) The drawing shown in FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic representation of the main components which interact inside the washing machine 1, forming an electric network or circuit, to which both the external power source 2 and the auxiliary power source 3 are connected to, in a preferred embodiment parallel to one another. The electric circuit further includes a switch 4, in charge of establishing either the external power source 2 or the auxiliary power source 3 as the power source of the washing machine 1. Under ordinary circumstances, the switch 4 is connected to the main external power source 2, however in the event of a power outage or other malfunctions, the switch 4 can be configured to either automatically switch to the auxiliary power source 3 or wait until the control unit 5 sends a signal to the switch 4 so that it can switch to the auxiliary power source 3.

(4) The main external power source 2, preferably an electric grid, is connected to an AC/DC power converter 21 to transform AC power into DC power in order to supply power to the control unit 5 of the washing machine. The AC/DC power converter 21 is connected, in turn, to a voltage level detection unit 22 in order to monitor, in real time, electrical values used to power the washing machine 1 from the external main power source 2. The voltage level detection unit 22 is connected to a power supply manager 23 which is in charge of determining when a draining system 9 must be activated and/or when an electromechanical lock 10 must be activated in order to allow a user to open the water-tight door and access the interior of the washing machine 1, according to hardware and software installed therein, when the washing machine 1 is working under normal conditions with energy being supplied by the main external power source 2.

(5) In the event of a power outage, the switch 4 automatically connects the auxiliary power source 3 which supplies power to the control unit 5 of the washing machine 1 for a limited amount of time, so that it can perform certain pre-established actions according to data collected by a first level sensor 6, used to determine the amount of water inside a hollow enclosure 8 of the washing machine 1 which encapsulates the drum, and a second rotation sensor 7, used to determine if the rotating drum is still in motion.

(6) In a preferred embodiment, a memory of the control unit 5 includes two sets of pre-established actions: a first set of pre-established actions which includes draining the water from inside the hollow enclosure 8 of the washing machine 1 by means of a draining system 9, due to data sent from the level sensor 6 to the control unit 5 indicating that the amount of water inside the hollow enclosure 2 is above a predetermined threshold value, and then proceeding to unlock the door of the washing machine 1, which is preferably an electromechanical lock 10, whereas a second set of pre-established actions includes unlocking the door of the washing machine 1 without the need to drain the water from inside the hollow enclosure 2 of the washing machine 1, as it is either empty or the water level is below a predetermined threshold value.

(7) It will be understood that various parts of one embodiment of the invention can be freely combined with parts described in other embodiments, even being said combination not explicitly described, provided there is no harm in such combination.