Drainage and dewatering control method for self-cleaning washing machine

Abstract

Cleaning particles are arranged in a space between the inner tub and the outer tub of a washing machine. A drainage and dewatering control method comprises: opening a drainage valve; determining the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space; and controlling the rotating speed of the inner tub. Drainage and dewatering processes are divided into at least two control stages according to the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space, different rotating ways of the inner tub are set in respective stages, and the rotating speed of the inner tub is higher in the stage that the amount of the cleaning particles per unit volume of water is larger. A control stage is selected according to the detected amount of the cleaning particles per unit volume of water in the space.

Claims

1. A drainage and dewatering control method for a self-cleaning washing machine, the washing machine including an inner tub and an outer tub and cleaning particles for cleaning an outer wall of the inner tub and an inner wall of the outer tub along with movement of a water flow, the cleaning particles arranged in a space located between the inner tub and the outer tub of the washing machine, the method comprising: receiving a drainage instruction, and opening a drainage valve; determining an amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space; controlling a rotating speed of the inner tub; regulating a frequency of friction and collision between the cleaning particles and the inner and outer tub walls; dividing drainage and dewatering processes of the washing machine into at least two control stages according to the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space; and setting different rotating speeds of the inner tub in respective control stages of the at least two control stages, where a rotating speed of the inner tub is higher in the respective control stages than other respective control stages wherein the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water is larger.

2. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine selects correspondingly the control stage in the drainage and dewatering processes according to the determined amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space.

3. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a method for controlling a rotation of the inner tub in one control stage comprises: closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a set rotating speed for a set time, then opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at another set rotating speed and determining the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water, and entering a next control stage when the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water conforms to an amount corresponding to the next control stage.

4. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: determining whether the current steps of drainage and dewatering are steps of drainage and dewatering after washing or not, when determining that the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space meets a set condition, and regulating the different rotating speeds of the inner tub according to the determination whether the washing machine is performing drainage and dewatering after washing or not.

5. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 4 comprising: determining that the current drainage and dewatering are the steps of drainage and dewatering after washing, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a set rotating speed for a set time, opening the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to rotate at another set rotating speed; or determining that the drainage and dewatering are not the steps of drainage and dewatering after washing, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate with at least two different rotating speeds for a set time, opening the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to rotate at another set rotating speed.

6. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 3 comprising: controlling a rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is closed to be higher than a rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is opened.

7. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering next step; (2) judging whether an amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (6), and if not, entering next step; (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering next step; (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V1 for a time T1, and entering next step; (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering next step; and (6) performing a dewatering program until the dewatering is ended.

8. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering next step; (2) judging whether an amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (9), and if not, entering next step; (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (6); (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V1 for a time T1, and entering next step; (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering the step (9); (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering next step; (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the steps of drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V2 for a time T3, and entering next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 for a time T2 and V1 for a time T2, and entering next step; (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4); and (9) performing a dewatering program until dewatering is ended.

9. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering next step; (2) judging whether an amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (11), and if not, entering next step; (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (6); (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V1 for a time T1, and entering next step; (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering the step (11); (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (9); (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the steps of drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V2 for a time T3, and entering next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 for a time T2 and V1 for a time T2, and entering next step; (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4); (9) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K2, if yes, entering next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K2, and entering next step; (10) controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V3 until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering the step (7); and (11) performing a dewatering program until dewatering is ended.

10. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering next step; (2) judging whether an amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (13), and if not, entering next step; (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (6); (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V1 for a time T1, and entering next step; (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering step (13); (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (9); (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the steps of drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V2 for a time T3, and entering the next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 for a time T2 and V1 for a time T2, and entering next step; (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4); (9) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K2, if yes, entering next step, and if not, entering step (11); (10) controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V3 until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering the step (7); (11) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K1 or not, if yes, entering next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K1, and entering next step; (12) controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 until K is larger than or equal to K2, and entering the step (10); and (13) performing a dewatering program until dewatering is ended.

11. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 1 comprising: calculating the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space according to a detected water level after determining a total amount of the cleaning particles in the space of the washing machine, wherein the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is equal to N/ΔV, N is the total amount of the cleaning particles in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub, ΔV is a volume of water in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub and is equal to αL, α is a fixed coefficient, and L is the water level.

12. The drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine according to claim 5 comprising: controlling a rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is closed to be higher than a rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is opened.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a self-cleaning washing machine provided by the present disclosure;

(2) FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a drainage and dewatering control method in an embodiment 1 of the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the drainage and dewatering control method in an embodiment 2 of the present disclosure;

(4) FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the drainage and dewatering control method in an embodiment 3 of the present disclosure; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of the drainage and dewatering control method in an embodiment 4 of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The detailed description of the present disclosure is further described in detail below in combination with the accompanying drawings.

(7) As shown in FIG. 1, a self-cleaning washing machine provided by the present disclosure comprises an outer tub 1 and an inner tub 2, cleaning particles 4 for cleaning the walls of the tubs are arranged inside a space 3 located between the inner wall of the outer tub 1 and the outer wall of the inner tub 2, the bottom of the outer tub 1 is provided with a drainage valve 5 capable of collecting the cleaning particles, the cleaning particles drop down along with a water level and are finally discharged into the drainage valve 5 so as to be collected during drainage, and the cleaning particles rise along with the water level and enter the space 3 after water is fed next time.

(8) In the drainage and dewatering processes of the washing machine provided by the present disclosure, the concentration of the cleaning particles in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub is changed, i.e., the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is changed along with the reduction of the water level. The corresponding relationship between the changing of the concentration of the cleaning particles and rotating speed of the inner tub is stored in the washing machine, the washing machine receives a drainage instruction and opens the drainage valve; the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is judged; and the washing machine correspondingly controls the rotating speed of the inner tub according to the concentration and regulates the frequency of friction and collision between the cleaning particles and the inner and outer tub walls.

(9) Because the amount of the cleaning particles placed in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub of the washing machine is fixed in an initial state of the washing machine, the cleaning particles will be worn or relatively seriously polluted and need to be replaced with new cleaning particles after the washing machine is used for a relatively long time. Therefore, the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is related to the water level after the cleaning particles are replaced, the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is calculated according to the detected water level, the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is equal to N/ΔV, N is the total amount of the cleaning particles in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub, ΔV is the volume of the water in the space located between the inner tub and the outer tub and is equal to αL, α is a fixed coefficient, and L is the water level.

(10) However, the amount of the cleaning particles can be increased or reduced according to the demand of the user after the cleaning particles are replaced, at the moment, the amount of the cleaning particles is not fixed any more, the washing machine needs to determine the amount of the cleaning particles again, the water level corresponding to the same concentration is also changed before and after the cleaning particles in the space are replaced in the drainage and dewatering processes. While the cleanliness of the walls of the inner tub and the outer tub is not only related to the set rotating speed of the inner tub, but also related to the concentration of the cleaning particles under the water level in the drainage process. Therefore, the rotating speed of the inner tub is controlled according to the change of the concentration of the cleaning particles, and the rotating speed of the inner tub is combined with the concentration of the cleaning particles, so that the cleaning of the cleaning particles to the walls of the inner tub and the outer tub is controlled.

(11) Specifically, the washing machine divides the drainage and dewatering processes into at least two control stages according to the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space, different rotating ways of the inner tub are set in respective stages, and the rotating speed of the inner tub is higher in the stage that the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water is larger. The washing machine selects the corresponding control stage in the drainage and dewatering processes according to the detected amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space and controls the inner tub to rotate in a preset rotating way of the inner tub at the stage.

(12) The lower the capacity of the washing machine is, the narrower the change range of the concentration of the cleaning particles in the space during drainage is, and the fewer the control stages set in the drainage and dewatering processes of the washing machine are. 2-5 control stages are set according to the capacity of the existing washing machine, it is because the lower the capacity is, the smaller the amount of water at the maximum water level is, and the drainage speed is very high, so that the service life of the motor is shorted if the rotating speed of the inner tub is frequently changed within short time in the drainage process; and next, the smaller the capacity of the washing machine is, the lower the possibility that the dirt is formed on the walls of the tubs is, and the cleaning particles can basically clean the walls of the tubs in the washing process. However, the setting way is not necessary, and the number of the set stages can also be reduced when relatively little dirt is attached to the walls of the tubs due to the materials of the inner tub and the outer tub of the washing machine or other reasons.

(13) A control method for controlling the rotation of the inner tub at one control stage in the drainage and dewatering processes comprises: closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a set rotating speed for a set time, then opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the other set rotating speed and determining the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water, and entering the next control stage when the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water conforms to the amount corresponding to the next stage.

(14) A control stage for the cleaning of the bottom walls of the inner tub and the outer tub is also arranged to correspond to the concentration of the cleaning particles, and the water level corresponding to the stage is located in the region at the height where the bottom of the inner tub is located.

(15) Whether the current steps of drainage and dewatering are steps of drainage and dewatering after washing or not is judged when the amount of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is determined to meet a set condition, if the drainage and dewatering are the drainage and dewatering after washing, the drainage valve is closed firstly, the inner tub is controlled to rotate at a set rotating speed for a set time, then, the drainage valve is opened, the inner tub is controlled to rotate at the other set rotating speed; and if the drainage and dewatering are not the drainage and dewatering after washing, the drainage valve is closed firstly, the inner tub is controlled to respectively rotate with at least two different rotating speeds for a set time, then, the drainage valve is opened, and the inner tub is controlled to rotate at another set rotating speed. The rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is closed is controlled to be higher than the rotating speed of the inner tub when the drainage valve is opened.

(16) The drainage and dewatering processes of the drainage and dewatering control method include a control stage corresponding to a dewatering program in which the rotating speed of the inner tub is subjected to a staged acceleration process, can be a constant rotating speed in respective stages, or can be continuously and gradually increased in respective stages, or can be uniformly increased in the whole dewatering process, preferably, the inner tub is controlled to rotate in a staged constant way so as to dewater, and therefore, the phenomenon that noise is generated by collision with the walls of the tubs due to the re-pumping of the cleaning particles from a drainage device at the lower part to a position between the inner tub and the outer tub by a centrifugal force generated by the continuous accelerated movement of the inner tub is avoided.

Embodiment 1

(17) As shown in FIG. 2, the drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine in the embodiment comprises:

(18) (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering the next step;

(19) (2) judging whether the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (6), and if not, entering the next step;

(20) (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not and whether K4 is smaller than K5 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the next step;

(21) (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V1 (which is equal to 200 RPM) for 2 S, and entering the next step;

(22) (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 20 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering the next step; and

(23) (6) performing a dewatering program until the dewatering is ended.

(24) K5 is correspondingly an empty tub point determined by a water level sensor of the washing machine, and the washing machine immediately enters the dewatering program once the concentration of the cleaning particles is determined to reach K5. When the concentration of the cleaning particles is relatively low, i.e., the amount of the water in the tub is large, only drainage is carried out, but the tub does not rotate or the tub rotates at a low speed, so that the additional consumption of power of a motor can be avoided.

Embodiment 2

(25) As shown in FIG. 3, the drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine in the embodiment comprises:

(26) (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering the next step;

(27) (2) judging whether the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (9), and if not, entering the next step;

(28) (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (6);

(29) (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V1 (which is equal to 160 RPM) for 3 S, and entering the next step;

(30) (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 30 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering step (9);

(31) (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering the next step;

(32) (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V2 (which is equal to 100 RPM) for 4 S, and entering the next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 (which is equal to 100 RPM) and V1 (which is equal to 160 RPM) for 2 S, and entering the next step;

(33) (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 30 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4); and

(34) (9) performing the dewatering program until the dewatering is ended.

Embodiment 3

(35) As shown in FIG. 4, the drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine in the embodiment comprises:

(36) (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering the next step;

(37) (2) judging whether the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (11), and if not, entering the next step;

(38) (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (6);

(39) (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V1 (which is equal to 150 RPM) for 2 S, and entering the next step;

(40) (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 20 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering step (11);

(41) (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (9);

(42) (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V2 (which is equal to 80 RPM) for 5 S, and entering the next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 (which is equal to 80 RPM) and V1 (which is equal to 150 RPM) for 3 S, and entering the next step;

(43) (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 20 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4);

(44) (9) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K2, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K2, and entering the next step;

(45) (10) controlling the inner tub to rotate at a rotating speed V3 (which is equal to 50 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering the step (7); and

(46) (11) performing the dewatering program until the dewatering is ended.

Embodiment 4

(47) As shown in FIG. 5, the drainage and dewatering control method for the self-cleaning washing machine in the embodiment comprises:

(48) (1) carrying out drainage, opening the drainage valve, and entering the next step;

(49) (2) judging whether the amount K of the cleaning particles per each unit volume of water in the space is larger than or equal to K5 or not, if yes, entering step (13), and if not, entering the next step;

(50) (3) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K4 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (6);

(51) (4) closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V1 (which is equal to 120 RPM) for 3 S, and entering the next step;

(52) (5) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 10 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K5, and entering step (13);

(53) (6) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K3 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (9);

(54) (7) judging whether the drainage and dewatering are the drainage and dewatering after washing or not, if yes, closing the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V2 (which is equal to 60 RPM) for 6 S, and entering the next step, and if not, closing the drainage valve, and controlling the inner tub to respectively rotate at the rotating speeds V2 (which is equal to 60 RPM) and V1 (which is equal to 120 RPM) for 3 S, and entering the next step;

(55) (8) opening the drainage valve, controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 10 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K4, and entering the step (4);

(56) (9) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K2, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, entering step (11);

(57) (10) controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V3 (which is equal to 50 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K3, and entering the step (7);

(58) (11) judging whether K is larger than or equal to K1 or not, if yes, entering the next step, and if not, carrying out drainage until K is larger than or equal to K1, and entering the next step;

(59) (12) controlling the inner tub to rotate at the rotating speed V4 (which is equal to 10 RPM) until K is larger than or equal to K2, and entering the step (10); and

(60) (13) performing the dewatering program until the dewatering is ended.

(61) In the embodiment, K1<K2<K3<K4<K5, and V1>V2>V3>V4.

(62) V1: 120-300 RPM, preferably 120-160 RPM,

(63) V2: 50-300 RPM, preferably 80-120 RPM,

(64) V3: 0-120 RPM, preferably 30-80 RPM,

(65) V4: 0-50 RPM, preferably 0-30 RPM.

(66) The implementation solutions in the above embodiments are merely intended to describe preferable embodiments of the present disclosure, each rotating parameter of the inner tub in the above embodiments is not intended to limit the conception and scope of the present disclosure, and various variations and modifications made on the technical solutions of the present disclosure by those skilled in the art fall into the protective scope of the present disclosure without departing from design concepts of the present disclosure.