CN112981850B - Water quantity control method for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly relates to a water quantity control method for a washing machine. The invention aims to solve the problems that the operation of the existing washing machine after power failure recovery is water-consuming and time-consuming. To this end, the water quantity control method of the present invention includes: after the power-off recovery of the washing machine, acquiring the current power-off time length of the washing machine; acquiring the current water storage amount in the washing machine under the condition that the current power-off time length of the washing machine does not exceed the preset power-off time length; comparing the current water storage quantity with a preset water inlet quantity; and selectively feeding water into the washing machine according to the comparison result of the current water storage quantity and the preset water feeding quantity. The invention judges whether the water stored in the washing machine is deteriorated or not through the current power-off time length, and judges the water storage condition in the washing machine through the current water storage quantity under the condition that the water stored in the washing machine is not deteriorated, so that the existing water in the washing machine is fully utilized, and then the water is selectively fed according to the actual use requirement of the washing machine, thereby achieving the effects of saving water and time.

Description

Water volume control method for washing machine

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of washing machines, and particularly relates to a water volume control method for washing machines.

Background technique

In order to facilitate people's lives and effectively improve people's quality of life, more and more types of washing equipment are constantly emerging on the market to help people wash clothes. In recent years, with the increasing number of washing equipment, people have also put forward higher and higher requirements on the comprehensive performance of washing equipment. Taking the energy-saving performance of washing machines as an example, for existing washing machines, after the power is restored after the washing machine is powered off, the washing machine will first drain the water in the washing tub, and then refill the washing tub with water, and finally re-execute the washing operation. This control method not only wastes water resources, but also wastes the user's time. Especially when the washing machine only has a short power outage, the existing washing machine will still drain the water in the washing tub and then refill it with water, which can easily lead to poor user experience.

Accordingly, the art needs a new water volume control method for a washing machine to solve the above problems.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the problem that the operation of the existing washing machine after power failure is restored is both water-consuming and time-consuming, the present invention provides a water volume control method for a washing machine, the water volume control method comprising the following steps: after the washing machine is restored from power failure, obtaining the current power failure duration of the washing machine; if the current power failure duration of the washing machine does not exceed the preset power failure duration, obtaining the current water storage volume in the washing machine; comparing the current water storage volume with the preset water intake volume; and selectively filling water into the washing machine according to the comparison result of the current water storage volume and the preset water intake volume.

In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned water amount control method for a washing machine, the step of "selectively adding water to the washing machine based on the comparison result of the current water storage amount and the preset water inlet amount" includes: if the current water storage amount is less than the preset water inlet amount, adding water to the washing machine until the water amount in the washing machine reaches the preset water inlet amount.

In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned water volume control method for a washing machine, the step of "selectively adding water to the washing machine based on the comparison result of the current water storage volume and the preset water inlet volume" also includes: if the current water storage volume is greater than or equal to the preset water inlet volume, no water is added to the washing machine and the washing machine is caused to directly perform a washing operation.

In the preferred technical solution of the water volume control method for a washing machine, the water volume control method further includes: in the process of filling water into the washing machine, obtaining the total water volume in the preset time once every preset time; comparing the total water volume in the preset time with the preset total water volume; and selectively causing the washing machine to issue a reminder of abnormal water inflow based on the comparison result of the total water volume in the preset time with the preset total water volume.

In the preferred technical solution of the water volume control method for a washing machine, the step of "selectively causing the washing machine to issue a reminder of abnormal water inflow based on a comparison result between the total water inflow within the preset time and the preset total water inflow" specifically includes: if the total water inflow within the preset time is less than the preset total water inflow, causing the washing machine to issue a reminder of abnormal water inflow.

In the preferred technical solution of the water volume control method for a washing machine, the water volume control method further includes: if the current power off duration of the washing machine exceeds the preset power off duration, water is added to the washing machine after draining the water in the washing machine.

In the preferred technical solution of the water volume control method for a washing machine, the water volume control method further comprises: after draining the water in the washing machine and before adding water into the washing machine, causing the washing machine to perform a dehydration operation.

In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned water volume control method for a washing machine, the preset power-off duration is determined according to the operation being performed by the washing machine when the power is cut off and/or the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off.

The present invention also provides a washing machine, comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to execute the water volume control method described in any one of the above preferred technical solutions.

It can be understood by those skilled in the art that, in the technical solution of the present invention, the water volume control method of the present invention comprises the following steps: after the power failure of the washing machine is restored, the duration of the power failure of the washing machine is obtained; when the duration of the power failure of the washing machine does not exceed the preset power failure duration, the current amount of water stored in the washing machine is obtained; the current amount of water stored in the washing machine is compared with the preset amount of water inflow; and water is selectively added to the washing machine according to the comparison result between the current amount of water stored and the preset amount of water inflow. In the present invention, after the power failure of the washing machine is restored, the washing machine does not directly drain the water, but determines whether the water stored in the washing machine has deteriorated by obtaining the duration of the power failure of the washing machine. If the water has not deteriorated, the current amount of water stored in the washing machine is obtained to determine the water storage in the washing machine, so as to make full use of the existing water in the washing machine, and then determines whether the water stored in the washing machine can meet the water consumption required for this washing according to the comparison result between the current amount of water stored and the preset amount of water inflow, so as to selectively add water according to the actual operation requirements of the washing machine, thereby achieving the effect of making full use of water resources, and also effectively saving the time of drainage and re-adding water, thereby achieving the effect of saving water and time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a flow chart of the main steps of the water volume control method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the steps of a preferred embodiment of the water volume control method of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. For example, although the various steps of the method of the present invention are described in a specific order in this application, these orders are not restrictive, and those skilled in the art may perform the steps in different orders without departing from the basic principles of the present invention.

Specifically, in this preferred embodiment, the washing machine of the present invention includes a washing tub and a water inlet pipe connected to the washing tub, the washing tub includes an outer tub and an inner tub arranged in the outer tub, the inner tub can rotate, and the outer tub can hold water; the water inlet pipe is provided with a water inlet valve, the water inlet valve is provided with a flow sensor, the flow sensor can detect the amount of water passing through the water inlet valve; the washing machine is also provided with a water level sensor, the water level sensor can detect the water level in the washing tub, so as to obtain the water storage in the washing machine. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific type of the washing machine, the washing machine can be a drum washing machine, a pulsator washing machine or a washing-drying machine, etc., and the change of such specific application objects does not deviate from the basic principle of the present invention and should belong to the protection scope of the present invention. At the same time, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure of the washing machine, and the technicians can set it according to the actual use requirements, as long as the washing machine can execute the water volume control method of the present invention. The washing machine also includes a controller, which can obtain the power-on status of the washing machine, and the controller can control the operation of the washing machine, for example, control the opening and closing status of the water inlet valve, control the operation program of the washing machine, etc.; and the controller can also obtain the detection data of the flow sensor, so that the controller can judge the water inlet status at the water inlet pipe through the detection data of the flow sensor, and the controller can also obtain the detection data of the water level sensor, so that the controller can obtain the water storage status in the washing machine through the water level sensor. Of course, the technician can select the specific types of the flow sensor and the water level sensor according to the actual use requirements, and these structural settings are not restrictive, and the technician can set the water volume detection structure according to the actual use requirements; for example, the washing machine can also be only provided with a flow sensor, or only provided with a water level sensor, and such adjustment of the specific structure does not deviate from the basic principle of the present invention and should belong to the protection scope of the present invention. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific structure and model of the controller, and the controller can be the original controller of the washing machine, or a controller separately set for executing the water volume control method of the present invention, and the technician can set the structure and model of the controller according to the actual use requirements.

First, refer to Figure 1, which is a flow chart of the main steps of the water volume control method of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, based on the structure of the washing machine described in the above preferred embodiment, the water volume control method of the present invention mainly includes the following steps:

S1: After the washing machine is powered off and restored, obtain the duration of the power outage in the washing machine;

S2: When the power outage duration does not exceed the preset power outage duration, obtain the current amount of water stored in the washing machine;

S3: Compare the current water storage volume with the preset water inflow volume;

S4: selectively supplying water to the washing machine based on a comparison result between the current water storage amount and the preset water intake amount.

Further, in step S1, when the controller determines that the washing machine is in a state of power failure recovery, the controller can obtain the duration of the current power failure of the washing machine; it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method for the controller to obtain the duration of the power failure, and the technician can set it according to the actual use requirements, as long as the controller can obtain the duration of the current power failure. After the controller obtains the duration of the current power failure, the controller can determine whether the water in the washing machine may have deteriorated according to the duration of the current power failure, so as to determine subsequent operations. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the technician can adjust the specific judgment method according to the actual use requirements, as long as the judgment method uses the duration of the current power failure as the basic parameter to determine whether the washing machine is drained, it falls within the protection scope of the present invention. Then, in step S2, when the duration of the power outage does not exceed the preset power outage duration, that is, when the water in the washing machine has not deteriorated, the controller can obtain the water level in the washing machine through the water level sensor, and then calculate the current amount of water stored in the washing machine through the water level. Of course, this method of obtaining the current amount of water stored is not restrictive, and technicians can set the specific acquisition method according to actual usage requirements. For example, the controller can also obtain the current amount of water stored in the washing machine by memorizing the detection data of the flow sensor. In other words, the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method of obtaining the current amount of water stored, and technicians can set it according to actual usage requirements, as long as the controller can obtain the current amount of water stored in the washing machine after the washing machine is restored from power failure.

Further, in step S3, the controller can compare the current water volume obtained with the preset water volume, so as to effectively determine the water inlet demand of the washing machine; it should be noted that the preset water volume can be the water volume set by the user, or the water volume automatically set by the controller according to the washing demand, and when there is no clothes in the washing machine, the preset water volume is zero. Then, in step S4, the controller can selectively add water to the washing machine according to the comparison result of the current water volume and the preset water volume; it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on its specific comparison method, and the technician can directly compare the two, or compare the ratio or difference between the two with the preset value, and the technician can set the specific corresponding relationship between different comparison results and whether to add water to the washing machine according to different comparison methods. The change of this specific corresponding relationship does not deviate from the basic principle of the present invention. As long as the comparison result of the current water volume and the preset water volume is used in the method to determine whether to add water to the washing machine, it should belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2 below, this figure is a flowchart of the specific steps of a preferred embodiment of the water volume control method of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, based on the structure of the washing machine described in the preferred embodiment above, the preferred embodiment of the water volume control method of the present invention specifically includes the following steps:

S101: After the washing machine is powered off and restored, obtain the power off duration of the washing machine;

S102: Determine whether the duration of the current power outage exceeds the preset power outage duration; if yes, execute step S103; if no, execute step S105;

S103: drain the water in the washing machine;

S104: enabling the washing machine to perform a dehydration operation;

S105: Obtain the current amount of water stored in the washing machine;

S106: Determine whether the current water storage volume is less than the preset water intake volume; if yes, execute step S108; if no, execute step S107;

S107: Do not add water to the washing machine, and make the washing machine directly perform a washing operation;

S108: Filling water into the washing machine until the amount of water in the washing machine reaches a preset water inflow amount;

S1081: Obtain the total water intake within a preset time period every preset time;

S1082: Determine whether the total water intake is less than the preset total water intake; if yes, execute step S1083; if no, execute step S1081;

S1083: The washing machine issues a reminder of abnormal water inflow.

Further, in step S101, when the controller determines that the washing machine is in a state of power failure recovery, the controller can obtain the duration of the current power failure of the washing machine; it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method for the controller to obtain the duration of the power failure, and the technician can set it according to the actual use requirements, as long as the controller can obtain the duration of the current power failure. Then, in step S102, the controller can determine whether the duration of the current power failure exceeds the preset power failure duration, so as to effectively determine whether the water in the washing machine may have deteriorated, so as to selectively drain the water in the washing machine according to the water quality of the water in the washing machine. It can be understood by those skilled in the art that the technician can adjust the specific judgment method according to the actual use requirements, as long as the judgment method uses the duration of the current power failure as the basic parameter to determine whether the washing machine is drained, it falls within the protection scope of the present invention. In addition, it should be noted that technicians can set the specific value of the preset power-off duration according to actual usage requirements; as a preferred setting method, technicians determine the preset power-off duration based on the operation being performed by the washing machine when the power is cut off and the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off. Since the operation being performed by the washing machine when the power is cut off and the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off will affect the deterioration rate of the water in the washing machine, technicians can determine the preset power-off duration with reference to the operation being performed by the washing machine when the power is cut off and the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off, so as to more accurately judge the water quality of the water in the washing machine; for example, the higher the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off, the shorter the preset power-off duration, and vice versa.

Furthermore, based on the judgment result of step S102, if the controller determines that the power-off duration of the washing machine has exceeded the preset power-off duration, the controller determines that the water in the washing machine has deteriorated and cannot be used any more. In this case, in order to effectively ensure the cleaning effect of the washing machine, the washing machine needs to drain the water and execute step S103, that is, the controller can control the drain valve of the washing machine to drain the water in the washing machine. In order to further ensure the cleaning effect, step S104 needs to be executed, that is, the controller can control the washing machine to perform a dehydration operation so that the washing machine can also drain the absorbed deteriorated water in the clothes. The technician can set the dehydration speed and dehydration time according to the actual use requirements. It should be noted that this setting is not restrictive, that is, the technician can also omit step S104.

Further, based on the judgment result of step S102, if the controller judges that the power-off duration of the washing machine does not exceed the preset power-off duration, the controller judges that the water in the washing machine has not deteriorated and can continue to be used. In this case, in order to save water resources and shorten the running time, step S105 is executed, that is, the controller can obtain the water level in the washing machine through the water level sensor, and then calculate the current water storage in the washing machine through the water level; of course, this method of obtaining the current water storage is not restrictive, and the technician can set the specific acquisition method according to the actual use requirements. For example, the controller can also obtain the current water storage in the washing machine by memorizing the detection data of the flow sensor. The present invention does not impose any restrictions on the specific method of obtaining the current water storage, and the technician can set it according to the actual use requirements, as long as the controller can obtain the current water storage in the washing machine after the washing machine is restored from power off. It should be noted that if the water in the washing machine has been drained, or the washing machine was not washing clothes before the power outage, the current water storage obtained at this time is zero.

Further, in step S106, the controller can determine whether the current water storage volume acquired this time is less than the preset water inlet volume, so as to determine whether the washing machine has a water inlet demand; it should be noted that the preset water inlet volume can be the water inlet volume set by the user, or it can be the water inlet volume automatically set by the controller according to the cleaning needs, and when there is no clothes in the washing machine, or when the washing machine was not washing clothes before the power outage, the preset water inlet volume is zero.

Based on the judgment result of step S106, if the controller judges that the current water storage volume obtained this time is greater than or equal to the preset water intake volume, it means that the washing machine does not need to perform the washing operation, or it means that the water storage in the washing machine is sufficient to meet the current washing operation, that is, the washing machine does not need to be filled with water again; in this case, step S107 is executed, that is, water is no longer added to the washing machine, and the controller controls the washing machine to directly perform the washing operation. It should be noted that the washing operation described here can be the washing operation set by the user this time, or it can be the washing operation being performed before the power outage, and the technician can set it according to the actual use needs.

After executing step S104, that is, when the water in the washing machine has been drained, the washing machine needs to be filled with water again; or, based on the judgment result of step S106, if the controller determines that the current water storage amount obtained this time is less than the preset water intake amount, it means that the water storage amount in the washing machine is insufficient to meet the needs of this washing operation, that is, the washing machine needs to be filled with water again; in these two cases, step S108 is executed, that is, the controller can control the action of the water inlet valve so as to fill water into the washing machine until the water amount in the washing machine reaches the preset water intake amount, and then the water inlet valve is closed.

Furthermore, in the process of executing step S108, that is, in the process of filling water into the washing machine, step S1081 is simultaneously executed, that is, the controller can obtain the total water intake within the preset time once through the flow sensor every preset time; it should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on the length of the preset time and the specific method in which the controller obtains the total water intake within the preset time, and the technician can set it according to actual use needs; as a preferred embodiment, in order to avoid misjudgment of the controller, the preset time is set to 5 minutes. After obtaining the total water intake within the preset time, step S1082 is executed, that is, the controller can determine whether the total water intake within the preset time obtained this time is less than the preset total water intake, so as to determine whether there is an abnormality in the water intake process. In addition, it should be noted that the technician can set the specific value of the preset total water intake according to the actual situation; preferably, the preset total water intake is set to 5L. Based on the judgment result of step S1082, if the controller determines that the total water intake within the preset time obtained this time is less than the preset total water intake, it means that the washing machine has abnormal water intake; in this case, step S1083 is executed, that is, the controller can enable the washing machine to issue a reminder of abnormal water intake. It should be noted that the present invention does not impose any restrictions on its specific reminder method. The washing machine can make voice reminders through its own voice broadcast device, or text reminders through its own display screen. The technician can set it according to actual use needs. At the same time, if the controller determines that the total water intake within the preset time obtained this time is greater than or equal to the preset total water intake, it means that the washing machine does not have abnormal water intake; in this case, step S1081 is continued to be executed, that is, the controller obtains the total water intake within the preset time once every preset time until the water intake is completed.

Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. When using the present invention in practice, those skilled in the art may appropriately add or delete some steps, or change the order of different steps as needed. Such changes do not exceed the basic principles of the present invention and belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

So far, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, but it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the protection scope of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (8)

1. A water volume control method for a washing machine, characterized in that the water volume control method comprises the following steps: After the washing machine is powered off and restored, obtaining the duration of the power off of the washing machine; When the power-off duration of the washing machine does not exceed the preset power-off duration, obtaining the current amount of water stored in the washing machine; Comparing the current water storage amount with the preset water intake amount; Filling water into the washing machine according to a comparison result between the current water storage amount and the preset water intake amount; The water volume control method further comprises: If the current power-off duration of the washing machine exceeds the preset power-off duration, water is added to the washing machine after the water in the washing machine is drained. 2. The water volume control method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of "filling water into the washing machine according to the comparison result between the current water volume and the preset water volume" comprises: If the current amount of water stored is less than the preset amount of water inflow, water is added to the washing machine until the amount of water in the washing machine reaches the preset amount of water inflow. 3. The water volume control method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step of "filling water into the washing machine according to the comparison result between the current water volume and the preset water volume" further comprises: If the current amount of stored water is greater than or equal to the preset amount of water intake, no water is added to the washing machine and the washing machine is made to directly perform a washing operation. 4. The water volume control method according to claim 2, characterized in that the water volume control method further comprises: In the process of filling water into the washing machine, obtaining the total amount of water filled within the preset time every preset time; Comparing the total water inflow within the preset time with the preset total water inflow; According to the comparison result of the total water intake within the preset time and the preset total water intake, the washing machine issues a reminder of abnormal water intake. 5. The water volume control method according to claim 4, characterized in that the step of "enabling the washing machine to issue a reminder of abnormal water inflow according to a comparison result between the total water inflow within the preset time and the preset total water inflow" specifically comprises: If the total water intake within the preset time is less than the preset total water intake, the washing machine is caused to issue a reminder of abnormal water intake. 6. The water volume control method according to claim 1, characterized in that the water volume control method further comprises: After draining water from the washing machine and before adding water into the washing machine, the washing machine is caused to perform a dehydration operation. 7. The water volume control method according to claim 1 is characterized in that the preset power-off duration is determined according to the operation being performed by the washing machine when the power is cut off and/or the water temperature in the washing machine when the power is cut off. 8. A washing machine, comprising a controller, wherein the controller is configured to execute the water volume control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.