# US 10,309,049 B2 · Water purifying module self-cleaning method and washing machine using same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,049 B2 - Document ID: US10309049B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/570,146 - Filed: 2016-04-15 - Published: 2018-05-24 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-04-29 - Assignees: Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Zhilong Zhao; Haitao Hu; Huibin Yang; Xianfeng Fan; Haifeng Ren; Qingjun Zhang; Yunfeng He - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309049B2 ## CPC - A47L 15/0039: {Filter cleaning phases} - A47L 15/0049: {Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention (arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421)} - A47L 15/4208: {Arrangements to prevent clogging of the filters, e.g. self-cleaning} - D06F 33/43: Control of cleaning or disinfection of washing machine parts, e.g. of tubs - D06F 43/085: {Filtering arrangements; Filter cleaning; Filter-aid powder dispensers} - D06F 39/10: Filtering arrangements - D06F 2103/18: Washing liquid level - D06F 2103/42: related to filters or pumps - D06F 2105/02: Water supply - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES ## Abstract Disclosed are a water purifying module self-cleaning method and a washing machine using the method. The water purifying module self-cleaning method comprises: starting a water purifying module self-cleaning program to feed water into a washing machine to reach a preset level; and repeating a heating rinsing program and a clear water replacement rinsing program in sequence until detecting that the water purifying module is clean, wherein the heating rinsing program comprises a washing water heating step, a membrane rinsing step, a standing step and a membrane air washing step. The water purifying module self-cleaning method can peel off impurities, macromolecular particles and the like from the surface of a filter system (5) of a water purifying module, thus ensuring the water purifying effect of the water purifying module and effectively prolonging the service life of the water purifying module. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water purifying module self-cleaning method, comprising: starting a water purifying module self-cleaning program to feed water into a washing machine to reach a preset level; and repeating a heating rinsing program and a clear water replacement rinsing program until detecting that a water purifying module is clean, wherein the heating rinsing program comprises a washing water heating step, a membrane rinsing step, a standing step and a membrane air washing step. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, further comprises: starting the water purifying module self-cleaning program when a return flow rate of the water purifying module is detected to be less than a set value; and determining the water purifying module is clean when the return flow rate of the water purifying module is detected to return to a normal value. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the heating rinsing program comprises multiple heating rinsing processes, each heating rinsing process comprises the washing water heating step, the membrane rinsing step, the standing step and the membrane air washing step, and a water replenishing program is performed between every two adjacent heating rinsing processes; wherein the water replenishing program comprises a step of replenishing water into the washing machine until a water level reaches a set level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein a washing water draining program and a water feeding program are performed between the heating rinsing process and the clear water replacement rinsing program; wherein the washing water draining program comprises a step of draining washing water which is used in the heating rinsing program, and the water feeding program comprises a step of feeding water into the washing machine to reach a set level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, wherein the clear water replacement rinsing program comprises a washing water stirring step, the membrane rinsing step, the membrane air washing step and a washing water draining step. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 5, wherein a time of the membrane rinsing step is in a range of 5-10 seconds, a time of the standing step is in a range of 60-80 times that of the membrane rinsing step, a time of the membrane air washing step is in range of 24-30 times that of the membrane rinsing step, a time of the washing water stirring step is in a range of 24-30 times that of the membrane rinsing step, and a time of the membrane air washing step is in a range of 60-80 times that of the membrane rinsing step. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: Step S1: starting the water purifying module self-cleaning program; Step S2: feeding water to the preset level; Step S3: carrying out a heating rinsing program; Step S4: draining washing water; Step S5: feeding water to the preset level; Step S6: carrying out the clear water replacement rinsing program; and Step S7: repeating steps S2-S6 until a water flow of the water purifying module returns to normal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 7, wherein the step S3 comprises the following steps: Step S31: allowing the washing machine to carry out a washing program while heating rinsing water to a set temperature; Step S32: carrying out membrane rinsing; Step S33: standing still; Step S34: carrying out membrane air washing; Step S35: repeating steps S32-S34 at least five times; Step S36: allowing the washing machine to detect and determine whether a water level reaches the preset level; if the determination result is positive, switching on a main water inlet valve of the washing machine to replenish water to the preset level and then returning to the step S31; if the determination result is negative, returning to the step S31. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 1, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein a flow sensor is arranged on a pipeline between the filter system and the self-priming pump or on a pipeline between the self-priming pump and the washing barrel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 2, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on. ### Claim 12 (depends on 3) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 3, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 4, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 5, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) A washing machine using a water purifying module self-cleaning method according to claim 7, comprising a first head pump and a second head pump, wherein, the first head pump and the second head pump are respectively connected to a washing barrel and a water purifying module, the water purifying module comprises a filter system, an air pump, a self-priming pump and a sewage valve, and the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are respectively connected with the filter system; and in the membrane rinsing step, the first head pump and the sewage valve are switched on; in the standing step, the first head pump, the second head pump, the air pump, the self-priming pump and the sewage valve are all switched off; in the membrane air washing step, the second head pump, the air pump and the sewage valve are all switched on.