Washing machine filtration

Abstract

Provided are methods, apparatuses and washing machines that involve the filtration of microparticulate from liquid effluent of laundry apparatuses and systems. For example, steps involved in the inventive method may include: collecting the liquid effluent from the output of the outer tub of the washing machine; establishing a continuous high-pressure state to at least a portion of collected liquid effluent by a pumping device, based at least in part on a signal; and directing a threshold amount of high-pressure liquid effluent by a pumping device through a microparticulate filtration system, wherein the threshold amount is based at least in part on a first aspect of the pumping device and/or a microparticulate filtration system.

1 . A method for filtering microplastics from liquid effluent of a washing machine having an outer tub, the method compromising:
 collecting the liquid effluent from the output of the outer tub of the washing machine;   establishing a high-pressure state to at least a portion of collected liquid effluent by a pumping device, based at least in part on a pressure signal; and   directing an amount of high-pressure liquid effluent by a pumping device that includes at least one or two pumps having a centrifugal, electromechanical, and/or diaphragm construction through a microparticulate filtration system that is effective for filtration of microplastics, wherein the amount is based at least in part on a first aspect of the pumping device and/or a microparticulate filtration system the first aspect selected from pressure and/or flow rate of the device or system, thereby filtering microplastics from the liquid effluent of the washing machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous high-pressure state is at least about 3.2 psi. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous high-pressure state is no greater than about 40 psi. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the washing machine comprises the pumping device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pumping device is separate from the washing machine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collected liquid effluent is measured or detected by a sensor device in terms of volume of the liquid effluent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collected effluent is collected and is delayed in an accumulator device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a high-pressure state of liquid effluent is created by at least one pumping device having a centrifugal, electromechanical, or diaphragm construction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein microplastics from collected liquid effluent are separated and removed by the microparticulate filtration system. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein flow of the collected liquid effluent is regulated by a management system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising using a management system that directs collected liquid effluent from an accumulation device, raising the collected liquid effluent to a continuous high-pressure state, and directing the high-pressure pressure state liquid effluent through the microparticulate filtration system. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the collected liquid state fluid has a specific pressure or flow rate value is determined based at least in part on a second aspect of the pumping device that is different from the first aspect, optionally of a pumping system and/or the microparticulate filtration system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a sensor, the accumulator device, the pumping device, the microparticulate filtration system and the management system reside with the washing machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a sensor, the accumulator device which is optional, the pumping device, the microparticulate filtration system or the management system reside at least partially outside the washing machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an accumulation device is provided that includes an accumulator tank or the outer tub. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method involves storing at least a measured portion of the liquid effluent, while delaying the liquid effluent from leaving an accumulation device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collected liquid effluent is collected by-way-of a hose or other hollow transport device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein microplastics within the washing machine's liquid effluent discharge are collected and removed from the liquid effluent by a filtration system. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for filtering microplastics from liquid effluent of a washing machine having an outer tub, the apparatus comprising:
 a collector for collecting the liquid effluent from output of the washing machine's outer tub;   a device that establishes a high-pressure state to at least a portion of collected liquid effluent by at least one or two pumping devices, the pumping devices having a centrifugal, electromechanical, or diaphragm construction, based at least in part on a signal; and   a director that directs a amount of high-pressure liquid effluent by the pumping device or devices through a microparticulate filtration system that is effective for filtration of microplastics, wherein the amount is based at least in part on a first aspect of the pumping device or devices and/or microparticulate filtration system, the first aspect selected from pressure and/or flow rate of the device, devices or system.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the measured portion of liquid effluent is greater than approximately 250 cubic centimeters. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the measured portion of liquid effluent is less than approximately 2 liters. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the accumulation device is an accumulator tank or the outer tub. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a sensor device that measures presence, pressure or rate of flow based in at least in part on a quantity of the liquid effluent. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a sensor device measures presence, pressure or rate of flow based on an aspect of the pumping device and/or filtration system. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a sensor device measures an aspect of the threshold amount of liquid effluent within the accumulation device. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the apparatus includes an interstitial space located between an inner drum's bottom of the washing machine and an outer tub's bottom of the washing machine that is utilized for sensor detection placement to measure presence, pressure, or rate of flow in at least in part on a quantity of the liquid effluent. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a management device detects presence, pressure or rate of flow based on an aspect of the pumping device and/or filtration system. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein liquid effluent is released from an accumulation device to a pumping device. 
     
     
         30 . A washing machine having an outer tub, the washing machine comprising: a means for collecting liquid effluent as output from an outer tub of the washing machine, a means for establishing a high-pressure state to at least a portion of collected liquid effluent by a pumping device or devices, the pumping device or devices having a centrifugal, electromechanical, or diaphragm construction, based at least in part on a signal, and a means for directing a amount of high-pressure liquid effluent by pumping device or devices through a microparticulate filtration system that is effective for filtration of microplastics, wherein the amount is based at least in part on a first aspect of the pumping device and/or microparticulate filtration system, the first aspect selected from pressure and/or flow rate of the device, devices or system. 
     
     
         31 . The washing machine of  claim 30 , further comprising a means for raising pressure to a specific pressure value before invoking a means for directing, sometimes, at least a stored portion of the liquid effluent by a pumping device through the microparticulate filtration system. 
     
     
         32 . The washing machine of  claim 31 , further comprising a means to remove microplastics from effluent water of the washing machine, before transferring microplastic-free effluent water to a collection area or sewer connection site.