U.S. patent application number 12/995673 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-14 for method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH. Invention is credited to Michael Georg Rosenbauer.
Application Number | 20110083699 12/995673 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41268171 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110083699 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rosenbauer; Michael Georg |
April 14, 2011 |
METHOD FOR OPERATING A WATER-CONDUCTING DOMESTIC APPLIANCE
Abstract
A method for operating a dishwasher is provided. The method
includes heating a first amount of liquid in a first partial
program step; at least partially storing the heated first amount of
liquid in the interior of a liquid reservoir, wherein the heated
first amount of liquid is in heat-conducting contact with the
interior of a tub; circulating a second amount of liquid in a
second partial program step; and emptying the liquid reservoir when
the second partial program step has been completed.
Inventors: |
Rosenbauer; Michael Georg;
(Reimlingen, DE) |
Assignee: |
BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE
GMBH
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
41268171 |
Appl. No.: |
12/995673 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
June 18, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP09/57612 |
371 Date: |
December 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/18 ;
134/56D |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/0002 20130101;
Y02B 40/00 20130101; A47L 15/4291 20130101; A47L 2601/02 20130101;
A47L 15/0047 20130101; Y02B 40/44 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/18 ;
134/56.D |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 030 537.5 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A method for operation of a dishwasher, the method comprising:
heating a first amount of liquid in a first partial program step;
at least partially storing the heated first amount of liquid in the
interior of a liquid reservoir, wherein the heated first amount of
liquid is in heat-conducting contact with the interior of a tub;
circulating a second amount of liquid in a second partial program
step; and emptying the liquid reservoir when the second partial
program step has been completed.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the dishwasher is a household
dishwasher.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the circulated second amount of
liquid is heated at least at times in the second partial program
step.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the circulated second amount of
liquid is heated only to a temperature that is one of equal to and
below a temperature of the first amount of liquid stored in the
liquid reservoir.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the liquid reservoir and the
tub are emptied simultaneously.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein first the tub is emptied and
then the liquid reservoir is emptied.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the first partial program step
is a cleaning step and the second partial program step is a rinsing
step.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein a third partial program step is
provided between the first and second partial program steps without
heating at least one of the first and second amount of liquid.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the third partial program step
is an intermediate rinse step.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the first amount of liquid
stored in the liquid reservoir is used before at least one of the
first and second partial program step.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first partial program step
is a pre-rinse step without heating the first amount of liquid.
23. A dishwasher, comprising: a liquid reservoir; a tub; a heater
to heat a first amount of liquid in a first partial program step; a
storage to at least partially store the heated first amount of
liquid in the interior of the liquid reservoir, wherein the heated
first amount of liquid is in heat-conducting contact with the
interior of the tub; a circulator to circulate a second amount of
liquid in a second partial program step; and an emptying device to
empty the liquid reservoir when the second partial program step has
been completed.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a
water-conducting domestic appliance.
[0002] From DE 27 30 489 a household dishwasher is known, in which
for the cleaning of items to be washed a washing program having a
multiplicity of program steps is performed, which has at least two
partial program steps, during which washing liquor, for example
water mixed with detergent or rinse aid, is heated, where the
dishwasher has at least one tub for accommodating items to be
washed and a liquid reservoir in heat-conducting contact with the
tub. It here permits the liquid reservoir in thermal contact with
the tub to heat water, for example prior to its use in a washing
step. This can take place by means of a temperature difference
relative to the environment of the dishwasher and/or through the
waste heat of the washing liquor circulated in the treatment
compartment. An energy saving can thereby be achieved.
[0003] The object of the invention is to specify a method with
which the energy consumption can be further reduced.
[0004] The inventive method for operation of a dishwasher, in
particular a household dishwasher, has at least the following
steps: [0005] a first amount of liquid is heated in a partial
program step, [0006] the heated first amount of liquid is stored,
at least partially in heat-conducting contact with the interior of
a tub, in the interior of a liquid reservoir, [0007] in a further
partial program step a second amount of liquid is heated, and
[0008] emptying of the liquid reservoir, when the further partial
program step has been completed.
[0009] The inventive method thus allows regaining of the use of
heat energy of liquids, in particular of heated liquids, which is
otherwise lost upon being pumped out into a domestic wastewater
disposal system.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment it is provided for the circulated
amount of liquid to be heated at least for a time in the further
partial program step, so that temperatures can also be achieved
which could not be attained only through the use of recovered heat
energy. It can however also be provided for heating to be dispensed
with in the further partial program step, and instead to use
recovered heat energy to heat liquid.
[0011] It is here preferably provided for the circulated amount of
liquid only to be heated to a temperature equal to or below the
temperature of the liquid stored in the liquid reservoir, so that
no unnecessary energy need be applied to heat the liquid stored in
the liquid reservoir.
[0012] In a first, preferred embodiment, it is provided for the
liquid reservoir and the tub to be emptied simultaneously, while in
a second, alternative embodiment, it is provided for the tub to be
emptied first, followed then by the liquid reservoir.
[0013] The partial program steps preferably comprise at least one
cleaning step and one rinsing step, where during both partial
program steps liquids are heated in each case. During the cleaning
step, detergent is here added and the circulated liquid or washing
liquor heated to, for example, up to 65.degree. C. In the rinsing
step on the other hand, wetting agents are added, which are in
particular intended to ensure a smear-free drying process for the
items to be washed, where temperatures of for example 70.degree. C.
are reached in this step.
[0014] At least one third partial program step without the heating
of liquid can further preferably be provided for between the two
partial program steps. This can here preferably take the form of an
intermediate rinse step, which serves to remove residues of liquid
or washing liquor mixed with detergent remaining in the tub and the
pump system of the dishwasher, in order to ensure that detergent
residues and wetting agent added in the rinsing step do not have
mutually negative effects.
[0015] Finally it can preferably be provided for, that prior to a
partial program step, during which liquid is heated, one or more
pre-rinse steps without heating of liquid are provided, in which
liquid stored in the liquid reservoir is used. The pre-rinse serves
to remove heavy soiling from items to be washed.
[0016] The invention further includes a dishwasher, which is
embodied for execution of the inventive method.
[0017] The invention is explained below on the basis of a
drawing.
Wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a dishwasher for
execution of the inventive method:
[0019] The dishwasher 2 has a tub 6 to accommodate items to be
washed (not shown), which for example can be placed in extendably
mounted crockery baskets (not shown). In order for the items to be
washed to have liquid or washing liquor, that is water mixed with
detergent or rinse aid, applied to them, a spray arm 8 is provided
in the tub in the present exemplary embodiment. A multiplicity of
spray arms can however be provided. A circulation pump 10 is
provided to supply the spray arms 8 with washing liquor, which is
connected in a liquid-conducting manner with a sump arranged in the
base area of the tub 6, in which the washing liquor dripping off
the items to be washed is collected. A motor 12 is provided to
drive the circulation pump 10, which is connected to a control
device 14 of the dishwasher 2. A heating element (not shown) can be
provided to heat the circulated washing liquor.
[0020] A liquid reservoir 4 in heat-conducting contact with the tub
6 is provided, in which an amount of liquid can be temporarily
stored. A drainage line 24 is provided in the tub 6 for emptying
the liquid reservoir 4, which can be opened and closed by means of
a drain valve 18, where the drain valve 18 is connected with the
control device 14 via a control line 16.
[0021] Finally a return line 26 is provided, with which it is
possible to convey washing liquor from the tub 6 back into the
liquid reservoir 4. A return valve 20 is provided for the opening
and closing of the return line 26, which is likewise connected to
the control device 14 via a control line 18. Further valves can in
addition be provided, to block an inlet line to the spray arm 8 in
the tub 6, if washing liquor is to be conducted into the liquid
reservoir 4 through the return line 26 by means of the circulation
pump 10. A multi-way valve embodied as a water distributor can
further be used instead of individual valves, which for example has
a disk adjustable by means of a motor.
[0022] For the cleaning of items to be washed a washing program
comprising a multiplicity of program steps is run, which can for
example encompass the program steps pre-rinse, washing,
intermediate rinse step and final rinsing, plus drying. The water
or washing liquor, that is water mixed with detergent or rinse aid,
is here heated during at least two of these program steps, for
example during the washing and the rinsing step. A change of
washing liquor involving the circulated washing liquor takes place
between the partial program steps, that is after the conclusion of
a partial program step the dishwasher is once more filled with
liquid or water respectively.
[0023] A pre-rinse step can for example be performed, after an
amount of liquid has flowed into the tub 6 via conduit means (not
shown). The amount of liquid is circulated from the circulation
pump 10 after corresponding actuation of the motor 12 by means of
the control device 14, and fed to the spray arm 8.
[0024] After completion of the pre-rinse cycle, the amount of
liquid is directed through the return line 26 into the liquid
reservoir 4 after opening of the return valve 20, where a closed
drain valve 18 prevents the tub 4 being emptied once again.
[0025] Finally, for the cleaning step the tub 6 is filled with an
amount of liquid via conduit means (not shown), and the amount of
liquid circulated by means of the circulation pump 10 and
simultaneously heated.
[0026] After conclusion of the cleaning step the amount of liquid
can be conveyed from the tub 6 into the liquid reservoir 4 through
opening of return line 26 by means of actuation of the return valve
20.
[0027] In an intermediate rinse step the tub 6 is once more filled
with an amount of liquid and the liquid then circulated with the
circulation pump, without being heated. A heating takes place
solely through the heat transition from the liquid reservoir 4 into
the interior of the tub 6, as the liquid stored in the liquid
reservoir 6 has a higher temperature than prevails in the interior
of the tub 6. After completion of the intermediate rinse step, both
the tub 6 and the liquid reservoir 4 are emptied. This can take
place consecutively, starting with the tub 6, or
simultaneously.
[0028] Subsequently in a last step the tub 6 is once more filled
with an amount of liquid for execution of a rinsing step, and the
liquid then circulated with the circulation pump, while being
further heated.
[0029] After conclusion of the rinsing step, the tub 6 can be
emptied by means of a conduit means, which is not shown, which
allows liquid to be directed into a domestic wastewater disposal
system.
[0030] Provision can also be made, while the amount of liquid
present in the tub 6, that is water mixed with wetting agent or
rinse aid, is then routed into the empty liquid reservoir 4 through
the return line 26.
[0031] In the case of a renewed program start, the amount of liquid
temporarily stored in the liquid reservoir 4 is directed into the
tub 6 by opening of the drain valve, and used to perform a
pre-rinse step.
[0032] Notwithstanding the described program sequence, an energy
saving can also be achieved with the inventive method in the case
of modifications to the program sequence, in which during the
intermediate rinse and/or pre-rinse step a heating of the liquid or
washing liquor is also provided for, or in which the intermediate
rinse and or pre-rinse step are blanked out.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0033] 2 Dishwasher [0034] 4 Liquid reservoir [0035] 6 Tub [0036] 8
Spray arm [0037] 10 Circulation pump [0038] 12 Motor [0039] 14
Control device [0040] 16 Inlet valve [0041] 18 Drain valve [0042]
20 Return valve [0043] 22 Inlet line [0044] 24 Drainage line [0045]
26 Return line
* * * * *