U.S. patent application number 15/349061 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-02 for household appliance and a controlling method for such a household appliance.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH Hausgerate GmbH. The applicant listed for this patent is Florian Brandstetter, Klaus-Martin Forst, Erwin Oberstaller. Invention is credited to Florian Brandstetter, Klaus-Martin Forst, Erwin Oberstaller.
Application Number | 20170055800 15/349061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47221188 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170055800 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brandstetter; Florian ; et
al. |
March 2, 2017 |
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE AND A CONTROLLING METHOD FOR SUCH A HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCE
Abstract
A household appliance includes a circulation pump for
circulating dishwashing liquid in a washing compartment of the
household appliance. A drain pump empties the dishwashing liquid
from the washing compartment. For the purposes of ventilating the
drain pump, a control device is provided to activate the drain pump
after the washing compartment has been filled with the dishwashing
liquid and before or during operation of the circulation pump.
Inventors: |
Brandstetter; Florian;
(Dillingen, DE) ; Forst; Klaus-Martin;
(Gundelfingen, DE) ; Oberstaller; Erwin;
(Buttenwiesen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Brandstetter; Florian
Forst; Klaus-Martin
Oberstaller; Erwin |
Dillingen
Gundelfingen
Buttenwiesen |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
BSH Hausgerate GmbH
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
47221188 |
Appl. No.: |
15/349061 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13329358 |
Dec 19, 2011 |
|
|
|
15349061 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 15/4206 20130101;
A47L 15/0031 20130101; A47L 2501/05 20130101; A47L 2401/20
20130101; A47L 15/0047 20130101; A47L 15/0049 20130101; A47L
15/4225 20130101; A47L 2401/06 20130101; A47L 15/0052 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/00 20060101
A47L015/00; A47L 15/42 20060101 A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2011 |
DE |
102011087168.3 |
Claims
1. A method of controlling a household appliance, comprising:
circulating dishwashing liquid in a washing compartment of the
household appliance using a circulation pump; emptying dishwashing
liquid from the washing compartment using a drain pump; and
activating the drain pump for ventilation thereof after the washing
compartment has been filled with dishwashing liquid and before or
during operation of the circulation pump.
2. The method of claim 1 for controlling a dishwasher.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: pumping
out of soiled dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment,
filling of the washing compartment with fresh dishwashing liquid,
activating the drain pump for ventilating the drain pump, and
activating the circulation pump.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the steps are executed
cyclically.
5. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory
computer-readable medium and configured to execute a method for
controlling a household appliance as set forth in claim 1 in a
program-controlled manner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Divisional, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.121,
of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/329,358, filed Dec. 19, 2011; this
application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119, of
German patent application No. 10 2011 087 168.3 filed Nov. 28,
2011.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a household appliance, for
example a dishwasher, and a controlling method for such a household
appliance.
[0003] A dishwasher has a circulation pump for recirculating
dishwashing liquid in the washing compartment of the dishwasher and
a drain pump for emptying soiled dishwashing liquid from the
washing compartment. Technically important aspects of the pumps
used are that they are quiet in operation and extremely
efficient.
[0004] The drain pump, which can also be called a discharge pump,
is connected to a pump well on the intake side. The drain pump also
has a chamber in which a pump wheel operates. In an upper region,
the pump chamber is connected with the pump well via a ventilation
opening. In this way, any gas collecting above a column of residual
liquid after the pump wheel has been switched off can escape via
the ventilation opening in the pump well so that the drain pump is
ventilated. As a result, the pump wheel plunges deeper into the
residual dishwashing liquid. Then, when it is switched on again,
the drain pump attains maximum efficiency in a relatively short
time and while operating quietly.
[0005] A water conducting appliance with a pump and a possibility
of ventilating this pump is described in DE 10 2009 002 224 A1. The
pump in the household appliance can convey liquid in a normal
operating mode. In addition, the pump can be ventilated using a
ventilation operating mode that can be activated before the normal
operating mode, during which at least part of a gas bubble can be
conveyed against the direction of conveyance and in normal
operating mode, from a pump chamber of the pump to an inlet for
liquids of the pump.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Against this background, one object of the present invention
is to create means of ventilation for a drain pump of a household
appliance.
[0007] According to the invention, a household appliance,
specifically a dishwasher, is proposed, which has a circulation
pump for recirculating dishwashing liquid in a washing compartment
of the household appliance, a drain pump for emptying the
dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment and a controlling
means. For the purposes of ventilating the drain pump, the
controlling means is configured to activate the drain pump after
the washing compartment has been filled with the dishwashing liquid
and before or during operation of the circulation pump.
[0008] During this process the chamber of the drain pump, in
particular, is ventilated by the drain pump's activation according
to the invention.
[0009] An advantage of the present invention is the fact that the
ventilation of the drain pump is brought forward, and is carried
out before any dirt accumulates, so the ventilation process can
function reliably.
[0010] This prevents dirt from accumulating in sufficient amounts
to prevent the said gas bubble in the chamber of the drain pump
from being carried away before reuse of the drain pump. As a
result, the occurrence of such a fault in the pumping-out process
can be reliably prevented. Such a fault in the pumping-out process
could cause the appliance to be overfilled, which could lead to
water escaping via the edge of the skirt. However, such a fault in
the pumping-out process is prevented if the chamber of the drain
pump is almost completely ventilated by a short stroke of the pump
as soon as it is filled and before activation of the circulation
pump, as described above, as at this point no significant dirt
removal can have taken place and no significant dirt load can be
present before reuse. Activation of the drain pump is thus
optimized in that water loss is minimized or prevented altogether.
In addition, the probability of occurrence of the fault in the
pumping-out process is reduced. Furthermore, the efficiency of the
pumping-out process is maximized from the moment pumping out
starts.
[0011] Reliable operation of the drain pump, including when there
is a high accumulation of dirt, can be assured by the ventilation
process according to the invention, without the possible
disadvantages of higher water consumption having to be taken into
account.
[0012] The drain pump can also be called a discharge pump. Also,
the circulation pump can be called a heat pump.
[0013] According to one embodiment, for the purposes of ventilating
the drain pump, the controlling means is configured to activate the
drain pump for a defined length of time of between 2 and 5 seconds,
after the washing compartment has been filled with the dishwashing
liquid and before or during operation of the circulation pump. The
length of time is preferably between 2.5 and 3.5 seconds, for
example 3 seconds.
[0014] As a consequence, the drain pump is briefly activated in
such a way that although the length of time it is switched on is
sufficient to remove the air bubble from the chamber of the drain
pump, loss of water from the appliance is still minimized or
prevented. Tests carried out by the applicant have shown that an
activation time of between 2 and 5 seconds, and 3 seconds in
particular, is optimal for the pump stroke.
[0015] According to another embodiment, the controlling means is
configured to set the length of time during which the drain pump is
switched on after the washing compartment has been filled with the
dishwashing liquid and before or during operation of the
circulation pump on the basis of a predetermined conveying
characteristic of the drain pump.
[0016] For the purposes of ventilating the drain pump, the
controlling means selects the length of time the drain pump is to
be switched on specifically on the basis of the type of drain pump
used. The present invention can thus be used for many different
types of drain pump.
[0017] According to a further embodiment, for the purposes of
ventilating the drain pump, the controlling means is configured to
activate the drain pump after each filling of the washing
compartment with the dishwashing liquid and before or during
operation of the circulation pump.
[0018] By ventilating the drain pump after each filling of the
washing compartment with the dishwashing liquid the efficiency of
the present drain pump is maximized.
[0019] According to a further embodiment, for the purposes of
ventilating the drain pump, the controlling means is configured to
activate the drain pump between the filling of the washing
compartment with dishwashing liquid and activation of the
circulation pump.
[0020] According to a further embodiment, for the purposes of
ventilating the drain pump, the controlling means is configured to
activate the drain pump in such a way that dishwashing liquid is
pumped out of the washing compartment after the washing compartment
has been filled with dishwashing liquid and before or during
operation of the circulation pump.
[0021] The ventilation stage can thus be combined with the
pumping-out process in that, at the start of a corresponding stage,
a greater quantity of dishwashing liquid can be introduced into the
appliance, and dishwashing liquid corresponding to the quantity of
liquid required for the next stage can then be pumped out. In this
way, the drain pump is ventilated and any further dirt that
accumulates is removed from the drain pump as a result of a longer
activation time.
[0022] According to a further embodiment, for the purposes of
ventilating the drain pump, the controlling means is configured to
activate the drain pump after the washing compartment has been
filled with the dishwashing liquid and during operation of the
circulation pump.
[0023] In this way, the drain pump can be ventilated directly after
the filling process, including when in simultaneous operation with
the circulation pump. Also, the activations of the drain pump and
the circulation pump are coordinated with one another in a
noise-optimized manner.
[0024] According to a further embodiment, the controlling means is
configured to control the drain pump and the circulation pump.
[0025] According to a further embodiment, the controlling means is
implemented as part of the controller of the household
appliance.
[0026] The controlling means can be implemented in the hardware or
the software. When it is implemented in the hardware, the
controlling means can be configured as a device such as a computer,
a microprocessor or a feature, or as part of the controller of the
household appliance. When it is implemented in the software, the
controlling means can be configured as a computer program product,
a function, a routine, as part of a program code or as an
executable object.
[0027] Also proposed is a method of controlling a household
appliance, specifically a dishwasher, which comprises a circulation
pump for circulating dishwashing liquid in the washing compartment
of the household appliance and a drain pump for emptying the
dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment. In this method,
for the purposes of ventilating the drain pump, the drain pump is
activated after the washing compartment has been filled with the
dishwashing liquid and before or during operation of the
circulation pump.
[0028] In one embodiment, the method involves pumping the
dishwashing liquid out of the washing compartment, filling the
washing compartment with fresh dishwashing liquid, activating the
drain pump in order that it ventilates itself and then switching on
the circulation pump.
[0029] In another embodiment, the above sequence of steps is
executed cyclically.
[0030] In addition, a computer program product is proposed that
causes a method for controlling a household appliance to be
executed in a program-controlled feature.
[0031] The computer program product, for example a computer program
tool, can be provided or supplied as, for example, a storage medium
such as a memory card, a USB stick, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, or a
DVD, as well as in the form of a file that can be downloaded from a
server on a network. This can be on a communications network, for
example through the transfer of a corresponding file containing the
computer program product or computer program tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Other advantageous embodiments or aspects of the invention
are the subject of the subclaims and of the exemplary embodiments
of the invention described below. The invention is also described
in more detail below using preferred embodiments and with reference
to the attached figures, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary
embodiment of a dishwasher;
[0034] FIG. 2 shows an execution diagram of a first exemplary
embodiment of a method of controlling a dishwasher;
[0035] FIG. 3 shows an execution diagram of a second exemplary
embodiment of a method of controlling a dishwasher, and
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a second exemplary
embodiment of a dishwasher.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0037] In the figures, reference signs that are the same denote the
same or similar components unless otherwise indicated.
[0038] FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a first exemplary
embodiment of a dishwasher 10.
[0039] The dishwasher 10 has a circulation pump 13 and a drain pump
19. The circulation pump 13 can be used to circulate dishwashing
liquid in the washing compartment 1 (see FIG. 4) of the dishwasher
10. The drain pump 19 can be used to empty the dishwashing liquid
from the washing compartment 1. For the purposes of ventilating the
drain pump 19, the controlling means 23 is configured to activate
the drain pump 19 after the washing compartment 1 has been filled
with the dishwashing liquid 1 and before or during operation of the
circulation pump 13. This means that the controlling means 23
controls the drain pump 19 in such a way that it is ventilated; it
is activated after the washing compartment 1 has been filled and
before or during activation of the circulation pump 13.
[0040] To this end, the controlling means 23 controls the drain
pump 19 by means of a first control signal S1 and the circulation
pump 13 by means of a second control signal S2.
[0041] For the purposes of ventilating the drain pump 19, the
controlling means 23 activates it for a defined length of time of
between 2 and 5 seconds. Specifically, this length of time is
between 2.5 and 3 seconds. The length of time can be determined by
the controlling means 23 on the basis of the drain pump 19 used,
and particularly on the basis of the conveying characteristic of
the drain pump 19.
[0042] In addition, the drain pump 19 is ventilated through being
activated by the controlling means 23 after each filling of the
washing compartment 1 with dishwashing liquid. For example, the
controlling means 23 can also activate the drain pump 19 in such a
way that, for the purposes of ventilating the drain pump 19,
dishwashing liquid is pumped out of the washing compartment 1 after
the washing compartment 1 has been filled with the dishwashing
liquid and before or during operation of the circulation pump 13.
For example, if, at the stage when the washing compartment 1 is
being filled with dishwashing liquid, more dishwashing liquid is
introduced than is necessary for the washing process, then, for the
purposes of ventilation, a smaller amount of the dishwashing liquid
can be pumped out. For example, at the filling stage, four liters
of dishwashing liquid are introduced when the quantity of
dishwashing liquid required is three liters and one liter is pumped
out again at the ventilation stage.
[0043] Alternatively, or in addition, ventilation of the drain pump
19 can be triggered by the controlling means 23 during operation of
the circulation pump 13.
[0044] The controlling means 23 can also be implemented as part of
the controller of the household appliance.
[0045] FIG. 2 is an execution diagram of a first exemplary
embodiment of a method of controlling a dishwasher 10.
[0046] In step 201, a dishwasher 10 is provided that has at least
one circulation pump 13 for circulating dishwashing liquid in the
washing compartment 1 of the dishwasher 10 and a drain pump 19 for
emptying dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment 1 (see
FIGS. 1 and 4).
[0047] In step 202, for the purposes of ventilating the drain pump
19, the latter is activated after the washing compartment 1 has
been filled with dishwashing liquid and before or during operation
of the circulation pump 13.
[0048] FIG. 3 is an execution diagram of a second exemplary
embodiment of a method of controlling dishwasher 10.
[0049] In step 301, the soiled dishwashing liquid remaining in the
washing compartment 1 is pumped out.
[0050] In step 302, washing compartment 1 is filled with fresh
dishwashing liquid.
[0051] In step 303, the drain pump 19 is activated in such a way
that it is ventilated.
[0052] In step 304, the circulation pump 13 is activated in order
that the dishwashing liquid circulates in the washing compartment 1
for the purpose of washing the items introduced into the dishwasher
to be washed. After the wash cycle has ended, and thus after the
circulation pump 13 has been deactivated, the process starts again
with process step 301. It is therefore preferable for steps 301,
302, 303 and 304 to be executed cyclically.
[0053] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment
of a dishwasher 10.
[0054] The dishwasher 10 has a washing compartment 1 in which items
to be washed (not shown) can be arranged in baskets 3, 5. In the
washing compartment 1 shown, for example, two spray arms 7, 9
arranged at different spraying levels are provided as examples of
sprayers with which dishwashing liquid is applied to the items to
be washed. In the floor of the washing compartment is a pump well
11 with a corresponding circulation pump 13 that connects the flow
of dishwashing liquid to the spray arms 7, 9 via liquid lines 14,
15, 16.
[0055] In addition, the pump well 11 is connected to a fresh water
inlet pipe 17 that is connected to the external water supply, as
well as to an outlet pipe 18, to which the drain pump 19 for
pumping out soiled dishwashing liquid from the washing compartment
1 is connected. Also, a non-return valve 27 is fitted downstream
from the discharge pump 19. Downstream from the non-return valve 27
is a siphon section 29 in the waste pipe, with converging vertical
sections of pipe, so that a liquid column of a predefined height
creates liquid pressure in the reverse-biased direction to the
non-return valve 27.
[0056] A filter system for cleaning the dishwashing liquid that
circulates within the hydraulic circuit is provided in the pump
well 11. The filter system has a two-dimensional, funnel shaped
fine mesh filter 21 that sits on the upper side of the pump well 11
and a hollow, cylindrical, well-shaped coarse meshed filter 22 that
sits in the middle of the pump well 11.
[0057] During a wash cycle of the dishwasher 10 the operation of
the pumps 13, 19 and of other appliance components not shown here
is controlled by the controlling means 23. A wash cycle can have
individual program stages in which liquid may or may not be used,
such as Pre-rinse, Wash, Intermediate Rinse, Rinse and Dry.
[0058] Between two successive program stages in which liquid is
used, for example between Pre-rinse and Wash, the dishwashing
liquid is changed. When the dishwashing liquid is changed the
soiled dishwashing liquid that is no longer needed is drained from
the washing compartment 1 into the external drainage network by
activation of the drain pump 19. In addition to this, fresh water
is fed into the pump well via the fresh water inlet pipe.
[0059] The drain pump 19 can be activated during the wash cycle
before a change of liquid that takes place after the execution of
an individual program stage, such a Pre-rinse, and before the start
of the program stage that follows it, for example Wash. A gas
bubble trapped in the pump chamber could increase the length of
time before the drain pump 19 operates at maximum efficiency. The
gas bubble is therefore displaced from the pump chamber by means of
the ventilation process described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
The ventilation of the drain pump 19 takes place directly after the
washing compartment 1 is filled with dishwashing liquid and before
activation of the circulation pump 13.
[0060] Although the present invention has been described using
exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.
* * * * *