Water-conducting domestic appliance and method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance

Abstract

A water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, includes a wash container for holding items being washed, a first container and a second container for holding water. A a thermal insulation is arranged between the first container and the wash container. The second container is arranged in thermal contact with the wash container. A decanting device is provided for transferring the water from the first container into the second container to dry the items being washed.

Claims

1. A water-conducting domestic appliance, comprising: a wash container for holding an item to be washed, the wash container having a base, a top, a rear wall, two side walls, and a loading opening closable by a door, with at least one of the two side walls being made of metal; first and second containers configured to hold water, said second container being made of metal; a thermal insulation arranged between the first container and the wash container; and a decanting device comprising a circulating pump disposed in a water conduit connecting the first container to the second container and constructed to transfer the water from the first container into the second container to dry the item in the wash container, wherein the second container is arranged in direct metal to metal surface contact with the at least one of the two side walls of the wash container, so as to be in thermal contact with the wash container.

2. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, constructed in the form of a dishwasher.

3. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the decanting device further comprises a valve.

4. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second containers has a part which is configured from a material with a specific thermal conductivity of at least 40 W/mK.

5. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 4, wherein the specific thermal conductivity of the part is at least 80 W/mK.

6. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 4, wherein the specific thermal conductivity of the part is at least 150 W/mK.

7. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of the first container and the second container has an internal structure that enlarges an inner surface of the member.

8. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container have a same volume.

9. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container have a volume in a region of 2.5-3.0 liters.

10. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the thermal insulation is configured as an air layer, a vacuum chamber, a fleece and/or a polymer foam layer.

11. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the thermal insulation has a coating for reflecting heat radiation.

12. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, further comprising a heat exchanging means arranged on the first container for exchange of heat with the surroundings.

13. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanging means is configured as a cooling element.

14. A water-conducting domestic appliance, comprising: a wash container for holding an item to be washed, the wash container having a base, a top, a rear wall, two side walls, and a loading opening closable by a door, with at least one of the two side walls being made of metal; first and second containers configured to hold water, said second container being made of metal; a thermal insulation arranged between the first container and the wash container; a decanting device constructed to transfer the water from the first container into the second container to dry the item in the wash container; and an aluminum plate disposed between the second container and the at least one of the two side walls of the wash container and configured to establish thermal contact between the second container and the wash container.

15. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, further comprising a blower configured to circulate air in the wash container.

16. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, further comprising a single warm water connection only, for supply of water.

17. A method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, said method comprising: filling a first container, which is insulated from a wash container for holding an item to be washed, with warm water, the wash container including at least one side wall formed of metal; cooling the water in the first container to ambient temperature; performing a wash cycle; and decanting the water, cooled to ambient temperature in the first container, from the first container into a second container which is made of metal and which is in direct metal to metal surface contact with the at least one side wall of the wash container, so as to be in thermal contact with the wash container, to dry the item in the wash container, wherein the decanting is performed by a circulating pump disposed in a water conduit connecting the first container to the second container.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one side wall of the wash container and the second container are made of stainless steel sheet.

19. A water-conducting domestic appliance, comprising: a wash container for holding an item to be washed, the wash container having a base, a top, a rear wall, two side walls, and a loading opening closable by a door, with at least one of the two side walls being made of metal; first and second containers configured to hold water, said second container being made of metal; a thermal insulation arranged between the first container and the wash container; and a decanting device constructed to transfer the water from the first container into the second container to dry the item in the wash container, wherein the second container is arranged in metal to metal surface contact with the at least one of the two side walls of the wash container, so as to be in thermal contact with the wash container, wherein the at least one of the two side walls of the wash container and the second container are made of stainless steel sheet, and wherein the stainless steel sheet of the at least one of the two side walls of the wash container and of the second container is thinner in a region of thermal contact as compared to other portions of the wash container and the second container.

20. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 14, further comprising a heat-conducting paste applied to the aluminum plate.

21. A water-conducting domestic appliance, comprising: a single warm water connection only, for supply of warm water; a wash container for holding an item to be washed; first and second containers configured to hold water, said second container being arranged in thermal contact with the wash container; a thermal insulation arranged between the first container and the wash container, the first container initially being filled with warm water from the single warm water connection, the warm water cooling to ambient temperature to provide cooled water prior to a start of a wash cycle; and a decanting device comprising a circulating pump and constructed to transfer the cooled water from the first container into the second container, wherein the first container and the second container are connected to one another by a water conduit with the circulating pump connected in between, with the circulating pump being configured to pump the cooled water out of the first container into the second container, such that on condition that the cooled water is pumped from the first container into the second container at an end of the wash cycle, said cooled water cools an inner face of the wash container by way of the thermal contact, and moisture from warm and moist air in the wash container then condenses on the cool inner face of the wash container to allow air in the wash container to absorb moisture again, thereby accelerating a drying cycle for the item in the wash container being washed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further advantageous configurations and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described in the following. The invention is described in more detail below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a domestic dishwasher;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic section through an exemplary embodiment of a water-conducting domestic appliance;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary diagram of a temperature profile of water in the first container; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) Unless otherwise specified, identical elements or those of identical function are shown with the same reference characters in the figures.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a domestic dishwasher 1 as an example of a water-conducting domestic appliance. The domestic dishwasher 1 comprises a wash container 2, which can be closed, in particular in a water-tight manner, by a door 3. To this end a sealing facility can be provided between the door and the wash container 2. The wash container 2 is preferably box-shaped. The wash container 2 can be arranged in a housing of the domestic dishwasher 1. The wash container 2 and door 3 can form a wash chamber 4 for washing items being washed.

(8) The door 3 is shown in its opened position in FIG. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. The door 3 can be used to close or open a loading opening 6 of the wash container 2. The wash container 2 has a base 7, a top 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The base 7, top 8, rear wall 9 and side walls 10, 11 can be made of stainless steel sheet for example. Alternatively the base 7 for example can be made of a plastic material.

(9) A first container 20 and a second container 30 are arranged on the side wall 11. Also arranged between the first container 20 and the side wall 11 is a thermal insulation layer 21, which in the present instance is configured as a 1 cm thick polyurethane layer. In contrast the second container 30 is arranged in thermal contact 31 with the side wall 11. To this end the second container 30 has a metal part, which is in surface contact with the side wall 11. The first container 20 is also connected to the second container 30 by way of a conduit, with a pump 40 connected in between. This conduit and the pump 40 allow water to be decanted from the first container 20 into the second container 30. The pump 40 is thus an example of a decanting device. When cold water is decanted from the first container 20 into the second container 30 at the end of a wash cycle, said water cools the inner face of the side wall 11 by way of the thermal contact 31. Moisture from the warm and moist air in the wash container 2 then condenses on the cool inner face. This allows the air to absorb moisture again, thereby accelerating a drying cycle for the items being washed.

(10) The domestic dishwasher 1 also has at least one holder 12 to 14 for items being washed. A number, for example three, of holders 12 to 14 for items being washed can preferably be provided, it being possible for the holder 12 for items being washed to be a lower holder or lower rack, the holder 13 for items being washed to be an upper holder or upper rack and the holder 14 for items being washed to be a flatware drawer. As also shown in FIG. 1, the holders 12 to 14 for items being washed are arranged one above the other in the wash container 2. Each holder 12 to 14 for items being washed can be moved as required into the wash container 2 or out of it. In particular each holder 12 to 14 for items being washed can be pushed into the wash container 2 in an insertion direction E and be pulled out of the wash container 2 counter to the insertion direction E in a removal direction A.

(11) FIG. 2 shows a schematic section through an exemplary embodiment of a water-conducting domestic appliance 1, only the essential details being shown in FIG. 2. The water-conducting domestic appliance 1 has a wash container 2, which in the present instance is made of stainless steel sheet. Arranged on the right side wall 11 of the wash container 2 is a first container 20, with a thermal insulation layer 21, in the present instance configured as a vacuum insulation plate, arranged between the side wall 11 and the first container 20. The first container 20 is also made of stainless steel sheet and has a volume of 3 l. Arranged on the outward-facing side of the first container 20 is a heat exchanger 22, in the present instance configured as an aluminum cooling element. This measure significantly accelerates a transfer of heat to the surroundings and warm or hot water in the first container 20 can cool more quickly.

(12) Arranged on the left side wall 10 of the wash container 2 is a second container 30, which is also made of stainless steel sheet and has a volume of 3 l. A thermal contact 31 is configured between the second container 30 and the side wall 10. In the present instance this is configured by a surface contact in the form of a thin aluminum plate. Provision can be made for the thermal contact 31 to be improved by applying a heat-conducting paste, for example containing a portion of silver. The heat-conducting paste equalizes any minor unevenness between the contacting surfaces. The stainless steel sheets of the wash container 2 and the second container 30 are also thinner in the region of the thermal contact 31 than the other parts, as stainless steel has a relatively low specific thermal conductivity. Arranged on the inner face of the second container 30 facing the thermal contact 31 in this exemplary embodiment is an internal structure 50 in the form of aluminum ribs, which improve the transfer of heat to the water in the second container 30.

(13) The first container 20 and the second container 30 are connected to one another by way of a conduit with a pump 40 connected in between. The pump 40 is designed to pump water out of the first container 20 into the second container 30. When cooled water is decanted from the first container 20 into the second container 30 at the end of a wash cycle, said water cools the inner face of the side wall 10 by way of the thermal contact 31. Moisture from the warm and moist air in the wash container 2 then condenses on the cool inner face. This allows the air to absorb moisture again, thereby accelerating a drying cycle for the items being washed.

(14) FIG. 3 shows an exemplary diagram of a temperature profile of water in the first container 20 (see FIG. 1, 2), said water having been introduced at time point t0 at a temperature of 60 C. The exchange of heat with the surroundings, here at a temperature of 20 C., causes the water to cool slowly. When the temperature difference is large, the cooling process is rapid at first and then loses speed. At time point t1 the water is roughly at the ambient temperature of 20 C.

(15) FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an exemplary method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance 1, for example the domestic dishwasher in FIG. 1. In the first step S1 the first container 20 (see FIG. 1 or FIG. 2) is filled with warm or hot water. In the second step S2 the warm water cools to ambient temperature (see FIG. 3 for example). In the third step S3 a wash cycle is started. As the first container 20 is thermally insulated from the wash container 2 by an insulation layer 21, the water therein remains cold. When the wash cycle reaches the drying step, in the fourth step S4 the cold water is pumped from the first container 20 by way of the pump 40 into the second container 30, which is in thermal contact 31 with a side wall 10, 11 of the wash container 2. The cold water absorbs heat, causing the inner face of the side wall 10, 11 to cool, with the result that moisture from the warm and moist air condenses on the inner face. The condensed moisture then runs down for example. The air is again able to absorb moisture from the still wet items being washed, thereby accelerating the drying of the items being washed.

(16) Although the present invention has been described based on exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many different ways. For example a temperature sensor can be provided in particular in the first container, to determine the water temperature. It can be decided on this basis whether the drying cycle is accelerated efficiently, as proposed. Circulating pumps can also be provided in the first container and/or the second container, in order to prevent the water mixing and thus heat insulation layers forming in the water.