A HEAT PUMP DISHWASHER

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a body; a tub; a drying pocket disposed at least one lateral wall of the tub, that is in thermal contact with the tub and that provides the condensation of the humid air inside the tub by being cooled in the drying step; a heat pump disposed inside the body, that provides the heating of the water to be used in the washing step and that has a first heat exchanger drawing heat from the ambient air, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle, and a drip tray disposed immediately under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising a body; a tub that is disposed inside the body and wherein the steps of washing, rinsing and drying are realized; a drying pocket that is disposed at least one lateral wall of the tub, that is in thermal contact with the tub and that provides the condensation of the humid air inside the tub by being cooled in the drying step; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body, that provides the heating of the water to be used in the washing step and that has a first heat exchanger drawing heat from the ambient air, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle, and a drip tray that is disposed immediately under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, characterized by a water duct that extends between the drying pocket and the drip tray, a pump that is disposed on the water duct and that enables the water in the drip tray to be delivered to the drying pocket, a hole that is arranged on the drying pocket and that opens into the tub and a control unit that enables the water collected in the drip tray to be delivered to the drying pocket, further providing the discharge of the water in the drying pocket into the tub by means of the hole by controlling the pump.

2. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by a channel wherein the water transferred from the pump is passed so as to cool the drying pocket, the channel being disposed on the drying pocket and having an inlet enabling the water delivered to the drying pocket to enter therein and an outlet fluidly connected to the hole.

3. A dishwasher as in claim 2, characterized by the channel that is disposed on at least one surface of the tub.

4. A dishwasher as in claim 3, characterized by the channel that is bent in serpentine form so as to cover at least one surface of the tub.

5. A dishwasher as in claim 3, characterized by the channel that surrounds the lateral surfaces of the tub all around.

6. A dishwasher as in claim 2, characterized by a first valve that is connected to the inlet and a second valve that is connected to the outlet and both controls the flow of the water in the channel.

7. A dishwasher as in claim 6, characterized by the control unit that keeps the first valve and the second valve closed, thus enables the water to be kept in the channel.

8. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by a circulation pump that is disposed on the channel and that enables the water in the channel to be circulated in the channel.

9. A dishwasher as in claim 1, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

10. A dishwasher as in claim 9, characterized by a fan that directs the humid air inside the tub towards the drying pocket so as to pass through the opening.

11. A dishwasher as in claim 4, characterized by the channel that surrounds the lateral surfaces of the tub all around.

12. A dishwasher as in claim 3, characterized by a first valve that is connected to the inlet and a second valve that is connected to the outlet and both controls the flow of the water in the channel.

13. A dishwasher as in claim 4, characterized by a first valve that is connected to the inlet and a second valve that is connected to the outlet and both controls the flow of the water in the channel.

14. A dishwasher as in claim 5, characterized by a first valve that is connected to the inlet and a second valve that is connected to the outlet and both controls the flow of the water in the channel.

15. A dishwasher as in claim 2, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

16. A dishwasher as in claim 3, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

17. A dishwasher as in claim 4, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

18. A dishwasher as in claim 5, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

19. A dishwasher as in claim 6, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

20. A dishwasher as in claim 7, characterized by an opening that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub and that opens into the drying pocket.

Description

[0018] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0019] FIG. 1—is the schematic view of a dishwasher.

[0020] FIG. 2—is the schematic view of the tub and the drying pocket related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3—is the schematic view of the tub lateral surface and the channel related to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

[0023] 1. Dishwasher

[0024] 2. Body

[0025] 3. Tub

[0026] 4. Drying pocket

[0027] 5. Heat pump

[0028] 6. First heat exchanger

[0029] 7. Second heat exchanger

[0030] 8. Compressor

[0031] 9. Drip tray

[0032] 10. Duct

[0033] 11. Pump

[0034] 12. Hole

[0035] 13. Control unit

[0036] 14. Channel

[0037] 15. Inlet

[0038] 16. Outlet

[0039] 17. First valve

[0040] 18. Second valve

[0041] 19. Circulation pump

[0042] 20. Opening

[0043] 21. Fan

[0044] The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2); a tub (3) that is disposed inside the body (2) and wherein the steps of washing, rinsing and drying are realized; a drying pocket (4) that is disposed at least one lateral wall of the tub (3), that is in thermal contact with the tub (3) and that provides the condensation of the humid air inside the tub (3) by being cooled in the drying step; a heat pump (5) that is disposed inside the body (2), that provides the heating of the water to be used in the washing step and that has a first heat exchanger (6) drawing heat from the ambient air, a second heat exchanger (7) transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger (6) to the wash water and a compressor (8) fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger (6) and the second heat exchanger (7), realizing the refrigerant cycle, and a drip tray (9) that is disposed immediately under the first heat exchanger (6), wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger (6) is collected.

[0045] In the dishwasher (1), the articles to be washed are placed into the tub (3) and washed to be cleaned in the tub (3). After the washing step, the drying pocket (4) is cooled, thus providing the condensation of the humid air inside the tub (3). Moreover, in the dishwasher (1), the refrigerant at low temperature is passed over the first heat exchanger (6) and heat is transferred from the environment to the first heat exchanger (6) the surface of which is cooled down. The first heat exchanger (6) transfers the heat received from the environment to the refrigerant. The heat drawn from the environment by the first heat exchanger (6) is transferred to the second heat exchanger (7). The second heat exchanger (7) transfer the heat drawn thereby to the wash water, thus enabling the heating of the wash water and this process is carried out by passing the water to be used in the washing step to be passed over the second heat exchanger (7) the surface of which heats up. At the same time, the ambient air condenses and leaves its moisture on the first heat exchanger (6) the surface of which is cool. The condensing water flows down to be collected in the drip tray (9) disposed immediately under the first heat exchanger (6).

[0046] The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a water duct (10) that extends between the drying pocket (4) and the drip tray (9) and that is connected to the upper surface of the drying pocket (4), a pump (11) that is disposed on the water duct (10) and that enables the water in the drip tray (9) to be delivered to the drying pocket (4), a hole (12) that is arranged on the drying pocket (4) and that opens into the tub (3) and a control unit (13) that enables the water collected in the drip tray (9) to be delivered to the drying pocket (4), further providing the discharge of the water in the drying pocket (4) into the tub (3) by means of the hole (12) by controlling the pump (11). Since the surface of the first heat exchanger (6) is cold during the heating of the wash water, the water collected in the drip tray (9) is also cold with respect to the environment. By controlling the pump (11), the control unit (13) enables the water, that must be discharged in order to prevent overflowing or formation of bad odors, to be delivered to the drying pocket (4) and the water flows over the drying pocket (4) and preferably passes through the hole (12) arranged at the base of the drying pocket (4) to be discharged to the tub (3). At this time, the water that is cooler than the environment draws heat from the drying pocket (4), thus enabling the cooling of the drying pocket (4). As the drying pocket (4) becomes cooler, the condensation efficiency of the humid air inside the tub (3) is improved. Thus, both the drip tray (9) is discharged and the efficiency of the drying step is increased.

[0047] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a channel (14) wherein the water transferred from the pump (11) is passed so as to cool the drying pocket (4), the channel (14) being disposed on the drying pocket (4) and having an inlet (15) enabling the water delivered to the drying pocket (4) to enter therein and an outlet (16) fluidly connected to the hole (12). The water transferred from the drip tray (9) is delivered to the channel (14) preferably positioned on the lateral surface of the drying pocket (4), thus the surfaces of the drying pocket (4) are cooled. By passing the water through the channel (14), the surface of the drying pocket (4) is cooled with the surface thereof not getting wet but remaining dry, thereby the time required for the drying pocket (4) surfaces to reach saturation is increased, improving the condensation efficiency.

[0048] In another embodiment of the present invention, the channel (14) is disposed on at least one surface of the tub (3) and the water delivered by the pump (11) is passed through the channel (14). By disposing the channel (14) on the lateral surface of the tub (3), the lateral surface of the tub (3) is cooled and the humid air, that cannot be transferred to the drying pocket (4) but remains in the tub (3), is enabled to condense inside the tub (3), on the lateral surface of the tub (3).

[0049] In another embodiment of the present invention, the channel (14) is bent in serpentine form so as to cover at least one surface of the tub (3). By means of this embodiment, the area covered by the channel (14) on the tub (3) is increased and the water delivered by the pump (11) is enabled to cool a larger area. Thus, the humid air inside the tub (3) is enabled to be more efficiently condensed in the drying step.

[0050] In another embodiment of the present invention, the channel (14) surrounds the lateral surfaces of the tub (3) all around. By means of this embodiment, in the drying step, by increasing the surface area on the tub (3) whereon the heat transfer is carried out, the condensation area is prevented from being saturated and decreasing the drying efficiency.

[0051] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a first valve (17) that is connected to the inlet (15) and a second valve (18) that is connected to the outlet (16) and both controls the flow of the water in the channel (14). When the first valve (17) and the second valve (18) are open, the water delivered into the channel (14) flows along the channel (14) to be discharged. When the second valve (18) is closed, the water delivered into the channel (14) is kept waiting in the channel before being discharged.

[0052] In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (13) keeps the first valve (17) and the second valve (18) closed, thus enables the water to be kept in the channel (14). After the pump (11) delivers the water in the drip tray (9) to the channel (14), the control unit (13) changes the first valve (17) and the second valve (18) to the closed position so that the water is kept waiting in the channel (14), thus by increasing the heat exchange duration of the water and the channel (14) surfaces, the channel (14) is enabled to be cooled in a more efficient manner.

[0053] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a circulation pump (19) that is disposed on the channel (14), that is fluidly connected to the channel (14) and that enables the water in the channel (14) to be circulated in the channel (14). The control unit (13) changes the first valve (17) and the second valve (18) to the closed position and the circulation pump (19) enables the water to be circulated in the channel (14). By means of this embodiment, even if a small amount of water is collected in the drip tray (9), the water collected is circulated in the channel (14), thus providing the cooling of all the surfaces of the channel (14).

[0054] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an opening (20) that is arranged on the lateral surface of the tub (3) and that opens into the drying pocket (4). The humid air inside the tub (3) enters the drying pocket (4) through the opening (20) and condenses on the drying pocket (4) cooled by the water in the drip tray (9).

[0055] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a fan (21) that directs the humid air inside the tub (3) towards the drying pocket (4) so as to pass through the opening (20). By directing the humid air inside the tub (3) to the drying pocket (4), an active drying process is carried out.

[0056] In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the water collected in the drip tray (9) is facilitated for cooling the drying pocket (4) so as to increase the drying efficiency before being discharged.