EP1460926B1 - Device and method for collecting waste water in dishwashers - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and method for handling waste water to-be-discharged out of a dishwashing machine that includes a pump well and a sump section, with the sump section communicating with the pump well in the lower regions of the dishwashing machine through an inflow section. The device also contains a valve located in or operating with the inflow section that blocks the influx of waste water from the pump well into the sump section when the valve is closed. The valve allows the influx of waste water from the pump well into the sump section when the valve is opened.

Description

The present invention is a device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers with a sump and a subsequently arranged in the lower region of the well area, which is connected via an inflow section to the sump, and a method for collecting dirty water in a dishwasher.

From the DE 30 33 026 A1 a dishwashing machine for carrying out a method for removing food particles is known, wherein in the bottom region of a pump pot, a sump bottom is provided, which has in its lower region a trough region, which is connected via an inflow portion with the sump. By various structures on the sump wall of the sump bottom is to be achieved that a rotation of the therein located with food residues interspersed liquid is effected, with the result that according to physical laws, the firmer components, ie located in the waste water leftovers are moved to the rotation point. Finally, at the point of rotation, the inlet section from the sump is into the trough area, with the trough area being connected to a drainage pump. In order to promote faster to the bottom of the sump bottom opening of the intake of the drain pump during the circular flow of the rinsing liquid to the sump bottom sinking food particles, and to prevent stirring up the accumulated food particles there are, for example, axially, tangentially or spirally directed to the bottom bottom towards the bottom Guiding elements for the rinsing liquid provided.

A disadvantage has proved in this device that separate means (for example, pumps) must be provided for the introduction of the circular flow, as well as located in the sump, interspersed with food waste dirty water for cleaning must be completely emptied.

The US-A-4,848,382 shows a dishwasher with a bottom portion having two different drainage openings. One of them leads into a receiving space for particles detached from the dishes, the receiving space communicating with the washing container accommodating the dishes, and only at the end in a drying program section closing this connection by a valve and instead opening a second valve , via which the contents of the receiving room are to be pumped into the sewage network. The detached particles thus remain during the entire cleaning phase, in the wash ware is treated with wash liquor, in the water-bearing area. Only when the drying phase no longer subject to liquid is the connecting valve closed.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and a method for collecting dirty water in dishwashers of the type described above, which enables a reliable separation of waste water interspersed with food particles so as to substantially reduce the water consumption of dishwashers.

This object is achieved by a device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers with the features of claim 1 and by the inventive method for collecting dirty water in a dishwasher with the features of claim 5. Advantageous developments of the present invention are characterized in the subclaims.

With the inventive device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers, the average water consumption during a flushing process can be drastically reduced because only contaminated with food waste dirty water is led to the drain pump and disposed of, while the only slightly contaminated with food waste dirty water is fed to the circulation pump and again in the rinse cycle can flow back.

At the beginning of a washing program, the coarse and easily soluble food particles adhering to items to be washed are released via water jet effects and conveyed down into the sump. With the inventive device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers now sinking in the sump food leftovers are guided by a precise opening and closing a valve in a located below the sump tray area and disposed of there via a drain pump. The remaining in the sump waste water now has only smaller floating dirt particles that can be fed via the circulation pump again the rinsing process.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention for collecting dirty water in dishwashers arranged in the inflow section to the tub area valve is selectively controlled during the Umwälzvorganges, for example, only delayed detached dirt particles on dishes or cutlery, which have fallen to the bottom of the pump pot to move into the tub area below. Conveniently, a ventilation opening is provided in the tub area, which ensures a pressure equalization in the tub area, since with the valve closed, the recirculation or drain pump would rapidly generate a negative pressure in the tub area, both the efficiency of the pump and the materials used of the tub body, especially in aspiration of larger volumes of fluid could adversely affect.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the valve of the device according to the invention for collecting dirty water in dishwashers on the wash program is controllable, so that, for example, when operating a wash program for particularly soiled dishes loads a drop in the numerous food particles in the sump is waited or performed several times to suck these so collected food leftovers through the sluice-like constructed tub area.

According to the inventive method for collecting dirty water in dishwashers, in particular using a device according to the invention for collecting dirty water in dishwashers, the dirty water collects in a sump, which is connected to a subjacent trough area via a valve in an inflow section, and this valve opened or closed as needed to allow at least a subset of the dirty water to flow into the tub area, and at least this so collected subset of the dirty water is pumped through a lye or circulating pump, whereby the average water consumption during a flushing process can be drastically reduced because only the contaminated with food waste dirty water is led to the drain pump and disposed of, while the only slightly contaminated with food waste dirty water is led to the circulation pump and again in the flushing cycle can flow back.

With the present invention, it has been possible to provide a device and a method for collecting dirty water in dishwashers of the type described above, which allows a reliable separation of waste water interspersed with food waste so as to substantially reduce the water consumption of dishwashers.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to a drawing. The single FIGURE shows a schematic cross section through a pump pot and a trough area below it to which a circulation / drain pump is connected.

At the beginning of a washing program adhering to the items to be washed coarse and easily soluble food residue and in the progress of the wash program, of course, the more adherent food particles are dissolved over water jet effects. After dissolving the food particles adhering to the dishes, they sink due to gravity below and form a sump 6 in the sump 1. Depending on the amount of feed, the inflow section 5 fills at the bottom of the sump 1 accordingly with food residues. From a certain amount or depending on a predetermined time interval, the valve 3 is opened and remains open according to a predetermined time, which is set in the washing program, to the sump 6, in particular the sump 6 interspersed with food residues from the sump 1 into the tub area 2 transport. As soon as this sump 6 has been transported from the sump 1 into the sump area 2 through the inflow section 5, the valve 3 closes. The sump 6 located in the sump area 2 is pumped off via the pumping function (sump pump function) of the recirculation / sump pump 7. Now, the valve 3 can be opened again and only slightly contaminated with food waste water can be recycled by the circulating pump function of the circulation / drain pump 7 in the wash program. In order to avoid negative pressure situations in the trough area 2, the latter has a ventilation 4 which, in particular when extracting larger volumes of dirty water in the dirt area 2, ensures that both the circulation / drain pump 7 and the material of the trough area 2 are not unnecessarily loaded. Alternatively, instead of a combined circulation / drain pump 7, two separate pumps may be provided.

With the present invention, it has been possible to provide a device and a method for collecting dirty water in dishwashers of the type described above, which allows a reliable separation of waste water interspersed with food waste so as to substantially reduce the water consumption of dishwashers.

Claims (5)

1. Device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers, comprising a pump pot (1) and a trough region (2), which is arranged in the lower region thereof to adjoin and which is connected with the pump pot (1) by way of an inflow section (5), characterised in that the inflow of the dirty water from the pump pot (1) into the trough region (2) takes place through the inflow section (5) and is blockable by means of a valve (3), wherein the valve (3) after detaching and settling of the food residues, which adhere to the articles to be washed, by way of water jet effects is opened relative to a sump (6) in the pump pot (1), and remains open for a time fixed in the rinsing program in order to convey the sump (6), particularly the sump (6) infused with food residues, from the pump pot (1) into the trough region (2), and wherein after expiry of the time the valve (3) is closed and evacuated by way of an evacuating function (solution pumping function) of a circulating/solution pump (7) and the valve (3) is subsequently re-opened and dirty water burdened only slightly with food residues is returned by the circulating pumping function of the circulating/solution pump (7) to the rinsing program.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the trough region (2) has a ventilating opening (4) for pressure equalisation.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that a solution pump and/or a circulating pump (7) is or are connected with the trough region (2).
4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the valve (3) is controllable by way of the rinsing program.
5. Method of collecting dirty water in dishwashers, particularly with use of a device for collecting dirty water in dishwashers according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the dirty water is collected in a pump pot (1) which is connected with a trough region (2), which is arranged thereunder, by way of a valve (3) in a inflow section (5) and this valve (3) is opened or closed as required, so that the valve (3) after detaching and settling of the food residues, which adhere to the articles to be washed, by way of water jet effects as opened relative to a sump (6) in the pump pot (1), and remains open for a time fixed in the rinsing program in order to convey the sump (6), particularly the sump (6) infused with food residues, from the pump pot (1) into the trough region (2), and wherein after expiry of the time the valve (3) is closed andevacuated by way of an evacuating function (solution pumping function) of a circulating/solution pump (7) and the valve (3) is subsequently re-opened and dirty water burdened only slightly with food residues is returned by the circulating pumping function of the circulating/solution pump (7) to the rinsing program.

Images