ES2351100T3 - PROCEDURE FOR OPERATING A WASHING MACHINE OR A WASHER-DRYER OR AN ELECTRIC HEATING ENVIRONMENT IN A WASHER OR A WASHER-DRYER AS WELL AS WASHER OR WASHER-DRYER AND WARMING MEDIA. - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves receiving a liquid (7) which is to be heated in a container, and a heater (4) is switched on. An electrical power (POWER) is supplied with a value and the temperature (TH) of the heater or a heat conductor (9) is detected over a pre-determined time. The temperature rise value is determined and the two values are provided for the supply of the electric power. The value for the electric power for the heat conductor is selected in dependence of the determined temperature rise value, with which the operation of the heater is continued.

Description

Procedure to operate a washing machine or a washer dryer or a heating medium electric in a washer or washer dryer as well as washer or washer-dryer and a half of heating.

The invention relates to a method for run a washing machine or a washer-dryer, with a heating medium electric, a container to house liquid to be heated, the heating means comprising at least one element of heating with at least one thermal conductor, a sensor temperature and a control means to provide a power Electrical for the thermal conductor, with the stages of:

d) introduce the liquid into the container,

a) turn on the heating element, to provide an electric power with a first value,

b) detect the temperature of the element of heating or thermal conductor for a while predetermined,

c) determine the increase value of temperature.

The invention further relates to a washing machine or a washer dryer with a control means for The performance of the procedure. The invention further relates to a procedure for operating the heating medium as well as a heating medium for the realization of process.

It is known from the state of the art to use, for heating the treatment medium, in particular the cleaning liquid, bleach, etc. in household appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers or the like, elements of tubular heating that are mounted in the form of rods heating or heating coils in the chamber of cleaning. To avoid overheating of the element heating is known from DE 42 44 553 C2 interrupt, with the help of temperature sensing means, the power supply to the heating element, when an increased temperature is detected in the element of heating. 2 sensors are used for this, detecting one the temperature of the heating element and another sensor the water temperature.

From DE 197 40 169 A1 a known procedure for operating a heating medium. To this the temperature rise is also detected by sensors, emitting based on the rate of increase a signal for temperature regulation. When the speed is exceeded default increase the desired value of the temperature of the control unit if the value is exceeded of increase, so on the one hand overheating is avoided, but on the other hand the process itself is affected. For one washing machine this solution is disadvantageous, since there is a risk of that in case of a reduction of the desired value the default bleach temperature. This is especially disadvantageous when for example for hygienic reasons you must maintain a predetermined bleach temperature without fail example of 95 ° C for a predetermined time.

From EP 0 380 369 A1 a known procedure to operate a kettle or a coffee maker. In this regard the temperature rise of the heating element for a predetermined time, and in concrete directly after switching on the element of heating. If the temperature rises too fast, it starts in this respect an inadmissible state. When a state is detected Inadmissible is interrupted or stops operation.

From EP 0 859 304 A1 it is known regulate the heating medium with a regulation interval predetermined. In this regard, the sum of the heating times, turning off the medium of heating after a sum of heating time is reached default maximum This way you can always contribute the same energy to clothes.

From DE 10 2004 003 952 A1 it is known a washing machine with a tub and a washing drum mounted so rotating in it, in which for the heating of the liquid A flat heating element is provided for washing. Market Stall than surface performance (heating power by surface) is very high in flat heating elements, limestone sediments may occur on the surface after a long running time Sediments lead to a reduced thermal transmission to the liquid, so that the element of flat heating gets too hot and may fail before weather.

From EP 1 507 031 A1 a known washing machine that has a means to generate steam. In this respect is provided a container for the liquid to be evaporated, in the The liquid is heated with a heating element. TO through ducts and nozzles the steam is carried inside the treatment chamber or inside the drum.

The objective of the present invention is provide an improved procedure to operate a washer or washer dryer with a medium of heating, as well as to operate a means of heating and improve the reliability of a household appliance or a heating medium for a household appliance.

The objective is solved by procedure for operating a heating medium electric in a washer or washer dryer with the characteristics of claim 1. The objective is also solves by means of heating with the characteristics of claim 5 as well as by means of a washer or washer dryer with the characteristics of claim 8 or 9. In the claims Dependents in each case indicated realizations or preferred improvements.

According to the invention it is provided that for provide the electrical power at least a first is used value and a second value, being selected based on the value of temperature rise determined the value for power electrical for the thermal conductor, with which the operation of the heating medium.

The essential advantage of the procedure according to the invention is that it is not necessary to interrupt the operation of heating and thus a wash or treatment cycle when, due to dirt or calcification, a thermal accumulation in the thermal conductor. In an element of calcified heating reduces thermal transmission by washing liquid, so the thermal conductor can overheating, if it is always operated with the value of original power Therefore the operation of heating with a modified heating power, with that damage is avoided due to overheating.

To do this, in case of an increase in temperature, which is greater than the default limit value, the heating medium is operated in the cycle of directly subsequent heating for a while default with the first power value or a value of increased power The electrical power is fed to the element heating before the liquid enters the container, so that limited overheating is achieved of the heating element. By overheating it get a detachment of calcification or layer superimposed of the heating element. Also through a deformation of the heating element, which may occur due to overheating, the shedding of the calcification. With the first power value, the element of heating is operated in the normal case, that is, when There is no calcification too large.

In this respect it is convenient that time default for power supply Increased is in the range of 5 to 15 seconds. The limitation of overheating at this time still does not take in the heating element or thermal conductor to damage or to a wear early. The increased value corresponds about 1.5 to 2 times the power with respect to first expected value for heating operation normal. To provide this brief overheating is not it is necessary to provide special constructive measures with respect to cable cross sections for power lines or cross sections or other constructive measures for the thermal conductor. This time also depends on the sensitivity of protection against overheating, being possible in a less sensitive protection also overheating times more long, for example up to 30 seconds.

In an advantageous improvement, the introduction of the liquid into the container is done after or during the power supply and during the overheating of the heating element. In this way the superheated heating element cools sharply to come into contact with the liquid, so it is improved additionally the shedding of calcifications or dirt.

To carry out the procedure it is proposed a heating means comprising at least one element of heating with at least one thermal conductor, a sensor temperature and a means of control. The control medium provides the electrical power for the thermal conductor, depending on the procedural steps to be performed in each case.

In a convenient embodiment, use a heating element as a heating element flat, which on the opposite side of the liquid has at least one conductor thermal and temperature sensor for the detection of temperature thermal conductor or heating element. This provides a compact heating element and easy to use In this respect it is advantageous that the sensor temperature comprises a measuring loop that covers the conductor thermal at least by zones. The measuring loop extends to this respect for an area of the heating element, in which it is placed the thermal conductor, so it can be monitored almost the entire thermal conductor, so that reliability and reliability are improved measurement accuracy. They are also detected or at least they have taken into account by the measuring loop partial areas of the driver thermal with increased temperatures, caused by calcifications partial.

To solve the objective it is also proposed a washer or washer dryer that has a apparatus control, a tank and a heating medium for the heating of the washing liquid that is in the tank. He heating medium comprises at least one heating body with at least one thermal conductor, a temperature sensor and a control means for performing the procedure described for provide an electric power for the thermal conductor.

To solve the objective it is also proposed a washer or a washer-dryer with a medium to generate steam. The means for generating steam comprises a means heating to heat the liquid to be evaporated, the heating means comprising at least one element of heating with at least one thermal conductor, a sensor temperature and a means of control. The control is planned for performing the described procedure to provide a electrical power for the thermal conductor.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented in the drawings merely schematically and Describe below in more detail. They show:

Figure 1: a washing machine in a representation in schematic section;

Figure 2: An enlarged representation of a partial area of the flat heating element in the view from the outside of the container;

Figure 3: a representation in section schematic of the flat heating element;

Figure 4: a diagram of the developments of temperature in the normal case;

Figure 5: a diagram of the developments of temperature in case of overheating and

Figures 6, 7: diagrams with developments of temperature corrected.

In figure 1 it is represented, in a purely schematic representation, as home appliance of water conduction a washing machine with a tank 2. Inside the tank 2 is arranged a drum 3 rotatably mounted to accommodate the clothes to be cleaned or treated. The drum 3 is manufactured in the present embodiment from stainless steel and is provided with a plurality of openings for the flow passage, which is not explicitly represented. In the lower area of the tank is introduced the liquid 7 that is needed for cleaning or the treatment of clothes. For heating or heating of liquid 7 is arranged in the lower part of the tank an element 4 heating. In this embodiment a flat heating element 4 in an opening in the wall of the container, whose surface 8 (figure 3) is in contact with the inner space of the container 2 and with the liquid 7 introduced into the same. The heating element 4 or the thermal conductors heat generators are fed by the control means 5 and monitoring This means that the electric power is fed to the heating element 4 by the control means 5 and monitoring The connection means 10 for the thermal conductor 9 (figure 3) is connected or in contact with the conduit 11 of feeding, the conduit 11 of power supply and connection means 10 usually for currents high, to provide sufficient POWER electric power (Figures 4 to 7). The temperature sensor 12 is connected through the sensor conduit 14 with the control means 5, the provision of power fed as a function of temperature detected by sensor 12. The control means 5 is in contact with device control 6 so that they can be taken into account default values that belong to the wash or cycle program adjusted in each case. For example, they are selected or adjusted wash programs or wash temperatures through a control 15 of manipulation, in this case a rotary selector switch.

The flat heating element, as it is schematically depicted in figure 2, has on its opposite side to the liquid, which in the operating position of the washing machine is the lower side, a thermal conductor 9 that is placed on the multi-shaped surface S. The thermal conductor 9 can be placed on the surface alternately or in combination (not represented) for example in helical form or in the form of meanders The ends of the thermal conductor 9 are in contact with the connection means 10 providing the electrical connection for the supply line 11 having at least two wires (Figure 1). The temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature of heating element 4. In one embodiment preferred a measuring loop 13 is used which extends to almost completely along the surface of element 4 of heating and covering the thermal conductor 9 on the side opposite the heating element 4. With this measure the temperature of thermal conductor 9 even for quite a region large, so that erroneous measurements are avoided.

In figure 3, which represents the cut A-A of the heating element, are represented in the heating element on the side directed to the interior space from the vessel the sediments 16 caused by calcification or dirt. These sediments 16 reduce thermal transmission and thermal flow 17 from the surface 8 of the heating element towards washing liquid 7. The thermal conductor 9 placed in the bottom side of heating element 4 now can no longer emit heat that could emit in the normal case without sediment to the heating element or to the washing liquid. So there is now the irrigation of a thermal accumulation and a thermal conductor overheating. Measuring loop 13 exceeds in height the individual turns of the thermal conductor 9 and is connected in this example with the sensor 12 that provides the value of temperature detected to the control means 5 (figure 1).

In figure 4 it is drawn so schematic the development of temperature TH for the element of heating and TL for the heated liquid over time for normal operation, that is, without sediment significant in heating element 4 (figure 1, figure 3). From the moment t = 1, all the electrical power is fed POWER, in this example 2 KW, to heating element 4 or to thermal conductor 9. The thermal conductor 9 is heated from this moment constantly to heat the liquid to the value Default TLV The liquid is heated at time t = 6 until the upper limit value TLV, for example 80 ° C, which is less than the THV upper limit value, for example 105 ° C, of element 4 of heating. At time t = 6 the heating element 4 is turn off, so that the temperature TH of the heating element and the liquid temperature TL decreases slightly. From t = 7 the heating comes back on with full power, for which causes an increase in the temperature TH of the element of heating and temperature TL of the liquid. Through this On and off the heating is maintained almost exact the default TLV temperature value for liquid 7 by device control.

Figure 5 shows how element 4 heating heats up more, with the same limit value TLOV for the liquid, when the thermal transmission to the liquid 7 (figure 3) is disturbed, for example by calcifications or others sediments 16 (figure 3). The temperature of the element of TH heating exceeds the maximum permissible THV value of for example 105 ° C and reaches the THExt temperature range too high. In this respect the temperature rises to a maximum value of approximately 140 ° C, when the liquid temperature TL reaches the same predetermined limit value TLV = 80 ° C. In this case the value limit is only reached at time t = 7, so that the shutdown of POWER power takes place somewhat later than in the normal case In case of longer operation, the overheating achieved can often lead to wear ahead of time and to a damage of the thermal conductor 9, of the element 4 heating or adjacent components, for example of the wall 2a of the container (figure 1).

To avoid lasting overheating of the heating element 4 (figure 1 or 3) or thermal conductor 9 (Figure 2 or 3), the temperature rise is evaluated at the beginning of a heating cycle To do this it turns on, as is schematically drawn in the diagram of figure 6, in the moment t = 1 the heating element 4 and all the POWER power, in this case 2 KW, to thermal conductor 9. The TH temperature of the heating element increases further until the end of measurement period t = 3 than in the normal case without affecting to thermal transmission. So that heating element 4 does not not even to the superheated state is reduced from moment t = 3 the power POWER fed, reducing in this example the power simply in half, for example from 2 KW to 1 KW The increase in temperature TH of the heating element and of the liquid temperature TL now slows down, so that the TLV default limit value, for example 80 ° C, only reached at the time t = 10, that is, much later than in the normal case or in the event that overheating is assumed. With the slowed heating of heating element 4 is it does not exceed the upper limit value for the THV temperature of the heating element, for example 105 ° C. He regulated operation, in which the power is turned off and on again power powered to maintain the desired temperature or predetermined upper limit temperature for TLV liquid, start now from the moment t = 10, that is, much later than in the normal case.

Figure 7 shows a Advantageous improvement of the invention by way of diagram. In this diagram are schematically drawn three cycles of heating, cycle 1, cycle 2, cycle 3, which take place successive In this regard it does not matter that between the cycles of heating other procedural steps for the clothing treatment In addition time indications only They claim to be symbolic and may require in each case Different real times. Time indications are not related in this regard to the indications of time in Figures 4 to 6. The first heating cycle, cycle 1, begins at the moment t = 1 with the water inlet or water inlet liquid in container 2. At time t = 2 container 2 has received the predetermined amount of washing liquid 7, so that the water inlet ends (Water off) and the middle 4 of heating turns on (POWER). At the time t = 4 the First heating cycle, cycle 1, without any transmission reduced thermal has affected the course of the first cycle, cycle one.

From the moment t = 5 the second one starts heating cycle, cycle 2. In this cycle it is determined after ignition of heating element 4 at time t = 6 which a reduced thermal transmission takes place from the element 4 of heating to the liquid 7. The entry of water took place in this cycle from moment t = 5 to moment t = 6. The broadcast Reduced thermal is detected and stored, for example in the control 6 of apparatus (figure 1), and is taken into account for the following heating cycle, cycle 3. It can also be seen that the POWER power is fed for longer to item 4 of heating, since reduced thermal transmission retards the liquid heating 7.

At the moment t = 10 the cycle of modified heating, cycle 3, which does not start with the entry of liquid, but with the ignition of the heating element 4. TO in this regard the power heating element 4 is fed POWER until now t = 11, making it work in dry and assuming overheating. After this warm up in dry, the liquid in container 2 is introduced at time t = 11 and thus also on the surface of element 4 of heating (Water on), so that element 4 of heating cools sharply. By cooling sudden and rapid evaporation give off calcifications and other unwanted adhesions 16 on the surface 8 of the element 4 heating and thus are eliminated at least in part. The following heating cycles can be performed again in the normal operation, as the transmission has improved again thermal

Claims (9)

1. Procedure to operate a washer (1) or a washer-dryer, with a medium electric heating, a container (2) to house liquid (7) to be heated, including the heating medium at least one heating element (4) with at least one conductor (9) thermal, a temperature sensor (12) and a control means (5) to provide an electric power (POWER) for the driver (9) thermal, with the stages of: d) introduce the liquid (7) into the container (2), a) turn on the heating element (4), providing an electric power (POWER) with a first value, b) detect the temperature (TH) of the element (4) heating or thermal conductor (9) for a while predetermined, c) determine the increase value of temperature, characterized in that at least a first value and a second value are provided to provide the electric power (POWER), the value for the electric power (POWER) for the thermal conductor (9) being selected based on the temperature increase value determined with the that the operation of the heating medium (4) is continued, by operating in case of the temperature increase value, which is greater than a predetermined limit value, the heating medium in a directly subsequent heating cycle (cycle 3) during a predetermined time with the first power value or an increased power value, before the liquid (7) is introduced into the container (2), whereby a limited overheating of the heating element (4) is achieved. 2. Method for operating a washer (1) or a washer-dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined time for the overheating of the heating element (4) is in the range of from 5 to 15 seconds. 3. Method for operating a washer (1) or a washer-dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the increased power value corresponds to approximately 1.5 to 2 times the power with respect to the first power value. Method for operating a washer (1) or a washer-dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the introduction of the liquid (7) into the container (4) takes place after or during the feeding of the electric power (POWER) and during overheating of the heating element. 5. Heating medium for a washing machine (1) or a washer-dryer, for heating washing liquid (7) or treatment liquid, comprising the heating medium at least one heating element (4) with at least one thermal conductor (9), a temperature sensor (12) and a control means (5), the control means (5) being provided for performing the procedure according to one of the claims 1 to 4 to provide electric power (POWER) for the thermal conductor (9). 6. Heating medium according to claim 5, characterized in that a flat heating element (4) is used as the heating element, which has at least one thermal conductor (9) and the sensor (12) on the opposite side of the liquid. of temperature to detect the temperature (TH) of the thermal conductor (9) or of the heating element (4). 7. Heating medium according to claim 6, characterized in that the temperature sensor (12) comprises a measuring loop (13) that covers the thermal conductor (9) at least by zones. 8. Washing machine (1) or washer dryer with a bowl (2) and a medium of heating according to one of claims 5 to 7 for heating the washing liquid (7) housed in the tank, the means comprising of heating at least one heating element (4) with at minus a thermal conductor (9), a temperature sensor (12) and a control (6) of apparatus and / or control means (5), being provided the control means (5) for carrying out the procedure according to one of claims 1 to 4 to provide the power electrical (POWER) for the thermal conductor (9). 9. Washing machine (1) or washer-dryer with a means to generate steam and a heating medium according to one of claims 5 to 7 to heat the liquid to be evaporated, the medium comprising of heating at least one heating element (4) with at minus a thermal conductor (9), a temperature sensor (12) and a control (6) of apparatus and / or control means (5), being provided the control means (5) for carrying out the procedure according to one of claims 1 to 4 to provide the power electrical (POWER) for the thermal conductor (9).