Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F33/00—Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers 
  • D06F33/30—Control of washing machines characterised by the purpose or target of the control 
  • D06F33/46—Control of the energy or water consumption
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/06—Recirculation of washing liquids, e.g. by pumps or diverting valves
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F2105/10—Temperature of washing liquids; Heating means therefor
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F34/00—Details of control systems for washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
  • D06F34/04—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements
  • D06F34/05—Signal transfer or data transmission arrangements for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control

Definitions

• the invention relates to a washing machine, which is designed for the treatment of hot water.
• Washing machine required energy is traded on energy exchanges at very different prices on a daily basis. Therefore, it is very likely that one
• Washing process for example, just started at such a time by a user, in which the energy costs for operating the washing machine are relatively high.
• a washing machine is designed for the treatment of hot water and has a water storage.
• This water reservoir for storing hot water is connected to an external water supply.
• the washing machine comprises a control and communication unit, which is designed to control a treatment process of hot water and to communicate with an external unit.
• the external unit is to provide information about energy costs, in particular to one via the Internet contactable energy exchange, designed for the operation of the washing machine.
• the control and communication unit of the washing machine is also designed such that the treatment process of hot water in the water storage can be activated depending on the information provided by the external unit information.
• the inventive washing machine can thus be carried out an effective and efficient treatment of hot water, which can be optimized in terms of the time of day different energy costs. Under a treatment of hot water, in particular, the heating of water contained in the reservoir or conveyed understood.
• control and communication unit is designed such that the treatment process of hot water can be activated independently of a washing process. It can thereby be achieved that the processing of hot water on the one hand and the performance of a washing process on the other hand can be carried out as separate operations which can be started individually.
• the control and communication unit may be formed as a single unit. However, it can also be provided that both a control unit and a communication unit are formed as separate units, which are connected to each other for the exchange of information and data. This connection can be wired or wireless.
• the control and communication unit thus makes it possible in a simple and low-effort manner to initiate and activate as well as to control a treatment process of hot water. This can be done independently of a user of the washing machine and be performed by the control and communication unit in an automatic manner at any time of day.
• the control and communication unit is advantageously designed such that the treatment process of hot water can be activated if the energy costs for energy purchased and purchased via an energy exchange are the lowest for the operation of the washing machine. It can thereby be achieved that, irrespective of a washing process to be carried out subsequently, the treatment of hot water can take place at any desired time of day if the energy costs are the most favorable. The costs for a washing process can thereby be significantly reduced.
• the control and communication unit is designed for communication via the Internet. This easily allows the steady possibility of retrieving information from the external unit and communicating "on-line" with that external unit.
• control and communication unit is programmable. Among other things, it can be determined or how much energy each should be called up from. It can also be provided that the control and communication unit is designed to control the water inlet into the water reservoir. It can be provided that either a certain volume of water, for example, a maximum amount of water is admitted into the water tank and heated to a predetermined temperature, or already and present filling the washing machine with laundry, determined in a known manner by a load measurement, and a set washing process is provided an optimal amount of water, heated and used.
• the control and communication unit can be designed for wireless or else wired communication with the external unit.
• LAN or WLAN (wireless local area network) communication networks can be provided here. In principle, however, all other suitable communication networks are possible.
• control and communication unit when the control and communication unit is not designed for Internet-enabled communication, an external control unit is provided in the house installation, which is electrically connected to the control and communication unit (wireless or wired), said external Control unit is then designed for communication with the external unit of the energy exchange. This communication takes place in particular via the Internet, the external control unit possibly also fulfilling a communication function for other associated household appliances. It can be provided that this external control unit is designed in the house installation for starting a treatment process for hot water. - A -
• the water storage on a heater and / or a temperature control device.
• the heating of the water in the water storage can be optimally performed and monitored.
• the water storage is thermally insulated. It can thereby be achieved that the water warmed up in the water storage by a treatment process can be stored and provided over a long period of time at a relatively high temperature. It is thereby made possible that, when a warming up of the water in the water storage is carried out in night-time, a correspondingly warm water for a washing process to be carried out is also available at the time of day.
• the hot water stored in the water storage is at least partially available in a subsequent washing process and can be conveyed into a drum of the washing machine. It may further be provided in the washing machine, a pumping system, which is designed for the return of water in a drum of the washing machine during a washing process.
• a pumping system which is designed for the return of water in a drum of the washing machine during a washing process.
• the program start is active for performing an individual washing process
• the preheated amount of water in the water reservoir can be pumped into the drum via an induction bowl of the washing machine and partial water volumes are briefly heated by the pump system again in the water reservoir in order to prevent cooling of the water during a long heating phase.
• the water tank can be designed as an additional separate water storage in the washing machine.
• washing machine according to the invention can be achieved that a
• Washing process can be performed with minimized energy costs, since a near-market energy supply can be carried out and exploited. About that In addition, a precise overview of the consumed energy can be achieved by means of a time-accurate energy billing.
• FIG. 1 shows a washing machine 1, which for
• Treatment of hot water is formed independently of a washing process.
• the washing machine 1 comprises actuating elements 11a and 11b, by means of which different washing programs can be set and a washing process can be started.
• actuators 1 1 a and / or 1 1 b can also be a filling process of a water reservoir 13 with water and / or a
• Processing process in particular a heating process, of the water in the
• Water tank 13 are started by a user of the washing machine 1 targeted.
• the washing machine 1 has a control and communication unit 12, which is formed in the embodiment as a single unit. It can also be provided that the washing machine 1 has both an internal control unit and a separate internal communication unit, which are designed to exchange information and data.
• the washing machine 1 the heat-insulated water tank 13, which is designed for storing hot water or heated water.
• the control and communication unit 12 for controlling a treatment process of hot water in the water tank 13 and for communication with an external unit 2 is formed.
• the communication between the control and communication unit 12 and the external unit 2 can be carried out wirelessly but also by wire.
• the communication between these two units 12 and 2 is characterized by the signal connection 2a.
• control and communication unit 12 is designed for communication via the Internet, so that the information provided by the external unit 2 can be retrieved online by the control and communication unit 12.
• the external unit 2 is designed to provide information about energy costs of an energy exchange.
• the washing machine 1 is connected to a water supply 3.
• an electrical signal connection 3a is formed between the control and communication unit 12 and a control unit (not shown) arranged in the water supply 3.
• the water supply 3 also has a mechanical connection 3b with the washing machine 1 and in particular with the water storage 13. This is realized, for example, by means of a flexible hose through which the water can flow.
• control and communication unit 12 continuously retrieves the information provided by the external unit 2 with regard to the energy costs.
• a treatment process for heating water in the water storage 13 is activated by the control and communication unit 12 when the energy costs on the energy exchange are lowest. This can be done at any time of day, whereby the activation of a treatment process by the control and communication unit can be automatically initiated at any time of the day.
• a signal is transmitted by the control and communication unit via the signal connection 3 a through which a valve (not shown) in the water supply 3 is opened and water can flow via the mechanical connection 3b from the water supply 3 into the water reservoir 13. It can be controlled by the control and communication unit 12, both the amount of water that should run into this water tank 13, as well as the time, how long a treatment process of the water contained in the water tank 13 should be. In an advantageous manner, threshold values are programmed into the control and communication unit 12 in order to be able to set these parameters accordingly.
• an energy cost threshold value is programmed by a user, in which case activation of a treatment process of hot water then takes place by the control and communication unit 12 when the information about the energy costs of the energy exchange provided via the external unit 2 calculates energy costs indicate which are smaller than or equal to this energy cost threshold.
• the time period for a treatment process of hot water as well as the amount to be filled into the water storage 13 can be programmed in a preparation process.
• a programming is carried out to the effect that a treatment process of hot water volume and time takes place until the energy costs on the energy exchange exceed the energy cost threshold again.
• a heating of the water located in the water tank 13 always maximum water only until such time as a predetermined temperature is reached.
• the water reservoir 13 has a heating device and a temperature control device (not shown).
• control and communication unit 12 can thus either a certain volume of water, which corresponds for example to a maximum amount of water required, are embedded in the water tank 13 and heated or already filled the water tank 13 and adjusted wash program by a load measurement an optimized amount of water for the washing process be used and heated up.
• the preheated and stored in the water tank 13 amount of water pumped via a dispenser, not shown in a drum of the washing machine 1, not shown, and to avoid cooling of the water during long heating phase, partial amounts of water through a pump system back into the water tank 13 are briefly pumped back and heated.
• the water tank 13 may also be formed as an additional extra water tank and thus quasi, for example, be arranged as a second or third water tank in the washing machine 1.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
• Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
• Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=37459991

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (20)

Families Citing this family (12)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2005
  • 2005-11-22 DE DE102005055648A patent/DE102005055648A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2006
  • 2006-10-11 WO PCT/EP2006/067282 patent/WO2007060059A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2006-10-11 US US12/085,414 patent/US20090272153A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-10-11 PL PL06807151T patent/PL1910602T3/pl unknown
  • 2006-10-11 AT AT06807151T patent/ATE553241T1/de active
  • 2006-10-11 EP EP06807151A patent/EP1910602B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-10-11 CN CN200680043505XA patent/CN101313101B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (5)

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