DISHWASHER AUTO HOT START AND DSM

• US 20120073603A1
• Filed: 09/27/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Graven, Erick Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/08 Other manual input
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/02 Water discharge, e.g. opening or closure of discharge valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/06 Water heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/11 Air heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/28 Machine starting, e.g. normal start, restart after electricity cut-off or start scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/34 Change machine operation from normal operational mode into special mode, e.g. service mode, resin regeneration mode, sterilizing mode, steam mode, odour eliminating mode or special cleaning mode to clean the hydraulic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/36 Other output
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/242 : Home appliances

Abstract

A dishwasher is provided comprising one or more power consuming functions and a controller in signal communication with an associated utility. The controller can receive and process a signal from the associated utility indicative of current cost of supplied energy. The controller operates the dishwasher in one of a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal. The controller is configured to change the power consuming functions by adjusting one or more of an operation schedule, an operation delay, an operation adjustment, and a selective deactivation of at least one of the one or more power consuming functions to reduce power consumption of the dishwasher in the energy savings mode. The controller may modify or disable the hot start feature either prior to a wash cycle, or at an early stage of the first prewash cycle, including if a consumer elects to override the prompted energy savings mode.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one power consuming feature including a hot start feature at the beginning of a wash cycle;

a controller adapted to receive and process a signal indicative of the current demand state of the utility supplying energy for the dishwasher, the controller being configured and arranged to provide a hot start operating feature at the beginning of a wash cycle, and to operate the dishwasher in one of a plurality of operating modes including at least a normal mode and an energy savings mode based on the received signal, the controller being further configured to modify the hot start feature in response to a signal representing a high demand state.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for monitoring a temperature of water in the dishwasher.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2 wherein the controller responsive to said sensor and configured to implement the hot start feature such that that fill water temperature as sensed by said sensor during a prewash cycle is drained if the sensed fill water temperature is below a predetermined temperature.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to modify the hot start feature if the signal is received before operation of the dishwasher begins.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4 wherein the controller is configured to modify the hot start feature in response to a homeowner inputting an override to the energy savings mode in a high demand state.

6. The dishwasher of claim 5 wherein the controller is configured to disable the hot start feature.

7. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to disable the hot start feature if the signal is received before operation of the dishwasher begins.

8. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to modify the hot start feature if the signal is received during an initial prewash cycle.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8 wherein the controller is configured to modify the hot start feature if a homeowner has input an override to the energy savings mode in a high demand state.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to disable the hot start feature if the signal is received during an initial prewash cycle.

11. A method of controlling a dishwasher comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of a peak demand period; and

modifying a hot start feature in response to a peak demand period signal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the modifying step includes disabling the hot start feature.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the modifying step is operative in response to a homeowner electing to override the peak demand period signal.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the modifying step includes reducing a target temperature of the hot start feature.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the modifying step is inoperative in the absence of a homeowner overriding the peak demand period signal.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the hot start feature modifying step is only responsive to receipt of the peak demand signal before the beginning of a wash cycle.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the hot start feature modifying step is responsive to receipt of the peak demand signal up to completion of the prewash cycle.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the modifying step includes establishing a lower target temperature for the hot start feature.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the hot start feature includes providing prewash water to the dishwasher and monitoring a temperature of the prewash water, and draining the prewash water from the dishwasher if the water temperature does not reach a target temperature.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the hot start feature includes repeatedly providing and draining prewash water a preselected number of times.