Water-conducting domestic appliance comprising an expansion opening

• US 8,484,999 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Egbert, Jerg, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): KO, JASON Y
• Application Number:
  US12/311,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20100043852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: 68/17.R, 134/56.D
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4445 Detachable devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4472 Blister packaging or refill cartridges

Abstract

A water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher, the water-conducting domestic appliance including a washing compartment for receiving items therein that are to be subjected to a handling process by the water-conducting domestic appliance; and a detergent dosing system, the detergent dosing system having a detergent dispenser, the detergent dispenser being configured to receive at least one cartridge that is configured to hold a dosing agent, the detergent dosing system being configured to communicate the washing compartment and an area surrounding the water-conducting domestic appliance with one another in the manner of an expansion opening via which a fluid under pressure in the washing compartment can be released to the area surrounding the water-conducting domestic appliance.

Claims

1. A water-conducting domestic appliance, comprising:

a washing compartment to receive items to be washed by the water-conducting domestic appliance; and

a detergent dosing system arranged in an interior wall of the water-conducting domestic appliance, having each of a detergent dispenser with a receiving space configured to receive at least one removable cartridge containing at least a first detergent, and a chamber that is separate from the receiving space;

wherein

the detergent dispenser is configured to dispense the at least a first detergent to an interior of the water-conducting domestic appliance during a wash operation; and

the chamber that is separate from the receiving space;

(i) is configured to hold and dispense a second detergent through a second detergent outlet to an interior of the water-conducting domestic appliance during a wash operation, and

(ii) includes an expansion opening to release excess pressure in the washing compartment through the second detergent outlet to the surrounding of the water-conducting domestic appliance when a door of the water-conducting domestic appliance is in a closed position.

2. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the detergent dosing system connects to a conduit system for the release of excess pressure in the washing compartment to the surrounding of the water-conducting domestic appliance.

3. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the detergent dosing system includes at least one opening facing the washing compartment.

4. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 3 wherein the second detergent is a solid detergent and the at least one opening opens into the at least one chamber.

5. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 4 wherein the chamber that is separate from the receiving space is open.

6. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the detergent dosing system is disposed between an upper basket and a lower basket.

7. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the detergent dispenser comprises at least one receiving compartment for the at least one removable cartridge.

8. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the first detergent is one of a liquid and a gel.

9. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 4 further comprising a device that detects a filling of the chamber that is separate from the receiving space with the solid detergent and sends a signal indicating this status to a controller of the water-conducting domestic appliance.

10. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 4 further comprising a selector switch, wherein the water-conducting domestic appliance is configured for user selection, via the selector switch, of whether the first detergent or the second detergent is added to the washing compartment.

11. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1 wherein the detergent dosing system has at least one outlet to the washing compartment through which a predetermined amount of at least one of the first and second detergent is supplied to the washing compartment during a washing cycle.

12. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 11 wherein the at least one outlet is formed at a lower part of a housing section of the detergent dispenser so that the first detergent agent is gravity-fed to the washing compartment.

13. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 11 wherein the at least one outlet opens into a dosing chamber.

14. The water-conducting domestic appliance according to claim 1, further comprising at least one feeding device by means of which the first detergent agent is fed from the at least one removable cartridge.

15. The water-conducting domestic appliance of claim 1, wherein the water-conducting domestic appliance is a domestic dishwasher.

16. A detergent dosing system for a washing compartment of a water-conducting domestic appliance, the detergent dosing system comprising:

a detergent dispenser arranged inside of a water-conducting domestic appliance and configured to dispense, from a removable cartridge inserted into a receiving space in the water-conducting domestic appliance, at least a first detergent to an interior of the water-conducting domestic appliance during a wash operation; and

a chamber that is separate from the receiving space;

wherein

the chamber that is separate from the receiving space;

(i) is configured to hold and dispense a second detergent through a second detergent outlet to an interior of the water-conducting domestic appliance during a wash operation, and,

(ii) includes an expansion opening to release excess pressure in the washing compartment through the second detergent outlet to a surrounding of the water-conducting domestic appliance when a door of the water-conducting domestic appliance is in a closed position.