Dishmachine

• US 9,289,107 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellingson, Jeffrey Paul, Nelson, Wesley Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shahinian, Levon J
• Application Number:
  US13/712,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20140041695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0047 Energy or water consumption, e.g. by saving energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0057 Cleaning of machines parts, e.g. removal of deposits like lime scale or proteins from piping or tub
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/006 using wireless communication between internal components of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0063 using remote monitoring or controlling of the dishwasher operation, e.g. networking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0076 of non-domestic use type, e.g. commercial dishwashers for bars, hotels, restaurants, canteens or hospitals machines specially adapted for drinking glasses A47L15/0065; drawer-type dishwashers A47L15/0084; in-sink dishwashers A47L15/0086; miniature dishwashers A47L15/0089; conveyor-type dishwashers A47L15/24; machines with crockery cleaned by brushes A47L15/37
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0078 with a plurality of fluid recirculation arrangements, e.g. with separated washing liquid and rinsing liquid recirculation circuits
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0092 specially adapted to wash large items like pots, trays, baking trays, cooking grids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4202 Water filter means or strainers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4209 Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4214 Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4229 Water softening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4246 Details of the tub A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4251 Details of the casing insulation arrangements A47L15/4209; collecting leaked water in the casing for preventing water damage A47L15/4212
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4278 Nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4285 Water-heater arrangements steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4295 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the crockery or tableware, e.g. nature or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4297 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/483 : by using condensers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/488 : Connections of the tub with the ambient air, e.g. air intake or venting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/50 : Racks ; Baskets
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/501 : Baskets, e.g. for conveyor-type, in-sink type or hood-type machines
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/04 : Crockery or tableware details, e.g. material, quantity, condition
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/09 : Water level
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 : Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/11 : Water hardness, acidity or basicity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/20 : Time, e.g. elapsed operating time
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/22 : Number of operational cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 : Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 : Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• 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 2501/18 : Water softening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 : Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• 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: C02F 1/008 : Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/02 : by heating methods of steam generation F22B; preheating boiler feed-water or accumulating preheated boiler feed-water F22D
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/42 : by ion-exchange ion-exchange in general B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/441 : by reverse osmosis
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4691 : Capacitive deionisation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/002 : Grey water, e.g. from clothes washers, showers or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 : Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/055 : Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/12 : as part of household appliances such as dishwashers, laundry washing machines or vacuum cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/00 : Softening water; Preventing scale; Adding scale preventatives or scale removers to water, e.g. adding sequestering agents softening using ion-exchange C02F1/42
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/08 : Treatment of water with complexing chemicals or other solubilising agents for softening, scale prevention or scale removal, e.g. adding sequestering agents
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 : using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/02 : of the compression type
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 21/0014 : the heat being recuperated from waste air or from vapors for air conditioning F24F12/001

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dishmachine that includes one or more features directed to water, energy or material savings. The disclosed dishmachines are still capable of meeting the soil demands of the articles to be cleaned.

Claims

1. A dishmachine comprising:

an enclosure defining a wash chamber comprising at least one spray arm mounted therein and at least one spray nozzle on the spray arm, the enclosure further comprising a door and a vent; and

a heat recovery system comprising;

a. a first flow path in fluid communication with the wash chamber through the vent, wherein the first flow path comprises a first end and a second end and a drain, the first end positioned adjacent to the vent and the second end positioned opposite of the first end, wherein the drain is in fluid communication with the wash chamber and adapted to drain condensate from the first flow path into the wash chamber, and wherein the first flow path further comprises an exhaust port positioned at the second end, and wherein the exhaust port is in fluid communication with the wash chamber and with an exterior of the dishmachine when the door is in a closed position;

b. a second flow path extending between and in fluid communication with an external water source and the wash chamber;

c. a refrigerant-boosted heat exchanger circuit comprising a closed loop circuit filled with refrigerant fluid, the circuit comprising a first coil extending into the first flow path and constructed and arranged to absorb heat from fluid in the first flow path; and

a second coil extending into the second flow path and constructed and arranged to release heat into fluid in the second flow path,

wherein the heat recovery system has a heat exchange capacity that exceeds a heat load produced by the dishmachine.

2. The dishmachine of claim 1, the heat recovery system further comprising a fan constructed to draw air from the wash chamber into the first flow path.

3. The dishmachine of claim 1, further comprising a booster heater.

4. The dishmachine of claim 1, wherein the first flow path comprises an inlet port between the first flow path and an exterior of the dishmachine.

5. The dishmachine of claim 1, wherein the second flow path further comprises a tank external to the heat recovery system.

6. A dishmachine comprising:

an enclosure defining a wash chamber comprising at least one spray arm mounted therein and at least one spray nozzle on the spray arm, the enclosure further comprising a door and a vent; and

a heat recovery system comprising;

a. a first flow path in fluid communication with the wash chamber through the vent, wherein the first flow path comprises an exhaust port adapted to exhaust gases from the first flow path, and a drain in fluid communication with the wash chamber and adapted to drain condensate from the first flow path into the wash chamber;

b. a second flow path in fluid communication with the first flow path through the exhaust port of the first flow path, the second flow path comprising an exhaust port adapted to exhaust gases from the second flow path to outside of the dishmachine, and a drain in fluid communication with the wash chamber and adapted to drain condensate from the second flow path into the wash chamber;

c. a third flow path in fluid communication with an external water source and the wash chamber;

d. a first circuit comprising a heat exchanger coil extending into the first flow path and constructed and arranged to absorb heat from fluid in the first flow path, wherein the first circuit is in fluid communication with the external water source and the wash chamber;

e. a refrigerant-boosted circuit comprising a closed loop circuit filled with refrigerant fluid, the circuit comprising a first coil extending into the second flow path, constructed and arranged to absorb heat from fluid in the second flow path; and

a second coil extending into the third flow path, constructed and arranged to release heat into fluid in the third flow path.

7. The dishmachine of claim 6, wherein one or more of the first and second flow paths independently further comprises a fan.

8. The dishmachine of claim 6, wherein the first flow path comprises a fan adapted to draw air from outside of the wash chamber when the door is in a closed position.

9. The dishmachine of claim 6, further comprising a booster heater.

10. The dishmachine of claim 6, wherein the heat recovery system has a heat exchange capacity that exceeds a heat load drawn from the wash chamber.

11. A dishmachine of comprising:

an enclosure defining a wash chamber comprising at least one spray arm mounted therein and at least one spray nozzle on the spray arm, the enclosure further comprising a door and a vent; and

a heat recovery system comprising;

a. a first flow path in fluid communication with the wash chamber through the vent, wherein the first flow path comprises a drain in fluid communication with the wash chamber and adapted to drain condensate from the first flow path into the wash chamber, and a fan adapted to draw air from outside of the enclosure when the door is in a closed position;

b. a second flow path extending between and in fluid communication with an external water source and the wash chamber;

c. a refrigerant-boosted heat exchanger circuit comprising a closed loop circuit filled with refrigerant fluid, the circuit comprising a first coil extending into the first flow path and constructed and arranged to absorb heat from fluid in the first flow path; and

a second coil extending into the second flow path and constructed and arranged to release heat into fluid in the second flow path,

wherein the heat recovery system has a heat exchange capacity that exceeds a heat load produced by the dishmachine.

12. The dishmachine of claim 11, wherein the first flow path comprises a first end and a second end, the first end positioned adjacent to the vent and the second end positioned opposite of the first end, wherein the first flow path further comprises an exhaust port positioned at the second end, and wherein the exhaust port is in fluid communication with the wash chamber and with an exterior of the dishmachine when the door is in a closed position.

13. The dishmachine of claim 11, wherein the first flow path comprises an inlet port between the first flow path and an exterior of the dishmachine.

14. The dishmachine of claim 11, wherein the second flow path further comprises a tank external to the heat recovery system.