Water-using domestic appliance with a catalytically active interior surface and method for operating the same

• US 9,451,866 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Franco, Antonio Barrado, Hanau, Andreas, Schaub, Hartmut, Schepers, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): STELLING, LUCAS A
• Application Number:
  US14/347,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20140231363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/42 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4214 Water supply, recirculation or discharge arrangements; Devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4236 Arrangements to sterilize or disinfect dishes or washing liquids A47L15/4234 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/424 by using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4246 Details of the tub A47L15/4272 takes precedence; insulation arrangements A47L15/4209
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4276 Arrangements to detect or remove bad smells or odours
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4291 Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 2203/005 the liquid being ozonated
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/78 with ozone C02F1/4672 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/002 Grey water, e.g. from clothes washers, showers or dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/001 using ozone
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 35/008 for disinfecting the tub or the drum

Abstract

The invention relates to a water-using domestic appliance comprising a tub for accommodating articles to be cleaned and at least one interior surface containing a catalytically active substance, said catalytically active substance being a polyoxometalate and the interior surface being likely to come into contact with water during operation of the domestic appliance. The invention further relates to a method for operating said domestic appliance.

Claims

1. A water-bearing household appliance comprising:

a tub for accommodating articles to be cleaned, and

a greywater reservoir with at least one interior surface with a polyoxometalate that is embedded within or fixed to the interior surface, wherein the interior surface is configured to contact water during operation of the household appliance, and the water-bearing household appliance does not include a light source configured to irradiate the polyoxometalate.

2. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polyoxometalate is a tungstate.

3. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tungstate is titanium-modified.

4. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein polyoxometalate is also provided to contact with flowing or static water during operation of the household appliance.

5. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein polyoxometalate is also provided at a throughflow element of the household appliance which is mounted in the flow stream of water in the household appliance.

6. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein polyoxometalate is provided in a water feed system.

7. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the greywater reservoir comprises a circulating element and/or an air infeed element.

8. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the household appliance is a dishwasher or a laundry treatment device.

9. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 8, wherein the household appliance is a laundry treatment device belonging to the group consisting of a washing machine and a washer-dryer.

10. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the household appliance comprises an outer tub and/or a detergent dispenser tray having polyoxometalate.

11. The water-bearing household appliance as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an ozone generator configured to provide ozone that contacts the polyoxometalate.

12. A method for operating a water-bearing household appliance comprising:

providing a tub for accommodating articles to be cleaned;

providing a greywater reservoir with at least one catalytically active polyoxometalate embedded within or fixed to an interior surface,

contacting the interior surface with water during operation of the household appliance without exposing the interior surface to a light source, and

cleaning the water when the water is brought into contact with the interior surface.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising using oxygen as an oxidizing agent and air as a source of the oxygen.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein an air infeed element provides a sufficient quantity of oxygen in the water to be treated, in order to provide the most complete catalytic reaction possible.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein a peroxide or ozone is used as an oxidizing agent.