Drying system for a dishwasher
View Patent ↗The present invention describes a drying system for a dishwasher having a washing tub ( 2 ). The drying system comprises: a first fan ( 3 ) for propelling a first air stream through the washing tub ( 2 ) to an air transporting space ( 9 ) situated in the dishwasher outside the washing tub ( 2 ), wherein the first air stream is propelled in such a way that humidity in the washing tub ( 2 ) is absorbed by the first air stream and propelled to the air transporting space ( 9 ); and a second fan ( 4 ) for propelling a second air stream received from an area outside the dishwasher to the air transporting space ( 9 ). The drying system is further arranged such that the first and the second air streams are mixed in the air transporting space ( 9 ), and in that the mixed air stream is propelled to an exhaust opening ( 10 ) leading out from the dishwasher. Thereby, an efficient drying process can be achieved wherein air leaving the dishwasher has an appropriate temperature and humidity.
1. A drying system for a dishwasher comprising a washing tub ( 2 ) and a pre-programmed electronic program controller, the drying system comprising:
a first fan ( 3 ) configured to propel a first air stream through the washing tub ( 2 ) to an air transporting space ( 9 ) situated in the dishwasher outside the washing tub ( 2 ) such that the first air stream absorbs humidity in the washing tub ( 2 );
a second fan ( 4 ) configured to propel a second air stream received from an area outside the dishwasher to the air transporting space ( 9 ); and
an exhaust opening ( 10 ) leading out from the dishwasher, the exhaust opening ( 10 ) being configured to convey a mixed air stream from the air transporting space ( 9 ),
wherein the first ( 3 ) and second ( 4 ) fans are configured to cause the first and second air streams to mix in the air transporting space ( 9 ) to form the mixed air stream, and
wherein the pre-programmed electronic program controller is configured to control the first fan ( 3 ) and the second fan ( 4 ) to cause, at a beginning of drying cycle, the second fan ( 4 ) to propel the second air stream before the first fan ( 3 ) propels the first air stream.
2. A drying system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fan ( 3 ) and the second fan ( 4 ) are controllable, and wherein the first fan ( 3 ) and the second fan ( 4 ) are operated independently of each other.
3. A drying system according to claim 2 , wherein the first fan ( 3 ) and/or the second fan ( 4 ) are controllable such that power of the first fan ( 3 ) and/or the second fan ( 4 ) is variable.
4. A drying system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
one or more sensors arranged to sense temperature and/or humidity of the first air stream, the second air stream, the mixed air stream, or any combination thereof,
wherein the pre-programmed electronic program controller is configured to use values of the temperature and/or the humidity sensed by the one or more sensors to control the first fan ( 3 ) and the second fan ( 4 ).
5. A drying system according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the sensors is arranged in the air transporting space ( 9 ) to sense the humidity of the mixed air stream.
6. A drying system according to claim 2 , wherein the first fan ( 3 ) is arranged to be operated in a pulsed form during a drying cycle of the dishwasher and the second fan ( 4 ) is arranged to be operated continuously during the drying cycle of the dishwasher.
7. A drying system according to claim 1 , wherein the first fan ( 3 ) is situated outside the washing tub ( 2 ), the drying system further comprising:
an inlet channel ( 6 ) having an opening ( 6 a ) leading into the washing tub ( 2 ), the inlet channel being arranged to guide air propelled from the first fan ( 3 ) to the washing tub via its opening ( 6 a );
an outlet channel ( 7 ) having a first opening ( 7 a ) leading into the washing tub ( 2 ) and a second opening ( 7 b ) leading into the air transporting space ( 9 ), and wherein the first fan ( 3 ) is arranged to propel the air from an area close to the first fan, via the inlet channel ( 6 ), through the washing tub ( 2 ) where the humidity in the washing tub is absorbed, to the outlet channel ( 7 ) and further to the air transporting space ( 9 ).
8. A drying system according to claim 7 , wherein the opening ( 6 a ) of the inlet channel ( 6 ) is situated in a lower section of a wall of the washing tub ( 2 ) and the first opening ( 7 a ) of the outlet channel ( 7 ) is situated in an upper section of another wall of the washing tub, and in that the inlet channel opening ( 6 a ) and the first opening ( 7 a ) of the outlet channel ( 7 ) are arranged on the respective walls of the washing tub ( 2 ) such that air of the first air stream will flow diagonally through the washing tub.
9. A drying system according to claim 1 , wherein the second fan ( 4 ) is arranged in an enclosure ( 12 ) situated below the washing tub ( 2 ), the drying system further comprising:
an inlet ( 13 ) leading from the area surrounding the dishwasher to the enclosure ( 12 ) below the washing tub;
a duct ( 14 ) leading from the second fan ( 4 ) to the air transporting space ( 9 );
wherein the second fan ( 4 ) is arranged to propel air from the inlet ( 13 ) via the duct ( 14 ) to the air transporting space ( 9 ).
10. A drying system according to claim 9 , wherein the inlet ( 13 ) is situated in a backside of the dishwasher, and wherein the exhaust opening ( 10 ) is situated in a front side of the dishwasher.
11. A drying system according to claim 7 , wherein the outlet channel ( 7 ) is arranged as a condenser, the outlet channel further having a third opening ( 7 c ) arranged in a bottom of the outlet channel, the third opening ( 7 c ) leading into the washing tub ( 2 ).
12. A dishwasher comprising a drying system according to claim 1 .
13. The drying system according to claim 1 , wherein the washing tub ( 2 ) is configured to heat the second air stream propelled by the second fan ( 4 ) at the beginning of the drying cycle.