# US 12,004,699 B2 · Cleaning device and method for operating a cleaning device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,699 B2 - Document ID: US12004699B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/611,491 - Filed: 2018-05-18 - Published: 2020-06-18 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-23 - Assignees: Miele & Cie. KG - Applicants: Miele & Cie. KG - Inventors: Andre Bertram; Tobias Dahms; Ralph Steinmeier; Andreas Nierling; Eugen Sgurski; Martin Dettmer; Michael Reilmann; Andre Kornfeld - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004699B2 ## CPC - A47L 15/4291: {Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water} - A47L 15/4209: {Insulation arrangements, e.g. for sound damping or heat insulation} - A47L 15/4285: {Water-heater arrangements (steam generating arrangements A47L15/4234)} - A47L 15/4297: {Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity} - D06F 39/20: Arrangements for water recovery - A47L 2401/09: Water level - A47L 2501/01: Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve - D06F 39/04: Heating arrangements - Y02B 30/52: Heat recovery pumps, i.e. heat pump based systems or units able to transfer the thermal energy from one area of the premises or part of the facilities to a different one, improving the overall efficiency - Y02B 40/00: Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers - A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08) - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher, includes: a cleaning container having a cleaning chamber and accommodating cleaning material to be cleaned; a heat pump device which has an evaporator arranged inside a heat storage medium tank; and an intermediate storage positioned above the heat storage medium tank, the intermediate storage receiving liquid heat storage medium displaced from the heat storage medium tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleaning device, comprising: a cleaning container comprising a cleaning chamber and configured to accommodate cleaning material to be cleaned; a heat pump device which has an evaporator arranged inside a heat storage medium tank and configured to cause an increase in a volume of a liquid heat storage medium received therein through partial freezing of the liquid heat storage medium so as to displace at least a portion of the liquid heat storage medium; and an intermediate storage positioned above the heat storage medium tank, the intermediate storage being configured to receive at least the portion of the liquid heat storage medium displaced from the heat storage medium tank, wherein the intermediate storage and the heat storage medium tank are arranged relative to one another such that at least the portion of the liquid heat storage medium that is displaced to the intermediate storage is returnable to the heat storage medium tank due to a gravitation force, and wherein the heat storage medium tank is located at least partially below the cleaning container and the intermediate storage is arranged at least to a side of the cleaning container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage medium tank has a volume of 3 to 7 liters, and/or wherein the intermediate storage has a volume between 50 and 550 milliliters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the heat storage medium tank has a volume of 3.5 to 5.5 liters, and/or wherein the intermediate storage has a volume between 250 and 450 milliliters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage medium tank and the intermediate storage comprise one piece or are connected to one another via a displacement line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein in the intermediate storage a filling level sensor comprising a float switch or an optical sensor is located in the intermediate storage and/or in the displacement line. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein a transfer of heat storage medium from the heat storage medium tank or the intermediate storage into the cleaning container is excluded. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage medium tank is connected in a fluidic manner to a fresh water supply and to an overflow pipe opening into the cleaning container, and wherein the intermediate storage is integrated into the overflow pipe or located at an end of the displacement line. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the heat storage medium tank is connected in a fluidic manner to a fresh water supply while the intermediate storage is interconnected. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage has an insulation on its side facing the cleaning container. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage is thermally conductively connected to a housing of the cleaning device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device comprises a dishwasher. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid heat storage medium that is displaced to the intermediate storage is returned to the heat storage medium tank due to liquefying of the partially frozen liquid heat storage medium in the heat storage medium tank. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method for operating the cleaning device of claim 1, comprising: using the cleaning container to provide the cleaning chamber holding a heat accumulator medium in the heat storage medium tank; and cooling the heat accumulator medium by operation of the heat pump device, which has an evaporator located in the heat storage medium tank, to such an extent that the heat storage medium partially freezes, such that a part of the heat storage medium is displaced from the heat storage medium tank into an intermediate storage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: returning the displaced partial quantity of the heat storage medium to the heat storage medium tank, or in a subsequent program step outside of the cleaning program or the cleaning program, replacing the displaced partial quantity of the heat storage medium to the heat storage medium tank due to force of gravity. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising: carrying out a level measurement in the intermediate storage and/or in the displacement line, the carrying out the level measurement comprising sensing whether a predetermined water level in the intermediate storage and/or in the displacement line is reached or exceeded. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the carrying out the level measurement occurs immediately at a start of a wash program and/or at a beginning of a program step with a cleaning liquor to be heated. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein, depending on the level measurement, the heat pump device is switched off or remains switched off in the washing program and/or a point in time or a time period after which operation of the heat pump device is possible again is determined and/or signaled optically or acoustically.