Dishwasher comprising a heat pump

Abstract

A dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, having at least one heat pump (14), is assigned at least one substantially planar, thermally and / or moisture-insulating structural unit (26) outside of at least one outer wall.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It is known that dishwashers, especially household dishwashers, can be equipped with heat pumps to optimize their energy efficiency. This can at least support the heating of the circulating dishwater or, with appropriate design, even achieve this entirely via the heat pump. Such a heat pump is typically an air-to-heat pump, which extracts heat from the ambient air. However, this entails the problem that this ambient air (often located beneath kitchen units) is cooled at the heat pump, particularly at the evaporator, due to the removal of heat energy. The cooled air must be expelled from the heat pump.When installing the dishwasher in front of a building wall, particularly on the wall behind the dishwasher (or to the side if the dishwasher is installed in a corner of the living room), there is a risk that the rear wall and possibly also the side wall will become very cold due to the cooled air on their surfaces. Incoming room air can then condense on the cold surface of the building wall obstructed by the dishwasher. Due to the often poor ventilation of this area of ​​the building wall in front of which the dishwasher is installed or installed, there is a high risk of mold growth in the area around the rear and possibly also around the dishwasher.

[0003] It is known that the air flowing behind the dishwasher can be directed to a certain extent by means of air guide elements, but the problem of wall cooling and poor wall ventilation remains unsolved.

[0004] The invention is based on the problem of improving the protection of a building wall located behind and / or next to the dishwasher in a heat pump for a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher.

[0005] The invention solves this problem by a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, having the features of claim 1 and / or claim 2. With regard to advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention, reference is made to the further claims 3 to 18.

[0006] Because according to the invention in a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump which comprises at least one compressor, a condenser, an expansion element and an evaporator, the dishwasher is assigned at least one substantially planar, thermally insulating structural unit outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body, protection is also provided outside the actual dishwasher for a building wall located behind and / or next to the dishwasher, so that cooling of such a building wall can be avoided.

[0007] If, in addition or alternatively, the dishwasher is provided with at least one substantially flat, moisture-insulating structural unit outside at least one outer wall of its appliance body, moisture protection is provided for the said building wall(s). The structural unit separates any condensate from the wall, so that the condensate does not drain along the wall, but rather along the insulating structural unit before it reaches the wall.

[0008] Ideally, the unit is both moisture-insulating and thermally insulating.

[0009] This structural unit can advantageously be assigned to a rear side of the dishwasher which is diametrically opposite to the front side in order to protect the building wall behind the dishwasher.

[0010] In addition, the insulating unit can also be assigned to a side wall that is at right angles to the front, in order to provide special protection for the building walls in the case of a dishwasher that is located in the corner of a living room.

[0011] If the insulating component includes a flat portion with a flat foil, it can be manufactured inexpensively and easily installed. Different installation methods are possible depending on the installation conditions in the respective environment.

[0012] In particular, the flat structural unit is arranged essentially vertically and parallel to the wall in the operating position in order to protect a large wall area from moisture and / or heat loss.

[0013] It is advantageous for the insulating unit to have a height and a width of at least 15 centimeters each in order to protect a large wall area, especially near the evaporator.

[0014] Ideally, the insulating unit should have a height and a width of at least 25 centimeters each.

[0015] It's particularly advantageous to include spacers between the insulating unit and the building wall, which optimizes thermal insulation. Furthermore, the spacers can create air channels between the building wall and the back of the unit, accelerating the flow of warm air and thus further preventing mold growth.

[0016] To ensure the insulation effect, the spacers necessarily hold a flat portion of the insulating unit at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from a building wall.

[0017] For the air ducts already described, the spacers form a plurality of upright extending webs so that a plurality of air ducts can be formed between them.

[0018] Advantageously, the flat part of the insulating unit comprises a dense film, which can easily form an inexpensive plastic film.

[0019] In particular, the film is moisture and heat insulating. However, a large part of the thermal insulation can be provided by the air ducts located behind it, so the film itself has only minimal requirements in this regard.

[0020] Instead of creating air channels through the spacers, the space around the spacers can also be sealed all the way around, so that an air cushion is formed behind the film, which provides thermal insulation against the outer wall.

[0021] The insulating unit is very advantageously positioned between an evaporator of the heat pump located in the dishwasher and a building wall, since the risk of cooling down and humidification of the nearby building wall is particularly high at the evaporator, especially behind the evaporator.

[0022] The insulating unit is very easy to handle and can be attached to the dishwasher and moved with it. Depending on the specific conditions (left or right corner, niche, or just the back wall), it can also be glued on by the installer on site.

[0023] Alternatively, the insulating unit can be mounted or held in place on the building wall. Since the insulating unit can be very lightweight, the mechanical quality of the mounting is minimal. Gluing or light nailing may also be sufficient here.

[0024] It is particularly advantageous to have a condensate collection device in the lower area of ​​the insulating unit so that it can flow down the film and be collected at the bottom without causing any damage.

[0025] It is very advantageous for the collection device to include a channel that extends beneath the flat portion of the insulating unit. This channel can extend over the entire portion of the insulating unit, preventing any water from running off.

[0026] Furthermore, the collection system can be drained via a condensate pump. This can be directly connected to the gutter, or the gutter can be equipped with a drain into a condensate collection tray below the evaporator and utilize a condensate pump already provided there.

[0027] The advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention explained above and / or reproduced in the subclaims can be used individually or in any combination with one another - except, for example, in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives.

[0028] The invention and its advantageous developments and further developments as well as their advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0029] They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view obliquely from the front of an embodiment of a household dishwasher shown here as an example, with a door that can be swung downwards and a base for accommodating functional elements in the lower area. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a heat pump, drawn out only as an example, in which the evaporator is located in the vicinity of a rear wall of the dishwasher in the installed position. Fig. 3 is a drawn-out schematic side view of a dishwasher standing in front of a building wall with an insulating structural unit mounted on this building wall. Fig. 4 is a schematic rear view of the insulating structural unit with webs for forming spacers and air ducts in between. Fig. 5 is the structural unit according to Figure 4 schematic in side view.

[0030] Elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0031] In Figure 1 A dishwasher 1, namely a household dishwasher, is schematically shown in perspective view, without the invention being limited thereto. If appropriate, it can be applied to another household appliance, such as a washing machine or a washer-dryer, in which a liquid is to be heated in an energy-efficient manner using a heat pump.

[0032] The household dishwasher described below according to Figure 1has, as a component of a partially outwardly open or closed appliance body 5, a washing container 2 for holding items to be processed or items to be cleaned, such as dishes, pots, cutlery, glasses, cooking utensils, etc. The items to be washed can be arranged, in particular held, in the washing container 2, for example in dish baskets 11, in particular in a lower dish basket and in an upper dish basket arranged at a height above this, and / or in a cutlery drawer 10. It can be acted upon by so-called washing liquor or washing water 24 by means of one or more washing liquid application devices, such as rotatable spray arms, rotatable or fixed spray nozzles, and / or other liquid distribution units in one or more partial washing phases of a respective dishwashing program to be carried out. The washing liquor or washing water 24Rinsing liquid 24 is preferably understood to mean fresh water and / or water circulating in particular during the rinsing operation of the household dishwasher 1, depending on the partial rinsing phase, with or without added cleaning agent, and / or rinse aid, and / or drying agent. The rinsing liquor or rinsing liquid 24 can additionally also be mixed to a greater or lesser extent with soiling from the ongoing rinsing operation, which is rinsed off the items to be cleaned during the execution of one or more partial rinsing phases - such as pre-rinsing, cleaning, intermediate rinsing, final rinsing - of a respective dishwashing program to be carried out. If necessary, rinsing liquid can also be used for the one or more partial rinsing phases of the respective dishwashing program to be carried out, which in at least one partial rinsing phase, such asThe rinse water was already used during the final rinse phase of a previous dishwashing program, but remained relatively clean, and was then stored in a tank as domestic water. In particular, the newly added dishwashing water to the household dishwasher may have previously passed through an ion exchanger or other softening device for softening, i.e., before being applied to the items to be washed.

[0033] The washing container 2 can, as in the exemplary embodiment here, have an at least substantially rectangular layout with a front loading opening facing a user (in the operating position of the household dishwasher 1), which can be closed by a front door 3. In the Figure 1The front side of the household dishwasher facing the user, in particular its washing compartment 2, is provided with the reference symbol V. In this exemplary embodiment, a washing compartment for the items to be cleaned and / or dried is delimited by three vertical walls 13 and two horizontal walls 13 of the washing compartment 2 and by the front door 3 in its at least approximately vertically upright closed position. In detail, the washing compartment comprises a ceiling (top) and a floor (bottom) as horizontal walls. Adjacent to the front side V of the washing compartment 2 facing the user in the transverse direction Q to the left is a left, at least approximately vertically upright side wall 13 and opposite this to the right is a right, at least approximately vertically upright side wall 13. They are connected to one another at the rear by an at least almost vertically upright rear wall 13.

[0034] The upper end of the front door or flap 3, by means of which the front loading opening of the washing container 2 can be closed at its front side V, can be pivoted forwards and downwards in this embodiment, preferably about a lower horizontal axis. This door 3 is in Figure 1 shown in a partially open position and then inclined to the vertical. In its closed position, however, it is at least almost upright and is Figure 1 To open, it can be pivoted forward and downward about a lower horizontal axis in the direction of arrow 4, so that in the fully open position (end-of-open position) it is at least almost horizontal. Other door movements, e.g., via a parallelogram or other multi-joint arrangement, are also possible.

[0035] The door 3 can be provided with a decorative panel or door panel on the outside, ie on its front side facing a user. In the embodiment of Figure 1 the front door 3 is provided with a decorative panel 6 on its outer or front side, which is vertical in the closed position and faces the user, in order to thereby experience a visual and / or haptic enhancement and / or adaptation to surrounding kitchen furniture.

[0036] When the front door 3 is in its at least almost vertical closing position, in the case of a so-called partially integrated or fully integrated household dishwasher 1, the front side of the front door 3 can form part of a kitchen front made up of adjacent kitchen units or, in the case of a stand-alone household dishwasher, can also be without reference to other units.

[0037] Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a door hinged laterally on a side wall of the rinsing container 2.

[0038] It is also possible to provide a rinsing container which is closed all around and has a loading opening at the top, which can preferably be closed with a door which is arranged essentially horizontally in its final closed position.

[0039] The household dishwasher 1 is shown here in the embodiment of Figure 1 only as an example, as a stand-alone or free-standing appliance on floor B, or as a so-called partially integrated appliance and installed on floor B within a recess between adjacent kitchen units below a kitchen worktop. In the latter case, the adjacent kitchen units and the kitchen worktop are in the Figure 1 omitted for the sake of simplicity.

[0040] In the lower area of ​​the household dishwasher 1, in this embodiment, below the washing container 2, there is a base or a base support 12, in particular for accommodating functional elements, such as a circulation pump (not shown) for circulating the washing solution 24 in a circulation circuit and / or a drain pump (not shown) for pumping the washing solution 24 out of a pump sump (not shown) fluidically connected to the washing container 2, and in this embodiment also a heat pump or heat pump arrangement 14. This can be accommodated there in terms of space and connection technology. Figure 1This placement of the heat pump assembly 14 in the base support or base 12 is symbolized by a dotted rectangle. However, depending on the design of the household dishwasher, the placement of the heat pump assembly in the base is not mandatory, i.e., deviating from the advantageous embodiment of Figure 1 the heat pump arrangement can also be arranged partially or completely outside the base 12, such as on the outside of a side wall and / or rear wall of the rinsing container 2.

[0041] The appliance body 5 of the household dishwasher 1 has here in the embodiment of Figure 1 two opposite side walls S. At the rear, a rear wall R is provided, which may also be perforated and preferably allows access to the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14.

[0042] The movable door 3 is in the embodiment according to the Figure 1in its upper area, for example, an outer, front panel 8 extending in the transverse or width direction Q of the household dishwasher 1 is assigned, which can comprise displays and / or operating elements and then also serves as a display and / or operating panel. Preferably in the area of ​​its lower edge, as here in the embodiment of Figure 1It is expedient to provide an access opening 7 accessible from the front V for manually opening and / or closing the door 3. This access opening 7 is provided here, for example, only in the transverse center region of the door 3, although this is not mandatory. An access opening 7 extending at least almost across the entire width of the household dishwasher, i.e., for a 60 cm wide household dishwasher, over 50 to 60 centimeters, in the transverse direction Q is also possible. As an alternative to such a partially integrated or "stand-alone", i.e., free-standing, installable household dishwasher, whose front door has a control panel in its upper edge area with display and / or control elements visible from the front in the vertically closed position of the front door, in a so-called fully integrated household dishwasher, the entire front of which, the front door, can be covered by a cover or front panel, such as, for example,a kitchen cabinet panel. With this door variant, operating and / or display elements of a control panel can be located, for example, on the upper outer edge of the front door, so that the operating and / or display elements are only visible and / or accessible to a user at the top edge of the door when the front door is open. Other door variants are also possible, depending on the type of household dishwasher and / or the installation or setup conditions.

[0043] In the transverse direction Q, the dishwasher often has an extension of 45, 50, or 60 centimeters. In the depth direction from its front V to the rear, its extension is often also around 60 centimeters. These values ​​are not mandatory. Also, the household dishwasher 1 does not have to be Figure 1directly on a floor B, but can also be installed higher on the floorboard of a kitchen base unit or within another piece of kitchen furniture, or can be set up on a plinth or kitchen worktop at a height above floor B. In particular, the height above can be selected such that a user is required to make only a slight or no bending movement, for example when loading or unloading the dish baskets, in particular the lower dish basket, of the dishwasher, or when refilling rinse aid and / or cleaning agent into a dosing unit provided on the inside wall of the front door 3, when the front door 3 is brought into its at least approximately horizontal end-open position. The lower edge of the dishwasher 1 can then, in this installation or installation position raised above floor B, preferably lie approximately 40 to 110 centimeters above floor B.The vertical height (extension in the height direction H) of the household dishwasher 1 may also vary or be different depending on the type of construction and / or installation conditions.

[0044] Such a household dishwasher 1 is often arranged at a short horizontal distance in front of a building wall 27, so that a narrow gap or gap SF exists between the rear of the appliance body 5 and the building wall 27. It can - e.g. when installed in a built-in niche between adjacent kitchen furniture such as kitchen furniture base cabinets - be covered above by a worktop, which makes air exchange in this gap area SF between the rear R of the household dishwasher 1 and the rear building wall 27 even more difficult. A building wall can also be present next to or to the side of a side wall S of the appliance body 5 of the household dishwasher 1, e.g. if the household dishwasher is installed in a corner area of ​​a living space, in particular a kitchen room, which can make air exchange in the rear gap SF even more difficult towards the side.In the gap area between the side wall S of the device body 5 and the side wall of the building nearby, air exchange can also be problematic.

[0045] The heat pump or heat pump arrangement 14 of the household dishwasher 1 is in the Figure 2in an exemplary embodiment with its functional components shown as a compact unit. With its help, the washing liquid present in the circulation pump circuit or hydraulic circuit of the household dishwasher 1 during at least one liquid-carrying partial washing phase, such as the cleaning phase and / or final rinse phase of a dishwashing program to be carried out, for which heating is required, and / or the washing liquid intended for circulating in the circulation pump circuit, for which heating is required, can be at least partially heated. This means that either the washing liquid, for which heating is required in the respective partial washing phase, is preheated by the heat pump to a preheating temperature and then subsequently by means of a liquid heater, such asa continuous flow heater to its desired final temperature, or the rinsing liquid is heated completely to its desired final temperature by the heat pump alone, which is particularly energy-efficient when running a so-called eco program or other energy-saving program.

[0046] In this exemplary embodiment, the heat pump 14 is, in particular, a compression heat pump or compressor pump, i.e., it comprises a compressor 16, with which mechanical work can be performed on a working medium 17 circulating in the heat pump 14, such as a propane / butane mixture or R600a (isobutane). The compressor 16, in which the mechanical work is performed on the working medium 17, is electrically driven.

[0047] In addition to the compressor 16, the heat pump or heat pump arrangement 14 comprises as functional units - which may, but do not have to, be structural units - at least one condenser 18, an expansion device or an expansion element 19, for example an expansion valve or a capillary, and an evaporator 20. These functional units 16, 18, 19, 20 are interconnected via line regions or line sections 21 for the forwarding of the working medium 17, which changes its state of aggregation during operation. The working medium 17 flowing through the heat pump arrangement 14 during its operation (compressor 16 is switched on) is in the Figure 2 symbolized by a separately displayed arrow, which also indicates its flow direction.

[0048] In addition to the components mentioned, the heat pump arrangement 14 expediently comprises at least one air conveying device LF, which, viewed in its air conveying direction, is arranged upstream of the evaporator 20 and is assigned to the latter, in particular for heat pump operation. The air conveying device LF preferably has a fan or a blower. When the heat pump 14 is in operation, i.e. its compressor 16 is running, in order to heat the dishwashing liquid to a desired target temperature by means of the condenser 18 for or during a partial rinsing phase, in particular the cleaning phase and / or final rinsing phase, of the respective dishwashing program to be carried out, which requires the heating of the rinsing liquid used or to be used for this purpose in at least one heating phase, the air conveying device LF conveys, in particular blows, ambient air 32 through the structure orthe structure of the evaporator 20, here in the exemplary embodiment with a conveying direction from front to back to the rear wall R of the appliance body 5 of the household dishwasher 1. The structure of the evaporator 20 comprises sections, in particular meanders or loops, of an evaporator tube VR of the evaporator 20 through which the working medium 17 can flow or through which it flows, which sections run transversely to the air conveying direction from front to back, i.e. in the depth direction of the household dishwasher. Transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to these sections of the evaporator tube VR there are provided upright, flat heat exchange elements VL, in particular fins, which are each thermally conductively connected to the sections of the evaporator tube VR. The upright, flat heat exchange elements VL are arranged at transverse distances from one another and here extend in the depth direction of the household dishwasher 1, i.e. from front to back.As a result, an air duct or air passage is provided between each two transversely adjacent, upright heat exchange elements VL, which extends in the depth direction of the household dishwasher 1 and is crossed at predetermined intervals in the depth direction and here in particular also in the height direction by a section of the evaporator tube VR. The heat exchange elements VL are penetrated transversely to their longitudinal extent in the depth direction by the sections of the evaporator tube VR through which the working medium 17 can flow or through. In this way, by means of the air conveying device LF, ambient air 32 can be conveyed, in particular blown through, through the ducts or passages present between the heat exchange elements VL from front to rear to the rear wall R of the appliance body 5 of the household dishwasher 1.In this case, heat is extracted from the ambient air 32 by the sections of the evaporator tube VR and the heat exchange elements VL connected to them in a heat-conducting manner and transferred to the working medium 17. The air conveying device LF is expediently arranged in this embodiment such that, during its ongoing operation, ambient air 32 from the space surrounding the dishwasher 1 is drawn in, for example, through front ventilation slots and / or through gaps, cracks, recesses and / or openings in one or more walls of the base support orappliance base of the household dishwasher 1, flows over the compressor 16 arranged in front of the air conveying device LF and is preheated by its waste heat, and is preferably blown backwards (in the depth direction of the dishwasher) to the evaporator 20 and flows along its one or more, preferably meandering, line regions or line sections through which the working medium 17 can flow or through and / or along the heat exchange elements VL, in particular fins, protruding from these. Here in the exemplary embodiment, viewed along the air flow path caused by the air conveying device LF, the air conveying device LF assigned to the evaporator 20 is therefore preferably positioned between the compressor 16 and the air inlet of the evaporator 20.The compressor 16, the air conveying device LF arranged downstream of it, and the evaporator 20 are arranged in the base support 12, in particular in a preferably at least approximately straight line one behind the other in the depth direction of the household dishwasher. After passing through the structure of the evaporator 20, the ambient air 32' cooled in this way by the evaporator 20 is finally blown out by the air conveying device LF arranged upstream of the evaporator 20 through a recess or opening, i.e. through an air outlet LA in the rear wall R of the appliance body 5, in particular in the rear wall R of the base support 12, of the household dishwasher 1, into the environment of the dishwasher, where it flows onto the building wall 27 arranged behind the dishwasher, in particular in the area of ​​the building wall 27 opposite the air outlet LA (see . Figure 3 ).

[0049] The heat pump 14 is also assigned at least one supply line 22 and one discharge line 23 (shown unconnected here) for washing liquid 24 that can be or is circulating in the household dishwasher 1. The washing liquid 24 to be heated—e.g., from a circulation circuit, in particular a circulation pump circuit (not shown) of the household dishwasher 1—flows via the supply line 22 into the inlet of at least one heat transfer area 50, here in the exemplary embodiment in particular a line or pipe section, which is in thermal contact with the condenser 18 through which the working medium 17 can flow or through, in particular its condenser tubes, and flows through this heat transfer area 50. The washing liquid 24, heated by the condenser 18 during heat pump operation, leaves the outlet of the heat transfer area 50 via the discharge line 23.It is then fed back into the circulation circuit, in particular the circulation pump circuit, at an upstream point, such as, for example, preferably the wash chamber in the wash tub 2 belonging to the circulation circuit and / or a pump sump arranged under the floor of the wash tub. The condenser 18 and the heat transfer area 50 through which the wash liquid 24 can flow or through, here in particular a pipe section, together form a heat exchanger WT, in which, during ongoing operation of the heat pump 14 (with the compressor 16 switched on), heat is transferred from the working medium 17 to the wash liquid 24 flowing through the heat transfer area 50. The wash liquid 24 flowing through the heat transfer device WT is in the . Figure 2 symbolized by a separately displayed arrow.

[0050] In the heat exchanger WT, the flushing fluid 24 to be heated expediently passes through the heat transfer area, in particular the heat transfer line section or pipe section, 50 in countercurrent to the working medium 17 flowing through the condenser 18. In this way, an efficient, i.e., highly effective, transfer of the heat from the working medium 17 to the flushing fluid 24 is ensured in the heat exchanger WT.

[0051] Furthermore, the heat pump 14 is expediently assigned an electrical connection option 25. By means of the electrical connection option 25, in particular the electric motor of the compressor 16 for its operation and / or the air conveying device 39 for its operation can be supplied with electrical energy. In addition, the heat pump arrangement 14 can, in addition to the electrical connection option 25 and the connection option 22, 23 for the rinsing liquid 24, optionally comprise various sensors and a connection 25' for a communication interface, in particular for a data bus. The electrical connection 25 can - as shown in the Figure 2shown by way of example - in particular be part of an electrical / communications module EM, which may also comprise one or more sensors and the communication interface connection 25', in particular a data bus connection. The operation of the electric drive motor of the compressor 16 and of the air conveying device LF can be monitored, in particular controlled and / or regulated, via the communication interface connection 25'. This communication interface connection 25' can preferably receive communication signals from a control unit (omitted here for the sake of clarity) via one or more signaling connections, in particular via a data bus, and / or send them to this control unit. With the aid of the control unit, the operation of the heat pump 14, in particular its compressor 16 and / or its air conveying device LF, can be monitored.The control unit can be directly assigned to the heat pump arrangement 14, in particular be a component of the electrical / communications module EM, or it can be provided separately from the heat pump arrangement 14 at another location in the household dishwasher 1, in particular in its base support 12. It can preferably be a subcomponent of a higher-level control / monitoring device, by means of which the one or more partial rinsing phases, such as pre-rinsing, cleaning, intermediate rinsing, final rinsing, and the final drying phase of a respective dishwashing program to be carried out, can be carried out automatically. The control unit and / or the control / monitoring device can be implemented using hardware and / or software components.

[0052] This heat pump 14 can - as in Figure 2shown - form a modular (installation) unit. For this purpose, at least the essential components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 of the heat pump 14 through which the working medium 17 can flow, and in particular also the air conveying device LF arranged upstream of the evaporator 20, the heat exchanger WT provided for heating the dishwashing liquid 24, and / or the electrical / communication module EM can be mechanically fixedly arranged on a carrier unit 15 holding them, such as a carrier plate or a holding frame or rack, so that a modular and easy-to-assemble unit is formed. The essential functional components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 of the heat pump 14 through which the working medium 17 can flow can be pre-assembled on the carrier unit 15, filled with the working medium 17, and tested for function before installation in the dishwasher 1. In particular, the heat pump 14 can already be pre-assembled, i.e.Before being installed in the domestic dishwasher 1 - here in the base support 12 -, the components 16, 18, 19, 20, 21 carrying the working medium 17 must be checked for leaks. Particularly if the air conveying device LF, the electrical / communications module EM, and / or one or more sensors, such as temperature and / or humidity sensors, are also attached to the support unit 15, it may be advantageous to also check these components assigned to the heat pump arrangement 14 for functionality in advance.

[0053] During the one or more heating phases for washing liquid, which is or are carried out by means of the operation of the heat pump, ambient air 32 is sucked in from outside the domestic dishwasher 1 by means of the air conveying device LF arranged upstream of the evaporator 20, blown through the structure of the evaporator 20 to transfer heat to the working medium 17, whereby the air flowing through the structure of the evaporator 20 is cooled, and then the ambient air 32' cooled by heat extraction from the evaporator 20 is blown out of the air outlet LA provided at the rear of the appliance body 5, so that it impinges on the nearby building wall 27 behind the domestic dishwasher 1. In particular, the cold air 32' blown out of the air outlet LA during heat pump operation can impinge on an area of ​​the building wall 27 opposite the air outlet LA.As a result, the surface of the building wall 27 would be cooled in particular by the blown-out cold air 32'; but wherever the cold air 32' otherwise passes over the building wall 27, the latter would also be cooled. This creates the risk that the surfaces of these one or more cold zones or areas of the building wall 27 will become damp. This could occur in particular after the air conveying device LF is switched off at the end of heat pump operation, if the cold air 32' previously blown into the gap SF by the air conveying device LF during heat pump operation is followed by warmer gap air from warmer areas of the gap SF compared to the cold air 32', which has a higher moisture content, and / or by warmer ambient air from outside the gap SF, which has a higher moisture content.Water droplets could condense from the air then standing in front of these one or more cold zones as a result of its cooling on the one or more cold zones of the housing wall 27.

[0054] In order to avoid cooling and / or any associated dampness of the building wall 27 as far as possible, the dishwasher 1 is assigned at least one substantially planar, thermally insulating and / or moisture-insulating structural unit 26 outside of at least one outer wall of the appliance body 5, which is arranged in the Figures 3 to 5 is shown as an example.

[0055] As in Figure 3 As shown, this insulating structural unit 26 can be assigned to a rear side R of the dishwasher 1 which is diametrically opposite the front side V, which corresponds to the most common installation situation in which the dishwasher 1 is arranged in front of the building wall 27.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, at least one structural unit 26 can be assigned to a side wall S positioned at right angles to the front V, thus allowing for installation in a corner of the living room. An arrangement of insulating structural units 26 next to both side walls S of the dishwasher 1 can also be provided for niche installation.

[0057] The insulating unit 26, which is used particularly in the Figures 4 and 5 is shown in detail in a possible embodiment, there comprises a flat portion 28 with a flat film 29. This can, for example, be glued to a rear frame.

[0058] In this case, at least the flat portion 28 of the structural unit 26 is essentially vertical and parallel to the wall in the operating position in order to protect the building wall 27 behind it from cooling down and exposure to moisture.

[0059] To achieve this goal, the structural unit 26 has a height and a width of at least 15 centimeters each. In particular, a height and a width of at least 25 centimeters each is very advantageous. Figure 4 an approximately square formation of the planar portion 28 is indicated, but this is not mandatory.

[0060] For rear ventilation, the structural unit 26 comprises spacers 30 opposite a building wall 27. These are arranged at the rear of the flat part 28 and are dimensioned in such a way that they necessarily hold the flat part 28 of the structural unit 26 at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from a building wall 27.

[0061] In the advantageous embodiment shown here, the spacers 30 form a plurality of vertically extending webs 31, between which, for example, air ducts are formed, so that stagnant air in the vicinity of the building wall 27 is largely avoided during operation of the dishwasher 1. This also contributes to the prevention of mold and mildew. As shown in Figure 4 As shown, around ten webs 31 can be provided next to one another, for example.

[0062] Instead of forming air ducts through the spacers 30, the space around the spacers 30 can also be sealed all around (not shown here), so that an air cushion is formed behind the film, which provides thermal insulation against the building wall 27.

[0063] As already mentioned above, the flat portion 28 of the structural unit 26 can have a sealed film 29 on its side facing the dishwasher 1. The film 29 is, in particular, moisture- and heat-insulating. The air space created by the spacers 30 between the film 29 and the building wall 27 also contributes to the thermal insulation. Therefore, no increased thermal tightness requirements need to be placed on the film 29 itself.

[0064] At the Figure 2In the case of the heat pump 14 shown, the installation position can in particular be such that the evaporator 20 points rearward towards the rear R of the dishwasher 1. The insulating structural unit 26 is then arranged in the space SF between the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14 arranged in the dishwasher 1 and the building wall 27. This is particularly advantageous since the room air 32 passed past the evaporator 20 (here via a fan of the air conveying device LF arranged upstream of the evaporator 20, which fan draws the room air 32 from the front through the base 12 (see Figure 3 )) experiences a significant cooling and should therefore be kept away from the building wall 27 behind it.

[0065] There are various options for mechanically securing the insulating assembly 26: The insulating assembly 26 can either be attached to the dishwasher 1 and move with it, or the insulating assembly 26 can—as shown here—be attached or held to the building wall 27. For example, gluing it to the building wall 27 is a simple fastening option. Double-sided adhesive tape or something similar can be pre-mounted on the assembly 26.

[0066] As in the Figures 3 to 5 As can be seen, a collecting device 33 for condensate is arranged in the lower area of ​​the insulating unit 26 so that this, if it occurs, does not run onto the floor B.

[0067] According to the drawing, the collecting device 33 comprises a channel which engages under the flat part 28 of the insulating structural unit and which is arranged as close to the ground as possible, in particular directly on the ground B, so that no more water can condense underneath.

[0068] The collection device 33 can be emptied via a condensate pump and, for this purpose, can be connected, for example, to a condensate pan located beneath the evaporator 20. Since, after the wash cycle, the waste heat from the dishwasher 1 also warms up the area near the building wall 27, thus raising the dew point, it is generally not necessary to empty the gutter. Instead, one can wait until the condensate collected there has evaporated due to the subsequent heating.

[0069] The insulating unit 26 always provides protection in front of the building wall 27 against direct contact with very cold and very humid air from the evaporator 20 of the heat pump 14, so that any condensation that may occur does not occur on the wall 27, but rather on the upstream insulating unit 26. Due to its smooth, foil-like front side in the flat portion 28, any condensation that may form there drains downwards without forming mold or mildew. The collecting device 33 extends under the entire width of the flat portion 28, preventing any water from seeping past it. List of reference symbols

[0070] 1 Dishwasher, 2 Washing container, 3 Door, 4 Swivel direction, 5 Appliance body, 6 Decorative panel, 7 Access opening, 8 Outer panel, 10 Cutlery drawer, 11 Dish basket, 12 Base, 13 Washing container walls, 14 Heat pump, 15 Support unit, 16 Compressor, 17 Working medium, 18 Condenser, 19 Expansion device, 20 Evaporator, 21 Pipe sections, 22 Supply line, 23 Drain line, 24 Washing liquid, 25 Electrical connection option, 25 Communication interface, 26 Insulating unit, 27 Building wall, 28 Surface portion, 29 Film, 30 Spacer, 31 Webs, 32 Room air or ambient air, 32 Air cooled by evaporator Ambient air escaping from the device body to the building wall 33Collecting device, 50Heat transfer area BBottom, EMelectrical / communications module, Hvertical height direction, LAair outlet, LFair conveying device, Qtransverse direction, RRear, Sside wall Vfront, VLheat exchange elements, especially evaporator fins VRevaporator tubes WTheat transfer device

Claims

1. Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump (14) comprising at least one compressor (16), a condenser (18), an expansion element (19) and an evaporator (20), which are connected to one another via line regions (21) for conveying a working medium (17) which changes its state of aggregation during operation, wherein the heat pump (14) is assigned at least one supply line (22) and one discharge line (23) of washing liquid (24) which can be circulated in the dishwasher (1), characterized by that the dishwasher (1) is assigned at least one substantially planar, thermally insulating structural unit (26) outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body (5).

2. Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with at least one heat pump (14) which comprises at least one compressor (16), a condenser (18), an expansion element (19) and an evaporator (20), which are connected to one another via line regions (21) for conveying a working medium (17) which changes its state of aggregation during operation, wherein the heat pump (14) is assigned at least one supply line (22) and one discharge line (23) of washing liquid (24) which can be circulated in the dishwasher (1), in particular according to claim 1, characterized by that the dishwasher (1) is assigned at least one substantially planar, moisture-insulating structural unit (26) outside of at least one outer wall of its appliance body (5).

3. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by thatthe insulating structural unit (26) is assigned to a rear side (R) of the dishwasher (1) which is diametrically opposite the front side (V).

4. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the insulating structural unit is assigned to a side wall (S) of the dishwasher (1) which is at right angles to the front side (V).

5. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the insulating structural unit (26) comprises a flat portion (28) with a flat foil (29).

6. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the flat portion (28) of the insulating structural unit (26) is arranged substantially vertically and parallel to the wall in the operating position.

7. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by thatthe insulating assembly (26) has at least a height and a width of 15 centimeters each.

8. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the insulating structural unit (26) comprises spacers (30) relative to a building wall (27).

9. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that the spacers (30) forcibly hold a flat portion (28) of the insulating structural unit (26) at a minimum distance of 5 millimeters from a building wall (27).

10. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by that the spacers (30) form a plurality of upright extending webs (31).

11. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the flat portion (28) of the insulating structural unit (26) has a dense film (29).

12. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 11, characterized by that the film (29) is moisture and heat insulating.

13. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the insulating structural unit (26) is arranged between an evaporator (20) of the heat pump (14) arranged in the dishwasher (1) and a building wall (27).

14. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that the insulating unit (26) is held on the dishwasher (1) and is movable therewith.

15. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by that the insulating structural unit (26) can be held or retained on the building wall (27).

16. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by thata collecting device (33) for condensate is arranged in the lower region of the insulating unit (26).

17. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 16, characterized by that the collecting device (33) comprises a channel which engages beneath the flat portion (28) of the insulating structural unit (26).

18. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 16 or 17, characterized by that the collecting device (33) can be emptied via a condensate pump.

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