Patents by Inventor Andreas Stolze

Andreas Stolze has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240167215
    Abstract: A dryer has a drum for laundry items to be dried, a supply air channel, an exhaust air channel, a recirculated air channel branching off therefrom and discharging into the supply air channel upstream of a drum inlet, a blower, a heat pump having a condenser disposed in the supply air channel, an evaporator disposed in the exhaust air channel, a throttle, a compressor, a controller and a heater. The dryer is configured such that moist warm air flows out of the drum in an exhaust air channel part, substantially in the same direction as the supply air in an inlet part of the supply air channel containing the condenser. The process air leaving the drum has a relative air humidity Frel, to which Frelmin?Frel?Frelmax applies, wherein Frelmin is a predetermined minimum value and Frelmax is a maximum value of the relative air humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Alvaro Harbach, Martin Korte, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20220341085
    Abstract: An appliance for drying laundry has an appliance housing, at least one open drying air duct situated inside the appliance housing, for sucking in ambient air during a drying process, and at least one heat pump, which is situated inside the appliance housing and is thermally coupled to the drying air duct. To reduce the energy consumption of such an appliance, the drying air duct has at least one air intake opening, which is situated inside the appliance housing and is situated in a section of the drying air duct upstream of a condenser of the heat pump in relation to an air mass flow through the drying air duct prevailing during the drying process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Alvaro Harbach, Reinhard Heyder, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20210002812
    Abstract: An appliance for drying laundry contains an open process air system having a drying chamber for receiving laundry to be dried, and a heat pump that is thermally coupled to the process air system. The heat pump has an evaporator serving as a heat sink for process air discharged from the drying chamber, and a condenser serving as a heat source for the process air to be supplied to the drying chamber. In order to improve a heat transfer between the process air system and the heat pump, and to minimize pressure losses within the process air system, the evaporator and the condenser are arranged laterally side-by-side and offset in height with respect to each other. One portion of a first process air duct extends above/below the condenser, and one portion of a second process air duct extends below/above the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: ALVARO HARBACH, REINHARD HEYDER, ANDREAS STOLZE
  • Patent number: 9752275
    Abstract: A household appliance has a working chamber and at least one latent heat store having a respective storage medium. The storage medium is thermally coupled via a respective associated heat exchanger to a working medium circulating through the working chamber. The working medium moves from the working chamber to a heat sink, from the heat sink to the heat exchanger, from the heat exchanger to a heat source, and from the heat source back to the working chamber. The storage medium forms a substance mixture together with a respective carrier fluid. The substance mixture can be conducted in a respective closed circuit through the associated heat exchanger for an exchange of heat with the working medium, and the substance mixture circulates between the associated heat exchanger and at least one reservoir in the respective closed circuit. The reservoir can be refilled layer-by-layer with the substance mixture conducted through the respective associated heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Stolze, Jörg Waschull
  • Patent number: 9708750
    Abstract: A vented laundry dryer has an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, a heat recovery system for transferring heat from the air outlet duct to the air inlet duct, and an additional heater. The heat recovery system has an evaporator, a liquefier, a condenser, and a relaxation unit, wherein the liquefier is thermally coupled to the air inlet duct, and the evaporator is thermally coupled to the air outlet duct. A relaxation property of the relaxation unit can be adjusted depending on at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater. A method for operating a vented dryer having an additional heater and a heat pump having a relaxation unit, monitoring at least one parameter connected to an activity of the additional heater and changing a relaxation property of the relaxation unit depending on the at least one parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Höfler, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 9528219
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for drying a damp product by means of a process air stream that is conducted in a process air channel. The appliance has a treatment chamber that includes the damp product. A cooling assembly cools and condenses the process air stream after it flows through the treatment chamber. A first heat exchanger supplies heat from the process air stream to a working fluid. A heating assembly heats the process air stream before it flows through the treatment chamber and a second heat exchanger supplies heat from the working fluid to the process air stream. The working fluid is conducted in a heat pump that has at least two mechanically coupled displacement pistons. The heat pump operates according to a regenerative gas cycle process that includes a Vuilleumier gas cycle process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Detlev Kühl, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 9322126
    Abstract: A domestic appliance, which may be a tumble dryer, includes a thermoelectric heat pump; at least one series of Peltier elements operationally associated with the heat pump and driven by a supply voltage for producing heat during appliance operation wherein the resistance of the Peltier elements increases with increasing temperature and wherein a threshold temperature for the Peltier elements is defined; and a heat flow path for dissipating heat produced by the Peltier elements wherein at a maximum temperature of the Peltier elements above a normal operating temperature and below the threshold temperature the power of the heat dissipated through the heat flow path is substantially equal to the electrical power drawn by the Peltier elements from the supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Hasan Gökcer Albayrak, Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 9212450
    Abstract: A condensation dryer is provided that includes a drying chamber for articles to be dried and a process air circuit in which a heater for heating the process air is located. The heated process air can be guided across the articles to be dried along a circulation route that includes a blower, an air/air heat exchanger, and a heat pump circuit having an evaporator, a compressor and a condenser. An additional heat exchanger is arranged in the heat pump circuit between the condenser and the evaporator, the additional heat exchanger being functionally coupled to the air/air heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8978267
    Abstract: A dryer is provided that includes a drying chamber for items to be dried; a supply air duct; a process air duct; an exhaust air duct; and a heat pump having a heat sink and a heat source, wherein the supply air duct and the exhaust air duct can be connected to each other through a recirculating air duct by means of a mechanism in order to adjust a proportion of recirculating and exhaust air in the dryer, and wherein the dryer has a first sensor for determining a process air temperature. A method for operating the dryer and a method for controlling the temperature and/or the humidity of the air of a room using the dryer are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe-Jens Krausch, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20150013178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a household appliance, more particularly a tumble dryer, comprising a working chamber and at least one latent heat store having a respective storage medium, wherein the respective storage medium is thermally coupled via a respective associated heat exchanger to a working medium circulating through the working chamber, wherein the working medium first moves from the working chamber to a heat sink, from said heat sink to the heat exchanger, from said heat exchanger to a heat source, and from said heat source back to the working chamber, and wherein the respective storage medium forms a substance mixture together with a respective carrier fluid, wherein said substance mixture can be conducted in a respective closed circuit through the associated heat exchanger for an exchange of heat with the working medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Andreas Stolze, Jörg Waschull
  • Publication number: 20140165420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vented laundry dryer, comprising an air inlet duct, an air outlet duct, a heat recovery system for transferring heat from the air outlet duct to the air inlet duct, and an additional heater, wherein the heat recovery system is a heat pump comprising an evaporator, a liquefier, a condenser, and a relaxation unit, wherein the liquefier is thermally coupled to the air inlet duct, and the evaporator is thermally coupled to the air outlet duct, and a relaxation property of the relaxation unit can be adjusted depending on at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater. A method is used to operate a vented heat dryer comprising an additional heater and a heat pump having a relaxation unit, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (a) monitoring at least one parameter that is connected to an activity of the additional heater; and (b) changing a relaxation property of the relaxation unit depending on the at least one parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Höfler, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8707579
    Abstract: In a method for operating an adsorption dryer, a process air flow, generated by at least one blower, is routed at least at times through an adsorption apparatus and over a textile goods in care during a textile care process in a “dry” operating mode to thereby charge a reversibly dehydratable adsorbent of the adsorption apparatus with moisture. A charge state of the adsorbent with water is detected and is displayed at least after the end of the “drying” textile care process. The absorbent is desorbed at least in part during a subsequent, selected and started textile care process in a “refresh” operating mode, and the desorbed moisture is routed as a moist process air flow into a receptacle for refreshing textile goods which are stored or hung in a stationary manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kohlrusch, Ulf Müller, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8650771
    Abstract: A method for operating a household appliance used for taking care of laundry. In the method, a Peltier heat pump of the household appliance is activated and is supplied with electric power for drying the laundry. The power supplied to the Peltier heat pump is varied during the drying process in accordance with a reached process phase of the drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8438860
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including at least two thermoelectric modules connected in series, and at least one switching arrangement connected in parallel with one of the at least two thermoelectric modules such that electrical current flows via the at least one switching arrangement in an event of a failure of the one of the at least two thermoelectric modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Hasan Gökcer Albayrak, Klaus Grunert, Reinhardt Ruhm, Edmund Seiffert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8438751
    Abstract: A dryer is provided having a drying chamber for items to be dried and a process air duct in which are located a heater for heating the process air, a blower for driving the process air from the heater through the drying chamber, and a heat exchanger arrangement. Via the heat exchanger arrangement, heat can be withdrawn from the process air flowing away from the drying chamber, and the process air flowing toward the heater can be fed to the heat exchanger. The process air duct is divided into a main duct and a secondary duct, the secondary duct having an evaporator in which condensate that was separated from the process air in the heat exchanger arrangement can be evaporated into the process air flowing therethrough and is connected to the exhaust opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8418377
    Abstract: A dryer with a drying chamber that includes a process air duct for guiding process air through the drying chamber, a heat pump with a heat sink in the process air duct and through which air can flow in an outlet air direction for cooling down the process air, and a heat source arranged in the process air duct and through which air can flow in an inlet air direction for heating up the process air. The outlet air direction and the inlet air direction are substantially parallel to one another. The heat sink and the heat source are in a plane substantially perpendicular to the outlet air direction and to the inlet air direction alongside one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8418376
    Abstract: A laundry drying device, including a front wall; a seal connected to the front wall; a rear wall; a tub located between the front wall and the rear wall; a rotatable laundry drum arranged in the tub, the rotatable laundry drum being accessible by way of the seal; and a heat pump. The heat pump includes an evaporator that is arranged at least partially between the laundry drum and the rear wall; and a condenser that is arranged at least partially above the laundry drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8266813
    Abstract: An exhaust air dryer with a drying chamber for items to be dried. The dryer includes a process air fan, a heat exchanger which includes a heat source, a heat sink of a heat pump, and a flushing device for flushing of a first inflow surface of the heat source and a second inflow surface of the heat sink with a liquid which is assigned to the heat source and the heat sink for removing of soil; and air ducts interconnecting the drying chamber, the process air fan, and the heat exchanger for conducting process air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20120144691
    Abstract: In a method for operating an adsorption dryer, a process air flow, generated by at least one blower, is routed at least at times through an adsorption apparatus and over a textile goods in care during a textile care process in a “dry” operating mode to thereby charge a reversibly dehydratable adsorbent of the adsorption apparatus with moisture. A charge state of the adsorbent with water is detected and is displayed at least after the end of the “drying” textile care process. The absorbent is desorbed at least in part during a subsequent, selected and started textile care process in a “refresh” operating mode, and the desorbed moisture is routed as a moist process air flow into a receptacle for refreshing textile goods which are stored or hung in a stationary manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Kohlrusch, Ulf Müller, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 8122728
    Abstract: A heat pump system including a heat pump having at least two Peltier elements arranged in series and connected to an energy supply, the heat pump system comprising an electrical dropping resistor arranged in series with the Peltier elements, wherein the Peltier elements and the dropping resistor are jointly supplied with energy by the energy supply. The heat pump system is preferably used in a household appliance, in particular a tumble drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Nitschmann, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze