Patents by Inventor Günter Steffens

Günter Steffens 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).

  • 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: 9573003
    Abstract: A tumble dryer includes a drum receiving laundry to be dried and a container accommodating an extinguishing agent, with the drum and the container being connected by a first line. A first temperature-activated valve is arranged in the first line in thermal contact with the interior of the drum and provided to close the container and to open automatically at a temperature produced by a fire. Further connected to the container is a second line which has a mouth feeding into a region of a base plate of the tumble dryer. A second temperature-activated valve is configured to close the second line in a region of the mouth and to open automatically at the temperature produced by the fire. The first and second valves are hereby positioned in such a way that either the first valve or the second valve opens automatically at the temperature produced by the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens
  • Patent number: 9512554
    Abstract: A device that has a component within a process air circuit of a washer dryer or tumble dryer; a condensate water trough in which condensate water is collected that is formed in the process air circuit as a result of drying damp laundry; and a first lever arm rotatably fastened to a rinse tank above the component. The component is to be cleaned and the condensate water is conducted from the condensate water trough to the rinse tank. Further, the condensate water is dispensed from an outlet opening of the rinse tank to the component. The rinse tank has a closure to selectively open and close the outlet opening and an actuator to actuate the closure. Also, the closure has a sealing head that is connected to the first lever arm and that closes the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Baurmann, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens, Oliver Wuttge
  • Patent number: 9447535
    Abstract: A cleaning diffuser is disposed above a fluff-laden component and receives rinsing fluid for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component to detach fluff and carry it away. The diffuser is constructed to enable a buildup of dynamic pressure in the rinsing fluid and has two feed ducts which extend at a distance from one another in substantially parallel relationship so that rinsing fluid entering the diffuser is divided between the feed ducts. The feed ducts terminate in pockets in a wall at an end of the diffuser and have, relative to their entire duct length, a narrow, three-dimensional transverse mutual connection in the form of a transverse chamber. The diffuser has at least one narrow outlet opening which extends from the three-dimensional transverse connection to a lower side of the diffuser for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: BSH HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens
  • 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: 9127399
    Abstract: An electrical domestic appliance includes a fire-prevention medium for fighting a fire in the domestic appliance in an early stage. The fire-prevention medium includes an active substance, which releases water, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen under the effect of heat at a temperature below 100° C. The fire-prevention medium has a core, which contains the active substance and a carrier material, and a shell, which surrounds the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Brian Chatot, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens
  • Patent number: 8910394
    Abstract: A tumble dryer having a drying chamber for articles to be dried; a process-air duct; a heater arranged to heat process air, wherein the heater is a two-stage heater having a first heating stage in a first circuit and a second heating stage in a second circuit that is parallel to the first circuit; a first fan to direct heated process air over the articles to be dried in the drying chamber; a heat pump having a heat sink, a heat source and a heat transfer device; a controller; and a thermostatic switch arranged in the first circuit or the second circuit, wherein the thermostatic switch is thermally coupled to the heat pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • 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: 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: 8578626
    Abstract: A laundry dryer includes a drying chamber, a process air channel having a supply air opening for drawing in process air, an exhaust air opening for expelling process air, an exhaust air channel through which process air is conducted to the exhaust air opening, and a nebulizer that distributes condensate in process air. The dryer further includes a fan in the process air channel for driving process air through the drying chamber, and a heat exchanger that extracts heat from process air flowing out from the drying chamber, supplies heat to process air flowing into the drying chamber, and separates the condensate from the process air for the nebulizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130104946
    Abstract: A cleaning diffuser is disposed above a fluff-laden component and receives rinsing fluid for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component to detach fluff and carry it away. The diffuser is constructed to enable a buildup of dynamic pressure in the rinsing fluid and has two feed ducts which extend at a distance from one another in substantially parallel relationship so that rinsing fluid entering the diffuser is divided between the feed ducts. The feed ducts terminate in pockets in a wall at an end of the diffuser and have, relative to their entire duct length, a narrow, three-dimensional transverse mutual connection in the form of a transverse chamber. The diffuser has at least one narrow outlet opening which extends from the three-dimensional transverse connection to a lower side of the diffuser for distributing the rinsing fluid to the fluff-laden component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130056231
    Abstract: An electrical domestic appliance includes a fire-prevention medium for fighting a fire in the domestic appliance in an early stage. The fire-prevention medium includes an active substance, which releases water, carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen under the effect of heat at a temperature below 100° C. The fire-prevention medium has a core, which contains the active substance and a carrier material, and a shell, which surrounds the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Brian Chatot, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens
  • Patent number: 8375596
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for drying laundry having a component around which process air flows. The component has a substrate made of metal and the substrate has a surface facing the process air. The surface carries a coating that prevents adhesion of foreign particles and the coating has a surface energy of no more than 40 mN/m. The surface has a section that is directly impinged by the process air and that is essentially completely covered by the coating. The component has edges in the section covered by the coating and each of the edges is essentially completely covered by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Werner Nühse, Günter Steffens, Andreas Ziemann
  • Patent number: 8353115
    Abstract: An exhaust air dryer includes a process airflow entering from outside as supply air, which removes moisture from laundry introduced in a treatment compartment and which emerges to the outside as exhaust air through an air outlet, a heat exchanger between the treatment compartment and the air outlet, seen in the airflow direction, which removes heat from the process airflow, while forming condensate, a dispersal device arranged downstream of the treatment compartment in the airflow direction and in front of the air outlet, which adds at least part of the formed condensate to the exhaust air, and a hydrophilic body belonging to the dispersal device, which projects into the process airflow and is impinged upon by condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8240064
    Abstract: A dryer includes a drying chamber for the articles to be dried, a supply air duct, a process air duct, a heater in the process air duct for heating process air, a blower that guides the heated process air over the articles to be dried, an exhaust air duct that directs exhaust air to an exhaust air outlet, and an internally and/or externally cleanable lint filter in a recirculated air duct that splits at a branching-off point from the process air duct to the heater and the exhaust air duct which leads to the exhaust air outlet, and wherein the recirculated air duct joins the supply air duct upstream of the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens