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: 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
  • Publication number: 20120005914
    Abstract: A rinsing device for rinsing at least one component to be cleaned of a laundry drying machine by means of a rinsing fluid includes a rinse container having an outlet opening for draining the rinsing fluid to the component. A sealing part selectively opens and closes the outlet opening, with the sealing part having a sealing head for sealing the outlet opening. A spring element connects the sealing head to the rinse container and urges the sealing head against the outlet opening. The sealing part of the rinse container is activated by an activation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens
  • Patent number: 8087182
    Abstract: A method for operating a condenser tumble dryer is provided and includes a drying chamber for containing objects to be dried, a process air circuit having a heating element, a fan for conducting heated process air over the objects, a heat pump circuit having an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, and sensors for determining the humidity in the objects to be dried. According to the method, the humidity is determined and the process air is heated by the condenser until the humidity ranges between about 0% and about 12%. In the event that the humidity drops below the predetermined value, the heating element is activated and operated for at least five minutes so that the air temperature in the drying chamber reaches at least 70° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • Patent number: 8079157
    Abstract: A dryer includes a drying chamber, a process air guide that guides process air along the articles to pick up humidity from them, a heat sink in the process air guide that precipitates humidity from the process air as a condensate, and a condensate collector with a condensate container having an insert that is permeable to the condensate and that projects through an opening into the condensate container for transferring the condensate to and from the condensate container. The insert includes a first filter that filters particles from the condensate prior to storing the condensate in the condensate container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Pilar Balerdi Azpilicueta, Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20110114135
    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: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Baurmann, Frank Kohlrusch, Günter Steffens, Oliver Wuttge
  • Publication number: 20110056523
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a component of a domestic appliance for laundry items. During a cleaning process, a rinsing fluid is at least once conducted through the component. Further, foreign bodies are cleansed from the component. The cleaning process is automatically started and a rinse cycle is performed in which the rinsing fluid is at least once introduced into the component. The rinse cycle is performed after a care process and during a process that prevents creases in the dry laundry items. The dry laundry items are still in the domestic appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Ulrich Nehring, Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20110016889
    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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Hasan Gökcer Albayrak, Klaus Grunert, Reinhardt Ruhm, Edmund Seiffert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Patent number: 7866057
    Abstract: A domestic appliance for the care of washed articles having with a container for receiving washed articles; a process air supply which is operationally connected to the container in fluid communication therewith whereby process air flows through the container during appliance operation; and a first heat exchanger which is in fluid communication with the process air supply for dehumidifying the process air exiting the container, the domestic appliance comprising a supplementary heat exchanger for lint filtering operationally disposed in the process air supply in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Kai Nitschmann, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20110000099
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20110000097
    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: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Werner Nühse, Günter Steffens, Andreas Ziemann
  • Publication number: 20100293804
    Abstract: A dryer having a drying chamber for items to be dried; a process air guide; a fan to deliver an air stream in the process air guide; and a heat pump that has a heat sink and a heat source; wherein the heat sink and the heat source are arranged in the process air guide; and wherein the fan has double pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Nawrot, Günter Steffens, Andreas Ziemann
  • Publication number: 20100263225
    Abstract: A household appliance including a housing; a drying chamber to dry wet articles in the drying chamber; and a first air conduit to guide process air drawn into the housing to dry the wet articles. The household appliance also has a heat pump that includes a heat sink to transfer heat into the heat pump; a heat source coupled to the first air conduit to transfer the heat from the heat pump into the process air; and a heat transfer device to transfer the heat from the heat sink to the heat source. A second air conduit is coupled to the heat sink to guide secondary air drawn into the housing. The heat sink transfers the heat from the secondary air into the heat pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Pilar Balerdi Azpilicueta, Iñigo Berazaluce Minondo, Esther Padilla Lopez, Roberto San Martin Sancho, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20100257748
    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: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20100243002
    Abstract: A home appliance includes an evaporator of a condenser in a process air circuit, a condensate water pan that collects water condensed by the evaporator from drying of process air, a collector tank above the evaporator having one of a rinsing tank and a rinsing chamber with a storage chamber as an overflow region, and an abruptly openable outlet, and a downpipe connected to the abruptly openable outlet to permit discharge of condensate water in the collector tank in a surge to the evaporator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20100199515
    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: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20100146811
    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: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20100146809
    Abstract: A condensation dryer includes a drying chamber for objects to be dried, a process air channel, a heater in the process air channel for heating the process air, a heat exchanger in the process air channel for cooling the process air after passing through the drying chamber, a fan in the process air channel for conveying the process air, a rinsing container connected to a water supply, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Uwe-Jens Krausch, Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20100132217
    Abstract: A dryer includes a drying chamber, a supply air duct, a process air duct, a heater in the process air duct, a fan, an exhaust air duct, a recirculation duct, and a two-part closure mechanism that includes a fluff separator with a first surface and a second surface, and a damper. The fluff separator and the damper are rotatable against each other such that in a first position of the closure mechanism the damper disconnects the recirculation duct from the process air duct and the fluff separator disconnects the exhaust air duct from the process air duct, and in a second position of the closure mechanism the fluff separator disconnects the recirculation duct from the process air duct.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH
    Inventor: Günter Steffens
  • Publication number: 20100083527
    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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze
  • Publication number: 20100071226
    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: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERÄTE GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Grunert, Günter Steffens, Andreas Stolze