US 12,004,699 B2
Cleaning device and method for operating a cleaning device
Andre Bertram, Bielefeld (DE); Tobias Dahms, Hannover (DE); Ralph Steinmeier, Herford (DE); Andreas Nierling, Melle (DE); Eugen Sgurski, Bielefeld (DE); Martin Dettmer, Bielefeld (DE); Michael Reilmann, Bielefeld (DE); and Andre Kornfeld, Rheda-Wiedenbrueck (DE)
Assigned to MIELE & CIE. KG, Guetersloh (DE)
Appl. No. 16/611,491
Filed by Miele & Cie. KG, Guetersloh (DE)
PCT Filed May 18, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/063116
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 7, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/215343, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 29, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2017 111 187.5 (DE), filed on May 23, 2017; application No. 10 2017 120 157.2 (DE), filed on Sep. 1, 2017; application No. 10 2017 120 163.7 (DE), filed on Sep. 1, 2017; application No. 10 2017 120 171.8 (DE), filed on Sep. 1, 2017; and application No. 10 2018 105 641.9 (DE), filed on Mar. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0187749 A1, Jun. 18, 2020
Int. Cl. A47L 15/42 (2006.01); D06F 39/00 (2024.01)
CPC A47L 15/4291 (2013.01) [A47L 15/4209 (2016.11); A47L 15/4285 (2013.01); A47L 15/4297 (2013.01); D06F 39/006 (2013.01); A47L 2401/09 (2013.01); A47L 2501/01 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cleaning device, comprising:
a cleaning container comprising a cleaning chamber and configured to accommodate cleaning material to be cleaned;
a heat pump device which has an evaporator arranged inside a heat storage medium tank and configured to cause an increase in a volume of a liquid heat storage medium received therein through partial freezing of the liquid heat storage medium so as to displace at least a portion of the liquid heat storage medium; and
an intermediate storage positioned above the heat storage medium tank, the intermediate storage being configured to receive at least the portion of the liquid heat storage medium displaced from the heat storage medium tank,
wherein the intermediate storage and the heat storage medium tank are arranged relative to one another such that at least the portion of the liquid heat storage medium that is displaced to the intermediate storage is returnable to the heat storage medium tank due to a gravitation force, and
wherein the heat storage medium tank is located at least partially below the cleaning container and the intermediate storage is arranged at least to a side of the cleaning container.