Dishwashers having phase change materials

Abstract

Dishwashers having phase change materials are disclosed. An example dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening, a door movably mounted to the tub to selectively open and close the opening, and a phase change material part of at least one of the tub or the door, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is below a maximum temperature of the cycle of operation, and wherein the phase change material releases heat during a drying portion of the cycle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, the dishwasher comprising:
 a tub defining a treating chamber with an opening;   a door movably mounted to the tub to selectively open and close the opening; and   a phase change material part of at least one of the tub or the door, wherein the transition temperature of the phase change material is below a maximum temperature of the cycle of operation, and wherein the phase change material releases heat during a drying portion of the cycle.   
     
     
         2 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material absorbs heat energy during a first portion of the drying portion of the cycle, and releases heat during a second portion of the drying portion of the cycle. 
     
     
         3 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the phase change material absorbs heat energy during a washing portion of the cycle. 
     
     
         4 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tub comprises a stainless steel layer and a reflective layer, and wherein the phase change material is between the stainless steel and reflective layers. 
     
     
         5 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tub comprises a multilayer plastic material, and wherein the phase change material is injected into the multilayer plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tub comprises two plastic material layers, and wherein the phase change material is between the two plastic material layers. 
     
     
         7 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the tub comprises a plastic material, and wherein the phase change material comprises a blanket applied to an outside surface of the plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material absorbs heat energy during a washing portion of the cycle. 
     
     
         9 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a stainless steel layer and a reflective layer, and wherein the phase change material is between the stainless steel and reflective layers. 
     
     
         10 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a multilayer plastic material, and wherein the phase change material is injected into the multilayer plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises two plastic material layers, and wherein the phase change material is between the two plastic material layers. 
     
     
         12 . A dishwasher as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the tub comprises a plastic material, and wherein the phase change material comprises a blanket applied to an outside surface of the plastic material. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a dishwasher having a tub, a door, and a phase change material that is part of at least one of the tub or the door, the method comprising:
 transferring heat energy from the tub to the phase change material by effecting a rapid increase in latent thermal storage by the phase change material; and   transferring heat from the phase change material to the tub by effecting a rapid decrease in latent thermal storage by the phase change material.   
     
     
         14 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the rapid increase in latent thermal storage comprises changing the phase change material from a solid to a liquid. 
     
     
         15 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the rapid decrease in latent thermal storage comprises changing the phase change material from a liquid to a solid. 
     
     
         16 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the transferring of the heat energy from the tub to the phase change material energy occurs during a first portion of a drying portion of a cycle of operating, and wherein the transferring of the heat from the phase change material to the tub occurs during a second portion of the drying portion of the cycle of operation. 
     
     
         17 . A method as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the transferring of the heat energy from the tub to the phase change material energy occurs during a washing portion of a cycle of operation.