EP2191217B1 - Cooling device having a holder for a temperature sensor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device having a refrigerant cycle system, comprising a refrigerant compressor, a condenser, an evaporator with an evaporator plate for transmitting heat energy from a refrigeration compartment of the refrigeration device in the refrigerant cycle system and with a temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the evaporator plate via a sensor surface of the temperature sensor, which is connected by means of a holder with the evaporator plate.

In the US 1,886,042 is a refrigeration device with an automatic temperature control described. The local evaporator has a loop-shaped refrigerant pipe to which a fixing portion of a metallic clip is fixed directly by soldering or riveting. Two clips for a temperature sensor are provided on the metallic clamp opposite the fastening section fixedly connected to the refrigerant line. The clips are designed to fully encompass a cylindrical housing of the temperature sensor. In order to hold the temperature sensor in position, this is firmly connected in particular by soldering with the clips. Heat transfer from the refrigerant line to the temperature sensor is by conduction of heat through a central portion of the clip. To change the thermal conductivity of the central portion of the metallic clip is provided with a number of holes.

The US 2,419,376 discloses a metal retaining clip similar to the above prior art for connecting a temperature sensor to a refrigerant line. The metallic retaining clip shown therein is formed in several parts and consists of two uniform opposite half-shells, which are held together by means of screws. Each half-shell has two channel-shaped sections, which are connected to one another longitudinally. Between two opposite channel-shaped sections, the sensor housing or the refrigerant line is clamped. The screws extend between the sensor housing and the refrigerant line, so that due to the separate position of these two components, heat transfer can take place exclusively via the multi-part metallic retaining clip.

From the DE-OS 17 51 713 an arrangement of a temperature sensor of a thermostat is described on an evaporator plate of a refrigerator of a refrigerated cabinet. To connect the temperature sensor with the evaporator plate, a plastic body is provided. This plastic body has a blind bore into which a tubular temperature sensor can be inserted with elastic expansion. The plastic body has one or two longitudinally extending longitudinal grooves, via which the plastic body is positively and non-positively pushed onto the evaporator plate such that an edge piece of the evaporator plate engages in the longitudinal groove. Since the evaporator plate and the temperature sensor are held by the plastic body at a distance from each other, a heat transfer from evaporator plate to temperature sensor can be done exclusively on the plastic body, so that a cooling of the evaporator plate is communicated to the temperature sensor only with a time delay.

The DE 91 12 478 U1 discloses an apparatus for measuring the internal temperature of a cooling device, such as a refrigerator. A temperature sensor is held on a seat of a support member. The carrier element has two opposite lateral tongues, which are pushed under hook-shaped holding elements of a carrier plate. The support plate is in turn attached to the inside of an inner wall, which faces a gap between the inner wall and the outer wall of a housing of the refrigerator. The carrier plate is cast together with the carrier element and the temperature sensor by means of foamed polyurethane in the intermediate space.

From the generic EP 190 793 A1 a refrigerator with a temperature sensor is known in which the surface temperature of an evaporator plate can be determined by the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is inserted through a pipe to the evaporator plate. The tube is guided on the back of an inner wall of the refrigerator to the evaporator and attached there fitting. For its attachment to the evaporator plate, the tube is mounted in a trained as a clamping part holder made of plastic. A heat transfer from the evaporator plate on the temperature sensor is carried out indirectly via the voltage applied to the evaporator plate tube.

The DE 36 04 759 A1 discloses a refrigerator having a sensor removably attached to an evaporator plate proximate a rear wall of the refrigerator.

The US 2006/0130514 A1 discloses a no-frost refrigerator with an inner container in which evaporator tubes are arranged behind a housing wall of the inner container. The refrigeration device comprises a temperature sensor and a holder, with which the temperature sensor is attached to the evaporator tubes, so that it rests against the outside of the inner container.

The object of the invention is to be able to better determine the temperature of an evaporator plate.

The object is achieved by a refrigeration device with the features of claim 1.

By the holder for immediate concern of the sensor surface of the temperature sensor is formed on the evaporator plate, the temperature of the evaporator plate loss and delay can be measured via the sensor surface of the temperature sensor. Due to the direct installation of the sensor on the evaporator, the temperature is measured exactly. If the temperature can be determined more accurately, the evaporator surface can be significantly reduced compared to previously known sensor attachments. As a result, a reduction in manufacturing costs is possible because only less material is needed for the production of a smaller evaporator surface. Otherwise, more evaporator surface is available than would be necessary, which corresponds to a higher cooling capacity.

In particular, in refrigerators and fresh food appliances an internal evaporator is used to remove the heat. In order to reduce the energy consumption of the products, in addition to a sensor for measuring the interior temperature, another sensor is used to measure the evaporator temperature. The other sensor for measuring the evaporator temperature can also serve as defrost cooler. Due to manufacturing conditions, an evaporator plate is provided especially for fresh food appliances, which is brought into its correct position after foaming of the equipment container. This means that at the time of foaming, the later position of the evaporator plate is not yet determined. Therefore, the sensor for measuring the evaporator temperature can not be fixed in erected pockets, as with foamed-in evaporators. With foamed evaporators is the position set the evaporator plate from the outset, so that the sensor for measuring the evaporator temperature can be plugged into aufgedornte pockets and then the bag is only closed with a sealant, such as. Butyl sealant. In such pockets, however, an exact position of the sensor is not guaranteed. There is an uncertainty as to whether the sensor receives the temperature to be measured in direct contact with the evaporator plate or only because of heat conduction through the air. Based on these findings, the invention provides to attach the sensor for measuring the evaporator temperature by means of a holder directly to the evaporator plate, so that it is always ensured that a sensor surface of the temperature sensor is applied directly to the evaporator plate. The holder ensures a direct concern of the sensor on the evaporator board even if the evaporator plate is offset during manufacture or assembly or set up in its exact position.

The holder may have a receptacle with a recess for the sensor surface of the temperature sensor, which fixes the temperature sensor pre-mounted on the holder. In principle, a very differently shaped receptacle can be provided on the holder. However, on the one hand, the receptacle is intended to fix the temperature sensor in a defined position or position, which is why the receptacle should be adapted to the shape of the temperature sensor. On the other hand, the sensor surface of the temperature sensor should come immediately, permanently and intimately on the surface of the evaporator board to the plant, which is why the recording may not completely enclose the temperature sensor, but at least clears the relevant sensor surface, so that the evaporator plate can be applied to the sensor surface.

In this case, the receptacle can identify a trough-shaped form which fits the cross-sectional shape of the temperature sensor and surround the temperature sensor by more than 180 ° for preassembled fixing of the temperature sensor to the holder. This variant is preferably based on temperature sensors which have a substantially cylindrical shape. The receptacle is intended to surround the housing of the temperature sensor like a coat, wherein it is not necessary that the receptacle completely encloses the housing. Rather, it is only necessary to surround the temperature sensor by more than half its circumference, so that an undercut is formed on the receptacle, behind which the temperature sensor can lock captive. The extent to which the receptacle has to encompass the temperature sensor depends essentially on the material properties, in particular the elasticity of the material used for the receptacle or the holder. The robustness or sensitivity of the temperature sensor also plays a role. According to the invention, the holder is made of plastic.

On the other hand, the receptacle for forming the recess may surround the temperature sensor by less than 360 °. The receptacle could be formed completely closed by 360 ° and be provided with a recess separate from the receptacle. However, if the receptacle is designed to functionally unite with the recess, then the receptacle for forming the recess should surround the temperature sensor by less than 360 °. The recess is thus due to the free area of non-adjacent End portions of the temperature sensor encompassing recording formed. The receptacle can be made insofar as a plastic part, in which the temperature sensor is engaged. The receptacle forms part of the sensor holder. In terms of manufacturing technology, it is advantageous that the temperature sensor can be preassembled on the holder. Subsequently, the holder is fastened together with the preassembled temperature sensor on the evaporator plate. Another advantage results from the fact that a defective temperature sensor can be subsequently replaced in a simple manner, in which the defective sensor is clipped out of the receptacle and a new, functional sensor is clipped into the receptacle.

The holder has positioning means, which cooperate with Gegenpositioniermitteln the evaporator plate in the mounting position of the holder. The positioning and Gegenpositioniermittel serve for positionally and positionally correct attachment of the holder to the evaporator plate. The holder could also be attached to a different location of the evaporator board, such as. On the housing of the refrigerator. However, this would only make sense if an exact, unchangeable distance of the holder with respect to the evaporator plate would be guaranteed. The safest and most reliable is the direct attachment of the holder to the evaporator plate. This also has the advantage that even after the holder and temperature sensor have been fastened, the evaporator plate can still be changed in its position without the risk that the sensor surface of the temperature sensor could lose its fixed position against the evaporator plate. In a repositioning of the evaporator plate, the holder is synchronously moved together with the temperature sensor, whereby an exact concern of the sensor surface is maintained on the evaporator plate.

The positioning means may be formed by at least one web connected to the holder, which engages in the mounting position in a corresponding slot as Gegenpositioniermittel on the evaporator plate. Bridge and slot specify the mounting direction. Preferably, two parallel webs and corresponding slots are provided. Thus, the holder can be pushed like a rail in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the webs on the evaporator plate. In addition, a stop on the holder or the evaporator plate may be provided on which the deferred holder pending in its correct installation position. The stop prevents the holder from moving further beyond the correct installation position.

The holder may in particular comprise latching means, which cooperate with the counter-locking means of the evaporator plate for fastening the holder to the evaporator plate. By the locking means of the holder is held captive on the evaporator plate. This can be advantageous in particular during the production of the refrigeration device. Thus, the holder can be pre-assembled in particular together with the temperature sensor on the evaporator plate. As a result, a complicated mounting of the holder on an evaporator plate already installed in the refrigeration device can be dispensed with. A simple installation is achieved by the holder on a loose, freely accessible from all sides evaporator board outside the refrigerator can be pre-assembled. The Council means prevents detachment of the preassembled holder, in particular during installation of the evaporator plate in the refrigerator.

For this purpose, the latching means may be formed by a locking lug connected to the holder, which latched in the mounting position in an opening of the evaporator plate. The elasticity of the locking means is generated from the elastic properties of the holder made of plastic. Therefore, the resilient locking means and the locking lug on the holder is provided, or preferably made in one piece with this in the plastic injection molding process. Due to the design of the locking lug on the holder, it is sufficient to provide the evaporator plate with a simple breakthrough, in which engages the latch.

The breakthrough and the counterpositioning means designed in particular as slots can be made without cutting, in particular by punching the evaporator plate. This simplifies the production. So it is only necessary on the evaporator plate to make from the flat, plate-shaped material punched, which can be made in particular in the same operation with a punching of the entire contour of the evaporator plate. The material-bearing counterparts of webs and locking lugs, however, can be integrally formed on the plastic holder in a simple manner. By merely punching slots and openings, the later position of the holder or of the temperature sensor on the evaporator plate can be determined in a simple manner. In particular, this position is variable in the context of series production, ie even during series production, the position of the holder or the temperature sensor can be changed. A change in the position of the holder or the temperature sensor is possible by simply moving the slots and openings eg. During the punching of the evaporator plates. If the originally constructive position for the temperature sensor proves to be unfavorable during a functional test of the first pilot-scale units, the position on the evaporator board can be laid with little effort.

In particular, two spaced-apart, open-edged slots can be provided on the evaporator plate, between which an edge-closed breakthrough is arranged. This ensures a secure engagement of the locking lug of the holder in the opening. For safety reasons, the holder can also be designed in such a way that it can only be removed from the evaporator plate with auxiliary tools.

An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to a refrigeration device exemplified in the figures. From the detailed description of this specific embodiment, further general features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kältegerätes mit einer Verdampferplatine;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Halters;

Figur 3a

eine perspektivische Teilansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Verdampferplatine mit dem Halter nach Fig. 2 vor der Montage;

Figur 3b

die perspektivische Teilansicht der Verdampferplatine mit dem Halter nach Fig. 2 in seiner Montageposition.

Show it:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a refrigerator with a Verdampferplatine;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of a holder according to the invention;

FIG. 3a

a perspective partial view of an evaporator plate according to the invention with the holder after Fig. 2 before assembly;

FIG. 3b

the perspective partial view of the evaporator plate with the holder after Fig. 2 in its mounting position.

A refrigerator 1 according to Fig. 1 has a double-walled, foamed with insulating foam housing 2, which forms a closable by means of the first door 3 lower freezer compartment 4 and a closable by means of a separate second door 5 cold room 6. The cold room 6 is divided by an intermediate wall 7 in an upper cooling compartment 8 and a lower fresh food compartment 9. The fresh food compartment 9 is operated at temperatures of just over 0 ° Celsius and is preferably used for keeping fresh perishable goods, such as vegetables and salads. The refrigerating compartment 8 is operated at temperatures of about 8 ° to 6 ° Celsius and is used to store the other refrigerated goods. In the illustrated refrigerating appliance 1, an evaporator plate 10 is shown by way of example on a rear-side inner wall of the fresh food compartment 9. In FIG. 1 For simplicity, the evaporator plate 10 is shown without further attachments and with fresh food compartment drawers taken out. The refrigeration device 1 is operable by means of a refrigerant cycle system 11. For this purpose, the refrigerant circuit system 11 generally comprises a refrigerant compressor 12, a condenser 13 and an evaporator 14, which is conductively connected to the evaporator plate 10 conducts heat and for the transmission of heat energy from a refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator 1 in the refrigerant circuit system 11. For controlling or regulating the refrigerant circuit system 11 via a control unit 11a, among other things, the temperature of the evaporator plate 10 can be used. To determine the temperature of the evaporator plate 10, a temperature sensor 15 can be used, which is fastened by means of a holder 16 in the refrigeration device 1 such that its sensor surface 17 can detect the temperature of the evaporator plate 10.

An inventive holder 16 is in Fig. 2 shown. The holder 16 has a rectangular flat base body 18, at the upper edge of which a receptacle 19 connects. The receptacle 19 is designed channel-shaped and extends with its symmetry center line 20 parallel to the upper edge of the base body 18. The receptacle 19 has a C-shaped cross-section. The two ends of the C-arm thus formed each have a rounded edge 19a and 19b. The rounded edges 19a and 19b extend over the entire longitudinal extent of the receptacle 19. By the rounded edges 19a and 19b, a substantially cylindrically shaped temperature sensor 15 can be snapped into the receptacle 19 in a radial direction to the symmetry center line 20. During snapping, the channel-shaped receptacle 19 expands to the diameter of the temperature sensor 15, so that this can be pressed into the receptacle 19. Thereafter, the ends of the channel-shaped receptacle 19 surround the temperature sensor 15 by the trough-shaped receptacle 19 again narrows elastically. At at least one of the axially opposite ends of the channel-shaped receptacle 19, a receiving nose 19c is mounted, which rounds the inner edge of the C-shaped receptacle 19. As a result, as an alternative to a radial insertion, the temperature sensor 15 can also be inserted into the receptacle 19 in an axial direction, that is to say in the direction of the symmetry center line 20.

By the trough-shaped receptacle 19 is not formed as a completely closed tube, but comprises less than 360 °, a recess 21 is formed by the open area. The recess 21 allows in the installed mounting position of the temperature sensor 15 in the receptacle 19, the immediate concern of the sensor surface 17 on the evaporator plate 10. The recess 21 opens to one side of the base 18, on the two, the positioning means 22 forming webs 22a, 22b are attached. The webs 22a and 22b are provided on opposite side edges of the main body 18. Each web 22a, 22b is L-shaped in cross-section, with the fixed legs 22.1a and 22.1b rising perpendicularly from the plane of the main body 18 and the free legs 22.2a and 22.2b pointing away from each other outwardly in an extension of the main body 18 extend parallel plane. A respective upper end of the free legs 22.2a and 22.2b is provided with a bevel 23a, 23b. The chamfers 23a and 23b facilitate assembly, by being an insertion aid, by means of which the holder 16 can be pushed onto the evaporator plate 10. At a lower end of the base body 18, a stop 24 is arranged, at which a contour edge of the evaporator plate is present in the correct mounting position of the holder. The stop 24 rises in steps from the front plane of the main body 18 and preferably extends from the fixed leg 22.1a of the web 22a to the fixed leg 22.1b of the web 22b. In the center of the front plane of the base body 18, a latching means 25 is arranged.

The latching means 25 has a spring section 26, which is formed by a region of the base body 18. To ensure elasticity of the spring portion 26 is delimited by means of a U-shaped outbreak 27 of the main body 18. The spring portion 26 can thereby perform a tongue-like movement and after dodge in the back. In this case, the spring portion 26 bends to its fixed restraint in the region of the two ends of the U-shaped outbreak 27. The free tip of the spring portion 26 carries a detent 28. The detent 28 has substantially a circular shape and rises from the front Level of the base body 18 forward, as the webs 22a and 22b. At the upwardly facing side of the circular disc-shaped locking lug 28, a run-on slope 29 is provided. The run-on slope 29 extends continuously from the base circle of the circular disk-shaped detent nose 28 from the front plane of the main body 18 to the maximum elevation of the detent nose 28. The run-on slope 29 preferably ends before reaching the diameter of the circular-shaped detent nose 28.

The FIG. 3a shows the holder 16 after Fig. 2 with inserted temperature sensor 15 and a portion of the evaporator plate 10 prior to assembly. From the channel-shaped receptacle 19, the sensor surface 17 of the temperature sensor 15 protrudes beyond the recess 21. The evaporator plate 10 has two counterpositioning means 30 designed as slots 30a and 30b to the positioning means 22. The slits 30a and 30b are open-edged and correspond to the webs 22a and 22b of the holder 16. Each slit 30a, 30b gives rise to two opposite leading edges on the contour of the evaporator board 10, which are chamfered by respective entry chamfers 31a, 31b. The entry chamfers 31a, 31b facilitate the insertion of the upper edges of the fixed legs 22.1a and 22.1b of the holder 16 into the slots 30a and 30b of the evaporator plate 10. At the center of a formed by the two slots 30a and 30b tab 32 of the evaporator plate 10 is a Breakthrough 33a introduced. The opening 33a has a locking lug 28 of the holder 16 corresponding shape, which may be circular in particular. The opening 33a forms the counter-locking means 33 for locking means 25. To the holder 16 from the in Fig. 3a shown position in the Fig. 3b To bring the mounting position shown, the holder is brought from below against the lower edge of the evaporator plate 10 until the upper ends of the webs 22a and 22b are inserted into the slots 30a and 30b. In addition to the entry bevels 31a, 31b of the slots 30a and 30b, the chamfers 23a and 23b of the webs 22a and 22b serve as insertion aids. Thus, the holder 16 can be aligned in the two relevant vertical planes to the evaporator plate 10. After alignment, the holder 16 is pushed upward until a free outer edge 34 of the tab 32 abuts the step-like stop 24 of the holder 16. In this position, the locking lug 28 engages in the opening 33. Before snapping the locking lug 28 in the opening 33 a, the locking lug 28 is moved from its relaxed position during the insertion movement of the holder 16 due to a tarnishing of the free outer edge 34 of the tab 32 to the run-on slope 29 in a biased position in which the holder 16 to the mounting position can be advanced. In this case, the spring portion 26 deviates to the rear, 16 to spring back into its original position in the mounting position of the holder, in which then the locking lug 28 engages in the opening 33a of the evaporator plate 10.

Claims (7)

1. Cooling device having a coolant circuit system (11) comprising a coolant compressor (12), a condenser (13), an evaporator (14) having an evaporator plate (10) for transmitting thermal energy from a cooling compartment (8, 9) of the cooling device (1) into the coolant circuit system (11) and having a temperature sensor (15) for determining the temperature of the evaporator plate (10) via a sensor surface (17) of the temperature sensor (15) which is connected to the evaporator plate (10) by means of a holder (16), wherein the holder (16) is embodied to rest directly against the sensor surface (17) of the temperature sensor (15) on the evaporator plate (10), characterised in that the holder (16) has positioning means (22) which interact with opposing positioning means (30) of the evaporator plate (10) in the installed position of the holder (16), wherein the positioning means (22) are formed by at least one web (22a, 22b) which is connected to the holder (16) and which engages in the installed position into a corresponding slot (30a, 30b) as opposing positioning means (30) on the evaporator plate (10), and/or the holder (16) has latching means (25) which interact with opposing latching means (33) of the evaporator plate (10) for attaching the holder (16) to the evaporator plate (10).
2. Cooling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the holder (16) has a support (19) provided with a cutout (21) for the sensor surface (17) of the temperature sensor (15) and which fixes the temperature sensor (15) on the holder (16) in a preinstalled position.
3. Cooling device according to claim 2, characterised in that the support (19) has a design matching the cross-sectional form of the temperature sensor (15) especially in the shape of a channel, and the support (19) for preinstalled fixing of the temperature sensor (15) on the holder surrounds the temperature sensor (15) by more than 180°.
4. Cooling device according to claim 3, characterised in that the support (19) encloses the temperature sensor (15) by less than 360° to form the cutout (21).
5. Cooling device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the latching means (25) are formed by a latching lug (28) connected to the holder (16), which in the installed position latches into a breakthrough (33a) of the evaporator plate (10).
6. Cooling device according to claim 5, characterised in that the breakthrough (33a) and the opposing positioning means (30) preferably embodied as slots (30a, 30b) are produced without cutting the metal, especially by punching out the evaporator plate (10).
7. Cooling device according to claim 6, characterised in that two open-ended slots (30a, 30b) running in parallel at a distance from one another are provided on the evaporator plate (10), between which a breakthrough (33a) with an enclosed edge is arranged.

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