CN101788219B

CN101788219B - Refrigeration appliance and container for refrigeration appliance

Info

Publication number: CN101788219B
Application number: CN 200910028962
Authority: CN
Inventors: 章传; 林志刚; 韩业安
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2009-01-23
Filing date: 2009-01-23
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-23
Also published as: CN101788219A

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance comprising a storage space (2) which can maintain the low-pressure state and a low-pressure relieving device (4) for relieving the low-pressure state of the storage space (2). The low-pressure relieving device (4) comprises an air channel (5) communicated with a fluid of the storage space (2) and a valve element (6) for opening or closing the air channel (5), wherein the valve element (6) comprises a movable piece (7) which can rotate between the closing position and the opening position. The low-pressure relieving device (4) further comprises a driving piece (8) for driving the movable piece (7) to move to the opening position from the closing position. According to suggestions of the invention, the driving piece (8) can be connected to the movable piece (7) in a relatively movable manner and can linearly move when the movable piece (7) moves between the closing position and the opening position.

Description

Refrigeration device and container for a refrigeration device

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a refrigerator appliance and a container for a refrigerator appliance, and more particularly, to a refrigerator appliance having a storage space in which low pressure can be maintained and a container having the storage space.

[ background art ]

It is known to provide storage spaces in refrigeration appliances that contain low amounts of oxygen in order to keep food longer. For example, CN2900399 discloses a refrigeration appliance having a low-pressure storage container housed in a storage chamber, wherein the low-pressure storage container defines a storage space suitable for storing food, and the storage space can be at least partially evacuated by an evacuation system disposed in the refrigeration appliance to form a low-pressure state to improve the preservation environment of the food.

The low-pressure storage container is provided with a low-pressure releasing device for releasing the low-pressure state in the storage space. The low pressure relief device includes a gas passage provided on the cover body of the low pressure storage container and a valve device provided in association with the gas passage. The gas passage is selectively opened or closed by controlling the valve means, thereby controlling whether the storage space communicates with the outside. When the air passage is opened, external air may enter the storage space to release the storage space from a low pressure state, and thus the storage space may be opened to perform an operation such as taking and putting food. The valve device includes a one-piece cantilever arm including a first end having an aperture that engages a tab of a handle for opening the low pressure storage container. When a user operates the handle to open the low pressure storage container, the first end of the cantilever is pressed downward and causes the second end opposite to the first end to rotate upward, so that the gas passage is opened and external gas enters the low pressure storage container to release the low pressure state therein. Thus, the release of the low pressure state of the low pressure storage container and the opening of the low pressure storage container can be completed in one step, and the operation of the low pressure storage container can be simplified accordingly.

However, the cantilever has a rotational movement to move in the horizontal and longitudinal directions when the cantilever is moved between the open position and the closed position. Therefore, there must be a large clearance in the horizontal direction between the hole and the projection to allow the cantilever to have a displacement in the horizontal direction, and the horizontal movement of the projection causes a pressure between the projection and the cantilever in driving the cantilever to move. Therefore, the first end of the cantilever and the protrusion of the handle must have sufficient strength to withstand such pressure so as not to break the protrusion or cantilever. In addition, when the hole is exposed to the outside of the container, foreign substances such as dust easily enter the hole through such a gap, thereby possibly causing contamination of the valve device and a reduction in airtightness between the gas passage and the valve device. These disadvantages result in reduced reliability of the low pressure storage container and the life span of the associated components.

[ summary of the invention ]

It is therefore an object of the present invention to address at least one of the above mentioned technical problems, and to provide a more reliable container for a refrigeration appliance and a refrigeration appliance comprising such a container.

One aspect of the present invention pertains to a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance comprises: a storage space capable of maintaining a low pressure state; an air extraction system for extracting air from the storage space; and a low pressure releasing means for releasing a low pressure state of the storage space, the low pressure releasing means including a gas passage in fluid communication with the storage space and a valve element for opening or closing the gas passage, wherein the valve element includes a movable member movable between a first position in which the gas passage is closed and a second position in which the gas passage is opened; the movable member has rotational movement over at least part of its travel when moving between the first and second positions; the low pressure releasing device further comprises a driving piece for driving the movable piece to move from the first position to the second position; the driving member is connected to the movable member in a relatively movable manner, and moves linearly when the movable member moves between the first position and the second position.

In this way, the running track of the driving member is simplified, thereby improving the reliability and the service life of the low pressure relief device.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention, individually or in combination with other features, are set forth in the following appended claims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the driving member and the movable member are in point contact or line contact. In this way, the friction between the drive element and the movable element can be greatly reduced, so that it is possible to move the drive element relative to the movable element with a low force.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the driving member comprises an end surface in contact with the movable member, said end surface being curved. Particularly advantageously, the end face is a portion of a spherical surface.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the low pressure relief means comprises a guide hole for guiding the actuating member, the actuating member comprising a first portion at least partly received in the guide hole and movable with respect to the guide hole. Thus, the driving member can make accurate linear movement at the guidance of the guide hole.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide hole has a shape corresponding to the first portion, and the inner dimension of the guide hole is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the first portion. The clearance between the guide hole and the first portion can thus be very small, which not only reduces the visibility of the guide hole and the drive element, but is particularly advantageous for obtaining an aesthetically pleasing and neat refrigeration appliance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive member comprises a key for operation by a user.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable member comprises a cantilever arm connected at one end to the drive member and arranged at the other end in association with the gas channel.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low pressure relief means is provided on a wall of the storage space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a storage compartment defined by a cabinet formed by a container received in the storage compartment is included.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the container is removably housed within the storage compartment and is arranged to: the low pressure in the storage space may be maintained after the container is removed from the storage compartment.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a container for a refrigeration appliance. The container comprises a storage space capable of maintaining a low-pressure state and a low-pressure releasing device for releasing the low-pressure state of the storage space; the low pressure relief device includes a gas passage in fluid communication with the reservoir space and a valve element to open or close the gas passage, wherein the valve element includes a movable member movable between a first position in which the gas passage is closed and a second position in which the gas passage is open; the movable member has rotational movement over at least part of its travel when moving between the first and second positions; the low pressure releasing device further comprises a driving piece for driving the movable piece to move from the first position to the second position; the driving member is connected to the movable member in a relatively movable manner, and moves linearly when the movable member moves between the first position and the second position.

The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein,

fig. 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a refrigeration appliance 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a container 13 having a low pressure relief device 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the cover 16 of the container 13 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

Please refer to the drawings, and particularly to fig. 1. The refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a cabinet 17 defining at least one storage compartment 12. The storage compartment 12 is adapted to store items such as food. The front end of the storage chamber 12 is selectively opened or closed by a door 18 connected to the cabinet 17. The cabinet 17 and the door 18 are respectively provided with a thermal insulation foam layer to reduce heat exchange with the outside of the storage chamber 12.

The refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a container 13 housed within the storage compartment 12 and an extraction system 3 to extract gas within the container 13. In this embodiment, the evacuation system 3 includes a vacuum pump 19 and a line 20 connected between the container 13 and the vacuum pump 19. When the vacuum pump 19 is turned on, the gas in the container 13 is pumped out, so that the oxygen content in the container 13 can be reduced to prolong the preservation time of the food in the container 13.

The container 13 comprises a storage space 2 which can be kept in a low pressure state and is suitable for preserving food. The term "low pressure" as used herein is relative to a standard atmosphere, which is lower than a standard atmosphere. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is between a normal atmospheric pressure and an absolute vacuum, for example, when the absolute pressure in the storage space 2 is 500 to 600 mbar (relative pressure is 400 to 500 mbar), it is considered suitable for preserving food. Since the air pressure in the storage space 2 is lower than a standard atmospheric pressure, the container 13 is also commonly referred to as a "vacuum refreshing container" by those skilled in the art.

The container 13 is provided to allow a user to selectively open or close the storage space 2. In the present embodiment, the container 13 includes a case 14 forming most of the storage space 2 and a cover 15 detachably coupled to the case 14. The cover 15 and the case 14 are tightly coupled to prevent external air from entering the storage space 2 from the junction of the case 14 and the cover 15 when the pressure inside the storage space 2 is less than the external air pressure. The box 14 and the cover 15 together form a wall 16 defining the storage space 2. In the present embodiment, the container 13 has a substantially square outer contour, and thus the wall 16 includes a top wall (not shown), a bottom wall (not shown), and four side walls (not shown).

The container 13 is provided with an evacuation path 22 on the lid 15 in fluid communication with the storage space 2, one end of the evacuation path 22 being in communication with the storage space 2 and the other end being for fluid connection with the evacuation system 3. Thus, the gas located in the storage space 2 is removed from the storage space 2 by the vacuum pump 19, thereby reducing the amount of gas in the storage space 2 and lowering the pressure of the storage space 2. Preferably, the container 13 comprises a suction valve located in the suction path 22 for opening or closing the suction path 22. The extraction valve is arranged to: when the evacuation procedure is performed on the container 13, the evacuation path 22 is opened; when the air-extracting process of the container 13 is completed, the air-extracting valve closes the air-extracting path 22 to maintain the low pressure state in the storage space 2.

Preferably, the container 13 is housed, integrally removable, inside the storage compartment 2 and is arranged: the low pressure in the storage space 2 can be maintained after the container 13 is removed from the storage chamber 12. This improves the ease of use of the container 13. The container 13 may be provided with a handle to facilitate moving and carrying the container 13.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the container 13 further includes a low pressure releasing device 4 for releasing the storage space 2 from a low pressure state, so that the pressure inside and outside the storage space 2 is balanced to open the storage space 2 for operations such as taking and putting food.

In the present embodiment, the low pressure releasing device 4 is provided on the cover 15. The low pressure relief device 4 comprises a charging channel 5 provided through the wall 16 and a valve element 6 for controlling the charging channel 5. In a normal state, in which the storage space 2 is closed and maintained in a low pressure state, the inflation passage 5 and the valve element 6 are closed. When it is required to release the storage space 2 from a low pressure state, the valve element 6 opens the gas filling passage 5 to communicate the storage space 2 with the outside, so that the external gas can enter the storage space 2 through the gas filling passage 5 until the internal and external pressures are equalized.

The cover body 15 includes a recess 23 for mounting the valve element 16, wherein the upper end of the inflation channel 5 communicates with the recess 23. The valve element 6 is housed in the recess 23 and fixed in the recess 23 by a fixing block 24.

The valve element 6 comprises a movable part 7 which is movable relative to the inflation channel 5. The movable member 7 is embodied in a cantilever manner and includes a first end supported on the spring 27 and a second end opposite to the first end, close to the upper port of the inflation channel 5 to close the inflation channel 5. A spring 27 deformable in the longitudinal direction is fixed in the recess 23 to support the movable member 7 upward. In the absence of external force, the second end of the movable element 7 is urged upwards by a spring 27 in a first position (shown in figure 2) in which it can press against a port in the inflation channel 5.

The underpressure release device 4 comprises a drive member 8 for driving the movable member 7 to move the latter from the first position to the second position in which the inflation channel 5 is open. In this embodiment, the drive member 8 is formed as a button which is exposed outside the container 13 and can be manually operated by the user. The driving member 8 is connected to an upper surface of the first end of the movable member 7 such that when an external force is applied to the driving member 8 to move it downward, the first end of the movable member 7 is moved downward by the driving of the driving member 8, and accordingly, the second end of the movable member 7 is tilted upward to such an extent that the inflation passage 5 is opened. Thereby, the external air can be introduced into the storage space 2, and the low pressure state in the storage space 2 is released.

Since the force exerted by the drive element 8 on the movable element 7 deviates significantly from the centre of gravity of the latter, during the movement of the movable element 7 from the first position, in which the inflation channel 6 is closed, to the second position, in which the inflation channel 6 is open, the movable element 7 performs a rotational movement, so that it has not only a displacement vector in the longitudinal direction, but also a displacement vector in the transverse direction.

The movable member 7 includes a diaphragm 26 having elasticity. The diaphragm 26 is fitted over the second end of the movable member 7, and when the storage space 2 is in a low pressure state and the movable member 7 is in the first position, the portion of the diaphragm 26 corresponding to the upper port of the inflation passage 5 is deformed and depressed downward by the external air pressure (which is greater than the air pressure of the storage space 2 and the inflation passage 5), so that the inflation passage 5 is more reliably closed. The upper end of the inflation channel 5 is preferably formed with an inverted conical inner surface to enhance the sealing effect between the membrane 26 and the inflation channel 5. Preferably, the diaphragm 26 is made of silicone rubber.

Referring to fig. 2 in particular, the driving member 8 and the movable member 7 are two separate components, and the driving member 8 is movably connected to the movable member 7 relative to the movable member 7. In this embodiment, the lower end surface 9 of the driving member 8 is in contact with the upper surface of the movable member 7. When the movable member 7 moves between the first and second positions and thus has displacement vectors in two directions perpendicular to each other, the driving member 8 makes a linear movement along the guide hole 11 with a determined longitudinal direction. Meanwhile, when the driving member 8 moves downward by an external force, the lower end surface 9 and the upper surface of the movable member 7 slide relatively.

In order to reduce the friction between the lower end surface 9 of the driving element 8 and the upper surface of the movable element 7, the lower end surface 9 and the movable element 7 are preferably in point contact or surface contact. In a preferred embodiment, the lower end surface 9 has a spherical or spheroidal shape, while the corresponding contact surface of the movable element 7 is a flat surface.

The fixing cover 24 includes a guide hole 11 for guiding the linear movement of the driving member 8. The driving member 8 includes a first portion 10 received in the guide hole 11 and movable up and down with respect to the guide hole 11. Preferably, the guide hole 11 has a shape corresponding to the first part 10 of the driver 8, e.g. the first part 10 of the driver and the guide hole 11 have a cylindrical outer/inner surface.

Since the first part 10 only requires linear movement to drive the movable member 7 in a rotational movement, the guide hole 11 is preferably configured to snugly receive the first part 10 and to allow the first part 10 to move up and down within the guide hole 11. Thus, the inner dimension of the guide hole 11 is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the first portion 10, preferably slightly larger than the latter. Thus, the gap between the guide hole 11 and the first portion 10 can be kept very small.

In the above embodiment, the driving member 8 carries the movable member 7 to perform the rotational movement by the movement in the longitudinal direction. However, the invention should not be limited to this, but other embodiments are possible. For example, by suitable arrangement, it is also possible for the drive member 8 to rotate by pushing the movable member 7 in its horizontal movement.

Claims

1. A refrigeration appliance (1) comprising:

a storage space (2) capable of maintaining a low pressure state,

an extraction system (3) for extracting gas from the storage space (2), and

a low pressure release device (4) for releasing a low pressure state of the storage space (2), the low pressure release device (4) including a gas passage (5) in fluid communication with the storage space (2) and a valve element (6) for opening or closing the gas passage (5), wherein the valve element (6) includes a movable member (7) movable between a first position in which the gas passage (5) is closed and a second position in which the gas passage (5) is opened; -said movable member (7) has a rotary motion at least for part of its travel when said movable member (7) moves between said first position and said second position;

the low pressure release device (4) further comprises a driving member (8) for driving the movable member (7) to move from the first position to the second position;

characterized in that the driving member (8) is relatively movably connected to the movable member (7) and that the driving member (8) moves linearly when the movable member (7) moves between the first position and the second position.

2. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the driving member (8) and the movable member (7) are in point contact or line contact.

3. A refrigerator appliance (1) as in claim 1, characterized by the driving member (8) comprising an end surface (9) in contact with the movable member (7), said end surface (9) being curved.

4. A refrigerator appliance (1) as in claim 2, characterized by the driving member (8) comprising an end surface (9) in contact with the movable member (7), said end surface (9) being curved.

5. A refrigerator appliance (1) as in claim 3, characterized by the end surface (9) being a portion of a sphere.

6. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 4, characterized by the end surface (9) being a portion of a sphere.

7. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, wherein the low pressure relief device (4) comprises a guide hole (11) for guiding the driving member (8), the driving member (8) comprising a first part (10) at least partially received in the guide hole (11) and being movable relative to the guide hole (11).

8. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide hole (11) has a shape corresponding to the first portion (10), and the inner dimension of the guide hole (11) is substantially equal to the outer dimension of the first portion (10).

9. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the driving element (8) comprising a push button for operation by a user.

10. A refrigerator (1) as in claim 7, characterized by the driving element (8) comprising a button for operation by a user.

11. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the movable member (7) comprising a cantilever arm connected at one end to the driving member (8) and arranged at the other end in connection with the gas channel (5).

12. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein said movable member (7) comprises a cantilever arm connected at one end to said driving member (8) and at the other end arranged in association with said gas channel (5).

13. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the low pressure relief device (4) is arranged on a wall (16) of the storage space (2).

14. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, comprising a cabinet (17) and a storage compartment (12) defined by the cabinet (17), the storage space (2) being formed by a container (13) housed inside the storage compartment (12).

15. The refrigeration appliance (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, wherein said container (13) is removably housed inside said storage compartment (12), and said container (13) is arranged to: the low pressure in the storage space (2) can be maintained after the container (13) is removed from the storage compartment (12).

16. A container (13) for a refrigeration appliance (1), comprising a storage space (2) which can be kept in a low-pressure state, and low-pressure relief means (4) for relieving the low-pressure state of the storage space (2); the low pressure relief means (4) comprising a gas passage (5) in fluid communication with the storage space (2) and a valve element (6) to open or close the gas passage (5), wherein the valve element (6) comprises a movable member (7) movable between a first position in which the gas passage (5) is closed and a second position in which the gas passage (5) is open; -said movable member (7) has a rotary motion at least for part of its travel when said movable member (7) moves between said first position and said second position; the low pressure release device (4) further comprises a driving member (8) for driving the movable member (7) to move from the first position to the second position; characterized in that the driving member (8) is relatively movably connected to the movable member (7) and that the driving member (8) moves linearly when the movable member (7) moves between the first position and the second position.

17. A container (13) according to claim 16, wherein said drive member (8) and said movable member (7) are in point or line contact.

18. A container (13) according to claim 16, wherein said drive member (8) has an end surface (9) in contact with said movable member (7), said end surface (9) being curved.

19. A container (13) according to claim 17, wherein said drive member (8) has an end surface (9) in contact with said movable member (7), said end surface (9) being curved.

20. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of claims 16 to 19, characterized by a low pressure relief device (4) comprising a guide hole (11) for guiding the driving member (8), the driving member (8) comprising a first portion (10) at least partially received in the guide hole (11) and movable relative to the guide hole (11), the guide hole (11) having a shape corresponding to the first portion (10), and the inner dimension of the guide hole (11) being arranged to snugly receive the first portion (10).

21. A container (13) according to any of claims 16 to 19, wherein the actuating member (8) is a push button controlled by a user.

22. A container (13) according to claim 20, wherein the actuating member (8) is a push button controlled by the user.