DE102008010520A1 - Refrigeration unit with circulating air cooling - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator has at least one convection cooled (40a, 40b) for controlling at least one circulation condition of the circulating air in the storage compartment (7). A motor (39) is provided for adjusting the control element (40a, 40b). A control unit (56) is arranged to set a position of the control (40a, 40b) in accordance with a value of the circulation condition specified by a user via the motor (39).

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with an evaporator and at least one cooled by air circulation from and to the evaporator compartment. At one off DE 10 2005 021 560 A1 known refrigerator of this type is adjacent to the compartment to be cooled, a distribution chamber formed, which is separated from the compartment by a perforated wall. The holes may be covered by a nonwoven on the side of the distribution chamber to prevent a sharp jet of cold air from the distribution chamber from encountering and drying out sensitive items to be chilled in the compartment. However, the slowed down by the diffusion layer air flow can cause condensation from the compartment is only insufficiently dissipated. So refrigerated goods can be moist in the tray, which is also not desirable.

Of the Relationship between the amount of moisture in the compartment and the coverage or non-overlapping of the holes through the fleece is not immediate for a user Conspicuous, since the amount of moisture that the user observed in the tray, primarily with the nature of the stored therein Refrigerated goods related. The probability is therefore great that a user does not properly use the fleece handles and the respective refrigerated goods not appropriate storage conditions established.

task The present invention is the known refrigeration device so on, that the probability of improper Operation is reduced.

The Task is solved with the features of claim 1: Since the user has the desired circulation condition, in particular the degree of dehumidification of the subject content, can directly pretend needs he the relationship between the position of the control and to not know the resulting circulation conditions. The default of the user is usually based on a stored in a data store, empirically determined value, however, if desired, the user may also change this value and the changed value in another datastore store or with the changed value the given Overwrite value.

one according to the first simple embodiment, the control unit is set up, to ask for the specified value by giving the user different Values of the circulation condition are available for selection.

one refined embodiment according to various Operating modes with the first embodiment in a device can be combined, the control unit is set up to the to ask for specified value by using different types of possibly stored in the storage compartment refrigerated goods offers to choose from and based on a type of refrigerated goods specifying the user one input for the specified one Refrigerated goods appropriate value of the circulation condition selects.

Around be able to make the selection of the circulation condition correctly, is preferably stored in the control unit an assignment table, each of a set of types of refrigerated goods suitable Assigns values to the circulation condition.

There different types of refrigerated goods at the same time in the storage compartment can be accommodated, the control unit should be in be able to respond appropriately to a user's input, which specifies several types of refrigerated goods. If the circulation condition is a quantitative size, that is, can be expressed in numbers, which is a bigger-lesser ratio indicate, the control unit is preferably set up a value of the circulation condition to be set on the control at least as large as the lowest a value assigned to a specified type of refrigerated goods and not greater than the highest of a given Type of refrigerated goods assigned value.

A Rule for selecting the value of the circulation condition to be set When entering multiple types of refrigerated goods can be specified by the user be.

• – Auswählen des jeweils niedrigsten einer angegebenen Art von Kühlgut zugeordneten Werts,
• – Auswählen des jeweils höchsten einer angegebenen Art von Kühlgut zugeordneten Werts,
• – Bildung eines Mittelwerts unter den den angegebenen Arten von Kühlgut zugeordneten Werten.

As a rule, among others:

• Selecting the lowest value of a given type of item to be chilled,
• Selecting the highest value assigned to a given type of refrigerated goods,
• - averaging among the values assigned to the specified types of refrigerated goods.

The Refrigeration appliance can provide a circulation path for Recirculating air from an evaporator to the storage compartment through a diffusion layer runs, and include a circulation path, the Diffusion layer bypasses. In this case, as a control is appropriate provided an element whose position the distribution of circulating air influenced on the two circulation routes.

In particular, air passage openings can be formed in a wall separating an air inflow area from the compartment, and a diffusion layer is formed by the motor between a first position in which it has the air passage openings Covered, and a second position adjustable, in which it allows an air flow through the air passage openings, bypassing the diffusion layer.

In the second position, in particular, the diffusion layer of be turned off the separating wall.

Further Features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following Description of embodiments with reference on the attached figures. Show it:

1 a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the invention;

2 a section through the refrigerator of the 1 along the line II 1 ;

3 a perspective view of the compartment and distribution chamber separating wall and mounted fittings thereon;

4 a perspective view of a control disk;

5 a section through the control disk and its surroundings;

6 a plan view of a distribution chamber and compartment-separating wall, seen from the side of the distribution chamber, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

7 a section through the wall of the 6 ; and

8th a flowchart of a method for controlling the air circulation through the distribution chamber.

1 shows a perspective view obliquely from below of a refrigerator, at which the present invention is to be explained. The device has a body 1 and a broken door 2 , The interior of the corpus 1 is divided into an evaporator area 3 above under the ceiling of the corpus 1 , a first cooling area 4 and, of this by an insulating partition 5 separated, a second cooling area 6 , The second cooling area 6 is by juxtaposed pull-out boxes 7 divided into two compartments. The first cooling area 4 is usually divided by several refrigerated goods in superposed compartments. These refrigerated goods are in the 1 omitted since they have no meaning for the present invention.

At the front of the evaporator area 3 from the first cooling area 4 separating partition 9 (please refer 2 ) is an air inlet opening 10 formed by the air from the first cooling area 4 in the evaporator area 3 can occur. Lines, through the air from the second cooling area 6 to the evaporator area 3 can flow - in the 1 not visible - in side walls of the carcass 1 run; another, in the 1 hinted possible is an air line 11 inside the door 2 , which is equal to the second cooling area 6 starts and opposite the air inlet opening 10 ends, and whose course is indicated by dashed lines in the figure.

Adjacent to the back wall 8th of the body 1 is at the partition 9 a distributor hood 12 attached to the a variety of air holes 13 is formed, through which out of the evaporator area 3 resulting cold air in the upper part of the first cooling area 4 distributed in various directions. Below the distributor hood 12 are on the back wall 8th several pairs of openings 14 from which also cold air can escape. The height of these pairs of openings 14 is chosen so that, when refrigerated goods in the first cooling area 4 are mounted, each pair of openings 14 supplies a limited of the refrigerated goods tray.

2 shows the refrigerator the 1 in a section along a vertical and in the depth direction of the body 1 extending level, which in 1 is shown by a dashed line II. Inside the evaporator area 3 are in the cut cooling coils of an evaporator 15 to see that from through the air inlet 10 penetrating air to be flown. The partition 9 is to the back wall of the corpus 1 downhill to a gutter 16 , in the evaporator 15 dripping condensate collects. Via a pipe, not shown, the condensation reaches a in the base area 17 (please refer 1 ) of the body 1 housed evaporator.

Behind the gutter 16 , adjacent to the back wall 8th , a blower is housed, which has a motor 18 , a driven by this paddle wheel 19 and a housing 20 includes. At the front of the case 20 in the axial direction of the impeller 19 , An intake opening is formed. The upper half of the case 20 runs in the circumferential direction closely around the paddle wheel 19 ; down is the case 20 open, so by turning the paddle wheel 19 radially outward accelerated air down into a chamber 21 flows.

In this chamber 21 is a hinged flap 22 accommodated. In the position shown in the figure, the flap obstructs 22 a cold air supply opening 23 going vertically down to the first cooling area 4 leads. The air becomes the back wall 8th towards and into a cold air supply path 24 pushed into it, inside the back wall 8th , from the first cooling area 4 through a thin insulation layer 25 separated, to the second cooling area 6 leads. When the at an intermediate wall 26 between the cold air supply opening 23 and the cold air supply line 24 hinged flap 22 is brought into a vertical position shown in the figure as a dotted outline, it blocks the Kaltluftversorgungsweg 24 , and the cold air flow reaches through the cold air supply opening 23 the distributor hood 12 , In the section of the 2 is one of the air holes 13 to see through the air from the distributor hood 12 in the first cooling area 4 flows.

The cold air supply path 24 leads to a distribution chamber 27 that are in the curtain wall 5 , from the first cooling area 4 separated by an insulating layer, above the second cooling region 6 extends. Between the distribution chamber 27 and the second cooling area 6 is a horizontal septum 29 arranged. It is with a variety of openings 30 (please refer 3 ), over which the distribution chamber 27 over the supply route 24 and one on a narrow side of the distribution chamber 27 formed air inlet opening 37 supplied cold air distributed over a large area in the cooling area 6 or the housed therein, open-top pull-out boxes 7 entry.

From the cooling area 6 Air flows over the door 2 formed air duct 11 back to the evaporator area 3 , To an uncontrolled transfer of air between the different temperature cooling areas 4 . 6 to prevent carrying the curtain wall 5 at the front edge one at the door 2 attached sealing profile 34 ,

The septum 29 can be removed in the body 1 be mounted, for example, by, as in 2 shown on the side walls of the carcass 1 protruding ridges 35 rests. So can, by the septum 29 is taken from the volume of the distribution chamber 27 If necessary, also be used to accommodate refrigerated goods.

3 shows a perspective view of the septum 29 seen from the direction of the distribution chamber 27 , From the septum 29 protruding vertical bars 38 divide the distribution chamber 27 in two sub-chambers 27a . 27b , one of each above one of the two pull-out boxes 7 and the other above the other pull-out box 7 lies. In the right compartment 27b is a many times broken plate 40b flat on the septum 29 lying down. openings 31 the plate 40b overlap each with the underlying openings 30 the septum 29 so the plate 40b the air flow from the sub-chamber 27b into the drawer below 7 not disabled.

The plates 40a . 40b are intended to each one in the 3 not shown, flat-lying air-permeable nonwoven 50 (please refer 2 ) to carry all the openings 31 the plates 40a . 40b covers. The fleece 50 ensures in the for the plate 40b illustrated position for a uniform distribution of air to the openings 30 the septum 29 and for a slow, even flow of air in the drawer underneath 7 Cooling effect unfolds, but at best acts only weak dehydrating.

The plates 40a . 40b are at their back wall 8th or the air inlet opening 37 facing edge respectively to a free end of a two-armed pivot lever 41a . 41b attached. The swivel arms 41a . 41b are - controlled by one of an electric motor 39 rotatable, in conjunction with 4 more precisely described control body 42 - Swiveling about an axis, which is approximately equal to the door-side edges of the plates 40a . 40b runs parallel to these edges. If an opposite free end of one of the pivoting lever 41 through the control body 42 is depressed, as in the figure using the example of the left arm 41a represented by this, the corresponding plate, here the plate 40a , at her the air inlet 37 raised adjacent edge, allowing air from the inlet opening 37 in a wedge-shaped tapering towards the door space between the plate 40a and the septum 29 flows in and through the openings 30 the septum 29 through into the drawer below 7 flows. In this case, there is a damping of the air flow through the fleece 50 is omitted, the flow rate is in the underlying drawer 7 higher than the lowered plate, so that the air supplied in the pull-out box 7 a significantly stronger drying effect unfolds.

Two sensors 54 are provided to the position - raised or on the septum 29 Overlying - the edges of the plates facing the back wall 40a . 40b to capture and to a control circuit 56 (please refer 2 ) of the electric motor 39 Report to. 3 shows the sensors 54 as of the septum 29 separate, z. B. in the rear wall 8th of the refrigeration appliance body 1 built-in elements showing the position of the plates 40 . 40b through the air inlet opening 37 through it.

4 shows a perspective view of the in 3 hidden bottom of the control body 42 , The tax body 42 includes a circular base plate 43 , from the center of a non-circular socket 44 protrudes, which is provided to the shaft of a not shown, in 3 under the control body 2 hidden electric motor 39 (please refer 2 or 5 ). Concentric to the socket 44 are two ramps at different radii 45a . 45b arranged. Each of these ramps 45a . 45b is provided to engage with one of the two under the base plate engaging pivot lever 41a . 41b co. The two ramps 45a . 45b each have a gently rising edge 46 , a crest section 47 of constant height and a steep slope 48 , As in the section of the 5 recognize, carry the pivoting lever 41a . 41b at her with the control body 42 interacting free ends each have an upright pin 49 It's one of the pivoting levers, the left one 41a in the presentation of the 5 , allows the control body 42 on the radius of the inner ramp 45a without touching the outer ramp 45b to get in touch.

By the two ramps 45a . 45b are suitably angularly offset from each other, can be achieved that there is one position of the control body 42 There, in the pins 49 both pivot lever 41a . 41b the base plate 43 touch a position in which a pen 49 the vertex section 47 the ramp 45a touched while the other pin 49 the base plate 43 touched, a position in which both pins 49 the vertex section 47 the ramp assigned to him 45a respectively. 45b touch, as well as a position in which a pen 49 the crest section of the ramp 45b touched while the other the base plate 43 touched. Conveniently, the positions follow one revolution of the control body 42 in the order mentioned. The direction of rotation of the motor 39 is chosen so that the pins 49 each the gentle flanks. 46 along the crest section 47 glide and then along the steep flanks 48 on the base plate 43 fall behind. By the flanks 48 are held steep, on the one hand, the angular intervals in which one of the four positions is present, can be made large, so that only a low accuracy in the control of the rotation angle of the control body 42 while, on the other hand, the gentle slope of the flanks 46 slipping on the pins 49 on the ramps 45a . 45b and the associated lifting of the plates 40 facilitated.

A second embodiment of the septum 29 and of parts mounted on it is in 6 in a plan view and in 7 in a section along the line VII-VII 6 shown. As in the embodiment of 3 to 5 has the septum 29 a plurality of air passage openings 30 on, and a fleece 50 (please refer 6 ) carrying plate 40a respectively. 40b can, as in 6 the example of the left plate 40a shown a flat on the septum 29 occupy a seated position, in the openings 31 the plate 40a with those of the septum 29 aligned. In itself in the depth direction of the body 1 extending webs 38 are to the back wall 8th rising ramps 53 educated. From the plates 40a . 40b protruding pins 51 lie with the left plate 40a each at the foot of the ramps 53 ,

Coupled, for example, by an electric motor, not shown, rotatable control body 42 each comprise a base plate 43 and a protruding eccentric projection, here in the form of a circular sector-shaped rib 52 , If by rotation of the control body 42 the rib 52 against the plate 40a or 40b presses, as the example of the right panel 40b in 6 shown, this is in the direction of the air inlet opening 37 pushed back, with the pins 51 on the ramps 53 slide up and thereby the plate 40 Lift. This creates a gap between the plate 40 and the septum 29 through which air from the air inlet opening 37 directly to the openings 30 the septum 29 can pass without their flow through the fleece 50 is dampened. The effects obtained thereby are the same as in the above-described embodiment.

By the ribs 52 the control body 42 are suitably angularly offset from each other, four states are adjustable here, in which either both plates 40a . 40b on the septum 29 rest, one plate rests and the other is raised or both plates 40 are raised.

Deviating from the presentation of 6 and 7 it is also possible from the ramps 53 each one of the door 2 neighboring, that is, the upper in the representation of the 6 or the left ramp 45 in the presentation of the 7 to leave out. This causes the plates 40a . 40b each between the in 7 shown on the septum 29 lying position and a parked position are movable, in each case only the air inlet opening 37 adjacent edge of a plate 40a . 40b from the septum 29 is lifted, while the door near edge of the plate continues to rests. Thus, as in the embodiment of 3 in the parked position in each case a wedge-shaped space between plate 40 and septum 29 get that from the air inlet 37 inflowing air on the septum 29 drifting toward.

Various modifications and developments of the embodiments described here are possible. So z. B. the rotatable control body 42 be replaced by linearly displaceable ramps, or other drive mechanisms for the movement of the plates 40a . 40b can be provided.

To the position of the plates 40a . 40b at any time to that in the associated drawer 7 adapt stored refrigerated goods is a user interface 55 provided at a user - z. Eg by selecting from a displayed menu - can specify the type of chilled goods stored in each drawer, and an electronic control circuit 56 selects the appropriate position of the plates for each refrigerated goods on the basis of an allocation table 40a . 40b and set this.

8th shows a flowchart of one in the control circuit 56 of the electric motor 39 expiring tax procedure. In a first step S1, a user is given the opportunity to choose the type or types of subjects in the subjects 7 stored chilled goods at the user interface 55 enter. 1 shows this user interface with a display screen and a plurality of keys, selector switches or the like. At the front edge of a cover plate of the body 1 ; Of course, it can also be installed at any other suitable location. For example, the input is made by one user to each one of the subjects 7 under pictograms or designations of different types of refrigerated goods displayed on the display screen selects those or those with the help of the buttons or selector he in the relevant compartment 7 stowed.

In step S2, the control circuit sets 56 based on the specified content for each subject 7 a desired position of the tray corresponding plate 40a respectively. 40b firmly. This is done by querying one in the control circuit 56 stored table that indicates a plate target position for each type of refrigerated goods offered for selection by the user in step S1. In the simplest case, this nominal position has either the value 0 or the value 1, corresponding to a flat or a fully raised plate. However, intermediate values of the plate position can also be specified in the table.

The user has only one type of refrigerated goods for a compartment 7 specified, the reference position specified for the compartment corresponds to the position specified in the table for this refrigerated goods. If different types of refrigerated goods are specified, the target position for the compartment may be an average of the setpoint values applicable to the types of refrigerated goods contained, the highest or the lowest of these setpoints. Which of these three alternatives is chosen may depend on the type of refrigerated goods specified, e.g. B. loose leafy vegetables is specified, its setpoint can be selected primarily as a target position of the plate, as this chilled quickly takes more damage at higher dehydration, while for other types of refrigerated goods an average value is calculated. In any case, the nominal position will be one of two numerical values in the interval [0, 1], one for each compartment 7 , receive.

In step S3, the desired positions thus obtained are compared with a switching threshold. In the simplest case, the switching threshold can be a constant, for. B. 0.5, be. If the desired position is above, then it is decided that the plate concerned should be raised; if it is below, then the plate should be lowered. When the sensors 54 Report that both plates 40a . 40b are already in the determined position for them, then the engine remains 39 turned off, and the method goes to step S4, in which the fan is operated to cool air between the evaporator section 3 and the cooling area 6 to circulate.

Are not both plates 40a . 40b in the set position, the control circuit sets the engine 39 going on until either the sensors 54 in step S5 report the achievement of the desired position, or until it is determined in step S6 that a maximum allowable operating time of the engine 39 is exceeded. If the latter is the case, there is a fault, z. B. because one of the plates 40a . 40b at the septum 29 is frozen and therefore the rotation of the control body 42 is blocked, and the fault is the user on the display screen of the user interface 55 signaled.

According to a further developed embodiment, the step S3 also after receiving the fan operation in step S4 of the control circuit 56 repeated periodically, as indicated by a dashed arrow in 8th indicated, the switching threshold is not a constant, but a sawtooth between 0 and 1 varying function of time, and the control circuit 56 decides that the plate 40a or 40b should be raised when their desired position is below the threshold and should be lowered when the desired position is above the threshold. Thus, while the blower is in operation, the plates 40 . 40b periodically switched, and the proportion of time they spend in the raised position, on the operating time of the blower is proportional to that in step for them 82 specified debit position.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005021560 A1 [0001]

Claims (12)

Refrigerating appliance with at least one circulating-air-cooled storage compartment ( 7 ) and an adjustable control ( 40a . 40b ) for controlling at least one circulation condition of the circulating air in the storage compartment ( 7 ), where an engine ( 39 ) for adjusting the control ( 40a . 40b ) and a control unit ( 56 ), a position of the control ( 40a . 40b ) according to a user-specified value of the circulation condition via the engine ( 39 ) (S3), characterized in that at least one assignment value is stored in a data memory of the refrigeration device, which assigns a suitable value of the circulation condition for at least one type of refrigerated goods. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the data memory in the control unit ( 56 ) is provided and there is stored a mapping table, which assigns each of a set of types of refrigerated goods appropriate values of the circulation condition. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the circulation condition is a quantitative quantity and that the control unit ( 56 ) is arranged to select an input of the user specifying plural kinds of refrigerated goods to select a value of the circulation condition to be set on the control (S2) that is at least as large as the lowest of a specified type of refrigerated goods and not greater than the highest is a value assigned to a specified type of refrigerated goods. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, characterized characterized in that the rule is under at least two of the following is selectable: - Select each lowest associated with a specified type of refrigerated goods value, - Select the highest one a given type of item to be refrigerated, - Form an average among the specified types of refrigerated goods assigned values. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized characterized in that the choice of rule by the user vornehmbar is. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the control unit ( 56 ) is set to select the rule based on a specified type of refrigerated goods. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control unit ( 56 ) is arranged to request the specified value by offering the user various values of the circulation condition for selection. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control unit ( 56 ) is arranged to request the specified value (S1) by offering various kinds of refrigerated goods possibly accommodated in the storage compartment for selection, and selecting a value of the circulation condition appropriate to the specified refrigerated goods from an input of the user specifying the kind of the refrigerated goods (S2 ). Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circulation condition is the degree of humidity the circulating air is. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a circulation path ( 24 . 27 ) for circulating air from an evaporator ( 3 ) to the storage compartment ( 7 ) passing through a diffusion layer ( 50 ) and a circulation path ( 24 . 27 ) comprising the diffusion layer ( 50 ) and that the position of the control ( 40a . 40b ) influences the distribution of circulating air in the two circulation paths. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in an air inflow area ( 27 ) from the subject ( 7 ) separating wall ( 29 ) Air passage openings ( 30 ) are formed and that a diffusion layer ( 50 ) by the engine ( 39 ) between a first position in which the air passage openings ( 30 ), and a second position is adjustable, in which they a flow of air through the air passage openings ( 30 ) bypassing the diffusion layer ( 50 ). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that the diffusion layer ( 50 ) in the second position of the separating wall ( 29 ) is turned off.