DE102010001460A1 - Cooling device e.g. cooler, has immersing element heat-conductively connected with evaporator surface of refrigerant cycle, where immersing element is attached to cold side and warm side of thermoelectric cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device i.e. household cooling device (1), has ice pieces producing device for producing ice pieces and comprising a tank (13) with liquid and an immersing element (11) immersed in the liquid to freeze the liquid on surface of the immersing element. The immersing element is heat-conductively connected with an evaporator surface of a refrigerant cycle. The immersing element is thermally attached to a cold side (37) and a warm side (38) of a thermoelectric cooling device (12a) i.e. Peltier element.

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular household refrigerating appliance with a device for producing ice pieces, comprising a liquid container with liquid, at least one immersion element, which is adapted to be immersed in the liquid to allow it to freeze growing on the surface of the immersion element.

From the WO 2009/010424 A2 A device is known for producing edible ice cubes with at least one heat-conducting immersion element provided with an ice adhesion surface and with the ice adhesion surface suitable for immersion in an edible liquid. A refrigeration device is structurally connected to the submerged element, which is configured with a predetermined heat transport device for cooling down at least the ice adhesion surface to a freezing temperature of the liquid in such a way that, in a submerged state of the submerged element, that liquid which is present in the vicinity of the ice adhesion surface, is freezable and from a portion of the liquid on the Eisadhäsionsfläche an ice cube can be formed.

The object of the invention is to improve an apparatus and a method for producing ice pieces.

The object is achieved by a refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigeration device with a device for producing ice pieces, comprising a liquid container with liquid, at least one immersion element, which is adapted to be immersed in the liquid to allow it to freeze growing on the surface of the immersion element wherein the refrigeration device has a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator surface and the immersion element is conductively connected to the heat exchanger surface of the evaporator.

At an evaporator or its evaporator surface prevail the lowest temperatures in a refrigerator. Therefore, a thermal coupling of a Eisstückbereiters is provided according to the invention to the evaporator in order to exploit the prevailing low temperatures there can. In particular, the invention provides a connecting element between the immersion element and the evaporator surface, so that the waste heat from the ice maker can be transmitted as well as possible to the evaporator and thus to the coolant of the cooling device. The invention provides, in particular, a thermal coupling to the evaporator of a clean refrigerator without a freezer compartment. In particular, it may be a lamellar evaporator of a so-called Nofrost unit, in which a dynamic cooling of the interior takes place with the aid of a fan. For this purpose, for example, the heat sink of the finned evaporator can be redesigned into a connecting element.

A coupling of the thermoelectric ice maker can be done on various types of evaporators, especially not only evaporator types with dynamic cooling, but also evaporator types for static cooling of the interior. In this case, however, it should be noted that the area of the evaporator surface required by the coupling surface of the device for producing ice pieces, in particular the immersion elements, is no longer available for cooling the interior space.

Coupling, in particular direct coupling of the ice maker to the evaporator of the refrigerator can mean, in addition to a favorable removal of waste heat, a further advantage in terms of the possible operating time of the icemaker.

When reaching a predetermined interior temperature of the compressor and thus the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator is usually switched off. Since the waste heat from the ice maker can no longer be dissipated via the refrigeration cycle when the compressor is switched off, the ice maker would have to be switched off as otherwise it would become too hot and ice production would become more and more inefficient.

In refrigerators with speed-controlled compressor, however, according to the invention there is the possibility to continue to run the compressor with reduced power, d. H. Do not switch off when reaching the specified interior temperature of the refrigerator. This allows the waste heat to be dissipated without further cooling the interior, although the compressor continues to run. then the icemaker does not have to be switched off, but more ice can be produced during the same period of time since the otherwise required shutdown times can be dispensed with.

Thus, according to the invention, ice-cream production in a pure refrigerator d. H. without freezer possible. An optimal removal of the waste heat of the ice maker from the refrigerator compartment is possible via the refrigeration circuit of the refrigerator. In a refrigerator with variable speed compressor, the compressor can continue to run despite reaching the desired interior temperature at low speed, whereby the waste heat from the ice maker can continue to be dissipated and thereby the amount of ice produced per day can be increased.

The immersion element may be thermally conductively connected to a cold side of a thermoelectric cooling device, in particular a Peltier element, and a hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device to be connected to the evaporator surface for cooling down the freezing point of the liquid.

The hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device may be connected in heat-conducting manner to evaporator tubes of a coil evaporator. The coupling of the thermoelectric ice maker is thus possible on a winding evaporator. The coupling is carried out similarly as in a finned evaporator and indeed via a particular good heat conduction exhibiting connecting element, for. B. metal connecting element on the refrigerant pipes. Here too, as with the coupling of the ice maker to a plate evaporator, the occupied area for cooling the interior is lost. In addition, in the inner wall of the inner container a recess for the coupling of the at least one immersion element to the evaporator surface d. H. to provide to the refrigerant tubes.

Alternatively, the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device may be thermally conductively connected to an evaporator plate of a plate evaporator. In these evaporator types, a flat surface with the necessary fastening devices, which may have, for example, holes and fastening screws, be present for coupling. In the case of a plate evaporator affixed to a rear wall of a refrigerated goods inner container, a recess is provided in the refrigerated goods inner container, so that the thermoelectric cooling device, in particular a Peltier element, can be placed directly on the bare metal of the evaporator plate. With an evaporator hanging freely in the refrigeration compartment, the thermoelectric ice maker can be placed directly with the Peltier elements on the evaporator plate.

The hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device may also be connected to fins or evaporator tubes of a finned evaporator.

In all embodiments according to the invention, the immersion element or the warm side of the thermoelectric cooling device can be connected to the evaporator surface via a heat-conducting connection device. The heat-conducting connection device may comprise, for example, a metal sheet or a metal body. The sheet may be formed into a structural body, on the one hand, the thermoelectric cooling device, in particular the Peltier element can lie flat with its hot side and on the other hand, the evaporator plate can lie flat or coolant tubes in trough-shaped depressions. The contact surfaces or the channel-shaped depressions can also be made from the metal body of the solid. As the material for the metal sheet or the metal body, a good heat conductive material such as aluminum may be used.

In this case, the heat-conducting connection device may have a metal body, in particular made of aluminum, which is connected in particular flat with the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device and have a fastening means for coupling the connecting device to the evaporator surface.

The fastening means may comprise at least one channel into which an evaporator tube is at least partially insertable. By a snug nestling of the metal body to the evaporator tubes as large a contact surface is used to derive heat from the thermoelectric cooling device to the evaporator tubes can.

The fastening means may comprise at least one bore or an internal thread, by means of which the immersion element or the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device is positively connected to the evaporator plate. The immersion element or the warm side of the thermoelectric cooling device can thus be screwed to the evaporator, in particular detachably screwed.

Alternatively, the fastening means may comprise a soldering or splice, by means of which the immersion element or the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device is materially connected to the evaporator plate. Thus, the immersion element or the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device is permanently attached to the evaporator.

The immersion element may, for example, be connected to the evaporator surface through a recess in an insulation layer of the refrigeration device. When the evaporator surface, such as in the case of concealed plate evaporators behind a cooling vessel inner wall and thus outside of the cooling tank, access can be provided by the recess to connect the immersion element or the hot side of the thermoelectric cooling device with the evaporator plate can.

In all embodiments according to the invention, the immersion element can protrude into an interior of the refrigeration device, in particular a cooling device, which has an interior temperature of at least zero degrees Celsius. The cooling device is thus not set up to automatically generate temperatures of less than zero degrees Celsius on its own due to the refrigeration cycle and to freeze water. Temperatures below zero degrees Celsius are generated only by the thermoelectric cooling device, in particular the at least one Peltier element, primarily to produce pieces of ice, especially clear pieces of ice.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are based on the 1 to 5 described. From the detailed description of this specific embodiment, there are also other general features and advantages of the present invention.

Show it:

1 a perspective view of an exemplary household refrigerator with an apparatus according to the invention for the production of ice pieces;

2 a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention for the production of ice pieces;

3 a sectional view of a cooling device with dynamic cooling of the interior by means of a fan and a device for producing ice pieces;

4 a sectional view of a refrigerator with a static plate evaporator and a device for producing pieces of ice;

5 a sectional view of a cooling unit with winding evaporator and a device for generating pieces of ice.

An in 1 illustrated household refrigerator 1 has a body 2 with an inner container 3 on. The inner container 3 limits one as a refrigerator 4a and one as a freezer 4b trained cold room 4 , Front openings of the carcass 2 are by means of two door leaves 5a and 5b closable. The door leaf shown on the right 5a is pivotable about a vertical axis about a body via a hinge arrangement on the body 2 stored. The right door leaf 5a has one in the closed position the refrigerator 4a facing inside 6a on. On the inside 6a can door racks 7a -E be stored. In the example shown is in the refrigerator 4a a pull-out plate 8th in the form of an extendable glass plate 8a arranged. The left door leaf 5b is pivotable about a vertical axis about a body via a hinge arrangement on the body 2 stored. Instead of a single extension plate 8th or glass plate 8a can also have several extension plates 8th or glass plates 8a in the fridge 4a be arranged. The door leaf shown on the left 5b has a in the closed position the freezer compartment 4b facing inside 6b on. In the example shown is in the freezer compartment 4b an extension plate according to the invention 8th in the form of an extendable glass plate 8b arranged. Instead of a single extension plate 8th or glass plate 8b can also have several extension plates 8th or glass plates 8b in the freezer room 4b be arranged. The refrigeration device 1 has a device in the illustrated embodiment 9 for producing ice pieces.

The 2 shows a device according to the invention 9 for producing ice pieces. At a base carrier 10 are at least one, in the example shown four immersion elements 11 intended. The immersion elements 11 are preferably rigid with the base support 10 connected. The immersion elements 11 are with a refrigeration device 12 connected. The immersion elements 11 are designed as vertically downwardly facing cooling fingers. The immersion elements 11 protrude in the operating position shown, ie, during the freezing of liquid at the at least one immersion element 11 in a liquid container 13 one. The liquid container 13 is by means of a positioning device 14 movable. The liquid container 13 is by means of the positioning device 14 in particular vertically, for example on a linear bearing 15 movable upwards and downwards.

Via a linear actuator 16 , which is a drive shaft 17 drives on which two levers 18a . 18b are attached, the liquid container 13 be moved vertically. For this purpose, the positioning 14 two cones 19a . 19b by means of which the liquid container 13 , in particular guided by the linear bearing 15 be moved vertically. The linear bearing 15 can be designed as a guide groove, in particular two Führungsnute. The liquid container 13 forms a water tub.

The device 9 has a collection container 20 for pieces of ice produced 22 on. The collection container 20 is in particular in a plane below the liquid container 13 arranged. The collection container 20 is in particular the liquid container 13 upstream. Directly below the liquid container 13 is a leftover container 21 arranged for residual liquid. The rest container 21 is in the example shown next, especially immediately adjacent to the collection container 20 ,

The liquid container 13 has an, in particular upwardly open insertion opening 23 on. The insertion opening 23 is in the illustration according to 2 from a lock 24 covered. The closure 24 is in the embodiment of two flaps 24a and 24b educated. The flaps 24a and 24b are in particular pivotable on the liquid container 13 stored. shutters 24a and 24b can by spring means in the in 2 be shown biased closed position. In 2 is also a tap 25 for fresh liquid, especially fresh water shown.

In 3 is the refrigeration device 1 shown. The refrigeration device 1 has the inner container 3 on having a cold room 4a limited to the storage of refrigerated goods above zero degrees Celsius and the through the door leaf 5a is closable. The door leaf 5a lies in its closed position with a circumferential door seal 30 on a front end wall 31 of the inner container 3 at. To the refrigerator 4a is a cold channel 32 connected. In the cold channel 32 run evaporator tubes 33a , The evaporator tubes 33a are to improve the heat transfer to the indoor air with fins 34 connected. To generate a forced convection is located in the cooling channel 32 a fan 35 , the warmed cold room air from the fridge 4a sucks, as through the intake 36 indicated, along the cooling fins 34 and evaporator tubes 33a can flow along, allowing cooled air back into the refrigerator 4a can circulate. In this embodiment, the surfaces of the evaporator tubes form 33a an evaporator surface 33 ,

The in the liquid container 13 immersed immersion element 11 are with a cold side 37 a thermoelectric cooling device 12a , in particular a Peltier element connected. A warm side 38 the thermoelectric cooler 12a , in particular a Peltier element is by means of a metal body 39a trained connecting device 39 with the evaporator surface 33 or the evaporator tubes 33a or the slats 34 connected. The connection device 39 or the metal body 39 can be made in particular of aluminum.

In 4 is an alternative designed refrigeration device 1 shown. It is a cooling device 1 with a static plate evaporator 40 , On an evaporator plate 33b the plate evaporator 40 is the warm side 38 the thermoelectric cooler 12a , in particular the Peltier element attached. The cold side 37 is with the at least one immersion element 11 connected. The warm side 38 the thermoelectric cooler 12a , in particular of the Peltier element, for example, to the evaporator plate 33b screwed on, soldered or glued. In this case, the inner container 3 a recess 41 have over which the hot side 38 the thermoelectric cooler 12a , in particular of the Peltier element with the evaporator plate 33b is connectable.

In 5 is a winding evaporator 42 shown. One as a metal body 39a trained connecting device 39 is with the evaporator pipes 33c of the winding evaporator 42 connected. The connection device 39 or the metal body 39a has grooves 43 on, in which sections of the evaporator tubes 33c of the winding evaporator 42 nestle.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2009/010424 A2 [0002]

Claims (12)

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance ( 1 ) with a device ( 9 ) for producing ice pieces ( 22 ), comprising a liquid container ( 13 ) with liquid, at least one immersion element ( 11 ), which is adapted to be immersed in the liquid in order to attach it to the surface of the immersion element ( 11 ) to freeze growing, characterized in that the refrigeration device a refrigerant circuit ( 12 ) with an evaporator surface ( 33 ) and the immersion element ( 11 ) with the evaporator surface ( 33 ) is thermally conductively connected. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the immersion element ( 11 ) for its cooling below the freezing point of the liquid thermally to a cold side ( 37 ) a thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ), in particular a Peltier element, and a hot side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) with the evaporator surface ( 33 ) is thermally conductively connected. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the hot side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) on evaporator tubes ( 33c ) of a winding evaporator ( 42 ) is connected thermally conductive. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the hot side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) to an evaporator plate ( 33b ) of a plate evaporator ( 40 ) is connected thermally conductive. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the hot side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) on lamellae ( 34 ) and / or evaporator tubes ( 33a ) of a finned evaporator is connected thermally conductive. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the immersion element ( 11 ) or the warm side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) via a thermally conductive connecting device ( 39 ) with the evaporator surface ( 33 ) connected is. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the heat-conducting connection device ( 39 ) a metal body produced in particular from aluminum ( 39a ), which in particular flat with the hot side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) and a fastening means for coupling the connecting device ( 39 ) to the evaporator surface ( 33 ) having. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means at least one channel ( 43 ) into which an evaporator tube ( 33c ) is at least partially usable. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means comprises at least one bore or an internal thread, by means of which the immersion element ( 11 ) or the warm side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) with the evaporator plate ( 33b ) is positively connected. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the fastening means comprises a soldering or splice, by means of which the immersion element ( 11 ) or the warm side ( 38 ) of the thermoelectric cooling device ( 12a ) with the evaporator plate ( 33b ) is integrally connected. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the immersion element ( 11 ) through a recess ( 41 ) in an inner wall of the refrigeration device ( 1 ) through with the evaporator surface ( 33 ) connected is. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the immersion element ( 11 ) in an interior of the refrigerator ( 1 ), in particular a cooling device which has an interior temperature of at least zero degrees Celsius.

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