DE102010040351A1 - Refrigerating appliance with a water dispensing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigeration device, with an output unit (8) for tapping cooled drinking water, which can be cooled by means of a cooling unit (14). According to the invention, the refrigeration device has at least one operating element (37 to 41) which can be actuated by the user, and when actuated, the drinking water can be decoupled from the cooling unit (14) to the dispensing unit (8), where it can be drawn off as uncooled drinking water.

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, with an output unit for cooled drinking water according to the preamble of claim 1.

In modern refrigerator combinations, ice makers, ice dispensing and water dispensing units can be integrated. In such a device, the output unit or the water dispenser can be integrated in front of a freezer compartment door. To dispense chilled water or ice, the user can put a glass in the dispenser and press it accordingly by pressing a button.

From the DE 10 2005 057 132 A1 is a generic refrigeration device with such a dispensing unit known. This has a supply line connected to the water supply network, which leads to treatment units, ie an icemaker and a water tank in which the drinking water is cooled. Both the water tank and the ice maker can be connected to the output unit. In the liquid circuit of the output unit, a water filter, such as an activated carbon filter is also connected. This can filter chlorine or heavy metals from drinking water. In addition, the water filter can prevent an entry of dirt particles in the output unit.

It has been found that users not only tap cooled water from the output unit of the refrigerator for immediate drinking. Rather, the drawn from the output unit drinking water is often not drunk directly, but continue to be used in other ways, such as coffee water for brewing coffee. In this case, therefore, the water coming from the drinking water supply network is first cooled with energy in the refrigeration appliance and then has to be reheated to make coffee.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration device with a dispensing unit for chilled drinking water, the scope of use is extended by simple means.

The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the refrigeration device has an output unit for tapping cooled drinking water. The drinking water is cooled before reaching the tapping point or output unit within the refrigerator. According to the invention, the refrigeration device has at least one operating element which can be actuated by the user. When operated, the drinking water - without special cooling by the cooling unit - are led to the output unit and there tapped as uncooled drinking water by the user. In this way, the user can tap either cooled drinking water or uncooled drinking water from the output unit of the refrigerator. The uncooled drinking water may not be drunk immediately, but used in other ways, such as for the preparation of coffee or tea.

In mass production, a simple construction of the water / ice dispensing unit of the refrigeration device is important. Against this background, in the already existing flow path of the drinking water to the dispensing unit, only a partial line or bridging line can branch off from a main line leading to the cooling unit. By means of the bridging line, the drinking water coming from a supply network can be led directly to the output unit without cooling, that is, past the cooling unit.

Preferably, a first and a second sub-line can branch off from the main line. The first part of the line can be led directly to the output unit to provide them with uncooled drinking water. The second part of the line can be performed with the interposition of the cooling unit to the output unit to supply them with cooled drinking water.

For a simple cooling of the drinking water, the cooling unit may be a water tank through which the drinking water flows, which is thermally coupled to an adjacent cooling space of the refrigeration appliance. In this case, the drinking water remains in the water tank with a certain residence time required for the cooling and is then passed on cooled to the output unit. By contrast, in the bypass line connected in parallel to the water tank, the drinking water can flow directly to the output unit without delay.

To expand the scope of the output unit of the refrigeration unit can branch off from the drinking water main another sub-line, which leads to an integrated icemaker in the refrigerator. The icemaker can supply the output unit with ice pieces for ice removal. In this case, therefore, the output unit can be used in combination for ice removal, for draining cooled drinking water and also for draining uncooled drinking water.

In addition, a water filter, such as an activated carbon filter, may be connected in the liquid circuit of the refrigeration device. This can be chlorine or heavy metals from the supplied from the mains Filter drinking water or prevent the entry of dirt particles in the output unit. The water filter is preferably arranged in the main line leading to the partial lines. The sub-pipes for supplying cooled or uncooled drinking water therefore branch off downstream of the water filter in the direction of the dispensing unit. Accordingly, not only the cooled drinking water is filtered in advance, but also the uncooled drinking water.

In order to ensure a reliable switching of the fluid path between the first sub-line and the second sub-line, a control element, such as a 3/2-way valve is provided, which connects the main line with one of the two sub-lines. The control member is controllable by means of an electronic control device which directs by user-side actuation of the control element corresponding control signals to the control element.

To ensure easy operation of the refrigerator, a control panel is provided with a number of controls. Each of these controls is assigned a special operating function. This can be activated or deactivated by pressing the respective control element. Thus, a refrigeration appliance lighting can be switched on or off with a first operating element, cooled drinking water can be tapped with a second operating element, pieces of ice can be removed with a third operating element, etc.

In mass production conversion of refrigeration appliances with conventional output unit is always expensive. It is therefore of great advantage if the required component changes for the realization of the invention are limited.

In terms of manufacturing technology, it is therefore preferable if the new, additional operating function "tapping off uncooled drinking water" takes place by actuating the already existing operating elements. Thus, the already existing in conventional refrigeration controls can be operated with a predetermined, special sequence to allow the tapping of uncooled drinking water. This can be done by simultaneously pressing two existing controls, so that no additional control element for implementing the invention is required.

In the following, two embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the attached figures.

Show it:

1 in a sectional view of a refrigerator with an output unit according to the invention according to the first embodiment;

2 in a block diagram of the liquid path in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment; and

3 in a partial block diagram of the liquid path in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment.

In the 1 is a refrigerator with a body 1 and a door 2 shown. The body 1 and the door 2 are heat-insulated and limit a refrigerator 3 , The door 2 is here with a furniture board 10 dressed up. In a central area of the furniture panel 10 is a window 11 cut that a niche 12 the door 2 and above the niche 12 a control panel 9 to enable the output device.

The interior 3 is cooled by an evaporator, which is divided into an upper part of the body evaporator chamber 4 is housed. To the evaporator chamber 4 adjacent is in the fridge 3 an icemaker 5 arranged so that the icemaker 5 preferably with cold air from the evaporator chamber 4 can be applied. Below the icemaker 5 is a collection container 6 for the ice cream maker 5 provided pieces of ice provided. A motor driven screw conveyor 7 at the bottom of the collection container 6 is by means of the control panel 9 operated to make ice pieces to a dispensing unit 8th in the upper area of the niche 12 to transport.

A bulge 13 on the inside of the door 2 surrounds the niche 12 as well as a water tank 14 standing at the back of the niche 12 in an insulating layer of the door 2 is embedded and with the fridge 3 for cooling the water tank 14 stored drinking water is thermally coupled. At the interior 3 opposite side of a corpus soil-side insulation layer is a filter 15 , such as an activated carbon filter arranged.

The filter 15 is about a main line 16 connected to a building water pipe. In the supply line 16 is upstream of the filter 15 a backflow preventer 17 intended. The backflow preventer 17 is a commercial faucet 18 fluidically upstream. Downstream of the filter 15 branches from the main 16 at a branching point 21 one to the icemaker 5 guided sub-line 23 from.

The sub-line 23 has a 2/2-way valve 24 on. The main line 16 is, however, up to a 3/2-way valve 26 continued, where the main line 25 in a first sub-line 27 and a second sub-line 28 is split. In the sub-line 28 is the water tank 14 arranged, of which the sub-line 28 continue to the output unit 8th extends in the upper part of the niche. The other sub-line 27 will be on the water tank 14 over to the output unit 8th guided. At the output unit 8th Thus, the user can optionally cooled drinking water from the water tank 14 , from the icemaker 5 refer to pieces of ice or uncooled drinking water.

Below is the block diagram of the 2 the liquid path in the refrigeration device according to the first embodiment described. Like from the 2 As can be seen, the two 2/2-way valves 24 . 29 in the main 16 and in the sub-line 23 by a control device 35 controlled by the control panel 9 is technically connected. By means of the control device 35 is also the 3/2-way valve 26 controlled, that the flow path to the first part of line 27 or to the second sub-line 28 releases. The sub-line 28 flows according to the 1 and 2 with separate outlet, that is independent of the sub-line 27 , in the output unit 8th ,

Like from the 2 further shows, the control panel 9 a set of controls 37 to 41 on, with each of which an operating function is adjustable in each case, which is activated or deactivated in each case by actuation. Exemplary can be with the control 37 a refrigeration appliance lighting on or off. By pressing the control element 38 Cooled drinking water can be tapped. By operating the controls 39 or 40 can larger or smaller pieces of ice from the output unit 8th be obtained. Through the control 41 can the output unit 8th be switched on or off.

Preferred is in the control panel 9 according to the 2 No additional control element for tapping uncooled drinking water. Rather, in this embodiment, the tapping of uncooled water by simultaneously pressing the controls 38 and 39 , Therefore, if the two controls 39 . 39 pressed simultaneously controls the controller 35 the 2/2-way valve 29 in his in the 2 shown open position, while the 3/2-way valve 26 from the position shown to the right to the liquid path from the main line 16 in the first part line 27 release.

Thus, the control panel is preferred 9 according to the 2 identical to the control panel already used in conventional refrigerators. Since the conversion of a conventional refrigeration device to the invention, the user-visible control surface remains unchanged, the required to implement the invention conversion manufacturing technology is easily possible.

In the 3 is shown in sections of the liquid path of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. The area of the fluid path not shown here is identical to that in the 2 shown.

In contrast to 2 is in the 3 the sub-line 27 not provided with a separate liquid outlet, but is the sub-line 27 executed as a bypass line or bypass line. This bridges the water tank 14 and is downstream of the water tank 14 again with the sub-line 28 connected. In this way, the two sub-lines open 27 . 28 in a common supply line 45 leading to the output unit 8th is guided. To a water return from the sub-line 27 in the water tank 14 To prevent is downstream of the water tank 14 a check valve 44 intended.

Thus, according to this embodiment, a separate inlet for the uncooled drinking water is saved. The required changes in the output unit compared to conventional refrigerators, which allow only the supply of cooled water 8th can therefore be further reduced.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

corpus

2

door

3

refrigerator

4

Evaporation chamber

5

Ice makers

6

melting pot

7

Auger

8th

output unit

9

Control panel

10

furniture board

11

window

12

niche

13

bulge

14

water tank

15

filter

16

main

17

check valve

18

water tap

21

branching point

23

subline

24

2/2 way valve

26

3/2-way valve

27, 28

partial lines

29

2/2 way valve

35

control device

37 to 41

controls

44

check valve

45

common supply line

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

• DE 102005057132 A1 [0003]

Claims (11)

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, with an output unit ( 8th ) for bleeding cooled drinking water, which is cooled by means of a cooling unit ( 14 ) is coolable, characterized in that the refrigeration device at least one user-operable control element ( 37 to 41 ), the drinking water effectively decoupled from the cooling unit ( 14 ) to the output unit ( 8th ) Is feasible and there can be tapped off as uncooled drinking water. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that in the flow path of the drinking water to the output unit ( 8th ) from a main line ( 16 ) a first partial or bypass line ( 27 ) branches, with the drinking water uncooled, especially at the cooling unit ( 14 ) over, to the output unit ( 8th ) is feasible. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that of the main line ( 16 ) a second sub-line ( 28 ), by means of which the drinking water via the cooling unit ( 14 ) to the output unit ( 8th ) is feasible. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the cooling unit ( 14 ) is a drinking water flowed through the water tank, which from an adjacent refrigerator ( 3 ) is coolable. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drinking water with a certain, required for the cooling residence time in the cooling unit ( 14 ), while that through the bridging line ( 27 ) guided drinking water without delay to the output unit ( 8th ) flows. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that from the main line ( 16 ) another sub-line ( 23 ), which turns into an icemaker ( 5 ), which controls the output unit ( 8th ) supplied with pieces of ice for ice removal. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigerating appliance has a water filter ( 15 ), which in particular in the to the sub-lines ( 23 . 27 . 28 ) leading main line ( 16 ) is arranged. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that between the main line ( 16 ) and the first and second sub-lines ( 27 . 28 ) a controlling body ( 26 ), which by user-side actuation of the operating element ( 37 to 41 ) the flow path to the first or the second sub-line ( 27 . 28 ) releases. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigeration device has a control panel ( 9 ) with a number of controls ( 37 to 41 ), wherein with each of the controls an operating function is adjustable, which can be activated by actuation of the respective operating element, in particular the operating functions "light on / off", "tapping cooled water", "removal of ice pieces", "removal of crushed Ice ", etc. are each assigned to a control. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the operating function "tapping uncooled drinking water" as an additional operating function by at least one of the operating elements ( 37 to 41 ), in particular by special operating sequence, can be activated. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 10, characterized in that the additional operating function "tapping off uncooled drinking water" by simultaneous actuation of two operating elements ( 38 . 39 ) is activated.

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