DE102012209473A1 - Refrigerator has air duct formed as closed profile, which is provided with recess arranged on the cooling container - Google Patents

Abstract

The refrigerator (1) has a refrigerating compartment (3) in which a cooling container for receiving to-be-cooled material is arranged. A cooling circuit is provided for cooling the refrigerating compartment. An air duct (7) is provided for supplying air to the evaporator of the cooling circuit. The air duct formed as closed profile is provided with a recess arranged on the cooling container. The air duct is fixed with the hood made of plastic, silicone or rubber.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device with an air duct system.

In today's refrigerators, the warm air is sucked in the upper part of a refrigerated compartment of the refrigerator and passed through an evaporator of the refrigeration circuit of the refrigerator. The air cools down. The cooled air is then passed into a compartment of the refrigerator with a lower temperature in the lower part of the refrigerator. When supplying the air to the evaporator, for example by means of an air duct, leakage flows on the route to the evaporator are disadvantageous, since the efficiency of the air circulation is thereby impaired. So far, air ducts, both pressure and suction channels, either embedded as open profiles on the rear wall of a cooling container in the interior of the refrigerating compartment or embedded in the insulating material of the refrigerating compartment. Open profiles require a significant effort to seal the air ducts against leakage flows. Due to their low rigidity, the air ducts are attached over a large area or over several points, for example more than two. In the prior art, air ducts in the cooling container, the insulating material (see. DE 601 22 823 T2 ) and known from open profiles (cf. EP1 373 812 B1 ).

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device, in which the smallest possible leakage flows occur at the air duct and which can be integrated compactly and inexpensively into the refrigeration appliance.

This object is achieved by a refrigeration device according to independent claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

According to one aspect, a refrigerator according to the invention has a cooling compartment in which a cooling container for receiving refrigerated goods can be arranged, a cooling circuit for cooling the cooling compartment and an air duct for supplying air to an evaporator of the cooling circuit, wherein the air duct is designed as a closed profile and passes through a recess which is provided on the cooling container. The cooling compartment is according to one embodiment, a portion of a refrigerator interior, which is for example at least partially formed durhch a cold storage.

The cooling container is fixedly arranged in the cooling compartment, for example. However, according to one embodiment, the cooling container may be removable from the cooling compartment. The refrigerated compartment may have a support floor for supporting the refrigerated container. According to one embodiment, lateral mounting rails can be provided for holding the cooling container.

Because the air duct is designed as a closed profile, the air duct has no leakage flow. In addition, the system is much cheaper to manufacture and assemble, since it consists of few parts and no costly sealing measures must be provided. Furthermore, by the passage of the channel in the recess of the cooling container, the volume loss in the interior of the cooling container low. At the same time, there is no strong weakening of the insulation of the refrigerating compartment. The air duct is stable and can be mounted over two points at the ends of the duct.

According to one embodiment, the air duct is at least partially elliptical in shape and has, for example, a double elliptical cross-sectional shape. Due to the particularly wide shape of the channel, the flow of the lower evaporator is favored. Due to the flat cross-sectional shape of the volume loss in the interior of the cooling container through the air duct can be kept particularly low. The indentation on the cooling container is for receiving the air duct analog thereto, for example, at least partially concave elliptical and in particular has a doppelelliptische cross-sectional shape. The convexly curved air duct can be arranged so as to save space in the concave structure of the cooling container. At the same time, the elliptical shape of the air duct allows a good flexural rigidity.

According to one embodiment, at least one, for example, extending along the air duct web is arranged in the air duct. The web is, for example glued into the air duct, welded or injected, but can also be simply plugged into the air duct. The bridge stiffens the air duct and increases its load capacity against mechanical deformation, in particular against buckling. As a result, the air duct can be produced more cost-effectively with smaller wall thicknesses.

According to one embodiment, the air duct is attached to the bottom of a flange which is provided on the refrigeration device. This allows a simple fixation of the air duct on the refrigeration device. Further, by surrounding the flange externally by the air passage, impurities are prevented from entering the air passage. To simplify a Aufsteckens the air duct on the flange, the flange may be provided with an outer phase or the air duct with a Innenfase.

According to one embodiment, a hood is provided on the refrigeration device, which fixes the air duct enclosing from above. As a result, the air duct can be fixed and, on the other hand, an air supply into the air duct can be provided. For this purpose, the hood is sufficiently tightly connected to the air duct. The hood can make it possible to compensate for tolerances by being arranged upwards elastically on the air duct.

According to one embodiment, the hood acts as an inlet nozzle for the air duct. As a result, the flow in the air duct can be influenced, for example accelerated by a narrowing.

According to one embodiment, the hood is internally conically shaped. This makes it possible to simply push the hood onto the air duct, or to be able to insert the air duct in the hood. This results in a simple mutual centering.

According to one embodiment, the hood has inside trumpet-shaped rounded contours. This allows an eddy-free flow path from the hood into the air duct.

According to one embodiment, the hood has an elastic sealing ring inside. The sealing ring allows a particularly tight connection of the hood with the air duct. Due to the elasticity position inaccuracies or diameter tolerances can be compensated when joining the hood with the air duct.

According to one embodiment, the hood is arranged axially displaceable. This makes it possible to put the hood on the ventilation duct. Thus, the hood can be particularly tightly connected to the air duct. Furthermore, the assembly is facilitated because the air duct can be positioned and then the pressing of the hood can be done.

According to one embodiment, the hood is made of a form-elastic material, in particular of plastic, silicone or rubber. This allows the hood to compensate for positioning tolerances of the air duct. As a result, the manufacturing tolerances of the refrigeration device, such as the air duct, can be increased, whereby the manufacturing costs can be reduced.

According to one embodiment, a filter, in particular a particle filter and / or activated carbon filter, is arranged on the hood. This makes it possible to filter impurities in particular also odors from the air conveyed through the air duct.

According to one embodiment, the air duct is attached to an upper attachment point near the hood and to a lower attachment point near the flange in the refrigeration device. By fixing the air channel through the lower attachment point and the upper attachment point, further attachment means, such as e.g. the previous bonding of the air duct with the rear wall omitted.

According to one embodiment, the air duct is designed as a flat profile that extends in particular at least twice as wide along the cooling container, as it extends from it. This results in a relatively large cross-section of the air duct, wherein the air duct at the same time only slightly protrudes into the rear wall or the cooling container.

A refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration device comprises, for example, a compressor for compressing refrigerant vapor, a condenser connected downstream of the compressor for condensing the refrigerant vapor and the evaporator connected downstream of the condenser and for the evaporation of the liquefied refrigerant. The compressor is like the evaporator for heat transfer between the supplied air and the fluid of the refrigeration circuit set.

Under refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigerator, which is used for household management in the household or catering trade, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a refrigerator combination, a freezer or a wine fridge.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include not explicitly mentioned combinations of features described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments. The expert will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the refrigeration device.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

It shows:

1 : a schematic sectional side view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment;

2 a sectional view of a section of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment with focus on the air duct;

3 : a schematic sectional view of a section of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment with focus on the air duct;

4 a schematic representation of a section of the refrigerator according to a second embodiment with focus on the air duct;

5 : a schematic sectional view of a section of the air channel of the refrigeration device according to a third embodiment;

6 : a schematic sectional view of a section of the air channel of the refrigeration device according to a fourth embodiment; and

7 : A schematic sectional view of a section of the air channel of the refrigeration device according to a fifth embodiment.

1 shows a schematic side sectional view of a refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment. The refrigeration device 1 has a cooling compartment 3 for picking up refrigerated goods to be cooled. The refrigerator compartment 3 splits into an upper cooling compartment 31 and a lower cooling compartment 33 on. At the refrigerator compartment 3 is also an evaporator 9 a refrigeration circuit of the refrigerator 1 arranged. In this embodiment, the evaporator 9 on a back wall 35 of the refrigerator compartment 3 arranged. An air duct 7 is on the refrigeration unit 1 provided, which is the upper cooling compartment 31 and the lower cooling compartment 33 connects with each other. The air duct 7 is in this embodiment on the back wall 35 arranged. As shown by arrows, is in operation of the refrigerator 1 Air above in the upper compartment 31 sucked off, on the evaporator 9 guided along and in the lower cooling compartment 33 of the refrigeration device 1 fed. The air gets through the air duct 7 directed, the flow-efficient lossless transmission of air from the upper cooling compartment 31 to the lower cooling compartment 33 allows.

Warm air rises in the refrigerator compartment 3 up. This will be in the upper refrigerator compartment 31 sucked warm air. When passing the extracted air at the evaporator 9 cools the air. The cooled air gets into the lower cooling compartment 33 , For example, a 0 ° C compartment, fed and cools this off.

2 shows a sectional view of a section of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment with focus on the air duct 7 , The air duct 7 is formed in this embodiment as a closed profile with doppelelliptischer basic shape. With doppelelliptischer basic form is meant that the air duct 7 in cross-section both on the back wall 35 to as well as to the refrigerator compartment 3 directed in each case an at least partially elliptical outer contour 39 having. The doppelelliptische cross-sectional shape allows the air duct 7 very flat formed between the back wall 35 and the cooling container 5 can be provided. The back wall 7 This is in the area of the air duct 7 designed in accordance with elliptical, so that the air duct 7 partially in a corresponding elliptical shaped bulge 11 in the back wall 7 can run. Accordingly, the air duct runs 7 in a recess 37 in the cooling container 5 , This is the air duct 7 less far from the refrigerated container 5 from. Furthermore, the air duct 7 inside walkways 13 on. In this embodiment, the webs run 13 along the longitudinal extent of the air channel 7 , The bridges 13 stiffen the air duct 7 and increase its load capacity against mechanical deformation, in particular against buckling. This allows the air duct 7 be made cheaper with lower wall thicknesses. In this embodiment, the air duct 7 with the back wall 35 bonded. The air duct 7 can also by screwing or by locking on the back wall 35 be attached.

3 shows a schematic sectional view of a section of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment with focus on the air duct 7 , Here is the lower part of the air duct 7 shown. In the lower area (outlet side) is the air duct 7 at a lower attachment point 25 by attaching to the refrigeration unit 1 appropriate. For this purpose, the refrigeration device 1 a flange 15 on, on the air duct 7 is plugged. On the upper side is the air duct 7 at an upper attachment point 23 by means of a hood 17 fixed on the refrigeration unit. By fixing the air duct 7 through a lower attachment point 25 and an upper attachment point 23 can other fasteners, such as the previous bonding of the air duct 7 with the back wall 35 omitted. The hood 17 is designed so that it serves as an inlet nozzle for the air duct 7 acts. The hood 17 complicates the introduction of foreign bodies in the air duct 7 by reducing the air gap upwards, in particular to the container ceiling.

4 shows a schematic representation of a section of the refrigeration device 1 according to a second embodiment with focus on the air duct 7 , The refrigeration device 1 is shown here in perspective. The refrigerator compartment 3 of the refrigeration device 1 splits again into the upper compartment 31 and the lower cooling compartment 33 on. Between the upper cooling compartment 31 and the lower cooling compartment 33 is an intermediate floor 41 arranged, which the cooling compartments 31 . 33 thermally isolated from each other. The intermediate floor 41 extends substantially horizontally in this embodiment. A back wall 35 of the refrigerator runs along the upper cooling compartment 31 and the lower cooling compartment 33 , On the back wall 35 is in the area of the lower cooling compartment 33 the evaporator 9 arranged. The air duct 7 runs from the upper compartment 31 to the evaporator 9 at the lower cooling compartment 33 , At the upper end of the air duct 7 is again the already described hood 17 to the air inlet in the air duct 7 intended. Air outlet openings 43 are provided on the evaporator, which exchanges air with the lower cooling compartment 33 enable. In operation, the air is removed by means of the hood 17 from the upper cooling compartment 31 in the air duct 7 sucked. By means of the air duct 7 gets the air along the cooling compartment 3 to the evaporator 9 at the lower cooling compartment 33 promoted. When passing the evaporator 9 the air is cooled and through the air outlet openings 43 in the lower cooling compartment 33 delivered, which is cooled by it.

5 shows a schematic sectional view of a section of the air duct 7 of the refrigeration device 1 according to a third embodiment. At the air duct 7 is a hood 17 arranged. In this embodiment, the hood 17 with a flange-like spout into the air duct 7 put into it and thus seals well with the air duct 7 from. The hood 17 For example, with the air duct 7 be glued, leaving a firm and tight connection of hood 17 and air duct 7 results in the hood 17 is conical in this embodiment.

6 shows a schematic sectional view of a section of the air duct 7 of the refrigeration device 1 according to a fourth embodiment. In this embodiment, a filter 21 , which is designed here as a particle filter, on the hood 17 assembled. The filter 21 cleans the air flowing through it of particles and prevents the introduction of particles in later not accessible areas of the refrigerator. Likewise, the filter 21 be implemented as an activated carbon filter, which makes it possible to filter out odors from the air, whereby the odor behavior of the refrigerator is improved.

7 shows a schematic sectional view of a section of the air duct 7 of the refrigeration device 1 according to a fifth embodiment. Again is on the air duct 7 as previously described, the hood 17 placed. The hood 17 is here trumpet-shaped with rounded contours, which are the flow losses when the air enters the air duct 7 further reduce, trained. In this embodiment, further, an activated carbon filter 21 in the hood 17 assembled. The activated carbon filter 21 allows it from the air passing through the air duct 7 is promoted, disturbing substances, such as dust or odor-forming chemicals can be filtered out. The hood 17 offers the further advantage that the introduction of foreign bodies in the air duct difficult and thus a blockage of the air duct 7 is prevented.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 The refrigerator

3

 refrigerated compartment

5

 cool container

7

 air duct

9

 Evaporator

11

 indentation

13

 web

15

 flange

17

 Hood

21

 filter

23

 upper attachment point

25

 lower attachment point

31

 upper cooling compartment

33

 lower cooling compartment

35

 rear wall

37

 recess

39

 Elliptical outer contour

41

 false floor

43

 Air outlet opening

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 60122823 T2 [0002]
• EP 1373812 B1 [0002]

Claims (15)

Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) with a cooling compartment ( 3 ), in which a refrigerated container ( 5 ) can be arranged for receiving refrigerated goods, a cooling circuit for cooling the refrigerating compartment ( 3 ) and an air duct ( 7 ) for supplying air to an evaporator ( 9 ) of the cooling circuit, characterized in that the air duct ( 7 ) is formed as a closed profile and by a recess ( 11 ) running on the cooling container ( 5 ) is provided. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the air duct ( 7 ) is at least partially elliptical in shape, in particular has a doppelelliptische cross-sectional shape. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the indentation ( 11 ) is at least partially concave elliptical in shape, in particular has a doppelelliptische cross-sectional shape. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the air duct ( 7 ) at least one along the air channel ( 7 ) running bridge ( 13 ) is arranged. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct ( 7 ) on a flange ( 15 ) connected to the refrigeration unit ( 1 ) is provided, is plugged. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the refrigeration device ( 1 ) a hood ( 17 ) is provided, which the air duct ( 5 ) fixed comprehensively. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) as an inlet nozzle for the air duct ( 7 ) acts. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) is conically shaped inside. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) has inside trumpet-shaped rounded contours. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) inside an elastic sealing ring ( 19 ) having. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) Is arranged axially displaceable. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the hood ( 17 ) is made of a form-elastic material, in particular of plastic, silicone or rubber. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that on the hood ( 13 ) a filter ( 21 ), in particular a particle filter and / or activated carbon filter, is arranged. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct ( 7 ) at an upper attachment point ( 23 ) near the hood ( 17 ) and at a lower attachment point ( 25 ) near the flange ( 15 ) in the refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) is attached. Refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air duct ( 7 ) is designed as a flat profile that in particular at least twice as wide along the cooling container ( 5 ) as it extends away from it.

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