DE102012209726A1 - Refrigerating appliance and method for its production - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device (100) which is delimited by at least one electrically contacted side wall (106) and has a machine room body (300). According to the invention, an electrically conductive grounding tab (200) is provided on the machine room body (300) which electrically contacts the side wall (106). Furthermore, the invention relates to a ground strap (200) and a machine room body (300) for such a refrigeration device (100) and a method for assembling such a refrigeration device (100).

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration device which is delimited by at least one electrically contacted side wall and has a machine room body. Furthermore, the invention relates to a grounding tab and a machine room body for such a refrigeration device and a method for assembling such a refrigeration device.

Refrigeration appliances, in particular designed as household appliances refrigerators are known and are used to housekeeping in households or in the catering sector to store perishable food and / or drinks at certain temperatures.

For example, It is necessary to earth electrical side walls of the refrigeration appliance by forming a grounding connection in order to comply with legal regulations relating to the electrical safety of such refrigeration appliances.

From the DE 10 2010 02 043 A1 and the DE 20 2005 007 418 U1 it is known to form a ground terminal by a screw connection.

From the DE 198 09 224 A1 It is known to connect side walls of sheet steel with a arranged in the engine room of the household refrigerator mounting rail to ground them. For this purpose, the support rail has cut-free, prism-like contact elements, which engage in mounting the support rail in the machine room in recesses of the support rail.

It is the object underlying the invention to simplify the installation of such refrigerators.

These objects are achieved by the objects having the features according to the independent claims. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The present invention is based on the finding that a particularly simple assembly is possible if screw connections are dispensed with.

Forming a ground connection is possible especially when mounting side walls. It therefore turns away from the prior art, according to which the formation of a ground terminal is provided during the joining movement of a mounting rail.

According to a first aspect, the object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device, wherein the side wall is latched to the housing body. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that no fasteners such. Screws are required. This reduces the assembly effort and at the same time the logistics costs for the production, since neither such screws nor tools for mounting such screws must be maintained.

In a further advantageous embodiment, an electrically conductive grounding tab, which makes electrical contact with the side wall, is provided on the machine room body. Under a machine room body while a component is understood that limits a machine room for receiving components of a refrigerant circuit of the refrigerator at least partially. The engine room body can be designed in several parts or in one piece. Further, the engine room body may be a portion of a one-piece component inside the refrigerator, which partially limits the engine room. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that both additional steps for mounting as well as the availability of additional components such. Screws, omitted. Thus, the assembly costs, but also the logistics costs for the production, reduced. Furthermore, eliminates an additional fixation of the side walls and it is given a simple and safe ground before foaming.

A refrigeration device is understood in particular to be a household appliance, that is to say a refrigeration device which is used for housekeeping in households or in the gastronomy sector, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks at specific temperatures, such as, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer, a refrigerator Fridge freezer, a freezer or a wine fridge.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the side wall has an electrically conductive contact section, which is connected to the electrically conductive grounding lug for electrical contacting. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the side wall must be provided with no additional contact means, which reduces the assembly costs, but also the logistics costs for manufacturing, again, since both additional steps for mounting such contact devices as well as the availability of such contact devices omitted.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine room body has a receiving space for the grounding tab. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the assembly is simplified again, because the fact that the engine room carcass a receptacle for Earthing strap, eliminates another mounting step for attaching the grounding tab. Thus, the logistics costs are reduced because no fasteners must be kept for fixing the grounding lug.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine room body is made of an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic. This achieves the technical advantage that the grounding tab is made of an electrically conductive material, such as e.g. Metal sheet can be made by punching and forming without an electrically insulating coating must be applied to the grounding tab or on a machine room body made of an electrically conductive material. This simplifies manufacturing even more.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine room body has a guide rib for guiding a contact section of the side wall during a joining movement for mounting the side wall. The guide rib may e.g. be designed as run-on slope. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that incorrect assembly, in which the contact portion after completion of the joining movement with the grounding tab is not in electrically conductive or only partially electrically conductive contact reliably avoided. When the machine room body is made of plastic, the guide rib may be made during the manufacturing process of the machine room body. In this case, the machine room body and the guide rib may be formed of the same material and / or in one piece. This eliminates a mounting step mounting the guide rib on the engine room carcass.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine room body has a cable guide leading to a grounding cable. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the assembly is simplified again, because by the fact that the engine room body has a cable guide, eliminates a further assembly step for fixing the cable guide. Furthermore, so the logistics costs are reduced, since no fasteners must be kept for fixing the cable guide. If the machine room body is made of plastic, the manufacture of the cable guide can take place during the manufacturing process of the engine room carcass. In this case, the machine room body and the cable guide may be formed of the same material and / or in one piece. This eliminates a mounting step Installation of the cable guide on the engine room carcass.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the machine room body has a visual inspection window for optical monitoring of the grounding. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that a visual control is easily possible if the joining process was completed when desired to reach the end position or the grounding tab was not contacted in electrically conductive or limited electrically conductive. When the machine room body is made of plastic, the visual inspection window can be formed during the manufacturing process of the machine room body. Here by eliminates a step in which subsequently introduced such a window.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the grounding tab has a deformed claw. The claw may have two surface portions extending substantially parallel to one another, between which the contact portion is received. In this case, the claw before mounting on a first state in which the claw is not open. or the two surface portions have a smaller distance from each other than in the second state after assembly. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that the grounding strap itself is easy to manufacture.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the deformed claw is connected by adhesion, in particular clamping, with the contact portion. This gives us the technical advantage that, for the purpose of producing the electrical connection itself between the claw and the contact section, no connecting elements, such as e.g. Screws are required. This reduces the assembly effort and at the same time the logistics costs for the production, since neither such screws nor tools for mounting such screws must be maintained.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the holding force between the deformed claw and the contact portion applied by the adhesion is greater than the release force that has to be applied in order to detach the side wall from the housing body. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that as a result of such dismantling a grounding cable is deformed, but the electrically conductive connection remains intact. This simplifies repairs since re-connection is not required after the repair work has been completed. Furthermore, so the electrical safety is increased again, since the intact connection eliminates the possibility that a reconnection is inadvertently omitted with the result that no grounding is given.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the earthing strap has a shaped connection section, which is electrically conductively connected to a grounding cable of the earthing. Consequently For example, prior to assembly, the grounding tab has an unshaped terminal portion that is reshaped to make an electrically conductive connection to one end of a grounding cable with the aid of a tool, such as pliers, to clamp the end of the grounding cable. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that no fasteners, such as screws, are required. This reduces the assembly effort and at the same time the logistics costs for the production, since neither such screws nor tools for mounting such screws must be maintained.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the side wall is locked on the housing body. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved that no fasteners such. Screws are required. This reduces the assembly effort and at the same time the logistics costs for the production again, since neither such screws nor tools for mounting such screws must be maintained.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a grounding strap, in particular for such a refrigeration device, which has a claw deformable by the joining movement for mounting a side wall on the housing body. According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a machine room body for such a refrigeration device, which has a receiving space for such a grounding tab.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method of assembling such a refrigerator, in which a side wall defining the refrigerator is mounted, wherein during the assembly of the side wall, an electrically conductive connection between a grounding tab on a machine room body and the side wall is formed.

With the invention, a refrigeration device is provided, which allows a particularly simple formation of a grounding connection of side walls, because it eliminates both additional assembly steps as well as the availability of additional components such. Screws. Thus, the assembly costs, but also the logistics costs for production is reduced.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a rear view of a refrigerator,

2 a partial view of the refrigerator according to 1 .

3 a further partial view of the refrigerator according to 1 .

4 a front view of a refrigerator,

5 a partial view of a machine room body with a grounding tab,

6 a partial view of a machine room body with a cable guide.

7 a further partial view of a machine room body with a grounding tab in exploded view, and

8th a further partial view of a machine room body with a grounding tab,

1 shows a refrigerator as an embodiment of a refrigerator 100 with a machine room 102 and an inner container 110 , The refrigerator is used, for example, for cooling in the inner container 110 stored food and includes a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator (not shown), a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown) and a throttle body (not shown). Of these components of the coolant circuit is at least the compressor in the engine room 102 arranged.

The evaporator is designed as a heat exchanger in which, after expansion, the liquid refrigerant is absorbed by heat from the medium to be cooled, i. Air inside the refrigerator, is evaporated.

The compressor is a mechanically driven component that draws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and expels it at a higher pressure to the condenser.

The condenser is designed as a heat exchanger in which, after compression, the evaporated refrigerant is released by heat to an external cooling medium, i. the ambient air is liquefied.

The throttle body is a device for the continuous reduction of the pressure by reduction in cross section.

The refrigerant is a fluid used for heat transfer in the cryogenic system which absorbs heat at low temperatures and low pressure of the fluid and releases heat at higher temperature and higher pressure of the fluid, usually including changes in state of the fluid.

Both the engine room 102 as well as the inner container 110 are from a housing body 104 partially surrounded, in the present embodiment, two side walls 106 and a device cover 114 includes. The side walls 106 are made in the present embodiment of an electrically conductive material, such as sheet metal, and extend on the sides of the refrigerator 100 in Kältgerätehochrichtung Z of the device cover 114 until as a stand space 116 trained floor and dress up both the inner container 110 as well as the engine room 102 ,

The engine room 102 Partially through a machine room carcass 300 limited, which is made in the present embodiment of an electrically non-conductive plastic. The engine room carcass 300 limits the engine room 102 on the front side in the refrigeration device depth direction X, in both directions along the refrigeration device width direction Y and on the top side in the refrigeration device vertical direction Z.

The engine room carcass 300 has on each side in refrigeration device width direction Y depending on a bottom-side recording 312 on, of which the 2 only a bottom-side recording 312 shows. The bottom-side recording 312 serves to receive a bottom-side, bevelled portion 126a the side wall 106 , The bottom intake 312 are assigned in the present embodiment, three Maschinenraumkorpusrastelemente 310 in three bottom recesses 120b the side wall 106 intervention. The engine room body pawls 310 are in the present embodiment wedge-shaped formed as chamfers and form after assembly of the side wall 106 a latching connection with the three bottom-side recesses 120a ,

The device cover 114 has on each side in refrigeration device width direction Y depending on a top-side recording 112 on, of which the 3 only a top-side recording 112 shows. The top-side picture 112 serves to receive a top-side, bevelled section 126b the side wall 106 , The top-side recording 112 are assigned in the present embodiment, two device cover latching elements 118 in two top recesses 120b the side wall 106 intervention. The device cover latching elements 118 are in the present embodiment wedge-shaped formed as chamfers and form after assembly of the side wall 106 a locking connection with the two upper-side recesses 120b ,

4 shows that on the front of the refrigerator 100 , at which there is a door (not shown) for opening and closing the inner container 110 located, in the present embodiment in refrigeration device Z high from the top to bottom extending end strips 122 which is at the screw positions 124 with the side walls 106 connected so as to stiffen the housing body 104 to effect.

5 shows a section of the engine room carcass 300 in which a recording room 302 is formed, in which a grounding tab 200 is used. Further shows 5 in addition to the wedge-shaped as ramps trained Maschinenraumkorpusrastelementen 310 two guide ribs 304 which extend in refrigeration device width direction Y with its longitudinal direction. They lead during a joining movement of the side wall 106 for mounting sections of the sidewall 106 , as will be explained below.

6 shows the engine room carcass 300 before mounting the side wall 106 , To recognize the bottom-side recordings 312 , Further shows 6 in that the engine room carcass 300 a cable guide 306 in which a ground wire (not shown) can be accommodated. The cable management 306 is formed labyrinth-shaped in the present embodiment.

7 shows that the engine room carcass 300 for checking whether a functional, electrically conductive connection has been formed, a visual inspection window formed by a recess in the present exemplary embodiment 308 having.

Furthermore, the shows 7 the earthing strap 200 in a state before being connected to one end of a grounding wire (not shown). In the present embodiment, the grounding tab 200 by punching and forming of electrically conductive metal sheet in the in 7 shown form brought. It is therefore uniform in material and integrally formed in the present embodiment.

To connect to one end of a ground wire, the grounding tab 200 one in 7 not yet formed connection section 204 which can be reshaped with a tool such as pliers so that the end of the grounding cable is clamped and thus an electrically conductive connection between the one end of the grounding cable and the grounding tab 200 is formed.

To connect to the contact section 108 the side wall 106 indicates the earthing strap 200 a claw 202 on, in the present embodiment by a joining movement for mounting the side wall 104 is formed deformable. The claw 202 has two substantially parallel to each other extending surface sections 206 on, for improving the electrical contact in the present embodiment, contact tongues 208 exhibit.

In 8th is the after mounting the side wall 106 between the two surface sections 206 recorded contact section 108 shown. It forms the one in the reception room 302 inserted earthing strap 200 an electrically conductive connection with a contact portion 108 at the bottom, angled portion 126a the side wall 106 , So that the contact section 108 in the 8th End position shown after completion of a joining movement of the side wall 106 in cooling device width direction Y reliably reached the guide ribs 304 (please refer 5 ) formed in the present embodiment as run-on slopes.

The surface sections 206 are no longer in a first state (see 7 ), in the claw 202 is not open, but in a second state (see 8th ), in which the distance between the two surface sections 206 by inserting the contact section 108 has increased. In other words, during assembly, when the contact portion 108 between the two surface sections 206 is introduced, these are pressed apart. In this case, one of the two surface sections acts 206 squeezing spring force against this separation.

Thus, the deformed claw 202 by adhesion, namely in the present embodiment by clamping, with the contact portion 108 electrically connected. The holding force applied by this adhesion is greater in the present embodiment than the release force that must be applied to the contact portion 108 from the housing body 104 to solve.

The engine room carcass 300 is in the present embodiment, in one piece and of the same material made of a non-conductive plastic, wherein during the manufacture of the engine room body 300 both the guide ribs 304 , the cable management 306 , the visual inspection window 308 and the machine body detents 310 be formed in a manufacturing step.

The assembly is explained below.

First, the connection section 204 the earthing strap 200 connected to one end of a grounding cable.

Then the earthing strap becomes 200 in the recording room 302 the engine room carcass 300 inserted and the ground wire in the cable management 306 inserted.

In a further step now becomes a side wall 106 in refrigeration device width direction Y so to the engine room carcass 300 and the inner container 110 introduced by a joining movement until the contact section 108 the side wall 106 in the claw 202 occurs, ie between the two surface sections 206 of the connection section 204 is introduced. By continuing this joining movement, the contact section arrives 108 in the in 6 shown end position, where at the same time the two surface sections 206 of the connection section 204 pressed apart, the device cover latching elements 118 with the top recesses 120b and the engine room body detents 310 with the bottom recesses 120a and so the sidewall 106 at the same time electrically contact and fix.

If in case of a required repair the sidewall 106 must be removed is because the force applied by the adhesion holding force is greater than the release force that must be applied to the contact portion 108 from the housing body 104 As a result, a grounding cable deforms, while the electrically conductive connection is not interrupted. Thus, after completion of the repair, the electrically conductive connection must not be restored.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

 The refrigerator

102

 engine room

104

 housing body

106

 Side wall

108

 Contact section

110

 inner container

112

 top-side recording

114

 device cover

116

 footprint

118

 Device cover locking element

120a

 bottom recess

120b

 top recess

122

 end strip

124

 screwing

126a

 bottom-side, angled section

126b

 top, angled section

200

 ground strap

202

 claw

204

 connecting section

206

 surface section

208

 contact tongues

300

 Engine room cabinet

302

 accommodation space

304

 guide rib

306

 cable management

308

 Sichtprüffenster

310

 Engine room body catch element

312

 bottom-side recording

X

 Freezers depth direction

Y

 Freezers width direction

Z

 Freezers vertical direction

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 10201002043 A1 [0004]
• DE 202005007418 U1 [0004]
• DE 19809224 A1 [0005]

Claims (15)

Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ), which by at least one side wall ( 106 ) and a machine room body ( 300 ), characterized in that the side wall ( 106 ) on the housing body ( 104 ) is latched. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that on the machine room body ( 300 ) an electrically conductive grounding strap ( 200 ) is provided, which the side wall ( 106 ) contacted electrically. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the side wall ( 106 ) an electrically conductive contact section ( 108 ) which is connected to the electrically conductive grounding strap ( 200 ) is connected to the electrical contact. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the engine room carcass ( 300 ) a recording room ( 302 ) for the earthing strap ( 200 ) having. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the grounding tab ( 200 ) a deformed claw ( 202 ) having. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the deformed claw ( 202 ) by adhesion, in particular clamping, with the contact portion ( 108 ) connected is. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the force applied by the frictional holding force between the deformed claw ( 202 ) and the contact section ( 108 ) is greater than the release force that must be applied to the sidewall ( 104 ) of the housing body ( 104 ) to solve. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the grounding tab ( 200 ) a reshaped connection section ( 204 ) electrically connected to a ground wire of the ground. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine room body ( 300 ) is made of an electrically insulating material, in particular plastic. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine room body ( 300 ) a leadership rib ( 304 ) for guiding a contact section ( 108 ) during a joining movement for mounting the side wall ( 106 ) having. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine room body ( 300 ) a cable routing leading a grounding cable ( 306 ) having. Refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine room body ( 300 ) a visual inspection window ( 308 ) for optical control of grounding. Grounding tab ( 200 ), in particular for a refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the grounding tab ( 200 ) one by a joining movement for mounting a side wall ( 106 ) on the housing body ( 100 ) deformable claw ( 202 ) having. Engine room carcass ( 300 ), in particular for a refrigeration appliance ( 100 ) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the engine room carcass ( 300 ) a recording room ( 302 ) for the earthing strap ( 200 ) according to claim 13. Method for mounting a refrigeration device ( 100 ), in which a the refrigeration device ( 100 ) limiting sidewall ( 106 ) is mounted, characterized in that during the assembly of the side wall ( 106 ) an electrically conductive connection between a grounding strap ( 200 ) on a machine room body ( 300 ) and the side wall ( 106 ) is formed.

Images