EP0928934B1 - Domestic refrigerator - Google Patents

Domestic refrigerator Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0928934B1
EP0928934B1 EP98124862A EP98124862A EP0928934B1 EP 0928934 B1 EP0928934 B1 EP 0928934B1 EP 98124862 A EP98124862 A EP 98124862A EP 98124862 A EP98124862 A EP 98124862A EP 0928934 B1 EP0928934 B1 EP 0928934B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerator
compartment
refrigerator compartment
liner
capillary tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98124862A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0928934A2 (en
EP0928934A3 (en
Inventor
Sergio Whirlpool Europe s.r.l. Pat. Dept. Beati
Luigi Whirlpool Europe s.r.l. Pat. Dept. Sessa
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP0928934A2 publication Critical patent/EP0928934A2/en
Publication of EP0928934A3 publication Critical patent/EP0928934A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0928934B1 publication Critical patent/EP0928934B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
    • F25D11/022—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures with two or more evaporators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
    • F25B41/30—Expansion means; Dispositions thereof
    • F25B41/37—Capillary tubes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls
    • F25D23/061—Walls with conduit means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/05—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system
    • F25B2400/052—Compression system with heat exchange between particular parts of the system between the capillary tube and another part of the refrigeration cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/04—Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator, particularly a domestic refrigerator, of the type specified in the preamble of appended claim 1.
  • refrigerator compartment refers here to a compartment intended for the preservation of foodstuffs at a temperature not below 0°C
  • freezer compartment means a compartment in which the temperature is kept below 0°C.
  • Modern domestic refrigerators preferably use evaporators of what is known as embedded type, i.e. arranged in contact with the outer surface of the liner of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment and encased in the thermally insulating material that envelopes the compartments.
  • embedded type i.e. arranged in contact with the outer surface of the liner of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment and encased in the thermally insulating material that envelopes the compartments.
  • the water vapour present in the refrigerator compartment tends to condense on all the cold walls in ratio to the prevailing thermal gradient. This has the consequence of unwanted condensation of the vapour, not only on the wall or walls next to which that portion of the embedded evaporator that is associated with the refrigerator compartment is usually arranged, but also on other internal walls of the refrigerator compartment. This problem is observed particularly in refrigerators that have a freezer compartment arranged above a refrigerator compartment.
  • the insulated space interposed between the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment is not always sufficient to ensure that the upper wall or ceiling of the refrigerator compartment is not at a lower temperature than the other walls of the compartment. This is unsatisfactory for the customer. because when condensation occurs on the upper wall or ceiling of the compartment, dripping can be observed, which affects products arranged on the refrigerator shelves, with obvious consequences in terms of presentation and preservation of the products themselves.
  • US-A-2 390 808 discloses a refrigerator of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1, in which the upper wall of the refrigeration compartment is constructed of sheet metal.
  • the object of the present invention is to obviate said drawbacks, in a simple and economic manner. According to the invention, this object is achieved according to the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.
  • the reference number 10 illustrates a domestic refrigerator, as a whole, provided with a refrigerator compartment 10a and a freezer compartment 10b placed above the refrigerator compartment 10a.
  • the refrigerator compartment 10a is closed off by a liner 12 made of plastic material produced, for example, by thermoforming, and by a door D. Between said liner and the outer walls of the refrigerator there is interposed an insulating material 14, for example polyurethane foam.
  • the coolant circuit comprises a compressor C, connected to a condenser N placed next to a rear wall of the refrigerator, said condenser being connected, in turn, via a capillary tube 16, to an evaporator E having a first portion E' associated with the freezer compartment 10b and a second portion E" arranged in contact with a vertical outer surface 12a of the liner 12.
  • the capillary tube is arranged in contact with a horizontal outer surface 12b of the liner 12, in correspondence with the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 10a.
  • an adhesive tape (not illustrated) is used, preferably made of aluminium.
  • the capillary 16 is also covered with a sheet of aluminium 18 made adhesive, to distribute uniformly the heat given off by the capillary.
  • the solution according to the invention can be used in refrigerators of a type different from that described and illustrated, for example, refrigerators provided with two separate evaporators associated with their own independent coolant circuits (two-compressor refrigerator), or in refrigerators provided with a freezer compartment inside the refrigerator compartment itself (single-door refrigerators), said refrigerators having technical characteristics equivalent to the space between refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment similar to those present in a double-door refrigerator, of the type illustrated in the drawings.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Removal Of Water From Condensation And Defrosting (AREA)
EP98124862A 1998-01-09 1998-12-31 Domestic refrigerator Expired - Lifetime EP0928934B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1998VA000002U IT246294Y1 (it) 1998-01-09 1998-01-09 Frigorifero domestico
ITVA980002 1998-01-09

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0928934A2 EP0928934A2 (en) 1999-07-14
EP0928934A3 EP0928934A3 (en) 2000-03-22
EP0928934B1 true EP0928934B1 (en) 2004-04-07

Family

ID=11423455

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98124862A Expired - Lifetime EP0928934B1 (en) 1998-01-09 1998-12-31 Domestic refrigerator

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0928934B1 (pt)
DE (1) DE69822997T2 (pt)
ES (1) ES2218753T3 (pt)
IT (1) IT246294Y1 (pt)
PT (1) PT928934E (pt)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100451221B1 (ko) * 2001-11-16 2004-10-02 엘지전자 주식회사 가연성 냉매를 이용한 직냉식 냉장고
TWI325949B (en) * 2004-02-09 2010-06-11 Sanyo Electric Co Refrigerant system
DE202005000909U1 (de) * 2004-12-28 2006-05-04 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Kühl- und Gefriergerät
DE102006061154A1 (de) * 2006-12-22 2008-06-26 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Wärmetauscheraggregat
DE202007013803U1 (de) * 2007-06-29 2008-11-13 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Lienz Gmbh Kühl- und/oder Gefriergerät
IT1398991B1 (it) * 2010-02-23 2013-03-28 Mondial Group Srl Apparecchio frigorifero ad alta efficienza.

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2390808A (en) * 1943-07-21 1945-12-11 Gen Electric Refrigerator
US2805555A (en) * 1956-07-11 1957-09-10 Gen Electric Hot gas defrost system
DE1601053A1 (de) * 1967-11-14 1970-08-20 Bauknecht Gmbh G Kuehleinrichtung
US4192149A (en) * 1978-09-18 1980-03-11 General Electric Company Post condenser loop case heater controlled by ambient humidity
US5277035A (en) * 1993-03-31 1994-01-11 Aluminum Company Of America Multi-compartment refrigerator with system for minimizing condensation
EP0758732B1 (de) * 1995-08-16 2002-12-04 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Gmbh Kühlgerät

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT246294Y1 (it) 2002-04-08
ITVA980002U1 (it) 1999-07-09
DE69822997D1 (de) 2004-05-13
ITVA980002V0 (it) 1998-01-09
EP0928934A2 (en) 1999-07-14
PT928934E (pt) 2004-08-31
EP0928934A3 (en) 2000-03-22
DE69822997T2 (de) 2005-04-21
ES2218753T3 (es) 2004-11-16

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