EP1208340A1

EP1208340A1 - Freezers

Info

Publication number: EP1208340A1
Application number: EP00956660A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alexander Grant
Original assignee: Norfrost Ltd
Current assignee: Norfrost Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-28
Filing date: 2000-08-23
Publication date: 2002-05-29
Also published as: GB9920330D0; AU6853400A; WO2001016540A1

Abstract

In conventional manner a freezer comprises four outer walls (6) of insulating material, and four inner walls (8) of thermally conductive material, specifically thin aluminium sheet, extending upwardly from a base. At the upper part of the freezer, around the open top, is a frame assembly (10), defining the open top of the freezer, being moulded from plastics material, and comprising inner and outer vertical flanges (11a, 11b). In conventional manner the outer surface of the outer wall (6) extends behind the inner surface of the flange (11b), the space between the inner and outer walls being filled with packing material. In accordance with the invention the inner wall (8) terminates a short distance below the inner flange (11a), and an insulating member (12) extends between the inner flange (11a) and the inner wall (8) on each of the four sides, reducing the conduction of heat from the frame assembly to the inner wall (8), improving the efficiency of the freezer.

Description

Title: Freezers

Description of Invention

This invention is concerned with improvements relating to freezers, and will be described hereunder in the context of chest freezers.

A conventional chest freezer has an upwardly-open cabinet and a closure for the cabinet, conventionally afforded by a lid which may be slidable, or hingedly mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The freezer cabinet conventionally comprises a generally rectangular base, comprising an inner wall of conducting material, typically aluminium sheet, and an outer wall of insulating material, conventionally of plastics material, and four side walls extending upwardly from the base to define an upwardly-open top. Each of said side walls similarly comprises an inner wall of thermally conducting material, conventionally of thin aluminium sheeting, and an outer wall conventionally of thermally insulating plastics material, with insulated packing therebetween. Conventionally, on the top, surrounding the opening, an upper frame assembly of moulded plastics material is mounted, conveniently having inner and outer flanges engaging the inside face of the inner wall and the outside face of the outer wall, respectively, and providing a seating surface for the lid. If desired the upper frame assembly may provide the pivotal mounting for the lid. Such a freezer is hereinafter referred to as being of the kind specified.

It is one of the various objects of this invention to increase the efficiency of a chest freezer of the kind specified.

According to this invention there is provided a freezer of the kind specified, comprising an insulating member between an upper part of the inner wall and the upper frame assembly.

Preferably the inner wall is located behind a lower margin of the insulating member, conveniently extending into a slot or recess provided in said lower margin, and preferably an upper margin of the insulating member extends adjacent to the outer side of the inner flange of the frame assembly.

In this manner the insulating material is retained at the upper region of the freezer between the outer wall and the insulating member.

It has found that, by providing a thermal break between the inner, thermally conductive wall and the upper frame assembly, significant thermal losses may be reduced, and an efficiency improvement of 10% can be gained with minimum reduction in the effective capacity of the freezer.

Preferably means is provided to reduce surface contact between the insulating member and the inner wall and/or the inner flange of the upper frame.

Preferably the insulating member comprises a convoluted or serpentine section between the lower margin and the upper margin, providing an extended thermal path between the inner (conducting) wall and the frame assembly.

According to this invention there is also provided a method of increasing the efficiency of a freezer in which an upper region of the inner wall of the freezer is provided by insulating means to reduce transfer of heat from the upper frame assembly to the inner wall.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of two freezers which are preferred embodiments of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an upper part of the freezer which is the first embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an insulating member which is utilised in the freezer which is the first embodiment of this invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one part of the freezer cabinet showing the insulating member in position thereon; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of one part of the freezer cabinet which is the second embodiment of this invention, showing an alternative insulating member in position thereon;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view based on Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a view from the opposite side of part of the insulating member shown in Figure 6.

The freezer which is the first embodiment of this invention is a chest freezer shown generally in Figure 1 having an open top which may be closed by a lid (not shown). In conventional manner the freezer comprises four outer walls 6 of insulating material, conventionally of plastics material, and four inner walls 8 of thermally conductive material, specifically thin aluminium sheet, extending upwardly from a base 4. The base forms no part of the present invention and will not hereinafter be described.

At the upper part of the freezer, and extending around the open top, is an upper frame assembly 10, defining the open top of the freezer, being moulded from plastics material, and comprising inner and outer vertical flanges 1 la, 1 lb respectively. In conventional manner, the upper margin of the inner wall 8 would extend behind the outer surface of the flange 11a, i.e. that face of the flange 1 la facing the flange 1 lb, whilst the outer surface of the outer wall 6 would extend behind the inner surface of the flange l ib, the space 14 between the inner and outer walls being filled with insulated packing material 15, such as polyurethane foam.

In accordance with this invention the inner wall 8 terminates a short distance below the inner flange 11a, and an insulating member 12 extends between the inner wall to the flange 1 la, and the inner wall 8 on each of the four sides.

Specifically the insulating member 12 is moulded from plastics material, specifically having a low index of thermal conductivity, and conveniently being of relatively small cross-sectional dimensions, comprising an upper wall 13 which in use is engaged behind the inner wall of the inner flange 1 la of the upper frame assembly 10. At the lower part the insulating member 12 is bifurcated, having parallel walls 14a and 14b which define a slot 15 which may be located over the upper margin of the inner wall 8, as shown in Figure 3.

In this manner the amount of heat which is transferred from the upper region of the freezer, particularly in the vicinity of the upper frame assembly 10, to the inner wall 8 is significantly reduced, without any commensurate reduction in the utility of the freezer.

The freezer which is the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the construction of thermal insulating member. Specifically in the second embodiment, the insulating member 16, similarly conveniently moulded in one piece from plastics material, comprises a lower margin 18 provided with a recess 19, on which spacing means in the form of narrow ribs 20 are provided, said ribs 20 being engaged by the upper margin of the inner wall 8.

An upper margin 24 of the insulating member 16 is in the form of a narrow flange, preferably similarly provided with spacing means afforded by ribs 25 on a rear face, which in use is engaged behind the inner face of the flange 1 la (see Figure 6).

In that the spacing means provides an insulating air gap between the engaging faces, it functions further to reduce heat transfer between the upper part of the freezer and the inner walls, further increasing the efficiency of the freezer.

Between the upper and lower regions the insulating member is provided with a convoluted or serpentine region 26, providing an extended thermal path between the upper margin of the inner wall 8 and the lower margin of the frame assembly 10. In this manner the insulated packing material 15 is retained within the space at the upper region of the freezer between the outer wall, the upper frame assembly, and the insulated member 16. In this manner the amount of heat transferred from the upper frame assembly to the interior of the freezer is significantly reduced, significantly increasing the efficiency of the freezer, albeit with a small increase in temperature in the immediate vicinity of the lower surface of the lid.

Whilst in the preferred embodiments above described the insulating member is produced by moulding, conveniently extrusion, of plastics material, it may of course be produced by other means, and if desired may be prefabricated from one or more parts secured together, conveniently by a process such as welding. Additionally the insulating member may be produced in an aesthetically pleasing colour to enhance the appearance of the interior of the freezer.

It is to be appreciated that the terms "inner" and "outer" are used herein in relation to directions which are inwardly of, or outwardly of, the interior of the freezer cabinet.

It is to be appreciated that whilst the invention has been described hereinabove in relation to a chest freezer having an opening which lies conventionally in a horizontal plane, with the lid being slidable or pivotal about a horizontal axis, the invention may be utilised with an upright freezer, in which the opening lies in a vertical plane, having a door mounted for movement about a vertical axis.

In the present specification "comprise" means "includes or consists of and "comprising" means "including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A freezer cabinet comprising an inner wall (8) of thermally conducting material, an outer wall (6) of thermally insulating material, with insulating material (9) therebetween, and a frame assembly (10) surrounding an opening of the freezer cabinet, the frame assembly (10) comprising an inner flange (11a) and an outer flange (l ib) engaging the outer face of the outer wall (6), said frame assembly providing a seating surface for a closure member of the freezer cabinet, characterised by the provision of an insulating member (12, 16) between the upper part of the inner wall (8) and the inner flange (11a) of the frame assembly.

2. A freezer according to Claim 1 wherein the inner wall (8) is located behind a lower margin of the insulating member (12).

3. A freezer according to any one of Claims 1 and 2 wherein the inner wall (8) extends into a slot or recess (15) provided in the lower margin of the insulating member (12).

4. A freezer according to any one of the preceding claims wherein an upper margin of the insulating member extends adjacent to the outer side of the inner flange (1 la) of the frame assembly.

5. A freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insulating member comprises spacing means (19) to reduce surface contact between the insulating member and the inner wall.

6. A freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the insulating member is provided with spacer means (25) to reduce surface contact between the insulating member and the inner flange of the frame assembly.

7. A freezer cabinet according to one of Claims 5 and 6 wherein the insulating member is provided with surface formations (20, 25), which engage with the inner wall and/or the inner flange of the upper frame, creating an air gap therebetween.

8. A freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding claims wherein between upper and lower regions the insulating member is provided with a convoluted or serpentine region (26), providing an extended thermal path between said upper and lower margins (24, 18).

9. A method of increasing the efficiency of a freezer in which an upper region of the inner wall of the freezer is provided by insulating means (12, 16) to reduce transfer of heat from the upper frame assembly (10) to the inner wall (8) of the freezer.

10. A freezer according to any one of the preceding claims, being a chest freezer.

11. An insulating member for a freezer according to any one of the preceding claims.

12. A freezer cabinet constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. An insulating member for a freezer cabinet, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and or in the accompanying drawings.