EP1554531A1 - Refrigerating device comprising an evacuatable storage compartment - Google Patents

Refrigerating device comprising an evacuatable storage compartment

Info

Publication number
EP1554531A1
EP1554531A1 EP03769396A EP03769396A EP1554531A1 EP 1554531 A1 EP1554531 A1 EP 1554531A1 EP 03769396 A EP03769396 A EP 03769396A EP 03769396 A EP03769396 A EP 03769396A EP 1554531 A1 EP1554531 A1 EP 1554531A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
storage compartment
pump
refrigerator
housing
pressure
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP03769396A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1554531B1 (en
Inventor
Adolf Feinauer
Michael Neumann
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.)
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Original Assignee
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
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 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH filed Critical BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Publication of EP1554531A1 publication Critical patent/EP1554531A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1554531B1 publication Critical patent/EP1554531B1/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
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
    • 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
    • F25D2201/00—Insulation
    • F25D2201/10—Insulation with respect to heat
    • F25D2201/12—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material
    • F25D2201/122—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material of loose fill type
    • 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
    • F25D2201/00—Insulation
    • F25D2201/10—Insulation with respect to heat
    • F25D2201/14—Insulation with respect to heat using subatmospheric pressure
    • 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
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/04—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments
    • F25D2317/043—Treating air flowing to refrigeration compartments by creating a vacuum in a storage compartment

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a refrigerator with a hollow housing surrounding a storage compartment and with a vacuum pump which is connected via a suction line to a cavity of the housing.
  • WO 01/712 63 A1 shows a refrigerator in which a storage compartment is provided for holding easily perishable foods.
  • the storage compartment can be evacuated to increase the shelf life of the food.
  • a pumping device for the storage compartment is provided to achieve a vacuum within the storage compartment.
  • the pumping device is integrated in the refrigerator and takes up a considerable part of the refrigerator volume at the expense of a storage space in the refrigerator.
  • the object is achieved by a refrigerator with the features of the preamble of claim 1, in which the suction line is further connected to the storage compartment.
  • the refrigeration device combines the advantages of an evacuable storage compartment with the advantages of an actively pumped refrigeration device. Since, according to the invention, the same vacuum pump is responsible for generating a vacuum both in the hollow-walled housing and in the storage compartment, a second vacuum pump can be dispensed with. This reduces the manufacturing costs for the refrigeration device as well as its operating costs, because only one vacuum pump, which represents an energy consumer, is provided. Finally, the use of only one pump means that less space is required, so that larger storage space capacities are available in the interior of the cooling device.
  • the housing can enclose an interior in which the storage compartment and a non-evacuable storage chamber are located. This means that less perishable food can be stored in the same refrigerator together with the perishable food that is stowed in the evacuated storage compartment, without having to remove the vacuum in the storage compartment when it is removed from the refrigerator.
  • the refrigeration device advantageously has a control circuit for controlling the pump using at least one pressure sensor arranged on the suction side of the pump. With such a pressure sensor, it can be detected when a pressure in the hollow-walled housing or in the storage compartment exceeds a certain value in order to cause the pump to suck off the excess pressure in such a case. In this way, a power-consuming, unnecessary, continuous operation of the pump is avoided, since it is only started when there is a need to maintain a required negative pressure.
  • the refrigerator advantageously has a switching valve in the suction line for selectively connecting the pump to the cavity or to the storage compartment. The pumping action of the pump can be switched between the cavity and the storage compartment by the control circuit as required.
  • the control circuit controls the position of the valve using the at least one pressure sensor.
  • the control circuit can be connected to a sensor for detecting the evacuability of the storage compartment.
  • the storage compartment can be evacuated when it is hermetically sealed from its surroundings, i.e. when a door to remove or insert food is closed. With such a sensor, it is possible to avoid inserting the pump with the door open and the associated heavy loading of the pump.
  • the control circuit advantageously controls the switching valve in order to connect the storage compartment to the pump when the evacuability sensor detects the evacuability of the storage compartment.
  • the storage compartment can be evacuated when the storage compartment door is closed, so that the pump can lower the pressure within the storage compartment when the door is closed.
  • the evacuability sensor is arranged on a door of the storage compartment for detecting the opening and closing state of the door.
  • the evacuability sensor is a pressure sensor
  • the valve has a switch position in which it has a high conductivity between the storage compartment and the pump, and a switch position with a small, non-disappearing conductivity between the storage compartment and the pump.
  • the control circuit simultaneously switches the switching valve into the switching position with the small conductance. If the pump is now started up, for example because the pressure sensor is arranged on the evacuable compartment and detects an excessively high pressure, only a small air stream is sucked out of the evacuable compartment.
  • the pressure inside the storage compartment does not drop, but remains at a constant, the Value corresponding to our ambient pressure, which is also detected by the pressure sensor.
  • the absence of a drop in pressure is the signal for the control circuit that the door of the storage compartment is open. Only when the door of the storage compartment is closed again does a pressure drop occur, which is registered by the sensor. Only when the sensor indicates that the storage compartment can be evacuated does the control circuit switch the switching valve to the position with the high conductance, and the storage compartment is evacuated quickly.
  • the cavity of the housing advantageously contains a loose filling made of a support material.
  • the support material gives the hollow-walled housing increased stability.
  • the support material is preferably porous. Such a support material contributes to the thermal insulation of the interior of the refrigerator.
  • a granular material based on silica or airgel is particularly preferred as the support material.
  • the pump is advantageously a rough vacuum pump.
  • a rough vacuum is a pressure of approx. 100 mbar.
  • Coarse vacuum pumps are more robust and cost-effective than high vacuum pumps.
  • a rough vacuum of approximately 100 mbar is sufficient to bring about a significant improvement in the insulation of the interior of the refrigerator compared to a non-evacuated state of the cavity of the housing of the refrigerator.
  • the storage compartment and / or the cavity particularly preferably have walls made of plastic.
  • a major advantage of plastic walls is their low cost and simple processing.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a refrigerator according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a further refrigerator according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross section through a refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigeration device according to the invention.
  • the refrigerator 1 is rectangular in shape and is enclosed by a hollow-walled housing 2 with the exception of one front.
  • the hollow-walled housing 2 is filled with a porous support material 5, which is a granulate based on silica or airgel.
  • a hinged front door 3 with a handle 4 is provided in order to gain access to an interior of the refrigerator 1.
  • the interior of the refrigerator 1 is divided into an upper storage chamber 6, a lower storage chamber 7, an operating area 8 arranged next to the lower storage chamber 7 and an area which is occupied by an evacuable storage compartment 9.
  • the upper storage chamber 6 is separated by the storage compartment 9 from the lower storage chamber 7 and the operating area 8.
  • horizontally aligned storage surfaces or storage grids 10 are provided in the upper storage chamber 6 and in the further storage chamber 7, horizontally aligned storage surfaces or storage grids 10 are provided.
  • the storage compartment 9 has a flap 11 on the front, via which food can be inserted into or removed from the storage compartment 9. In the evacuated state, the flap 11 is hermetically pressed against the housing of the storage compartment 9 by the ambient pressure.
  • a flood valve 21 is provided on the housing of the storage compartment 9.
  • a compressor 12, a pump 13, a valve 15 and a control unit 18 are arranged in the operating area 8. Evaporators and condensers, which together with the compressor 12 form a coolant circuit, are not shown for the sake of clarity.
  • the pump 13 is a rough vacuum pump which is set to a target pressure of 100 mbar. It is connected to the inner cavity of the housing 2 and to the evacuable storage compartment 9 via a suction line 14.
  • a switching valve 15, which is designed to assume several switching positions under the control of the control unit 18, is arranged at a fork in the suction line 14.
  • the control unit 18 also serves to control the pump 13. For this purpose, it is connected to the pump 13 and the valve 15 via control lines 20 connected. It is also connected to the flood valve 21 by means of a data line 22 and to two pressure sensors 16 and 17 by means of data lines 19, the sensor 16 being arranged in the interior of the storage compartment 9 and the sensor 17 being arranged in the cavity of the hollow-walled housing 2.
  • the pressure sensors 16, 17 each detect a pressure in the interior of the storage compartment 9 or in the cavity of the hollow-walled housing 2 and transmit the result of their measurement to the control unit 18 via the data lines 19.
  • the pressure inside the storage compartment 9 and inside the hollow-walled housing 2 is measured continuously by the pressure sensors 16 and 17, and the result of the measurement is passed on to the control unit 18.
  • a maximum upper limit value which must not be exceeded, is specified for both the pressure inside the storage compartment 9 and the pressure inside the housing 2. If one of the two sensors 16 or 17 detects that this limit value has been exceeded due to the pressure monitored by it, the control unit 18 reacts by activating the valve 15 and switching the valve 15 such that the pump 13 communicates with the pump via the suction line 14 Storage compartment 9 or connected to the cavity of the housing 2, depending on in which of both the exceeding of the limit value for the pressure was determined by the corresponding sensor 16, 17.
  • control unit 18 puts the pump 13 into operation, so that the excess pressure is suctioned off and the total pressure in the storage compartment 9 or the housing 2 again falls below the predetermined limit value.
  • the control unit 18 switches the pump 13 off again. In this way it is ensured that the pump 13 is only in operation when it is required to extract excess pressure, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption.
  • the flap 11 must be opened to remove or deposit food from or into the storage compartment 9. To do this, the interior of the storage compartment 9 must be flooded beforehand.
  • the flood valve 21 is provided, which is operated manually and closes as soon as it is released by the user.
  • the flap 11 is designed so that it opens after the pressure has been equalized.
  • the control unit 18 receives a signal via the data line 22, which indicates that the flood valve 21 is open.
  • the control unit 18 responds to this by bringing the switching valve 15 into the switching position in which it connects the pump 13 and the storage compartment 9 with a low conductivity. While the storage compartment is open, the pump 13 continuously extracts a small, non-vanishing air flow from the storage compartment 9.
  • the flap 11 is pressed shut when the flood valve 21 is released. As soon as the flap 11 is closed, the small air flow sucked out of the storage compartment 9 by the pump 13 is sufficient to slightly lower the pressure within the storage compartment 9. This decrease in pressure is detected by the pressure sensor 16 and is the signal for the control unit 18 that the flap 11 has been closed. Via the control line 20, it therefore instructs the valve 15 to connect the pump 13 with a high conductivity to the storage compartment 9, so that the pump 13 now quickly reduces the pressure within the storage compartment 9. If this pressure falls below a lower predetermined value, the pump 13 is switched off again by the control unit 18.
  • the storage compartment 9 has no flood valve.
  • the refrigerator according to FIG. 1 is equipped with only one pressure sensor 16, which is arranged in the suction line 14 between the pump 13 and the valve 15 and connected to the control unit 18 via a data line 19 is.
  • the valve 15 has a fourth connection at which a ventilation line 23 opens to the surroundings of the refrigerator.
  • the valve 15 can be switched between three switching positions: in a first switching position, the ventilation line 23 is connected to the interior of the storage compartment 9 via the suction line 14, while the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the cavity of the housing 2 blocks is; in a second switching position, the ventilation line 23 and the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the cavity of the housing 2 are blocked; while the pump 13 is connected to the storage compartment 9 via the valve 15, and in a third switching position the ventilation line 23 and the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the storage compartment 9 are blocked.
  • the valve In normal operation of the refrigerator 1, the valve is in the third switching stage, so that the pump 13 is connected to the cavity of the housing 2 via the suction line 14. The same pressure prevails in the suction line 14 as in the cavity. This is measured by the sensor 16 and communicated to the control unit 18 via the data line 19. As in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the control unit 18 is given a limit value for the pressure, the control unit 18 causing the pump 13 to pump off an excess pressure if this pressure exceeds this limit value. As soon as the pressure is again below a predetermined pressure, the pump 13 is switched off by the control unit 18.
  • control unit 18 is caused to switch the valve 15 into the first switching stage by means of a manual switch (not shown).
  • a manual switch not shown
  • the interior of the storage compartment 9 is flooded with ambient air via the suction line 14 and the ventilation line 23 until pressure equalization has occurred.
  • the flap 11 can then be opened or it opens when the pressure is equalized.
  • the door sensor 24 registers the closed state (for example via the presence of an electrical contact or the interruption of an electrical contact) and passes this information on to the control unit 18 via the data line 22.
  • This causes the valve 15 to switch to the second switching stage, so that the pump 13 is connected to the interior of the storage compartment 9 via the suction line 14, while the ventilation line 23 is blocked and the cavity of the housing 2 is separated from the pump 13.
  • the pump 13 can now pump out the storage compartment 9.
  • the pressure sensor 16 registers the prevailing pressure and transmits its measurement result to the control unit 18. As soon as the pressure falls below a predetermined value, the valve 15 is switched back to the third switching stage by the control unit 18 and the Pump 13 turned off. The refrigerator 1 then resumes normal operation.

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerating device (1) provided with a hollow-walled housing (2), which surrounds a storage compartment (9), and a vacuum pump (13) which is connected to a hollow chamber of the housing (2) via a suction line (14). The suction line (14) is also connected to the storage compartment (9).

Description

Kältegerät mit einem evakuierbaren Lagerfach Refrigerator with an evacuable storage compartment
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Kältegerät mit einem ein Lagerfach umgebenden, hohlwandigen Gehäuse und mit einer Vakuumpumpe, die über eine Saugleitung an einen Hohlraum des Gehäuses angeschlossen ist.The invention relates to a refrigerator with a hollow housing surrounding a storage compartment and with a vacuum pump which is connected via a suction line to a cavity of the housing.
Es ist bekannt, dass die Lagerung von leicht verderblichen Lebensmitteln unter Vakuum deren Haltbarkeit verbessert. So ist beispielsweise in der WO 01/712 63 A1 ein Kühlschrank gezeigt, in dem ein Lagerfach zur Halterung leicht verderblicher Lebensmittel vorgesehen ist. Das Lagerfach kann evakuiert werden, um die Haltbarkeit der Lebensmittel zu erhöhen. Zur Erreichung eines Vakuums innerhalb des Lagerfaches ist eine Abpumpvorrichtung für das Lagerfach vorgesehen. Die Abpumpvorrichtung ist dabei in den Kühlschrank integriert und beansprucht auf Kosten eines Stauraumes im Kühlschrank einen erheblichen Teil des Kühlschrankvolumens.It is known that storing perishable foods under vacuum improves their shelf life. For example, WO 01/712 63 A1 shows a refrigerator in which a storage compartment is provided for holding easily perishable foods. The storage compartment can be evacuated to increase the shelf life of the food. A pumping device for the storage compartment is provided to achieve a vacuum within the storage compartment. The pumping device is integrated in the refrigerator and takes up a considerable part of the refrigerator volume at the expense of a storage space in the refrigerator.
Es ist auch bekannt, Kühlgeräte mit hohlwandigen Gehäusen herzustellen, die evakuierbar sind, da solche Gehäuse eine thermische Isolation des Kühlschrankinnenraumes erheblich verbessern. Man unterscheidet dabei zwischen hermetisch abgeschlossenen Systemen und aktiv gepumpten Systemen. Bei den hermetisch abgeschlossenen Systemen wird das Vakuum innerhalb des hohlwandigen Gehäuses nach einem einmaligen Evakuiervorgang für die Lebensdauer des Kühlschrankes aufrechterhalten. Zu ihnen zählen Vakuumisolationspaneele und hermetisch dichte Gesamtgehäuse. Infolge der extremen Anforderungen bezüglich Vakuumdichtigkeit sind diese Systeme jedoch aufwendig herzustellen und sehr kostspielig. So können beispielsweise die hohen Vakuumanforderungen nur durch einen Edelstahlmantel gewährleistet werden. Aktiv gepumpte Systeme setzen dagegen wesentlich preisgünstigere und einfacher zu verarbeitende Kunststoffgehäuse ein, die mit einem entsprechend zu evakuierenden Stützkörpermaterial verfüllt sein können. Allerdings ist bei diesen Systemen eine fest mit dem Gehäuse verbundene Pumpe bzw. ein Absorptionssystem zur Aufrechterhaltung des Vakuums notwendig. Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung ist die Bereitstellung eines kostengünstigen Kältegerätes, mit dem leicht verderbliche Lebensmittel über längere Zeit hinweg haltbar gelagert werden können.It is also known to produce cooling devices with hollow-walled housings which can be evacuated, since such housings considerably improve the thermal insulation of the interior of the refrigerator. A distinction is made between hermetically sealed systems and actively pumped systems. In the hermetically sealed systems, the vacuum inside the hollow-walled housing is maintained after the evacuation process for the life of the refrigerator. They include vacuum insulation panels and hermetically sealed overall housings. However, due to the extreme requirements regarding vacuum tightness, these systems are complex to manufacture and very expensive. For example, the high vacuum requirements can only be guaranteed by a stainless steel jacket. Actively pumped systems, on the other hand, use much cheaper and easier to process plastic housings, which can be filled with a supporting body material to be evacuated accordingly. However, these systems require a pump or an absorption system that is permanently connected to the housing to maintain the vacuum. The object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive refrigeration device with which easily perishable foods can be stored for a long time.
Die Aufgabe wird gelöst durch ein Kältegerät mit den Merkmalen des Oberbegriffs des Anspruchs 1 , bei dem die Saugleitung ferner an das Lagerfach angeschlossen ist.The object is achieved by a refrigerator with the features of the preamble of claim 1, in which the suction line is further connected to the storage compartment.
Das erfindungsgemäße Kältegerät kombiniert die Vorteile eines evakuierbaren Lagerfaches mit den Vorteilen eines aktiv gepumpten Kältegerätes. Da erfindungsgemäß dieselbe Vakuumpumpe zur Erzeugung eines Vakuums sowohl in dem hohlwandigen Gehäuse als auch im Lagerfach zuständig ist, kann auf eine zweite Vakuumpumpe verzichtet werden. Dadurch verringern sich die Herstellungskosten für das Kältegerät als auch dessen Betriebskosten, weil nur eine Vakuumpumpe, die einen Energieverbraucher darstellt, vorgesehen ist. Schließlich wird durch den Einsatz nur einer Pumpe weniger Raum beansprucht, so dass im Innenraum des Kühlgerätes größere Stauraumkapazitäten zur Verfü- gung stehen.The refrigeration device according to the invention combines the advantages of an evacuable storage compartment with the advantages of an actively pumped refrigeration device. Since, according to the invention, the same vacuum pump is responsible for generating a vacuum both in the hollow-walled housing and in the storage compartment, a second vacuum pump can be dispensed with. This reduces the manufacturing costs for the refrigeration device as well as its operating costs, because only one vacuum pump, which represents an energy consumer, is provided. Finally, the use of only one pump means that less space is required, so that larger storage space capacities are available in the interior of the cooling device.
Beim erfindungsgemäßen Kältegerät kann das Gehäuse einen Innenraum umschließen, in dem sich das Lagerfach und eine nicht evakuierbare Lagerkammer befinden. So können im selben Kältegerät auch weniger leicht verderbliche Lebensmittel zusammen mit den leicht verderblichen Lebensmitteln, die im evakuierten Lagerfach verstaut sind, aufbewahrt werden, ohne bei deren Entnahme aus dem Kältegerät das Vakuum im Lagerfach aufheben zu müssen.In the refrigeration device according to the invention, the housing can enclose an interior in which the storage compartment and a non-evacuable storage chamber are located. This means that less perishable food can be stored in the same refrigerator together with the perishable food that is stowed in the evacuated storage compartment, without having to remove the vacuum in the storage compartment when it is removed from the refrigerator.
Vorteilhafterweise verfügt das Kältegerät über eine Steuerschaltung zum Steuern der Pumpe anhand wenigstens eines an der Saugseite der Pumpe angeordneten Drucksensors. Mit einem solchen Drucksensor kann erkannt werden, wenn ein Druck im hohlwandigen Gehäuse oder im Lagerfach einen bestimmten Wert übersteigt, um die Pumpe in einem solchen Fall zum Absaugen des überschüssigen Druckes zu veranlassen. Auf diese Weise wird ein stromfressender unnötiger Dauerbetrieb der Pumpe vermieden, da sie nur dann in Betrieb gesetzt wird, wenn eine Notwendigkeit zur Aufrechterhaltung eines benötigten Unterdruckes auftritt. Dabei verfügt das Kältegerät vorteilhafterweise in der Saugleitung über ein Schaltventil zum selektiven Verbinden der Pumpe mit dem Hohlraum oder mit dem Lagerfach. So kann die Pumpwirkung der Pumpe je nach Bedarf zwischen dem Hohlraum und dem Lagerfach von der Steuerschaltung umgeschaltet werden.The refrigeration device advantageously has a control circuit for controlling the pump using at least one pressure sensor arranged on the suction side of the pump. With such a pressure sensor, it can be detected when a pressure in the hollow-walled housing or in the storage compartment exceeds a certain value in order to cause the pump to suck off the excess pressure in such a case. In this way, a power-consuming, unnecessary, continuous operation of the pump is avoided, since it is only started when there is a need to maintain a required negative pressure. The refrigerator advantageously has a switching valve in the suction line for selectively connecting the pump to the cavity or to the storage compartment. The pumping action of the pump can be switched between the cavity and the storage compartment by the control circuit as required.
Dabei steuert die Steuerschaltung die Stellung des Ventils anhand des wenigstens einen Drucksensors.The control circuit controls the position of the valve using the at least one pressure sensor.
Die Steuerschaltung kann an einen Sensor zum Erfassen der Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfachs angeschlossen sein. Das Lagerfach ist dann evakuierbar, wenn es gegenüber sei- ner Umgebung hermetisch abgeschlossen ist, d.h. wenn eine Tür zur Entnahme oder zum Einlegen der Lebensmittel geschlossen ist. Mit einem solchen Sensor lässt sich ein Einsetzen der Pumpe bei geöffneter Tür und eine damit verbundene starke Belastung der Pumpe vermeiden.The control circuit can be connected to a sensor for detecting the evacuability of the storage compartment. The storage compartment can be evacuated when it is hermetically sealed from its surroundings, i.e. when a door to remove or insert food is closed. With such a sensor, it is possible to avoid inserting the pump with the door open and the associated heavy loading of the pump.
Vorteilhafterweise steuert die Steuerschaltung das Schaltventil an, um das Lagerfach mit der Pumpe zu verbinden, wenn der Evakuierbarkeitssensor die Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfachs erfasst. Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfaches ist wie oben erwähnt bei geschlossener Tür des Lagerfaches gegeben, so dass die Pumpe bei geschlossener Tür eine Druckerniedrigung innerhalb des Lagerfaches bewirken kann.The control circuit advantageously controls the switching valve in order to connect the storage compartment to the pump when the evacuability sensor detects the evacuability of the storage compartment. As mentioned above, the storage compartment can be evacuated when the storage compartment door is closed, so that the pump can lower the pressure within the storage compartment when the door is closed.
In einer Ausführungsform ist der Evakuierbarkeitssensor an einer Tür des Lagerfachs zum Erfassen des Öffnungs- und Schließzustandes der Tür angeordnet.In one embodiment, the evacuability sensor is arranged on a door of the storage compartment for detecting the opening and closing state of the door.
Bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform ist der Evakuierbarkeitssensor ein Drucksensor, und das Ventil weist eine Schaltstellung auf, in der es einen hohen Leitwert zwischen Lagerfach und Pumpe aufweist, und eine Schaltstellung mit einem kleinen, nichtverschwinden- den Leitwert zwischen Lagerfach und Pumpe. Wird bei einer solchen Ausführung das e- vakuierbare Lagerfach geflutet, um seine Tür öffnen zu können, so schaltet gleichzeitig die Steuerschaltung das Schaltventil in die Schaltstellung mit dem kleinen Leitwert. Wird nun die Pumpe in Betrieb genommen, etwa weil der Drucksensor an dem evakuierbaren Fach angeordnet ist und einen übermäßig hohen Druck erfasst, so wird nur ein kleiner Luftstrom aus dem evakuierbaren Fach abgesaugt. Solange die Tür geöffnet ist, sinkt der Druck innerhalb des Lagerfaches nicht ab, sondern bleibt auf einem konstanten, dem äu- ßeren Umgebungsdruck entsprechenden Wert, was ebenfalls vom Drucksensor detektiert wird. Ein Ausbleiben eines Druckabfalles ist für die Steuerschaltung das Signal, dass die Tür des Lagerfaches geöffnet ist. Erst wenn die Tür des Lagerfachs wieder geschlossen ist, tritt ein Druckabfall auf, der von dem Sensor registriert wird. Erst wenn der Sensor so die Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfachs anzeigt, schaltet die Steuerschaltung das Schaltventil in die Stellung mit dem hohen Leitwert, und das Lagerfach wird zügig evakuiert.In a further embodiment, the evacuability sensor is a pressure sensor, and the valve has a switch position in which it has a high conductivity between the storage compartment and the pump, and a switch position with a small, non-disappearing conductivity between the storage compartment and the pump. In such a design, if the evacuable storage compartment is flooded in order to be able to open its door, the control circuit simultaneously switches the switching valve into the switching position with the small conductance. If the pump is now started up, for example because the pressure sensor is arranged on the evacuable compartment and detects an excessively high pressure, only a small air stream is sucked out of the evacuable compartment. As long as the door is open, the pressure inside the storage compartment does not drop, but remains at a constant, the Value corresponding to our ambient pressure, which is also detected by the pressure sensor. The absence of a drop in pressure is the signal for the control circuit that the door of the storage compartment is open. Only when the door of the storage compartment is closed again does a pressure drop occur, which is registered by the sensor. Only when the sensor indicates that the storage compartment can be evacuated does the control circuit switch the switching valve to the position with the high conductance, and the storage compartment is evacuated quickly.
Vorteilhafterweise enthält der Hohlraum des Gehäuses eine lockere Füllung aus einem Stützmaterial. Das Stützmaterial verleiht dem hohlwandigen Gehäuse eine erhöhte Stabilität.The cavity of the housing advantageously contains a loose filling made of a support material. The support material gives the hollow-walled housing increased stability.
Dabei ist das Stützmaterial bevorzugterweise porös. Ein solches Stützmaterial trägt zur thermischen Isolierung des Innenraumes des Kältegerätes bei.The support material is preferably porous. Such a support material contributes to the thermal insulation of the interior of the refrigerator.
Besonders bevorzugt wird als Stützmaterial ein Granulat auf Kieselsäure- oder Aerogel- basis.A granular material based on silica or airgel is particularly preferred as the support material.
Vorteilhafterweise ist die Pumpe eine Grobvakuumpumpe. Unter einem Grobvakuum versteht man einen Druck von ca. 100 mbar. Grobvakuumpumpen sind gegenüber Hochvakuumpumpen robuster und kostengünstiger. Insbesondere dann, wenn der Hohlraum des Gehäuses mit einem Stützmaterial ausgefüllt ist, genügt bereits ein Grobvakuum von ungefähr 100 mbar, um eine deutliche Isolationsverbesserung des Innenraumes des Kältegerätes gegenüber einem nichtevakuierten Zustand des Hohlraumes des Gehäuses des Kältegerätes zu bewirken.The pump is advantageously a rough vacuum pump. A rough vacuum is a pressure of approx. 100 mbar. Coarse vacuum pumps are more robust and cost-effective than high vacuum pumps. In particular, when the cavity of the housing is filled with a support material, a rough vacuum of approximately 100 mbar is sufficient to bring about a significant improvement in the insulation of the interior of the refrigerator compared to a non-evacuated state of the cavity of the housing of the refrigerator.
Besonders bevorzugt weisen das Lagerfach und/oder der Hohlraum Wände aus Kunststoff auf. Wesentlicher Vorteil von Kunststoffwänden ist deren Preisgünstigkeit und einfache Verarbeitung.The storage compartment and / or the cavity particularly preferably have walls made of plastic. A major advantage of plastic walls is their low cost and simple processing.
Im Folgenden wird die Erfindung anhand zweier Ausführungsbeispiele näher beschrieben. Dabei zeigen:The invention is described in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments. Show:
Fig. 1 einen Querschnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Kühlschrank; und Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch einen weiteren erfindungsgemäßen Kühlschrank.1 shows a cross section through a refrigerator according to the invention. and Fig. 2 shows a cross section through a further refrigerator according to the invention.
In Fig. 1 ist als Beispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Kältegerät ein Querschnitt durch einen Kühlschrank 1 gezeigt. Der Kühlschrank 1 ist von quaderförmiger äußerer Gestalt und wird mit Ausnahme einer Frontseite von einem hohlwandigen Gehäuse 2 umschlossen. Dabei ist das hohlwandige Gehäuse 2 von einem porösen Stützmaterial 5 aufgefüllt, bei dem es sich um ein Granulat auf Kieselsäure- oder Aerogelbasis handelt. An der Frontseite des Kühlschranks 1 ist eine aufklappbare Fronttür 3 mit einem Griff 4 vorgesehen, um über diese Zugang zu einem Innenraum des Kühlschranks 1 zu erhalten.1 shows a cross section through a refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigeration device according to the invention. The refrigerator 1 is rectangular in shape and is enclosed by a hollow-walled housing 2 with the exception of one front. The hollow-walled housing 2 is filled with a porous support material 5, which is a granulate based on silica or airgel. At the front of the refrigerator 1, a hinged front door 3 with a handle 4 is provided in order to gain access to an interior of the refrigerator 1.
Der Innenraum des Kühlschrankes 1 teilt sich in eine obere Lagerkammer 6, eine untere Lagerkammer 7, einen neben der unteren Lagerkammer 7 angeordneten Betriebsbereich 8 und einen Bereich auf, der von einem evakuierbaren Lagerfach 9 eingenommen wird. Dabei wird die obere Lagerkammer 6 durch das Lagerfach 9 von der unteren Lagerkammer 7 und dem Betriebsbereich 8 getrennt. In der oberen Lagerkammer 6 und in der gnte- ren Lagerkammer 7 sind horizontal ausgerichtete Ablageflächen oder Ablageroste 10 vorgesehen. Das Lagerfach 9 weist frontseitig eine Klappe 11 auf, über die Lebensmittel in das Lagerfach 9 eingelegt oder daraus entnommen werden können. Im evakuierten Zustand ist die Klappe 11 durch den Umgebungsdruck hermetisch dicht gegen das Gehäuse des Lagerfachs 9 gepresst. Am Gehäuse des Lagefachs 9 ist ein Flutventil 21 vorgese- hen.The interior of the refrigerator 1 is divided into an upper storage chamber 6, a lower storage chamber 7, an operating area 8 arranged next to the lower storage chamber 7 and an area which is occupied by an evacuable storage compartment 9. The upper storage chamber 6 is separated by the storage compartment 9 from the lower storage chamber 7 and the operating area 8. In the upper storage chamber 6 and in the further storage chamber 7, horizontally aligned storage surfaces or storage grids 10 are provided. The storage compartment 9 has a flap 11 on the front, via which food can be inserted into or removed from the storage compartment 9. In the evacuated state, the flap 11 is hermetically pressed against the housing of the storage compartment 9 by the ambient pressure. A flood valve 21 is provided on the housing of the storage compartment 9.
Im Betriebsbereich 8 sind ein Verdichter 12, eine Pumpe 13, ein Ventil 15 und eine Steuereinheit 18 angeordnet. Verdampfer und Verflüssiger, die zusammen mit dem Verdichter 12 einen Kühlmittelkreis bilden, sind der Übersichtlichkeit halber nicht dargestellt. Die Pumpe 13 ist eine Grobvakuumpumpe, die auf einen Zieldruck von 100 mbar eingestellt ist. Sie ist über eine Saugleitung 14 mit dem inneren Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 und mit dem evakuierbaren Lagerfach 9 verbunden. An einer Gabelung der Saugleitung 14 ist ein Schaltventil 15 angeordnet, das ausgelegt ist, um unter der Kontrolle der Steuereinheit 18 mehrere Schaltstellungen einzunehmen. Es hat jeweils eine Schaltstellung, in der es die Pumpe 13 mit dem Lagerfach 9 bzw. dem Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 mit hohem Leitwert verbindet, und eine Schaltstellung, in der es die Pumpe 13 mit dem Lagerfach 9 mit niedrigem Leitwert verbindet. Die Steuereinheit 18 dient ferner zur Steuerung der Pumpe 13. Zu diesem Zweck ist sie über Steuerleitungen 20 mit der Pumpe 13 und dem Ventil 15 verbunden. Sie ist darüber hinaus mittels einer Datenleitung 22 mit dem Flutventil 21 und mittels Datenleitungen 19 mit zwei Drucksensoren 16 und 17 verbunden, wobei der Sensor 16 im Innenraum des Lagerfaches 9 angeordnet ist, und der Sensor 17 im Hohlraum des hohlwandigen Gehäuses 2 angeordnet ist. Die Drucksensoren 16, 17 detektieren jeweils einen Druck im Inneren des Lagerfaches 9 respektive im Hohlraum des hohlwandi- gen Gehäuses 2 und übertragen das Ergebnis ihrer Messung über die Datenleitungen 19 an die Steuereinheit 18.A compressor 12, a pump 13, a valve 15 and a control unit 18 are arranged in the operating area 8. Evaporators and condensers, which together with the compressor 12 form a coolant circuit, are not shown for the sake of clarity. The pump 13 is a rough vacuum pump which is set to a target pressure of 100 mbar. It is connected to the inner cavity of the housing 2 and to the evacuable storage compartment 9 via a suction line 14. A switching valve 15, which is designed to assume several switching positions under the control of the control unit 18, is arranged at a fork in the suction line 14. It each has a switching position in which it connects the pump 13 to the storage compartment 9 or the cavity of the housing 2 with a high conductivity, and a switching position in which it connects the pump 13 to the storage compartment 9 with a low conductivity. The control unit 18 also serves to control the pump 13. For this purpose, it is connected to the pump 13 and the valve 15 via control lines 20 connected. It is also connected to the flood valve 21 by means of a data line 22 and to two pressure sensors 16 and 17 by means of data lines 19, the sensor 16 being arranged in the interior of the storage compartment 9 and the sensor 17 being arranged in the cavity of the hollow-walled housing 2. The pressure sensors 16, 17 each detect a pressure in the interior of the storage compartment 9 or in the cavity of the hollow-walled housing 2 and transmit the result of their measurement to the control unit 18 via the data lines 19.
Im Betrieb des Kühlschrankes 1 wird der Druck im Inneren des Lagerfaches 9 und im Inneren des hohlwandigen Gehäuses 2 von den Drucksensoren 16 und 17 permanent ge- messen und das Ergebnis der Messung wird an die Steuereinheit 18 weitergegeben. Dabei ist sowohl für den Druck im Inneren des Lagerfaches 9 als auch für den Druck im Inneren des Gehäuses 2 jeweils ein maximaler oberer Grenzwert vorgegeben, der nicht überschritten werden darf. Stellt nun einer der beiden Sensoren 16 oder 17 ein Überschreiten dieses Grenzwertes durch den von ihm überwachten Druck fest, so reagiert die Steuereinheit 18, indem sie das Ventil 15 ansteuert und das Ventil 15 so schaltet, dass die Pumpe 13 über die Saugleitung 14 mit dem Lagerfach 9 oder mit dem Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 verbunden wird, je nachdem, in welchem von beiden das Überschreiten des Grenzwertes für den Druck durch den entsprechenden Sensor 16, 17 festgestellt wurde. Außerdem setzt die Steuereinheit 18 die Pumpe 13 in Betrieb, so dass der Überdruck abgesaugt wird und der Gesamtdruck im Lagerfach 9 bzw. dem Gehäuse 2 wieder unter den vorgegebenen Grenzwert fällt. Sobald der entsprechende Sensor 16 oder 17 einen Druck feststellt, der eine vorgegebene Differenz zum oberen Grenzwert für den Druck aufweist, stellt die Steuereinheit 18 die Pumpe 13 wieder ab. Auf diese Weise ist gewährleistet, dass die Pumpe 13 nur dann im Betrieb ist, wenn sie zum Absaugen eines Über- druckes benötigt wird, wodurch unnötiger Energieverbrauch unterbunden wird.During operation of the refrigerator 1, the pressure inside the storage compartment 9 and inside the hollow-walled housing 2 is measured continuously by the pressure sensors 16 and 17, and the result of the measurement is passed on to the control unit 18. A maximum upper limit value, which must not be exceeded, is specified for both the pressure inside the storage compartment 9 and the pressure inside the housing 2. If one of the two sensors 16 or 17 detects that this limit value has been exceeded due to the pressure monitored by it, the control unit 18 reacts by activating the valve 15 and switching the valve 15 such that the pump 13 communicates with the pump via the suction line 14 Storage compartment 9 or connected to the cavity of the housing 2, depending on in which of both the exceeding of the limit value for the pressure was determined by the corresponding sensor 16, 17. In addition, the control unit 18 puts the pump 13 into operation, so that the excess pressure is suctioned off and the total pressure in the storage compartment 9 or the housing 2 again falls below the predetermined limit value. As soon as the corresponding sensor 16 or 17 detects a pressure which has a predetermined difference from the upper limit value for the pressure, the control unit 18 switches the pump 13 off again. In this way it is ensured that the pump 13 is only in operation when it is required to extract excess pressure, thereby preventing unnecessary energy consumption.
Zur Entnahme oder Deponierung von Lebensmitteln aus dem oder in das Lagerfach 9 muss die Klappe 11 geöffnet werden. Dazu muss vorher der Innenraum des Lagerfaches 9 geflutet werden. Zu diesem Zweck ist das Flutventil 21 vorgesehen, das manuell betätigt wird und schließt, sobald es vom Benutzer losgelassen wird. Außerdem ist die Klappe 11 so ausgelegt, dass sie nach erfolgtem Druckausgleich aufspringt. Wenn ein Benutzer das Flutventil 21 öffnet und Luft in das Lagerfach 9 strömt, registriert der Drucksensor 16 einen Druckanstieg, der die Steuereinheit 18 veranlasst, die Pumpe 13 einzuschalten. Gleichzeitig empfängt die Steuereinheit 18 über die Datenleitung 22 ein Signal, welches das Offenstehen des Flutventils 21 anzeigt. Die Steuereinheit 18 reagiert darauf, indem sie das Schaltventil 15 in die Schaltstellung bringt, in der es die Pumpe 13 und das Lagerfach 9 mit niedrigem Leitwert verbindet. Während das Lagerfach offen steht, saugt die Pumpe 13 kontinuierlich einen kleinen, nichtverschwindenden Luftstrom aus dem Lager- fach 9 ab.The flap 11 must be opened to remove or deposit food from or into the storage compartment 9. To do this, the interior of the storage compartment 9 must be flooded beforehand. For this purpose, the flood valve 21 is provided, which is operated manually and closes as soon as it is released by the user. In addition, the flap 11 is designed so that it opens after the pressure has been equalized. When a user opens the flood valve 21 and air flows into the storage compartment 9, the pressure sensor 16 registers a pressure rise, which causes the control unit 18 to switch on the pump 13. At the same time, the control unit 18 receives a signal via the data line 22, which indicates that the flood valve 21 is open. The control unit 18 responds to this by bringing the switching valve 15 into the switching position in which it connects the pump 13 and the storage compartment 9 with a low conductivity. While the storage compartment is open, the pump 13 continuously extracts a small, non-vanishing air flow from the storage compartment 9.
Um das Lagerfach 11 wieder hermetisch zu verschließen, wird die Klappe 11 bei losgelassenem Flutventil 21 zugedrückt. Sobald die Klappe 11 verschlossen ist, genügt der kleine, von der Pumpe 13 aus dem Lagerfach 9 abgesaugte Luftstrom, um den Druck innerhalb des Lagerfaches 9 geringfügig abzusenken. Diese Druckabnahme wird vom Drucksensor 16 erfasst und ist für die Steuereinheit 18 das Signal, dass die Klappe 11 geschlossen wurde. Über die Steuerleitung 20 weist sie daher das Ventil 15 an, die Pumpe 13 mit hohem Leitwert mit dem Lagerfach 9 zu verbinden, so dass die Pumpe 13 nunmehr den Druck innerhalb des Lagerfaches 9 schnell reduziert. Unterschreitet dieser Druck einen unteren vorgegebenen Wert, so wird die Pumpe 13 von der Steuereinheit 18 wieder abgeschaltet. Erst wenn die Sensoren 16 oder 17 ein Überschreiten der von Ihnen überwachten Drücke im Lagerfach 9 oder im Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 über einen der vorgegebenen Grenzwerte registrieren, wird die Pumpe 13 von der Steuereinheit 18 wieder in Betrieb gesetzt und über das Ventil 15 je nach Bedarf entweder mit dem Lagerfach 9 oder mit dem Hohlraum des hohlwandigen Gehäuses 2 verbunden.In order to hermetically seal the storage compartment 11 again, the flap 11 is pressed shut when the flood valve 21 is released. As soon as the flap 11 is closed, the small air flow sucked out of the storage compartment 9 by the pump 13 is sufficient to slightly lower the pressure within the storage compartment 9. This decrease in pressure is detected by the pressure sensor 16 and is the signal for the control unit 18 that the flap 11 has been closed. Via the control line 20, it therefore instructs the valve 15 to connect the pump 13 with a high conductivity to the storage compartment 9, so that the pump 13 now quickly reduces the pressure within the storage compartment 9. If this pressure falls below a lower predetermined value, the pump 13 is switched off again by the control unit 18. Only when the sensors 16 or 17 register that the pressures you monitor in the storage compartment 9 or in the cavity of the housing 2 exceed one of the predetermined limit values, is the pump 13 restarted by the control unit 18 and via the valve 15 as required either connected to the storage compartment 9 or to the cavity of the hollow-walled housing 2.
Bei der in Figur 2 im Querschnitt gezeigten weiteren Ausführung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlschranks 1 weist das Lagerfach 9 im Gegensatz zu der in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausführung kein Flutventil auf. Ein weiterer Unterschied zur in Figur 1 gezeigten Ausführung besteht darin, dass der Kühlschrank gemäß Figur 1 mit nur einem Drucksensor 16 ausgestattet ist, der in der Saugleitung 14 zwischen der Pumpe 13 und dem Ventil 15 angeordnet und über eine Datenleitung 19 mit der Steuereinheit 18 verbunden ist. Ferner ist bei der Klappe 11 ein Türsensor 24 vorhanden, der über die Datenleitung 22 ebenfalls mit der Steuereinheit 18 verbunden ist. Das Ventil 15 hat einen vierten Anschluss, an dem eine zur Umgebung des Kühlschranks offene Belüftungsleitung 23 mündet. Das Ventil 15 ist zwischen drei Schaltstellungen schaltbar: In einer ersten Schaltstellung ist die Belüftungsleitung 23 über die Saugleitung 14 mit dem Inneren des Lagerfaches 9 verbunden, während der zum Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 führende Ast der Saugleitung 14 versperrt ist; in einer zweiten Schaltstellung sind die Belüftungsleitung 23 und der zum Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 führende Ast der Saugleitung 14 versperrt; während die Pumpe 13 über das Ventil 15 mit dem Lagerfach 9 verbunden ist, und in einer dritten Schaltstellung sind die Belüftungsleitung 23 und der zum Lagerfach 9 führende Ast der Saugleitung 14 versperrt.In the further embodiment of a refrigerator 1 according to the invention shown in cross section in FIG. 2, in contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the storage compartment 9 has no flood valve. Another difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that the refrigerator according to FIG. 1 is equipped with only one pressure sensor 16, which is arranged in the suction line 14 between the pump 13 and the valve 15 and connected to the control unit 18 via a data line 19 is. There is also a door sensor 24 in the flap 11, which is also connected to the control unit 18 via the data line 22. The valve 15 has a fourth connection at which a ventilation line 23 opens to the surroundings of the refrigerator. The valve 15 can be switched between three switching positions: in a first switching position, the ventilation line 23 is connected to the interior of the storage compartment 9 via the suction line 14, while the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the cavity of the housing 2 blocks is; in a second switching position, the ventilation line 23 and the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the cavity of the housing 2 are blocked; while the pump 13 is connected to the storage compartment 9 via the valve 15, and in a third switching position the ventilation line 23 and the branch of the suction line 14 leading to the storage compartment 9 are blocked.
Im normalen Betrieb des Kühlschranks 1 befindet sich das Ventil in der dritten Schaltstufe, so dass die Pumpe 13 über die Saugleitung 14 mit dem Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 verbunden ist. Dabei herrscht in der Saugleitung 14 derselbe Druck wie im Hohlraum vor. Dieser wird vom Sensor 16 gemessen und über die Datenleitung 19 an die Steuereinheit 18 vermittelt. Wie bei der Ausführung gemäß Figur 1 ist der Steuereinheit 18 ein Grenzwert für den Druck vorgegeben, wobei die Steuereinheit 18 bei Überschreiten dieses Grenzwertes durch den Druck die Pumpe 13 zum Abpumpen eines Überdrucks veran- lasst. Sobald der Druck wieder unterhalb eines vorbestimmten Druckes liegt, wird die Pumpe 13 von der Steuereinheit 18 abgeschaltet.In normal operation of the refrigerator 1, the valve is in the third switching stage, so that the pump 13 is connected to the cavity of the housing 2 via the suction line 14. The same pressure prevails in the suction line 14 as in the cavity. This is measured by the sensor 16 and communicated to the control unit 18 via the data line 19. As in the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the control unit 18 is given a limit value for the pressure, the control unit 18 causing the pump 13 to pump off an excess pressure if this pressure exceeds this limit value. As soon as the pressure is again below a predetermined pressure, the pump 13 is switched off by the control unit 18.
Zum Öffnen der Klappe 11 des Lagerfachs 9 wird die Steuereinheit 18 über einen nicht gezeigten manuellen Schalter dazu veranlasst, das Ventil 15 in die erste Schaltstufe zu schalten. Dadurch wird das Innere des Lagerfachs 9 über die Saugleitung 14 und die Belüftungsleitung 23 mit Umgebungsluft geflutet, bis sich ein Druckausgleich eingestellt hat. Anschließend kann die Klappe 11 geöffnet werden, oder sie springt bei Druckausgleich auf.To open the flap 11 of the storage compartment 9, the control unit 18 is caused to switch the valve 15 into the first switching stage by means of a manual switch (not shown). As a result, the interior of the storage compartment 9 is flooded with ambient air via the suction line 14 and the ventilation line 23 until pressure equalization has occurred. The flap 11 can then be opened or it opens when the pressure is equalized.
Um das Lagerfach 9 wieder hermetisch abzuschließen, wird die Klappe 11 zugedrückt. Dabei registriert der Türsensor 24 den Verschlusszustand (beispielsweise über ein Vor- handensein eines elektrischen Kontaktes bzw. ein Unterbrechen eines elektrischen Kontaktes) und gibt diese Information über die Datenleitung 22 an die Steuereinheit 18 weiter. Diese veranlasst das Ventil 15 in die zweite Schaltstufe zu schalten, so dass die Pumpe 13 über die Saugleitung 14 mit dem Inneren des Lagerfaches 9 verbunden ist, während die Belüftungsleitung 23 versperrt und der Hohlraum des Gehäuses 2 von der Pumpe 13 abgetrennt sind. Nun kann die Pumpe 13 das Lagerfach 9 abpumpen. Wieder registriert der Drucksensor 16 den vorherrschenden Druck und übermittelt sein Messergebnis an die Steuereinheit 18. Sobald der Druck einen vorbestimmten Wert unterschreitet, wird das Ventil 15 von der Steuereinheit 18 wieder in die dritte Schaltstufe geschaltet und die Pumpe 13 abgestellt. Der Kühlschrank 1 nimmt daraufhin seinen normalen Betrieb wieder auf. In order to hermetically seal the storage compartment 9 again, the flap 11 is pressed shut. In this case, the door sensor 24 registers the closed state (for example via the presence of an electrical contact or the interruption of an electrical contact) and passes this information on to the control unit 18 via the data line 22. This causes the valve 15 to switch to the second switching stage, so that the pump 13 is connected to the interior of the storage compartment 9 via the suction line 14, while the ventilation line 23 is blocked and the cavity of the housing 2 is separated from the pump 13. The pump 13 can now pump out the storage compartment 9. Again, the pressure sensor 16 registers the prevailing pressure and transmits its measurement result to the control unit 18. As soon as the pressure falls below a predetermined value, the valve 15 is switched back to the third switching stage by the control unit 18 and the Pump 13 turned off. The refrigerator 1 then resumes normal operation.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Kältegerät (1) mit einem ein Lagerfach (9) umgebenden, hohlwandigen Gehäuse (2) und mit einer Vakuumpumpe (13), die über eine Saugleitung (14) an einen Hohlraum des Gehäuses (2) angeschlossen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Saugleitung (14) ferner an das Lagerfach (9) angeschlossen ist.1. Refrigeration device (1) with a storage compartment (9) surrounding hollow-walled housing (2) and with a vacuum pump (13) which is connected via a suction line (14) to a cavity of the housing (2), characterized in that the suction line (14) is also connected to the storage compartment (9).
2. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (2) einen Innenraum umschließt, in dem sich das Lagerfach (9) und eine nicht eva- kuierbare Lagerkammer (6, 7) befinden.2. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (2) encloses an interior in which the storage compartment (9) and a non-evacuable storage chamber (6, 7) are located.
3. Kältegerät (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch eine Steuerschaltung (18) zum Steuern der Pumpe (13) anhand wenigstens eines an der Saugseite der Pumpe (13) angeordneten Drucksensors (16, 17).3. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control circuit (18) for controlling the pump (13) using at least one on the suction side of the pump (13) arranged pressure sensor (16, 17).
4. Kältegerät (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass in der Saugleitung (14) ein Schaltventil (15) zum selektiven Verbinden der Pumpe (13) mit dem Hohlraum oder mit dem Lagerfach (9) angeord- net ist.4. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switching valve (15) for selectively connecting the pump (13) to the cavity or to the storage compartment (9) is arranged in the suction line (14).
5. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 3 und Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuerschaltung (18) die Stellung des Ventils (15) anhand des wenigstens einen Drucksensors (16, 17) steuert.5. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3 and claim 4, characterized in that the control circuit (18) controls the position of the valve (15) using the at least one pressure sensor (16, 17).
6. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 3, 4, oder 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuerschaltung (18) an einen Sensor (16, 24) zum Erfassen der Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfachs (9) angeschlossen ist.6. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the control circuit (18) is connected to a sensor (16, 24) for detecting the evacuability of the storage compartment (9).
7. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 4 und Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuerschaltung (18) das Schaltventil (15) ansteuert, um das Lagerfach (9) mit der Pumpe (13) zu verbinden, wenn der Evakuierbarkeitssensor (16, 24) die7. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 4 and claim 6, characterized in that the control circuit (18) controls the switching valve (15) to the storage compartment (9) to connect to the pump (13) when the evacuability sensor (16, 24)
Evakuierbarkeit des Lagerfachs (9) erfasst.Evacuability of the storage compartment (9) recorded.
8. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Evakuierbarkeitssensor (24) an einer Tür (1 1) des Lagerfachs (9) zum Erfassen des Öffnungs- oder Schließzustandes der Tür (11 ) angeordnet ist.8. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the evacuability sensor (24) on a door (1 1) of the storage compartment (9) for detecting the opening or closing state of the door (11) is arranged.
9. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Evakuierbarkeitssensor (16) ein Drucksensor ist, und dass das Ventil (15) eine Schaltstellung, in der es einen hohen Leitwert zwischen Lagerfach (9) und Pum- pe (13) aufweist, und eine Schaltstellung mit einem kleinen, nichtverschwinden- den Leitwert zwischen Lagerfach (9) und Pumpe (13) aufweist.9. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the evacuability sensor (16) is a pressure sensor, and that the valve (15) is a switching position in which there is a high conductance between the storage compartment (9) and the pump (13), and has a switch position with a small, non-disappearing conductance between the storage compartment (9) and the pump (13).
10. Kältegerät (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Hohlraum des Gehäuses (2) eine lockere Füllung aus einem Stützmaterial (5) enthält.10. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity of the housing (2) contains a loose filling made of a support material (5).
11. Kältegerät (1) nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Stützmaterial (5) porös ist.11. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the support material (5) is porous.
12. Kältegerät (1 ) nach Anspruch 10 oder 11 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das12. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the
Stützmaterial (5) ein Granulat auf Kieselsäure- oder Aerogelbasis ist.Support material (5) is a granulate based on silica or airgel.
13. Kältegerät (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Pumpe (13) eine Grobvakuumpumpe ist.13. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (13) is a rough vacuum pump.
14. Kältegerät (1) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Lagerfach (9) und/oder der Hohlraum Wände aus Kunststoff aufweisen. 14. Refrigerating appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage compartment (9) and / or the cavity have walls made of plastic.
EP03769396.7A 2002-10-17 2003-10-15 Refrigerating device comprising an evacuatable storage compartment Expired - Lifetime EP1554531B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10248510A DE10248510A1 (en) 2002-10-17 2002-10-17 Refrigerator with an evacuable storage compartment
DE10248510 2002-10-17
PCT/EP2003/011442 WO2004036129A1 (en) 2002-10-17 2003-10-15 Refrigerating device comprising an evacuatable storage compartment

Publications (2)

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EP1554531A1 true EP1554531A1 (en) 2005-07-20
EP1554531B1 EP1554531B1 (en) 2013-07-31

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EP03769396.7A Expired - Lifetime EP1554531B1 (en) 2002-10-17 2003-10-15 Refrigerating device comprising an evacuatable storage compartment

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US (1) US7360371B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1554531B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1705854A (en)
AU (1) AU2003278086A1 (en)
DE (1) DE10248510A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2004036129A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US7360371B2 (en) 2008-04-22
EP1554531B1 (en) 2013-07-31
DE10248510A1 (en) 2004-04-29
US20060010890A1 (en) 2006-01-19
AU2003278086A1 (en) 2004-05-04
CN1705854A (en) 2005-12-07
WO2004036129A1 (en) 2004-04-29

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