EP1808660A2

EP1808660A2 - Device for installing a thermal sensor, particularly for evaporators of refrigerators or freezers

Info

Publication number: EP1808660A2
Application number: EP20070100056
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio Pieragostini; Andrea Giangiulio
Original assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Current assignee: Whirlpool Corp
Priority date: 2006-01-16
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2007-07-18
Also published as: ITVA20060003U1

Abstract

A device for installing a thermal sensor (12) on a pipe (T'), particularly on a tubular pipe of an evaporator or condenser of refrigerators and the like, has a sensor provided with a snap-on portion for coupling to said pipe. The device further comprises a frame-like structure (14) capable of acting in response to the sensor in order to ensure correct positioning on the pipe, said structure comprising a snap-on portion (14a) for quick coupling to a different portion of the pipe.

Description

The present invention concerns a device for installing a thermal sensor on a pipe, particularly on a tubular pipe of an evaporator or condenser of household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners or the like.
It is well known, in the field of household appliances (with particular reference to refrigerators or freezers provided with a tubular evaporator) that it is necessary to determine precisely and accurately the temperature of the evaporator with the aim of supplying essential data to the control system of the household appliance. This is true both where electromechanical thermal sensors, for example thermostats, are used and where more sophisticated temperature sensors, interfaced with the electronic control system of the household appliance is used. Any sub-optimal positioning of the sensor on the evaporator can give rise to disadvantages both as concerns the correct control of disconnecting and reconnecting the compressor at the desired temperatures, and as concerns control of the air-circulation fan (particularly in the case of so-called "no-frost" refrigerators) or the defrosting resistor of the evaporator. This incorrect positioning can take place because of the system for quick-coupling the sensor to a portion of evaporator pipe, since said coupling system (for example of the semicircular clip type) does not guarantee a predetermined angular position in that the sensor can rotate on the pipe. Furthermore, slight differences of angular positioning of the sensor on the pipe can give rise to malfunctions with the consequent need to resort to the repair service, with the related costs and disadvantages.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a device of the type specified at the beginning of the description, making it possible to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages, always ensuring correct positioning of the sensor on the evaporator. This aim is achieved through the characteristics specified in the attached claims.
According to the invention, the correct positioning of the sensor is guaranteed by an auxiliary installation device that comprises a peripheral frame-like structure capable of acting in response to the sensor position, said structure also comprising, like the sensor, a snap-on portion for quick coupling to a different portion of the pipe, and preferably to a portion of the pipe that is substantially parallel to the portion of pipe on which the sensor is mounted.
Further advantages and characteristics of a device according to the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, provided purely by way of non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an evaporator provided with the device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a larger-scale detail from Figure 1;
Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the detail from Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention.

With reference to the drawings, the number 10 denotes as a whole an evaporator for a no-frost type refrigerator/freezer. The evaporator 10 comprises an inlet connector 10a for the cooling fluid downstream from the discharge of a compressor (not illustrated) and an outlet connector 10b upstream from the intake of the compressor. Adjacent to the inlet connector 10a, on the tubing T of the evaporator 10, a resilient semicircular appendix 12a of a thermolimiter device 12 of a type known per se is mounted by snapping on.
According to the invention, on a portion of piping T' adjacent to the outlet connector 10b, an installation device 14 shaped like a U-shaped frame, is mounted by snapping on. The device 14 comprises a resilient semicircular appendix 14a arranged laterally and similar in shape to the appendix 12a of the thermolimiter 12. The device 14 further comprises two arms 14b with an L-shaped cross-section and a central connector 14c having an edge 15 on which a circular incision 15a is made.
As clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the installation device 14 is mounted, by means of its resilient lateral appendix 14a, on the piping T' of the evaporator 10 in such a way that its circular incision 15a is in contact with the parallel piping T of the evaporator 10. Subsequently, the thermolimiter 12, provided with terminals E for connection to the electricity supply, the defrosting resistor, the fan and the control circuit of the refrigerator, is snapped on to the piping T in such way that its edges abut upon the two arms 14b of the device 14, preventing either the rotation of the thermolimiter on the piping T or the rotation of the installation device 14 on the parallel piping T'. The shape of the circular incision 15a is such as to ensure that the arms 14b of the device 14 are positioned in contact with the lower face of the thermolimiter 12. In contrast with what happens in the known type of refrigerators, an unambiguous position of the thermolimiter 12 is therefore defined, which is highly advantageous for its normal operation. Moreover the particular shape of the device 14 makes it possible to avoid any reduction in heat exchange between piping and thermolimiter.

Claims

Device for installing a thermal sensor (12) on a pipe (T), particularly on a tubular pipe (T) of an evaporator (10) or condenser of refrigerators and the like, in which the sensor (12) is provided with a snap-on portion (12a) for coupling to said pipe (T), characterised by the fact that it comprises a frame-like structure (14) capable of acting in response (14b) to the sensor (14) in order to ensure correct positioning on the pipe (T), said structure comprising a portion (14a) for quick-coupling to a different portion of the pipe (T'),
Device according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the frame-like structure (14, 14b) is intended, when the sensor (12) is in the operating configuration, to come into contact with a peripheral portion of the sensor (12) without preventing direct contact between said sensor (12) and the pipe (T).
Device according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the frame-like structure (14) comprises a snap-on portion (14a) for coupling to a pipe (T') parallel to the pipe (T) on which the sensor (12) is intended to be installed.
Device according to Claim 3, characterised by the fact that the frame-like structure (14) is substantially U-shaped in order to allow easy insertion of the sensor (12).
Device according to Claim 4, characterised by the fact that the snap-on portion (14a) for quick coupling to the pipe (T') is defined by a lateral appendix (14a) of the frame-like structure (14).