EP1845322B1 - Refrigeration and/or freezer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the preamble of claim 1 ..

In many refrigerators and / or freezers, the compressor forms a part of the refrigerant circuit and has the task to compress by evaporation of heat in the evaporator evaporated coolant and fed to the condenser, in which it passes through heat to the environment back to the liquid state. In conventional refrigerators and / or freezers, the compressor is located in a lower portion of the device, which has the disadvantage that a portion of the freezer compartment or other compartment of the device located there can only be designed with reduced depth. Cooling or freezing devices are also known from the prior art, in which the compressor is arranged above and / or in the middle height of the device.

A refrigerator and freezer according to the preamble of claim 1 is made EP 0 859 208 A2 known.

The object of the present invention is to further improve a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned.

This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer with the features of claim 1.

Preferably, the compressor is at average height. Thus, there is the possibility to run a freezer arranged below completely over the full depth of the device and to arrange in the freezer compartment said no-frost evaporator.

The invention thus relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for compressing refrigerant and at least one evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant. The apparatus further comprises a divided into at least two compartments cooling or freezing space for receiving the goods to be cooled or the frozen food, wherein the compressor is disposed between two of the compartments. According to the invention, it is provided that at least one of the compartments is a freezer and that the evaporator cooling the freezer is designed as a no-frost evaporator.

It is preferably provided that the compressor is arranged above the freezer part.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the evaporator is arranged vertically or horizontally in the freezer compartment. It is conceivable, for example, that one, two or more than two drawers are arranged in the freezer compartment, and that in the area behind the drawers the no-frost evaporator is arranged vertically. This can extend as needed over the entire height of the freezer or even over a partial area. In principle, it is also conceivable to accommodate the no-frost evaporator not directly in the freezer compartment but in a compartment delimited therefrom, which is in flow communication with the freezer compartment, so that the cold air can be supplied to the freezer compartment.

A horizontal arrangement of the evaporator is conceivable in which the evaporator is preferably located on the ceiling of the freezer. The freezer gets a greater usable depth.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that in the freezer part, one, two or more than two drawers are accommodated, wherein the two or more than two drawers can have the same depth. Of course, the invention also includes an embodiment in which the two or more than two drawers have a different depth from each other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the compressor is arranged such that it is set back relative to the front of the device and that in the area in front of the compressor, a compartment is arranged. It is also conceivable that the compressor is offset from the center of the device to the side and that in the area next to the compressor, a compartment is arranged. In this Compartment or these compartments may be, for example, one or more cold storage compartments or a vegetable compartment or normal cold storage.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the device has at least one cooling part and at least one freezer part. In this case, the cooling part, for example, above and the freezer compartment, for example, be arranged below. In principle, deviating configurations are also conceivable.

Below the device is according to the invention a container for receiving condensation. The container may be a condensate tray or an evaporation tray, which receives condensation water that accumulates during operation of the device or during defrosting of one or more compartments of the device.

According to the invention, a channel through which air flows is provided, which extends partly below and partly behind the device. In this case, the channel may have a horizontal, located below the device section which has an arranged on the front side of the device inlet port. The channel may further comprise a vertical portion extending behind the device and having an outlet opening disposed at the top.

According to the invention, at least one container for receiving condensate and at least one condenser of the refrigerant circuit are arranged in the channel.

Preferably, in the said channel, the at least one evaporation tray and at least one condenser of the refrigerant circuit is arranged. The air flowing through the evaporation tray absorbs moisture and is finally heated when flowing around the condenser, before it leaves the said channel again and flows into the room air. An arrangement is also conceivable in which the air is first heated at the condenser and then passed past the evaporation tray.

Figur 1:

das erfindungsgemäße Kühlgerät in einer Längsschnittdarstellung,

Figur 2:

das erfindungsgemäße Kühlgerät in einer Längsschnittdarstellung mit Kaltlagerfach und

Figur 3:

das erfindungsgemäße Kühlgerät in einer schematischen Rückansicht.

Further advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

FIG. 1:

the cooling device according to the invention in a longitudinal sectional view,

FIG. 2:

the cooling device according to the invention in a longitudinal sectional view with cold storage compartment and

FIG. 3:

the cooling device according to the invention in a schematic rear view.

FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator and freezer 10 according to the invention in a longitudinal sectional view. The device 10 has a cooling unit 14 arranged at the top and a freezer compartment 12 arranged at the bottom. Between these two compartments 12, 14 is located in the rear region of the device, the compressor 20, which is also offset from the center of the device to the side, as shown in the rear view FIG. 3 evident.

In the area in front of and next to the compressor 20 is a compartment, which is, for example, a cold storage compartment or vegetable compartment 13.

The cold storage compartment / vegetable compartment 13 can be separated from the refrigerating section 14 by a horizontal intermediate bottom 11.

In the freezer compartment 12 arranged at the bottom there are two freezer drawers 16 of the same depth, which can be pulled out or removed from the freezer compartment 12 as required.

In the freezer compartment is further the no-frost evaporator 30, which is vertical, that is, standing executed. Above the evaporator 30, a fan is indicated, which ensures a uniform distribution of the cooled air in the freezer compartment 12 and for a flow through the evaporator 30.

The no-frost evaporator 30 may be, for example, a finned evaporator, through which the air is guided by means of said fan becomes. The humidity present in the air is reflected as frost on the evaporator 30. A heater on or in the evaporator 30 causes the ice formed on the evaporator 30 to be defrosted when needed or after a certain period of time. The ice then passes through the condensation water line 21 shown in the located below the device thawing shell 40. Also, the cooling part 14 has a condensation pipe 22, which is also arranged such that the effluent condensate enters the evaporation tray 40.

The evaporator of the cooling part 14 is designated by the reference numeral 160.

Like this FIG. 1 As can be seen, the thawing shell 40 is located in the channel 50, which has a horizontally extending portion 52 and a vertically extending portion 54, which communicate with each other. Through the inlet opening 53 on the front side of the device 10 below the freezer section 12, the air enters the section 52 and is then passed over the evaporation tray 40, wherein the evaporated water is entrained by the flowing air.

The air then passes over the, for example, freely suspended or foamed vertical condenser 60 of the apparatus and then through the outlet opening 55, which is located in an upper portion of a furniture conversion 100, as shown in FIG FIG. 1 is shown. The evaporation tray 40 may be heated or in communication with a portion of the condenser 60, which has the advantage that the water therein evaporates faster.

Like this FIG. 1 is apparent, the device is in a furniture tag 100, which consists of a bottom plate 110, a rear wall 120 and a cover plate 130. The bottom plate 110 and the cover plate 130 are arranged horizontally and parallel to each other. The rear wall 120 is vertical. Between the upper end portion of the rear wall 120 and the cover plate 130 or in the cover plate is the outlet opening 55 already described above, via which the air heated at the condenser 60 and laden with moisture from the evaporation tray 30 exits the channel 50.

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a cooling device in a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the same or functionally identical parts of the device according to FIG. 2 are provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 , The refrigerator 100 has a top cooling part 140, a bottom freezing part 180, and a cold storage box 170 interposed therebetween. The cold storage compartment 170 is separated from the refrigeration section 140 by the heat insulation plate 135 shown hatched. In the rear region of the refrigerator compartment 140 is a separated from this by a vertical wall cooling air passage 150. Through this air is conveyed by means of the fan shown at its upper end from top to bottom through the cooling air passage 150 and cooled therein by the evaporator 160. The cooled air then enters the cold storage compartment 170, flows through it and then passes through a gap between the plate 135 and the door again in the above-arranged cooling member 140th

Claims (12)

1. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) having at least one refrigerant circuit which has at least one compressor (20) for compressing refrigerant as well as at least one evaporator (30) for evaporating the refrigerant as well as having a refrigeration space and/or freezing space divided into at least two compartments (12, 13, 14; 140, 170, 180) for receiving the product to be cooled or the frozen products, wherein the compressor (20) is arranged between two of the compartment (12, 14; 170, 180), with at least one of the compartments (12, 13, 14; 140, 170, 180) being a freezing part (12; 180) and with the freezing part (12, 180) extending over the full depth of the unit,
   characterised in that
   the evaporator (30) cooling the freezing part (12; 180) is designed as a no-frost evaporator, with the no-frost evaporator being an evaporator through which air is conducted and at which or in which a heater is arranged by means of which the ice which arises is defrosted;
   in that the no-frost evaporator is arranged in the freezing part; and
   in that a surround is associated with the unit (10) by which a passage (5) is formed which is flowed through by air and which extends below and behind the unit (10), with at least one container (40) located beneath the unit for receiving defrost water as well as at least one condenser (60) of the refrigerant circuit being arranged in the passage (50).
2. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the compressor (20) is arranged above the freezing part (12; 180).
3. Refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit (10) in accordance with either of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the compressor (20) is arranged at a middle level of the unit (10).
4. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the evaporator (30) is arranged vertically or horizontally in the freezing part (12; 180).
5. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one, two or more than two drawers (16) are arranged in the freezing part (12; 180), with the two or more than two drawers (16) having the same depth.
6. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that one, two or more than two drawers (16) are arranged in the freezing part (12; 180) of which at least two drawers (16) have a different depth.
7. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compressor (20) is set back with respect to the unit front; and in that a compartment is arranged in the region in front of the compressor (20).
8. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the compressor (20) is offset to the side with respect to the unit centre; and in that a compartment is arranged, preferably in the whole unit depth, in the region next to the compressor (20).
9. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with either of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the compartment is a cold storage compartment (170) or vegetable compartment (13) or a normal refrigerating space.
10. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the unit (10) has at least one refrigerating part (14; 140) and at least one freezing part (12; 180).
11. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the passage (50) has a horizontal section (52) which is located below the unit (10) and which has an inlet opening (53) arranged at the front side of the unit (10).
12. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit (10) in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the passage (50) has a vertical section (54) which extends behind the unit (10) and has an outlet opening (55).

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