EP1848940B1 - Refrigerating device with frame heating - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device having a main body with a frame and an access opening and a door. The door and the main body each have heat-insulated surfaces and together delimit a heat-insulated compartment and the door is movable between an open position in which access to the heat-insulated compartment can be had through the access opening of the main body and a closed position in which the door cooperates with the frame of the main body restricts access through the access opening of the main body to the heat-insulated compartment. An electrical frame heating assembly is disposed relative to the frame of the main body for heating the frame and has a Peltier element.

Description

The invention relates to a refrigerator with a body and at least one door, which together define a heat-insulated interior.

In refrigerators can accumulate on the outside of a sealing profile, which is mounted between the door and a door facing the frame of the frame, dew moisture, since here is the weakest point of the insulation to the outside.

To prevent dew formation, it is necessary to heat the frame area. For example, in the DE 295 04 901 U1 a designed as a refrigerator and freezer combination refrigerator 10 is shown, the two compartments are closed with separate doors, which have at their edges a circumferentially arranged magnetic seal. The stop area of the doors on the body is provided with a face plate made of ferromagnetic material, on the back of which there is a heating tube, which is acted upon to prevent the condensation of the face plate with hot gas.

Alternatively, heating wires may be arranged in the frame area. They are partly foamed up when filling the double wall of the carcass. In the DE 3 505 759 Interchangeable heating wires have been proposed, which are inserted into one of the support of the sealing profile at the closing edge of the door serving hollow profile of the body.

Cooling or freezing appliances, in which two doors close a contiguous interior, are becoming increasingly popular. The plurality of doors is not only practical when opening the device, but also has a favorable effect on energy consumption, as opening only one door, the heat input is less than when all doors are open. This favorable energy balance is reduced by the fact that a non-foamed intermediate spar, which is mounted as a stop element between two doors in addition to the heater in the frame region of the body is electrically heated to prevent condensation on this component. The heating of the intermediate beam by means of a heating tube would be cheaper in energy consumption, since this waste heat of the compressor can be used, but laying a heating tube in the intermediate rail would significantly complicate the assembly, so that the manufacturing cost and production time for the refrigerator would increase significantly.

Not only for two- or multi-door refrigerators or freezers, but for all refrigerators, it would be desirable if the heating of the frame area of the carcass or if necessary also on the door, not a decision either for a heating element with favorable energy balance or for an easy mounting heating element would have to be taken.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device in which a frame heating to prevent dew formation is energetically favorable and at the same time easy to install.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that in a refrigerator with a body and at least one door, which together define a heat-insulating interior and a door-facing frame of the body is provided with an electric frame heater, the frame heating comprises at least one Peltier element ,

The advantage of the Peltier element in relation to the heating tube is that it is supplied with electricity and therefore it is just as easy to install in the frame area as a heating wire. Compared to the heating wire, however, it shows a much better energy balance:

A Peltier element is an electrical component based on the Peltier effect named after Jean Peltier. A Peltier element usually consists of two thin ceramic plates between which series-connected, differently doped semiconductors are arranged so that in the vicinity of the first ceramic plate are all semiconductor boundary layers at which the current passes from a semiconductor of a first doping type in a semiconductor of the second doping type while the barrier layers, at which a current transition from a semiconductor of the second doping type to one of the first type takes place, are adjacent to the second ceramic plate. The fact that at a current flow through the semiconductor heat is conveyed from one ceramic plate to another, so that depending on the current direction, one plate cools and the other heated, called the Peltier effect. This heat transfer from plate to plate, which results in addition to the Joule heat flow in the Peltier element, improves the energy balance of the Peltier element relative to the heating wire, in which only Joule heat is released.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interior of the refrigerator is divided by a separating body in two closable by each door zones, and the Peltier element is arranged in the separating body, because in such a separating body, the attachment of a heating tube is particularly difficult.

The separator may be a continuous partition between the two zones, in which case the two zones may be operated at different storage temperatures.

However, the separator may also merely have the form of a bar which forms part of the frame of the carcass and behind which the two zones are interconnected. In order to avoid in such a case that the separating body for the user, who opens both doors simultaneously for filling, emptying or cleaning of the refrigerator, becomes an obstacle that makes use difficult, it is provided according to the invention that the separating body together with at least one the doors is movable.

For this purpose, in a first embodiment of the invention, the separating body is articulated on a side wall of the body. This embodiment is characterized in that the separating body can be mounted with the usual in refrigeration equipment hinges with which the doors are attached to the body. These consist mostly of a bearing pin bearing arm which is fixed to the frame, and a matching bearing pin sleeve which is to be attached to the door or on the separating body. The separating body, like the doors, can optionally have a right or left stop.

The assembly and motion control of doors and separators is particularly easy when separator and doors are pivotable about the same axis. Only then can be realized with simple fastening means between the door and separator of the joint pivoting action of the separator and door.

In another embodiment of the invention, the separating body is hinged to one of the doors. This embodiment variant is particularly suitable for refrigerators with side by side instead of superimposed doors. The separating body should in this case be pivotable about an axis which runs parallel to one of the mutually facing edges of the doors.

Fig.1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines zweitürigen Kältegerätes gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung, bei dem beide Türen offen stehen;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht des gleichen Kältegerätes mit nur einer offen stehenden Tür

Fig.3

einen vertikalen Schnitt durch den Trennkörper des Kältegeräts aus Fig. 1 und 2;

Fig.4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer zweiten Ausgestaltung eines erfindungsgemäßen Kältegerätes

Fig.5

einen horizontalen Teilschnitt durch eine Gelenkverbindung zwischen Trennkörper und Tür des Kältegerät aus Fig. 4.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig.1

a perspective view of a two-door refrigeration device according to the present invention, in which both doors are open;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of the same refrigerator with only one door open

Figure 3

a vertical section through the separator of the refrigerator Fig. 1 and 2 ;

Figure 4

a perspective view of a second embodiment of a refrigeration device according to the invention

Figure 5

a horizontal partial section through a hinge connection between the separator and the door of the refrigerator Fig. 4 ,

A first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention is described with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 3 described.

In FIG. 1 is designated by the reference numeral 1, an inventive refrigeration device. The perspective view shows the body 2 of the refrigerator 1 with hinged thereto, shown in the open position, superimposed doors 3a and 3b. The doors 3a and 3b are hinged about 10, 11 with a frame 6 as Front of the carcass 2 connected. Each door 3a, 3b is provided on the inside with a circumferential elastic magnetic profile seal 5. Of the four rectilinear sealing strands, from which each magnet profile seal 5 is assembled in the usual way, those three, which are visible in the figure, are in the closed position of the doors 3a, 3b on the frame 6 of the body. The fourth strands of both doors 3a, 3b adhere in the position of Fig. 1 magnetically on a bar-shaped separating body 9, which is pivotally suspended on the adjacent hinges 11 of the two doors 3a, 3b. The doors 3a, 3b and the separating body 9 have the same pivot axis and perform the same pivoting movement when opening and closing the doors 3a and 3b. In the closed position of the doors 3a, 3b, the separating body 9 dips into a cooling space 4 of the body 2.

Three shelves 7 divide the refrigerator 4 into four refrigerators 8.

As in Fig. 1 can be seen, the doors 3a and 3b can be opened together, so that the refrigerator 4 is easily accessible. In order to allow opening of both doors 3a, 3b with a single handle, the lateral flanks of the doors are provided with an undercut 12. This extends over the entire height of the doors 3a, 3b, so that they can be grasped at any height; In particular, it is possible to simultaneously attack with one hand on both doors to open them.

It is also possible to individually open each door 3a, 3b as in FIG FIG. 2 shown.

FIG. 2 shows in a perspective view of the refrigeration device 1 with open upper door 3a and closed lower door 3b. If only one door is opened, such as in Fig. 2 the door 3a, the other door 3b prevents the separating body 9 from following the opening movement. The partition 9 remains in the same position, which he holds with the doors closed, its front remains flush with the frame 6 of the body 2. The partial opening of the refrigerator reduces on the one hand the loss of cold in the interior 4 and the other the relatively large force, the User must use when opening a large refrigerator door.

Fig. 3 shows a vertical section through the separating body 9. The separating body 9 consists of a cuboid body of heat-insulating material, in which a ferromagnetic plate 13 is embedded, to which the magnetic seals 5 of the doors 3a, 3b adhere. The plate 13 extends in the vertical over the entire space between the seals 5 of the two doors, can penetrate into the moist ambient air, but only over part of the width of the seals. 5

Within the separating body 9, a Peltier element 14 is housed, which is here in a conventional manner with two ceramic plates 15, 16 and between these a plurality of differently doped semiconductor pieces 17, 18 is shown. One of the ceramic plates 15 contacts the ferromagnetic plate 13; the other 16 is located close to the rear side of the separating body 9. The plates 15, 16 are thus thermally coupled in each case closely to the surroundings or the cooling space 4. The Peltier element 14 is supplied with direct current so that the plate 15 acts as a warm and the plate 16 as a cold side; i.e. the heat output which the Peltier element 14 delivers to the ferromagnetic plate 13 is composed of Joule heat and heat released by the current flow in the element 14, which heat is conveyed out of the cooling space 4 by the Peltier effect.

In the FIGS. 4 and 5 another embodiment of the invention is shown. The perspective view shows the refrigerator 21 with body 22, doors 23a and 23b and a refrigerator 24. The doors 23a, 23b extend over the entire height of the body 22 and are hinged on opposite sides of the body 22. The door 23 a is provided on the inside in the usual way with a circumferential elastic magnetic profile seal 25. At the other door 23b, one of the four strands of the magnet profile seal 25 is replaced by an airtight hinge connecting a divider in the form of a vertical bar to the door 23b.

Figure 5 shows a horizontal partial section through the separating body 29 and its surroundings. To illustrate the operation of the separator when opening and closing the doors, several positions of the separator are shown, which occupies the separator body when the door 23 b is closed or when it is opened.

In order to keep the figure clear, the internal structure of the separating body 29 is not shown. It largely corresponds to the one in Fig. 3 shown construction of the separating body 9: A Peltier element has a warm side that touches a ferromagnetic plate on which adheres in the closed position of the doors, a strand of the magnetic seal 25 of the door 23 a. A cold side is thermally coupled to the refrigerator compartment 24.

Power supply lines for the Peltier element are passed through the hinge 30 and the door 23b.

At the top and bottom of the separator body 29, a groove 40 is formed in each case, in which engage with the door closed 23b from the bottom or ceiling of the cooling space 24 projecting pins 41.

The position of the separating body 29 with the door 23b closed is in Fig. 5 shown as filled outline with closed contour. The pin 41 is located at one end of the groove 40, and the front of the partition body 29, in which the ferromagnetic plate is not shown, is flush with the front of the body 22, so that the magnetic profile seal 25 of the closed door 23 a on its whole Length is tight against either the body 22 or the separator body 29.

The door 23a can be opened and closed in the usual way so that it need not be discussed further here.

The door 23b is shown in the figure in two positions, as an empty outline in the closed position and as a filled outline in partially open position. When the door 23b is opened, the partition body 29 is entrained via the hinge 30, and the pin 41 slides along the groove 40, thereby pivoting the partition body 29. The area of the front side of the partition body 29 against which the magnet profile seal 25 abuts the door 23a , pivots first into the interior of the refrigerator 24 and thus dissolves from the seal 25. The pivoting movement allows the separating body 29 to be preferred to the closed door 23a. In this case, the separating body 29 finally reaches a position shown as an empty solid outline in which a side edge 42 abuts against it on the rear side of the door 23b. In this position, the pin 41 exits from the groove 40, and the door 23b can be freely opened further.

When the door 23b is closed again, the open end of the groove 40 again meets the pin 41, this slides into the groove 40 and thus guides the separating body 29 in a pivoting movement, which returns it to its initial position flush with the body 22.

Claims (7)

1. Refrigerating appliance (1; 21) with a body (2; 22) and at least one door (3a, 3b; 23a, 23b), which together bound a thermally insulated interior space (4; 24), wherein a frame (6, 9; 29), which faces the door (3, 3b; 23a, 23b), of the body (2; 22) is provided with an electric frame heating means, characterised in that the frame heating means comprises at least Peltier element (14).
2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the interior space is divided by a separating body (9, 29) of the frame (6) into two zones each closable by a respective door (3a, 3b; 23a, 23b) and that the Peltier element (14) is arranged in the separating body .
3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the separating body (9; 29) is movable together with at least one of the doors (3a, 3b; 23a, 23b).
4. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, characterised in that the separating body (9) is pivotably connected with a side wall of the body (2).
5. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the separating body (9) and the doors (3a, 3b) are pivotable about the same axis.
6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the separating body (29) is pivotably connected with one of the doors (23b).
7. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterised in that the separating body (29) is pivotable about an axis parallel to mutually facing edges of the doors (23a, 23b).

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