EP1957896B1 - Refrigeration device with a modular configuration for the control system and evaporator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a Nofrost-, refrigerator and / or freezer, which are provided a heat-insulating housing, within which at least one acted upon by a fan with cold air storage space for receiving stored goods and serving for receiving an evaporator evaporator chamber the evaporator space is thermally separated from the storage space by a partition plate, an operating electronics for controlling the refrigerator and at least one light source for illuminating the storage room comprises.

There are refrigerators, especially refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezer combinations with convection cooling known, which have a metallic inner container. Here, a cold generator may be arranged in an upper region of the cooling space. It has been found that, for several different reasons, the optimum position for the refrigerator, such as e.g. an evaporator, which is designed in a Nofrosttechnik as finned evaporator, is located in an upper region of the respective cooling compartments. The insulation strengths of the devices can vary on the rear of the device.

DE 198 55 224 discloses a refrigeration device with a arranged in the upper region of the refrigerator evaporator.

US 5,187,950 discloses a refrigerator module mountable to a room door to cool a room in a building located behind it.

It is desirable to reduce material costs and investment in the production of refrigerators, to achieve the highest possible efficiency of the refrigerator, to make assembly of components and assemblies quickly, easily and error-free feasible and high reliability and operational reliability even under extreme conditions to achieve.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device which operates reliably and efficiently, is inexpensive to manufacture and designed to be maintenance-friendly.

This object is achieved by the refrigeration device, as specified in the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments and developments, which may be applied individually or combined with each other, are the subject of the dependent claims.

The refrigerator according to the invention, in particular Nofrost, refrigerator and / or freezer, comprises a heat-insulating housing, within which at least one acted upon by a fan with cold air storage space for receiving stored goods and serving for receiving an evaporator evaporator space are provided, the evaporator space of the Storage room is thermally partitioned by a partition plate. The refrigeration device further comprises a control electronics for controlling the refrigerator and at least one light source for illuminating the storage room, wherein the evaporator and the partition plate and the control electronics and / or the evaporator and the partition plate and the light source are provided as a module.

In the refrigerator, the evaporator is housed together with the control electronics or the light source as a modular evaporator package together with an integrated lighting in the heat-insulating housing. As a heat-insulating housing insulated housing by a Isolierschaum and vacuum-insulated housing can be used.

The storage room is supplied by the cold air circulated by the fan with cold air, which is cooled by the evaporator. The evaporator is in a fluid-conducting connection with a compressor or condenser arranged outside the heat-insulating housing.

The control electronics in particular has a display. The control electronics serves to control the technical control variables of the refrigeration appliance, in particular the temperatures in the refrigeration appliance.

Due to the modular design of the evaporator, the partition plate and the control electronics or the evaporator, the partition plate and the light source, a particularly simple installation of the refrigerator and a particularly simple maintenance of the refrigerator is possible. The module can in particular be plugged in, preassembled, removable or be interchangeable. The advantage of this modular concept is that various technical components, which as such are not included in the scope of functions of an evaporator, such as motors, gearboxes for motorized shelves, lighting or control, compact and easy to maintain. There is a common technology area inside the housing, which is easily accessible in the case of customer service and, if necessary, can also be removed or replaced as a whole. This is particularly advantageous when the refrigerator is provided as a built-in unit and can not be easily removed from a furniture tables.

Advantageously, the module has a condensation drainage channel. The condensation drainage channel discharges condensate, which forms on the evaporator. Due to the modular structure, only a single condensation drainage channel is required for different types of devices, which reduces the variety of components. The condensation drainage channel can assume various holding and latching functions for a heat conducting sheet as well as for a heating device.

Advantageously, the module furthermore has a heating device. The heating device can be configured with a heat conducting plate. The heater is arranged in particular below the condensation drainage channel. With the help of the heater and the condensation drain a reliable, in particular at periodic intervals defrosting the evaporator is possible, whereby a reliable operation of the refrigerator is ensured even at high humidities and heavy ice formation.

With the help of the Wärmeleitblechs the heat generated by the heater on the evaporator is evenly distributed over the evaporator, which in particular a quick defrosting of the ice formed on the evaporator is possible.

The heater is designed in particular flat and can be provided as a heating foil or heating coil. With the help of the condensation drainage channel, the melted with the help of the heater water is collected and out of the interior out, especially in an external evaporation tray, passed.

The housing has opposite side walls and the module further comprises plastic side support members with which the module is attachable to the side walls.

The plastic side support parts, in particular together with the evaporator, form a support frame on which other refrigeration device components can be fastened to the module.

With the aid of the plastic side support parts, in particular, the evaporator can also be thermally insulated from a metallic inner lining of the refrigeration device. As a result, undesirable ice formation on the metallic interior lining in the storage room can be avoided. Also, this can reduce an entry of heat into the storage room when the evaporator is in a thawing phase and is heated. By this measure, the efficiency of the refrigerator is improved.

The Kunststoffseitenträgerteile take over for the evaporator, which is usually designed as a fin evaporator and thus is very sensitive, a protective function when the evaporator must be transported.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the plastic side support members are each divided into two parts. For this purpose, the plastic side support on a front and a rear side part, whereby the assembly of the module can be considerably simplified. Also, a depth compensation can be created by the division of the plastic side support parts, if the same module is to be used for different refrigerators of a type series. It is thus possible to use the same components for different types of equipment of a series without a special adaptation of the individual components is required. This also reduces the component diversity of a construction series.

Advantageously, the module has a cross member for receiving the light source and / or the control electronics. The cross member may in particular connect the two plastic side support members left and right together. The cross member may be attached to the plastic side support members and is particularly made of a metal. The cross member improves the mechanical stability of the module, in particular the part of the module to which the light source or the control electronics is attached. Advantageously, the partition plate comprises an evaporator-side first insulating layer and a bearing space-side cover plate. The first insulation layer is used for thermal coupling the evaporator space from the storage space, which is particularly advantageous for the thawing cycles of the evaporator to prevent excessive entry of heat into the storage room when the evaporator is in a thawing phase. The storage space-side cover plate is advantageously made of metal in order to support a uniform temperature distribution in the interior of the storage room. The insulation layer has in particular an insulation foam. The insulating layer may have a thickness in a range of 5 mm to 30 mm, preferably 10 mm to 15 mm.

The module can be connected in a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention by electrical connectors on the refrigerator. For this purpose, plug contacts are provided on an inner wall of the heat-insulating housing. Due to the good accessibility, the functionality of the plug contacts, which are usually a source of malfunctions of the refrigerator, can be easily checked during maintenance of the refrigerator. The plug contacts can be replaced if necessary. Advantageously, the connectors are arranged below the condensation drainage channel, so that the connectors are protected from condensation.

The condensation drainage channel has a slight slope, so that the water can drain. The angle of the condensation drainage channel to the horizontal plane is in a range of 4 ° to 20 °, preferably in a range of 6 ° to 10 °.

The module is advantageously preassembled and can be tested before installation in the refrigerator outside the refrigerator. The functionality of the components of the modular structure, in particular that of the evaporator, the lighting, the control electronics and other functionalities such as the heater, a fan, etc., can thus be tested before installation of the module in the refrigerator, specified and optionally revised. This reduces the manufacturing cost of the refrigerator in a significant way.

The module advantageously has the fan. With the help of the fan, cooling air can be circulated from the evaporator compartment to the storage room and back again. Advantageously, the housing has a ceiling wall and the module comprises a second insulation layer for thermal insulation of the module with respect to the ceiling wall. By the second insulating layer of the coldest area in the housing, namely the evaporator chamber, particularly well thermally insulated, which increases the efficiency of the refrigerator. In addition, the second insulation layer also takes over a protective function for the evaporator during transport.

Advantageously, the housing has a metallic inner lining.

In a special embodiment of the invention, the light source comprises white light-emitting diodes.

Further advantageous details and specific embodiments, which can be applied individually or combined with one another in a suitable manner, are explained in more detail with reference to the following drawing, which is not intended to limit the invention but merely to illustrate it by way of example.

Fig. 1

ein erfindungsgemäßes Kältegerät in einer perspektivischen Ansicht,

Fig. 2

eine Teilansicht des Kältegeräts nach Fig. 1 in einer Schnittansicht,

Fig. 3

die Teilansicht nach Fig. 2 nach Abnehmen des Abdeckblechs,

Fig. 4

eine Rückansicht eines bei dem erfindungsgemäßen Kältegerät vorgesehenen Moduls ohne eine zweite Isolationsschicht und Abdeckblech,

Fig. 5

das Modul nach Fig. 4 mit einem Lamellenverdampfer,

Fig. 6

das Modul nach Fig. 4 ohne Verdampfer und Abdeckblech,

Fig. 7 - 9

Ausschnitte, die ein Wärmeleitblech zeigen,

Fig. 10

eine Teilansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Kältegeräts,

Fig. 11

einen Querträger mit Bedienelektronik und Beleuchtung in perspektivischer Darstellung,

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Modul von unten,

Fig. 13

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Moduls von oben ,

Fig. 14

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausschnitts des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts, und

Fig. 15

eine Ansicht in den Innenraum des erfindungsgemäßen Küchengeräts ohne das Modul.

It show schematically.

Fig. 1

an inventive refrigeration device in a perspective view,

Fig. 2

a partial view of the refrigerator after Fig. 1 in a sectional view,

Fig. 3

the partial view after Fig. 2 after removing the cover plate,

Fig. 4

a rear view of a provided in the refrigerator according to the invention module without a second insulating layer and cover plate,

Fig. 5

the module after Fig. 4 with a finned evaporator,

Fig. 6

the module after Fig. 4 without evaporator and cover plate,

Fig. 7 - 9

Cutouts showing a heat conducting sheet

Fig. 10

a partial view of the refrigerator according to the invention,

Fig. 11

a cross member with control electronics and lighting in perspective,

Fig. 12

a perspective view of the module from below,

Fig. 13

a perspective view of the module from above,

Fig. 14

a perspective view of a section of the kitchen appliance according to the invention, and

Fig. 15

a view into the interior of the kitchen appliance according to the invention without the module.

Fig. 1 shows an inventive refrigerator 1 with a heat-insulating housing 2, within which at least one acted upon by a fan 3 with cold air storage space 4 for receiving stored goods (not shown) and serving for receiving an evaporator 5 evaporator chamber 6 is provided. The evaporator chamber 6 is thermally separated by a partition plate 7 of the storage room 4. The housing 2 has side walls 12. The evaporator 5 is provided together with the partition plate 7 and a control electronics 8 and / or a light source 9 as a module 10. The housing 2 has an inner lining 19, which is made of metal. Inside the housing 2, a ceiling wall 17 is provided.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective sectional view of a section of the refrigerator 1 according to the invention Fig. 1 , The control electronics 8 has a display 20. The module 10 has first 23 and second 24 air passages, through which cooling air can be sucked in or blown out. The cooling air is cooled by the evaporator 5 arranged in the module 10. The module has in addition to the evaporator 5 and the control electronics 8 and the light source 9, which is a halogen lamp here. The module 14 has a partition plate 7 with an insulating layer 14, through which the evaporator chamber 6 is thermally separated from the storage space 4. The insulating layer 14 is the storage room 4 out of a Cover plate 15 covered or covered. After removing the cover plate 15 are 16 connectors for electrical and / or fluid-conducting connection of the module 10 with the refrigeration device 1 visible. On the module 10, first connecting elements 21 are provided for connecting the cover plate 15. The module 10 is fixed by means of plastic side support members 25, 26 on the side walls 12 and the inner lining 19. The Kunststoffseitenträgerteile 25, 26 help to decouple the evaporator 5 of the inner panel 19 to reduce heat input from the evaporator chamber 6 during a Aufauuphase the evaporator 5 in the storage room 4. With the help of second connecting elements cooling air ducts (not shown) can be attached to the inner panel 19.

Fig. 3 shows a partial view Fig. 2 after removing the cover plate 15, wherein in addition to the control electronics 8 with the display 20 and the evaporator chamber 6 with the evaporator 5, which are required for the functional connection of the module 10 connector 16, a rear plastic side support member 26 and a front plastic side support member 25 can be seen. With the aid of the first connecting element 21, the cover plate 15 is fastened to the module 10. With the aid of a second connecting element 22, a cooling air duct (not shown) or a fan 3 can be fastened to a rear wall of the storage space 4.

Fig. 4 shows a rear view of a provided for the refrigerator 1 according to the invention module 10, wherein a second insulating layer 18, which serves for a further thermal insulation of the evaporator 5 of the ceiling wall 17, and the cover plate 15 are not shown for clarity. The evaporator 5 has a heater 11, with which the evaporator 5 is freed of ice at regular intervals by the ice is thawed. The formed condensation water is collected by a condensation drainage channel 13. The condensation drainage channel 13 has an angle with respect to the horizontal of 6 °, so that condensation can flow off and can be collected in an evaporation tray (not shown) located outside the storage space 4. The condensation drainage channel 13 and the heater 11 are attached to the plastic side support members 25, 26. A fan 3 is used for air circulation, so that warmer air from the storage room 4 is guided past the evaporator 5 and is cooled there and then introduced into the storage room 4 as cooling air.

Fig. 5 shows the module 10 after Fig. 4 with an evaporator 5 designed as a lamella evaporator. The evaporator 5 has evaporator lamellae 28, which are mechanically supported by the side carrier parts 25, 26. Below the evaporator 5 to the storage room 4 through the insulation layer 14 is provided for the thermal separation of the storage space 4 of the evaporator chamber 6.

Fig. 6 shows the module 10 after Fig. 4 without the evaporator 5 and the cover plate 15, wherein the insulating layer 14 can be seen, which is attached to the rear plastic side support member 26. A Wärmeleitblech 27 for areal distribution of the heat generated by the heater 11 is provided below the condensation drainage channel 13 and thus below the evaporator 5. Above the evaporator 5 to the ceiling wall 17 of the housing 2, the second insulating layer 18 can be seen.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show various partial views of the module 10, wherein in Fig. 7 the heater 11 with the heat conducting 27 can be seen. The heating device 11 and the heat conducting plate 27 are located above the condensation drainage channel 13 Fig. 8 respectively. Fig. 9 a partial view of the condensation drainage channel 13 is shown, wherein an undercut structure 30, third connecting elements 31 and a feedthrough slot and fastening hook 32 can be seen, with which the condensate drainage channel 13, the heater 11 and the heat conducting 27 are attached to the plastic side support members 25, 26.

Fig. 10 shows a partial view of the refrigerator 1 according to the invention in a perspective view with the module 10, which is covered by the cover plate 15 to the storage room 4 out. Door panels 33 are provided in the door.

Fig. 11 shows a cross member 28 which connects the plastic side support members 25, 26 on the left and right sides of the side walls 12 and which serves as a support for the control electronics 8 and 9 for the light source.

Fig. 12 shows a perspective view of the module 10 from below and Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of the module 10 from above.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a section of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention, wherein a further component 34, in particular an electric motor drive, for adjusting the height of shelves in the storage room 4, between the cover plate 15 and the insulating layer 14 is arranged.

Fig. 15 shows a view into the interior of the kitchen appliance 1 according to the invention without the module 10. Here, the first air duct 23, the two connecting elements 22, a water outlet 35 for condensation, the connector 16 and fastener 36 for fixing the plastic side support members 25, 26 can be seen.

The invention relates to a refrigeration device 1, in particular Nofrost-, refrigerator and / or freezer, comprising a heat-insulating housing 2, within which at least one acted upon by a fan 3 with cold air storage space 4 for receiving stored goods and serving for receiving an evaporator 5 evaporator space 6 are provided, wherein the evaporator chamber 6 is thermally separated from the storage room 4 by a partition plate 7, an operating electronics 8 for controlling the refrigerator 1 and at least one light source 9 for illuminating the storage room 4, wherein the evaporator 5 and the partition plate 7 and the control electronics 8 and / or the evaporator 5 and the partition plate 7 and the light source 9 are provided as a module 10. The refrigeration device 1 is characterized by the fact that it operates particularly reliably and efficiently, is inexpensive to manufacture and is designed to be easy to maintain.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

The refrigerator

2

casing

3

fan

4

storage room

5

Evaporator

6

evaporation chamber

7

separating plate

8th

operating electronics

9

light source

10

module

11

heater

12

side walls

13

Defrost water drain channel

14

insulation layer

15

Cover plate

16

Connectors

17

ceiling wall

18

second insulation layer

19

interior panelling

20

display

21

first connecting element

22

second connecting element

23

first air duct

24

second air duct

25

front plastic side support part

26

rear plastic side support part

27

heat conducting

28

evaporator fins

29

crossbeam

30

Undercut structure

31

third connecting element

32

Feedthrough slot and mounting hook

33

door Shelves

34

another component

35

water drain

36

fastener

Claims (12)

1. Refrigeration device (1), especially a no-frost device, refrigerator and/or freezer, comprising a thermally-insulating housing (2) within which at least one product storage compartment (4) that can be supplied with cold air by a fan (3) and an evaporator chamber (6) that holds an evaporator (5) are provided, with the evaporator chamber (6) being thermally separated from the storage compartment (4) by a partition (7), an electronic control system (8) for control of the refrigeration device (1) and at least one light source (9) for illuminating the storage compartment (4), characterised in that the evaporator (5) and the partition (7) and the electronic control system (8) and/or the evaporator (5) and the partition (7) and the light source (9) are provided as a module (10) and the module (10) further comprises plastic side support parts (25), with which the module (10) can be fastened to opposing side walls (12) of the housing.
2. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the module (10) further includes a condensation drainage channel (13).
3. Refrigeration device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the module (10) further comprises a heating device (11), especially a heating device (11) embodied with a heat transfer plate, preferably arranged below the condensation drainage channel (13).
4. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plastic side support parts (25) are each divided into two parts.
5. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the module (10) features a cross support (27) for accommodating the light source (9) and/or the electronic control system (8).
6. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the partition (7) includes a first insulation layer (14) on the evaporator side and a cover plate (15) on the storage compartment side.
7. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the module (10) is able to be connected to the refrigeration device (1) by electrical connections (16).
8. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the module (10) is able to be pre-assembled.
9. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the module (10) features the fan (3).
10. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (2) features a roof panel (17) and the module (10) features a second insulation layer (18) for thermally insulating the module (10) from the roof panel (17).
11. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (2) features a metallic inner lining (19).
12. Refrigeration device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the light source (9) features white light-emitting diodes

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