EP1957897B1 - Modular arrangement of functional units for a refrigerator and/or freezer and refrigerator and/or freezer comprising a modular arrangement of the functional units - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement (1) of functional units (11) for one of the following household appliances (10): (A1) refrigerator or freezer, (A2) electric cooker, (A3) dishwasher, and (A4) washing machine. Said household appliance (10) comprises a device body (9) and the arrangement (1) comprises at least three of the following functional units (11): (B1) at least one ventilator (2), (B2) at least one condenser (3), (B3) at least one electronic system (4), (B4) at least one valve (5), (B5) at least one transformer (6), (B6) and an evaporator (7). The at least three functional units (11) are arranged together on a support (8) and can be functionally, in particular, electrically and/or fludically connected to the device body (9) as a module. The invention also relates to a household appliance (10) comprising the inventive modular arrangement (1), whereby the arrangement (1) and the device body (9) are functionally, in particular, electrically and/or fluidically connected together. The invention is characterised in that mounting, maintenance and/or repairs of the household appliances (10) are significantly simplified.

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement of functional assemblies for a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the preamble of claim 1 and a refrigerator and / or freezer with such an arrangement. Such an arrangement is for example from the EP-A-1 302 143 known.

It is known to package functional assemblies such as e.g. a fan, a condenser, an electronics, a valve, a transformer, an evaporator, etc. in a housing such as e.g. to provide in a machine room, wherein the individual functional modules are mounted substantially individually on the housing of the household appliance. The individual function modules are usually bolted directly to the housing of the household appliance. In particular, in household appliances with conditionally accessible engine room assembly, maintenance or repair due to the limited space in the most desired very compact design is difficult and expensive. The maintenance or repair is particularly difficult for built-in devices particularly difficult, since these usually only have to be removed in order to achieve certain functional assemblies.

It is an object of the present invention to arrange functional assemblies suitable for a refrigerator and / or freezer or specify such a household appliance, whereby the assembly, maintenance and repair can be made simpler, easier to use and also more reliable.

This object is achieved by the arrangement according to claim 1 or the refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4. Advantageous embodiments and developments, which can be applied individually or combined with each other in a suitable manner, are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

The inventive arrangement of functional assemblies for a refrigerator and / or freezer having a device body comprises at least three of the following functional assemblies: (B1) at least one fan, (B2) at least one condenser, (B3) at least one electronics, (B4) at least a valve, (B5) at least one transformer, (B6) an evaporator, wherein at least three of the functional assemblies are arranged together on a support and the arrangement is electrically connectable as a module with the device body. In refrigerators and / or freezers special requirements are placed on a compact design due to the required for the thermal insulation thick walls. The combinations of the functional assemblies (B1), (B2) and (B3) or (B2), (B3) and (B5) are preferred.

By arranging at least three of the functional modules as a module assembly, maintenance and repair is greatly simplified because the module can be pre-assembled separately, installed in the household appliance or removed and / or replaced. Module means in this sense that the at least three functional modules are grouped or grouped together separately from a device body, device housing or from the rest of the household appliance and are arranged or fastened together on the carrier. The carrier with the functional modules can be pre-assembled as a module. This considerably simplifies the complexity of assembly or removal or conversion. In particular, the functional assemblies should be customer service relevant, i. concern those components of the household appliance, which usually necessitate rework, repairs or customer service during the use of the household appliance.

The household appliance, in particular its housing or machine room, has in particular suitable receptacles for receiving the module or the modular arrangement. The carrier has a connector for the electrical connection. Advantageously, the connector has a connector strip on. With the help of a connector strip, a plurality of electrical connections between the carrier and the device body or and the household appliance can be produced.

According to the invention, the plug-in locking elements for latching fix the electrical connection. With the help of the locking elements can be prevented in particular that the connector inadvertently triggers and the electrical connection between the carrier and the device body and thus between the functional modules and the household appliance is interrupted.

Advantageously, at least four of the functional modules are arranged together on the carrier. For example, a combination of the functional assemblies (B1), (B2), (B3) and (B5) is preferred.

The refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention with a device body comprises the modular arrangement according to the invention, wherein the arrangement according to the invention and the device body are electrically connected to each other. The modular arrangement can be easily removed or separated from the appliance body of the household appliance with the aid of the plug-in system. In particular, it is also possible to pre-assemble the functional assemblies located on the support or to test the modular assembly prior to its installation in the household appliance. Removal or replacement of the functional modules is particularly easy, even if only a small amount of space is provided in the device housing. For example, the module can be easily pulled out.

According to the device body and the arrangement with the aid of a plug-in system are electrically connected. The connection can be made by directly connecting or connecting a wiring harness.

Advantageously, the plug-in system comprises power strips. With the help of power strips, a connection or detachment or replacement of the modular arrangement is particularly simple and reliable. In particular, the probability of the occurrence of loose contacts in the electrical connections can thereby be reduced particularly effectively.

On the device body in particular a guide rail for receiving, in particular for insertion, the arrangement is provided.

According to the invention, latching elements, in particular clip elements, are provided on the arrangement and on the device body for latching and fixing the electrical connection. With the help of the locking elements prevents the modular arrangement of the device body unintentionally triggers or the electrical connection between the functional modules and the household appliance is interrupted. The locking elements have a backup function.

The invention advantageously provides modules that can be easily preassembled and handled outside of the machine room. In particular, the modules can be tested and specified prior to their installation in the household appliance.

These modules can be easily mounted on power strips or guide rails and can be easily removed from the device housing in case of customer service. Components that were difficult to access in the past and possibly only accessible through the removal of other components or built-in devices, if necessary by removing the entire device are now easily and quickly accessible.

The modular arrangement is arranged in particular in a machine room of the household appliance. It is preferably provided in the appliance housing of the household appliance and in particular does not have its own housing enclosing the carrier and the functional assemblies, i. she is own housing-free. In particular, the modular arrangement does not have its own own housing surrounding the functional modules.

Further advantageous details and specific embodiments, which can be applied individually or combined in any suitable manner with each other, are based on the following drawing, which does not limit the invention, but only to illustrate by way of example, explained in more detail.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße modulare Anordnung,

Fig. 2

die Anordnung nach Fig. 1 in einem erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgerät,

Fig. 3

eine modulare Anordnung während des Einschiebens in ein Haushaltsgerät, und

Fig. 4

eine weitere modulare Anordnung.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen modularen Anordnung 1 mit einem Transformator 6, einer Elektronik 4 und einem Ventilator 2, welche zusammen auf einem Träger 8 unter Bildung eines Moduls befestigt sind. Der Transformator 6, die Elektronik 4 und der Ventilator 2 sind Funktionsbaugruppen 11, die hierdurch zu einem Modul zusammengefasst werden, welches gemeinsam in ein Haushaltsgerät 10 ein- bzw. ausgebaut werden können. Das Modul weist kein weiteres Eigengehäuse auf. Für ein vereinfachtes Ein- bzw. Ausbauen bzw. Auswechseln der modularen Anordnung 1 ist an einer Stirnseite der Anordnung 1 ein Steckverbinder 12 vorgesehen, der als Steckerleiste 13 zur Verbindung mit dem Haushaltsgerät 10 vorgesehen ist.
• Fig. 2 zeigt die modulare Anordnung 1 in einem Haushaltsgerät 10, welches hier als Ausschnitt perspektivisch in teilweise geöffneter Form gezeigt ist. Die modulare Anordnung 1 wird mit Hilfe einer Führungsschiene 14 in einen Gerätekörper 9 des Haushaltsgeräts 10 eingeschoben, wobei die Steckerleiste 17 mit einem Stecksystem 16 an dem Gerätekörper 9 in Verbindung gelangt, so dass der Ventilator 2, die Elektronik 4 und der Transformator 6, funktionell und damit elektrisch mit dem Haushaltsgerät 10 verbunden werden. Ein unbeabsichtigtes Lösen der Steckerleiste 13 vom Stecksystem 16 wird durch ein Rastelement 15 verhindert. Mit Hilfe der modularen Anordnung 1 können der Ventilator 2, die Elektronik 4 und der Transformator 6 gemeinsam zügig eingeschoben bzw. herausgezogen werden, ohne dass der Gerätekörper 9 bzw. ein Gerätegehäuse vollständig geöffnet werden muss.
• Auch sind der Ventilator 2, die Elektronik 4 und der Transformator 6 als Funktionsbaugruppen 11 auf dem Träger 8 vormontierbar und gemeinsam vor Einbau der modularen Anordnung 1 in das Gehäuse des Haushaltsgeräts 10 spezifizierbar bzw. testbar. Hierdurch wird die Montage und Spezifikation der Teile erheblich vereinfacht, Fehler bei der Montage vermieden und Nachbesserungen kostengünstiger gestaltet. Insbesondere müssen nicht zunächst weitere Komponenten (nicht dargestellt) ausgebaut werden, um auf die Funktionsbaugruppen 11 zuzugreifen.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine weitere modulare Anordnung 1, die an einem Gerätekörper 9 mit Hilfe einer Führungsschiene 14 eingeschoben wird. Auch hier ist an der modularen Anordnung 1 eine Steckerleiste 13 mit einem Rastelement 15 vorgesehen. Der Träger nimmt neben einer Elektronik 4 einen Verdampfer 7 auf.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine modulare Anordnung 1 für ein als Kühl- und/oder Gefrierschrank ausgebildetes Haushaltsgerät 10 mit einem Verflüssiger 3 und einem Ventil 5 und einer Elektronik 4, die als Funktionsbaugruppen gemeinsam auf dem Träger 8 untergebracht sind. Die einzelnen Funktionsbaugruppen 11 sind über Fluidleitungen 17 bzw. über elektrische Leitungen 18 funktionell geeignet miteinander bzw. mit dem Haushaltsgerät 10 verbunden. Der Träger 8 wird an der Steckerleiste 13 mit dem Gerät 10 verbunden.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1

a modular arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2

the arrangement after Fig. 1 in a household appliance according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a modular arrangement during insertion into a household appliance, and

Fig. 4

another modular arrangement.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the modular arrangement 1 according to the invention with a transformer 6, an electronics 4 and a fan 2, which are fastened together on a support 8 to form a module. The transformer 6, the electronics 4 and the fan 2 are functional assemblies 11, which are thereby combined to form a module, which can be together in a household appliance 10 or removed. The module has no further own housing. For a simplified installation or removal or replacement of the modular arrangement 1, a connector 12 is provided on an end face of the assembly 1, which is provided as a connector strip 13 for connection to the household appliance 10.
• Fig. 2 shows the modular assembly 1 in a household appliance 10, which is shown here as a section in perspective partially open form. The modular assembly 1 is inserted by means of a guide rail 14 in a device body 9 of the household appliance 10, wherein the power strip 17 is connected to a plug-in system 16 on the device body 9 in conjunction, so that the fan 2, the electronics 4 and the transformer 6, functionally and thus electrically connected to the household appliance 10. An unintentional release of the connector strip 13 from the connector system 16 is prevented by a latching element 15. With the aid of the modular arrangement 1, the fan 2, the electronics 4 and the transformer 6 can be pushed in or pulled out together without delay that the device body 9 or a device housing must be fully opened.
• Also, the fan 2, the electronics 4 and the transformer 6 as functional assemblies 11 on the carrier 8 can be pre-assembled and jointly before installation of the modular assembly 1 in the housing of the household appliance 10 can be specified or tested. This considerably simplifies the assembly and specification of the parts, avoids errors during installation and makes subsequent improvements more cost-effective. In particular, additional components (not shown) do not first have to be removed in order to access the functional modules 11.
• Fig. 3 shows a further modular arrangement 1, which is inserted on a device body 9 by means of a guide rail 14. Again, a power strip 13 is provided with a locking element 15 on the modular assembly 1. The carrier takes on an electronics 4 in addition to an evaporator 7.
• Fig. 4 shows a modular arrangement 1 for a designed as a refrigerator and / or freezer household appliance 10 with a condenser 3 and a valve 5 and an electronics 4, which are housed together as functional assemblies on the support 8. The individual functional assemblies 11 are functionally suitable to each other or to the household appliance 10 via fluid lines 17 or via electrical lines 18. The carrier 8 is connected to the connector strip 13 to the device 10.

The invention relates to an arrangement 1 of functional assemblies 11 for a refrigerator and / or freezer 10, wherein the domestic appliance 10 has a device body 9 and the arrangement 1 comprises at least three of the following functional assemblies 11: (B1) at least one fan 2, (B2) at least one condenser 3, (B3) at least one electronics 4, (B4) at least one valve 5, (B5) at least one transformer 6, (B6) an evaporator 7, wherein at least three of the functional assemblies 11 are arranged together on a support 8 and as a module with the device body 9 are electrically connected; and a household appliance 10 comprising the modular arrangement 1 according to the invention, the arrangement 1 and the appliance body 9 being electrically connected to one another are. The invention is characterized in that the assembly, maintenance or repair of the household appliance 10 is considerably simplified.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

arrangement

2

fan

3

condenser

4

electronics

5

Valve

6

transformer

7

Evaporator

8th

carrier

9

device body

10

household appliance

11

function modules

12

Connectors

13

power strip

14

guide rail

15

locking elements

16

plug-in system

17

fluid lines

18

electrical line

Claims (7)

1. Arrangement (1) for functional subassemblies (11) for a refrigerator and/or freezer, wherein the refrigerator and/or freezer (10) comprises or each comprise an appliance body (9) and the arrangement (1) comprises at least three of the following functional subassemblies (11):

   (B1) at least one fan (2),

   (B2) at least one condensor (3),

   (B3) at least one electronic system (4),

   (B4) at least one valve (5),

   (B5) at least one transformer (6) and

   (B6) an evaporator,
   wherein at least three of the functional components (11) are arranged together on a support (8), characterised in that the arrangement is electrically connectible as a module with the appliance body (9) in that the support (8) has a plug connector (12) for electrical connection with the appliance body (9) and that the plug connector (12) has detent elements (15) for detent fixing of the electrical connection.
2. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the plug connector (12) comprises a plug strip (13).
3. Arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least four of the functional subassemblies (11) are arranged together on the support (8).
4. Refrigerator and/or freezer with an appliance body (9), wherein the refrigerator and/or freezer (10) comprises or each comprise the modular arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the arrangement (1) is electrically connected as a module with the appliance body (9) with the help of a plug system (16) and detent elements (15), particularly clip elements, are provided at the appliance body (9) for detent fixing of the electrical connection.
5. Refrigerator and/or freezer (10) according to claim 4, characterised in that the plug system (16) comprises plug strips (13).
6. Refrigerator and/or freezer (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that a guide rail (14) for receiving the arrangement (1), in particular for pushing-on of the arrangement, is provided at the appliance body (9).
7. Refrigerator and/or freezer (10) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the modular arrangement (1) has no own housing surrounding the functional subassemblies.

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