EP2160549A1

EP2160549A1 - Refrigerating appliance

Info

Publication number: EP2160549A1
Application number: EP08802911A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Bauer; Daniel Malandrin; Denis Tamborlin; Eduardo Piton
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-16
Publication date: 2010-03-10
Also published as: RU2009146874A; DE102007029180A1; WO2009000691A1; CN101688729A

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerating appliance (1) comprising a cooling chamber (2) defined by insulated walls (3) and an insulated door closing the cooling chamber (2), and a cold generator (18). According to the invention, the cooling chamber (2) of the refrigerating appliance (1) comprises a module (5) surrounding a separate inner compartment (20) and comprising insulated module walls (2, 1). The aim of the invention is to provide a refrigerating appliance comprising a compartment having a second temperature zone such that said compartment, for example, can be provided in different positions of the cooling chamber, without requiring a conceptual adaptation of the cooling chamber. The compartment should also be able to be used in different types of refrigerating appliance, also without requiring any changes in terms of the cooling chambers of the other types.

Description

The refrigerator

The invention relates to a refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1.

Modern refrigeration appliances, such as those used in households, often have a separate compartment in addition to the cold room. With this compartment, it is possible to generate a second temperature zone within the refrigerator. This second temperature zone is mostly used as a freezing zone. An education of these freezers is varied.

On the one hand, there are freezers which are completely separated from the cold room of the refrigerator - ie above or below the cold room - but are housed in a common housing. This type of freezer has its own door, which is independent of the door that closes the refrigerator to operate. Either have in this embodiment, the refrigerator and the freezer compartment on its own refrigeration, or a refrigerator operated both the refrigerator and the freezer.

On the other hand, freezers have become known, which are located within the refrigerator of the refrigerator. These freezers are accessible to a user of the refrigerator only when the door of the refrigerator is open. In the simpler models, the bottom or lid of the freezer compartment is designed as a cold generator and the resulting compartment may be closed by a door. In the more expensive models, the bottom or lid of the freezer compartment is insulated. In this way, the freezer is separated not only spatially but also thermally from the refrigerator. Even with these devices, the heat extraction of the refrigerator and the freezer compartment by a common or separate cooling generator is possible.

The devices described have in common that the compartment with the second temperature zone is created by a special design of the refrigerator. This means that the Refrigerator must be re-designed according to each type of refrigerator accordingly.

The invention has the object of providing a refrigeration device with a compartment with a second temperature zone in such a way that this compartment z. B. can be provided at different positions of the refrigerator, without requiring a conceptual adjustment of the refrigerator would be required. Also, the subject should be used in another refrigerator model, the cold rooms of other types of refrigerators should also remain unchanged.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a refrigerator with the features of claim 1. The module, which encloses the separate interior, has insulated module walls. Consequently, the compartment for a second temperature zone is not created by a special design of the refrigerator compartment, but by the insertion of a separate module, which does not provide its thermally demarcated area by sharing the insulation of the refrigeration compartment of the refrigeration device, but placed at any position of the refrigerator can. If the depth and width of another refrigeration unit model are identical, the module can also be used in any other model. This allows the module to be manufactured inexpensively in large quantities.

The module can be placed in the cold room so as to be adjacent to a cold generator. In this case, only the module walls are isolated, which adjoin areas of the refrigerator, in which a higher temperature prevails than in the separate interior of the module. The module wall adjacent to the refrigerator need not be insulated, since no heat can penetrate into the interior of the module through this wall.

Since the other module walls are to prevent heat transfer, these module walls are insulated. This can be done for example by applying insulating material on the module walls. But it can also consist of the module walls themselves made of insulating material. The module walls are preferably made of foamed plastic or constructed of vacuum insulation panels.

If the insulating capacity of the module walls is low, it is advantageous to make the walls of the interior in the region in which the module is arranged so that their insulating capacity is equal to or greater than the insulating capacity of the module walls, otherwise too much energy is consumed for refrigeration. If, on the other hand, the module walls have a very high insulating capacity, the walls of the interior in this area can be equipped with a lower insulating capacity than the module walls.

On the one hand the interior of the module is as large as possible, on the other hand, the cooling chamber of the refrigeration device is limited as little as possible, the module is at least largely adapted form fit the refrigerator of the refrigerator. The module is connected to the walls of the refrigerator. It is not intended that the user of this module integrated into the refrigeration device, but this takes place at the respective production site of the refrigerator. By inserting the module in different positions of the refrigerator, or by the omission of the module, it is easily possible to bring quite different configurations of the refrigerator in the market, without causing the cold room of the refrigerator enclosing walls must be changed.

It makes sense to accommodate the module in working with refrigerant chillers in the bottom of the refrigerator. In general, the refrigerator of the refrigerator is provided at this point with a projecting into the refrigerator compartment, under which a compressor finds room. However, since the module is formed higher than the step, then forms the top of the module due to the positive installation of a shelf, which extends over the entire depth of the refrigerator. Although a module formed in this way can be used for different refrigeration unit types, it should always be accommodated only in the bottom area of the refrigerated space, since otherwise too much space would be lost as a result of the shaped step. Preferably, the module is at least partially open at its top and / or front. An at least partial opening of the top offers itself when the module is attached to the bottom of the refrigerator, but the top is to be used as a shelf for storing refrigerated goods. Thus, to open the module at least the rear part of the top does not have to remain empty or be cleared. However, for cleaning purposes of the module interior, it is helpful if the top of the module is to be removed over its entire surface or at least opened. For this purpose, the top could for example be formed as a removable lid.

An opening of the front of the module, for example by a flap or door is useful when the module is positioned in the upper part of the refrigerator. It is helpful if the stop of a module door is made interchangeable, since so the stop side of the module door of the stop side of the refrigerator door can be adjusted. It has proven to be ergonomically useful if both doors can be opened in the same direction.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the module is designed in the manner of a drawer. The drawer is easily accessible from the top in the extended state and can therefore be easily loaded and unloaded. Of course it is also possible in a module several drawers, possibly also with different heights to accommodate.

The opening of the drawer is provided with either an insulated or a non-insulated cover. If the module is placed under a cold generator, the non-insulated cover can be selected, as in this case no heat transmission through the cover must be prevented.

The cover can be carried by the walls of the drawer. In this case, the drawer is pulled out with the cover and can then be removed to load or unload the drawer with stored goods. In this embodiment, all insulated module walls are passed through the walls of the drawer educated. The cover can either be placed loosely on the drawer or connected to this hinged. The drawer can be guided over rails on the insulated walls of the refrigerator. Preferably, however, the cover is supported by the insulated walls of the cold room. In this way, the cover remains in its position when the drawer is pulled out.

The isolated module walls can be formed in part by the drawer. However, at least the front of the module is formed by the insulated front of the drawer. In this case, insulate the module on the five sides facing the walls of the cold room or the cold room itself. This option is particularly useful if a module has several drawers.

In further embodiments, it is possible to construct the cover with two insulated side walls and the drawer respectively with insulated front, insulated rear wall and insulated bottom. Or the cover is additionally connected to an insulated rear wall, which then makes an insulation on the drawer rear wall superfluous.

Particularly advantageous is a non-insulated cover used as a carrier for a cold generator and a blower. This means that the chiller and the blower are mounted directly on the uninsulated drawer cover and are therefore an integral part of the module.

In an advantageous manner, the at least one drawer is connected to the module via telescopic rails. The use of telescopic rails ensures that the drawer can be completely pulled out of the module remaining in the refrigerator compartment by the user without the drawer losing its connection to the module. As a result, the entire interior of the drawer is accessible and can be easily loaded by the user with stored goods. In modern telescopic slides the sliding resistance is almost independent of the load of the drawer. As a result, the user has to slide out and insert the drawer, regardless of its Loading, always applying nearly the same force.

When using telescopic rails, the drawer is exactly positioned, regardless of its loading state in the retracted state. In order to insulate the interior of the module thermally against the refrigerator, the drawer is sealed from the cover. The exact positioning of the drawer to the cover thus makes it easier to always exert the same contact pressure on the seal.

Advantageously, the interior of the module is cooled by the refrigerator of the refrigerator. In one embodiment, the refrigeration device has at least one evaporator, which is coupled into a refrigerant circuit charged with refrigerant. It is possible to integrate this evaporator into the module and to couple into the cooling circuit only during assembly of the module in the cold room. By means of this evaporator can now both the refrigerator - if it does not have its own evaporator - and the interior of the module to be cooled. Conveniently, the evaporator is positioned over the interior of the module.

In another embodiment, only the cooling space has one or more evaporators. From at least one of these evaporators cooled air can be supplied to the interior of the module. As an air guide, for example, special air ducts can be used, which are integrated in the cold room or in its walls.

It is also possible to cool the interior of the module with a Peltier element. Here, the cold side of the Peltier element faces the interior of the module. The heat generated by the hot side of the Peltier element must then be discharged into the environment of the refrigerator.

The purpose of the module is to create an area in the refrigerator in which a temperature different from that prevailing in the cooling space of the refrigerator prevails. The better that Module is insulated from the refrigerator, the greater the temperature difference between the refrigerator and the interior of the module can be selected. With correspondingly strong insulation, it is possible to use the interior of the module as a freezer compartment.

In an advantageous embodiment, air is cooled by a cold generator and this cooled air is divided into two volume flows. A portion of the cooled air is supplied via one or more openings to the interior of the module, wherein the other, usually smaller, part is supplied to the cooling space. In order to be able to withdraw the heat from the two interior spaces more quickly, the cooled air is moved through a fan in a particularly advantageous manner. This makes it possible to press the cooled air into the interior of the module, there to create a Luftverwirbelung order to prevent air stratification with different temperatures.

In a further preferred embodiment, the module has at least one opening through which air can escape, which has already absorbed heat in the interior of the module. Thus, always enough cold air can be injected into the module. This at least one opening usually sits in the top of the interior of the module occlusive cover. From there, the air enters either directly to the cold generator or into the cold room. This at least one opening has as large a distance as possible from the opening through which the cooled air reaches the interior of the module. This ensures that only the air escapes the interior of the module, which has already withdrawn heat stored in the interior of the module good.

If a lower temperature prevails in the module than in the cooling space, the module walls on its outside will also have a lower temperature than the air in the cooling space. Since it can be assumed that the air in the cold room is usually saturated with moisture, this moisture can condense on the colder outside of the module walls. To prevent this, it is proposed that the module is at least largely airtight against the insulated walls of the cooling space with sealing means seal. For this purpose, remaining spaces between the outside of the module walls and the insulated walls of the refrigerator completely with sealing material, eg. B. be filled with an insulating foam. But it may also be sufficient to seal these gaps only on sealing strip against the refrigerator, so that no exchange of air can take place.

In another embodiment, air gaps are deliberately formed between the insulated walls of the cold room and the module walls. Cool air is passed through these air gaps. This cooled air should come directly from the chiller, since a cooling at the same time brings a drying of the air with it. This dry air warms up in the air gaps, increasing their ability to absorb moisture again. On the outside of the module walls adhering condensate can be absorbed and transported away from the dry air.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims in conjunction with the description of an embodiment which is explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

Show it:

Fig. 1, the inner shell of a refrigerator according to the invention with a in the

Inner shell inserted module and Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the module

FIG. 1 shows the inner shell 3 of a refrigeration device according to the invention with a cooled cooling space 2, which is delimited by the inner shell 3 and a refrigerator door, not shown here. In the assembled state, the outer side 1 of the inner shell 3 is surrounded by a housing, not shown here. The space between the housing and the outer side 1 of the inner shell 3 is filled with insulating foam, so that the entire interior, which is bounded by the inner shell 3 and the door of the refrigerator, is thermally stripped from the environment. The inner shell 3 has a bottom 7, a rear wall 8, two side walls 9 and a cover 10. In the lower part of the refrigerator 2 there is a module 5 with a drawer in the form of a drawer 6. In the middle of the rear wall 8, an air duct 4 is inserted which extends starting from the top of the module 5 to the cover 10. Positive fit with the bottom 7, the rear wall 8 and the side walls 9 of the inner shell 3, the module 5 is inserted into the cooling chamber 2 of the refrigerator. The drawer 6 in the module 5 has on its front side 1 1 a recessed grip 12. The length of the drawer 6 is designed so that when the refrigerator door is closed between the front 1 1 and the inside of the not visible here refrigerator door only a minimum distance.

Above the drawer 6, the module 5 has a housing 14 with a chamber 13 (see Fig. 2), which is bounded by a bottom 15, a lid 16 and a rear wall 17. In the chamber 13, an evaporator 18 is used as a cold generator. In the installation direction behind the evaporator 18 is the fan 19. The fan 19 is designed as a radial fan and so attached to the housing 14 of the chamber 13 that its axis of rotation has obliquely downwards. The module 5 has an interior space 20, which takes over the function of a freezer compartment and is limited by the drawer 6 and the bottom 15 of the housing 14. The walls 21 of the drawer 6, which are also formed as module walls at the same time, are well insulated. The drawer 6 is connected by means of telescopic rails 22 with the housing 14 of the chamber 13.

The bottom 15 of the housing 14 drops in the installation position obliquely backwards. As a result, the upper edge of the drawer 6 is pressed in its rear end position against the bottom 15 of the chamber 13, so that a good seal between the interior of the drawer 6 and the cooling chamber 2 can be achieved. The bottom 15 has in its installation position in the rear region of an air outlet opening 23 and in its front region a not visible here air inlet opening through which the chamber 13 is in communication with the interior 20 of the module 5. The lid 16 has in his in Installation position front area a plurality of air inlet openings 24 through which the chamber 13 communicates with the cooling chamber 2 of the refrigerator. The air duct 4 has in its lower region an air inlet opening which is aligned with an air outlet opening 25 of the housing 13, through which the pressure side of the radial fan 19 is connected in the chamber 13 with the air duct 4 and via this with the cooling chamber 2 of the refrigerator.

The housing of the fan 19 is divided on the pressure side into a cooling air channel 26 and a freezing air channel 27 with unequal cross-sectional areas. Here, the cooling air duct 26 ends with the smaller cross-sectional area at the air outlet opening 25 of the rear wall 17 and the channel 27 with the larger cross-sectional area at the located in the bottom 15 air outlet opening 23rd

The completely assembled module 5 is inserted between the side walls 9 and connected to the inner shell 3 of the refrigerator. Thereafter, only the electrical connections for the operation of the fan 19 must be made and the evaporator to be integrated into the refrigerant circuit.

To load the interior 20 of the module 5, the drawer 6 is pulled out and loaded with frozen food. Thereafter, the drawer 6 is closed. When the drawer 6 reaches its rear end position, its upper edge is pressed against the bottom 15 of the chamber 13. In order to prevent an uncontrolled exchange of air between the interior 20 of the module 5 and the cooling space 2 of the refrigeration device, a seal is provided between the upper edge of the drawer 6 and the bottom 15 of the housing 14. This seal, which is not visible here, causes a heat insulation which is improved with respect to the cooling space 2 of the refrigeration device.

In order to cool the interior 20 of the module 5 below the freezing point, 19 air is sucked through the air inlet openings 24 in the ceiling 16 from the refrigerator 2 of the refrigerator and through the air inlet opening in the bottom 15 from the interior 20 of the module 5 by means of the fan. This air passes over the evaporator 18 and is cooled here. The cooled air is split on the pressure side of the blower 19 due to the different cross-sectional areas of the cooling air channel 26 and the freezing air channel 27 into two different volume flows. The smaller volume flow passes through the air duct 4 in the cooling chamber 2 of the refrigerator. The larger volume flow is supplied to the interior 20 of the module 5. Due to the suction effect of the fan 19, this volume of air is sucked off again elsewhere.

When using the module 5 as a freezer compartment, the outer walls despite insulation will assume a lower temperature than the air in the cooling chamber 2. As a result, condensate can increasingly form on the outer walls of the module 5. However, it should be prevented that condensation is between the outer walls of the module 5 and the inner walls of the refrigerator compartment 2. This could be done, for example, by sealing this intermediate space with respect to the cooling space 2. It would also be possible to completely fill the gap between the outer walls of the module 5 and the inner walls of the cooling space 2 with a mass such as insulating foam or an adhesive.

But it could also be ensured that condensation, which has formed on the outer walls of the module 5, is deliberately dissipated. For this purpose, the condensate would have to be collected at the lowest point of the refrigerator 2 and led to the outside of the refrigerator. There, it should be introduced in a hot spot, for example, in the vicinity or above the compressor, in an evaporating dish.

By introducing such a module 5, it is possible by simple means to integrate into the cooling chamber 2 of a refrigerator a compartment that may have a different temperature level than the cooling chamber 2 of the refrigerator.

Since such a module 5 can be used for several types of refrigeration device, can be saved by this module system manufacturing costs. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 outside of the inner shell

2 Refrigerator of the refrigerator

3 inner shell

4 air duct

5 module

6 drawer

7 bottom of the inner shell

8 rear wall of the inner shell

9 side wall of the inner shell

10 cover of the inner shell

1 1 Front of the drawer

12 recessed grip

13 chamber

14 housing of the chamber

15 bottom of the chamber

16 lid of the chamber

17 Rear wall of the chamber

18 evaporators

19 blowers

20 Interior of the module

21 Wall of the drawer

22 telescopic rail

23 air outlet opening in the floor

24 air inlet opening in the lid

25 Air outlet opening in the rear wall

26 cooling air duct

27 freezing air channel

Claims

claims

1. Refrigerating appliance (1) with a cooling chamber (2) which is bounded by insulated walls (3) and the refrigerator compartment (2) isolated door, and with a cold generator (18), characterized in that in the cold room (2 ) of the refrigeration device (1), a module (5) is provided which encloses a separate interior space (20) and has insulated module walls (21).

2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the insulated module walls (21) adjacent to areas in which a higher temperature prevails than in the separate interior (20).

3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the insulated module walls (21) are formed of foamed plastic or vacuum insulation panels.

4. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the insulated walls (3) of the interior in the region in which the module (5) is arranged in the interior, have an insulating capacity greater than or equal to the insulating capacity of isolated module walls (21).

5. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the insulated walls (3) of the interior in the region in which the module (5) is arranged in the interior, have an insulating capacity which is smaller than the insulating capacity of the isolated Module walls (21) is.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (5) the Refrigerator (2) of the refrigerator (1) is adapted at least largely positive fit.

7. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the module (5) is at least partially open at its top and / or front.

8. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -6, characterized in that the module (5) in the manner of a drawer (6) is formed, whose opening with an insulated or a non-insulated cover can be covered.

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the cover (15) is supported by the insulated walls (3).

10. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the non-insulating cover (15) serves as a carrier for a cold generator (18) and a fan (19)

11. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one drawer (6) via telescopic rails (22) to the module (5) is connected.

12. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the interior (20) of the module (5) via the cold generator (18) is coolable.

13. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, 10 or 12, characterized in that by the cold generator (18) air is cooled and a portion of the cooled air to the interior (20) of the module (5) is supplied.

14. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that the cooled air is moved by a fan (19).

15. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the Module (5) has at least one opening (23, 25) through which cooled air can escape.

16. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -15, characterized in that the module (5) is sealed against the insulated walls (3) with sealing means at least substantially airtight.

17. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 -15, characterized in that between the insulated walls (3) and the module walls (21) air gaps are formed, which can be acted upon by cooled air.