EP2281156B1 - Refrigerator with a bent evaporator surface and a method for assembling a refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising an outer housing, at least one refrigerated goods container with at least one refrigerated compartment for receiving refrigerated goods and a cooling circuit for cooling the refrigerating compartment, wherein the cooling circuit comprises an evaporator with a substantially two-dimensional evaporator surface and the evaporator on an inner wall the refrigerated goods container is arranged. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for mounting a refrigeration device.

A refrigerator is an electrical or gas powered device that provides a refrigerated interior for storing refrigerated goods. The temperatures in the interior are usually above 0 ° C, for example between +2 ° C and +12 ° C. A freezer is a corresponding device for storing frozen food and has an interior with temperatures below 0 ° C, for example between -25 ° C and -4 ° C, on. Refrigerator and freezer combinations have at least two internal spaces or two separate areas for the different temperature ranges.

Such refrigerators have a cooling circuit for cooling the respective interior. The cooling circuit absorbs the heat in the interior via a thermally coupled heat exchanger and outputs this by means of a second heat exchanger to the environment. A refrigeration cycle may include a variety of components, such as a condenser, an evaporator, valves, flow resistors, and refrigerant lines.

As a heat exchanger for delivering cold in the interior of the refrigerator, an evaporator is often used, which is arranged substantially two-dimensionally or plate-shaped in the interior. Such refrigerators are also called "cold wall" devices. For this purpose, the evaporator is connected to the cooling circuit, wherein the connection points of the evaporator and sometimes the whole evaporator are covered by an additional component. The function of the additional component is to cover the areas or areas that could be contaminated. As a result, the cleanability of the interior of the refrigerator is facilitated.

In the DE 84 34 381 U1 discloses a refrigerator comprising an outer housing, a refrigerated goods container with a refrigerating compartment and a cooling circuit for cooling the refrigerating compartment The cooling circuit has an evaporator which is arranged inside the refrigerated goods container on a rear wall. The evaporator is formed from an evaporator plate, which has a breakthrough in the center. The breakthrough separates the evaporator plate into two sections, one of the sections having a connection connection for the refrigeration circuit. The evaporator is created by bending the evaporator plate to a U-shaped profile. For fixing the bent evaporator in the interior of the refrigerated goods container, a spacer is used between the two legs, which also serves as a passage for a fastener. The portion provided with the connection port shows after mounting the evaporator in the direction of the interior of the refrigerated goods container, whereas the other portion is arranged facing the rear wall.

The DE 199 17 974 A1 shows a refrigerator and / or freezer with an outer container and an inner container. In the inner container, an evaporator is introduced, which has a U-shaped cross-section. To attach the evaporator to an inner wall of the inner container protrude laterally from the evaporator tapered areas. The evaporator is used in the inner container.

From the GB 1 457 871 A goes out a refrigerator, which has a refrigerated goods. In the refrigerated goods container, a plate-shaped evaporator is introduced, which has a bent portion. The evaporator is arranged in the refrigerated goods container such that the bent portion points in the direction of the interior of a freezer compartment of the refrigerated goods container.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device, in particular household refrigeration appliance, which has a high efficiency, is easy to clean and can be produced easily and inexpensively.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting a refrigeration device, which is particularly simple and inexpensive to carry out.

These objects are achieved by the refrigeration device, in particular household refrigerating appliance, according to claim 1 and the method for mounting a refrigerating appliance according to claim 13.

Further advantageous embodiments and further developments, which can be used individually or combined with each other in a suitable manner, are The subject matter of the dependent claims and will be explained in more detail in the following description.

The refrigerator according to the invention comprises an outer housing, at least one refrigerated goods container with at least one refrigerated compartment for receiving refrigerated goods and a cooling circuit for cooling the refrigerating compartment, the cooling circuit having an evaporator with a substantially two-dimensional evaporator surface and the evaporator is arranged on an inner wall of the refrigerated goods, wherein a partial surface of the evaporator surface is bent toward the inner wall and the evaporator is connected by means of the bent part surface with the refrigerated goods, wherein the bent part surface connection connections for the cooling circuit, in particular the injection point, wherein the bent part surface is bent towards the inner wall that the Evaporator itself covers the connection connections.

In one embodiment, the bent-over partial surface is downstream of the evaporator surface in the installed state of the evaporator.

In particular, the bent partial surface extends at least approximately parallel to the evaporator surface.

Furthermore, the bent-over partial surface can be arranged at the top in the installed state of the evaporator.

Conveniently, the bent partial surface and the evaporator surface may have a distance of at least 5 mm, in particular a distance of 10 mm to 50 mm.

In a further embodiment, a fold connecting the partial surface and the evaporator surface is U-shaped in cross-section.

The evaporator may be attached to an inner wall of the refrigerated goods container or of the inner container as well as to the housing of the refrigeration device. The partial area of the evaporator surface is a functional surface of the evaporator through which the coolant flows.

The refrigeration device may be a so-called cold wall device. By bending a partial surface of the evaporator, the connection points of the evaporator are covered by the evaporator itself. This eliminates further measures to cover the connection points and the cleanability of the evaporator is improved. Furthermore, the evaporator can be hung or fastened with the aid of the bent partial surface on the inner wall of the refrigerated goods container or the housing of the refrigerating appliance. This simplifies assembly and reduces costs in the manufacture of the refrigeration device.

By the bent evaporator surface, the cooling air flow inside the refrigerated goods can be positively influenced and thus the efficiency of the evaporator can be improved.

Consequently, the bent part surface on the one hand have a supporting function, on the other hand have a covering function.

Furthermore, the bent-over partial surface has connection connections for the cooling circuit, in particular the injection point. Due to the bent partial surface, the evaporator covers its own evaporator connections, so that additional components for covering the connections are eliminated and thus the installation of the refrigeration device is simplified. The bent surface also allows easy mounting of the assembly in the interior of the refrigerator and also simplifies assembly in this regard.

Furthermore, the bent-over surface makes it possible to positively influence the flow of cooling air downstream of the evaporator between the inner wall and the evaporator.

The evaporator can be configured as a circuit board provided with coolant lines, which is bent backwards.

Advantageously, the bent partial surface has first holding means for fastening the evaporator to the inner wall or to the refrigerated goods container. With the aid of the first holding means, the evaporator can be attached in a simple manner to the refrigerated goods container or to an inner wall of the refrigerating appliance, such as e.g. be hung up. For example, the evaporator can first be connected to the cooling circuit and then bent over and then fixed. As a result, the assembly of the refrigeration device is considerably simplified.

In one embodiment, the first holding means are formed as receiving holes, in particular keyholes. As a result, the evaporator can be fixed by a few handles on the inner wall or the refrigerated goods container of the refrigerator.

In one embodiment, the first holding means have a receiving region and a fastening region which is connected thereto and narrows with respect to the receiving region, and are designed in particular as keyholes.

In particular, the holding means are arranged at least approximately equal in height and at a horizontal distance from each other.

In a further refinement, the evaporator has second holding means for fastening the evaporator to the inner wall or to the refrigerated goods container. With the help of the second holding means, the evaporator can be securely locked to the inner wall or the refrigerated goods container. The second holding means may be formed as tabs, which are preferably bent to extend parallel to the evaporator surface. They can be bent from the evaporator surface to the inner wall and have there purely supporting function. The second holding means are purely for mechanical fixation and are not flowed through by coolant, i. they have no coolant lines.

The second holding means are advantageously provided at a lower end of the evaporator located in the installation position. For example, the second holding means may serve to secure the evaporator held by the first holding means against displacement, so that the evaporator does not slip out of the receiving holes, which may be formed as keyholes.

In a further embodiment, the evaporator has a latching means for locking attachment to the inner wall or to the refrigerated goods, in particular expansion rivets, on.

The latching means may for example also be designed as a clip with which the evaporator is fixed to the inner wall or to the refrigerated goods container.

In a special embodiment, the bent partial surface is bent by at least 150 degrees, for example 180 degrees.

The bent partial surface may occupy at least 5%, in particular at least 10%, for example 20%, of the total area of the evaporator.

The inventive method for mounting a refrigerator with at least one refrigerated compartment lining a refrigerated goods container having an inner wall and a cooling fan cover, a cooling circuit having the connection terminals, and an evaporator for arrangement in the refrigerating compartment. The evaporator has an im Essentially two-dimensionally formed evaporator surface, of which a partial surface is bent to the inner wall. The bent partial surface is bent over towards the inner wall of the refrigerated goods container such that the evaporator itself covers the connection connections for the cooling circuit. The method comprises the following method steps: connecting the evaporator to the cooling circuit, placing the evaporator with its bent partial surface to the cooling compartment near the inner wall portion, striking the evaporator surface with the bent part surface connecting Umbugs on the cooling compartment ceiling, hooking the evaporator to the refrigerated goods at the bent part surface, and locking the bent part surface on the refrigerated goods.

In a special embodiment, the evaporator is attached to the refrigerated goods container at a bendable or bent edge of the evaporator surface. The Verrasten the evaporator surface on refrigerated goods can with the help of one of bendable or bent edge opposite edge of the evaporator surface done.

The evaporator may be configured as previously described. With the method, in particular, the refrigeration device described above can be mounted.

With the help of the method, the installation of the refrigeration device is considerably simplified. In particular, this eliminates the need to assemble additional parts to cover the connections between the evaporator and the rest of the cooling circuit.

The bending of the evaporator can be done before or after the connection of the evaporator with the cooling circuit. The evaporator may be bent at an upper edge and hung there on the refrigerated goods, but it may also be bent over a lower end and fixed there with the refrigerated goods. The evaporator is locked in particular on its edge opposite the bent edge with the refrigerated goods.

Further advantageous aspects and details, which in each case 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 intended to illustrate the invention by way of example.

Fig. 1

eine Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Kältegeräts im Querschnitt von der Seite;

Fig. 2

einen plattenförmigen Verdampfer einer Ausführungsform eines Kältegeräts vor dem Umbiegen einer Teilfläche des Verdampfers von hinten;

Fig. 3

den plattenförmigen Verdampfer nach Fig. 2 von vorne;

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht eines Anschlusses des plattenförmigen Verdampfers nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

eine weitere Detailansicht des plattenförmigen Verdampfers nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 6

eine Schnittansicht entlang der Linie J-J des plattenförmigen Verdampfers nach Fig. 3;

Fig. 7

eine weitere Schnittansicht entlang der Linie C-C des plattenförmigen Verdampfers nach Fig. 3:

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen plattenförmigen Verdampfers mit umgebogener Teilfläche in der Draufsicht von vorne;

Fig. 9

den plattenförmigen Verdampfer mit umgebogener Teilfläche nach Fig. 8 von hinten;

Fig. 10

den plattenförmigen Verdampfer mit umgebogener Teilfläche nach Fig. 8 von der Seite; und

Fig. 11

eine perspektivische Ansicht des plattenförmigen Verdampfers nach Fig. 8.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the invention in cross-section from the side;

Fig. 2

a plate-shaped evaporator of an embodiment of a refrigerator before bending a partial surface of the evaporator from behind;

Fig. 3

the plate-shaped evaporator after Fig. 2 from the front;

Fig. 4

a detailed view of a terminal of the plate-shaped evaporator after Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

a further detail of the plate-shaped evaporator after Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 6

a sectional view taken along the line JJ of the plate-shaped evaporator Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 7

a further sectional view along the line CC of the plate-shaped evaporator according to Fig. 3 :

Fig. 8

a further embodiment of a plate-shaped evaporator according to the invention with bent part surface in plan view from the front;

Fig. 9

the plate-shaped evaporator with bent part surface after Fig. 8 from the back;

Fig. 10

the plate-shaped evaporator with bent part surface after Fig. 8 of the page; and

Fig. 11

a perspective view of the plate-shaped evaporator Fig. 8 ,

Fig. 1 shows a cross section through an embodiment of a refrigerator 1 with a refrigerated goods container 3, which provides a refrigerated compartment 4 for receiving refrigerated goods 5. The refrigeration device has a heat-insulating outer housing 2 which is foamed with the refrigerated goods container 3. About a door 24, the refrigerator compartment 4 is accessible. The refrigerator is designed as a household refrigerator.

The refrigerator comprises a refrigeration circuit 6 which comprises a compressor 26 for compressing a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration circuit 6, a condenser 25 for liquefying the refrigerant under pressure when heat is given to the environment, and an evaporator 7 for evaporating refrigerant and generating Refrigeration for cooling the refrigerating compartment 4.

The evaporator 7 is arranged as a cold wall evaporator in the cooling compartment 4 and secured by means of first holding means 9 and second holding means 12 to the refrigerated goods 3. The evaporator 7 is substantially two-dimensional and plate-shaped.

The evaporator 7 is bent at a bending point 22. A partial surface 8 of the evaporator 7 is bent to form an inner wall 10 of the refrigerated goods container 3 and covers an evaporator inlet 20 and an evaporator outlet 21 of the evaporator 7. The evaporator 7 is attached to the bent part surface 8 by means of the first holding means 9 on the inner wall 10 and at one of the bent portion 8 opposite end fixed by means of the second holding means 12 on the inner wall 10. By the bent portion 8, the evaporator inlet 20 and the Evaporator outlet 21 hidden, whereby the cleanability of the refrigerated goods container 3 is improved. This eliminates an additional component with which such connections are normally covered.

Fig. 2 shows an evaporator 7 of a refrigeration device 1, for example after Fig. 1 in the plan view from the rear, ie seen from the inner wall 10 of the refrigerated goods container 3 from. The evaporator 7 is substantially two-dimensional, ie plate-shaped and has connection connections 15 for connection to the cooling circuit 6. The evaporator has a multiplicity of coolant lines 23 and can be bent over in a region provided by the coolant lines 23 which forms a bendable partial surface 8 of the evaporator 7. For this purpose, a plurality of bending edges 29 is provided, with which the evaporator 7 including the coolant lines 23 can be bent. The bending edges allow bending of the bendable part surface by 180 degrees. The evaporator 7 has an essentially two-dimensional evaporator surface 17 and the deflectable partial surface 8 corresponds to approximately 20% of the total area 16 of the evaporator 7. The deflectable partial surface 8 has first holding means 9 for fastening the evaporator 7 to the refrigerated goods container 3. The first holding means 9 are designed as keyholes, so that the evaporator 7 can be hung on bolts provided on the refrigerated goods container 3 and thus locked. At a lower end of the evaporator 7, the second holding means 12 are provided, with which the evaporator 7 can be locked, so that it can not be inadvertently detached from the bolt (not shown) of the refrigerated goods 3. The first holding means 9 are provided on a bendable edge 18 of the evaporator surface 17. The second holding means 12 are provided at one of the bendable edge opposite edge 19.

Fig. 3 shows the plate-shaped evaporator 7 after Fig. 2 from the front. Further locking means 14 are used for secure attachment of the evaporator 7 on refrigerated goods. 3

4 and FIG. 5 show sections A and B of the plate-shaped evaporator 7 after Fig. 3 , The coolant lines 23 are connected by a heat conduction plate 28 in order to increase the area effective for the cooling release and thus to improve the transfer of cold from the refrigerant to the cooling compartment 4. Fig. 5 shows the first holding means 9, which are formed as a key-like receiving holes 11.

Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show detailed views of the sections along the lines JJ ( Fig. 6 ) and CC ( Fig. 7). Fig. 6 shows further locking means for fixing the evaporator 7 to the refrigerated goods 3. Also shows Fig. 7 a further sectional view of this locking means 14th

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the two-dimensional or plate-shaped evaporator 7 for a refrigeration device 1, for example the after Fig. 1 , Here, the partial surface 8 is bent along the bending point 22. The evaporator 7 is equipped with a large-area heat conduction plate 28 for increasing the area effective for the cooling discharge and for simplifying the cleanability of the evaporator. At the lower end 13 of the evaporator 7, the second holding means 12 are provided for fixing and locking the evaporator 7 to the refrigerated goods 3.

Fig. 9 shows the plate-shaped evaporator 7 after Fig. 8 in the plan view from the rear, ie viewed from the view of the inner wall 7 of the refrigerated goods 3. It can be seen the bent part surface 8 and the bent edge 18 of the evaporator surface 17. On the bent edge 18, the first holding means 9, which are configured as a keyhole-shaped receiving holes 11 are provided. The bent partial surface 8 is bent along the bending point 22 by approximately 180 degrees to the inner wall 10 of the refrigerated goods container 3. At the bent edge 18 opposite edge 19, the second holding means 12 are provided for locking the evaporator 7 to the refrigerated goods 3.

Fig. 10 shows the plate-shaped evaporator 7 after Fig. 8 of the page. Evident are the bent portion 8, the bent edge 18, the bending point 22 and the bent edge 18 opposite edge 19. The bent part surface 8 occupies about 20% of the total area 16 of the evaporator 7 a.

Fig. 11 shows the plate-shaped evaporator 7 after Fig. 10 in a perspective view.

The invention relates to a refrigeration device 1 comprising an outer casing 2, at least one refrigerated goods container 3 with at least one refrigerated compartment 4 for receiving refrigerated goods 5 and a cooling circuit 6 for cooling the refrigerating compartment 4, the cooling circuit 6 having an evaporator 7 with a substantially two-dimensional evaporator surface 17 and the evaporator is arranged on an inner wall 10 of the refrigerated goods container 3, wherein a partial surface 8 of the evaporator surface 17 is bent towards the inner wall 10 and the evaporator 7 is connected to the bent partial surface 8 with the refrigerated goods container 3 is characterized by high efficiency, good cleanability and easy installation.

Claims (13)

1. Refrigerator (1), in particular a household refrigerator, comprising
   an external housing (2),
   at least one refrigerated products container (3) having at least one refrigeration compartment (4) for accommodating refrigerated products (5), and
   a cooling circuit (6) for cooling the refrigeration compartment (4),
   wherein the cooling circuit (6) has an evaporator (7) with a substantially two-dimensional evaporator surface (17) and the evaporator (7) is arranged on an inner wall (10) of the refrigerated products container (3),
   wherein a sub-area (8) of the evaporator surface (17) is bent towards the inner wall (10) and the evaporator (7) is connected to the refrigerated products container (3) by means of the bent sub-area (8),
   wherein the bent sub-area (8) has connection points (15) for the cooling circuit (6) and
   wherein the bent sub-area (8) is bent towards the inner wall (10) in such a manner that the evaporator (17) itself covers the connection points (15).
2. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bent sub-area (8) is positioned behind the evaporator surface (17) when the evaporator (7) is installed.
3. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by one of the following features a) to c):

   a) wherein the bent sub-area (8) runs at least approximately parallel to the evaporator surface (17) and/or

   b) wherein the bent sub-area (8) is arranged at the top when the evaporator (7) is installed and/or

   c) wherein an edge fold connecting the sub-area (8) and the evaporator surface (17) is configured as U-shaped.
4. Refrigerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bent sub-area (8) and the evaporator surface (17) are at a distance of at least 5 mm, in particular a distance of 10 mm to 50 mm.
5. Refrigerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bent sub-area (8) has first retaining means (9) for fastening the evaporator (7) to the inner wall (10).
6. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first retaining means (9) have a holding region (11) and a fastening region connected thereto and narrowing in relation to the holding region, in particular are configured as key holes.
7. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 6, wherein the retaining means are arranged at approximately the same height and at a horizontal distance from one another.
8. Refrigerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (7) has second retaining means (12) for fastening the evaporator (7) to the inner wall (10).
9. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 8, wherein the second retaining means (12) are configured as tabs, which are bent to run preferably parallel to the evaporator surface (17).
10. Refrigerator (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the second retaining means (12) are provided at the lower end (13) of the evaporator (7) in its installed position.
11. Refrigerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (7) has latching means (14) for latched fastening to the inner wall (10) or to the refrigerated products container (3), in particular expanding rivets.
12. Refrigerator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bent sub-area (8) takes up at least 5%, in particular at least 10%, for example 20%, of the overall surface (16) of the evaporator (7).
13. Method for assembling a refrigerator (1) with at least one refrigerated products container (3) lining a refrigeration compartment (4), which has an inner wall and a refrigeration compartment top, a cooling circuit (6) which has connection points (15) and an evaporator (7) for arrangement in the refrigeration compartment (4),
    wherein the evaporator (7) has a evaporator surface (17) configured as substantially two-dimensional, a sub-area (8) of which is bent towards the inner wall,
    wherein the bent sub-area (8) is bent towards an inner wall (10) of the refrigerated products container (3) in such a manner that the evaporator (17) itself covers the connection points (15) for the cooling circuit (6),
    comprising the following method steps

    - connecting the evaporator (7) to the cooling circuit (6),

    - positioning the evaporator (7) with its bent sub-area (8) towards the segment of the inner wall close to the refrigeration compartment top,

    - fixing the edge fold connecting the evaporator surface (17) to the bent sub-area (8) to the refrigeration compartment top,

    - suspending the evaporator (7) from the refrigerated products container (3) at the bent sub-area (8), and

    - latching the bent sub-area (8) to the refrigerated products container (3).
    /

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