EP2322884B1

EP2322884B1 - A freezing chamber

Info

Publication number: EP2322884B1
Application number: EP10177680.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mustafa Baybars Kirmaci; Öner Aktas
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2009-11-12
Filing date: 2010-09-20
Publication date: 2013-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-20
Also published as: ES2440288T3; TR200908597A2; EP2322884A3; EP2322884A2

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to freezing chambers in which a quick freezing compartment is placed.

Background of the Invention

Freezing chambers are units which are placed in cooling devices (refrigerators, deep freezer etc) and, store the foods into which are stored therein at very low temperatures and ensure that the foods are kept fresh for a long time. Freezing chambers are used for quick freezing of foods stored in them in line with users' requirements, at the same time. In order for that, closed compartments named "quick freezing compartment" are formed in freezing chambers. In the state of art, cool air blown into those compartments is provided for quickly freezing the foods stored into those compartments, by a selection button placed on the control panel upon the device. In other words, it is detected by the cooler that food is stored in the quick freezing compartment, depending on the user's choice. In case the user forgets to use this button, the quick freezing process is not performed. Either, more power is spent for freezing said compartment due to using the button.
In the prior art, there are various studies relating to freezing chambers and their operation manner. Patent applications numbered JP2005083629 and EP1074802 can be given as examples. However, the freezer chambers mentioned in those examples have not the property of automatically starting the quick freezing process when the foods are stored in them. Document WO 2007/074116 discloses a freezing chamber according to the preamble of claim 1.

Brief Description of Invention

The freezing chamber of this invention, comprises; a cooling member; a quick freezing compartment; at least one intake hole which provides cool air intake from cooling member into chamber; at least one intake hole which provides cool air intake from the cooling member into the compartment; at least one intake hole which ensures the entrance of air which is released from the compartment into the chamber. The chamber is characterized in that it enlarges downwards by the weight of foods stored in it and it contract upwards when the foods are taken out of it and that it includes one single cover which closes each intake hole by enlargement of compartment and opens that intake hole by contraction of the compartment.
The cool air, which flows from the cooling member when intake holes are closed, is transferred only into the compartment (by passing through the other intake hole). And this ensures that the compartment is cooled primarily. Usage of air which flows from the cooling member into the compartment completely at first, causes the foods in the compartment to be cooled much quicker (for example water in ice box freezes much quicker). The air which flows from the compartment is directed into chamber through the other intake hole placed therein. Thus, the process of cooling the interior of the chamber continues.

Objective of the Invention

The aim of this invention is to form a freezing chamber which ensures quick freezing without depending upon user's choice, when a food is stored in the quick freezing chamber.
Another aim of the invention is to form a freezing chamber which has a quick freezing compartment, which enlarges by the weight of foods stored therein.
Another aim of the invention is to create a freezing chamber which ensures that more cool air is blown into the enlarging quick freezing compartment.
Another aim of the invention is to ensure that the cooler air is blown into the quick freezing compartment in the freezing chamber, without a need for any electrical device.
Another aim of the invention is to create a freezing chamber with a quick freezing compartment which does not cause high power consumption.
Another aim of the invention is to create an easy-to-produce, reliable and cheap quick freezing chamber.

Description of the Drawings

Examples of the invention, the freezing chamber; is shown in the attached figures wherein;

Figure 1 is a side sectional view of the freezing chamber.
Figure 2 is another side sectional view of the freezing chamber.
Figure 3 is a simplified picture of railed machinery which allows the freezing chamber to move.

Parts in the figures are individually enumerated and their correspondences are given below.

Freezing chamber (A)
Interior of chamber (1)
Quick freezing compartment (2)
Cooling member (3)
Fan unit (4)
Chamber cover (5)
Air channel (6)
Air channel (7)
Air channel (8)
Intake hole (9)
Intake hole (10)
Intake hole (11)
Compartment cover (12)
Cover (13)
Food stuff (14)
Railed machinery (15)
Rail (16)
Spring (17)

Disclosure of Invention

A side sectional view of the freezing chamber (A) of this invention is shown in Figure 1. This chamber (A) comprises components such as; a cooling member (3) (for example evaporator), a fan unit (4), a quick freezing compartment (2), air channels (6, 7, 8), air intake holes (9, 10, 11, 12), and a chamber cover (5) like the freezing chambers in the state of the art.
The interior (1) of the chamber (A) is cooled by the air temperature which is decreased in the cooling member (3). The air flow through the cooling member (3) is transferred both into the interior of the chamber (1) and the quick freezing compartment (2) by force, by means of a fan unit (4). There is at least one intake hole (10) for intake of air which flows from the fan unit (4) into the compartment (2) and at least one intake hole (9) for air intake into the interior of the chamber (1). The air leaving from the compartment (2) reaches the interior section of the chamber (1) by at least one intake hole (11). There are also three separate air channels (6, 7, and 8) in the chamber (A). The first air channel (6) is used for conveyance of cool air flowing from the fan unit (4) to other exterior compartments associated with the chamber (A). The second air channel (7) is used for conveyance of heated air flowing from said exterior compartments to the cooling member (3). The third air channel (8) is used for providing air circulation in the interior of the chamber (1). Heated air flows from interior of chamber (1), enters this channel (8) and is conveyed to the cooling member (3) again to be cooled. (Air flow directions are represented by arrows in Figures 1 and 2)
The freezing chamber (A), of this invention, operates in conformity with the cooling principle which is mentioned above and known in the prior art. The novelty, ensured by the invention, is an undulating quick freezing compartment. Said quick freezing compartment (2) enlarges by moving downward, when food stuff (14) is stored in it (shown in figure 2). Because of the weight of the food stuff (14) stored in the compartment (2), it enlarges downwards (for example by the guidance of a railed mechanism). The compartment (2) contracts upwards by taking the food stuff (14) out of the compartment (2). The contracted position of the compartment (2) is provided by at least one spring mechanism and/or at least one counterweight mechanism which undulates the compartment (not shown in figures). At least one railed mechanism is installed in the interior of the chamber (1) as an example solution for the enlargement and contraction of the compartment (2) on a vertical line.
The compartment (2) placed in the freezing chamber (A) of this invention is related to at least one cover (13), at the same time. Each cover (13) is in the shape of an extension of the compartment (2) and each intake hole (9) which allows cool air intake from the cooling member (3) into the interior of the chamber (1) is closed by a single cover (13) associated with those holes (9), when the compartment (2) moves downwards. When the compartment (2) moves upwards, each cover (13) associated with the compartment (2) opens the front of the intake holes (9).
When the intake holes (9) are closed, the cool air flowing from the cooling member (3) is transferred only into the compartment (2) (by passing through the other intake hole (10)). And this ensures that the compartment (2) is cooled primarily. The complete usage of air flowing from the cooling member (3) causes the food stuff (14) in the compartment to cool much quicker (for example water in ice box freezes much quicker). The air, flowing out of the compartment (2), is directed from the intake hole (11) to the interior of the chamber (1). Thus, the cooling of the interior of the chamber (1) continues.
When the chamber cover (5) placed at the front edge of the freezing chamber (A) is opened, the hinged compartment cover (12) must be opened too, to store food stuff (14) in the compartment (2). The compartment cover (12) is made bigger than the load entrance section of the compartment (2), in conformity with the enlargeable volume of the compartment (12). In other words, the cover (12) is in such a size that it can close the compartment (2) even when the compartment (2) enlarges.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, there is at least an electrical key (not shown in figure) associated with the enlargeable compartment (2), in the interior of the chamber (1). The movement of the compartment (2) triggers the key. For example, the key which is triggered during enlargement makes other electrical equipment (for example cooler compressor, fan unit etc) operate more intensively. During contraction, the key which is triggered ensures the system to operate in the previous level of intensity. In other words, by means of the key which is triggered as a result of the movement (2) of the compartment, the operation of other electrical equipment of the chamber (A) can be regulated.
At least one railed mechanism (15) which is shown as an example in figure 3 can be used for enlargement and contraction of the compartment (2). There is at least one spring (16) in the mechanism (15) for the compartment (2) to enlarge and contract on a vertical line. At least one spring (17) is utilized for upward movement of the compartment (15).

Claims

A freezing chamber (A), which comprises; a cooling member (3); a quick freezing compartment (2); at least one intake hole (9) which ensures cool air to flow from the cooling member (3) into the interior (1) of the chamber; at least one intake hole (10) which ensures cool air to flow from the cooling member (3) into the quick freezing compartment (2), at least one intake hole (11) which ensures entrance of air flowing out of said compartment (2) into said interior (1) of said chamber characterized in that;
the space of the quick freezing compartment (2) enlarges by moving downwards with the weight of food stuff (14) stored in it and contracts by moving upwards when the food stuff (14) are taken out of it;
it comprises at least one cover (13) associated with said compartment (2); which closes said at least one intake hole (9) by enlargement of said compartment (2) and opens it by contraction of said compartment (2).
A freezing chamber (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one spring mechanism and/or counter weight mechanism used for undulation of said compartment (2).
A freezing chamber (A) according to Claim 1 characterized in that; said at least one cover (13) is a single extension of the compartment (2).
A freezing chamber (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that; there is provided a hinged cover (12) in the quick freezing compartment; which is made bigger than the load entrance section of said compartment (2), in conformity with the enlargeable structure of said compartment.
A freezing chamber (A) according to Claim 1 characterized in that; it comprises at least one electrical key which is triggered by movement of the quick freezing compartment (2) and by means of which it has a property to regulate the operation of other electrical equipment of the freezing chamber (A).
A freezing chamber (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises at least one railed mechanism (15) which is used for undulation of the compartment (2).
A freezing chamber according to Claim 6, characterized in that; the railed mechanism (15) comprises at least one rail (16) and spring (17).