EP2369276A1 - Elektrisches Haushaltsgerät zum Kühlen von Lebensmitteln - Google Patents

Elektrisches Haushaltsgerät zum Kühlen von Lebensmitteln Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2369276A1
EP2369276A1 EP11157602A EP11157602A EP2369276A1 EP 2369276 A1 EP2369276 A1 EP 2369276A1 EP 11157602 A EP11157602 A EP 11157602A EP 11157602 A EP11157602 A EP 11157602A EP 2369276 A1 EP2369276 A1 EP 2369276A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insert
layer
household appliance
door
electrical household
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP11157602A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Marco Pieri
Giorgio Sabatini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Indesit Co SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indesit Co SpA filed Critical Indesit Co SpA
Publication of EP2369276A1 publication Critical patent/EP2369276A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electrical household appliance for cooling and storing food.
  • a door giving access to a cooled compartment for storing the food is subject to deformation during use.
  • the deformation is normally attributable to the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the compartment. More specifically, the deformation causes the door to change from a substantially flat shape to a shape where it is slightly curved outwards.
  • This problem affects mostly, but not only, household food cooling and storing appliances having a single door and where the extension of the door in a first direction (typically the vertical one) is much greater than in the other directions at right angles to the first direction (the effect is much more evident in freezers because the thermal gradient is steeper).
  • the door comprises a first face directed towards the outside of the cooling appliance, a second face directed towards the cooled compartment and an outer edge which is interposed between the first and the second face and which extends principally along a closed rectangular line of extension.
  • the two long sides of the rectangular outer edge extend vertically.
  • the door has hinges for connecting it to the rest of the electrical household appliance, these hinges being located on one of the two long sides of the rectangular edge. It has been found that the above mentioned deformation is usually greater along one of the two long sides of the rectangular edge.
  • the thermal gradient between the inside and the outside of the compartment causes shrinkage of the material on the first face of the door, eventually leading to outward warping of the door.
  • the warping may cause the concertinaed seal attached to the door to open, thus reducing its insulating capacity (when the door is closed, the seal is normally pressed against a frame that surrounds the opening giving access to the food cooling compartment; the seal having a magnet which is attracted to the metal surface of the frame).
  • the warping may also cause the seal to be detached from the frame against which it is normally in contact when the door is closed (thus letting in warm, moist air from the outside).
  • refrigerators which have a door extending in a vertical plane and inside of which, between the first face and the second, there are two vertical metal bars of suitable section for stiffening the door structure.
  • the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose an electrical household appliance for cooling and storing food that overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
  • the aim of this invention is to provide an electrical household appliance for cooling and storing food and in which the weight of the door can be limited.
  • the numeral 1 denotes an electrical household appliance for cooling and storing food.
  • the electrical household appliance 1 comprises: a cooled compartment 2 for receiving the food to be stored and a door 3 giving access to the compartment 2.
  • the electrical household cooling appliance 1 may be a freezer or a refrigerator with freezer compartment (as shown in Figure 1 , for example) or a refrigerator-freezer combination structure (in that case, there may be a single door giving access to both the cooling compartment and the freezer compartment or there may be two or more separate doors).
  • the door 3 in turn comprises:
  • the door 3 extends in thickness between the first face and the second face 31, 32.
  • the second face 32 is partly directed towards one of the two cooled compartments and partly directed towards the other of the two cooled compartments (when the door 3 is closed). In an alternative embodiment where the door 3 delimits a single cooled compartment 2, the second face 32 is directed towards the cooled compartment 2.
  • the second face 32 forms part of the component sometimes referred to as "inner door panel” in the jargon of the trade.
  • the perimeter of the first face 31 and/of the second face 32 is approximately rectangular.
  • the first insert 41 comprises a first layer 411 of material.
  • the first layer 411 of material comprises an epoxy resin.
  • the first insert 41 is applied to a support 7 which is at least partly interposed between the first and the second face 31, 32.
  • the support 7 is conveniently metallic.
  • the first face 31 is integrated in the support 7.
  • the first insert 41 comprises a second layer 413 comprising a composite material (more specifically, it comprises fibreglass).
  • the second layer 413 is adjacent to the first layer 411, the first layer 411 being interposed between the support 7 and the second layer 413.
  • the first insert 41 is made with a product available under the trade name "Nitohard” by Nitto Denko. More specifically, the first insert 41 is made with a product available under the trade name "Nitohard RE-1000" by Nitto Denko.
  • An example of the first insert 41 is disclosed in patent document EP1531040 .
  • the first layer 411 comprises an adhesive surface 412 by which the first layer 411 is glued to the support 7.
  • the adhesive surface 412 covers the surface of the first layer 411 opposite the one that interfaces with the second layer 413.
  • the door 3 comprises a panel 310 which the first face 31 forms part of, and a coating 320 which the second face 32 forms part of.
  • the first insert 41 and the first layer 411 are interposed between the panel 310 and the coating 320.
  • the panel 310 is made of a metallic material.
  • the panel 310 advantageously coincides with the support 7.
  • the first face 31 is thus integrated in the support 7 and the first insert 41 is applied to a surface 311 of the support 7 opposite the first face 31.
  • the coating 320 coincides with the inner door panel of the door 3.
  • the coating 320 is normally made of a plastic material.
  • the invention makes it possible to decrease the weight of the first insert 41 considerably compared to a known solution where there is a metallic upright inside the door.
  • the weight of the door 3 is thus reduced without penalizing the structural stiffness features needed to resist the deformation of the door 3 caused by the cyclical thermal gradient existing between the inside and the outside of the compartment 2.
  • the first layer 411 undergoes a heat treatment which causes it to expand and acquire its final structural resistance properties.
  • the door 3 comprises an edge 33 which is interposed between the first face and the second face 31 and 32 and which extends principally along a closed, rectangular line of extension.
  • the four sides of the closed, rectangular line of extension comprise a first and a third side 331, 333, which are parallel with each other and not consecutive, and a second and a fourth side 332, 334 which are parallel with each other and not consecutive.
  • the first and the third side 331, 333 are greater in length than the second and the fourth side 332, 334.
  • the edge 33 comprises a first, a second, a third and a fourth part 335, 336, 337, 338 which extend, respectively, along the first, the second, the third and the fourth side 331, 332, 333, 334 of the line of extension of the edge 33.
  • the first, second, third and fourth parts 336, 336, 337, 338 do not necessarily extend in a single plane.
  • the first, second, third and fourth parts 335, 336, 337, 338 of the edge 33 if observed from the first face towards the second face 31, 32 or vice versa, might each have a step in it.
  • the first insert 41 extends along a principal direction of extension 410.
  • the first layer 411 extends for a length which is greater than or equal to one half, preferably three quarters, of the length of the first or third side 331, 333. Conveniently, the first layer 411 extends for a length which is approximately equal to the length of the first and/or third side 331, 333.
  • the extensions of the first insert 41 along the principal direction of extension 410 of the first insert 41 cross the second and the fourth part 336, 338 of the edge 33.
  • This orientation of the principal direction of extension 410 of the first insert 41 makes it possible to optimize the structural resistance of the door 3 to deformation caused by the thermal gradient between the inside and outside of the compartment 2.
  • deformation mostly affects a segment that extends between a point on the second side and a point on the fourth side 332, 334 (that is to say, it occurs along the principal direction of extension of the door 3). That is the case whether the door 3 extends mainly vertically (as for example in the embodiment of Figure 1 ) or mainly horizontally (in the latter case — an embodiment which is not illustrated — under the door 3 there is usually a chest in which the food to be kept in cold storage is placed).
  • the embodiment with vertical door 3 applies to refrigerators, freezers or combined refrigerator-freezers, whilst the embodiment with horizontal door applies almost exclusively to freezers.
  • the imaginary plane 5 is interposed between the first and the third part 335, 337 of the edge 33 of the door 3 and is equidistant from them.
  • the imaginary plane 5 is substantially a plane of symmetry of the edge 33 of the door 3.
  • the imaginary plane 5 is at right angles to the first face 31 (if the latter extends substantially in a single plane).
  • the electrical household appliance 1 comprises at least one hinge 6 for connecting the door 3 to the rest of the electrical household appliance 1. The hinge 6 is applied at the first part 335 of the edge 33.
  • the first insert 41 is entirely interposed between the imaginary plane 5 and the third part 337 of the edge 33.
  • the part of the door 33 along the long side of the edge 33 of the door 3 and furthest from the hinge 6 is usually the part most subject to deformation caused by the thermal gradient between the inside and outside of the cooled compartment 2.
  • the presence of one or more hinges 6 might contribute to connecting the first part 335 of the edge 33 of the door 3 while limiting the latter's deformation.
  • the structural reinforcement means 4 comprise a second insert 42 comprising a third layer 421 of material.
  • the third layer 421 of material comprises an epoxy resin.
  • the second insert 42 is made with a product available under the trade name "Nitohard” by Nitto Denko. More specifically, the second insert 42 is made with a product available under the trade name "Nitohard RE-1000" by Nitto Denko. Conveniently, the second insert 42 is applied to the support 7.
  • the second insert 42 comprises a fourth layer 414 adjacent to the third layer 421 and made of a composite material (for example, fibreglass).
  • the third layer 421 is conveniently interposed between the fourth layer 414 and the support 7.
  • the third layer 421 comprises an adhesive surface 415 by which the third layer 421 is glued to the support 7.
  • the second insert 42 is applied to the surface of the support 7 opposite the first face 31 (the same surface the first insert 41 is applied to).
  • the adhesive surface 415 extends over the surface of the third layer 421 opposite the one that interfaces with the fourth layer 414.
  • the second insert 42 and the third layer 421 are interposed between the panel 310 and the coating 320.
  • the second insert 42 extends along a principal direction of extension 420.
  • the adjectives “third” and “fourth” are used to distinguish them from the “first layer” and the “second layer” relating to the first insert 41.
  • the adjectives “third” and “fourth” do not imply that that the second insert 42 also has a first and a second layer (not further specified) applied to it.
  • the materials the first insert 41 is made of advantageously coincide with those the second insert 42 is made of
  • the first and/or the second layer 411, 413 are made of the same materials as the third and/or the fourth layer 421, 414 are made of, respectively.
  • the second insert 42 is entirely interposed between the imaginary plane 5 and the first part 335 of the edge 33.
  • the second insert 42 extends for a length which is greater than or equal to at least one half, preferably three quarters, of the length of the first or third side 331, 333. Conveniently, the second insert 42 extends for a length which is approximately equal to the length of the first or third side 331, 333.
  • the first insert 41 is located close to the third part 337 of the edge 33 and the second insert 42 is located close to the first part 335 of the edge 33.
  • the first insert 41 may be regarded as an upright of the door 3. The same applies to the second insert 42.
  • the principal direction of extension of the second insert 42 is parallel to the principal direction of extension of the first insert 41.
  • the support 7 extends in thickness between the first face 31 and a second face 32 inside the door 3.
  • the first and/or the second insert 41, 42 is/are applied (preferably glued) to the surface 311 of the support 7 opposite the first face 31.
  • the door 3 conveniently comprises thermal insulation means.
  • the thermal insulation means comprise a solidified polyurethane foam interposed between the first and the second face 31, 32.
  • the solidified polyurethane foam might enclose the first and/or the second insert 41, 42.
  • the thermal insulation means might also comprise one or more VIP panels interposed between the first and the second face 31, 32 of the door 3. In that case, the VIP panels would be located between the first or the second insert 41, 42 and the second face 32.
  • This invention also has for an object a method for making the door 3 of an electrical household appliance 1 having one or more of the technical features described above.
  • the method comprises the steps of:
  • the method comprises a step of applying a layer of powdered paint to a first surface of the panel 310, the panel 310 coinciding with the support 7 and the first surface being at least partly designed to form part of the first face 31 of the door 3; the step of applying a layer of powdered paint to the first surface of the panel 310 is performed before the step of heating the panel 310 and the first layer 411 so that, during the subsequent step of heating the panel 310 and the first layer 411, the powdered paint can melt and expand simultaneously with the expansion and hardening of the first layer 411.
  • the predetermined temperature is 170°, preferably 180°.
  • the predetermined length of time is 7 minutes, preferably equal to 10 minutes.
  • the step of connecting the coating 320 to the panel 310 may be performed before or after the step of heating the panel 310 and the first layer 411: preferably after.
  • an insulating material in particular a polyurethane foam which allows better thermal insulation, is placed in the space between the panel 310 and the coating 320.
  • the step of rigidly connecting to the panel 310 at least the first metallic insert 41 to which is applied the first layer 411 of material comprising an epoxy resin entails connecting the first insert to the panel 310 by gluing.
  • a protective film is removed from the adhesive layer 412 of the first layer 411.
  • a similar operation is performed on the second insert 42 if the second insert 42 needs to be connected to the panel 310; in that case, a protective film is removed from the adhesive surface 415.
  • the door 3 is connected to the rest of the electrical household appliance 1 by at least one hinge 6.
  • the step of connecting the first insert 41 to the panel 310 is accompanied by the step of connecting the second insert 42 to the panel 310.
  • the step of heating the panel 310 and the first layer 411 is simultaneous with the step of heating the third layer 421.
  • This invention has important advantages. In particular, it allows a reduction of the weight of the means used for stiffening the door giving access to the cooled compartment but without affecting its structural resistance. That allows the construction of doors which, under equal conditions of structural resistance, are lighter in weight and thus easier for a user to move (this is particularly advantageous considering the fact that the door of a household refrigerator or freezer is normally opened and closed by anyone in the family, including children). The lighter weight also facilitates on-line assembly.
EP11157602A 2010-03-23 2011-03-10 Elektrisches Haushaltsgerät zum Kühlen von Lebensmitteln Withdrawn EP2369276A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000009A ITRN20100009A1 (it) 2010-03-23 2010-03-23 Elettrodomestico di refrigerazione di alimenti

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2369276A1 true EP2369276A1 (de) 2011-09-28

Family

ID=42831664

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11157602A Withdrawn EP2369276A1 (de) 2010-03-23 2011-03-10 Elektrisches Haushaltsgerät zum Kühlen von Lebensmitteln

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP2369276A1 (de)
IT (1) ITRN20100009A1 (de)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB508413A (en) * 1937-04-24 1939-06-30 Electrolux Ltd Improvements in or relating to doors for refrigerator and other heat-insulated cabinets
US6190490B1 (en) * 1998-12-16 2001-02-20 Joseph R. Tippmann Method of making a closure member for a refrigerated storage enclosure
US20040241413A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-02 Felisa Blazek Surface-covering article and methods of installing the same
US20040266899A1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2004-12-30 Xaver Muenz Expandable epoxy resin-based systems modified with thermoplastic polymers
EP1531040A2 (de) 2003-11-04 2005-05-18 Nitto Denko Corporation Verfahren zur Verstaerkung einer Stahlplatte mit einer Polymer-Gummi-Mischung
US20050257495A1 (en) * 2004-03-25 2005-11-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Door for refrigerator
JP2008132604A (ja) * 2006-11-27 2008-06-12 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 冷蔵庫の扉

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB508413A (en) * 1937-04-24 1939-06-30 Electrolux Ltd Improvements in or relating to doors for refrigerator and other heat-insulated cabinets
US6190490B1 (en) * 1998-12-16 2001-02-20 Joseph R. Tippmann Method of making a closure member for a refrigerated storage enclosure
US20040266899A1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2004-12-30 Xaver Muenz Expandable epoxy resin-based systems modified with thermoplastic polymers
US20040241413A1 (en) * 2003-05-30 2004-12-02 Felisa Blazek Surface-covering article and methods of installing the same
EP1531040A2 (de) 2003-11-04 2005-05-18 Nitto Denko Corporation Verfahren zur Verstaerkung einer Stahlplatte mit einer Polymer-Gummi-Mischung
US20050257495A1 (en) * 2004-03-25 2005-11-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Door for refrigerator
JP2008132604A (ja) * 2006-11-27 2008-06-12 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 冷蔵庫の扉

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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