EP2420779A2 - Storage unit and cooling device using same - Google Patents

Abstract

The storage unit (2) has a withdrawable storage area surrounding frame (5) mounted on a normal position of a heat insulating body (6). Two side walls (10) and two walls (7, 8) are formed on a ceiling and a bottom portion of the heat insulating body. A flat-like carrier is mounted in the frame to form a utility space for cooling food products. The flat-like carrier comprises a base plate surrounding two walls of the utility space. A front-side door (4) and a rear door are releasably connected to the frame. An independent claim is also included for a household cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerating machine unit.

Description

The present invention relates to a storage unit for the storage of refrigerated goods, in particular food, as well as a refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator, which uses such a storage unit.

Domestic refrigerators have conventionally a monolithic structure with a housing in which a storage chamber for refrigerated goods and a refrigerator are combined to form a unit. Such a refrigerator does not allow any adaptation to the spatial conditions in which it is used, so that the housing dimensions of the device must match the space available to the user. If this is not the case, the user can only select a smaller device model. It is therefore a large variety of models required to cover all conceivable installation conditions more or less satisfactory. Another factor that contributes to a large variety of models in refrigeration appliances, are different desires of the user in terms of access to the refrigerated goods contained in the device. Most refrigerators have a hinged door and allow access to stored refrigerated goods from the front, as in a cabinet. Other devices that are used in particular for the catering industry for cooling drinks, have a drawer-like drawer, on the contents of which after pulling the drawer can be accessed from above. The number of common, inexpensive in large quantities manufacturable components in these two types of devices is low.

Out US 62 53 568 B1 a refrigeration device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, which discloses a further possibility of access to refrigerated goods stored in the device: a herausziehbarer from the body of the refrigerator, open in the lateral direction frame has a plurality of superposed carrier for refrigerated goods and is with a Door of the device connected, so that when the door is pulled forward, access to the goods to be cooled from the side is possible.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a storage unit for the storage of refrigerated goods, which allows the need of the user for different dimensioned devices and different access options to meet in a simple and efficient way.

The object is achieved by having a storage unit for the refrigerated storage of refrigerated goods, especially food, with a heat-insulating body, the two forming in a normal position of the carcass side walls and two in the normal position a floor and a ceiling of the carcass forming walls , a frame which can be pulled out of the body, surrounds a storage area and at least one first carrier mounted in the frame, forming a shelf for refrigerated goods in a second position of the body, in which the two walls forming the side walls in the normal position form the ceiling and floor; two in the normal position ceiling and floor of the body forming walls form the side walls, a second carrier is mounted in the frame to form a shelf for refrigerated goods. This allows the use of the storage unit in two different positions, wherein in one position access to the refrigerated goods from the side, in the US 62 53 568 B1 known manner, and in the other position access from above is possible.

In order to minimize the number of components required, the first and the second carrier are preferably identical.

In order to allow free access from both sides in the first-mentioned position, the frame can be open at both its sides facing the walls of the body in the normal position.

When the storage unit is in the second position, the footprint of a refrigerated goods carrier should be placed at the level of a lower edge of the frame in order to allow a good utilization of the storage area.

The frame may also be closed on one of the two sides which face the walls of the body forming the side walls in the normal position. This has the advantage that when used in the normal position in the open state, only from one side warm air can penetrate into the storage area. In the second position can serve the closed side of the frame as a drawer bottom, which can be loaded with refrigerated goods.

In order to ensure a secure state of the item to be cooled on the first or second carrier even when moving the frame, the carrier is preferably cup-shaped with a base for the refrigerated goods forming base plate and the footprint surrounding the chilled goods supporting walls formed.

The baseplate is preferably closed to prevent outflow of cold air from the storage area through the baseplate when the storage unit is open.

In order to enable the mounting of the supports both in the normal position and in the second position of the bearing unit, preferably at least one set of bearing contours defining a horizontal plane in the normal position and at least one set of bearing contours formed in the frame are formed on the frame the normal position define a vertical plane.

According to a preferred embodiment, the frame is preferably removable from the body in two opposite directions. This allows the use of the storage unit or a refrigeration appliance using the storage unit as a room divider.

In such a two-sided storage unit, the frame is preferably detachably connected to both a front door and a rear door, respectively, so that the frame of the movement can follow each door opened by a user.

In order to improve the ease of use when opening, the connection of each door with the frame is preferably dissolved in the closed position and automatically produced by opening the door. So it is enough for the user to pull on a first door to set the frame in motion while the second door can remain in place. This also makes it possible to make the dimensions of the doors larger than the free cross-section of the body through which the frame moves, so that between the body and doors a conventional seal is possible by a voltage applied to an end face of the body sealing profile.

Width and height of the body are preferably in an integer ratio to each other. This simplifies the combination of a plurality of storage units according to the invention to form a refrigeration appliance which, depending on the number and arrangement of the storage units, can assume different shapes and dimensions.

In order to be able to offer such a refrigerator composed of a plurality of storage units at an attractive price, it is expedient if a plurality of storage units share at least parts of a refrigeration machine. These shared parts may be housed in a separate chiller unit.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the various units to a complete refrigeration device, an evaporator of the storage unit for the supply and removal of refrigerant is preferably connected in each case with self-closing coupling elements.

Subject of the invention is also complete refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigerator, which comprises at least one storage unit of the type described above and a refrigerator unit for supplying an evaporator of the storage unit with liquid refrigerant.

Expediently, the refrigerating machine unit has inputs for temperature signals of a plurality of storage units and is configured to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of storage units in accordance with a desired temperature of these storage units. This offers a user the opportunity to put together a refrigerator each matching its needs from a chiller unit and one or more storage units together. Since storage units can be purchased as needed, the initial investment of a user in a refrigerator according to the invention can be kept low. In addition, the modular design of the refrigeration device offers the user the option of keeping his device up-to-date technically with little investment by buying or replacing individual modules.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines modularen Kältegeräts gemäß einer ersten Ausgestaltung der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Kältegeräts;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Trägers zur Verwendung in dem Kältegerät der Fig. 1 oder 2;

Fig. 4

eine Seitenansicht eines Rahmens in aufrechter Stellung und eines daran montierten Trägers;

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Rahmen in liegender Stellung und zwei daran montierte Träger;

Fig. 6

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den Rahmen der Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Trägers gemäß einer zweiten Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 8

einen zu Fig. 6 analogen Schnitt gemäß der zweiten Ausgestaltung;

Fig. 9

einen zu Fig. 6 analogen Schnitt gemäß einer dritten Ausgestaltung; und

Fig. 10

einen schematischen Schnitt durch eine Lagereinheit mit zwei einander gegenüberliegenden Türen.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic perspective view of a modular refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a second refrigeration device according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a carrier for use in the refrigeration device of Fig. 1 or 2 ;

Fig. 4

a side view of a frame in an upright position and a carrier mounted thereon;

Fig. 5

a plan view of the frame in a lying position and two carriers mounted thereon;

Fig. 6

a schematic section through the frame of Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a perspective view of a carrier according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 8

one too Fig. 6 analog section according to the second embodiment;

Fig. 9

one too Fig. 6 analog section according to a third embodiment; and

Fig. 10

a schematic section through a storage unit with two opposite doors.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an inventive modular household refrigerator. In the illustrated embodiment, the device comprises three modules, a refrigerator unit 1 and two storage units 2, 3. The dimensions of all three units 1, 2, 3 are identical. In the case of the refrigerator unit 1, width and depth are the same, and the height is twice of width and depth. It can therefore, as shown, the storage unit 2 are placed in an upright position next to the refrigerator unit 1, so that the tops of both units are at the same height and provide space to attach another storage unit, not shown, in a lying orientation on it. Fig. 1 shows the lying-oriented storage unit 3 on the side remote from the machine unit 1 side of the upright storage unit 2. Since the units are interconnected only by flexible refrigerant pipes and electrical lines for control signals, there is a great deal of freedom in the arrangement of the individual units.

Fig. 2 shows an array of modules, which resembles in its outer shape a conventional combination refrigerator. The refrigerator unit 1 is here designed for horizontal arrangement and the ratio of their edge lengths H, B, T is ax 2 x 1, where a is any value <1, which is essentially only by the space requirements of the components in the refrigerator unit, such as Compressor, a condenser, a fan for cooling the compressor and condenser and solenoid valves for distributing the refrigerant to the connected storage units 2, 3, is dictated. A lying on the chiller unit storage unit 2 allows easy access to stored therein refrigerated goods from above, whereas the refrigerated goods in the two standing upright storage units 2 is accessible at an early door 4 from the side, as for the storage unit 2 of Fig. 1 exemplified.

As in Fig. 1 To recognize, the door 4 is fixed to a frame 5, which is guided in a body 6 of the storage unit 2 pulled out, preferably on telescopic rails or the like, which are mounted on the ceiling and bottom of the body 6. The body 6 has the shape of a box with an open side facing the door 4, four walls adjoining the open side, which in the following for all storage units corresponding to the position of the storage unit 2 shown in the figure as a ceiling 7, bottom 8 and side walls 9 or 10, and a rear wall. On the inside of at least one of the side walls 9, 10, an evaporator is arranged. The above-mentioned flexible lines each start from a pressure or suction connection of the evaporator and are provided at their ends remote from the evaporator with self-closing couplings for connection to connections of the refrigerating machine unit 1.

The frame 5 comprises a ceiling plate 11 and a bottom plate 12, the width and depth of which corresponds to the dimensions of the cavity surrounded by the walls 7-10 of the body 6, a back plate 13 connecting the rear edges of the top and bottom plates 11, 12, and a the front edges of ceiling and bottom plate 11, 12 connecting, in Fig. 1 from the door 4 concealed and fixed to the door 4 front panel.

As in the side view of the frame 5 in Fig. 4 can be seen on mutually facing surfaces of the front panel 14 and the back plate 13 in pairs at the same height opposite grooves 15 are formed. The grooves 15 each extend over the entire width of the opposed surfaces of the plates 13, 14 to serve as support surfaces for a carrier 16 for refrigerated goods and to allow insertion of the carrier 16 in the frame 5 of the two open sides.

The opposing surfaces of the front panel 14 and the back plate 13 still have a plurality of further recesses 17 which do not extend over the entire width of the surfaces, but terminate at a common vertical plane.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a carrier 16. The carrier 16 has the shape of an upwardly open shell, here with an approximately square base plate 18, the base plate 18 on all sides surrounding vertical walls 19, 20 and projecting from the upper edges of the walls 19, 20 horizontal Webs 21, 22. While the opposing webs 21 each extend over the entire width of the wall 19, the webs 22 are interrupted by each offset from each other opposite cutouts 23.

The meaning of differently shaped webs 21, 22 is clearly based on Fig. 5 showing a plan view of the frame 5 in the lying-oriented storage unit 3. The cutouts 23 are each placed so that when the carrier 16 is placed in the frame 5 with the front plate 14 or the back plate 13 facing webs 22, the webs 22 engage in the recesses 17. As a result, the carrier 16 is fixed in a form-fitting manner in the frame 5. The edge lengths of the frame 5 and the carrier 16 are chosen so that by placing a plurality of engaging in the recesses 17 carrier 16 side by side, the free cross-sectional area of the frame 5 can be completely filled.

If you place a carrier, in Fig. 5 denoted by 16 ', in an opposite to the above-described rotated by 90 degrees orientation then the continuous webs 21 come to rest on upper edges of the back plate 13 and the front panel 14. The suspended in this orientation support 16 'is slidable in the width direction of the frame 5, which allows easy access to goods to be cooled, which is housed in underlying carriers 16.

Fig. 6 clarifies this fact with reference to a schematic partial section along the line VI-VI Fig. 5 , The recesses 17 in the front and back plate 14, 13 extending from an upper edge of the plates 14, 13 over a large part of the height thereof. At the same height horizontal end surfaces 24 of the recesses 17 each form a support for the webs 22 of the carrier 16. The distance of the end faces 24 of the lower edge of the plates 14, 13 corresponds to the height of the walls 19, 20 of the carrier 16, so that the Base plate 18 of the carrier 16 with the lower edge of the back plate 13 is substantially flush.

An identical with the carrier 16 carrier 16 ', in which the continuous webs 21 of the back plate 13 and the front panel 14 are facing, can not dip into the recesses 17 and is thereby slidably held at a higher level in the width direction.

Fig. 7 shows in a perspective view a carrier 26 according to a second embodiment of the invention. It differs from the carrier 16 of the Fig. 3 essentially only by the complete absence of the webs 22 on the opposite walls 20th

Fig. 8 shows you one Fig. 6 analogous section through a storage unit 3, the in Fig. 7 used carrier 26 is used. Instead, the recesses 17 in the back plate 13 and the front panel 14. Instead, the back plate 13 and the front panel 14 are connected by a crossbar 27, the first when installing the Storage unit 3, due to the decision to arrange this lying, has been mounted. An upper edge 38 of the transverse bar 27 and a step 28 formed in the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 form support surfaces for the webs 21 of carriers 16, which completely close the free cross section of the frame 5.

Instead of joining together a closed bottom of the frame 5 of a plurality of carriers 16 or 26 as described above, it is also conceivable if the decision to install a specific storage unit lying down, has fallen, to mount a bottom plate 29 on the underside of the frame 5, as in Fig. 9 in one to Fig. 8 shown analogue section. As the FIG. Shows, a carrier 26 or 26 'may rest on the bottom plate 29, depending on the orientation, or be slidably suspended on the upper edges of the front plate 14 and the back plate 13.

It is also conceivable, the frame 5 with fixed base plate 29 according to Fig. 9 to be used in an upright storage unit to reduce the inflow of hot air into the unit in the open position.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic section through a storage unit 31 according to an embodiment of the invention. The storage unit 31 is shown in a lying position, the section extends through the horizontally oriented in this position side walls 9, 10 of the body, and a wall which would form the top or bottom plate 11 1 and 12 of the frame 5 in an upright position, is to be seen in plan view. Only one of the two side walls 9, 10 contains an evaporator 39, and this side wall 9 should be arranged in the horizontal position as shown at the top, so that air cooled down on the evaporator 39 can flow downwards and can be distributed over the refrigerated goods.

The cutting plane of the Fig. 10 extends through a gap between the plate 11 or 12 and its opposite ceiling 7 or the bottom 8 of the body 6. In this storage unit 31, the doors 4 are not fixedly connected to the frame 5. Instead, fingers 33 connected to the doors 4 and engaging in guides 32 of the plate 11/12 permit linear movement of the two opposed doors 4 relative to the frame 5. Each door 4 carries two pivotable about an axis 37, elastically away from each other acting latch hook 34th In the in Fig. 10 shown closed position, the latching hooks 34 are held pressed against each other by protruding from the outside of the cutting plane ceiling 7 or the bottom 8 of the body 6 projecting cam 35. When one of the doors 4 is pulled forward, the locking hooks 13 leave the space between the cams 35 and are spread apart so that they hang behind the plate 11 or 12 projecting cam 36. Once this is the case, the frame 5 follows the movement of the door 4 advanced by the user while the respective opposite door 4 remains at rest. Therefore, both doors 4 may be larger than the free cross-section of the frame 5 receiving cavity of the body 6, and a seal by conventional magnetic seals 38 between the doors 4 and opposing frame surfaces of the body 6 is possible.

Claims (15)

Storage unit (2; 3; 31) for the refrigerated storage of refrigerated goods, in particular foodstuffs, having a heat-insulating body (6), two walls (9, 10) forming side walls in a normal position of the body (6) and two in the normal position a floor (8) and a ceiling (7) of the body (6) forming walls, a from the body (6) extractable, a storage area surrounding frame (5) and at least one mounted in the frame (5), a footprint ( 18) for refrigerated goods forming first carrier (16; 16 ';26;26'), characterized in that in a second position of the body (6) in which the two in the normal position, the side walls forming walls (9, 10) ceiling and floor and the two normal ceiling and floor of the body forming walls (7, 8) form the side walls, a second support (16; 16 ';26;26') in the frame (5) is mountable to a footprint (18) for refrigerated goods. Bearing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and the second carrier (16; 16 ';26;26') are of identical construction. Bearing unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (5) at its two in the normal position, the side walls forming walls (9, 10) of the body (6) facing sides is open. Bearing unit according to claim 3, characterized in that in the second position, the footprint (18) of a carrier (16; 16 ';26;26') in height of a lower edge of the frame (5) can be placed. Bearing unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (5) is closed at one of its two sides forming the side walls in the normal position (9, 10) of the body (5). Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (16; 16 ';26;26') has a shell-like manner with walls (19, 20) surrounding the base for the goods to be cooled (18) and the base plate (18). is trained. Bearing unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the base plate (18) is closed. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the frame (5) at least one set of bearing contours (15) which define a horizontal plane in the normal position, and at least one set of bearing contours (24; 28, 38) is formed , which define a vertical plane in the normal position. Storage unit (31) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (5) can be pulled out of the body (6) in two opposite directions. Bearing unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the storage unit (31) has a front door (4) and a rear door (4) and the frame (5) with both doors (4) is detachably connected. Bearing unit according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection of each door (4) to the frame (5) in the closed position of the door (4) is released and by opening the door (4) is automatically produced. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width and height of the body (6) are in an integer ratio to each other. Bearing unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an evaporator of the storage unit for the supply and removal of refrigerant is connected with self-closing coupling elements. Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, with at least one storage unit (2; 3; 31) according to one of the preceding claims and a refrigerating machine unit (1) for supplying an evaporator of the storage unit (2; 3; 31) with liquid refrigerant. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 14, characterized in that the refrigerating machine unit (1) connections for temperature signals of a plurality of storage units (2; 3; 31) and is arranged to distribute refrigerant to a plurality of storage units (2; 3; 31) corresponding to a desired temperature of these storage units.

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