EP2494285A2

EP2494285A2 - Refrigeration device comprising an ice maker

Info

Publication number: EP2494285A2
Application number: EP10775755A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christoph Becke; Max Eicher; Frank Eisele; Ralph Staud; Thomas Tischer
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2009-10-27
Filing date: 2010-10-22
Publication date: 2012-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-22
Also published as: EP2494285B1; CN102762938A; CN102762938B; WO2011051167A3; DE102009046029A1; PL2494285T3; WO2011051167A2

Abstract

A refrigeration device, especially a domestic refrigeration device, comprises a carcass and a door (14), both surrounding a storage compartment, and an ice maker (1, 20) housed in the storage compartment and mounted on the inside (16) of the door (14).

Description

Refrigerating appliance with ice maker

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a domestic refrigerator, with a body and a door surrounding a refrigerated storage chamber, and a stored in the storage chamber ice maker. Such a refrigeration device is known for example from DE 10 2006 017 804 A1. The ice maker of this conventional refrigerator has an elongated housing, which in itself is transverse to the storage chamber

extending, attached to the body struts is suspended and extends substantially over the entire usable depth of the storage chamber. The way the icemaker is housed in the refrigerator makes it very difficult to fill water by hand. However, an automatic water supply of the ice maker is complex and causes high costs.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a refrigerator with an icemaker, which is well suited for manual filling.

The object is achieved by the icemaker is mounted on an inside of the door in a refrigerator with a body and a door that surround a storage chamber, and housed in the storage chamber ice maker icemaker. Thus, every time the door to the storage chamber is opened, the ice maker is exposed over a large area and is easily accessible for filling with water such as for removing ice.

Another advantage of the refrigerator according to the invention is that the

Accessibility of areas of the storage chamber, with the door closed in

Depth direction lie behind the icemaker, is not affected. Therefore, the expansion of the ice maker in the depth direction of the refrigerator can be kept low, unlike a conventionally mounted in the body icemaker, in which a space between the icemaker and the rear wall of the body, if available, is unusable. A collecting container for ice produced by the ice maker is expediently likewise mounted on the door, preferably directly under the ice maker, so that ice produced can readily fall into the collecting container. By icemaker and collecting container are formed separately from each other, there is the possibility to use the collecting container for other refrigerated goods, if the icemaker is removed.

A tray of the ice maker is preferably in a conventional manner

Partitions divided into several compartments, in each of which a piece of ice can be produced. Outer walls of the tray, which are at least one third higher than the partitions, can prevent spilling over when the tray is moved while its trays contain liquid water.

A portion of at least one of the outer walls projecting above the intermediate walls is preferably concavely curved on its inner side in order to deflect water which floats against the outer wall due to an acceleration acting on the tray in a continuous, substantially laminar movement and to avoid splashing. If the overhanging portion of the partition overhangs in part, this may help to throw water that sloshes violently against the outer wall to rise above its top edge onto the trays of the tray.

The tray is expediently pivotable and twistable about a first axis between a freezing position and a demolding position.

A space-saving installation of the ice maker is possible if the first axis is aligned parallel to the door. A pivotable with the tray lever can facilitate removal of the finished pieces of ice a user.

Such a lever is conveniently placed in the width direction centered on the door; it is easily accessible, regardless of whether the door is hinged to the left or right of the carcass.

The lever may conveniently be arranged between two trays of the ice maker. In the interest of a compact construction of the ice maker, the lever is expediently adjustable between a rest position and an actuating position, wherein the distance of a handle portion of the lever from the first axis in the operating position is greater than in the rest position. In particular, the lever should not survive in the rest position over a longitudinal wall of the icemaker.

Preferably, the lever between the rest position and the actuating position is pivotable about a second axis parallel to the first axis shifted. This makes it possible to use the lever in a continuous movement both for pivoting the tray and for twisting.

In the operating position, the pivoting movement of the lever about the second axis is expediently blocked by a stop, and the lever and the tray are pivotable together about the first axis.

In order to effectively twist the tray with little effort, the lever and the pivoting freedom of the tablet limiting stop are preferably arranged on opposite end faces of the tray.

A dewatering in the tray recess may be provided on an upper side of the ice maker. This makes it possible to keep this top largely closed and thereby limit the spread of water vapor from the icemaker and resulting frost formation in other parts of the storage chamber.

An attached to a drain of the recess valve can prevent the escape of water vapor over the drain as much as possible.

If the capacity of the tray is n times the capacity of the recess and n is a small natural number, preferably 1, the tray can be filled exactly with a volume of water corresponding to its capacity even if it is below the substantially closed position for the user Top of the icemaker is not visible. To simplify the metering of water into the tray, can also be a

Dosage container can be removed from the ice maker whose capacity is one of the capacity of the dosing, where n is a small natural number, preferably 1, is.

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

1 is a partial perspective view of a refrigerator door, a

ice maker according to the invention carries in the freezing position;

FIG. 2 shows the door from FIG. 1 with the ice maker pivoted into the removal position; FIG.

3 is a cross-section of an ice maker tray;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two interconnected

Ice maker trays according to a further development of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a schematic section along a median plane of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

6 shows the structure of Figure 4 in Entformungsstellung with twisted trays.

7 shows a section similar to FIG. 5 according to a third embodiment of FIG

Invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 view of a refrigerator door mounted thereon

Ice maker according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a section through the ice maker of Fig. 8, the latter

Functionality illustrated; a view similar to Figure 1 view according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. a section through the ice maker of Fig. 10, the latter

Functionality illustrated; a view similar to Figure 1 view according to a sixth embodiment of the invention; a view similar to Figure 1 view according to a seventh embodiment of the invention; a section through a door-mounted ice maker according to an eighth embodiment of the invention; and a perspective view of a door according to a ninth

Embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 is an interior view of a door 14 of a household refrigerator, in particular a freezer or a refrigerator. The door 14 has a known construction with a formed of sheet metal outer skin 15, a deep-drawn plastic

Inner wall 16 and one of the outer skin 15 and inner wall 16 enclosed, filled with heat-insulating synthetic resin foam gap. On the inner wall 16, a large flat projection 17 is tightened, which engages in the closed position of the door 14 in a storage chamber of a refrigeration appliance body, not shown. On the projection 17, arms 18 are formed during deep drawing of the inner wall 16, each of which holds in pairs a with reference to FIG. 3 described in detail ice maker tray 1. If the refrigerator is a refrigerator, then each icemaker tray 1 should be assigned an auxiliary refrigeration unit such as a Peltier element to reach temperatures below 0 ° C in the compartments 2 of the trays 1.

In a space between the two trays 1 is a rigidly connected to both trays 1 lever 20, which is a middle of the three arms 18 in the in FIG. 1 position largely hidden. A handle or hook 21 on the door 14 facing free end of the lever 20 facilitates the gripping of the lever 20th

At each side facing away from the lever 20 end walls 5 of the two trays 1, a pin 22 is formed in each case abuts from below against the respective adjacent arm 18 when a user grasps the lever 20 and moves away from the door 14 to the trays 1 to a parallel to the door 14 by the arms 18 extending axis 23 to pivot in the Entformungsstellung shown in Fig. 2.

2, the compartments 2 of the trays 1 are turned down, and facing away from the lever 20 end walls 5 of the two trays 1 are prevented by the stop of the pin 22 on the outer arms 18 at a further rotation. By pushing down the free end of the lever 20, the user creates a twist of the trays 1 about the axis 23, and the resulting

Deformation of the compartments 2 expels the pieces of ice contained therein.

In order to catch the pieces of ice, a container 24 is expediently mounted on the door 14 under the trays 1. The container 24 may in particular be of identical construction with door cabinets, not shown in the figures, mounted elsewhere on the inside of the door.

The attachment of the ice maker trays 1 to the door 14 entails that they are exposed to accelerations and delays that move liquid water in the compartments 2 in motion and under unfavorable circumstances to

Can spill over. In particular, if after filling the trays 1 with water, the door 14 is closed, an abrupt delay is hardly avoidable when the door 14 strikes against the body.

Measures to avoid the spilling of water in such a situation will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, which shows a cross section of a tray 1. The sectional plane extends through two longitudinal walls 6 and two compartments 2 of the tray 1; further compartments 2 adjoin the cutting plane transversely. The compartments 2 are separated from each other by intermediate walls 3, which are provided at their upper edges with notches 4, through which water can flow from a full compartment 2 in an adjacent. Of the Water level 13 of the resting tray is therefore in operation usually just above the lower edge of the notches 4th

In order to facilitate demolding of the finished pieces of ice, the compartments 2 inside are free of sharp edges and have a downwardly continuously decreasing cross-section. The partition walls 3 and longitudinal or end walls 5, 6 pass over continuously curved sections 7 in bottom surfaces 8 of the compartments.

The slope of the end walls 5 increases continuously from top to bottom, and at least above the intermediate walls 3, the end walls 5 extend vertically. The longitudinal walls 6, however, are divided behind the vertical into three successive sections. In a lower portion 9 takes as in the end walls 5 the

Wall slope from bottom to top continuously to. It reaches its highest value at a height of the notches 4 extending horizontal edge 10. Above this edge 10 is followed by a middle portion 1 1, which is less steep than the adjacent lower portion 9. The middle portion 1 1 and an upper Section 12 merge into one another via a continuous curvature. In the upper portion 12, the side wall is similarly steep as in the lower portion 9; it may even overhang inside as shown in FIG. A profile of the water level, which results when the random door 14 abruptly comes to a standstill on the carcass, is designated in FIG. 3 by 13 '. The water does not follow the delay of the door immediately, so that on the left edges of the compartments 2 the water level rises. The water of the right compartment 2 can rise above the intermediate wall 3 and part of the water spills over into the left compartment 2.

In the left compartment 2, the water sloshing against the left longitudinal wall 6 first of all strikes the relatively slightly rising middle section 11. It is therefore not like the door 14 abruptly delayed, but continuously deflected upward.

This reduces the risk of splashing. If the delay of the tray 1 is so strong that the water rising on the left longitudinal wall 6 exceeds its upper edge, it will receive a rightward impulse by the overhang of the upper portion 12, so that it will fall back into the compartment 2 instead of the side wall 6 to overcome. The combined height of middle and upper sections 1 1 and 12, which provides effective protection against spilling, depends on the ones occurring

Accelerations and the duration of their impact; In practice, it is between one and two thirds of the height of the lower portion 9. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the trays 1 do not have one

1 space for the over the the door 14 facing the longitudinal walls 6 of the trays 1 protruding free end of the lever 20. The larger this distance is, the longer the lever can hold the negligible distance from the projection 17 in the rest position of FIG .. 20, and the lower the force that the user must exert on the lever 20 for releasing the pieces of ice from the trays 1. The gap between the door 14 and the trays 1, however, leads to a poor space utilization.

This problem is solved by an arrangement of ice maker trays 1 as shown in FIG. The trays 1 are aligned horizontally and thus are in a suitable position for ice production. In a space between the two trays 1, a lever 20 is pivotally mounted about an axis 25 which is parallel to the axis 23 and spaced therefrom. In a rest position, the lever 20 rests on a shaft 26 extending along the axis 23 and connecting the trays 1. A handle portion 27 at the free end of the lever 20 is facing the (not shown in FIG. 4) door 14, but without over the longitudinal walls 6 to the door out. The handle portion 27 is in the rest position slightly above the trays 1 so that it is comfortable to grip by a user.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic section through the arrangement of FIG. 4 along a plane extending between the trays 1. As can be seen here, abuts in a relation to the rest position by slightly more than 90 ° tilted stop position, a projection 28 of the lever 20 against an extending between the end walls 5 of the trays facing web 29, so that the lever 20 when he over the Stop position is pivoted out, the trays 1 entrains and the axis 23 to the common pivot axis of the lever 20 and the trays 1 is.

As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the end faces 5 of the trays facing away from each other are also provided with projecting pins 22. These are attacking arcuate recesses 30 of the trays 1 carrying arms 18 a. If, by the joint pivoting of the lever 20 and the trays 1, the pins 22 have reached ends 31 of the recesses 30, further pivoting of the lever 20 is possible only by simultaneous twisting of the trays 1. Fig. 6 shows the arrangement of Fig. 4 in this twisted state. The open sides of the compartments 2 are directed downwards, so that by deformation of the compartments 2 loose pieces of ice fall out of the compartments free.

FIG. 7 shows a section analogous to FIG. 5 according to a third embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the mutually facing end faces 5 of the two trays 1 facing each other arcuate grooves 32, and mounted between the trays 1, here also arcuately curved lever 20 has in the grooves 32 engaging ribs 33. The lever 20 is displaceable along the grooves 32 between a rest position shown in dashed lines and an actuating position in which a detent 34 of each rib 33 is engaged in a recess 35 at one end of the grooves 32. By virtue of the force exerted on the lever 20 for pivoting the trays 1, the detents 34 are pressed into the recess 35, so that the trays 1 can be pivoted and finally twisted, as shown in FIG.

The trays of the second and third embodiment may differ from the

Presentation in Fig. 4 to 7 as Überschwappschutz and / or splash guard as described with reference to FIG. 3 articulated side walls 5, 6 have.

The illustrated in Fig. 3 and 4, in the rest position with its free end of the door 14 facing lever 20 is difficult swing out when directly above the

Ice maker trays 1 other built-in parts such as door racks are mounted. Fig. 8 shows in a view analogous to Fig. 1, a fourth embodiment of the ice maker, in which this problem is solved. Again, between two trays 1, a lever 20 is pivotally suspended about an axis 25 parallel to the pivot axis 23 of the trays 1 (FIG. 9). The lever 20 is suspended freely in the rest position of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 shows a section through the ice maker of FIG. 8, again along a plane extending between the trays 1. Again, this is the

Pivoting freedom of the handle 20 with respect to the trays 1 by a Projection 28 of the lever 20 limited, which abuts a web connecting the trays 1 29. However, the direction of rotation of the pivoting movement is opposite to that of the previous embodiments; the top of the trays 1 is pivoted towards the door 14 until the pins 22 hit the tops of the arms 18. In this position, the lever 20 is in a gap 36 between two arranged on the trays 1 containers 37. By in this dashed line position shown in Fig. 9, the free end of the lever 20 is pressed against the door 14, the trays 1 are wound and the ice pieces ejected. The contact of the lever 20 with the door 14 or, in the case shown in Fig. 9, with a mounted in the gap 36 between the containers 37 buffer 38, limits the possible distortion of the trays 1 and prevents permanent deformation of the trays 1 before.

10 shows a view of a refrigerator door 14 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. As in the case of Fig. 8 trays 1 are pivotally suspended about an axis 23 on formed on a door inner wall 16 arms 18 and pivotable by means of a lever 20 and twisted. A receptacle 56 for finished pieces of ice is suspended below the trays 1 on the door 14. The containers 37 of the embodiment of FIG. 8 are replaced by dosing containers 49. The dosing containers 49 are provided with calibration marks 50 which mark an upper and lower limit of a permissible water level in the dosing container 49. The calibration marks 50 are set so that they are defined by them

Amount of water sufficient to flood the respective deepest points of the notches 4 in the trays 1, but not the upper edges of the intermediate walls 3. By filling exactly the indicated by the calibration marks 50 amount of water in the dosing 49 and these are then emptied into the trays, a fast and accurate filling with a quantity of water is possible, which ensures easy and reliable demolding of the finished pieces of ice.

A normally closed drainage opening 51 extends in a slit fashion across a widthwise direction of the door 14 above all the trays 2 of a tray immediately adjacent the door of each tray 1. Thus, when the drainage 51 is opened, all of these trays 2 are filled simultaneously and once they are full , Fill with over the notches 4 overflowing water and the compartments 2 of the door 14 facing away from the row. FIG. 1 1 shows a section through the ice maker of FIG. 10 in a direction to the door 14

vertical and through one of the trays and the drain 51 extending plane. A plate-shaped closing body 52 slotted transversely to the sectional plane of FIG. 11 is displaceably guided in a tightly closing gap 53 at the bottom of the metering container 49 and bears against a valve seat of the metering container surrounding the drain 51. A lower end of the closing body 52 is supported on the upper edge of the door-near

Longitudinal wall 6. To ensure that the closing body 52 does not slip off the longitudinal wall 6, between the two a play-containing tongue and groove engagement, here in the form of a top edge of the longitudinal wall 6 encompassing groove 54 of the closing body 52 may be formed.

As mentioned, the ice maker tray 1 is pivotally suspended on the arms 18 about an axis 23 parallel to the door 14. In a shown in Fig. 1 1 with solid lines freezing position of the tray 1, the upper edges of its outer walls 5, 6 and partitions are horizontal, and the slot 55 of the closing body 52 does not overlap with the drain 51. By a user after filling one or both

Metering 49 pushes away from the door 14 facing away from the longitudinal wall 6 downward, the tray 1 pivots in a filling position shown as a dashed outline, in which the closing body 52 is shifted so far up that its slot 55 overlaps with the drain 51. In this position, the water flows from the metering 49 into the compartments 2. Due to the large length of the drain 51 transverse to the cutting plane of FIG. 1 1, individual frozen drops can not completely block the drain 51. A resulting from the eventual presence of such drops uneven distribution of the effluent water has no effect, as over the notch 4, a balance of the water level between all compartments 2 takes place.

FIG. 12 shows a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11 in a view analogous to FIG. 10. A housing 57, shown separated from the door 14, is provided to cover the trays 1 and the arms 18 supporting them on the door. A main wall 58 parallel to the door 14 and perpendicular flanks 59 of the housing 57 closely surround the metering containers 49, so that the trays 1 are almost completely detached from the remaining storage chamber of the refrigerating appliance

are shielded and discharged from water therein freezing water can not precipitate at other locations of the storage chamber as a frost. Collecting container 56 for finished pieces of ice are in the housing 57 in the form of

integrated pull-out or swivel drawers.

Fig. 13 shows a perspective view of a door 14 with ice maker mounted thereon according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. Arms 18, on which the trays 1 are suspended pivotally, are here integrated into a frame 39 which is open at the top and bottom and mounted on the door 14 in any suitable manner. Adjacent to the trays 1, a compartment 60 is provided in the frame 39, which is provided to removably receive a metering container 61. The marked by calibration marks 50 capacity of the dosing similar to the

Dosage containers 49 of Figures 10 and 12 respectively the capacity of a tray 1. The removable dosing 61 allows to measure the einzufüllende water outside the refrigerator, so that the time required to fill a tray and thus the time that opens the door 14 for filling must stand, is minimized. Under the frame 39, as shown in Fig. 10, a collecting container may be mounted. However, it may also be high enough, according to the model of Fig. 12, the frame 39 to accommodate pull-out collection container therein.

According to a further embodiment shown in a schematic cross-section in FIG. 14, the upper side of the frame 39 is closed above the trays 1 by a cover 62, in each of which a recess 63 is formed above one of the trays 1. Like the metering containers 49 of FIG. 10, the depressions 63 have a slot-like elongated drain 51, which drains into the respectively underlying tray 1. The lid 62 prevents like the housing 57, the propagation of water vapor inside the refrigerator. In addition, it reduces the risk that accidentally when filling water is poured next to a tray 1 and freezes in an unsuitable place.

In the seventh embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 15, a housing 57 similar to that shown in FIG. 12 is fixedly mounted on the door 14. The housing 57 has an open top, on which webs 43 at a short distance below the upper edge of the walls 58, 59 and possibly also along the inner wall 16 of the door 14 extend. These webs 43 form a support for the frame 39 of an ice maker, which can be inserted form-fitting into the housing 57 from above. When not in use, the icemaker be lifted out of the housing 57 with a handle and stowed outside the refrigerator. By instead of the ice maker, a flat bottom plate is placed on the webs 43, is provided on the door 14 Absteilfläche for small-scale refrigerated goods. The collecting container 56, if they contain no pieces of ice, can be used for other refrigerated goods.

Claims

Refrigerating appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, with a body and a door (14) surrounding a storage chamber, and one in the storage chamber

accommodated ice maker (1, 20), characterized in that the ice maker (1, 20) is mounted on an inner side (16) of the door (14).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the door (14) carries a collecting container (24; 56) for ice produced by the ice maker.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a tray (1) of the ice maker has a plurality of intermediate walls (3) separate compartments (2) and outer walls (5, 6) which are at least one third higher than the partitions (3 ).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that one over the

Partitions (3) upstanding portion (1 1, 12) at least one of

Outer walls (6) is concavely curved inside.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that over the

Partitions (3) upstanding portion (1 1, 12) partially overhangs.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the tray (1) about a first axis (23) is pivotable and twistable.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the first axis (23) is aligned parallel to the door (14).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the ice maker has a with the tray (1) pivotable lever (20). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the lever (20) in the width direction is placed centrally on the door (14).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the lever (20) between two trays (1) of the ice maker is arranged.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the lever (20) is adjustable between a rest position and an actuating position, wherein the distance of a handle portion (27) of the lever (20) from the first axis (23) in the operating position is greater than at rest.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the lever (1) in the rest position does not project beyond a longitudinal wall (6) of the tray (1).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the lever (20) is pivotable between the rest position and the actuating position about a second axis (25) displaced parallel to the first axis (23).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 13, characterized in that in the

Operating position, the pivotal movement of the lever (20) about the second axis (25) by a stop (29) is blocked and the lever (20) and the tray (1) together about the first axis (23) are pivotable.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the lever (20) and the pivoting freedom of the tray (1) limiting stop (22; 31) on opposite end faces (5) of the tray (1) are arranged.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 3 to 15, characterized in that in the tray (1) draining recess (49, 63) is formed on an upper side of the ice maker.

17. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 16, characterized in that a valve (52, 53, 55) is attached to a drain (51) of the recess (49).

18. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the

Capacity of the tray (1) is n times the capacity of the recess (49), where n is a small natural number.

19. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 3 to 15, characterized in that a metering container (61) from the ice maker (1, 20, 39) can be removed, and that the capacity of the tray (1) n times the capacity of the dosing (61), where n is a small natural number.