EP2577193A2

EP2577193A2 - Refrigeration device with depressurised unit

Info

Publication number: EP2577193A2
Application number: EP11720501.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Baoying Jia; Jingdong Ma; Feng Tao; Zhenyu Yang; Defei Zhao
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2010-05-28
Filing date: 2011-05-19
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-19
Also published as: PL2577193T3; WO2011147736A3; CN102261783B; WO2011147736A2; EP2577193B1; CN102261783A

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device. The device comprises: a body (2) that defines a storage compartment (4), said compartment (4) having a rear wall (4a) and a lateral wall (4c) that extends vertically; a low-pressure storage unit (7) having a storage chamber (32) from which air can be evacuated, which is constructed independently of the body (2) and is accommodated in the storage compartment (4); a fluid line (71) which is fixed in the body (2), one end of the fluid line being connected to an air evacuation device (70) and the other end lying exposed in the storage compartment (4) in order to be used as a first connecting piece (72) for a fluidic connection to the low-pressure storage unit (7); and a storage container (6) that is movably held in the storage container (4) and is located above the low-pressure unit (7). According to one embodiment of the invention, the first connecting piece (72) is located above the low-pressure unit (7).

Description

COOLING UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, more particularly to a refrigerator by means of which articles can be stored in a low pressure environment. BACKGROUND

In order to provide a different storage condition, a refrigerator has been developed in the prior art by means of which articles can be stored in a low pressure environment. Such a refrigerator usually comprises an evacuable storage chamber. By evacuating air from the interior of the storage chamber, the air content inside the storage chamber is reduced, so that the

Oxidation process of food is weakened and thus the

Storage time and quality of food can be improved. For example, in a refrigerator having an evacuable storage chamber (also called "a low-pressure chamber") disclosed in Chinese Patent Application No. CN101342970A, the evacuatable one becomes

Storage compartment bounded by a low-pressure storage unit, wherein the unit is constructed independently of a body of the refrigerator and is movably received in a cooling chamber of the refrigerator. The body of the refrigerator is equipped with a vacuum pump, which is used to evacuate air from the storage chamber so as to reduce the pressure in the storage chamber, and a fluid conduit connected to the vacuum pump. The fluid conduit is exposed in the cooling chamber at one end so as to be connected to a connection spout at a rear end of the low pressure storage unit be so that the vacuum pump with the storage compartment in

Fluid connection can be brought.

In order to enable the provision of the different storage state, it is unnecessary for the low-pressure storage unit to have such a volume as to occupy the entire storage capacity of the larger storage compartment. Therefore, usually one

Plurality of storage containers including the

Low pressure storage unit arranged in the relatively larger storage compartment. In this case, it is a difficult problem how to arrange these storage containers compactly in the same storage compartment, and how to increase the volume of the

Low pressure storage unit allows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration apparatus that increases the capacity of the

Low-pressure storage unit can enable.

To this end, the invention relates, on the one hand, to a refrigerator comprising: a body defining a storage compartment, the

Storage compartment has a compartment rear wall and a vertically extending compartment side wall; a low pressure storage unit having an evacuable storage chamber constructed independently of the body and accommodated in the storage compartment; a

Fluid conduit which is fixed in the body, wherein the fluid conduit is connected to an evacuation device at one end and at the other end in the storage compartment exposed, so as a first connector for fluid communication with the

Low pressure storage unit to be used; and one

Storage box that is movable in the storage compartment is received and located above the low pressure storage unit, characterized in that the first connector is disposed above the low pressure storage unit. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the first connector to occupy the arrangement space of the low-pressure storage unit, in particular occupying the space in a lateral direction and a front-to-rear direction. That is, the low pressure storage unit may have a larger width and length. This not only makes it possible to increase the capacity of the low-pressure storage unit, but also provides one

Possibility that by a reasonable arrangement of the independently constructed from the carcass low pressure storage unit the

Low-pressure storage unit looks like an integral part of the body, so that the cooling unit is more attractive.

Other individual technical features or combinations thereof which are considered to be technical features which characterize the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. According to a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low pressure storage unit is closer to the compartment rear wall than the storage box, and the first connector is in a space bounded by a top wall of the low pressure storage unit, a container rear wall of the storage box and the compartment rear wall. Therefore, the width of the storage container can not be limited by the first connector. Thus, it is possible to arrange a corresponding side of the storage container directly adjacent to the compartment side wall, so that the front end of

Storage compartment looks more compact.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator further comprises one at least partially in the A storage compartment fan assembly, a gap is formed between the fan assembly and the compartment sidewall, and the first connector is located between the fan assembly and the compartment sidewall. On the one hand, this can reduce the air circulation in the

To facilitate the storage compartment. Since the space around the fan assembly can not be adapted to store items, the available space of the storage compartment is not reduced by placing the first connector in the space around the fan assembly, so that this can increase the space utilization of the storage compartment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connector extends from the compartment side wall of the

Storage compartment in the storage compartment. Because the first

Connector is provided on the side of the body on the shed side wall, all activities in establishing the liquid connection of the low pressure storage unit with the evacuation device can be performed under the visual control of the operator, so that the

Low pressure storage unit more reliable with the

Evacuation device can be connected to ensure airtightness. Furthermore, the connection between the first

Connector and the second connector are carried out in various ways and is not limited to the type of connection by means of an elastic suction nozzle used in the prior art. Further, for such a refrigerator in which the evaporator is disposed in the compartment rear wall or directly adjacent to the compartment rear wall, the possibility that the fluid piping is clogged due to freezing by disposing the first connector in the compartment side wall in the evaporator can not be reduced is arranged.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low-pressure storage unit comprises an evacuation channel Fluid communication with the storage chamber, the evacuation channel comprises a second connector for fluid communication with the first connector, and penetrates the evacuation channel

Rear wall of the low pressure storage unit, with the

Storage chamber to be in fluid communication. Since it is usually necessary to maintain a clearance between the compartment rear wall and the storage box including the low-pressure storage unit so as to allow the air circulation, this will allow the space utilization of the storage compartment by the

Evacuation channel is arranged on the rear wall of the low-pressure storage unit. Further, since the back wall of the low-pressure storage unit can not be easily seen by a user in the use of the refrigerator, it may allow the appearance of the refrigerator to be improved.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second is at least at one end of the second connector

Connector above the upper wall of the

Low pressure storage unit arranged. This can facilitate the work of a user / worker, the fluid connection between the first

Connect piece and the second connector.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second connector extends forward. This may facilitate the work of a user / worker to establish fluid communication between the first connector and the second connector.

Although it is feasible for the first connector to be mechanically connected directly to the second connector, the refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a connector lead unit constructed independently of the first connector and the second connector and having the first connector and the second connector in fluid communication and is mechanically connected.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises an evacuation valve for selectively closing or opening the evacuation channel, and the second connector is integrally formed on a valve housing of the evacuation valve. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts of the low-pressure storage unit and thus reduce the administrative and production costs of the refrigerator.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fluid conduit is at least partially disposed in a heat insulating layer of the body. More preferably, the evaporator for cooling the

Storage compartment arranged such that it is thermally insulated from the fluid conduit. Thus, it can be avoided that the fluid piping is arranged around the lower-temperature heat exchanger, thus making it possible to prevent the inside of the fluid piping from becoming clogged because it freezes due to the vicinity of the heat exchanger.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the low-pressure storage unit has a width slightly smaller than that of the storage compartment, and a pair of side walls of the storage compartment

Low pressure storage unit is adjacent to each

corresponding compartment side walls of the storage compartment arranged. In that case, the low-pressure storage unit has a larger width in order to increase its capacity. It is provided such a possibility that the trained independently of the corpus

Low-pressure storage unit by arranging them changeable, as an integral part of the storage compartment can look, so that the refrigerator is more popular. The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the

Description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings understandable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As part of the description, and to further explain the present invention, the drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the

present invention, and are used together with the description to explain the principle of the present invention. In the drawings show:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein a door of the refrigerator is not shown;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention along a

Direction A-A in Figure 1, wherein the first and the second connector are not connected to each other;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention along a

Direction B-B in Figure 1, wherein the first and the second connector are not connected to each other;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a connection line unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, for connecting the first connector and the second connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a refrigerator 1 comprises a

thermally insulated body 2, wherein the body 2 comprises an outer shell 2a, an inner shell 2b and between them a heat insulating layer 2c. The body 2 defines a plurality of heat-insulated ones

Storage compartments 3, 4 and 5 for storing items such as food. In the present embodiment, the

Storage compartments each include an upper refrigerated compartment 3, a lower freezer compartment 5 and a preservation compartment 4, the preservation compartment being located between the upper and lower compartments and maintained at a temperature slightly above zero degrees Celsius. The storage compartments 3, 4 and 5 can each be closed with their corresponding doors (as shown in Figure 2). It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the precise

Arrangement of the storage compartments is limited in the refrigerator. The present invention may apply to other forms of refrigerators, such as a refrigerator having a cooling chamber and a freezing chamber placed in a top-bottom or bottom-top fashion, a side-by-side combination refrigerator, and a refrigerator having a refrigerator Drawer provided door and / or a glass door combination refrigerator with adjacent arrangement.

The refrigerator 1 has an evaporative cooling system with closed

Cycle up. The cooling system includes at least a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device, and an evaporator. In the present embodiment, the compressor 60 is in one

Compressor chamber 62 mounted on a bottom of the body 2. Since the cooling system is well known in the art, a more detailed explanation of its cooling principle and structure will be omitted. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a low-pressure storage unit 7 which is constructed independently of the body 2 and then attached to the body 2. The low pressure storage unit 7 has an evacuable storage chamber 32 that can maintain fluid tightness.

In the present embodiment, the low-pressure storage unit 7 is provided in the preserving compartment 4. The preservation compartment 4 comprises a compartment rear wall 4a, a vertically extending left (not shown) and right (4c) compartment side wall, and a substantially horizontally extending upper and lower compartment walls 4e and 4f. These compartment walls define a heat-insulated and open-front space.

In the present embodiment, the preservation compartment 4 is cooled in direct cooling mode. An evaporator 61 associated with the preservation compartment 4 is located in the compartment rear wall 4a and is directly adjacent to the inner enclosure 2b. In this case, the evaporator 61 is a plate evaporator. In an alternative embodiment, the

Evaporators are also in the preservation compartment 4 and be arranged directly adjacent to the compartment back wall 4a. In this case, the

Evaporator a finned evaporator.

In the present embodiment, the

Low-pressure storage unit 7 in the form of a substantially flat, rectangular body. The low-pressure storage unit includes a main body 8 opened at one end and a drawer-like container 9 movably received in the main body 8.

The main body 8 defines a flat receiving space with a front opening. A front wall of the drawer-type container 9 forms a door 10 for closing the front opening of the main body 8

cup-shaped receiving body 12 is connected to a rear side of the door 10 to store items. The storage chamber 32 is defined by the main body 8 together with the door 10, wherein the cup-shaped receiving body 12 is located in the storage chamber 32. The low pressure storage unit 7 is located at the bottom of the

Konservierungsfachs 4 and is on the lower compartment wall 4f of

Preservation compartment 4 stored. The main body 8 is in the body 2

picked up and then attached. It is preferable that the main body 8 is removably fixed in the preserving compartment 4. A user can access the articles in the low-pressure storage unit 7 by pulling out the drawer-like container 9.

The widths of the main body 8 and the door 10 are each slightly smaller than the width of the preserving compartment 4. The left and right side surfaces of the main body and the door are respectively adjacent to the left and right compartment side walls 4c of the preserving compartment 4, and gaps are respectively formed between the respective left and right side surfaces and the left and right compartment side wall, so that the main body 8 and the door 10 inserted into the preservation compartment 4 or from the

Preservation compartment 4 can be pulled out. In order to protect the gaps between both sides of the low pressure storage unit 7 and the left compartment side wall and the right compartment side wall 4c, the low pressure storage unit 7 may include a deformable gap protection piece (not shown) provided at the front end of the main body 8 and used to cover the gaps between the main body 8 and the left tray side wall 4b and the right tray side wall 4c.

The door 10 is provided with a gas supply passage (not shown) for fluid communication with the interior and exterior of the storage chamber 32 and a gas supply valve (not shown) for opening or closing the

Gas supply passage provided. When the gas supply passage through the Gas supply valve is opened, gas can enter from outside through the gas supply passage in the storage chamber 32, and thus the low pressure state of the storage chamber 32 is degraded. In the present embodiment, a preserving container 6 having a higher humidity and adapted for storing foods such as vegetables and the like is above the

Low pressure storage unit 7 is provided. The preservation container 6 is removably stored in the preservation compartment 4.

Between a container rear wall 6a of the preservation container 6 and the compartment rear wall 4a is a gap which is significantly larger than the distance between a rear wall 16 of the low-pressure storage unit 7 and the compartment rear wall 4a. In the present embodiment, the preservation container 6 has a front end surface that is substantially coplanar with a front end surface of the low-pressure storage unit 7. In a front-to-rear direction, the preservation container 6 has a length less than that of the low-pressure storage unit 7. Behind the preservation container 6 is a fan assembly 63

intended. The fan assembly 63 is at least partially exposed in the preservation compartment 4. The fan assembly 63 is separated by a clearance from the left tray side wall and the right tray side wall 4c, respectively.

In the present embodiment, the fan assembly 63 causes air to circulate in the preservation compartment 4. In an alternative

For example, the fan assembly 63 may be used to move air in the preservation chamber, for example.

It is understood that in an alternative embodiment the

Low pressure storage unit 7 also in other storage compartments may be arranged, such as the cooling compartment 3 or a variable temperature chamber whose temperature can be switched between a cooling temperature zone and a freezing temperature zone. Obviously, the preservation container 6 may be any storage container, or may even be another low-pressure storage container.

The refrigerator 1 comprises an evacuation device 70 for evacuating gas from the storage chamber 32 and a fluid conduit 71 fixed to the body 2 and connected to the evacuation device 70. In the present embodiment, the evacuation device 70 is a vacuum pump disposed in the compressor chamber 62.

The fluid conduit 71 is connected at one end to the evacuation device 70. The other end of the fluid conduit 71 penetrates the

Heat insulating layer 2 c and then extends into the preservation compartment 4, thus forming a first connector 72 for fluid communication with the low-pressure storage unit 7. After a preferred

Embodiment of the present invention, the first extends

Connector 72 from the right compartment side wall 4c of the

Preservation compartment 4 in the preservation compartment 4. Therefore, the

Fluid conduit 71 are arranged so that it is thermally insulated from the evaporator 61. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fluid piping 71 is heat-insulated by the heat insulating layer 2 c from the evaporator 61. The first connector 72 is in the form of a hard tube extending over a predetermined length into the preservation compartment 4, so that the first connector 72 the

Low pressure storage unit 7 vertically overlapped. Compared to the front opening of the preserving compartment 4, the first connecting piece 72 is closer to the compartment rear wall 4a. However, the first connector is separated by a distance from the compartment rear wall 4a. The first connector 72 is located adjacent to the rear end of the

Low pressure storage unit 7.

Seen in a direction from the front to the rear, the first connector 72 is located between the preservation container 6 and the compartment rear wall 4a. Seen in the vertical direction, the first one is

Connector 72 is disposed above the low-pressure storage unit 7. As seen in the lateral direction, the first connector 72 is located between the fan assembly 63 and the right-hand compartment sidewall 4c.

That is, in the present embodiment, the first connector 72 is located within a space defined by an upper wall 21 of the low pressure storage unit 7, the container rear wall 6a of FIG

Storage container 6 and the compartment rear wall 4a is limited. More specifically, the first connector 72 is located within a space defined by the upper wall 21 of the low pressure storage unit 7, the

Container rear wall 6a of the storage container 6, the compartment rear wall 4a, a side of the fan assembly 63, which faces the right compartment side wall 4c, and the right compartment side wall 4c is limited.

The low-pressure storage unit 7 has an evacuation passage which penetrates a wall of the low-pressure storage unit 7 and thus is in fluid communication with the storage chamber 32. In the present embodiment, the evacuation passage penetrates the

Rear wall 16 of the low pressure storage unit 7, so that it is in fluid communication with the storage chamber 32.

Usually, an evacuation valve for selectively closing or opening the evacuation channel is provided in the evacuation channel. A second connector 39 is provided at one end of the evacuation channel, wherein the second connector is used to communicate with the to be connected to the body 2 attached first connector 72 in fluid communication.

In the present embodiment, the second connector 39 is formed by a hard tube having a length. The second connector 39 is attached to the evacuation valve and formed integrally with a valve housing 73 of the evacuation valve.

The second connector 39 is located at one end of the rear wall 16 adjacent to the compartment rear wall 4c. The second connector 39 is closer to the compartment rear wall 4 a than the first connector 72.

The evacuation channel extends upward beyond the upper wall 21 of the low pressure storage unit 7, so that the second

Connector 39 above the upper wall 21 of the

Low pressure storage unit 7 is arranged. In the present embodiment, the second link 39 extends horizontally forward and toward the right tray side wall 4c. It should be understood that in an alternative embodiment, the second connector 39 may extend upwardly at right angles or may extend up and down.

The refrigerator 1 includes a connection line unit that can be adapted to be mechanically and fluidly connected to the first connector 72 and the second connector 39 so that the low pressure storage unit 7 in FIG

Fluid communication with the evacuation device 70 can be brought. In the embodiment shown in FIG

Connecting line unit 74, a first quick coupling 74a to

mechanical connection with the first connector 72, a second Quick coupling 74b for mechanical connection with the second

Connector 39, and a hard tube body 74c between the first quick coupling 74a and the second quick coupling 74b. Of course, it is possible that the tubular body 74c is at least partially soft.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the

Connecting line unit formed by a hose which is mechanically connected to the first connector 72 at one end and

is mechanically connected to the second connector 39 at the other end. This solution is particularly preferable in the case where a compact tray is provided with a plurality of storage containers.

In assembly, the connection pipe unit is mechanically connected to the second connector 39 at one end, and then the low-pressure storage unit 7 is inserted into the preservation compartment 4 and fixed therein. Subsequently, the

Connecting line unit mechanically connected to the first connector 72 at the other end, so that the

Low pressure storage unit 7 with the vacuum pump 70 in

Fluid connection is brought.

Since the first attached to the body 2 connector 72 on the

Shelf 4c of the preservation compartment 4 is arranged, all activities in establishing the fluid connection of the

Low pressure storage unit 7 are performed with the evacuation device 70 under the visual control of an operator, so that the connection between the low-pressure storage unit 7 and the

Evacuation device 70 is more reliable. Further, the manner of connection between the first connector 72 and the second connector 39 can be varied. In the refrigerator 1, if the evaporator 61 is disposed in the compartment rear wall 4a or directly adjacent to the compartment rear wall 4a, the possibility of the fluid conduit 71 being clogged due to freezing is reduced by disposing the first connector 72 on the compartment side wall 4c. in which the evaporator is not arranged.

Further, the second connector 39 located at the low-pressure storage unit 7 is disposed above the low-pressure storage unit 7, so that the first connector 72 can be more conveniently connected to the second connector 39.

Claims

1 . A refrigerator (1) comprising:

a body (2) defining a storage compartment (4), wherein the

Storage compartment (4) has a compartment rear wall (4a) and a vertically extending compartment side wall (4c);

a low pressure storage unit (7) having an evacuable

Storage compartment (32), constructed independently of the body (2) and received in the storage compartment (4);

a fluid conduit (71) mounted in the body (2), the fluid conduit being connected to an evacuation device (70) at one end and exposed at the other end in the storage compartment (4) so as to act as a first connector (Fig. 72) for fluid communication with the low pressure storage unit (7); and

a storage container (6) movably received in the storage compartment (4) and located above the low-pressure storage unit (7),

characterized in that the first connector (72) is disposed above the low pressure storage unit (7).

2. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the low-pressure storage unit (7) is closer to the compartment rear wall (4a) than the storage container (6), and the first connector (72) is located in a space passing through an upper wall (21) of

Low pressure storage unit (7), a container rear wall (6 a) of the

Storage container (6) and the compartment rear wall (4a) is limited.

3. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a fan assembly (63) located at least partially in the storage compartment (4), a clearance is formed between the fan assembly (63) and the compartment side wall (4c) , and the first connector (72) is located between the fan assembly (63) and the compartment side wall (4c).

4. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting piece (72) extending from the compartment side wall (4 c) of the

Storage compartment (4) forth in the storage compartment (4) extends.

5. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the low-pressure storage unit (7) has an evacuation channel for

Fluid connection with the storage chamber (32), the

Evacuation channel comprises a second connector (39) for fluid communication with the first connector (72), and the evacuation passage penetrates a rear wall (16) of the low pressure storage unit (7) to be in fluid communication with the storage chamber (32).

6. The cooling device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that at least at one end of the second connecting piece, the second

Connecting piece (39) above an upper wall (21) of the

Low pressure storage unit (7) is arranged.

7. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the second connecting piece (39) extends forward.

The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a connection line unit (74) which is constructed independently of the first connection piece (72) and the second connection piece (39) and connected to the first connection piece (72 ) and is mechanically connected to the second connector (39) and is in fluid communication therewith.

9. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid conduit (71) at least partially in a heat insulating layer (2c) of the body (2) is arranged.

10. The refrigerator (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises an evaporator (61) for cooling the storage compartment (4), and the evaporator (61) is arranged so that it is thermally insulated from the fluid conduit (71) ,

1 1. The refrigerator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the low-pressure storage unit (7) has a width slightly smaller than that of the storage compartment (4) and a pair of side walls (22) adjacent to the low-pressure storage unit (7) to the corresponding compartment side walls (4c) of the

Storage compartment (4) are arranged.