EP2690386A2

EP2690386A2 - A cooling device having a water dispenser

Info

Publication number: EP2690386A2
Application number: EP13177831.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Özkan DAGCI; Zehra Dülger; Caner Kara; YALCIN Özsoy
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2012-07-25
Filing date: 2013-07-24
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-24
Also published as: EP2690386A3; PL2690386T3; EP2690386B1

Abstract

A cooling device comprising a heat insulated body (12); a door (10) hinged to the body (12); a dispenser (2) adapted to an inner wall (100) of the door (10), having an inner tank (20) having a dispense opening (204) and an outer tank (21) having a valve opening (210), disposed one within the other; and a valve member (3). It comprises an air channel (200) provided between a lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20) and a lateral wall (211) of the outer tank (21) in a manner to provide that the water filling inside of the outer tank (21) through the dispense opening (204) of the inner tank (20) takes place of air inside the outer tank (21) by movement of air to the outside of the outer tank (21).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to cooling devices having a dispenser which can dispense beverage or water by means of a fluid valve and adapted onto a door of the cooling device.

PRIOR ART

Cooling devices generally comprise two parts namely a cooler part and/or a freezer part. The cooling part retards the spoiling of foodstuff disposed therein and preserves foodstuff. The freezer part provides freezing of the foodstuff disposed therein by keeping the temperature of inside at zero degrees or lower than zero degrees. Besides said basic functions, some elements are added for making cooling devices more usable. There are cooling devices having a dispenser which can dispense water, beverage or icy water without opening the door thereof. They can be dispensed through the dispenser by means of a valve member like fluid valve. Since the valve member is accessible through an outer wall of a door of the cooling device, dispensing is realized without the need for opening the door. The dispenser is adapted onto an inner wall of the door so as to remain inside the cooling device. Thus, the dispenser is provided to exist within a heat insulated housing of the cooling device and the water or the beverage is provided to be cooled. The water, coming from the dispenser, is dispensed with the help of a dispense channel opened towards the inner wall from the outer wall by opening the valve when desired provided on the cooling device door. One each grooves are formed on the inner and outer walls of the door, which are connected to each other by means of the dispense channel. A tank of the dispenser, wherein water is stored, is positioned in a groove provided on the inner wall such that a valve/dispense opening is placed to the dispense channel. The position of the groove provided on the inner wall determines the position where the dispenser is fixed. Thus, both grooves are at a position on the door where the user can easily access without the need for bending of the user. On the base part of the groove provided on the outer wall of the door, there is a tray so as to correspond under the valve member. After a glass is put on the tray, the valve member is opened, and beverage/water can be filled to the glass.
For the cases where water is desired to be purified or when a beverage, comprising particles, is desired to be purified, dispenser embodiments are provided called "tank in tank" and comprising two tanks (water tanks) disposed one within the other. The inner tank in the embodiments comprising at least two tanks disposed one within the other has a filter member. The filter member purifies the water.
One of the dispenser embodiments, having tanks disposed one within the other, is given in the patent application US2011067433 . In this application a water tank is described for a refrigerator having sufficient capacity and dispensing water in an easy manner. The water tank includes a water storage container to store water, a filter unit to purify water stored in the water storage container, and a subsidiary container including a filter mounting part, on which the filter unit is mounted, and mounted within the water storage container to divide the inner space of the water storage container, and the water storage container includes a protrusion protruded from the lower surface of the water storage container so as to secure a capacity of the subsidiary container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide easy filling into the outer (lower) tank, whose upper part is closed, in a stabile manner in water dispensers of cooling devices comprising at least two tanks disposed one within the other.
In order to realize said object and the objects to be deducted from the detailed description below, the present invention is a cooling device comprising a heat insulated body; a door hinged to the body; a dispenser adapted to an inner wall of the door, having an inner tank having a dispense opening and an outer tank having a valve opening, disposed one within the other; and a valve member in fluid connection with the valve opening. The cooling device is characterized in that an air channel is provided between a lateral wall of the inner tank and a lateral wall of the outer tank corresponding to the lateral wall of the inner tank in a manner to provide that the water filling inside of the outer tank through the dispense opening of the inner tank takes the place of air inside the outer tank by movement of air to the outside of the outer tank. Thus, while water is being filled to the inner tank or while water is entering into the outer tank from the inner tank, the air inside is replaced by the filled water, and depending on this, the replaced air exits from the air channel and it is discharged from the dispenser. Thus, filling process is realized in an easy and stabile manner.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises an air opening assisting the air channel and formed on the air channel in such a manner to provide exit of air. Thus, when more water entrance is realized, more air, occupying the same volume, is discharged and obstructions are prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the air channel is in a chute form and formed on the inner tank. Thus, in case the lateral walls of the inner tank and the lateral walls of the outer tank are formed in a contacting manner, the chute form is forming an air channel.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a grid form formed on the inner tank, providing to take out the inner tank from the outer tank by holding the inner tank. Thus, while the inner tank and the outer tank are positioned one within the other, if the inner tank is desired to be removed from the outer tank, it can be held and removed easily thanks to the grid form provided in an uneven surface form. Since the grid form is embodied on the air channel, fingers can enter through the air channel and the inner tank can be easily grabbed thanks to the uneven structure of the grid form.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a mouth part of the inner tank comprises a bended edge formed on the mouth part of the inner tank in a manner to provide the mouth part of the inner tank being held on a mouth part of the outer tank. All of the edges of the inner tank, which is in rectangular prism form, can be in a bended form. Thus, sealing is provided between the inner and outer tank, and thereby the inner tank is fixed on the outer tank from at least one region thereof.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the mouth parts at each of the two tanks overlap in a manner that the inner tank is fixed and hang on the outer tank. Thus, the inner tank is fixed on the outer tank such that the mouth parts thereof are aligned.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a lid formed in a manner to cover the mouth part of the outer tank. Thus, entry of undesired substances into the dispenser is prevented.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises a filter filtering the foreign substances in the water filled in the inner tank. Thus, the water, filled in the inner tank where the filter is positioned, is filtered and afterwards fills the outer tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner tank comprises a filter housing receiving the filter in and having the dispense opening dispensing the filtered water. Thus, the filter is disposed in a filter housing which is the bottom part of the inner tank.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the inner tank comprises an upper portion being wide, limited by the lateral walls of the inner tank and filled with water. Thus, the water to be filtered is stored and it is formed at a level higher than the filter so as to provide filtering of the water.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the water levels at each of the two tanks are equal at state of the dispenser is fully filled and the valve member of the dispenser is closed. Thus, the inner volume capacities of both tanks are benefited completely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In Figure 1a, the rear perspective view of an inner tank of a dispenser having the subject matter air channel and a grid form is given.
Detail A is the detailed view of the air channel, an air opening and the grid form taken from Figure 1 a.
In Figure 1b, the rear two dimensional view of a dispenser inner tank having the air channel is given.
In Figure 1c, the top two dimensional view of the dispenser inner tank having the air channel is given.
In Figure 2a, the frontal perspective view of a dispenser in dismantled form is given where the dispenser comprises an outer tank, an inner tank positioned inside the outer tank, a lid covered thereon and a valve member.
In Figure 2b, the lateral two dimensional view, illustrating the water levels inside the dispenser filled with water, is given.
Detail B is the detailed view taken from Figure 2b. In Detail B, it can be seen in an obvious manner that the water levels inside the inner and outer tanks are equal.
In Figure 2c, the lateral two dimensional view of a dispenser of a valve member is given.
In Figure 3, the rear two dimensional view of a cooling device door where subject matter dispenser is assembled is given.
Cross section A-A is the longitudinal cross sectional view of the door given in Figure 3 and having subject matter dispenser thereon.
In Figure 4, the frontal perspective view of a cooling device having a dispenser assembled from an inner wall of the door is given.
In Figure 5, the frontal two dimensional view of a cooling device door having a groove thereon is given.
Cross section D-D is the longitudinal cross section of the door given in Figure 5 and without the subject matter dispenser.
In Figure 5a, the perspective view of an inner groove formed on the inner wall of the door wherein the dispenser tank is disposed is given.
In Figure 5b, the perspective view of an outer groove formed on the outer wall of the door and where the valve member of the dispenser is accessible.

THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cooling device (1) having a dispenser (2). Products like foodstuff, beverage, etc. are stored inside a heat insulated body (12) of the cooling device (1). For providing access to the stored products, an openable door (10) is hinged to an edge of the body (12). The dispenser (2) is positioned at an accessible region of the door (10). The dispenser (2) is generally positioned at a determined place between the shelves (11) on an inner wall (100) of the door (10). Thus, water is dispensed with the help of a valve member (3) of the dispenser (2) in an accessible manner from an outer wall (101) of the door (10) without opening the door (10).
In Figure 2a, the frontal perspective view of a dispenser (2) in dismantled form is given where the dispenser (2) comprises an outer tank (21), an inner tank (20) positioned inside the outer tank (21), a lid (23) covered thereon and a valve member (3). The valve member (3) is adapted to a valve opening (210) of the outer tank (21). In Figure 2b, the lateral two dimensional view of the dispenser (2) illustrated in Figure 2a is given. The water levels (x and y) inside both tanks (20, 21) are observed to be equal. This illustrates that both tanks (20, 21) are full up to mouth parts (207, 212). Detail B is the detailed view taken from Figure 2b. In Detail B, it can be seen in an obvious manner that the water levels inside the inner and outer tanks (20, 21) are equal. In Figure 2c, the lateral two dimensional view of a dispenser (2) having a valve member (3) is given.
The dispenser (2) comprises at least two tanks (20, 21) disposed one within the other wherein water will be stored. One of these is the outer tank (21) and the other one is the inner tank (20) positioned by means of a certain elevation difference in the outer tank (21). The inner tank (20) has a mouth part (207) wherein water can be filled. The size of the inner tank (20) is smaller than the size of the outer tank (21), and however, a mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20) and a mouth part (212) of the outer tank (21) are at the same level. The inner tank (20) has a wide upper part (206) wherein water is filled and stored for being filtered; and a filter housing (205) formed in an extension form under the upper part (206) and wherein a filter (22) is disposed. In order for the water, exiting the filter (22), to flow into the outer tank (21), a dispense opening (204) is formed at a part of the inner tank (20) close to the base of the filter housing (205). The filter (22) is in the form of cartridge and is sized so as to enter into the filter housing (205). In order for the filtered water to be discharged to the outer tank (21), the filter (22) is disposed to the filter housing (205) so as to cover over the dispense opening (204) of the inner tank (20). The inner tank (20) is formed such that the lateral walls (203) thereof (20) can seat partially to the lateral walls (211) of the outer tank (21) or such that the mutually bended edges (208) of the inner tank (20) or all of the bended edges (208) can seat to a mouth part (212) of the outer tank (21), Thus, the inner tank (20) is hung and fixed at a certain height inside the outer tank (21). The position of the inner tank (20) is configured by taking into consideration the height difference. The filter (22) has a permeable structure so as to filter the water and purify it and provide the water to advance downwardly. After the inner tank (20) is fixed into the outer tank (21), a lid (23), having a form covering thereon, is closed onto the mouth part (207) of the outer tank (20).
In Figure 1a, the rear perspective view of an inner tank (20) of a dispenser having an air channel (200) being the subject matter and a grid form (201) is given. Detail A taken from Figure 1a is the detailed view of the air channel (200) of the inner tank (20), an air opening (202) and the grid form (201 In Figure 1b, the rear two dimensional view of the inner tank (20) having the air channel (200) is given. In Figure 1c, the top two dimensional view of the inner tank (20) having the air channel (200) is given.
A chute is formed along a lateral wall (203) of an upper part (206) of the inner tank (20) and extending along a lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20). The air channel (200) is formed when the lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20) is joined with the lateral wall (211) of an outer tank (21) positioned correspondingly. The air opening (202) is an auxiliary member facilitating air output through the air channel (200).
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, when the inner tank (20) is disposed into the outer tank (21), there remains a gap between the lateral wall (211) of the outer tank (21) and the lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20). In this embodiment, an air opening (202) is formed on a bended edge (208) of the inner tank (20). The part, existing between the two lateral walls (203, 211), forms an air channel (200). Air output is realized to the outer environment through the air opening (202).
Moreover, at least one or pluralities of grid forms (201) are embodied at a vicinity of the mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20) and on the air channel (200). When the inner tank (20) is desired to be removed from the outer tank (21), the grid form (201) provides the user to remove the inner tank (20) in an easy manner by using the fingers on the grid form (201).
In Figure 3, the rear two dimensional view of a cooling device door (10) where subject matter dispenser (2) is assembled is given. Cross section A-A is the longitudinal cross sectional view of the door (10) given in Figure 3 and having subject matter dispenser (2) thereon. The dispenser (2) illustrated in Figure 2c is adapted to an inner groove (102) of the inner wall (100) of the door (10).
In Figure 4, the frontal perspective view of a cooling device (a refrigerator) (1) having a dispenser (2) assembled from an inner wall (100) of the door (10) is given.
In Figure 5, the frontal two dimensional view of a cooling device (1) door (10) having an outer groove (103) thereon providing access to the valve member (3) is given. Cross section D-D is the longitudinal cross section of the door (10) given in Figure 5 and without the subject matter dispenser (2). In Figure 5a is the perspective view of an inner groove (102) wherein the outer tank (21) of the dispenser (2) is disposed and formed on the inner wall (100) of the door (10). In Figure 5b is the perspective view of an outer groove (103) formed on the outer wall (101) of the door (10) and where the valve member (3) of the dispenser (2) is accessible.
A dispense channel (104) is embodied from the outer wall (101) towards the inner wall (100) on the cooling device (1) door (10). The valve member (3) is passed through the dispense channel (104) and fixed thereto. The outer groove (103) provides manual access to the valve member (3).
The inner groove (102) determines the position of the dispenser (2) since the dispenser (2) is adapted and therefore, the inner groove (102) is on the door (10) at a position where the user can easily access without bending. The dispense channel (104) begins from the inner groove (102) and ends on the outer groove (103), since valve member (3) is passed through, the inner groove (102) is formed on the door (10) at a higher position than the outer groove (103) for providing flow.
In more details, the operation principle of the present invention is as follows.
The tank, wherein the water is filled firstly, is the inner tank (20) during filling water into the dispenser (2) by opening the lid (23). The water, filtered through the filter (22) provided in the inner tank (20), flows into the outer tank (21) through the dispense opening (204) of the inner tank (20). The inside of the outer tank (21) is filled with filtered drinkable water. When the outer tank (21) is completely full, the full water levels of the outer tank (21) and of the inner tank (20), in other words, x and y are equalized.
However, during the filling process, an air channel (200), provided on the inner tank (20), provides filling of the outer tank (21) in a rapid and stabile manner. While filling the outer tank (21), because of the liquid filling into the outer tank (21), there occurs a need for exchanging places of the filling liquid with the present air inside the outer tank (21), According to the communicating vessels theory, the height of the water provided inside the tanks is equalized as long as the type of the liquid inside the tanks is the same and as long as the pressure on the liquid is the same. Thus, meanwhile, air output is required from inside the outer tank (21) by means of mass transfer. In order for air not to clog the dispense opening (204) of the inner tank (20) and in order for air not to prevent easy filling, it should follow the air channel (200) path. Air passes through the air channel (200) and discharges upwardly. Afterwards, air exits the lid (23) and mixes to the environment air.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, an air opening (202) is formed on the air channel (200). Pluralities of air openings (202) can be formed at a region close to the mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20). The air opening (202) can function in an auxiliary manner to the air channel (200). Some air, exiting the air channel (200), is discharged into the inside of the inner tank (20) through the air opening (202) and to the outer environment through the lid (23).
When the dispenser (2) is desired to discharge, clean or change, the inner tank (20) is held from the grid form (201) provided on the air channel (200) and can be easily removed from the place thereof. The grid form (201) prevents the inner tank (20) from slipping from the hands of the user. When the filtered water inside the outer tank (21) is finished, water is filled to the inner tank (20). After the water is refilled, filtration will begin again.
The inner tank (20) is formed so as to engage into the outer tank (21), The inner tank (20) has a volume equal to approximately the half of the volume of the outer tank (21), The outer tank (21) has a water capacity of 2 liters. The effective volume of the dispenser (2) will be equal to at least 50-60% of the total tank volumes. Except the air gap formed by the air channel (200), since the bended edges (208) are covering the mouth part (212) of the outer tank (21), seating between the two tanks (20, 21) is provided.
For aesthetical purposes, the air channel (200) is formed in chute form on a lateral wall (203), provided behind, of the inner tank (20). In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the chute form can be formed on the face of the lateral wall (211) of the outer tank (21) facing inwardly.
In the alternative embodiments of the present invention, the form of the subject matter air channel (200) can be changed such that water will not flow from the outer tank (21) towards the outer environment and such that only air output is provided.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser (2) can have pluralities of inner tanks (20) positioned one inside the other. The spare filter (22) or pluralities of filters (22) can be positioned inside the inner tanks (20).

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1: Cooling device
10: Door
100: Inner wall
101: Outer wall
102: Inner groove
103: Outer groove
104: Dispense channel
11: Shelf
12: Body
2: Dispenser
20: Inner tank
200: Air channel
201: Grid form
202: Air opening
203: Lateral wall
204: Dispense opening
205: Filter housing
206: Upper portion
207: Mouth part
208: Bended edge
21: Outer tank
210: Valve opening
211: Lateral wall
212: Mouth part
22: Filter
23: Lid
3: Valve member
X: Water level in the inner tank
Y: Water level in the outer tank

Claims

A cooling device comprising a heat insulated body (12); a door (10) hinged to the body (12); a dispenser (2) adapted to an inner wall (100) of the door (10), having an inner tank (20) having a dispense opening (204) and an outer tank (21) having a valve opening (210), disposed one within the other; and a valve member (3) in fluid connection with the valve opening (210); and characterized in that an air channel (200) is provided between a lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20) and a lateral wall (211) of the outer tank (21) corresponding to the lateral wall (203) of the inner tank (20) in a manner to provide that the water filling inside of the outer tank (21) through the dispense opening (204) of the inner tank (20) takes place of air inside the outer tank (21) by movement of air to the outside of the outer tank (21),
A cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises an air opening (202) assisting the air channel (200) and formed on the air channel (200) in such a manner to provide exit of air.
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the air channel (200) is in a chute form and formed on the inner tank (20).
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device comprises a grid form (201) formed on the inner tank (20), providing to take out the inner tank (20) from inside of the outer tank (21) by holding the inner tank (20).
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20) comprises a bended edge (208) formed on the mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20) in a manner to provide the mouth part (207) of the inner tank (20) being hold on a mouth part (212) of the outer tank (21),
A cooling device according to claim 5, wherein the mouth parts (207, 212) at each of the two tanks (20, 21) overlap in a manner that the inner tank (20) is fixed and hang on the outer tank (21),
A cooling device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cooling device comprises a lid (23) formed in a manner to cover the mouth part (212) of the outer tank (21),
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device comprises a filter (22) filtering foreign substances in the water filled in the inner tank (20).
A cooling device according to claim 8, wherein the inner tank (20) comprises a filter housing (205) receiving the filter (22) in and having the dispense opening (204) dispensing the filtered water.
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inner tank (20) comprises an upper portion (206) being wide, limited by the lateral walls (203) of the inner tank (20) and filled with water.
A cooling device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water levels (x and y) at each of the two tanks (20, 21) are equal at state of the dispenser (2) is fully filled and the valve member (3) of the dispenser (2) is closed.