EP2756242A2

EP2756242A2 - Refrigeration device for low-noise operation

Info

Publication number: EP2756242A2
Application number: EP12748508.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christoph Becke; Max Eicher; Swetlana Gorodezki; Maike Kirschbaum; Ralph Staud; Thomas Tischer
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2011-09-01
Filing date: 2012-08-22
Publication date: 2014-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-22
Also published as: DE102011081953A1; WO2013030065A3; CN103842752A; EP2756242B1; PL2756242T3; WO2013030065A2; CN103842752B

Abstract

A refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration device, has a storage chamber, a cold generator which refrigerates the storage chamber, a temperature sensor for recording the temperature of the storage chamber, and a control unit which, in a thermostat operating mode (S1-S5), is designed to start the cold generator running (S2) when a first upper limit temperature (T⁺¹) in the storage chamber is exceeded. The control unit can be temporarily switched into a low-noise operating mode (S7, S8) in which the operation of the cold generator is suspended even when the first upper limit temperature (T⁺¹) has been exceeded.

Description

Refrigeration unit for quiet operation

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, with a storage chamber, a cooling chamber cooling the storage chamber, a

Temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the storage chamber and a

Control unit that controls the operation of the refrigerator based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. In normal operation of a refrigerator, the works

Control unit as a hysteresis comparator, which the chiller at

Exceeding a first upper limit temperature of the storage chamber takes into operation and sets it out of operation as soon as a first lower limit temperature is reached, which is lower by a few degrees than the first upper limit temperature. So change

Times in which the chiller is in operation and the refrigerator emits a correspondingly strong operating noise, with times from when the chiller is out of service and no or at most generates a small amount of noise. Since the operating state of the refrigerator depends exclusively on the prevailing temperature in the refrigerator, a user has in a conventional Költegerät in general no way to directly influence the noise emissions, and if at a time in which the user is in the vicinity of the refrigerator, the cold generator goes into operation, the user can hardly do anything other than endure the associated noise emission. While he might also turn the device off, if he forgets to turn it back on when he leaves the device's environment, then he must expect the content to spoil, making this alternative impractical. The object of the present invention is to eliminate this disadvantage.

The problem is solved by a refrigeration device, in particular a

Domestic refrigerating appliance, with a storage chamber, a storage chamber cooling

Refrigeration generator, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the storage chamber and a control unit which is adapted, in a thermostat operating mode, the refrigerator when exceeding a first upper limit temperature in the

Put the storage chamber into operation, the control unit temporarily in an operating mode can be switched, in which the operation of the refrigerator is locked even when exceeding the first upper limit temperature and which is referred to as a result of non-operation of the refrigerator in the following as a low-noise operating mode. The blocking of the operation of the refrigerator leads to an interruption of the cooling of the storage chamber, which can be accepted, however, as long as the low-noise mode of operation is only temporarily active and the refrigerator automatically in the

Thermostat operating mode returns.

In the simplest case, the control unit may comprise a user interface via which a user may wish to enter the silent mode of operation so that the user, as he / she is aware of the noise emission of the user

Refrigerated unit feels disturbed, has the ability to reduce it with immediate effect.

Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may comprise a timer, which is set up at a time programmed in the timer, possibly periodically recurring time a desire to switch to the low-noise

Signal operating mode. Conveniently, the programmed time is each a time that is most likely to require quiet operation, for example, the time of daily breakfast, which is taken by many users in the kitchen, in close proximity to the refrigerator.

Conveniently, the refrigerator should have a user interface through which the user can program the timer according to his own needs. This can be the same user interface that the user can use to prompt for immediate noise reduction.

The control unit may be configured to switch back to the thermostat operating mode from the low-noise operation mode each after a predetermined waiting time. Preferably, however, is the alternative that always in the

Thermostat operating mode is switched back when the temperature in the

Storage chamber reaches a second upper limit temperature, which is higher than the first upper limit temperature. Thus, a risk of refrigerated goods contained in the storage chamber can be avoided by excessive temperatures, which could set, for example, if the low-noise mode of operation at high ambient temperature too long is maintained or when in quiet operation mode the door of the

Storage chamber is open for a long time or a large amount of warm goods to be cooled is invited.

While the controller may be configured to unconditionally comply with a desire to switch to the silent mode of operation, whether it is uttered by the user or by the timer, the concept of desire may be that its recipient, unlike a command, may can also turn out. This freedom of choice is also advantageous in the invention, so preferably the control unit should be arranged to ignore a desire to switch to the low noise mode of operation when the temperature in the storage chamber is above a third upper limit temperature higher than the first upper one

Limit temperature is and can be identical to the second upper limit temperature. In other words, the control unit may maintain the thermostat operating mode against an expressed request if a follower led to excessive heating of the storage chamber.

If the controller ignores such a desire for quiet operation, then the user interface should be configured to display a message that signals a user that the request is being ignored. It is useful to display such a message, regardless of whether the request was voiced by the user or by the timer, since this gives the user the opportunity to verify the correct functioning of the refrigeration device when he or she hears the operating noise of the refrigerator at one time hears that he does not expect. The controller may be further configured to ignore a desire to switch to the low noise mode of operation when a quick cool mode is activated because a desire for rapid cooling on the one hand and the desire for low noise operation, on the other hand, can not be simultaneously satisfied. In this case, the control unit expediently gives priority to the rapid cooling mode, since, when it has been activated, it will generally be necessary for the protection of the goods to be chilled, and the associated temporary noise development can be accepted by the user. If the user disagrees with this scheme, it may give him the opportunity be given to turn off the rapid cooling mode again and then to select the low-noise mode of operation.

As already mentioned above, in the conventional refrigerating appliance, the refrigerating appliance generally falls below a first lower limit temperature

Bearing chamber of the control unit disabled. According to an expedient development of the invention, the control unit can also temporarily in a

Pre-cooling mode be switchable, in which the operation of the refrigerator is maintained even when the first lower limit temperature is exceeded. By operating the refrigerator for a while in the pre-cooling mode prior to transitioning to the low noise mode of operation, the temperature in the storage chamber may be reduced from the thermostat mode of operation so that the amount of time that the low noise mode of operation can be maintained will not be excessive Warming of the storage chamber comes, can be extended. It is convenient for the user if, at the completion of the pre-cooling operation mode, the control unit automatically switches to the quiet operation mode.

As a criterion for the termination of Vorkühlbetriebsmodus can serve in particular the falling below a second lower limit temperature, which is lower than the first lower limit temperature.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. From this description and the figures are also features of the

Embodiments, which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features may also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed herein. Therefore, the fact that several such features are mentioned in the same sentence or in a different type of textual context does not justify the conclusion that they can occur only in the specific combination disclosed;

instead, it must be assumed that, of several such characteristics, it is also possible to omit or modify individual ones, provided that this is the case

Functionality of the invention is not in question. Show it: Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a refrigerator to which the present invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is a flowchart of a running in a control unit of the refrigeration device

process;

Fig. 3 shows a user interface of the refrigerator during the input of a

Desire for transition to the silent operation mode by the user;

FIG. 4 shows the user interface after input of the request, if this sequence can be performed; FIG.

Fig. 5 shows the user interface if the request can not be followed;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 according to a further developed embodiment of the invention; FIG.

FIG. 7 shows the user interface during the programming of times when low-noise operation is desired; FIG. and

8 is a flowchart of a development of the in the control unit of

Refrigerating appliance running process.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a refrigerator, in particular one

Household refrigerator or freezer to which the present invention is applicable. The refrigerator comprises one or more of a heat-insulating housing 1 surrounded storage chamber 2 for refrigerated goods and a chiller for cooling the storage chamber 2, in a conventional manner, a compressor 3 for refrigerant, a condenser 4, in the adiabatically compressed by the compressor 3 refrigerant Gives heat to the environment and thereby condenses, and an evaporator 5, in which the condensed refrigerant relaxes under heat absorption and the resulting refrigerant vapor is sucked in by the compressor 3 again. The evaporator 5 is shown here for the sake of simplicity as a back wall evaporator, but it is understood that the Invention is also any type of evaporator, especially applicable to NoFrost evaporator.

The compressor 3 may be of any type known per se; most common is a reciprocating compressor with a driven by an electric motor piston. When the compressor 3 is in operation, the piston, the electric motor and the refrigerant flowing between the compressor 3, the condenser 4 and the evaporator 5 generate noises that may be perceptible outside the refrigerating appliance. When the compressor 3 is turned off, these noise sources fall away, and at most occasionally in the liquid refrigerant of the evaporator 5 ascending vapor bubbles can still lead to audible external noise.

A control unit 6 controls the operation of the compressor 3 on the one hand based on a temperature measured by a temperature sensor 7 on the storage chamber 2 and on the other hand based on specifications that a user can enter on a user interface 8.

As indicated schematically in FIG. 1, the user interface 8 comprises an alphanumeric and / or graphical display element such as an LCD display 9 and a plurality of keys 10 associated with the display element 9. The keys 10 are better here and in the following figures For clarity, each shown separately from the display element 9, but it is understood that in a

touch-sensitive display element, the keys can also be formed by areas of the display surface itself. 2 illustrates, with reference to a flowchart, the operation of the control unit 6. Unless otherwise set by a user, the refrigeration device is in a thermostat operating mode comprising the steps S1 to S5 of FIG. The steps S1 to S5 are repeated cyclically, so that the selection of one of these steps as the initial step of the method is completely arbitrary. In step S1, the compares

Control unit 6, the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 7 T of the storage chamber 2 with a first upper limit temperature T ⁺¹ . In case of exceeding this limit temperature T ⁺¹ . the compressor is switched on (S2), so that the temperature T decreases again. In step S3, the temperature T becomes a first lower one Limit temperature T ^{1 is} compared, and in the case of falling below the compressor 3 is turned off again (S4). One of the limit temperatures, T ⁺¹ or T ^"1 , is adjustable by a user at the user interface 8, the difference between the

Limit temperatures is generally fixed. In that regard, the method corresponds to a conventional thermostat control of the temperature in the storage chamber. 2

In step S5, it is checked whether there is a desire for low-noise operation of the refrigeration device, where, as will be explained in more detail below, such a request can emanate both from the user and from a timer forming part of the control unit 6. If there is such a request, it is checked in step S6 if the temperature T exceeds a second upper limit temperature T ^{+ 2} which is higher than the first limit temperature T ^{+ 1} . In general, if the refrigerator has previously been in the thermostat operating mode for a long time, this will not be the case, so that the method branches to step S7. In special conditions, for

Example, when the refrigerator has recently been in low-noise mode of operation, or if the temperature of the storage chamber 2 has risen above T ⁺² due to long open a door of the storage chamber 2 or because only a short time ago inviting a large amount of warm refrigerated goods , then the method returns immediately to step S1, ignoring the desire for

low-noise operation.

By branching to S7, the refrigeration device enters the quiet operating mode. Here it is first checked whether a third upper limit temperature T ^{+3 is} exceeded, which is even higher than T ⁺² . T ⁺³ is chosen so that a short-term reaching this temperature does not affect the durability of the refrigerated goods in the storage chamber 2 appreciably, while at an even higher temperature such an impairment can not be excluded. For example, T ⁺³ may be about 14 ° C, while T ^{+ 1 will} typically be in the range between + 5 ° C and + 10 ° C.

As a result of a simplified modification, step S6 may also be omitted, and instead the method jumps from step S5 directly to S7. Such

Simplification is equivalent to matching the limit temperatures T ^{+ 2} and T ^{+ 3} . If the temperature T is below T ^{+ 3} in step S7 (which will always be the case if step S6 has been executed immediately before), then the compressor 3 is turned off (S8) unless it is already off, and the steps S7, S8 repeat until the temperature T of the storage chamber 2 has risen to T ⁺³ . Thereafter, the process automatically returns to step S1 of the thermostat operation mode.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the user interface 8 with the display element 9 and the associated keys 10 in a state in which the user interface 8 is ready to satisfy the user's desire for transition to the low noise

To accept operating mode. A status field 1 1 labeled "Silent" shows the user that inputs which he can currently make at the keys 10 are referred to as "silent" or somewhat simplifying

Obtain operating mode. Of the total of six buttons 10 at this stage only those on the left side of the display element 9 is assigned a function that the user by a respective adjacent to the respective button 10 on the

Display element 9 illustrated symbol 12, 13 and 14 is illustrated. A central area of the display element 9 is used to display explanatory information to the user. Arrow 12 illustrates to the user that the adjacent key 10 is for exiting the displayed menu and returning to a parent menu. An empty circle 13 next to the word "on", on the one hand, indicates to the user that the low noise or silent mode of operation is selectable via the adjacent key 10 and that it is currently unchecked, instead, adjacent to the symbol 14 is a full circle to the word "off", to recognize that the

noise-reduced operating mode is turned off. When the user actuates the key 10 adjacent to the symbol 13, this causes the control unit 6 to branch to S6 in the method of FIG. If the test of step S6 shows that the silent operating mode is allowed to be activated, then, as seen in FIG. 4, the symbol 13 becomes a solid circle and the symbol 14 becomes an empty circle, and it appears in the central region of FIG Display element 9 next to the symbols 13, 14, a sign 15, which confirms the user to activate the low-noise mode of operation and at the same time indicates that the return to Thermostatbetriebsmodus takes place automatically. The user may be aware of this information by pressing the lower button 10 on the right Confirm page of the user interface 8, which causes the sign 15 disappears again. The change of the operating mode remains recognizable by the reversed appearance of the symbols 13, 14.

If the test of step S6 shows that a transition to the silent operating mode is not possible, then this fact is also communicated to the user by a sign 16, as shown in FIG. 5, and the symbols 13, 14 remain opposite to FIG. 3 unchanged.

6 shows a view of the user interface 8 in a state analogous to FIG. 3 according to a further developed embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, in addition to the possibilities to turn on the noise reduced mode on the icon 13 adjacent button 10 or turn it off via the icon 14 adjacent button 10, also the possibility of an automatic, timed switching over a symbol 17 for selection. If the automatic switching is selected, the user is given the opportunity, via the menu shown in FIG. 7, of specifying start times at which the noise-reduced operation should respectively begin. With the help of the two middle buttons 10 on both sides of the display element 9, the user can select a day of the week on which he wants to specify a start time for the noise-reduced mode. In the illustration of FIG. 7, the Thursday is selected, as can be recognized by the way in which the other days of the week deviate. With the help of the lowest keys 10 right and left of

Display element 9, the user may increment and decrement the time at which the low-noise operating mode is to commence on the selected day of the week. The confirmation of a time selected in this way can be done by pressing an OK button or by selecting another day of the week. If the user has successfully specified at least one day of the week and one time, the timer of the control unit 6 generates a changeover request every time on the specified day of the week at the selected time, which causes the control unit 6 to branch from step S5 in Fig. 2 to step S6.

If the times when low-noise operation of the refrigerator is desired are known in advance, then it is possible to set the time period over which the quiet operation can be maintained, in which before the start of quiet operation, the storage chamber is cooled down more than normal.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart of a further developed operation of the control unit 6 which supports such precooling. Steps S1 to S8 of this method are the same as in the flowchart of Fig. 2 and will not be described again.

If it is determined in step S5 that (still) no quiet operation is desired, then in this method, in step S9, a check is made as to whether pre-cooling of the storage chamber 2 is required. If this is not the case, then the method returns to step S1. The determination that pre-cooling is required may be made in step S9 based on the operation of keys 10 of the user interface 8 by a user or based on a signal from the timer. It is not necessary for the user to do this analogously to the procedure described with reference to FIG. 7

Start times programmed for pre-cooling; Rather, it can be conveniently provided that the timer generates a signal for requesting the pre-cooling at a fixed time interval before the programmed beginning of the low-noise operation.

Upon determination that it is to be pre-cooled, the control unit 6 responds by turning on the compressor (S10). The compressor remains switched on until it is determined either in step S1 1 that the temperature T to a second

Limit temperature T ^"2 is lower than the lower limit temperature T ^{" 1} in the thermostat operating mode, or that the programmed time is reached for switching to the low-noise operating mode. Once one of these conditions is met, the process branches to step S6.

Claims

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, with a storage chamber (2), a cooling chamber (3, 4, 5) cooling the storage chamber (2), a temperature sensor (7) for detecting the temperature of the storage chamber (2) and a control unit (6) is set up in a thermostat operating mode (S1-S5)

Cold generator (3, 4, 5) when exceeding a first upper limit temperature (T ⁺¹ ) in the storage chamber (2) into operation (S2),

characterized in that the control unit (6) temporarily in a

silent operation mode (S7, S8) is switchable, in which the operation of the refrigerator (3, 4, 5) even when exceeding the first upper

Limit temperature (T ⁺¹ ) is disabled.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) is associated with a user interface (8) via which a request for

Switching to the silent operating mode by a user is input.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) comprises a timer which is set to one in the timer

Programmed time to signal a desire to switch to the quiet operation mode.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (6) is associated with a user interface (8) via which the timer

is programmable.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (6) is set up, from the low-noise operating mode in the

Thermostat operating mode switch back when the temperature in the storage chamber reaches a second upper limit temperature (T ⁺³ ) (S7), which is higher than the first upper limit temperature (T ⁺¹ ). Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) is arranged to ignore a desire to switch to the low-noise operating mode (S6) when the temperature (T) in the storage chamber (2) is above a third upper limit temperature (T ^{+ 2} ) which is higher than the first upper limit temperature (T ⁺¹ ).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the

User interface (8) is arranged, in the case of ignoring the desire to display a message (16), which signals to a user that the request is ignored.

Refrigeration appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the user interface (8) is arranged to ignore a desire to switch to the quiet operating mode when a rapid cooling mode is activated.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (6) is arranged, in the thermostat operating mode (S1-S5), the refrigeration generator (3, 4, 5) falls below a first lower

Limit temperature (T ¹ ) in the storage chamber to put out of service and that the control unit (6) temporarily in a pre-cooling operating mode (S10, S1 1) is switchable, in which the operation of the refrigerator (3, 4, 5) even if the first lower limit temperature (T ¹ ) is maintained.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the control unit (6) is arranged to automatically switch to the low-noise operating mode (S7, S8) when the pre-cooling operating mode (S10, S1 1) ends.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the

Control unit (6) is adapted to falls below a second lower limit temperature (T ²⁾ lower than the first lower threshold temperature (T ^1), to end the Vorkühlmodus (S10, S1: 1).