EP2769157A1

EP2769157A1 - Refrigeration device

Info

Publication number: EP2769157A1
Application number: EP12780442.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephan Kempfle
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2011-10-19
Filing date: 2012-10-12
Publication date: 2014-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-10-12
Also published as: DE102011084825A1; EP2769157B1; CN103890512B; US20140230483A1; CN103890512A; PL2769157T3; WO2013057051A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device (1) comprising: an inner container (2) with a coolable interior space (3, 4); a refrigerant circuit (21) provided for cooling the interior space (3, 4); a door panel (5, 6) provided for opening and closing the interior space (3, 4); and a control device (22) designed to control at least one component (23, 24) of the refrigeration device (1) on the basis of the opening state of the door panel (5, 6). The refrigeration device (1) further comprises an electrical door opening assistance mechanism (25), which operates independently of the control device (22), is designed to at least support an opening of the door panel (5, 6), and therefore comprises information on the current opening state of the door panel (5, 6), and which is connected to the control device (22) and is designed to transmit information on the opening state of the door panel (5, 6) to the control device (22).

Description

The refrigerator

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, which has an inner container with a coolable interior and a door opening provided for opening and closing the interior.

Such refrigeration devices include a refrigerant circuit, optionally at least one fan, an interior lighting, etc., and a control device for driving the refrigerant circuit, the fan, the interior lighting, etc. The control device of such refrigeration equipment can be set up, the refrigerant circuit, the fan and / or the To control the interior lighting depending on the opening status of the door leaf. In particular, the control device may be configured to switch the interior lighting on when the door leaf is open and off when the door leaf is closed. Also, the control device may be configured to turn off the fan with the door open and left off while the door leaf is open. To detect an opened door leaf, conventional ones include

Refrigeration devices with the control device connected magnetic or mechanical door switches that detect opening and closing of the door leaf.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigeration device.

The object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device, having a

Inner container having a coolable interior space, a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the interior space, a door panel provided for opening and closing the interior space, a control device adapted to control at least one component of the refrigeration appliance in response to the opening state of the door panel, and an electric door opening aid independent of

Control device which is arranged to at least support an opening of the door leaf and therefore information about the current opening state of the

Door leaf, and which is connected to the control device and is arranged to transmit to the control device, the information about the current opening state of the door leaf. The refrigerator according to the invention is designed in particular as a household refrigeration appliance, such as a household refrigerator, a household freezer or as a fridge-freezer. The refrigeration device comprises the inner container, which is designed in particular as a heat-insulating inner container, as is generally known to the skilled person. The inner container comprises the coolable interior, which by means of

Door leaf is closable. The door leaf, for example, hinged relative to the inner container, in particular pivotable on the inner container and can preferably be pivoted relative to a vertically extending pivot axis for opening and closing the interior.

The interior is cooled by means of the refrigerant circuit. The coolable interior is e.g. a cold room, which is intended to be cooled to temperatures around 10 ° C. The interior can also be a freezer, the target temperatures below the freezing point, preferably by -18 ° C, are.

The refrigeration device according to the invention comprises the control device, which is set up to control at least one component of the refrigeration appliance as a function of the opening state of the door leaf. The control device comprises e.g. an electronics and is designed according to a variant of the refrigerator according to the invention, the

To control the refrigerant circuit, in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit such that the actual temperature of the interior is at least approximately equal to a desired temperature of the interior. For this purpose, the control device can be set up to carry out a temperature control of the interior, known in principle to the person skilled in the art, by means of a suitable control of the refrigerant circuit.

The component, which controls the control device according to the invention as a function of the opening state, may be, for example, an interior lighting for at least partially illuminating the interior. In this case, the control device preferably switches on the interior lighting as soon as the door leaf is open, and off again as soon as the door leaf is closed again. However, the component can also be at least one fan for conveying through the refrigerant circuit cooled air in the interior. Such a fan includes eg no-frost refrigerators. In this case, the control device may be configured to automatically switch off the fan as soon as the door leaf is opened. With closed door leaf For example, the control device can control the fan in accordance with the established temperature control. However, the component may also be a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerator according to the invention further comprises the electrical or electronic door opening aid, which operates independently of the control device. The electronic door opening aid is therefore independent. Electric door opening aids are provided to assist in opening the door leaf at least partially in an automated manner and are known to the person skilled in the art, for example, from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1. As a rule, on the door leaf, a circumferential seal, in particular a

Magnetic seal is attached, which in the closed state of the door leaf, for. at the

Inner container or a body of the refrigerator is applied, can form a negative pressure in the interior when the door leaf is closed, which makes it difficult to manually open the door panel. In order to at least support the opening of the door leaf, electrical door opening aids are usually set up such that they automatically open the door leaf at least so far that air outside the refrigeration device can enter the interior. For this purpose, electric door opening aids comprise, for example, an actuator which has, for example, a plunger which automatically presses it away from the inner container when the door leaf is opened.

Since the door opening aid is intended to at least automatically assist the opening of the door leaf, it is possible that the door opening aid is arranged according to the invention to have information about the current opening state of the door leaf, i. the door opening aid includes information as to whether the door leaf is currently open or closed. Furthermore, the invention is the

Door opening aid connected to the control device and transmits this the

Information about the current opening status of the door leaf. Thus stands the

Control device, the information about the current opening state of the door leaf available, thereby allowing this, the at least one component in

To control the dependence of the opening state of the door leaf. Thus, the refrigeration device according to the invention does not need a door opening switch, as is the case with conventional refrigerators. In particular, the door opening aid can transmit the information about the current opening state of the door leaf to the control device with each change of the opening state, ie each time the door leaf is opened and is closed. The control device can also be set up to query the information about the opening state of the door leaf from the door opening aid.

The door opening aid of the refrigeration appliance according to the invention may preferably have an electronic control unit and an actuator connected to the control unit, which is set up, controlled by the control unit, to at least partially open the door leaf. The actuator is e.g. as a

electromechanical actuator executed, which is used to open the door panel

automatically controlled by the control unit extends and thereby pushes the door leaf away from the inner container. When closing the door leaf this pushes the actuator back to its original position.

According to one embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention, the

Door opening aid on a sensor connected to the control unit, which is adapted to detect a movement of the door panel. The control unit is then preferably set up to control the actuator on the basis of signals generated by the sensor so that it at least at least partially supports the opening of the door leaf. Suitable sensors are known to the person skilled in the art for example from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 and are for example pressure or Hall sensors. Thus, it is possible for a user of the refrigerator according to the invention, the closed door initially easy to move, which recognizes the sensor, so then the

Door opening help by means of its actuator and controlled by the control unit automatically pushes the door leaf. According to a further variant of the refrigeration device according to the invention, this has an input device connected to the control unit, on the basis of which actuation of which the control unit controls the actuator so that it at least partially supports the opening of the door leaf. The input means is e.g. a button. The door opening aid may preferably have an independent power supply, which is set up, from a mains voltage for the refrigerator an electrical

Supply voltage for the control unit and / or to generate a supply voltage for the actuator. Especially in connection with the sensor, which is set up is to detect a movement of the door leaf, thus the door opening help can be performed completely independently and completely independent of the control device.

In order to connect the door opening aid with the control device, the door opening aid may have an output via which the door opening aid, in particular its

Control unit is connected to the control device. The output is e.g. executed as a potential-free output that can be queried by the control device.

The refrigeration device according to the invention accordingly comprises an independently operating door opening aid, which preferably requires no input signal and has only one connection for the mains voltage. This facilitates opening of the door panel and the door opening aid can e.g. be designed as a so-called pull-to-open or push-to-open door opening help. The door opening aid is usually always informed about the opening status of the door leaf in order to rule out false alarms.

The door opening aid is already designed such that it has the information about the current opening state of the door leaf. This is preferably achieved in that the detection of the current opening state of the door leaf is already integrated in the sensor system of an opening request recognition. This includes the

Door opening aid e.g. the sensor for detecting a movement of the door leaf. Since, according to the invention, the door opening aid is connected to the control device of the refrigeration device, it is possible to dispense with a separate door switch, which is present in conventional refrigeration devices. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a household refrigerator and Fig. 2 components of the household refrigerator.

Fig. 1 shows a household refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigerator. The

Domestic refrigerator 1 is designed as a no-frost refrigerator and has a

Inner container 2 with a coolable interior, in the case of the present Embodiment in a freezer compartment 3 and a above the freezer compartment 3 arranged cooling space 4 is divided. The freezer compartment 3 is used, for example, for freezing frozen food at, for example, about minus 18 degrees Celsius. The refrigerator 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are separated by a heat insulating partition 9. The intermediate wall 9 is part of the case in the present embodiment

Inner container 2.

The household refrigerator 1 comprises at least one shown in FIG. 2

Refrigerant circuit 21 for cooling the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4. For the refrigerator compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 3 may be provided a common refrigerant circuit, e.g. a provided for cooling the cooling chamber 4 evaporator and provided for cooling the freezer compartment 3 evaporator comprises. The

Domestic refrigerator 1 may also have separate refrigerant circuits for the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4.

The household refrigerator 1, in the case of the present embodiment, two door leaves 5, 6 for closing the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4. When the door leaves 5, 6 open the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4 are accessible. On the directed towards the refrigerator 4 side of the door provided for closing the refrigerator 4 door leaf 6 a plurality of door racks 12 are arranged for storing refrigerated goods in the case of the present embodiment. The door leaves 5, 6 are pivotable relative to the inner container 2 by means of hinges, e.g. arranged on the inner container 2, as is known in the art in principle. When the door leaves 5, 6 open the refrigerator 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are accessible. In addition, in each case one of the person skilled in principle known magnetic seal 7, 8 are peripherally attached to the inwardly facing surfaces of the door leaves 5, 6, which abut with closed door leaves 5, 6 on the inner container 2 substantially airtight.

In the freezer compartment 3, for example, a plurality of drawers 10 for storing frozen food and in the refrigerator 4 a plurality of shelves 1 1 are arranged for storing refrigerated goods.

The household refrigerating appliance 1 further comprises a control device 22 shown in FIG. 2, which is set up, the or the refrigerant circuit or the possibly

To drive refrigerant circuit 21 in the operation of the household refrigerator 1 such that the freezer compartment 3 and the cooling chamber 4 have at least approximately predetermined or adjustable desired temperatures, as is known to those skilled in principle. The control device 22 is configured, for example, to realize a suitable temperature control of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4. This includes the

Domestic refrigerating appliance 1 e.g. connected to the control device 22, not shown temperature sensors, which are configured, the actual temperatures of the

Freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4 to determine. Due to the means of

Temperature sensors detected actual temperatures or the signals associated with the actual temperatures, it is the control device 22 possible to control the refrigerant circuit 21 in the person skilled in principle known manner.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the household refrigerating appliance 1 comprises at least one fan 23 connected to the control device 22 and / or at least one interior lighting 24 connected to the control device 22. The fan 23 is provided in particular to convey cooled air from the refrigerant circuit 22 into the cooling space 4 , The interior lighting 24 is in particular

provided with the door open 6, which is associated with the refrigerator 4, the

Refrigerator 4 at least partially to illuminate. In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 22 is configured to automatically switch off the fan 23 with the door leaf 6 open, which is assigned to the cooling space 4, and the interior lighting 24

turn. When the door leaf 6 is closed, the control device 22 automatically switches off the interior lighting 24 and operates the fan 23

in accordance with the predetermined setpoint temperature and in accordance with the determined actual temperature of the cooling space 4. In general, therefore, the control device 22 is set up, at least one component of the household refrigerating appliance 1 as a function of

Opening state of the refrigerator 4 associated door leaf 6 to operate.

Alternatively or additionally, the control device 22 may also be set up, at least one component of the household refrigerating appliance 1 as a function of

Opening state of the freezer compartment 5 associated door leaf 7 to operate. Such a component may e.g. a not shown interior lighting of the freezer compartment 3, a freezer compartment 3 associated with the fan or the

Be refrigerant circuit 21 associated defrosting. In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerator 1 has an electric door opening aid 25. This is arranged to at least partially support an opening of the refrigerator 4 associated door leaf 6. The door opening aid 25 is foamed in the present embodiment in the intermediate wall 9 and operates independently of the control device 22 and works completely independently.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 has a

Actuator or an actuator 26, connected to the actuator 26 control unit 27 and a power supply 28 on. The actuator 26, the control unit 27 and the power supply 28 are arranged, for example, within a common housing 29. The power supply 28 is provided, from a mains voltage for the household refrigerator 1, an electrical supply voltage for the control unit 27 and optionally one

Supply voltage for the actuator 26 to produce. The control unit 27 comprises e.g. an electronics with a microcontroller or microprocessor and is adapted to drive the actuator 26.

The door opening aid 25 is set up to at least partially support an opening of the door panel 6 assigned to the cooling space 4. For this purpose, in the case of the present embodiment and as is known to those skilled in principle, arranged relative to the door leaf 6, that the actuator 26, controlled by the control unit 27, at

Requirement extends from a retracted position to an extended position and thus the door leaf 6 opens at least as far that the magnetic seal 8 of the door panel 6 is no longer applied to the inner container 2. Preferably, the door opening aid 25 is arranged on the inner container 2 in such a way that the actuator 26 presses against the door leaf 6 approximately centrally during the opening.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 includes a sensor 30 for detecting a movement of the door panel 6. This sensor 30 is coupled to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 and is adapted to detect a movement of the closed door panel 6, whereupon the control unit 27 the Actuator 26 controls so that it opens the door panel 6 at least partially. suitable

Sensors 30 are known to the person skilled in the art for example from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 and are for example pressure or Hall sensors. Thus, it is possible for a user of the household refrigerating appliance 1 to move the closed door leaf 6 in such a way that so that the magnetic seal 8 is still applied to the inner container 2. This movement is detected by the sensor 30, whereupon automatically the actuator 26, the door leaf 6 abuts. Alternatively or additionally, instead of the sensor 30, an input means connected to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 may be provided, on the basis of which the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 automatically extends the actuator 26 in order to at least partially open the door leaf 6. The input means may be, for example, a key 14, which is arranged, for example, on the outwardly directed side of the door leaf 6 with the control unit 27 of the door-opening aid 25.

When the open door leaf 6 is closed, the face of the door panel 6 directed towards the refrigerator 4 pushes the actuator 26 back into its non-extended, i.e.

retracted position. This information is transmitted to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 is coupled or connected to the control device 22 of the household refrigerating appliance 1. For this purpose, the door opening aid 25 comprises e.g. an output 31 connected to the control unit 27, via which the door opening aid 25 is connected to the control device 22.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 is arranged to transmit to the control device 22 information about the opened door leaf 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is extended. In addition, the door opening aid 25 is arranged to transmit to the control device 22 information about the closed door leaf 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is pressed into its retracted position. The controller 22 may also be configured to query this information from the output. Consequently, the control device 22 receives information about the current one

Opening state of the door panel 6, whereby the control device 22 is made possible, at least one component of the household refrigerator 1 depending on

Opening state of the refrigerator 4 associated door leaf 6 to operate, as described above. Alternatively or additionally, the household refrigerating appliance 1 may have an electric door-opening aid 32, which is set up to at least partially support an opening of the door panel 7 assigned to the freezer compartment 3. The door opening aid 32 may, for example, be foamed in a bottom 13 of the inner container 2 and operates independently of the control device 22. The freezer compartment 3 associated

Door opening aid 32 may in particular be configured in accordance with the door opening aid 25 assigned to the cooling space 4 and thus transmit to the control device 22 information about the current opening state of the door panel 5 assigned to the freezer compartment 3. As a result, the control device 22 is possible, at least one

Component of the household refrigerator 1 as a function of the opening state of the freezer compartment 3 associated door leaf 5 to operate, as described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 household refrigerator

2 inner containers

3 freezer room

4 refrigerator

5, 6 door leaf

7, 8 magnetic seal

9 intermediate wall

10 drawers

1 1 shelves

12 door racks

13 floor

14 button

21 refrigerant circuit

22 control device

23 fan

24 interior lighting

25 door opening help

26 actuator

27 control unit

28 power supply

29 housing

30 sensor

31 output

32 door opening help

Claims

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, comprising an inner container (2) with a coolable interior (3, 4), a cooling circuit (21) provided for cooling the inner space (3, 4), one for opening and closing the

Interior (3, 4) provided door leaf (5, 6) and a control device (22) which is adapted to control at least one component (23, 24) of the refrigeration appliance (1) in dependence of the opening state of the door leaf (5, 6),

characterized by an electric door opening aid (25) operating independently of the control device (22) arranged to at least assist in opening the door panel (5, 6) and therefore provide information about the current one

Opening state of the door leaf (5, 6), and which is connected to the control device (22) and arranged to transmit to the control device (22) the information about the current opening state of the door panel (5, 6).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the door opening aid (25) has an electronic control unit (27) and one with the control unit (27).

connected actuator (26) which is arranged, controlled by the control unit (27), the door leaf (5, 6) at least partially supportive to open.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the door opening aid (25) has a sensor (30) connected to the control unit (27), which is arranged to detect a movement of the door leaf (5, 6), and the

Control unit (22) is arranged, based on the sensor (30) generated signals the actuator (26) controls, so that this at least partially open the door panel (5, 6) at least supported, and / or the refrigeration device (1) with the Control unit (27) has associated input means (14), due to the actuation of which the control unit (22) controls the actuator (26) so that it at least partially supports the door leaf (5, 6) at least. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the

Door opening aid (5) has an independent power supply (28) which is adapted from a mains voltage for the refrigeration device (1) an electrical

Supply voltage for the control unit (27) and / or a

Supply voltage for the actuator (26) to produce.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the door opening aid (25) has an output (31) via which the door opening aid (25), in particular its control unit (27) with the control device (22) is connected.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the component which the control device (22) in dependence of

An interior lighting (24) for at least partially illuminating the interior (3, 4), a fan (23) for conveying through the refrigerant circuit (21) of cooled air in the interior (3, 4) , and / or a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the

Refrigerant circuit (21) represents.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control device (22) is adapted to the refrigerant circuit (21), in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit (21) to control such that the actual temperature of the interior at least approximately equal to a target -Temperature of the interior (3, 4).