EP2798285B1 - Domestic refrigeration device having a cold storage compartment - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a household refrigerator with a cold storage compartment.

Conventional domestic refrigerators typically include a thermally insulated interior that may include a cold room and a cold storage compartment. The cooling compartment and the cold storage compartment are usually arranged one above the other. The cold storage compartment is intended to store refrigerated goods at temperatures above freezing, preferably between 0 ° C and + 3 ° C, and the cold room is intended to store refrigerated goods at higher temperatures than the cold storage compartment, e.g. at temperatures around + 3 ° C to + 8 ° C.

Such a household refrigerator according to the preamble of the claim is made EP 0218560A known.

The object of the present invention is a household refrigerator according to the preamble of the claim, in such a way that the cold room from the cold storage compartment separating partition is relatively thin executable.

The object of the invention is achieved by a domestic refrigerator, comprising an inner container with a cold storage compartment and a cold room, a cold storage compartment and the cooling compartment separating partition, a refrigerant circuit whose evaporator is provided to cool the cold room and the cold storage compartment, and at least one for opening and closing the cold storage compartment and the refrigerator pivotally mounted door leaf, wherein the cold storage compartment and the refrigerator are arranged one above the other and the evaporator is provided to cool the cold storage compartment to a lower temperature than the refrigerator, and wherein within the partition of the evaporator is arranged horizontally aligned and the partition has a channel system, which flows from the cooling space of the rear side of the partition laterally past the evaporator, so that the air from the front of the partition over and / or through the evaporator in the rear region of the partition to strö to get from there to the cold storage compartment.

The household refrigerating appliance according to the invention accordingly comprises the cold storage compartment and the cooling room, which is preferably arranged above the cold storage compartment. The cold storage compartment and the cold room can be closed and opened by means of the door leaf. It can be provided in each case a door leaf for the cold storage compartment and the refrigerator be. The cold room and the cold storage compartment can also be closed and opened by means of a common door leaf. In addition, the household refrigerator may still have a freezer compartment.

The domestic refrigerator according to the invention also comprises a common refrigerant circuit for the refrigerator and the cold storage compartment, the evaporator is thus provided both for cooling the cold storage compartment and the refrigerator. The cold room should in turn be cooled to higher temperatures than the cold storage compartment. Preferably, the refrigerator should have a temperature of above + 3 ° C. The cold storage compartment is cooled, for example by means of the evaporator to a temperature between -2 ° C and + 4 ° C, preferably to a temperature between 0 ° C and + 3 ° C.

According to the invention, the evaporator is arranged within the dividing wall, as a result of which it is possible, for example, to increase the storage spaces of the cold storage compartment or of the cooling space. In order to cool the cold room and the cold storage compartment, it is necessary that the evaporator, which is designed in particular as a finned evaporator, is acted upon by the air to be cooled. For this purpose, according to the invention, the partition wall on the channel system, which derives from the refrigerator air, which is warmer than that of the cold storage compartment, from the rear area to the front region of the partition, so that the air from the front area to the rear of the partition by and / or to flow over the evaporator to flow as cooled air in the cold storage compartment. In order to make the partition as thin as possible, this channel system according to the invention is designed such that it passes the air from the rear area to the front area laterally past the evaporator. The channel system can be designed such that it passes the air only on one side of the evaporator. Preferably, however, the channel system is designed such that it passes the air on both sides of the evaporator. This makes it possible to distribute the air in the front region of the evaporator more evenly so that it flows more uniformly over and / or through the evaporator. This allows the evaporator to cool the air better.

So that the air can flow improved from the cooling space to the partition wall, the household refrigerating appliance according to the invention can, according to one embodiment, have a vertically extending first channel arranged in or on the rear wall of the refrigerating space which is provided to direct air from the cooling space in the channel system of the partition. The first channel may preferably be arranged centrally in or on the rear wall of the cooling space. In particular, when the cooling space is arranged above the cold storage compartment, then preferably the first channel may extend to the ceiling of the cooling space and / or have in its upper region an opening through which air is able to flow from the cooling space through the first channel to the duct system. The opening of the first channel, which may be arranged relatively high up, is advantageous because the air in the upper region of the cooling space is warmer than in the lower region.

According to a further variant of the household refrigerator according to the invention a vertically extending second channel is arranged in or on the rear wall of the cold storage compartment, which is intended to direct air from the duct system of the partition in the cold storage compartment. The second channel is in particular arranged centrally in or on the rear wall of the cold storage compartment, preferably extends over the entire width of the cold storage compartment and / or preferably has a plurality, in particular horizontally extending slot-shaped openings, through the air from the channel system of the partition wall through the second channel the cold storage compartment is able to flow. Due to the multiple, in particular slot-shaped openings, the air cooled by the evaporator can cool the entire cold storage compartment relatively uniformly.

In order to allow a pressure equalization between the cold storage compartment and the cold room, according to one embodiment of the household refrigerator according to the invention, the closed door leaf and the partition wall form a gap for the exchange of air between the cold storage compartment and the cold room. This makes it possible that cooler air of the cold storage compartment can flow into the cold room.

The partition wall has in particular an upper wall, a lower wall and a front wall, within which the evaporator is arranged. The upper wall, the lower wall and / or the front wall are preferably made heat-insulating. The partition can also have side walls, which are designed in particular heat-insulated.

According to a further embodiment of the household refrigerating appliance according to the invention, the channel system of the partition wall comprises a left side channel and / or a right side channel which directs or direct the air originating from the cooling space to the evaporator from the rear area to the front area of the dividing wall. Thus, it is possible that the air is passed only on one side laterally past the evaporator. Preferably, however, the air is passed on both sides laterally past the evaporator, whereby it is better possible to supply the air passing by more uniformly to the evaporator in the front region. The left and / or right side channel may also be partially formed in the inner container.

The left and / or right side channel is formed in particular by the upper wall and the lower wall of the separating bottom and by a further wall facing the evaporator, as well as by side walls of the separating bottom or the side walls of the inner container. The evaporator facing another wall is preferably designed to be heat-insulating. The left and / or right side channel may also be partially formed in the inner container.

In order to supply the air to the evaporator in the front area as evenly as possible over its entire width, according to a preferred variant of the domestic refrigerator according to the invention, the duct system of the partition in the front region of the partition wall have an air duct system which is set up, the air coming from the refrigerator over the entire Width of the evaporator to conduct.

By way of example, the air-guiding system can have at least one first air-guiding element which is able to guide the air originating from the cooling space over the entire width of the evaporator. The running control system can also or alternatively have a second air guide element, in particular in the form of a horizontally aligned plate, which is able to guide the air coming from the cooling chamber uniformly over the height of the evaporator. This is particularly advantageous if the evaporator is a double-row evaporator, in particular a double-row finned evaporator.

The air duct system may also comprise the front wall of the partition wall, wherein the evaporator-facing side of the front wall is designed such a curved, that it is able to conduct air from the left and / or right side channel into the middle front area of the evaporator.

In order to force the air over and / or through the evaporator, according to a further embodiment of the household refrigerating appliance according to the invention, this may have a fan. The fan is e.g. connected to a control device of the household refrigerator, which in particular switches the fan on and off during normal operation of the household refrigerator.

In order not to limit the storage space of the cold storage compartment or the refrigerator as possible, according to a preferred embodiment of the household refrigerating appliance according to the invention, the fan e.g. behind the evaporator, in particular arranged within the partition wall. The fan is in particular a radial fan.

If the size of the evaporator allows, then according to a further variant of the domestic refrigerator according to the invention, the partition wall in its front region have an upwardly open container, which are formed by the lower wall, the front wall and a front wall closing the partition forward. This container thus provides an additional useful volume, e.g. as storage space, for example for tubes ready.

The domestic refrigeration appliance according to the invention thus optionally provides an improved if not even optimized separating bottom heat exchanger module for refrigerators with cold storage compartment. The relatively warm air, in particular in the upper region of the cooling space, preferably flows into at least one channel (first channel) and is fed in particular along the rear wall of the household refrigerating appliance to the heat exchanger unit, ie to the separating floor with evaporator. Instead of a centrally arranged first channel, it is also possible to provide a respective first channel in the rear two corners of the cooling space. After the heat exchanger unit, ie the evaporator, the air is preferably blown through the possibly integrated in the partition wall fan in a particular provided with outflow space. The preferably improved by the temperature distribution, if not optimally arranged arranged outflow openings cools the air of the cold storage compartment and then flows, for example between the front edge of the partition and the door leaf back into the refrigerator.

To reduce the overall height of the evaporator unit or the partition wall according to the invention, the air is passed laterally next to the evaporator forward. For this purpose, for example, the width of the evaporator is slightly reduced to provide space for the air duct laterally adjacent to the evaporator. This can be done either on one side or on both sides of the evaporator. As a result, the height of the partition can be reduced. This can optionally be used with reasonable total height a double-row evaporator, whereby a relatively large Reifanlagerungsfläche and a relatively efficient evaporator design are given. The cross-section of the lateral channel or the lateral channels is preferably dimensioned sufficiently large, for example, to avoid unnecessary flow resistance. Also, the lateral channel or the two lateral channels are preferably not carried out unnecessarily wide, as this would limit the possible width of the evaporator. The lateral channel or the lateral air ducts could also partially protrude into the refrigerated goods next to the partition wall.

In order to make the supply of air to the evaporator inlet as uniform as possible by the lateral nature of the air duct, an air guide element can be introduced in the channel region directly before the entry of the evaporator in the air. The task of this element is to ensure the most uniform possible flow. It should preferably be relatively thin-walled (low flow resistance) and preferably not in direct contact with the evaporator so as not to be greatly cooled by the evaporator and thereby unnecessarily frosted.

If a relatively small evaporator is sufficient for the desired cooling capacity in relatively small cold rooms and / or cold storage compartments, the space in front of the evaporator can be provided as additional useful volume, for example as storage space for eg tubes. By possibly provided air guide, the surface of the evaporator can be used relatively evenly, which increases the device efficiency. Due to the arrangement of the evaporator and possibly the fan in the partition there is the possibility in the cold room and cold storage compartment to accommodate relatively deep shelves or pullovers. Is the fan in the partition arranged, then the partition with integrated evaporator and fan is relatively well suited to be simply inserted in different household refrigerators with different sized compartments and compartmentalizations. The adaptation effort to produce a variant with a different size is thereby reduced, if not minimized. Optionally, by the free choice of the arrangement and number of blow-off positions and the Ausblasquerschnittes it is relatively easy to ensure a required low temperature stratification.

Figur 1

eine Seitenansicht in geschnittener Darstellung eines Haushaltskältegeräts mit einem Kaltlagerfach und einem darüber angeordneten Kühlraum, welche durch eine Trennwand voneinander getrennt sind ,

Figur 2

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung den Bereich der Trennwand und

Figuren 3 bis 6

verschiedene Darstellungen der Trennwand.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a side view in a sectional view of a household refrigerator with a cold storage compartment and a cooling chamber arranged above, which are separated by a partition,

FIG. 2

in a perspective view of the area of the partition and

FIGS. 3 to 6

different representations of the partition.

The Fig. 1 shows a domestic refrigerator 1, which has an inner container 2 with a coolable interior, which is divided in the case of the present embodiment in a freezer compartment 3, in a above the freezer compartment 3 arranged cold storage compartment 4 and above the cold storage compartment 4 arranged cooling chamber 5. The freezer compartment 3 is used, for example, for deep-freezing of frozen food at, for example, about -18 ° C, the cold storage compartment 4 is to store refrigerated goods at temperatures preferably above freezing, preferably between 0 ° C and + 3 ° C, and the refrigerator. 5 is intended to store refrigerated goods at higher temperatures than those of the cold storage compartment 4, for example, at temperatures around + 3 ° C to + 8 ° C.

In the case of the present embodiment, the freezer compartment 3 and the cold storage compartment 4 are separated by a horizontal partition 6 and the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 by a horizontal partition 7 from each other. The two partitions 6, 7 are in particular heat-insulating partitions. The area of the Cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 separating partition 7 is in the Fig. 2 shown in a perspective view.

The household refrigerator 1, in the case of the present embodiment, two door leaves 8, 9 for closing the freezer compartment 3 and the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 on. In particular, the refrigerator compartment 5 and the cold storage compartment 4 comprise a common door leaf 9. When the leaves 8, 9 are open, the freezer compartment 3, the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling compartment 5 are accessible. On the side directed towards the cooling chamber 5 of the door leaf 9 provided for closing the cooling space 5 and the cold storage compartment 4, a plurality of door racks 10 for storing refrigerated goods are arranged in the case of the present exemplary embodiment.

In the freezer compartment 3 and the cold storage compartment 4, for example, in each case at least one drawer 11 for storing frozen food or refrigerated goods are arranged. In the refrigerator 5, for example, at least one shelf 12 is arranged for storing refrigerated goods.

The household refrigerator 1 comprises at least one refrigerant circuit for cooling the freezer compartment 3, the cold storage compartment 4 and the refrigerator compartment 5. In the case of the present embodiment, the freezer compartment 3 has its own refrigerant circuit and the cold storage compartment 4 and the refrigerator compartment 5 share a common refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuits each include a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator 13. However, both refrigerant circuits can also share a single compressor. The evaporator 13 of the refrigerant circuit for the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 is disposed within the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 separating partition 7. The partition 7 is in the Fig. 3 shown in a perspective view, in the Fig. 4 shown with the upper wall 14 removed, in the Fig. 5 shown as a top view with removed upper wall 14 and in the Fig. 6 as a side view in a sectional view. The upper wall 14 of the partition 7 also serves as a storage surface for refrigerated goods and is designed in particular heat-insulating.

The household refrigerator 1 further comprises a control device, not shown, which is adapted to control the one or more refrigerant circuits during operation of the household refrigerator 1 such that the freezer compartment 3, the cold storage compartment. 4 and the cooling chamber 5 have at least approximately predetermined or adjustable target temperatures, as is known in the art in principle.

In the case of the present embodiment, the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 separating partition 7 next to the cooling chamber 5 facing the upper wall 14 a cold storage compartment 4 facing the lower wall 15, which is designed in particular heat insulating, and a front wall 16, in particular heat-insulating is executed. The partition wall 7 may also have two side walls 17. Between the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 of the evaporator 13 is arranged. This is thus arranged horizontally within the partition 7, or integrated into the partition. The evaporator 13 is preferably designed as a fin evaporator. The side walls 17 rest on the inner container 2 or can also be formed by this. The partition wall 7 may be fastened in particular with its side walls 17 on the inner container 2.

In particular, if it allows the size of the evaporator 13, then, as is the case in the present embodiment, the cold storage compartment 4 and the cooling chamber 5 separating partition 7 a arranged in particular in the front region of the partition 7, upwardly open container 18 include. This is formed by the lower wall 15, optionally the side walls 17, the front wall 16 and another, the partition wall 7 to the front final front wall 19.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerator 1 has an upper channel 20. The upper channel 20 is preferably arranged in or on the rear wall 22 of the cooling space 5 and extends in particular over the entire height or over almost the entire height of the cooling space 4 from the partition wall 7 to the ceiling 23 of the cooling space 5. The upper channel 20 has an opening 24 in its upper region and is intended to direct air of the cooling chamber 5 through this opening 24 in the direction of an arrow 25 via the upper channel 20 into the interior of the partition wall 7. The upper channel 20 is preferably arranged centrally in or on the rear wall 22 of the cooling space 5.

The upper air duct 20 ends in its lower region, in particular centrally with respect to the partition wall 7 and passes in the region of the partition wall 7 in a channel system, the runs within the partition 7. The channel system is designed to guide the air flowing from the cooling space 5 via the upper channel 20 laterally past the evaporator 13 from the rear area of the dividing wall 7, so that the air from the front area of the dividing wall 7 via and / or through the evaporator 13 in the rear Area of the partition wall 7 flows to get from there via a lower channel 33 in the cold storage compartment 4.

In the case of the present embodiment, the channel system comprises a right side channel 26 and a left side channel 27, which extend from the upper channel 20 to the front wall 16 of the partition 7 and the air coming from the cooling chamber 5 laterally past the evaporator 13 to the front area of the evaporator 13 conduct. The two side channels 26, 27 extend within the partition wall 7 and are bounded by the upper wall 14, the lower wall 15 and optionally by the side walls 17 of the partition 7. The left and / or right channel 26,27 may also be limited by the inner container or partially extend in the inner container. The right side channel 26 also includes a wall 28 which separates the right side channel 26 from the evaporator 13. This wall 28 is preferably made heat-insulating. The left side channel 27 also includes a wall 29 which separates the left side channel 27 from the evaporator 13. This wall 29 is preferably made heat-insulating.

In the front region of the dividing wall 7, the duct system has an air-guidance system 30 which diverts the air flowing through the side channels 26, 27 in such a way that it flows from the front to the rear relative to the dividing wall 7 via or through the evaporator 13. In order for this air to be conducted more uniformly over the entire width of the evaporator 13, which is preferably designed as a double-row evaporator, the air guidance system 30 comprises air guidance elements 31, 32. The air guidance elements 31 are provided, in part the air from the side channels 26, 27 into the front central region of the evaporator 13 to lead. That in the Fig. 6 shown horizontally oriented designed as a horizontal plate air-guiding element 32 is provided to direct the air as evenly as possible over the upper and the lower part of the designed as a double-row evaporator evaporator 13. Also, the front wall 16 of the partition wall 17 on the side facing the evaporator 13 is designed such that it partially directs the air into the central region of the evaporator 13. This will be for example achieved by the evaporator 13 facing side of the front wall 16 is arcuate.

The evaporator 13, the lower channel 33 is connected downstream, which is arranged in particular in or on the rear wall 34 of the cold storage compartment 4. The lower channel 34 includes openings 35 through which air cooled by the evaporator 13 can flow into the cold storage compartment 4. The lower channel 33 preferably extends over the entire width of the rear wall 34 of the cold storage compartment 4 and / or over its entire height.

At the rear of the partition 17 behind the evaporator 13, e.g. in the transition region between the partition wall 17 and the lower channel 33, a fan 36 is provided in the case of the present embodiment. This is for example connected to the control device of the household refrigerating appliance 1 and is arranged, air over the upper channel 20 through the side channels 26, 27 and the front channel 30 via or through the evaporator 13 from the front to the rear and the lower channel 33 cooled in to promote the cold storage compartment 4. The fan 36 is preferably integrated in the partition 7.

To allow pressure equalization, the closed door leaf 9 and the partition form a gap 21st

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Household refrigerator

2

inner container

3

freezer

4

Cold storage compartment

5

refrigerator

6, 7

partition wall

8, 9

door leaf

10

door racks

11

drawer

12

Fold bottom

13

Evaporator

14

upper wall

15

bottom wall

16

front wall

17

side walls

18

container

19

front wall

20

upper channel

21

gap

22

rear wall

23

blanket

24

opening

25

arrow

26

right side channel

27

left side channel

28, 29

wall

30

air Circulation System

31, 32

air guide elements

33

lower channel

34

rear wall

35

openings

Claims (11)

1. Domestic refrigeration device, having an inner container (2) with a cold storage compartment (4) and a refrigerating zone (5), a dividing wall (7) dividing the cold storage compartment (4) and the refrigerating zone (5), a refrigerant circuit, the evaporator (13) of which is provided to cool the refrigerating zone (5) and the cold storage compartment (4), and at least one door leaf (9) that is pivotably mounted in order to open and close the cold storage compartment (4) and the refrigerating zone (5), wherein the cold storage compartment (4) and the refrigerating zone (5) are arranged one above the other and the evaporator (13) is provided to cool the cold storage compartment (4) to a lower temperature than the refrigerating zone (5), characterised in that within the dividing wall (7) the evaporator (13) is arranged horizontally aligned and the dividing wall (7) has a channel system which conducts air flowing from the refrigerating zone (5) from the rear region of the dividing wall (7) laterally past the evaporator (13), so that the air from the front region of the dividing wall (7) is able to flow across and/or through the evaporator (13) into the rear region of the dividing wall (7) in order from there to reach the cold storage compartment (4).
2. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterised in that the refrigerating zone (5) is arranged above the cold storage compartment (4) and/or the refrigerating zone (5) has a temperature above +3°C, and/or the cold storage compartment (4) has a temperature between -2°C and +4°C, preferably between 0°C and +3°C.
3. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that,

   - a first channel (20) extending vertically is arranged in or on the rear wall (22) of the refrigerating zone (5), said first channel (20) being provided to guide air from the refrigerating zone (5) into the channel system of the dividing wall (7), wherein the first channel (20) is arranged in particular centrally in or on the rear wall (22) of the refrigerating zone (5), extends in particular to the ceiling (23) of the refrigerating zone (5) and/or has an opening (24) in particular in its upper region, through which air is able to flow from the refrigerating zone through the first channel (20) to the channel system, and/or

   - a second channel (33) extending vertically is arranged in or on the rear wall (34) of the cold storage compartment (4), said second channel being provided to guide air from the channel system of the dividing wall (7) into the cold storage compartment (4), wherein the second channel (34) is arranged in particular centrally in or on the rear wall (34) of the cold storage compartment (4), extends in particular across the entire width of the cold storage compartment (4) and/or has in particular a number of slot-type openings (35) which run in particular horizontally, through which air is able to flow from the channel system of the dividing wall (7) through the second channel (33) into the cold storage compartment (4), and/or

   - the closed door leaf (9) and the dividing wall (7) form a gap (21) for the exchange of air between the cold storage compartment (4) and the refrigerating zone (5), and/or

   - the dividing wall (7) has an upper wall (14), a lower wall (15) and a front wall (16), within which the evaporator (13) is arranged, wherein the upper wall (14), the lower wall (15) and/or the front wall (16) are embodied to be heat insulating.
4. Domestic refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the channel system of the dividing wall (7) comprises a left side-channel (27) and/or a right side-channel (26), which guides/guide the air originating from the refrigerating zone (5) laterally on the evaporator (13) from the rear region to the front region of the dividing wall (7).
5. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 4, characterised in that the left and/or right side-channel (26, 27) is formed by the upper wall (14) and the lower wall (15) of the dividing base (7) and by a further wall (28, 29) facing the evaporator (13), and by side walls (17) of the dividing base (7) or the side walls of the inner container (2), wherein the further wall (28, 29) facing the evaporator (13) is in particular embodied to be heat insulating.
6. Domestic refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the channel system of the dividing wall (7) has an air guide system (30) in the front region of the dividing wall (7), which is designed to guide the air originating from the refrigerating zone (5) across the entire width of the evaporator (13).
7. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 6, characterised in that the air guide system (30) has at least one first air guide element (31), which is able to guide the air originating from the refrigerating zone (5) across the entire width of the evaporator (13) and/or a second air guide element (32) in particular in the form of a horizontally aligned plate, which is able to guide the air originating from the refrigerating zone (5) evenly across the height of the evaporator (13).
8. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the air guide system (30) comprises the front wall (16) of the dividing base (7), wherein the side of the front wall (16) facing the evaporator (13) is embodied curved such that it is able to guide air from the left and/or right side-channel (26, 27) into the central front region of the evaporator (13).
9. Domestic refrigeration device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterised by a fan (36), which is provided to forcibly convey the air from the refrigerating zone (5) via the channel system through and/or across the evaporator (13) into the cold storage compartment (4).
10. Domestic refrigeration device according to claim 9, characterised in that the fan (36) is arranged within the dividing wall (7), in particular behind the evaporator (16).
11. Domestic refrigeration device according to one of claims 3 to 10, characterised in that the dividing wall (7) has in its front region a container (18) that is open towards the top, which is formed by the lower wall (15), the front wall (16) and a front wall (19) that delimits the base (7) towards the front.

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