EP2836776B1 - Refrigerating device with a fan unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with a fan unit, which has an impeller and a flange for attaching the fan unit to a wall of the refrigerator.

Fan units with flange are laboriously screwed to the assembly partner, such as a wall. However, mounting via a plurality of radially arranged screw connections involves a high risk that the central bearing of the fan unit will be damaged by a bending moment on the flange. In addition, the assembly is time consuming when using screws. In addition, screws can tilt or not be tightened sufficiently.

The publication JP 2003 314500 A shows a fan wheel comprising a bottom, which has three crescent-shaped elements on a concentric circle. By the three crescent-shaped elements one screw is screwed into a partition plate of a refrigerator.

The Utility Model JP H0281379 U shows a fan, which is arranged in a housing. The housing is screwed to a receptacle. The recording is screwed to a wall.

The publication US 2004/099000 A1 shows a fan device comprising a receiving device. The fan device further includes a fan with a motor. The engine is housed on a motor mount. The motor mount is formed integrally with the receptacle.

The publication JP 2007 107732 A shows a fan unit comprising a fan. The fan is included in a receptacle. The receptacle is attached by screws to a partition.

It is therefore the object underlying the invention to improve the attachment of a fan unit in a refrigerator.

This object is achieved by an article having the features according to the independent claim. Advantageous forms of further development are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The present invention is based on the recognition that a concentric attachment around the axis of rotation of the impeller prevents a bending moment which can lead to damage of the central fan bearing.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a refrigeration device with a fan unit, which has an impeller and a flange for fastening the fan unit to a wall of the refrigeration device, wherein the flange has a concentric with the axis of rotation of the impeller fastening element for securing the fan unit to the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a bending moment is avoided on the flange and simplifies the installation of the fan unit. The impeller may generally be any impeller, such as a radial impeller or an axial impeller.

Under refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigerator, which is used for household management in households or in the catering sector, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a Kühlgefrierkombination, a freezer or a wine fridge.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the fastening element comprises an external thread or a bayonet closure. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that a fast assembly unit of the fan unit takes place in a production process on a wall of the refrigerator.

According to the invention, the refrigeration device comprises a counterpart for the fastening element for fastening the fan unit to the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that an easy assembly is made by placing the counterpart.

According to the invention, the counterpart has an internal thread or a bayonet closure. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is also achieved that an attachment of the fan unit can be realized in a simple manner.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the counterpart is made of plastic. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the counterpart can be produced by simple means in a suitable form.

According to the invention, the counterpart encloses the fastening element of the flange. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the fastener is protected from mechanical damage. According to a further advantageous embodiment, an elastic element is arranged between the counterpart and the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that an unintentional release of the fan unit is avoided and improves the strength of the mechanical connection.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the counterpart comprises a latching means for latching the counterpart in an attachment of the fan unit. This will For example, also the technical advantage achieved that unintentional release of the fan unit is prevented by the wall.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the latching means is a latching nose for latching in a recess in the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the latching means can be realized in a simple manner and with little effort.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the locking means is a pawl element. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the counterpart can engage in different positions and a firm connection of the fan unit is achieved on the wall.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the refrigeration device comprises a screw which prevents rotation of the counterpart or the flange relative to the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the attachment of the fan unit to the wall is improved.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, an elastic element is arranged between the wall and the flange. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that improves the strength of the mechanical connection.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the flange and / or the wall has a shape which prevents a rotation of the flange relative to the wall. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is also achieved that the attachment of the fan unit is improved by simple means.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the flange is circular. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the flange exerts a uniform force on the wall.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the flange comprises an axis of rotation for the impeller. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that the blower wheel can be stored directly on the flange and the construction of the fan unit is simplified.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Darstellung eines Kältegerätes;
• Fig. 2 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Lüftereinheit mit Schraubbefestigung;
• Fig. 3 eine Querschnittsansicht einer Lüftereinheit mit Schraubbefestigung;
• Fig. 4 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Lüftereinheit mit einem konzentrischen Befestigungselement; und
• Fig. 5 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Lüftereinheit mit einem konzentrischen Befestigungselement.

Further embodiments will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a refrigerator;
• Fig. 2 a perspective view of a fan unit with screw fastening;
• Fig. 3 a cross-sectional view of a fan unit with screw fastening;
• Fig. 4 a perspective view of a fan unit with a concentric fastener; and
• Fig. 5 a perspective view of a fan unit with a concentric fastener.

Fig.1 shows a refrigerator with an upper refrigerator door 103 and a lower refrigerator door 105 representative of a general refrigeration device 100. The refrigerator is used for example for cooling food and includes a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a throttle body. The evaporator is a heat exchanger in which, after expansion, the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by absorbing heat from the medium to be cooled, ie the air inside the refrigerator.

The compressor is a mechanically operated component that draws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and expels it at a higher pressure to the condenser. The condenser is a heat exchanger in which, after compression, the vaporized refrigerant is released by heat release to an external cooling medium, i. the ambient air is liquefied. The throttle body is a device for the continuous reduction of the pressure by cross-sectional constriction.

The refrigerant is a fluid used for heat transfer in the cryogenic system which absorbs heat at low temperatures and low pressure of the fluid and releases heat at higher temperature and pressure of the fluid, usually including changes in state of the fluid.

The upper door 103 opens an upper refrigeration compartment, while the lower door 105, for example, opens a 0 ° C compartment. In the two subjects, different temperatures prevail. In order to operate the refrigerator efficiently, the cold air is circulated inside the refrigerator 100.

In order to promote the cold air targeted to the stored in the compartments refrigerated goods, special air ducts are provided inside the refrigerator. It is advantageous to integrate the necessary for the circulation fan unit in the air duct, as this saves installation space and so a small loss of useful volume in the refrigerator is achieved. This is achieved by mounting space-saving installation of the fan unit in the refrigeration device 100, excluding an introduction of force into the storage system of the fan unit.

A space-saving installation of the fan unit is carried out either via a subframe in axial fans, a special fan housing, such as a worm, or a flange in radial fans. While subframe and fan housing can be locked, fan units mounted on a flange are bolted to the mounting partner, such as a wall.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a fan unit 200 which is mounted via screws 211 and a flange 205 on a transparent wall 207 shown. A radial impeller 203 rotates about an axis having an opening 215.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the mounted on a wall 207 fan unit 200. The flange 205 includes a plurality of threads 213, in which the screws 211 are screwed to attach the fan unit 200. By screwing the fan unit 200 is attached to the wall 207. During operation, the radial impeller 203 rotates about the axis of rotation 209.

By mounting over a plurality of radially arranged screw connections, a bending moment in the direction of the arrow can occur which damages the central bearing of the fan unit 200. In addition, the installation by means of screws is time-consuming and the screws can tilt or not sufficiently tightened.

Therefore, it is the object underlying the invention to improve the attachment of the fan unit 200 to the wall 207. This is done by providing a concentric to the axis of rotation 209 of the radial impeller 203 mounting member for attaching the fan unit 200 to the wall 207 is provided.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a fan unit 300 with a fastener 311 on the flange 305, which is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation of the radial impeller 303. The flange 305 may have a projection 319, by which the flange 305 is secured against rotation during insertion into a corresponding, positive fit in the wall 307. The wall 307 comprises a recess 313 into which a corresponding nose of the counterpart 315 can engage and which prevents the counterpart 315 from rotating with respect to the wall.

It is advantageous if the counterpart 315 is provided with an anti-twist device which can only be released again with the aid of a corresponding tool, since in this case an unintentional release of the counterpart 315 is prevented and a firm connection with the wall 307 results. In the rotation of the flange 305 against the wall 307 such a configuration is not essential.

In general, however, other configurations may be provided on the flange 305 or the wall 307, which are suitable for preventing a rotation of the flange 305 relative to the wall. For example, the flange 305 may include one or more pins that pop out of the surface of the flange 305 and that are inserted into corresponding openings in the wall upon placement of the flange 305 on the wall.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the mounted on a wall 307 fan unit 300. The flange 305 is located between the radial impeller 303 and the wall 307. The radial impeller 303 rotates about the axis of rotation 309th

An electric motor for driving the radial impeller 303 about the rotation axis 309 is integrated, for example, in the radial impeller 303 or mounted on the flange 305, and is externally supplied with a proper operating voltage. The fastening element 311 protrudes through the wall 307, on which the fan unit 300 is mounted and the at the same time serves as an air-conducting component. The fastening element 311 can be, for example, a molded body with a bayonet connection or screw connection. In general, however, other connection mechanisms may be used as long as they are concentric with the axis of rotation 309 of the radial impeller 303.

To secure the fan unit 300, the fastener 311 is secured with a counterpart 315, such as a nut. The counterpart 315 has as a latching means on a nose 317 which engages in a predetermined position in a corresponding opening in the wall 307, so that a turning back of the counterpart 315 is prevented after latching. The counterpart 315 is designed self-locking by a latching with the air duct.

All components are designed so that between flange 305 and counterpart 315 a play-free connection, such as a press connection, is formed. Tolerance compensation of the components can be ensured by means of elastic elements, such as rubber slides or rings, on the flange 305 or counterpart 315. The elastic elements ensure a uniform contact pressure and additionally prevent the transmission of vibrations.

Another possibility is to secure the components against rotation with an additional connecting element, such as a screw.

Due to the concentric arrangement of the fastening element 311, the fan unit and the flange with the bearing system of the fan unit is loaded only in the axial and radial directions, so that a bending moment as in a screw connection can not occur.

The applied radial force is transmitted during the joining process to the wall 307, on which the fan unit 300 is mounted, so that the flange is only under a tensile load. In addition, the compound according to the invention is self-locking and quick and easy to install.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

The refrigerator

103

Upper door

105

Lower door

200

fan unit

203

radial impeller

205

flange

207

wall

209

axis of rotation

211

screw

213

thread

215

opening

300

fan unit

303

radial impeller

305

flange

307

wall

309

axis of rotation

311

fastener

313

recess

315

counterpart

317

locking lug

319

head Start

Claims (13)

1. Refrigerating device (100) with a fan unit (300), which has a blower wheel (303) and a flange (305) for fastening the fan unit (300) to a wall (307) of the refrigerating device (100), wherein the flange (305) has a fastening element (311), which is concentric to the axis of rotation (309) of the blower wheel (303), for fastening the fan unit (300) to the wall (307), characterised in that the refrigerating device (100) comprises a counterpart (315) for the fastening element (311) for fastening the fan unit (300) to the wall (307), the counterpart (315) has an internal thread or a bayonet fitting, the counterpart encloses the fastening element of the flange so that a bending moment on the flange (305) can be prevented.
2. Refrigerating device (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the fastening element (311) comprises an outer thread or a bayonet fitting.
3. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the counterpart (315) is made from plastic.
4. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the counterpart (315) encloses the fastening element (311) of the flange (305).
5. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that an elastic element is arranged between the counterpart (315) and the wall (307).
6. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the counterpart (315) comprises a catch means (317) for catching the counterpart (315) when the fan unit (300) is fastened.
7. Refrigerating device (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that the latching means is a catch tappet (317) for catching in a recess in the wall (307).
8. Refrigerating device (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that the latching means is a ratchet element.
9. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the refrigerating device (100) comprises a screw, which prevents a rotation of the counterpart (315) or of the flange (305) in relation to the wall (307).
10. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that an elastic element is arranged between the wall (307) and flange (305).
11. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flange (305) and/or the wall (307) have a shape which prevents the flange (305) from twisting in relation to the wall (307).
12. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flange (305) is circular.
13. Refrigerating device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flange (305) comprises an axis of rotation (309) for the fan wheel (303).

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