EP2947406A1

EP2947406A1 - Ventilation of a cooling-freezing apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP2947406A1
Application number: EP15020041.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Groznik; Tomaz Krajnc
Original assignee: Gorenje gospodinjski aparati dd
Current assignee: Gorenje gospodinjski aparati dd
Priority date: 2014-05-23
Filing date: 2015-03-18
Publication date: 2015-11-25
Also published as: SI24722A

Abstract

The present invention refers to a cooling and/or freezing apparatus, preferably a household cooling and/or freezing apparatus comprising a cooling compartment enclosed by an insulated body closed by a door with a gasket for sealing along the edge of the inner section of the door, wherein said gasket is fixed in an intentionally formed groove by means of which a pressure balance between the cooling compartment and the surrounding is enabled. It is provided for, according to the present invention, that at least one corner area (7) of said door (2) is formed with at least a pair of depressions (8; 9) mutually connected by means of a connecting channel (10), said channel (10) having larger depth than a channel (6) provided to accommodate a gasket (5).

Description

The present invention refers to a cooling and/or freezing apparatus, preferably a household cooling and/or freezing apparatus comprising a cooling compartment enclosed by an insulated body closed by a door with a gasket for sealing along the edge of the inner section of the door, wherein said gasket is fixed in an intentionally formed groove by means of which a pressure balance between the cooling compartment and the surrounding is enabled.
Frequent opening the door of the cooling apparatus results in a various force to be used in order to open the door, occasionally even annoyingly high force. The increase in force to open the door is caused by the temperature difference between the surrounding and the cooling compartment of the cooling apparatus during opening and closing the door of the cooling compartment, when said compartment begins to cool down after the door have been closed. In such a case and with an appropriate sealing of the door a negative pressure is built within the cooling compartment. On the other hand, when a cooling compressor does not operate the air volume in the cooling compartment increases, and with the appropriate sealing the force to open the door is rather low, which again is not recommended. With poor sealing of the door there is no increase in force to open the door due to the negative pressure, however, due to the air flow moisture and ice start to accumulate in places where the apparatus does not seal, which is disturbing, on the one hand, and represents an unwanted energy loss on the other hand.
There are several known approaches to solve the above problems. One of the known solutions provides incorporation of the handle using a push-off lever mechanism which upon acting on the handle supports to override the force of the negative pressure and magnetic force of the gasket when opening the door. Another solution provides for the pressure balance between the cooling compartment and the surrounding, which can be achieved with the installation of a pressure compensating valve, through which the cooling compartment is connected with the surroundings. In this way, a flow of air is provided from the surrounding into the interior and not in the opposite direction, thus, preventing the flow of cold air in the surrounding and consequently the energy loss. Said valve may be formed, for example, with a ball placed in the hopper or in some other known way, which, however, increases the manufacturing costs of the apparatus.
Some solutions provide for use of an elastic membrane, arranged on an opening, through which the cooling compartment is connected with the surroundings. The elastic membrane deforms in the direction of the negative pressure and prevents the passage of air, therefore, it is rather preferred solution in terms of energy loss. The disadvantage of this solution is that moisture can accumulate on the membrane, said moisture may freeze and hinder the elastic deformation of the membrane. In addition, the elasticity of the membranes decreases with age and the material gets tired, so that the functioning of the membranes after a few years is questionable.
Yet another known solution provides the gasket comprising transverse apertures connecting the cooling compartment to the surroundings. Manufacture of such a gasket is rather expensive, and in addition moisture may accumulate in said apertures, even ice and dirt. Such a seal is difficult or even impossible to clean particularly within the profile and in the vicinity of the apertures, which reduces the functionality.
One of the known solutions, which is comparably simple, provides a direct passage from the surrounding into the interior, said passage created by a cross depression under the gasket on the internal surface of the door. Thus, pressure balance is easily obtained, but the solution may have some disadvantages, particularly in with the upright positioned cooling apparatuses. With a suitable sealing of the apparatus the direct passage under the gasket at the upper edge of the door is most favorable, since there is no leakage of cold air from the apparatus, and the pressure balance is ensured. Most of the vertical apparatuses comprise in the lower part plurality of small openings to discharge the condensate. In this case, the arrangement of the direct passage in the upper region is rather inappropriate, since a constant flow of air from the surroundings into the interior of the cooling compartment is thus allowed. Therefore, it is more suitable to arrange the direct passage in the lower region of the door on the vertical sides or on the lower edge of the door. The biggest disadvantage of direct passage lies certainly in that with the deterioration of the door sealing during the lifetime of the apparatus the direct passage have no viscous resistance of the air flow and enables additional permanent unobstructed outflow of cold air and, consequently, energy loss and the accumulation of moisture and condensation at the bottom outer region of the apparatus, which is rather annoying for the user.
A solution is disclosed in the document No. FR2445916 providing the air flow via a longer path below the gasket. A groove under the gasket is formed in a manner that the inflow opening extends transversally to the gasket and the air, afterwards, flows via a depression along longitudinal axis and under the gasket and passes into the interior through an outlet formed transversally to the gasket, said outlet being substantially remote from said transversal opening. In order to prevent the outflow of the cooling air a higher viscous resistance is to be obtained, therefore, the channel of the indirect passage under the gasket is relatively long, preferably over the entire width of the apparatus. However, a channel too long represents a drawback since moisture accumulates in the long groove said moisture subjected to freezing and as result it lifts the gasket and plugs the passage, resulting in special heating elements to be incorporated there in.
Further, a solution is disclosed in a document No. US5228314 dealing with a process of cooling the food and using a combination of cooling down a cooling container and a negative pressure artificially formed there in. A viscous resistance which is high enough for the possible flow of the cool air can be obtained by integrating of suitable channels for indirect passage below a cover. Thus, the pressure between the interior of the cooled container and the surrounding may be equalized, and the air flow is disabled mostly because of the length of the grooves and the viscous resistance due to the large difference in density of the inner cold air and the outer warm air.
It is the object of the present invention to create a cooling and/or freezing apparatus, preferably a household cooling and/or freezing apparatus, remedying drawbacks of known solutions.
According to the present invention, the object as set above is solved in a manner that an indirect passage in a groove under a gasket is formed in the area of the lower left and the lower right corner of the gasket, viewing the apparatus from the front side. An elongated opening with a depression at the lower boundary of the gasket is formed in the inner lower boundary section of the door body, said opening connecting said indirect passage with the surrounding. An elongated opening with a depression at the vertical inner boundary of the gasket at the left and, respectively, at the right side of the door is formed in the left inner vertical door boundary and, respectively, in the right inner vertical door boundary, said opening connecting said indirect passage with a cooling compartment of the apparatus. Both elongated openings are spaced form the corner of the gasket in the sense of a necessary prolongation of the indirect passage in order to obtain a viscous resistance which is high enough for the air to flow in the indirect duct channel under the gasket.
A desired effect of decreasing the force due to negative pressure resulting from a frequent door opening can be obtained by optimising the length and the cross-section of said indirect duct channel with different volumes of the apparatuses. One of the advantageous of such an embodiment is a favourable double cross-section for the air flow in both indirect passages obtained simultaneously with the pressure equalization over the two corner indirect passages.
Another advantage of the present invention is a rigid position of the gasket under which the passage is formed. The gasket and, respectively, the position thereof is much more stable due to an angular shape in the corner and due to a permanent contact of the gasket with one of the boundaries, thus, excluding any accidental movement.
Further advantage of said embodiment of the ventilation is obtaining of the air movement in the areas of the lower front corners of the cooling compartment where air usually does not move. This feature has a favourable impact on creation and drying of the condensate and on a constant temperature distribution in this area.
When the condensate appears in the duct channel it flows due to the gravity down by the channel towards the opening connecting the passage with the surrounding, which represents yet another advantage of said embodiment. In the area of the mouth of the indirect passage to the surrounding the condensate dries due to the higher temperature. When door is opening frequently and with the high relative humidity of the surrounding air more condensate may be created in the indirect duct channel. Due to the vertical orientation of the channel the condensate can flow out of the apparatus. Due to the gravity, an automatic condensate drainage from the duct channel is eanabled, thus, preventing the hindering of the channel and potential ice built at the entrance opening, and simultaneously, the indirect duct channel is kept free.
By additional constructional details it is possible, due to the inventive arrangement of the inlet-outlet openings, to prevent the entrance of potential condensate into the duct channel. The flow of the condensate created in the duct channel to the surrounding of the apparatus can be prevented by different constructional features so that the condensate evaporates before flowing to the surrounding of the apparatus.
The invention is further described in detail on the basis of the non-limiting preferred embodiment, and with a reference to the accompanying drawings, where

Fig. 1: shows a three-dimensional view of a cooling-freezing apparatus,
Fig. 2: shows a partial view of a section II-II of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3: shows a three-dimensional view of a part of a door from the interior of a cooling-freezing apparatus,
Fig. 4: shows a cross-sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3,
Fig. 5: shows a cross-sectional view along the line V-V of Fig. 3,
Fig. 6: shows a cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3,
Fig. 7: shows a cross-sectional view along the line VII-VII of Fig. 3.

The invention is further described with the reference to an embodiment of a vertical cooling apparatus, although the essence of the invention may be used with other cooling-freezing apparatuses such as a chest freezer for instance.
A cooling-freezing apparatus comprises a body 1 with a cooling and/or freezing compartment to hold goods, said compartment can be closed by a door 2. The door 2 is pressed with its inner wall 3 against a corresponding wall 4 of the body 1, a gasket 5 being arranged between the wall3 of the door 2 and the wall 4 of the body 1, said gasket 5 sealing the cooling and/or freezing compartment against the surrounding air. Said gasket 5 is preferably arranged in a channel 6 which faces said wall 4 of the body 1 and which is formed over the entire circumference of said wall 3 of the door 2.
At least one corner area 7 of said door 2 is formed with a pair of depressions 8; 9 mutually connected by means of a connecting channel 10. It is provided for, according to the present invention, that said channel 10 is deeper than the channel 6 configured to accomodate the gasket 5. Further, it is provided that each depression 8; 9 is formed in a manner to cut said channel 6 and, respectively, that the channel 6 runs into each depression 8; 9. The preferred embodiment, for instance, provides for that the first depression 8 is formed in the horizontal section of the door 2, whereas the second depression 9 is formed in the vertical section of the door 2. With the present embodiment said depression 8; 9 resembles a rectangular form, viewed in the plane of the door 2. It is possible, however, that at least one of walls 11, 12, 13 of at least one depression 8, 9 is formed under an angle with regard to the longitudinal and/or transversal extension of the channel 6 so that it is spatially inclined in the direction towards the interior of the cooling compartment. Generally, when viewed in the plane of the door 2, said depression 8; 9 can resemble the form of a parallelogram such as a rhombus, a trapezoid, a trapezium and similar. In this manner it can be achieved that the condensate which collects in the area above the depression 9 in the vertical section of the door 2 and in the area of the entrance to the depression 9 does not flow directly into said connecting channel 10 but flows over the inclined lower side wall 11 back to the cooling compartment and down to the longitudinal boundary of the gasket 5 at the lower horizontal boundary of the door 2 where the gasket 5 seals over the entire width of the door 2. Therefore, the condensate can not flow under the gasket 5 out to the surrounding, in spite of that in this area the connecting channel 10 is connected with the surrounding.
The condensate which during frequent opening of the door 2 creates under the gasket 5 in the vertical section 10' of the connecting channel 10 flows in to the lower horizontal section 10" of the connecting channel 10 and further towards the depression 8. Since the air temperature in this area is higher, the condensate starts drying. In case of a larger amount of the condensate additional constructional features may be introduced in the sense of incorporating containers in the inner surface of the door that may hold larger amount of the condensate in order for the latter to evaporate before flowing to the surrounding in the area of the bottom of the apparatus and on the floor where the apparatus is placed on. One of possible ways is additional deepening of the depression 8, thus, creating a container with a negative sides angle which traps a certain amount of the condensate in order for the latter to evaporate before running down into the surrounding of the apparatus. Optionally, the a bottom and walls of the horizontal section 10" of the connecting channel 10 may comprise additional ribs in order to additionally retain a part of the condensate.
It is of course understood that other embodiments with a connecting channel are possible which, based on the described invention, are obvious to a skilled person. One of possible embodiments provides the depressions to be formed in the vertical section of the gasket on the left and/or right side of the door and, preferably, in the lower half of the door.

Claims

A cooling and/or freezing apparatus, preferably a household cooling and/or freezing apparatus comprising a cooling compartment enclosed by an insulated body closed by a door with a gasket for sealing along the edge of the inner section of the door, wherein said gasket is fixed in an intentionally formed groove by means of which a pressure balance between the cooling compartment and the surrounding is enabled, characterized in that at least one corner area (7) of said door (2) is formed with at least a pair of depressions (8; 9) mutually connected by means of a connecting channel (10), said channel (10) having larger depth than a channel (6) provided to accommodate a gasket (5).
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each depression (8; 9) crosses said channel (6) and, respectively, the channel (6) runs into each depression (8; 9).
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the first depression (8) is formed in a horizontal section of the door (2), whereas the second depression (9) is formed in the vertical section of the door (2).
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said depression (8; 9), when viewed in the plane of the door (2), resembles a shape of a parallelogram such as a rhombus, a trapezoid, a trapezium and similar.
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of walls (11, 12, 13) of at least one depression (8; 9) is formed under an angle with regard to the longitudinal and/or transversal extension of the channel (6) so that it is spatially inclined in the direction towards the interior of the cooling compartment.
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a container to receive condensate is integrated in the inner surface of the door (2).
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that sides of the depression (8) comprise a negative angle.
A cooling and/or freezing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bottom and walls of the horizontal section (10") of the connecting channel (10) comprise ribs.