EP3030852A1

EP3030852A1 - Refrigerator having an air-admission valve

Info

Publication number: EP3030852A1
Application number: EP14744068.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roland KÜMMEL; Karl-Friedrich Laible; Andreas Lindel; Ulrich Schlander
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2013-08-07
Filing date: 2014-07-24
Publication date: 2016-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-24
Also published as: CN105492847A; EP3030852B1; PL3030852T3; DE102013215518A1; WO2015018645A1; CN105492847B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (100) having a refrigerator door (103) which comprises an inserted air-admission valve (101) for aerating a refrigerator compartment when the refrigerator door (103) is opened, wherein the air-admission valve (101) comprises a base plate (105) having an air opening, an elastic membrane (109) for covering the air opening, and a cover element (111), placed on the elastic membrane (109), in order to fasten the elastic membrane (109) to the base plate (105).

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH A VENTILATION VALVE

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device with a refrigerator door, which includes an inserted vent valve for venting a refrigeration compartment at an opening of the refrigerator door. In the case of stationary devices, a small tunnel is often created between the door seal and the door inner panel in the lower region of the door. Due to the energy efficiency, this tunnel can only be made very small.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide a refrigeration device in which the door opening force can be reduced by means of a simply designed and reliable vent valve.

This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a refrigeration device with a

Refrigerated door solved, which comprises an inserted vent valve for ventilating a refrigeration compartment at an opening of the refrigerator door, wherein the vent valve comprises a base plate with an air opening, an elastic membrane for covering the air opening and a lid attached to the elastic membrane element for attaching the elastic membrane to the Base plate includes. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the door opening forces are reduced in the refrigerator and the user is an easy opening possible. The ventilation valve can be installed inconspicuously in the refrigerator door with little space and can be produced with little technical effort.

Under a refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigerator, which is used for household management in households or catering trade, and in particular serves food and / or drinks at certain

Store temperatures such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge freezer, a freezer or a wine fridge.

In an advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the ventilation valve comprises a film hinge for rotatably connecting the base plate and the cover element. Thereby For example, the technical advantage is achieved that the base plate and the

Cover element can be formed by a common plastic molded part and a production of the ventilation valve is simplified, since only one injection molding tool is used. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the membrane comprises at least one opening for aligning the membrane to the base plate. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that the membrane is when placed on the base plate in the intended position. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device includes the

Cover member a protruding lip for pressing the membrane to the base plate. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the membrane is smoothed and will avoid distortions. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the base plate comprises a receptacle for a door seal of the refrigerator door. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the ventilation valve can be secured by the door seal against falling out. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigerator door comprises a deep-drawn pocket for inserting the ventilation valve. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the ventilation valve can be integrated into the refrigerator door and the membrane can be held by gravity in the closed position.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the bag is arranged on an underside of the refrigerator door. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that when opening the refrigerator door air is guided from below into the refrigeration compartment.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the bag forms an airway around a door seal. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the incoming air can be introduced from the edge of the refrigerator door. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the pocket surrounds the base plate in a form-fitting manner. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that an unwanted leakage of air between the vent valve and the refrigerator door is prevented. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device is the elastic

Membrane on an inside over the base plate over. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a sealing effect the vent valve and the

Refrigeration appliance door is improved. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the base plate comprises two projecting pins for placing the cover element. This will

For example, the technical advantage achieved that the membrane is reliably held by the attached lid member. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device includes the

Cover element a locking means for locking in the projecting pin. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that the membrane can be quickly attached to the base plate. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the base plate comprises laterally molded ribs for sealing the ventilation valve. This will

For example, also achieved the technical advantage that a lateral gap can be sealed. In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the air opening has a rectangular cross-section. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a large amount of air can quickly pass through the vent valve.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration device, the base plate and / or the cover element is a plastic molded part. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that a production of the ventilation valve can be carried out quickly and efficiently.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a refrigerator; and Figure 2 is a view of a disassembled vent valve.

Fig. 3 is a view of the composite vent valve;

4 is a view of a refrigerator door with inserted vent valve.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door with inserted vent valve.

6 is an enlarged view of the ventilation valve used in the refrigerator door. and FIG. 7 shows a further view of the ventilation valve inserted in the refrigerator door.

Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator representative of a refrigerator 100 with an upper

Refrigerator door and a lower refrigerator door. 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 through

Heat absorption from the medium to be cooled, i. the air inside the refrigerator is evaporated. The compressor is a mechanically operated component, the refrigerant vapor from the

Evaporator sucks and ejects at a higher pressure to the condenser. Of 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 that 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 refrigeration device 100 comprises an upper and a lower refrigerator door 103, each of which can close a refrigeration compartment inside the refrigeration device 100 and be opened by a user. 2 shows a view of a disassembled ventilation valve 101. The vent valve 101 includes a base plate 105 and an elastic membrane 109. In the base plate 105, a rectangular air hole 107 is formed. The membrane 109 rests on the upper side of the base plate 105. When opening the refrigerator door 103, the membrane 109 is raised by the negative pressure, so that air can flow through the released air opening 107. As a result, a negative pressure in the interior of the refrigeration compartment can be reduced, which would make the opening of the refrigerator door 103 more difficult. The membrane 109 is, for example, a

Rubber membrane with a thickness of 0.35 mm.

The base plate 105 comprises two cylindrical pins 125, which protrude from the base plate 105 upwards. Similarly, the membrane 109 comprises two openings 1 13 at corresponding positions, which in assembling the

Ventilation valve 101 can be placed on the pins 125. At the rear end of the base plate 105, a lid member 1 1 1 is fixed by means of a film hinge 131. Becomes a

Used film hinge 131, the base plate 105 can be made together with the lid member 1 1 1 in a single injection molded part with an injection molding tool. The film hinge 131 is in an unbent state and the lid member 1 1 1 is open.

In the cover element 1 1 1 latching means 127 are formed, which when folding the

Lock lid element 1 1 1 on pin 125. By folding over the

Cover element 1 1 1, which is connected by means of the film hinge 131 directly to the base plate 105, the membrane 109 is fixed after engagement of the locking means 127.

At the rear of the lid member 1 1 1, a protruding lip 1 15 is formed. At the front of the base plate 105 is a cross-sectionally U-shaped receptacle 1 17 for a circumferential door seal. In the receptacle 1 17, the door seal the

Refrigeration device door 103 used. As a result, the ventilation valve 101 can be fixed behind the door seal. The door seal is formed for example by a circumferential rubber seal comprising a magnetic element. Fig. 3 shows a view of the composite vent valve 101. The cover element 1 1 1 is latched by means of the latching means 127 on the pin 125 of the base plate 105 and is in the closed state. The membrane 109 is thereby clamped and fixed between the base plate 105 and a cover element 1 1 1. In the closed state, the lip 1 15 of the lid member 1 1 1 is on the membrane 109 and serves to smooth the membrane 109. The lip 1 15 on the lid member 1 1 1 presses the membrane 109 in front of the air opening 107 down. This prevents faults and ensures optimum sealing. This ensures that the vent valve 101 seals well when closed. The hinge 1 13 is in the bent state.

Alternatively, however, the cover element 1 1 1 could also be formed by a separate component, which is not connected by means of the film hinge 131 to the base plate 105 and is placed from above onto the base plate 105. The membrane 109 is placed with the openings 1 13 on the two pins 125, which thereby two alignment mandrels for aligning

Form membrane on the base plate 105. In addition, a displacement of the diaphragm 109 on the base plate 105 is prevented.

4 shows a view of a refrigerator door 103 with inserted ventilation valve 101. The inside of the refrigerator door 103 is formed of a drawn board. On the underside of the refrigerator door 103, a deep-drawn pocket 121 is formed, which defines a recess in the refrigerator door 103.

The assembly of the vent valve 101 is in the designated pocket 121 in the

Inserted inside the refrigerator door 103 and secured by the rotating door seal 1 19 against falling out. It is not necessary to latch the ventilation valve 101 in the pocket 121 on the inside of the refrigerator door 103, so that simple assembly can be realized and the ventilation valve 101 only has to be inserted into the pocket 121.

The pocket 121 forms an air path 123, which leads around the door seal 1 19 in the inside of the refrigerator door 103. The vent valve 101 is inserted in the air path 121 and blocks an air flow from the inside of the refrigeration compartment. In the opposite direction, the vent valve 101 allows the flow of air into the interior of the refrigeration compartment, so that a negative pressure in the refrigeration compartment can be prevented. With a flow of air in the interior the cold compartment, the elastic membrane 109 is lifted from the base plate 105. By the resulting gap between the membrane 109 and the base plate 105, the incoming air flows. This reduces the door opening forces.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door 103 with inserted

Ventilation valve 101. The dashed arrows show the airway when opening the

Refrigeration appliance door 103. The air enters the pocket 121 on the underside of the refrigerator door 103 below the door seal 1 19 and is guided inside the refrigerator door 103 through the ventilation valve 101. Above the door seal 1 19, the air exits on the inside of the refrigerator door 103 again. The lid member 1 1 1 presses the membrane 109 against the air opening 107, so that the air flow can pass through the bag 121 only in one direction.

The door seal 1 19 is located in the U-shaped receptacle 1 17 and holds the vent valve 101 in the pocket 121. The base plate 105 of the vent valve 101 is in the pocket 121 laterally and rearwardly encompassed by the inner door. As a result, the base plate 105 is sealed against the inner door. Therefore, no undercuts in the refrigerator door 105 for locking the vent valve 101 are required. As at the

Base plate 105 no locking hooks for attaching the venting valve 101 to the

Refrigeration device door 103 are required, a simple injection molding tool without slide for the production of the vent valve 101 may be used.

6 shows an enlarged view of the refrigerator door 103 used

Ventilation valve 101 without inserted door seal 1 19. If the membrane 109 projects laterally beyond the base plate 105, this can additionally as a seal against the

Inner door can be used. In this case, the membrane 109 seals a lateral gap on the ventilation valve 101.

FIG. 7 shows a further view of the device used in the refrigerator door 103

Ventilation valve 101. If the ventilation valve 101 is composed of the base plate 105 and the cover element 1 1 1, without a film hinge 1 1 1 is used on the back, the membrane 109 can also project beyond the base plate 105 on the back. In this case, the membrane 109 can also be at the back of the

Ventilation valve 101 can be used for sealing on the inner door. Further, the base plate 105 may be provided with laterally projecting, elastic ribs 129, which are arranged laterally resiliently relative to the base plate 105. The ribs 129 are injection-molded, for example, on the base plate 105. Due to the thin, flexible ribs 129 on the base plate 105, a lateral seal against the inner door is achieved. As a result, the advantage is achieved that lateral manufacturing tolerances of the pocket 121 can be compensated.

The base plate 105 and / or the cover element 1 1 1 is for example a

Plastic molding. The base plate 105 and membrane 109 could also as

Two-component spray part be executed.

The vent valve 101 is universally applicable in different device series. To insert the ventilation valve 101 is no undercut on the inside of the

Refrigeration appliance door 103 required, so that the inner door can be made by a simple drawing tool. Through the vent valve 101, a small, easy-to-integrate component can be formed, which can be unobtrusively integrated into the design of the refrigeration device 100. The ventilation valve 101 forms a thin assembly, so that the installation situation in the refrigerator door 103 improves.

All of the features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 refrigeration unit

101 valve

103 refrigerator door

105 base plate

07 air opening

109 membrane

111 cover element

113 opening

115 lip

117 recording

119 Door seal

121 bag

123 airway

125 cones

127 locking means

129 ribs

131 film hinge

133 magnetic element

Claims

Anspruch [en] A refrigerator (100) having a refrigerator door (103) comprising an inserted vent valve (101) for ventilating a refrigeration compartment at an opening of the refrigeration appliance door (103), characterized in that the vent valve (101) comprises a base plate (105) having a

Air opening (107), an elastic membrane (109) for covering the air opening (107) and on the elastic membrane (109) mounted lid member (1 1 1) for fixing the elastic membrane (109) on the base plate (105).

2. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ventilation valve (101) comprises a film hinge (131) for rotatably connecting the base plate (105) and the cover element (1 1 1).

3. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the membrane (109) comprises at least one opening (1 13) for aligning the membrane (109) on the base plate (105).

4. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover element (1 1 1) comprises a protruding lip (1 15) for pressing the membrane (109) on the base plate (105).

5. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base plate (105) has a receptacle (1 17) for a door seal (1 19) of the

Refrigeration appliance door (103) includes.

6. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigerator door (103) has a deep-drawn pocket (121) for inserting the

Ventilation valve (101).

7. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the pocket (121) is arranged on an underside of the refrigerator door (103).

8. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the pocket (121) forms an airway (123) around a door seal (1 19) around.

9. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the

Pocket (121) engages around the base plate (105) form fit.

10. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic membrane (109) protrudes on an inner side over the base plate (105).

1 1. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the base plate (105) has two projecting pins (125) for

Attachment of the cover element (1 1 1) comprises.

12. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the cover element (1 1 1) comprises a latching means (127) for latching in the projecting pin (125).

13. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base plate (105) laterally molded ribs (129) for sealing the

Ventilation valve (101) includes.

14. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air opening (107) has a rectangular cross-section.

15. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base plate (105) and / or the cover element (1 1 1) is a plastic molded part.