EP3052877A1

EP3052877A1 - A cooling device comprising an insulation material homogeneously distributed in the insulation volume

Info

Publication number: EP3052877A1
Application number: EP14793458.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Goksin Sayer; Yuksel Atilla; Ahmet HANECIOGLU; Taner ERCAN
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2013-10-03
Filing date: 2014-09-30
Publication date: 2016-08-10
Also published as: CN105849486B; TR201720235T3; CN105849486A; WO2015049236A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having an inner wall (3), an outer wall (4), an insulation volume (5) between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and an insulation material (6) filled into the insulation volume (5); and wherein gaps are prevented from forming in the insulation volume (5).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING AN INSULATION MATERIAL HOMOGENEOUSLY DISTRIBUTED IN THE INSULATION VOLUME

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising an insulation material that is enabled to be homogeneously distributed in the insulation volume.
In cooling devices, especially in refrigerators and freezers, an insulation material is filled between the inner and outer walls of the body in order to provide heat insulation between the inner volume and the outer environment. Due to its chemical structure, the insulation material, that is preferably polyurethane, expands and solidifies once it is filled into the body of the cooling device. During this solidification, gaps occur in the insulation material. At the ceiling and/or the door that is the section the insulation material reaches last, these gaps occur more frequently and cause the outer walls to collapse towards the section with gaps. These collapses on the body are considered as malfunction by the user and this situation both increases maintenance costs and also distorts the quality perception of the user. In some embodiments, quick-solidifying polyurethane is used as the insulation material in order to speed up the insulation process of the body and this causes an increase in the number of the gaps.
In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JPH09303947, a cooling device is disclosed, wherein the insulation material is enabled to be homogeneously distributed by means of the plates placed to the inner side of the inner wall of the body, contacting the insulation material. In this embodiment, a solidified epoxy layer and an intermediary resin layer are disposed between the inner wall and the insulation material.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the formation of gaps in the insulation material filled into the insulation volume is prevented.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body having an insulation volume that is situated between the inner wall and the outer wall thereof and wherein an insulation material is filled.
The cooling device of the present invention comprises a patterned inner wall, of which the surface coinciding with the insulation volume slows the flow of the insulation material injected thereon by forming an uneven surface, thus enabling the insulation material to be homogeneously distributed in the insulation volume. The insulation material injected into the insulation volume through an opening arranged on the outer wall splits into smaller pieces by filling into the recesses on the patterned surface of the inner wall and thus the number of air gaps occurring during the solidification of the insulation material is decreased. By means of this embodiment, formation of collapses on the inner wall surface facing the inner volume of the cooling device, is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, one surface of the inner wall is produced from patterned plate. The patterned surface of the plate is grouped with the body so as to allow the insulation material to be injected thereon.
In a derivative of this embodiment, one surface of the inner wall is produced from a plate that is patterned by an extrusion roller.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a leveling plate is fixed onto the inner wall so that the patterned surface thereof faces the insulation volume. By means of the leveling plate, the insulation material is enabled to be slowly and homogeneously distributed between the inner wall and the outer wall.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the surface facing the insulation volume, of the inner wall that remains at the door area providing access into the body, has an uneven configuration. Thus, the insulation material is coated onto the inner wall surface as small pieces, thus preventing any roughness on the door surface.
In an embodiment of the present invention, polyurethane is used as the insulation material.
By means of the present invention, air gaps occurring during the solidification of the insulation material are eliminated and the inner wall is prevented from collapsing towards these gaps. Thus, the number of malfunctions and maintenance costs are decreased. By means of the uneven surface of the inner wall facing the insulation volume, the insulation material is enabled to be homogeneously distributed into the insulation volume without using any surface leveling components such as net, pressing element, etc.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a cooling device.
Figure 2 – is the schematic view of the body.
Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the leveling plate.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Inner wall
Outer wall
Insulation volume
Insulation material
Leveling plate
Door

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2) having an inner wall (3), an outer wall (4), an insulation volume (5) between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and an insulation material (6) filled into the insulation volume (5). While the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) are being joined during the production of the body (2), an opening (O) is left so that the insulation material (6) can be filled into the insulation volume (5). The insulation material (6) filled preferably through a single opening (O), reaches almost every section of the insulation volume (5) thanks to its fluid structure. When filled into the insulation volume (5), the insulation material (6) composed of more than one chemical substance enters into exothermic reaction, expands and solidifies. Thus, the interior volume of the cooling device (1) is enabled to be insulated from the outer environment conditions and the durability of the body (2) is increased.
In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the surface (Y) of the inner wall (3) facing the insulation volume (5) is patterned and prevents the formation of any gaps in the insulation volume (5) by regulating the flow of the insulation material (6). The insulation material (6) flows into the insulation volume (5) by being separated into little partitions due to the uneven structure of the patterns on the surface of the inner wall (3). Thus, the number of gaps forming during the solidification is minimized and the inner wall (3) is prevented from collapsing towards the outer wall (4). This enables the malfunction-occurrence rate to decrease and the quality perception to increase. Moreover, by means of eliminating the gaps forming during the solidification of the insulation material (6), quick-solidifying insulation material (6) can be used, which shortens the production time, thereby increasing efficiency.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall (3) is produced from a plate with one surface patterned. The patterned surface of the plate is mounted to the body (2) so as to face the insulation volume (5).
In a derivative of this embodiment, the inner wall (3) is produced by thermoforming on the mold a plastic plate with one surface shaped by an extrusion roller.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a leveling plate (7) having a patterned surface is fixed onto the inner wall (3) so as to face the insulation volume (5). By means of the leveling plate (7), the insulation material (6) is enabled to solidify on the surface of the inner wall (3) without leaving any gaps.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the body (2) comprises a door (8) providing access thereinto and the surface (Y), facing the insulation volume (5), of the inner wall (3) situated on the door (8) is patterned. Thus, the insulation material (6) is enabled to be homogeneously distributed in the inner volume of the door (8) and outer appearance is improved by preventing the occurrence of collapses on the surface of the door (8).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the surface (Y), facing the insulation volume (5), of the inner wall (3) is patterned in grill form.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (6) is polyurethane.
By means of the present invention, the flow of the insulation material (6) over the inner wall (3) is slowed by means of the uneven surface (Y), contacting the insulation material (6), of the inner wall (3). Thus, the inner wall (3) is prevented from collapsing towards the outer wall (4) due to gaps that may form because of rapid curing of the insulation material (6). Accordingly, the esthetic appearance of the cooling device (1) is improved and the strength of the body (2) is increased.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having an inner wall (3), an outer wall (4), an insulation volume (5) between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and an insulation material (6) filled into the insulation volume (5), characterized by the inner wall (3) that prevents gaps from forming in the insulation volume (5) by regulating the flow of the insulation material (6) and whereof the surface (Y) facing the insulation volume (5) is patterned.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the inner wall (3) produced from a plate with one patterned surface.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a leveling plate (7) that is fixed onto the inner wall (3) so that the patterned surface thereof faces the insulation volume (5).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the body (2) having a door (8) providing access into the cooling device (1) and by the inner wall (3) that is situated on the door (8) and whereof the surface (Y) facing the insulation volume (5) is patterned.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the inner wall (3) whereof the surface (Y) facing the insulation volume (5) is patterned in grill form.
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the insulation material (6) which is polyurethane.