EP3161396B1

EP3161396B1 - Improved sealing element for use in a refrigeration appliance

Info

Publication number: EP3161396B1
Application number: EP14736703.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oktay Aygun; Deniz GUNDOGAN; Necat OZCELIK; Arda OZSU; Husamettin CELIK
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-06-30
Filing date: 2014-06-30
Publication date: 2018-03-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-30
Also published as: TR201808195T4; PL3161396T3; WO2016000737A1; EP3161396A1

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing element for use in a refrigeration appliance, in particular in a domestic refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to a sealing element for preventing leakage of foam material from an intermediate region between an inner case and an outer case of the refrigeration appliance to the outside during a curing process of the foam material.
In general, the energy efficiency of a refrigeration appliance is influenced by several factors. One important factor is the thermal insulation of the refrigeration appliance. Several techniques are known for thermally insulating a refrigeration appliance. In a commonly known technique, liquid foam material, in particular polyurethane is filled into the intermediate region between the outer case and the inner case of the refrigeration appliance. After completion of the curing process the foam material provides a thermal insulation layer.
GB 1 214 548 discloses a valve in a vertical wall of a refrigerator through which insulation foam is injected. The valve comprises an annular valve seat and a movable hemispherical valve member.
JPS6267181 discloses a pivotable flap in a horizontal wall of a refrigerator through which insulation material is injected.
During the curing process of the foam material, the air inside the intermediate region is generally allowed to escape to the outside through an air escape opening that is typically formed into the outer case. The air escape opening is usually at the highest location of the outer case in a state when the refrigeration appliance is positioned for filling the liquid foam material into the intermediate region. To prevent the curing foam material from leaking to the outside through the air escape opening, an air permeable material such as a sponge is generally placed in front of the air escape opening. The sponge is usually fixed to the air escape opening by utilizing adhesives. The sponge allows the air to escape to the outside while keeping the curing foam material inside the intermediate region. KR20040075832 (A ) discloses a refrigerator. This conventional refrigerator has an inner case, an outer case and air escape openings for allowing air to escape to an outside during a curing process of foam material which is to be filled between the inner case and the outer case. In this conventional refrigerator, sponges are mounted in front of the air escape openings to prevent leakage of foam material.
A drawback of the above conventional technique is that from time to time the foam material leaks during a curing process through the air escape opening while pressing the sponge and the adhesive also to the outside. Such a leakage is identifiable from the outside and gives the customer the impression that the refrigeration appliance is of an inferior quality or has become junk. In these occurrences, the consumer satisfaction may easily degrade. Also the production errors and the production waste increases the overall costs.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration appliance having a sealing element which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an improved sealing. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a refrigeration appliance using the sealing element which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables an easy and reliable assembly.
These objectives have been achieved by the sealing element as defined in claim 1, the refrigeration appliance as defined in claim 7, and the manufacturing method of as defined in claim 12. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The refrigeration appliance of the present invention comprises one or more than one guiding means for movably arranging one or more than one sealing element of the present invention respectively into the intermediate region between the outer case and the inner case.
The refrigeration appliance of the present invention comprises a sealing element with an air impermeable and resilient body which has a sealing skirt and a counterpart guiding means for cooperating with the corresponding guiding means of the refrigeration appliance of the present invention. The body is mountable via its counterpart guiding means into the intermediate region so as to float upwards from a first position up to a second position under the pushing action of the curing foam material during the curing process. At the first position, an air gap which fluidly connects the intermediate region with the corresponding air escape opening is left above the sealing skirt of the body whereas at the second position, the sealing skirt is pushed by the curing foam material to cover the corresponding air escape opening so as to leak-tightly seal the intermediate region from the outside against leakage of curing foam material.
In the present invention, the first position is slightly lower than the second position such that a sufficient air gap is secured above the body to vent the air inside the intermediate region through the air escape opening until the body is eventually pushed up to the second position under the pushing action of the curing foam material.
In an embodiment, each guiding means and each counterpart guiding means are provided in form of a guiding rail and a guiding notch respectively. In an alternative embodiment, the guiding rail and the guiding notch are not used, however, the body is arranged in a corresponding guiding channel.
In a version of this embodiment, the guiding rail and the corresponding guiding notch have mutually conforming s-shaped forms such that the body is secured in a transverse direction, but upwardly movable in the longitudinal (vertical) direction.
In another version of this embodiment, the refrigeration appliance has two air escape openings which are respectively formed in the upper rear corners at an interface between a rear cover and an upper cover of the outer case. The body of each sealing element has a rectangular parallel piped shape and conforms to the shape of the corresponding upper rear corner.
In another version of this embodiment, each body has a locking abutment to prevent downwards movement of the sealing element.
According to the invention, the sealing skirt of each body has a suction cup which cooperates with a flat surface of the outer case to eventually fix under the pushing action of the curing foam material the sealing element to the second position at the end of the curing process.
In another embodiment, the body of the sealing element is made of silicone rubber. The body is non-porous and has an optimal resilience to elastically abut against the air escape opening while withstanding the pressure of the curing foam.
With the sealing element of present invention, in particular by virtue of the floating body, the curing foam material is reliably prevented from leaking to the outside. Thereby, the use of sponge materials and adhesives has been obviated and a cost effective sealing technique has been attained both in view of material and labor. In addition, production waste and errors due to leakage of foam material, sponge material, and adhesives have been eliminated. With the sealing element of present invention, in particular by virtue of the air impermeable body, the moisture is prevented from diffusing into the refrigeration appliance through the air escape openings. Thereby, the cured foam material can be permanently maintained in a proper condition and the thermal insulation capacity thereof is prevented from degrading over time. With the present invention, the consumer satisfaction can be increased.
Additional advantages of the sealing element of the present invention, the refrigeration appliance of the present invention, and the manufacturing method of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 - is a schematic partial perspective front view of a refrigeration appliance which has two sealing elements according to an embodiment of the present invention, prior to filling in foam material, wherein the inner case and the upper doors have been omitted,
Figure 2 - is a schematic perspective rear view of the refrigeration appliance of Fig. 1,
Figure 3 - is a schematic perspective view of the detail A of Fig. 1,
Figure 4 - is a schematic perspective view of a sealing element (left handed version) according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 5 - is a schematic perspective view of the sealing element (right handed version) according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 6 - is a schematic perspective bottom view of the sealing element of Fig. 4,
Figure 7 - is a schematic perspective bottom view of the sealing element of Fig. 5.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1. Sealing element
1a. Sealing element
1b. Sealing element
2. Refrigeration appliance
3. Outer case
4. Air escape opening
4a. Air escape opening
4b. Air escape opening
5. Intermediate region
6. Body
7a. Sealing skirt
7b. Sealing skirt
8. First position
9. Air gap
10. Upper rear corner
10a. Left upper rear corner
10b. Right upper rear corner
11. Guiding rail (Guiding means)
12a. Guiding notch (Counterpart guiding means)
12b. Guiding notch (Counterpart guiding means)
13. Edge
14. Lateral surface
15a. Locking abutment
15b. Locking abutment
16. Flat surface
17a. Suction cup
17b. Suction cup
18. Upper cover
19. Lateral cover
20. Rear cover

The sealing element (1,1a,1b) is suitable for use in a refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator (2) (Fig. 1 to 4).
The refrigeration appliance (2) comprises an inner case (not shown) and an outer case (3). The inner case forms one or more than one refrigeration compartment. The outer case (3) encloses a rear surface of the inner case. The refrigeration appliance (2) further comprises one or more than one air escape opening (4,4a,4b) for allowing air to escape to an outside during a curing process of foam material which is to be filled into an intermediate region (5) between the inner case and the outer case (3). Each air escape opening (4,4a,4b) is formed into the outer case (3).
The refrigeration appliance (2) of the present invention comprises one or more than one guiding means (11) for movably arranging one or more than one corresponding sealing element (1,1a,1b) of the present invention into the intermediate region (5). The refrigeration appliance (2) of the present invention further comprises one or more than one sealing element (1,1a,1b) of the present invention.
The sealing element (1,1a,1b) of the present invention comprises an air impermeable resilient body (6) which has a sealing skirt (7a,7b). The body (6) further comprises a counterpart guiding means (12a,12b) for cooperating with the corresponding guiding means (11) of the refrigeration appliance (2). The body (6) is movably mountable into the intermediate region (5) via its counterpart guiding means (12a, 12b) so as to float upwards from a first position (8) up to a second position (not shown) under the pushing action of the curing foam material during a curing process. At the first position (8) an air gap (9) which fluidly connects the intermediate region (5) with the corresponding air escape opening (4,4a,4b) is left above the sealing skirt (7a,7b) of the body (6). At the second position the sealing skirt (7a,7b) is pushed by the curing foam material to firmly cover the corresponding air escape opening (4,4a,4b) so as to leak-tightly seal the intermediate region (5) from the outside.
In an embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises two air escape openings (4,4a,4b) which are formed at the left upper rear corner (10,10a) and the right upper rear corner (10,10b) of the outer case (3) respectively. In this embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) further comprises as guiding means (11) two guiding rails (11) which are formed on the outer case (3) in the vicinity of the left upper rear corner (10,10a) and the right upper rear corner (10,10b) respectively. In this embodiment, each body (6) comprises as counterpart guiding means (12a,12b) a guiding notch (12a,12b) which is slidably retainable by the corresponding guiding rail (11) so as to allow moving from the first position (8) to the second position. In this embodiment, each body (6) has a shape which conforms the shape of the corresponding upper rear corner (10,10a,10b).
In another embodiment, the body (6) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape which conforms the shape of the corresponding upper rear corner (10,10a,10b). In this embodiment, the sealing skirt (7a,7b) is formed along one or more than one edge (13) of the body (6). In this embodiment, the guiding notch (12a,12b) is formed into a lateral surface (14) of the body (6).
In another embodiment, each guiding rail (11) has an s-shaped form. In this embodiment, the sealing element (1,1a,1b) also has an s-shaped form which matches the s-shaped form of the corresponding guiding rail (11).
In another embodiment, the guiding notch (12a,12b) has a locking abutment (15a,15b) which blocks at the first position (8) downwards movement of the body (6) along the corresponding guiding rail (11) (Fig. 1 to 4). In this embodiment, each guiding rail (11) has an upper end (not shown) which abuts at the first position (8) against the locking abutment (15a,15b) of the corresponding sealing element (1,1a,1b).
According to the invention, the outer case (3) has a flat surface (16) in the vicinity of each air escape opening (4,4a,4b). The sealing element (1,1a,1b) comprises a suction cup (17a,17b) which gets into contact at the second position with the corresponding flat surface (16).
In another embodiment, the body (6) of the sealing element (1,1a,1b) is made from silicone.
In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises two air escape openings (4,4a,4b) which are formed at the left upper rear corner (10,10a) and the right upper rear corner (10,10b) of the outer case (3) respectively. In this embodiment, the refrigeration appliance (2) further comprises as guiding means (11) two guiding rails (11) which are formed on the outer case (3) in the vicinity of the left upper rear corner (10,10a) and the right upper rear corner (10,10b) respectively. In this embodiment, two sealing elements (1,1a,1b), in particular the left handed and the right handed versions are slidably retained by the guiding rails (11) respectively by means of their guiding notches (12a,12b) so as to float upwards from the first position (8) up to a second position under the pushing action of the curing foam material to be filled into the intermediate region (5).
In another embodiment, the outer case (3) comprises an upper cover (18), two opposing lateral covers (19) and a rear cover (20). In this embodiment, the two air escape openings (4,4a,4b) are formed at an interface between the upper cover (18) and the rear cover (20).
In another embodiment, each guiding rail (11) is formed on the rear cover (20) (Fig. 1 to 4). In this embodiment, each guiding rail (11) is accessible for manually attaching the corresponding sealing element (1,1a,1b) when the upper cover (18) is in a detached state (not shown).
The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing the refrigeration appliance (2). In the method of the present invention, one or more than one sealing element (1,1a,1b) is movably arranged into the intermediate region (5) via the guiding means (11) and counterpart guiding means (12a,12b). Then the upper cover (18) is attached. Then, foam material is filled into the intermediate region (5).
With the sealing element (1,1a,1b) of present invention, a cost effective sealing technique both in view of material and labor has been attained in which the use of sponge materials and adhesives has been obviated. Also production errors and production wastes due to leakage of foam material, sponge material, and adhesives have been eliminated. With the sealing element (1,1a,1b) of the present invention, in particular by virtue of the floating body (6), the venting of the air through the air escape openings (4,4a,4b) has been expedited and the curing foam material is prevented from leaking to the outside. With the sealing element (1,1a,1b) of present invention, in particular by virtue of the air impermeable body (6), the moisture is prevented from diffusing into the refrigeration appliance (2) through the air escape openings (4,4a,4b) and a thermal insulation capacity of the cured foam material is prevented from degrading over time. With the present invention, the consumer satisfaction can be increased.

Claims

A refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator (2), comprising
- an inner case which forms a refrigeration compartment,

- an outer case (3) which encloses a rear surface of the inner case,

- one or more than one air escape opening (4, 4a, 4b) for allowing air to escape to an outside during a curing process of foam material which is to be filled into an intermediate region (5) between the inner case and the outer case (3), wherein the air escape opening (4, 4a, 4b) is formed into the outer case (3),

- one or more than one guiding means (11) for movably arranging one or more than one sealing element (1, 1a, 1b) into the intermediate region (5) respectively and

- one or more than one corresponding sealing element (1, 1a, 1b),
characterized in that

- the sealing element comprises an air impermeable resilient body (6) which has a sealing skirt (7a, 7b) and a counterpart guiding means (12a, 12b) for cooperating with the corresponding guiding means (11) of the refrigeration appliance (2),

- the body (6) is movably mountable into the intermediate region (5) via its counterpart guiding means (12a 12b) so as to float upwards from a first position (8) up to a second position under the pushing action of the curing foam material during a curing process,

- at the first position (8) an air gap (9) which fluidly connects the intermediate region (5) with the corresponding air escape opening (4, 4a, 4b) is left above the sealing skirt (7a, 7b) of the body (6),

- at the second position the sealing skirt (7a, 7b) is pushed to cover the corresponding air escape opening (4, 4a, 4b) so as to leak-tightly seal the intermediate region (5) from the outside against leakage of curing foam material,

- the outer case (3) has a flat surface (16) in the vicinity of each air escape opening (4, 4a, 4b),

- the sealing skirt (7a, 7b) comprises a suction cup (17a, 17b) which touches at the second position the corresponding flat surface (16).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration appliance (2) comprises two air escape openings (4, 4a, 4b) which are formed at the left upper rear corner (10, 10a) and the right upper rear corner (10, 10b) of the outer case (3) respectively, and as the guiding means (11) two guiding rails (11) which are formed on the outer case (3) in the vicinity of the left upper rear corner (10, 10a) and right upper rear corner (10, 10b) respectively,
characterized in that the body (6) comprises as the counterpart guiding means (12a, 12b) a guiding notch (12a, 12b) which is slidably retainable by the corresponding guiding rail (11) of the refrigeration appliance (2) so as to allow moving from the first position (8) to the second position, wherein the body (6) has a shape which conforms the shape of the corresponding upper rear corner (10, 10a, 10b).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the body (6) has a rectangular parallelepiped shape which conforms the shape of the corresponding upper rear corner (10, 10a, 10b), wherein the sealing skirt (7a, 7b) is formed along one or more than one edge (13) of the body (6), and wherein the guiding notch (12a, 12b) is formed into a lateral surface (14) of the body (6).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each guiding rail (11) has an s-shaped form, characterized in that the guiding notch (12a, 12b) has an s-shaped form which matches the s-shaped form of the corresponding guiding rail (11).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
characterized in that the guiding notch (12a, 12b) has a locking abutment (15a, 15b) which blocks at the first position (8) downwards movement of the body (6) along the corresponding guiding rail (11).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the body (6) is made from silicone.
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized by
- two air escape openings (4, 4a, 4b) which are formed at the left upper rear corner (10, 10a) and the right upper rear corner (10, 10b) of the outer case (3) respectively,

- two guiding rails (11) as the guiding means (11), wherein the two guiding rails (11) are formed on the outer case (3) in the vicinity of the left upper rear corner (10, 10a) and the right upper rear corner (10, 10b) respectively and

- two sealing elements (1, 1a, 1b) which are slidably retained by the guiding rails (11) respectively by means of their guiding notches (12a, 12b) so as to float upwards from the first position (8) up to a second position under the pushing action of the curing foam material to be filled into the intermediate region (5).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that each guiding rail (11) has an s-shaped form which matches the s-shaped form of the corresponding guiding notch (12a, 12b) of the sealing element (1, 1a, 1b).
The refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each guiding rail (11) has an upper end which abuts at the first position (8) against a locking abutment (15a, 15b) of the corresponding sealing element (1, 1a, 1b).
A refrigeration appliance (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
characterized in that the outer case (3) comprises an upper cover (18), opposing lateral covers (19) and a rear cover (20), wherein the two air escape openings (4, 4a, 4b) are formed at an interface between the upper cover (18) and the rear cover (20).
A refrigeration appliance (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that each guiding rail (11) is formed on the rear cover (20), wherein each guiding rail (11) is accessible for manually attaching the corresponding sealing element (1, 1a, 1b) when the upper cover (18) is in a detached state.
A method of manufacturing a refrigeration appliance (2), in particular a domestic refrigerator (2), as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising:
- a step of movably arranging one or more than one sealing element (1, 1a, 1b) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11 into the intermediate region (5) and

- a step of filling foam material into the intermediate region (5).