EP3364135B1 - Chest freezer - Google Patents

Chest freezer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3364135B1
EP3364135B1 EP17156529.4A EP17156529A EP3364135B1 EP 3364135 B1 EP3364135 B1 EP 3364135B1 EP 17156529 A EP17156529 A EP 17156529A EP 3364135 B1 EP3364135 B1 EP 3364135B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cavity
conduit
air conduit
chest freezer
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP17156529.4A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3364135A1 (en
Inventor
Daniele Angiolini
Cristian Caloni
Luca Nardi
Diego Alcalde
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Priority to EP17156529.4A priority Critical patent/EP3364135B1/en
Publication of EP3364135A1 publication Critical patent/EP3364135A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3364135B1 publication Critical patent/EP3364135B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/047—Pressure equalising devices

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a chest freezer comprising a cabinet defining at least an inner cavity which can be closed by door and in which said cavity communicates with the ambient by means of a conduit.
  • a chest freezer comprising a cabinet defining at least an inner cavity which can be closed by door and in which said cavity communicates with the ambient by means of a conduit.
  • EP 2520882 discloses an internal and dedicated humidity container placed on an end of the conduit inside the freezer cavity which is quickly removable for eliminating the frost from the container.
  • EP 1845321 discloses a freezer with a special grid with salt inside where humidity can be absorbed during normal opening/closing of the door.
  • a filter is placed inside the conduit to absorb humidity in order to postpone defrosting operation.
  • Document CN104864656A discloses a chest freezer capable of preventing frosting caused by the breathing effect by providing the chest freezer with a breathing channel and with a dehumidification device.
  • This invention is based on a system integrated inside the foam insulated cabinet or the door: the air that normally flows inside the product when the compressor of the chest freezer is turned on (air flow between gasket and cabinet frame causing ice formation) passes through this system.
  • the temperature condition of this system is suitable to condense the humidity in the air. In this way the air that flow inside the cabinet is at least partially dried.
  • the condensed humidity can be collected by gravity (e.g.: in the condensation tray in compressor compartment).
  • the main advantage of the system according to the present invention is that it doesn't require heating system to avoid the clogging due to the fact that it works collecting air humidity by condensation (and not as ice/frost).
  • the system is formed by a portion of the conduit which puts the cavity into communication with the outside ambient.
  • the conduit can also be a plurality of conduits or the conduit can be shaped in a serpentine way in order to increase the heat exchange surface.
  • a chest freezer 2 presents a inner liner 4 defining a cavity C, an insulation foam (not shown), and an outer liner 6 whose only the bottom part is shown in figure 1 .
  • Other usual components of the chest freezer 2 door, compressor, condenser, evaporator are present but they are not shown in the drawings for sake of clarity.
  • the chest freezer 2 presents an air conduit 10 of polymeric material made of different pieces assembled together, and having a first end 10a on a side wall 12 of the cavity C and in communication there to.
  • first end 10a is fastened to the wall 12 by means of a flange 13 and counter-flange 15.
  • the conduit 10 further comprises a first portion 10b, for instance a corrugated tube, substantially parallel to the side wall 12 of the cavity C and a second portion 10c shaped as a coil/serpentine whose end 10d is placed above a condensation tray 14 placed in a compressor compartment of the chest freezer.
  • the second portion 10c of the conduit may be produced for instance by blow-molding or by injection molding; in the second case it may be made in two shells attached together.
  • FIG. 1 For maintaining the second portion of the conduit 10c at a proper distance from the inner liner 4, two spacers 8 made of expanded polymeric material are provided with apertures 8a in which ends of the flat second portion 10c of the conduit are inserted.
  • the end 10d of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10 is provided on an L-shaped pipe portion 11 attached to the coil-shaped portion 10c.
  • Figure 2 refers to a working condition where the compressor in switched on. In this condition air flows through the conduit 10 towards the cavity C.
  • air is entering the end 10d of the conduit and by flowing into the coil-shaped second portion 10c the humidity contained therein condensates and can flow by gravity from the end 10d into the tray 14 thanks to a proper inclination or shape of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10.
  • dried air can flow in the first portion 10b of the conduit 10 and enter the cavity C.
  • the technical solution according to the invention takes advantage of the natural "breathing" of the cavity, making air flow into the cavity throw a specific conduit, after being dried by a sort of heat exchanger which exploits the temperature in the compressor's area.
  • the position of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10 is chosen so that the temperature condition of this system is suitable to condense the humidity in the air, i.e. it is slightly above 0°C. This position can be easily chosen depending on the thickness of the insulation (not shown), on the average temperature of the inner liner 4 and on the average ambient temperature.
  • the condensed water which drips out from the conduit 10 to the tray 14 is evaporated thanks to heat in the compressor compartment.
  • the invention relates to a chest freezer.
  • the same solution can be used for upright (vertical) freezer as well.
  • the same solution can be applied also to freezers which have a variable speed compressor.
  • the conduit 10 is embedded within the foam insulation of the cabinet. In an example which is not part of the claimed invention, it can be housed in the cabinet as well, particularly in case the conduit is associated to a refrigerator.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Removal Of Water From Condensation And Defrosting (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to a chest freezer comprising a cabinet defining at least an inner cavity which can be closed by door and in which said cavity communicates with the ambient by means of a conduit. In this kind of domestic appliances, when the so called "no frost" technology is not used (where an internal evaporator with a fan create thermal exchange avoiding frost formation on the inner liner), it is well known the problem of frost formation on the inside walls, particularly in the region adjacent the opening which is closed by the door. This frost derives from the humidity contained in the ambient air which is sucked into the cavity past the sealing which is normally arranged around the edge of the door.
  • EP 2520882 discloses an internal and dedicated humidity container placed on an end of the conduit inside the freezer cavity which is quickly removable for eliminating the frost from the container.
  • EP 1845321 discloses a freezer with a special grid with salt inside where humidity can be absorbed during normal opening/closing of the door. In a similar known solution a filter is placed inside the conduit to absorb humidity in order to postpone defrosting operation.
  • A solution is also known from EP 494587 in which an external flexible container communicates with the cavity. Such solution, which in theory should prevent or reduce the formation of frost on the inner liner of the freezer, has shown quite low performances in terms of frost reduction.
  • Document CN104864656A discloses a chest freezer capable of preventing frosting caused by the breathing effect by providing the chest freezer with a breathing channel and with a dehumidification device.
  • it is an object of the present invention to provide a chest freezer which solves the above technical problem in a better way, without any intervention of the user in order to remove frost.
  • Such object is obtained thanks to the features listed in the appended claims.
  • This invention is based on a system integrated inside the foam insulated cabinet or the door: the air that normally flows inside the product when the compressor of the chest freezer is turned on (air flow between gasket and cabinet frame causing ice formation) passes through this system. The temperature condition of this system is suitable to condense the humidity in the air. In this way the air that flow inside the cabinet is at least partially dried.
  • By creating a proper inclination of the system the condensed humidity can be collected by gravity (e.g.: in the condensation tray in compressor compartment).
  • The main advantage of the system according to the present invention is that it doesn't require heating system to avoid the clogging due to the fact that it works collecting air humidity by condensation (and not as ice/frost).
  • In the simplest embodiment of the invention the system is formed by a portion of the conduit which puts the cavity into communication with the outside ambient. Of course there can also be a plurality of conduits or the conduit can be shaped in a serpentine way in order to increase the heat exchange surface.
  • Further advantages and features according to the present invention will be clear from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, with reference to the attached drawings in which:
    • figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of a chest freezer according to the invention where the insulation foam and the outside walls of the freezer have been removed for sake of clarity;
    • figures 2 and 3 are perspective view of the chest freezer of figure 1 in two different working conditions.
  • With reference to figure 1, a chest freezer 2 according to the invention presents a inner liner 4 defining a cavity C, an insulation foam (not shown), and an outer liner 6 whose only the bottom part is shown in figure 1. Other usual components of the chest freezer 2 (door, compressor, condenser, evaporator are present but they are not shown in the drawings for sake of clarity.
  • According to the invention, the chest freezer 2 presents an air conduit 10 of polymeric material made of different pieces assembled together, and having a first end 10a on a side wall 12 of the cavity C and in communication there to. Such first end 10a is fastened to the wall 12 by means of a flange 13 and counter-flange 15. The conduit 10 further comprises a first portion 10b, for instance a corrugated tube, substantially parallel to the side wall 12 of the cavity C and a second portion 10c shaped as a coil/serpentine whose end 10d is placed above a condensation tray 14 placed in a compressor compartment of the chest freezer. The second portion 10c of the conduit may be produced for instance by blow-molding or by injection molding; in the second case it may be made in two shells attached together. For maintaining the second portion of the conduit 10c at a proper distance from the inner liner 4, two spacers 8 made of expanded polymeric material are provided with apertures 8a in which ends of the flat second portion 10c of the conduit are inserted. The end 10d of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10 is provided on an L-shaped pipe portion 11 attached to the coil-shaped portion 10c.Figure 2 refers to a working condition where the compressor in switched on. In this condition air flows through the conduit 10 towards the cavity C. According to the working condition of figure 2, air is entering the end 10d of the conduit and by flowing into the coil-shaped second portion 10c the humidity contained therein condensates and can flow by gravity from the end 10d into the tray 14 thanks to a proper inclination or shape of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10. At the same time dried air can flow in the first portion 10b of the conduit 10 and enter the cavity C.
  • According to the working condition of figure 3, which refers to a situation when the compressor is switched off, dry air can flow in a reverse direction from the cavity C to the ambient, therefore facilitating the flow of humid air present in the second portion 10c out of the conduit 10.
  • The technical solution according to the invention takes advantage of the natural "breathing" of the cavity, making air flow into the cavity throw a specific conduit, after being dried by a sort of heat exchanger which exploits the temperature in the compressor's area. The position of the second portion 10c of the conduit 10 is chosen so that the temperature condition of this system is suitable to condense the humidity in the air, i.e. it is slightly above 0°C. This position can be easily chosen depending on the thickness of the insulation (not shown), on the average temperature of the inner liner 4 and on the average ambient temperature. The condensed water which drips out from the conduit 10 to the tray 14 is evaporated thanks to heat in the compressor compartment.
  • The invention relates to a chest freezer. In an example which is not part of the claimed invention, the same solution can be used for upright (vertical) freezer as well. Moreover, even if the above description refers to a freezer in which the temperature is adjusted by turning on and off the compressor, the same solution can be applied also to freezers which have a variable speed compressor. The conduit 10 is embedded within the foam insulation of the cabinet. In an example which is not part of the claimed invention, it can be housed in the cabinet as well, particularly in case the conduit is associated to a refrigerator.

Claims (3)

  1. A chest freezer (2) comprising a foam insulated cabinet defining an inner cavity (C) closable by a door, and in which said cavity (C) communicates with the ambient by means of an air conduit (10) embedded in the foam, wherein said air conduit (10) is made of different pieces assembled together, wherein the air conduit (10) comprises a first end (10a) fastened on a side wall (12) of said cavity (C), said first end (10a) being in communication with the cavity (C), wherein such air conduit (10) comprises a first portion (10b) arranged parallel to the side wall (12) of the cavity (C) and a second portion (10c) having a coil/serpentine shape placed between the bottom of the cavity (C) and a zone of the chest freezer where a compressor is placed, said second portion (10c) being maintained at a proper distance from an inner liner (4) defining such cavity (C) by means of at least one spacer (8), the second portion (10c) being in a zone at a temperature so that humidity of the air flowing in the second portion (10c) of the air conduit (10) can condense and be removed
    characterised in that said air conduit (10) is of polymeric material and in that two spacers (8) made of expanded polymeric material are provided with apertures (8a) in which ends of the flat second portion (10c) of the conduit are inserted.
  2. Chest freezer according to claim 1, wherein an open end (10d) of the conduit (10) is placed above a tray (14) adjacent the compressor so that condensed water can drip into said tray (14).
  3. Chest freezer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second portion (10c) of the air conduit (10) presents a predetermined inclination so that humidity condensed therein can be removed by gravity.
EP17156529.4A 2017-02-16 2017-02-16 Chest freezer Active EP3364135B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17156529.4A EP3364135B1 (en) 2017-02-16 2017-02-16 Chest freezer

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP17156529.4A EP3364135B1 (en) 2017-02-16 2017-02-16 Chest freezer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3364135A1 EP3364135A1 (en) 2018-08-22
EP3364135B1 true EP3364135B1 (en) 2020-07-22

Family

ID=58054072

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17156529.4A Active EP3364135B1 (en) 2017-02-16 2017-02-16 Chest freezer

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EP (1) EP3364135B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112097444B (en) * 2019-06-18 2022-03-04 青岛海尔智能技术研发有限公司 Airflow dehumidification module for refrigeration and freezing device and refrigeration and freezing device
CN114893794B (en) * 2022-04-18 2023-09-15 宁波方太厨具有限公司 Integrated kitchen with cooking device

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52164749U (en) * 1976-06-08 1977-12-14
EP0805321A1 (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-11-05 LIEBHERR-WERK LIENZ GES. mbH Cooling and/or freezing apparatus
CN104864656A (en) * 2015-05-27 2015-08-26 浙江大学 Refrigerator system capable of preventing frosting caused by breathing effect

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3826106A (en) * 1972-12-14 1974-07-30 Kemp R Refrigeration apparatus and process
SE467801B (en) 1991-01-10 1992-09-14 Electrolux Ab FROZEN FURNITURE WITH DEVICE TO PREVENT FROZEN IMAGE
JP2637702B2 (en) * 1993-11-30 1997-08-06 三星電子株式会社 Refrigerator pressure equalizer
DE202005018725U1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2006-02-09 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration unit with siphon
EP1845321B1 (en) 2006-01-30 2017-07-26 Whirlpool Corporation Refrigerator with moisture adsorbing device
EP2520882B1 (en) 2011-05-02 2017-09-27 Whirlpool Corporation Freezer with a reduced frost formation

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52164749U (en) * 1976-06-08 1977-12-14
EP0805321A1 (en) * 1996-05-03 1997-11-05 LIEBHERR-WERK LIENZ GES. mbH Cooling and/or freezing apparatus
CN104864656A (en) * 2015-05-27 2015-08-26 浙江大学 Refrigerator system capable of preventing frosting caused by breathing effect

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3364135A1 (en) 2018-08-22

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