EP3447413B1 - Refrigeration and/or freezer device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a device body which has heat-insulating walls which enclose an interior, and with a refrigerant circuit which comprises as components a compressor, a condenser, a throttle and an evaporator.

Vacuum-insulated cooling devices are known which are distinguished by a particularly low heat loss, but which are complex to manufacture and in which the passage of lines for the electrical supply of any components in the interior of the device is associated with great effort. Possible components to be supplied here are, for example, fans in the cold room, lighting elements, air ducting, etc.

Refrigerators and / or freezers known from the prior art are in JP3099634B2 , DE102004052623A1 and DE102009002034A1 disclosed.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator and / or freezer which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain even in the case of vacuum insulation. The object is achieved by the features of the first claim.

Against this background, the invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a device body which has heat-insulating walls which enclose an interior, and with a refrigerant circuit which comprises as components a compressor, a condenser, a throttle and an evaporator. According to the invention, it is provided that all components of the refrigerant circuit are installed together on an assembly carrier which can be assembled and / or separated from the device body as a whole.

It is therefore provided that an assembly carrier with all components of the refrigerant circuit can be connected to or separated from the body of the device particularly easily. This also includes the pipes and any other components of the refrigerant circuit, such as dryers or collectors. Components of the warm side of the refrigerant circuit, i.e. the compressor or condenser, as well as components of the cold side of the refrigerant circuit, i.e. the evaporator, are installed together on a unit carrier, which can be separated from the unit body and removed from the cooling unit.

Accordingly, these components can also be installed in the device in a single step by inserting the assembly carrier in the device. There is also a simplification when carrying out any repair work.

In addition, the assembly carrier is equipped with at least one electrical contact which, when the assembly carrier is installed in the device body, enables an automatic connection to be established with at least one complementary electrical mating contact. According to the invention, this mating contact is fastened to the body of the appliance and is connected in an electrically conductive manner to at least one electrical component of the refrigerator and / or freezer. The mating contact can, however, also be fixed either on the component itself or on another component of the refrigerator and / or freezer, for example a partition. Accordingly, an electrical connection between the assembly carrier and the at least one Component for its energy supply are created from the assembly carrier. The core idea of this invention is not only applicable to electrical supply lines, but of course also relates to the necessary coupling of signal lines between the component and the drive unit.

Due to the construction according to the invention, no or only very few and simple manual steps are necessary in order to implement the electrical energy or signal supply of already integrated components of the device body. In contrast to the prior art, there is no longer any need to lay cable harnesses in the foam and plug them into the electronics.

Basically, the invention is based on the idea that the corresponding complementary mating contacts or the components of the refrigerator and / or freezer to be supplied thereby are mounted beforehand within the body of the device. When the subframe is subsequently introduced, the electrical contact between the subframe and the complementary mating contact of the corresponding component is established automatically. However, it is not excluded that the subframe is assembled beforehand and that in a subsequent step corresponding components with complementary mating contacts are introduced into the device body.

According to a preferred embodiment, the assembly support comprises the power supply unit of the refrigerator and / or freezer or at least parts of the power supply unit, so that the assembly support can provide the required electrical energy to the contacted components. Alternatively or in addition, an internal energy source can be a component of the assembly carrier, from which the components connected to the assembly carrier can be supplied.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the at least one component and its complementary counter-contacts are arranged within the cooling space. As a result, the electrical contact of the assembled subframe is also located inside the refrigerator. This eliminates the need for cable or line bushings through the heat-insulating walls of the device body.

The contact between the assembly carrier and at least one complementary mating contact can be made, for example, by sliding contact. The contact points required for this are preferably accommodated within suitable receptacles of the component or the assembly carrier. Alternatively, the device body itself can also include suitable receptacles for corresponding contact points. The placement of the contacts in the corresponding receptacles ensures sufficient protection and ensures that a precise contact is ensured during the assembly process of the assembly carrier and / or the component.

Alternatively, it can be provided to equip the contact points with plug connectors, so that an automatically producible plug connection is achieved during the assembly process. The plug connectors of the subframe and component, which comprise the corresponding contacts, can be aligned and joined appropriately by positive locking and / or non-positive locking of the plug connectors. The individual connectors can be loosely attached to the assembly carrier and / or component or device body. As a result, however, it may be necessary to manually bring the connectors together during assembly. It is better, and therefore preferred, to firmly fix the corresponding plug connector to the component / device body and / or assembly carrier. The fixing and the alignment of the plug connectors are selected such that they can be automatically joined together during the assembly process of the assembly carrier and / or component.

The connectors can be fixed to the component / device body or subframe, including the contacts contained on them, by means of latching or another positive or non-positive connection. It is conceivable that a partition plate is provided which can be installed on the device body in addition to the unit carrier. In this case, at least one connector for making contact between the assembly carrier and the component can be fastened to the at least one separating plate.

The subframe and / or the partition plate can be installed in the front of the unit from the front. It is also conceivable to insert it at an angle from above with subsequent tilting of the assembly carrier or the separating plate. It is also conceivable to insert the unit carrier / the carrier plate from the front using special insertion bevels.

The components to be connected can, for example, be components which are arranged inside the cooling space. This includes, for example, a fan and / or at least one lighting means and / or an active air duct and / or sensors. Of course, components arranged outside the cold room can also be connected to the assembly carrier according to the invention.

To secure the electrical connection, a suitable seal can usefully be provided on the closed contact between the assembly carrier and the component. In the case of a plug connection, the arrangement of at least one sealing element on at least one plug connector is appropriate. A circumferential sealing ring is particularly preferred. For this purpose, the connector housing of the at least one connector can comprise a suitable groove in which the sealing ring is inserted. A sealing element made of rubber or other suitable sealing material is also preferred.

A seal can optionally also be provided on the complementary connector. An elevation corresponding to the geometric shape of the circumferential sealing ring or a corresponding web on the complementary connector is also conceivable. As a result, the elevation or the web is pressed onto the sealing ring when the plug connection is assembled, which improves the overall sealing effect.

Furthermore, it may be necessary for the outflow of. Before final assembly or when assembling the electrical contacts as well as during operation possible fluid accumulation in the contact area is made possible. In this context, it is advantageous to align the contacts or plug connectors with a sufficient run-off slope for fluid accumulations in the contact area. The design of the contacts or plug connector / plug housing with an opening or niche which is open at the bottom and through which any liquid accumulations can escape downward is also sensible and suitable.

According to the invention, the contacts or plug connectors of the assembly carrier and / or the component are movably mounted with one or more degrees of freedom, so that their position can be changed during the establishment of the contact connection. By changing the position of the contacts or plug connectors accordingly, a sufficient inclination can be achieved, which ensures that any liquid accumulation drains off during connection establishment and possibly during operation. According to the invention, the connectors are in a horizontal starting position, i.e. the longitudinal axis of the connector is aligned approximately horizontally. According to the invention, the connector preassembled in the device body points upward with its connector opening. When the connection is closed, at least the preassembled plug connector must be tilted or folded or shifted in such a way that its longitudinal axis is inclined downwards relative to the horizontal, as a result of which liquid accumulations can flow downwards.

The movable bearing also has the advantage that any manufacturing or assembly tolerances can be compensated for when connecting. In this context, it is also conceivable to produce a conical connection between the contacts of the assembly carrier or the components to be connected. This results in the advantage that the connection is made and is made precisely. In particular, at least one connector can be conically shaped for the necessary centering of the connectors when the electrical connection is assembled. This measure can also be used to compensate for any tolerances during installation. In addition, gaps between the parts can be closed and a sufficient form fit can be achieved. Alternatively be the connectors are joined together at oblique levels, which means that additional connection closing pressure can be built up on the possible seals of the contact elements.

At this point it is pointed out that the terms “a” and “an” do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible embodiment, but can also denote a majority of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the existence of the element in question in the singular form and, conversely, the singular also includes several of the elements in question.

Figur 1:

eine seitliche Schnittansichten des unteren Bereichs eines Gerätekorpus eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühl- und/oder Gefriergerätes sowie eines zum Einsetzen in diesen Bereich bestimmten Aggregatträgers; und

Figur 2:

eine seitliche Teilschnittansicht durch den unteren Bereich des durch Einsetzen des Aggregatträgers erhaltenen erfindungsgemäßen Kühl- und/oder Gefriergerätes.

Further advantages and properties of the invention are to be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1:

a side sectional views of the lower region of a device body of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention and a unit carrier intended for insertion in this area; and

Figure 2:

a partial sectional side view through the lower region of the refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention obtained by inserting the unit carrier.

The illustration of the Figure 1 shows the unit carrier 100 of the refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention separated from the unit body 200. The Figure 2 shows a sectional view through the lower region of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention, in which the unit carrier 100 is inserted into the unit body 200.

The device body 200 comprises a frame substructure which forms a base space 210 with the device bottom in the lowest area and in which a box-shaped vacuum insulation body is accommodated in the area above that defines an interior space 220. The vacuum insulation body serves as thermal insulation for the interior 220 and comprises a barrier film and a support material arranged in the core enclosed by the barrier film. It is laminated all around to protect the barrier film. A plastic inner container is inserted into the interior opening of the vacuum insulation body. On the outside, the frame substructure is laminated with a ceiling plate, a rear wall plate and with two side wall plates. The section of the vacuum insulation body and the inner container that forms the interior floor 221 is set back somewhat from the opening plane of the interior.

The unit carrier 100 comprises a machine section 110 and an evaporator section 120 connected to it. The machine section 110 forms the lower part of the unit carrier 100 and is dimensioned such that it can be pushed into the base space 210 of the device body 200 from the front and occupies it completely. The evaporator section 120 is placed on the machine section 110 and is dimensioned such that it can be inserted from the front into the lowermost region of the heat-insulated interior space 220 of the device body 200 and occupies it completely, so that the bottom 221 and the lowermost sections of the side walls and the rear wall 222 of the interior 220 are completely covered by the evaporator section 120. The machine section 110 and the evaporator section 120 are connected only by means of a connecting web 130, which is located in the front region of the assembly carrier 100. A recess 140 is provided behind the connecting web 130 in the unit carrier 100 between the machine section 110 and the evaporator section 120, in which the vacuum-insulated bottom 221 of the unit body 200 can be accommodated if the unit carrier 100 is pushed into the unit body 200 from the front in such a way that the machine section 110 into the base space 210 and the evaporator section 120 into the interior 220 of the device body 200.

A compressor 111 and a condenser 112 are arranged in the machine section 110, the compressor 111 being located in the rear area and the condenser 112 in the front area of the machine section 110. Furthermore, in the front A condensate pan 113 is arranged in the area of the machine section 110 in thermal contact with the condenser 112. The compressor 111 is installed with a sprung suspension 114 in the rear area of the machine section 110. At the front of the machine section 110 there is an opening 115 for cooling air, which is covered with air guiding elements, and a plurality of webs in the machine section 110 form a cooling air channel, through which cooling air, starting from the opening 115, passes back through the condenser 112 with the associated condensate shell 113 and the compressor 111 can flow to the opening 115. The rear side 211 of the base space 210 is closed by the wall section 211. A bearing pin 116 for an appliance door is also located on the front of the machine section 110. A cooling air fan and a control unit are also arranged in the machine section 110, but are not shown separately in the figure for reasons of clarity. The figure also does not show any electrical cabling with a power pack arranged in the machine section, which can be connected to a power supply by delimiting the base space 210 of the device body 200.

A cold air channel 121 is formed in the evaporator section 120 and extends from an intake opening 122 to an outlet opening 123. The evaporator 128 is located within the cold air duct. The suction opening 122 is located at the front end of the evaporator section 120. The outlet opening 123 is located at the rear end of the evaporator section 120 and adjoins the rear wall 222 of the device body 200 when the unit carrier 100 is installed Near the outlet opening 123, the cold air duct 121 is expanded and forms a fan chamber 124 in which an evaporator fan 125 is arranged. The rear end piece of the upper cover 126 of the fan chamber 124 points vertically upwards and does not extend all the way to the rear end of the evaporator section, so that in the installed state of the unit carrier 100 between the rear end piece of the upper cover 126 of the fan room 124 and the rear wall 222 of the device body 200 a vertical duct section is formed which opens into a vertical air duct, not shown in more detail, in the region of the rear wall of the 222 lying further up.

The unit carrier 100 also has a connection channel 150 in the region of the evaporator section 120 and the connecting web 120, in which all the cables and lines 151 running between the machine section 110 and the evaporator section 120 are accommodated. The connecting channel 150 is completely enclosed by housing parts of the assembly carrier 110. It is thermally insulated over its entire length. For this purpose, heat insulation material is provided on the one hand in the evaporator section 120 of the unit carrier 110. On the other hand, the connecting channel 150 extends from the rear of the evaporator section 120 along the underside of the evaporator section 120 and thus borders on one side with the heat-insulating bottom 221 of the interior 220 of the device body 200.

The heat insulation of the connecting channel 150 is therefore also achieved by the insulating properties of the heat-insulating floor 221 of the interior 220 of the device body 200. For the sake of clarity, the lines 151 running in the connecting channel 150 are only collected in the figure and are not shown individually. However, below them are the suction pipe and the capillary of the refrigerant circuit, the capillary being wound around the suction pipe within the heat-insulated connecting channel 150. Furthermore, a condensation water hose runs within the connecting channel 150, which leads from the evaporator 128 to the condensation water tray 113. Furthermore, a supply line runs in the connecting duct 150, which connects the evaporator fan 125 to the control unit and power supply of the machine section 110.

In the area in which the connecting duct 150 borders on one side of the heat-insulated interior space 220 of the device body 200, at least one plug connector of the assembly carrier 200 is also provided. At least one complementary plug connector is locked in a suitable recess in the inner wall of the device body in the device body 200, in particular in the base area 221 to which the connecting channel 150 adjoins. These complementary connectors, not shown here, provide the electrical connections for any electrical components of the cooling interior 220. For example, an internal fan for the cooling space 220, lighting means or other electrical components are supplied with electrical energy from the power pack of the assembly carrier. In this case, several components can share a common complementary connector or each can comprise separate complementary connectors that can be connected to the associated connectors of the assembly carrier.

When the assembly carrier 100 is inserted into the device body, the plug connectors of the assembly carrier 100 emerging at the end of the supply line are automatically inserted into one or more recesses of the complementary plug connectors mounted in the inner wall of the device body. This procedure is not only conceivable for electrical supply lines, but can also be used without restriction for any signal and control lines, for example in order to be able to address the fan or the lighting by means of a control mounted on the unit carrier.

Claims (10)

1. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance, comprising an appliance body (200) that comprises heat-insulating walls that surround an interior (220), and comprising a coolant circuit which comprises, as components, a compressor (111), a condenser (112), a throttle and a vaporiser (128), wherein all the components of the coolant circuit are installed together on a unit support (110) which can, as a whole, be mounted on the appliance body (200) and separated therefrom, wherein the unit support comprises at least one electrical contact which can be contacted automatically with at least one complementary mating contact installed on the appliance body, for supplying electrical power to at least one component, when the unit support (110) is inserted in the appliance body (200), characterised in that the at least one complementary mating contact, in particular plug connector, is movably mounted, in that the at least one complementary mating contact is located in a horizontal initial position, such that the longitudinal axis thereof is oriented horizontally, and in that the at least one complementary mating contact comprises an upwardly oriented plug opening, wherein the at least one complementary mating contact is tilted or hinged or displaced, when the at least one electrical contact of the unit support is contacted with the at least one complementary mating contact, such that the longitudinal axis thereof is tilted relative to the horizontal, as a result of which said mating contact can change the position thereof while the connection is being established, such that a fluid collected in the contact region can flow away automatically.
2. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one component and the complementary mating contact thereof are arranged within the interior, and the at least one electrical contact of the mounted unit support is located within the cooling chamber.
3. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the contacting between the unit support (110) and the complementary mating contact is achieved by means of sliding contact.
4. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the contacting between the unit support (110) and the complementary mating contact is achieved by a plug connection, wherein preferably at least one plug connector provided on the unit support can be connected to at least one complementary plug connector installed on the appliance body (200).
5. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one component, in particular a fan and/or an illumination means and/or an active air duct is equipped with at least one corresponding complementary mating contact, or is connected therewith, wherein the component is or can be pre-mounted on the appliance body.
6. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one complementary mating contact, preferably in the form of a complementary plug connector, is arranged inside a receptacle of the pre-mounted component and/or of the appliance body.
7. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to claim 6, characterised in that the at least one complementary mating contact, in particular plug connector, is fixed inside the receptacle, preferably is latched thereto.
8. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a seal is arranged on the contact of the unit support and/or on the complementary mating contact of the component, preferably in the form of a peripheral seal, in particular rubber seal, wherein ideally a peripheral groove for receiving a sealing element is provided on one contact, wherein a corresponding ridge or elevation is formed on the mating contact, which ridge or elevation can be pressed against a seal inserted in the groove, upon contacting.
9. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one contact of the unit support and/or of the at least one complementary mating contact, in particular plug connector, is mounted so as to form a drainage slope and/or the housing is provided with a recess or opening that is opened at the bottom.
10. Refrigeration and/or freezer appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a conical connection can be established between the contact of the unit support and the complementary counter contact, preferably the plug housing of one of the contacts is conical.

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