EP3469277A1

EP3469277A1 - Refrigerator with improved manufacturability of the insulating foam material

Info

Publication number: EP3469277A1
Application number: EP16727528.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Durser Cagatay BOLUKBASI; Nihat Gunduz; Ibrahim Canigur; Ibrahim Yanik
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2016-06-08
Filing date: 2016-06-08
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Also published as: WO2017211411A1; TR201708282A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) which comprises: a refrigeration compartment (2) which encloses a storage space (3) for refrigerating the articles stored therein; a door (4) for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment (2); a first inner lining (5) and a second inner lining (6) which enclose an insulating space (7) to be filled with foam material and which cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4) or the refrigerating compartment (2), wherein the first inner lining (5) and the second inner lining (6) at least partly overlap at an interface (8) between the insulating space (7) and the storage space (3).

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH IMPROVED MANUFACTURABILITY OF THE INSULATING FOAM MATERIAL

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to the insulating foam material of the refrigerator.
Refrigerators are commonly known in the art. A refrigerator generally comprises a refrigeration compartment which encloses a storage space for refrigerating the articles stored therein; a door for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment; one or more inner linings which enclose an insulating space to be filled with the foam material and which cover at least part of the inner surface of the door or the refrigerating compartment. In general, the inner linings partly overlap at an interface between the insulating space and the storage space.
A problem with the prior art refrigerator is that the foam material can leak from the insulating space to the storage space through the interface during the curing process. In such incidents the refrigerator may turn into a junk, and thus the production cost increase both in terms of labor and material.
WO2010131867 (A2) discloses a refrigerator.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which overcomes the aforementioned problems of the prior art in a cost effective way and which enables the insulating space to be reliably filled with the foam material without leakage.
This objective has been achieved by the refrigerator as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
The refrigerator of the present invention comprises one or more foam channels which are disposed into the interface between the first inner lining and the second inner lining, and adapted to convey the foam material during the curing process, wherein each foam channel has two or more fluidly interconnected openings which open into the insulating space, and wherein the each opening is adapted to receive/discharge the curing foam material.
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the foam material can be prevented from leaking through the interface into the storage space during the curing process by means of the foam channels. Thereby, the production faults and the material waste can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible. Thereby, the production costs can also be reduced both in terms of labor and material.
In alternative embodiments, the foam channels are formed into the first inner lining and/or into the second inner lining. The first/second inner lining, including the foam channels can be produced from plastic material. These embodiments are particularly advantageous as the provision of the foam channels into the interface can be facilitated.
In another embodiment, the refrigerator has an ice maker which is disposed into the door. One of the first inner lining and the second inner lining defines the ice passage for conveying the ejected ice. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the insulating space around the ice passage can be reliably filled with the foam material without leakage during the curing process.
In another embodiment, the ice passage is at least partly or entirely surrounded by one or more foam channels. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the foam material can be securely prevented from leaking into the ice passage during the curing process.
In another embodiment, the channels are disposed onto a flange which is formed onto one of the first inner lining and the second inner lining which defines the ice passage such that the flange abuts from below against the other one of the first inner lining and the second inner lining at the interface. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the flange can further improve the leak tightness of the interface.
In another embodiment, one or more foam channels are formed into the flange. The first/second inner lining, including the flange and the foam channels can be produced from plastic material. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the provision of the foam channels into the interface can be facilitated.
In another embodiment, one or more foam channels extend between the opposite sides of the flange. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the curing foam material can be conveyed effectively and distantly away from the storage space, and thus the risk of clogging can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible.
Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the refrigerator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 – is a schematic front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 – is a schematic partial perspective view of the door of the refrigerator of Fig.1;
Figure 3 – is a schematic sectional view of the detail A of the door of Fig.2;
Figure 4 – is a schematic partial perspective view of the detail A of the door of Fig.2, wherein the first inner lining has been removed, and wherein the arrows show a possible flow path of the foam material during the curing process;
Figure 5 – is a schematic cutaway view of the detail A of the door of Fig.2.
The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Refrigerator
Refrigeration compartment
Storage space
Door
1^st inner lining
2^nd inner lining
Insulating space
Interface
Foam channel
Opening
Ice maker
Ice passage
Flange

The refrigerator (1) comprises: a refrigeration compartment (2) which encloses a storage space (3) for refrigerating the articles stored therein; a door (4) for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment (2); a first inner lining (5) and a second inner lining (6) which enclose an insulating space (7) to be filled with foam material and which cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4) or the refrigerating compartment (2), wherein the first inner lining (5) and the second inner lining (6) at least partly overlap at an interface (8) between the insulating space (7) and the storage space (3) (Fig. 1 to Fig. 3).
The refrigerator (1) of the present invention further comprises: one or more foam channels (9) which are disposed into the interface (8) and adapted to convey the foam material during the curing process, wherein each foam channel (9) has two or more fluidly interconnected openings (10) which open into the insulating space (7), and wherein the each opening (10) is adapted to receive/discharge the curing foam material (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).
In an embodiment, one or more foam channels (9) are formed into the first inner lining (5) and/or into the second inner lining (6) (Fig. 4).
In another embodiment, the refrigerator (1) further comprises: an ice maker (11) for making the ice (Fig. 1). In this embodiment, the ice maker (11) is disposed into the door (4) (Fig. 2). In this embodiment, the ice maker (11) has an ice passage (12) for conveying the ejected ice (Fig. 3 to Fig. 5). In this embodiment, the first inner lining (5) is further adapted to cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4) (Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the second inner lining (6) is further adapted to define the ice passage (12) and to cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4) (Fig. 3).
In another embodiment, one or more foam channels (9) at least partly or wholly surround the ice passage (12) (Fig. 4).
In another embodiment, the second inner lining (6) comprises a flange (13) which abuts from below against the first inner lining (5) at the interface (8) (Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the flange (13) surrounds the ice passage (12). In this embodiment, one or more foam channels (9) are disposed between the flange (13) and the first inner lining (5) (Fig. 3).
In another embodiment, one or more foam channels (9) are formed into the flange (13) (Fig. 4).
In another embodiment, one or more foam channels (9) extend between the opposite sides of the flange (13) (Fig. 4).
A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the foam material can be prevented from leaking through the interface (8) into the storage space (3) during the curing process by means of the foam channels (9) (Fig. 3). Thereby, the production faults and the material waste can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible. Thereby, the production costs can also be reduced both in terms of labor and material. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above-described embodiments.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising: a refrigeration compartment (2) which encloses a storage space (3) for refrigerating the articles stored therein; a door (4) for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment (2); a first inner lining (5) and a second inner lining (6) which enclose an insulating space (7) to be filled with foam material and which cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4) or the refrigerating compartment (2), wherein the first inner lining (5) and the second inner lining (6) at least partly overlap at an interface (8) between the insulating space (7) and the storage space (3), characterized by further comprising: one or more foam channels (9) which are disposed into the interface (8) and adapted to convey the foam material during the curing process, wherein each foam channel (9) has two or more fluidly interconnected openings (10) which open into the insulating space (7), and wherein the each opening (10) is adapted to receive/discharge the curing foam material.
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more foam channels (9) are formed into the first inner lining (5) and/or into the second inner lining (6).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by further comprising: an ice maker (11) for making the ice, wherein the ice maker (11) is disposed into the door (4), and wherein the ice maker (11) has an ice passage (12) for conveying the ejected ice, wherein the first inner lining (5) is further adapted to cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4), and wherein the second inner lining (6) is further adapted to define the ice passage (12) and to cover at least part of the inner surface of the door (4).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that one or more foam channels (9) at least partly surround the ice passage (12).
The refrigerator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second inner lining (6) comprises a flange (13) which abuts from below against the first inner lining (5) at the interface (8), wherein the one or more foam channels (9) are disposed between the flange (13) and the first inner lining (5).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that one or more foam channels (9) are formed into the flange (13).
The refrigerator (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that one or more foam channels (9) extend between the opposite sides of the flange (13).