ES2407590B1 - REFRIGERATOR DEVICE AND DRAIN VALVE FOR SUCH REFRIGERATOR DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention describes a cooling apparatus having a cooling space (3), from which condensed water is divertable through a lining wall (4) of the cooling apparatus (1) to the outside of the cooling space (3) by means of of a drain pipe (7). # The drain pipe has a pipe end (8) with a pipe outlet (9) to which a drain valve (10) having a valve container (11) is connectable. with an overflow rim (12), and a valve connection element (17) where the conduit end (8) is connected inside the container (11) at a level below the overflow rim (12) so that condensed water that can go down the drain pipe (7) falls into the valve container (11) and can cover the pipe outlet (9) with water, blocking the air inlet through the drain pipe (7) ) towards the cooling space (3).

Description

REFRIGERATOR DEVICE AND DRAIN VALVE FOR SUCH REFRIGERATOR DEVICE

The invention relates to a cooling apparatus comprising a cooling space, from which condensed water is divertable through a lining wall of the cooling apparatus to the outside of the cooling space by means of a drain line.

The refrigeration apparatus of the state of the art have an interior space surrounded by a thermally insulated casing and are cooled by means of a refrigeration system with an evaporation unit of a refrigerant circuit driven by a compressor. Condensed water precipitates on the cooling surfaces of the interior space of the refrigeration apparatus, which accumulates in the interior space of the housing and is led out of the housing through a condensed water line. Such a generic refrigeration apparatus is known from EP O 775 879, in which the condensed water line empties into a condensed water trough, which is arranged in the area of a compressor of the refrigerant circuit for use its heat to evaporate condensed water.

In the interior space of the housing of the refrigeration apparatus there is generally a certain negative pressure due to the temperature difference from the environment and the air circulation by a fan. Due to such negative pressure in the interior space of the housing, backflows of outside air can be produced through the condensed water line to the interior space of the housing. When this happens, the humidity of the outside air can precipitate in the condensed water pipe and, if necessary, freeze there, through which the condensed water pipe can be obstructed in a harmful way.

The object of the invention is to create a cooling apparatus with a condensed water drain valve that opens easily in the case of standing water in the drain line and also reliably prevents aspiration of ambient air.

The task is solved by a cooling apparatus comprising a cooling space, from which condensed water is diverted through a lining wall of the cooling apparatus to the outside of the cooling space by means of a drain duct having an end of conduit with a conduit outlet to which it is connectable to a drain valve having a valve container with an overflow rim, and a valve connecting element where the conduit end is connected within the container at a level below the overflow edge so that condensed water that can flow down the drain line falls into the drain valve container and can cover the line outlet with water by blocking the air inlet through the drain line to the cooling space. Advantageous improvements of the invention are set out in the secondary claims.

The water that has condensed inside the cooling space is channeled through the drain line to the outside of the cooling space and with a drain valve like the one of the invention arranged at the end of the line, is accumulated in the valve container and covers the duct outlet by closing it to prevent air from entering it. A valve like the one of the invention ensures a correct drainage of the condensed water and ensures a blockage of the entry of ambient air through the duct.

The drain valve valve container has a container base and the drain valve has a spacer means to distance the conduit outlet from the container base to allow condensed water to exit through the drain conduit to the valve. This ensures an outlet for the condensed water through the duct, preventing the duct outlet from sticking to the base of the container, closing it. The spacer is arranged in the connection element so that the drain valve is simplified by including two functions in one part of the valve.

The valve connection element has a fixing means to fix the drain valve to the conduit end. The connection element can be made as an extension of the duct, that is, it prolongs the duct by taking the duct outlet past the duct end, or the connection element can be opened, for example with grooves so that the outlet and duct end match. The fixing means of the connection element can be in any way type plug, clip or ribbed. It can be realized as two cylindrical walls of circular section that are radially separated the distance of the thickness of the wall of the duct end. Or a single cylindrical wall with grooves that enters the end of the duct in the form of a tube interlocking in it. Or also, a cross-shaped castellation that is inserted through the hole at the end of the duct. Always giving way to condensed water that runs down the drain. The spacer can be made as a stop that rises from the base of the container, preventing the end of the conduit from entering beyond said spacer, leaving sufficient opening to flow the condensed water.

In one embodiment, the valve container has a container wall where the overflow rim is and a guide wall that folds to the outside of the container surrounding the container wall to guide downward water overflowing from the overflow rim. The overflow edge, in the absence of a guide wall, is defined by the edge of the container at its lowest level with respect to the level of condensed water collected in the container. In the case of being provided with a guide wall, the overflow edge of the container is made as windows in the container wall that allow water to flow between the external face of the container wall and the guide wall. This also ensures a minimum distance between the container rim and the external face of the cladding wall, especially when it is attached to it.

In the case where the drain valve is arranged fixed to the external face of the facing wall, it is especially advantageous to fix it to a hole on the external face of the facing wall. The drain conduit makes its way through the hole, terminated there with its conduit end or, lengthening somewhat further outwards. Thus, in the manufacturing process of the apparatus, when the insulating material is introduced by the foaming process, leakage through the orifice is prevented since the valve acts as a seal in the slot between the drain pipe and the external face of the cladding wall. To connect the valve to the lining wall, the fixing means of the connection element can be made as a single cylindrical wall with grooves. These grooves, in addition to serving as a connection to the conduit end, can be threaded to screw the drain valve into the hole on the outside of the lining wall. In that case, provision is made for the valve container to be removable from the valve connection element.

In this embodiment, the valve container is removable and thus can be easily disconnected from the conduit and cleaned in case the conduit has become clogged. The valve container can be removably attached to the valve connection element in a simple way, for example by means of a clip, thread or plug, always leaving the outlet of the drain pipe open to let the condensed water flow.

It can also be provided that the valve container and the valve connection element are integrally made in one piece and that it can be easily disconnected from the drain pipe in one piece or that it remains fixed to the wall of coating. Made in one piece, the manufacture of the valve is facilitated.

It is also provided that the refrigerator apparatus has a compressor for the operation of the refrigeration system, an evaporation tray with a tray base arranged in contact on the compressor, and the drain valve is arranged so that the water that overflows from the container valve falls inside the evaporation pan. Thus, all the water that overflows from the container evaporates in the evaporation tray.

In one embodiment, it is provided that the valve base of the drain valve is arranged above the tray base of the evaporation tray so that all the water that overflows from the valve container falls into the evaporation tray. In this way, pipes from the overflow edge are avoided and it is also kept away from the heat source of the compressor, preventing the water column from evaporating from the valve container.

The evaporation tray has a tray wall on its perimeter and in another embodiment, the drain valve is arranged next to the tray wall so that the water that overflows from the valve container falls into the tray. evaporation. Typically, the valve overflow edge is on the tray or the overflowing water is piped to the tray from the overflow edge.

It is also possible, in any embodiment, for the conduit end to protrude from the lining wall, thus, the drain valve will be coupled remotely from the lining wall and in a particular case, the drain valve may be made in one piece with the evaporation tray which facilitates the manufacture of the apparatus by reducing the pieces. In any case, the tray can be metal or plastic. If it is made of plastic, it is easier to manufacture the drain valve in one piece and the tray wall and the container wall can be the same wall, that is, the tray can have a compartment separated by a wall where the valve overflow edge of the drain valve. It is preferable that the valve is located on the periphery of the tray, in an area away from the compressor so that the water column does not evaporate from the valve container.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a condensed water drain valve for a refrigeration apparatus that opens easily in the case of standing water in the drain line and further reliably prevents aspiration of ambient air.

This object is solved with a drain valve as described above.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown below by means of the attached figures.

Shows:

Fig. 1 a partial section of a cooling apparatus according to the invention through the area of the drain pipe, Fig. 2 a section of a drain valve according to the embodiment shown in figure 1, Fig. 3 a section of a drain valve according to the realization

shown in FIG. 1 with another connecting element, FIG. 4 a section of a drain valve according to another embodiment and, FIG. 5 a section of a refrigerator with a drain pan

evaporation according to another embodiment of the invention in the area of the

drain pipe.

Figure 1 shows a partial section of a cooling apparatus 1 with part of a cooling space 3 delimited by cladding walls 4. In the rear cladding wall of the cooling space 3 there is an opening that exits the water which it is condensed inside the cooling space through the drain line 7 leading to the end of the line 8 in the drain valve 1O. The drain valve is clipped to a hole 5 on the face

external 6 of the cladding wall 4. The cladding wall is filled with an insulating material.

The conduit end 8 connects to the valve connecting element

5

valve that channels the water to the duct outlet 9. The drain valve 1 O is arranged above an evaporation tray 21 having a tray wall 23 and a tray base 22 with which it rests on the compressor 2 of the appliance cooling system 1.

1 O

Figure 2 shows in detail a section of the embodiment of the drain valve 1 O shown in Figure 1. The valve has a connection element 17 with which at one end, it can be connected by clip to the hole 5 of the external face 6 of the lining wall 4 and the end of the drainage duct where the spacer 16 is located is connected and on the other end it is connected to the valve container 11. In this case, it is connected to the valve container 11 by means of clip (not shown) removably.

15 20

The valve container 11 has a valve base 13 to which the valve connection element 17 is connected leaving open the drain conduit outlets 9 and a valve container wall 14. Upstream in the valve container wall there is a series of windows through which the water can overflow when the valve container is full, are the overflow edges 12. The valve wall 14 at its highest part folds and extends by means of the guide wall 15 surrounding the wall of valve to guide and channel the water flow downwards.

25 30

A section of another embodiment of the drain valve 1 O of FIG. 1 is shown in detail in FIG. 3. In essence, it is the same as the previous one except that in this case, the valve has a connection element 17 with which at one end, it can be threadedly connected to the hole 5 of the external face 6 of the lining wall 4 and it is plugged into the opening of the end of the drain pipe 8 and at the other end it is attached to the valve container 11. The spacer 16 it is made as a growth of the wall that forms the thread of the connection element 17. The thread in turn acts as a fixing means 19 to fix the conduit end to the connection element 17.

In the case where the end of the drain pipe 8 protrudes from the lining wall 4, it is not necessary to attach the valve to the hole 5 of the face

External 6. Valve 1 O simply plugs into drain line end 8.

A section of another embodiment of the drain valve 1 O is shown in detail in Figure 4. In this case, the valve has a connection element 17 with which at one end, it can be connected with a fixing means 19 in it is clipped to the end of the drain pipe 8 and on the other end it is attached to the valve container 11. In this case it is attached to the valve container 11 in one piece. The spacer 16 is made as a re-growth of the wall in the connection element from the container base 13. Thus, when introducing the conduit end 8, the spacer limits its introduction. By the part closest to the container base 13, is the duct outlet 9 from the duct end introduction height 8 allowed by the spacer 16. The duct outlet 9 must always be below the overflow edge 12 of the container wall 14 to secure a water column that closes the conduit 7.

Figure 5 shows a partial section of a cooling apparatus 1 with part of a cooling space 3 delimited by cladding walls 4. In the rear cladding wall of the cooling space 3 there is an opening that exits the water which it is condensed inside the cooling space through the drain duct 7 leading to the end of the duct 8 which protrudes from the external face 6 of the lining wall 4 and flows to the drain valve 10.

The conduit end 8 is connected to the connection element of the drain valve which is arranged in one piece with the evaporation tray 21 supported on the compressor 2 of the refrigeration system of the apparatus 1.

List of reference symbols

refrigerator appliance

2

compressor

3

cooling space

4

cladding wall

5

orifice

6

external face of the cladding wall

7

drain pipe

8

conduit end

9

duct outlet

1 O

drain valve

eleven

valve container

12

overflow edge

13

container base

14

container wall

fifteen

wall guide

16

half spacer

17

valve connection element

19

fixing means

twenty-one

evaporation tray

22

tray base

2. 3

tray wall

Claims (12)

1. Refrigerating appliance comprising a cooling space (3), from which condensed water is diverted through a lining wall (4) of the cooling apparatus (1) towards the outside of the cooling space (3) by means of a drain duct (7) ,  characterized in that the drain pipe has a pipe end (8) with a pipe outlet (9) to which a drain valve (1 O) is connectable having a valve container (11) with an overflow rim (12), and a valve connection element (17) where the conduit end (8) is connected inside the container (11) at a level below the overflow edge (12) so that the condensed water that can flow down the conduit drain (7) falls inside the valve container (11) and can cover the duct outlet (9) with water, blocking the air inlet through the drain duct (7) into the cooling space (3).

2.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve container (11) has a container base (13) and the drain valve (1 O) has a spacer means to distance the duct outlet (9) from the container (13) to allow condensed water to escape through the drain line to the valve container.

3.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve connection element (17) has a fixing means (19) for fixing the drain valve to the conduit end (7).

Four.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve container (11) has a container wall (14) where the overflow edge (12) is and a guide wall (15) that folds out of the container surrounding the container wall (14) to guide down the water that overflows from the overflow edge.

5.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drain valve (1 O) can be fixed to an external face of the lining wall (6).

6.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the drain valve (1 O) is connected to a hole (5) on the external face of the lining wall (6).

7.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve container (11) is removable from the valve connection element (17).

8.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the valve container (11) and the valve connection element (17) are integrally made in one piece.

9.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a compressor (2) for the operation of the refrigeration system, an evaporation tray (21) with a tray base (22) arranged in contact on the compressor, and the valve drain (1 O) is arranged so that the water that overflows from the valve container falls into the evaporation tray.

1O. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the valve base of the drain valve (10) is arranged above the tray base (22) so that all the water that overflows from the valve container falls into the drain tray. evaporation. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the evaporation tray (21) has a tray wall (23) on its perimeter and the drain valve (1 O) is arranged next to the tray wall so that the water that overflows from the valve container falls 10 inside the evaporation tray. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the drain valve (1 O) is made in one piece with the evaporation tray (21). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the tray wall (23) and the container wall (14) are the same. Drain valve for a cooling apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims.