ES2457391A1 - Domestic refrigerator appliance with a cold air duct (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Domestic refrigerator apparatus, which has an internal receptacle (3) for refrigerated product that is delimited by internal walls (11), a cold air generation device (7), and a cold air supply duct (13) having an intermediate wall (12) with at least one passage opening which is configured to introduce a cold air stream supplied by the cold air generating device (7) into the internal receptacle (3), where the supply conduit of cold air (13) presents a collector channel (18) of dew water etched into the intermediate wall (12). In this way the formation of ice and turbulence in the cold air stream inside the duct (13) is prevented. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Domestic refrigerator appliance with a cold air duct.

The invention relates to a domestic refrigerating apparatus, which has an internal receptacle that delimits a housing space for refrigerable product, a device for generating cold air current, an apparatus wall with a passage opening, and a duct for cold air supply that is configured to introduce a cold air stream supplied by the cold air generating device into the housing space through the passage opening of the appliance wall.

ES 2365182 T3 discloses an electric refrigerator, including a cabinet body that has an interior accommodation space, a door that is connected to the cabinet body in a mobile way and that serves to close this interior accommodation space, as well as a air duct system that is installed on the heat insulating rear wall, where this air duct system comprises a cover plate with air outlet openings, an evaporator installed between the cover plate of the air ducts and the rear wall heat insulating, and a fan, and where the fan is installed horizontally above the evaporator, the air outlet openings are installed obliquely on the cover plate of the air channels, and the air flow caused by the fan is blown towards up or down to the interior housing space, at an angle obliquely to the cover plate of air channels.

The moist air that is introduced into the cold air channel system condenses on the walls of these channels and can fall on electrical components arranged in the duct or freeze on the colder parts of these

The object of the invention is to provide a domestic refrigerator apparatus in which the electrical and operational reliability thereof is improved.

The object of the invention is achieved by means of a domestic refrigerating apparatus, which has an internal receptacle for refrigerable product that is delimited by internal walls, a device for generating cold air current, and a cold air supply duct that has a intermediate wall with at least one passage opening that is configured to introduce a cold air stream supplied by the cold air generating device into the internal receptacle, where the cold air supply conduit has an engraved spray water collector channel in the middle wall.

By the term "the collecting channel is engraved on the intermediate wall" it is understood that the collecting channel is a

relief pierced on the surface of the intermediate wall, that is, a negative relief that is introduced at a lower level of the general plane where the collecting channel is located. In this way, they do not reduce the section of the cold air supply duct hindering the flow of air and do not cause turbulence within it by not protruding inwards. This is important since turbulence within the cold air supply duct reduces the loss of efficiency of the apparatus and can lead to a poor distribution of the cold air stream inside the receptacle.

When you open the door of the domestic refrigerator, air enters the outside of the appliance. This mass of air contains ambient humidity that penetrates inside the cold air supply duct. The flow of cold air as it passes through the cold air supply duct and collides with the mass of moist air causes the precipitation of steam in the form of drops of dew water on the walls of the duct. Water droplets slide down the inner surface of the intermediate wall and are collected in the collecting channel where its path to the bottom of the device is interrupted. In this way, water can be collected from the cold air supply duct and prevented from reaching sensitive parts of the apparatus or freezing and blocking the inside of the cold air supply duct.

Preferably the collecting channel is arranged below the passage opening which is where the mass of hot and humid air enters and where more amount of dew is to be formed. This will be collected before it slides inside the cold air supply duct. Furthermore, it is provided that between the collecting channel and the passage opening a collecting surface engraved on the intermediate wall is made so that more dew can be collected in the same passage opening.

A very simple embodiment of the cold air supply duct is that it is formed by the intermediate wall coupled to the inner wall of the receptacle by closing the cold air supply duct. It is an embodiment of the cold air supply duct quite simple and easy to mount on the production line. In addition, it can be easily removed by the appliance repairer in the event of a fault in the components that can be found inside the cold air supply duct.

To collect the accumulated water in the collecting channel, it is provided that it is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus and thus bringing the water to a lower point of the collecting channel. Preferably at the lowest or closest point to the lowest point of the collecting channel, a drain is provided between the intermediate wall and the inner wall that guides the dew water to the outside of the cold air supply duct. In this way, water does not accumulate in the cold air supply duct and overflows in the collecting channel are avoided.

Electrical elements can be installed inside the cold air supply duct to, for example, operate air guiding gates therein, so it is advantageous that these electrical elements are arranged below the collecting channel.

The cold air supply duct is at least partially configured in a rear wall of the inner receptacle since in this way the air flow inside the receptacle is more homogeneous and access of the outside air mass does not enter directly into the duct of cold air supply through the passage openings.

One way to reduce the formation of dew drops on the intermediate wall is to make it as a molded part made of heat insulating material, preferably expanded polystyrene. Facing the inside of the receptacle, this intermediate wall is lined by an ABS plastic cover, or other more resistant and colorful material such as metal

or glass The heat-insulating material means that the temperature difference between the inner surface of the intermediate wall and the air that circulates is not so large and that condensation is not caused at any point in the duct. The intermediate wall may be fixed to the rear wall of the receptacle by means of a fixing element, for example a screw or clip.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings and shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a domestic refrigerator with a cold air generating device;

Fig 2

a view of a side section of the domestic refrigerator apparatus of figure 1; Y

Fig. 3

a perspective view of a detail of an intermediate wall of the cold air supply duct of the

domestic refrigerating apparatus according to the invention.

A domestic refrigerating apparatus 1 shown by way of example in Figure 1 has a body 2 with an internal receptacle 3. The internal receptacle 3 can be divided into a freezing space 4 arranged above and a cooling space 5 arranged below delimited by two side walls, a top wall, a bottom wall and a back wall 12. In general, the freezing space 4 serves to freeze frozen product at approximately minus 18 degrees Celsius. Freezing space 4 is accessible with freezing space door 9 open. Both spaces can have supports 26 for products of different shape and type. To open, the door of the freezing space 9 has a first handle 10. In general, the refrigeration space 5 serves to cool without refrigerable product, preferably at temperatures between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius above zero. However, the refrigeration space 5 can also be made as a zero-degree compartment, especially to keep the fruit or vegetable fresh. In the embodiment shown, the cooling space 5 has at least one rear wall 11, behind which a cold air generating device 7 and at least one cold air supply duct 13 are arranged. The space Cooling 5 is accessible with the cooling space door 14 open. To open, the door of the cooling space 14 has a second handle 15.

The cold air current generating device 7 may have a refrigerant circuit which, by way of example, has at least one compressor 8, an evaporator 6, a condenser, and a throttle valve. Likewise, the cold air current generation device 7 may be arranged completely, or in part, outside the internal receptacle 3, although, alternatively, the cold air current generation device 7 may be fully or partially disposed within of the internal receptacle 3, by way of example, covered behind the rear wall 11, or, within the cooling space 5 and / or freezing space 4, where at least one cold air inlet opening 17 can be provided by example in the intermediate wall 12, through which the cold air current generated by the cold air current generating device 7 can enter the cooling space 5 and / or freezing space 4. In order to be able to driving the cold air stream of the cold air stream generating device 7 towards the cold air inlet opening 17 by way of example, the air supply duct is provided and cold 13. The cold air supply duct 13 may be assembled from several duct sections, or several duct components. The intermediate wall according to the invention can be provided as a conduit component.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the cold air supply duct 13 is partially made inside the cooling space 5 in which, a duct component is the rear wall 11 on which it fits and closes the intermediate wall 12. The intermediate wall is made as a cover 27 of rigid ABS plastic that faces the interior of the cooling space 5 and that forms the molded part 22 of heat-insulating material of the EPS type (expanded polystyrene). The heat-insulating material, in addition to keeping the cold air supply duct isolated from the outside temperature, is a flexible material that fits the rear wall 11 so that it functions as a tight seal. The intermediate wall assembly 12 is formed by the cover 27 and the molded part 22. There is a ventilation circuit inlet 25 and several passage openings 17 for the exit of the cold air stream. The air entering through the ventilation circuit inlet 25 is driven by the fan 24 previously passing through the evaporator 6 where it is cooled to temperatures even below 0 degrees Celsius.

5 The passage openings 17 are made in such a way that they pass through the cover 27 and the molded part 22. In the molded part the collector channel 18 and the collector surface 19 are formed negatively etched thereon so as not to reduce the section of the duct cold air supply hindering the flow of air and do not cause turbulence within it by not protruding inwards. This is important since turbulence within the cold air supply duct 13 reduces the loss of efficiency of the apparatus and can result in a

10 poor distribution of the cold air stream inside the receptacle 3.

In Figure 3, the intermediate wall 12 is shown in more detail from the inner surface of the molded part 22 which is the one that faces inside the cold air supply duct and the cover 27 covering it. Electrical elements 21 are distinguished in the lower part of the intermediate wall which is important to protect from moisture. For this purpose, the collector channel 18, the collector surface 19 and the passage opening 17 are engraved on the surface of the molded part. The collector channel has an inclination with respect to the verticality of the apparatus so that the water that falls into it flows down to the drain 20. The drain is a groove that is at the edge of the intermediate wall 12 and is partially closed by the rear wall to channel the water into the receptacle, so that it does not fall into the supply duct of Cold air. For a reliable installation of the intermediate wall on the wall

20, fixing elements 23 are provided, which can be of the clip type or screws that pass through it and are locked in the rear wall, allowing its disassembly if necessary.

List of reference symbols CLAIMS

one

Domestic refrigerator appliance

2

Body

3

Internal receptacle

4

Freezing space

Cooling space

6

Evaporator

7

Cold air generation device

8

Compressor

9

Freezing space door

First shooter

eleven

Back wall

12

Intermediate wall

13

Cold air supply duct

14

Cooling space door

Second shooter

17

Passage opening

18

Collector channel

19

Collecting surface

Drain

twenty-one

Electric element

22

Molded part

2. 3

Fixing element

24

Fan

Ventilation circuit input

26

Support

27

Cover

Claims (10)

one.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus, which has an internal receptacle (3) for refrigerable product that is delimited by internal walls (11), a cold air current generation device (7), and a cold air supply duct (13) which has an intermediate wall (12) with at least one passage opening that is configured to introduce a cold air stream supplied by the cold air generating device (7) into the internal receptacle (3), characterized in that the duct of Cold air supply (13) has a collector channel (18) of dew water engraved on the intermediate wall (12).

2.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the collecting channel (18) is arranged below the passage opening (17).

3.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a collecting surface (19) engraved on the intermediate wall (12) is made between the collecting channel (18) and the passage opening (17).

Four.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting channel (18) is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane of the apparatus.

5.

Domestic refrigerating apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate wall (12) is coupled to the internal wall (11) of the receptacle (3) closing the cold air supply duct (13).

6.

Domestic refrigeration apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the collecting channel (18) has a drain (20) between the intermediate wall (12) and the internal wall (11) that guides the dew water to the outside of the duct cold air supply (13).

7.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electric element (21) is arranged below the collecting channel (18).

8.

Domestic refrigerating apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold air supply duct (13) is at least partially configured in a rear wall (11) of the internal receptacle (3).

9.

Domestic refrigerator apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate wall (12) is made of heat-insulating material, preferably expanded polystyrene.

SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201231629 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 23.10.2012 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: F25D17 / 08 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

X

JP 2009275929 A (TOSHIBA CORP et al.) 26.11.2009, Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE. Figures 1-3. 1-9

TO

JP H08159638 A (SANYO ELECTRIC CO) 21.06.1996, Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE. Figures 1-5. 1-9

TO

US 2010 180620 A1 (LEE YOUN SEOK et al.) 07.27.2010, paragraphs [50-52]; figure 4. 1-9

TO

CN 202066281 U (HEFEI MIDEA & ROYALSTAR FRIDGE et al.) 07.12.2011, Summary of the EPODOC database. Recovered from EPOQUE. Figures. one

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 07.03.2014

Examiner P. Sarasola Rubio Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201231629 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) F25D Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201231629 Date of Written Opinion: 07.03.2014 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-9 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-9 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201231629  1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

JP 2009275929 A (TOSHIBA CORP et al.) 11.26.2009

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The document object of the report refers to a domestic refrigeration apparatus, which has a device for generating cold air current (7), connected to a cold air supply channel (13) that has an intermediate wall (12) with at least one passage opening to the internal receptacle (3), wherein said cold air supply channel (13) has a dew water collector engraved on the intermediate wall. Document D01 is a prior art document close to the object of the invention. Said document (references refer to said document) discloses a refrigerator that has (figure 3) with a cold air passage duct (B) from said conduit to the inner receptacle (1) where the food would be placed. Said channel (figure 3) has an intermediate wall where the fan (9) is located, so that between it and the rear wall the cold air ventilation duct (10) is closed (C). In said wall and located opposite the suction opening (11) of outside air, a metal plate (12) is used which is used as a means of condensation. In this way, the air to be introduced into the internal receptacle (1) condenses its moisture into said metal plate (12) and already enters dry (B) in the food receptacle (1). As for the dew water that is condensed in the plate (12), it is collected and, by the rear face of the ventilation duct (10), a drain channel (16) catches said water that remained in the lower part of the member of condensation (12) and discharge into a drain pan (15). Thus, the air that goes to the vegetable receptacle (5) passes in front of said bucket (figures 1 and 2) getting wet and entering said receptacle with an optimum humidity level for the vegetables. Thus, a dew water collector channel (16) is found in document D01 but which according to figure 2 does not appear to be engraved if not added (but which is considered an equivalent design option), arranged below the openings of air (B) that introduce the air (B) to the receptacle (1), with a collecting surface (12) engraved on an intermediate wall (figure 4); where the collecting channel (16) is inclined according to a horizontal plane of the apparatus (figure 2); where the intermediate wall (not referenced in D01, but if you look at Figure 2, it would be the wall that has the condensation member engraved (12)) it is coupled to the inner wall of the receptacle (1) creating an air supply duct cold (cold air circulates inside (C)); where the collecting channel (16) has a drain (15) between the intermediate wall and the rear wall of the refrigerator, which guides the dew water to the outside of the cold air supply duct. This is different from the invention under study, since here the water is used to give moisture to the vegetables and in the case of the invention under study it is drained out. But it seems obvious that if that water was not to be used, it would drain out. It is also not specified in D01 if there are electrical elements under the collector channel, but it is considered that they could be placed if required, thus changing no channel characteristics. As for the position of the air supply channel, in the case of document D01 it is also located on the rear wall of the internal receptacle (1). As for the wall to be made of heat-insulating material, it is obvious to an expert in the material, in the case of refrigerators. Therefore, it is considered that claims 1-9 lack inventive activity according to Law 11/1986, Art. 8.1, since none of the differences mentioned above would imply an inventive effort for an expert in the field or give rise to unexpected or surprising effect. State of the Art Report Page 4/4