FR2754336A1 - CONDENSATE COLLECTION BIN AND REFRIGERATING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH SUCH A BAC - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray for collecting the condensates produced by a refrigeration appliance, the tray comprising: - at least two air circulation openings each intended to be associated with a fan, and - at least one outlet (S) of evacuation of the condensates collected by the tray. According to the invention, the tray (8) consists of at least two modular condensate recovery plates, each provided with an air circulation orifice and connected to each other along at least one of their adjacent transverse side, to the 'Using sealed connection means (282) ensuring a flow of condensates from one plate to another up to the condensate discharge outlet.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus designed to provide the

  cooling of the air contained in a chamber or enclosure in the general sense, and it is more precisely the refrigeration appliances called dual flow evaporators. The invention aims more precisely, the means of collection and

  discharge of condensates produced by such devices.

  In general, a dual flow evaporator comprises two heat exchangers or batteries crossed, each by a refrigerant or by any other coolant. Each heat exchanger is placed on the air circulation path provided by one or more fans. Such an evaporator comprises a body or a casing forming a tray in which is arranged, for each fan, an air intake inlet extending substantially in a horizontal plane. The sucked-up air is diverted towards the two exchangers placed laterally, and then discharged by two outlets extending substantially in

a vertical plane.

  Insofar as the heat exchangers have a temperature below the dew point of the air in the chamber or the chamber to be treated, moisture is deposited in the form of condensation water or frost on their surfaces. The collection of condensates resulting from the passage of air through the exchangers is generally provided by the recovery tank disposed below the heat exchangers. In a conventional manner, such a tank provides a function of collecting and discharging condensates while being equipped with inputs

suction of air.

  It must therefore be considered that such a tank, also called drainer, must ensure the collection of condensate and air intake while providing a certain aesthetic appearance, insofar as such a tank is generally the facade of the 'apparatus. It must be considered that such characteristics must be respected, regardless of the power of the device. However, the power of the evaporator depends on the dimensioning of the exchangers with which a certain number of fans are associated. It follows that each evaporator model of a given power requires the realization of a specific drip tray. Indeed, each tank model has dimensions and a number of air inlets adapted to the power of the evaporator to equip. There are difficulties in the manufacture, storage and

  the maintenance of such devices, which largely strike their cost.

  It therefore appears the need to be able to have a collection tray and condensate drain, adapted to be implemented regardless

  the power of the dual flow evaporator.

  To meet this need, the object of the invention is to provide a condensate recovery tank produced by a refrigerating appliance comprising: - at least two air circulation holes intended to be each associated with a fan,

  and at least one outlet for discharging the condensates collected by the tank.

  According to the invention, the tank is constituted by at least two modular condensate recovery plates, each provided with an air circulation orifice and interconnected along at least one of their neighboring transverse side, using sealing connection means ensuring a flow of

  condensate from one plate to another to the condensate outlet.

  The tray according to the invention is therefore composed of several modular elements each assigned to a fan and intended to be connected together.

  sealed way, to ensure the collection and evacuation of condensate.

  Various other characteristics emerge from the description given below.

  below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of examples not

  limiting, embodiments and implementation of the subject of the invention.

  Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment

  a refrigerating apparatus equipped with a recovery tank according to the invention.

  Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken

  substantially along the lines II-II of FIG. 1.

  Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a device taken

  substantially along the lines III-III of FIG. 2.

  Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken substantially

  along the lines IV-IV of FIG. 2.

  Fig. 5 is a view of the inner face of a compliant modular plate

  according to the invention, taken substantially along the lines V-V of FIG. 2.

  Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional detail views showing

features of the invention.

  Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate a refrigerating apparatus 1 for cooling the air of a chamber or enclosure 2 in the general sense, being mounted on a support 3 extending substantially in a horizontal plane, such as a ceiling. The refrigerating apparatus 1 advantageously constitutes a dual-flow evaporator. In a conventional manner, a dual-flow evaporator 1 comprises one or more fans 4, of which there are three in the illustrated example, each driven in rotation along an axis

  vertical via an electric motor 6 mounted on a body 7.

  The evaporator 1 comprises, in the usual manner, a collection tray 8 and

  discharge of condensates created during operation of the refrigerating apparatus.

  Conventionally, the tray 8 is arranged to include, for each fan 8, an air inlet opening 9 extending substantially in a horizontal plane. In known manner, each fan 4 circulates the air in order to bring it to two heat exchangers 11, also called batteries,

  placed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal median plane P of the apparatus.

  Each heat exchanger 11 is arranged to include a circulation circuit 12 of a refrigerant or heat transfer fluid. The evaporator 1 has two air discharge outlets 13 which are established substantially in a vertical plane and which allow the air to exit into the chamber 2 after having been diverted and then passed to

through the heat exchangers 11.

  According to the invention, the tank 8 is constituted by at least two modular plates 21 in number equal to the number of fans 4 equipping the evaporator 1. In the example illustrated, the evaporator 1 thus comprises three modular plates 21 intended for recovering the condensates by their internal face 22. As is more clearly apparent from FIG. 5, each modular plate 21 has a rectangular shape and has two longitudinal sides 24 parallel to each other and two transverse sides 25 parallel to each other. It must be considered that the longitudinal 24 and transverse sides 25 are considered with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry P of the apparatus 1 passing through all the fans 4. Each modular plate 21 is provided with an air circulation opening 9 delimited by a pipe nozzle 91 rising from the inner face 22 of the plate and centered with respect to the longitudinal 24 and transverse sides 25. Each opening 9 is equipped with a protective element 26 of the perforated type, allowing the passage of the air while prohibiting access to the fan 4. The protective element 26 is provided on the outer face 27 of the plate, namely that facing the enclosure 2 to be cooled. According to the invention, the modular plates 21 are intended to be mounted next to one another by being connected to each other by the transverse sides 25, with means 28 for sealing connection ensuring a tight flow of the condensates. one plate to the other until an evacuation evacuation outlet S of the evaporator. The means 28 are adapted to seal the seal formed by two transverse sides 25 adjacent to two

adjacent plates 21.

  In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the sealed connection means 28 are constituted at least by overlapping connection means 281. As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 6, the overlapping connecting means 281 comprise a connecting means of a first type 30, intended to cooperate with a connection means 32 of a second type, complementary to the first type. In the illustrated example, the connecting means of the first type 30 are constituted by a lip, a rib or a rim 30 rising from the internal face 22 of the plates and intended to be capped by means of a flange dropped 32 rising from the face

  internal plate 22, from a lip, a rib or a border 33.

  Preferably, each plate 21 is provided, on one of its transverse sides 25, with a border 30 and on its opposite transverse side, with a fallen flange 32. The edges 30 and the flanged edges 32 extend substantially each along the entire length of the transverse sides 25. In the same direction, it should be noted that the longitudinal sides 24 are each provided with a rim 36 rising from

  of the inner face 22 of the plates to ensure the confinement of the condensates.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each modular plate 21 is arranged so that its inner face 22 constitutes a drainage surface of the condensates towards at least one chute or channel 37 provided in the plate to open locally. on at least one and, preferably, on both transverse sides 25. In the illustrated example, each channel 37 is formed along each longitudinal side 24 of the plates to ensure the collection and flow of condensates collected on the face internal 22 of the plate. As is more particularly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner face 22 of each plate is shaped to present, from the central conduit 91 of air inlet, a slope directed towards the longitudinal sides 24, so as to allow the flow of the condensates represented by the arrows f, from the center of the plate to the channels 37. It should be noted that the flanges 36 along the channels 37 rise to become established in a plane passing substantially through the top of the inner face 22 located in the median longitudinal plane P. In the illustrated example, each inner face 22 of the plates has, transversely, a convex curvature symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal median plane P to allow the complete flow of the condensates towards the chutes 37. It should be noted that It may be provided to make a different number of chutes 37. For example, each plate 21 may be equipped with a single trough 37 centered on the longitudinal median plane P. In this case, each internal face 22 of the plates has transversely, a concave curvature symmetrical with respect to the plane P, in order to ensure the flow of the condensates of the longitudinal sides 24 in the direction of the nozzle 91 from which extends the channel

Central 37.

  In the illustrated example, each channel 37 opens on a transverse side 25 in connection with connecting means 28 constituted by means 282 of the type of interlocking connection. The interlocking means 282 are constituted by a male sleeve 38 intended to engage inside a female end piece 39. Preferably, each channel 37 opening on the transverse side 25 of the plates provided with the dropped flange 32 is extended. by a male sleeve 38 projecting from the sides 25 (FIG 5), while each channel 37 opening on the transverse side of the plates provided with the edge 30, is equipped with a female end piece 39 extending on a limited portion inside the channel to the level of the sides 25. As is more clearly apparent from FIG. 7, each female end piece 39 is intended to be fitted by a conical assembly, with a male sleeve 38 which has a bore or a central passage 40 for the condensates. To ensure a nested position of the male sleeve 38 inside the female end 39, each transverse side 25 is provided with one or two elastic tabs 41 intended to come

  snap on the border 30 or 33 of an adjacent plate.

  According to a preferred feature, the modular plates 21 are interconnected by means of a drip tray 42 mounted to extend below each heat exchanger 11. Each drip tray 42 thus has a transverse cross-section generally U-shaped slightly wider than the heat exchanger. Each drainer 42 is fixed on pads 43 carried by the inner face 22 of the plates and is engaged on mounting tabs 44 extending at each end of the longitudinal sides 24. Each drainer 42 has a total length at least equal to the length of each exchanger 11 to allow the direct recovery of the condensates appearing on the fins of the exchangers. It should be noted that it can be envisaged not to use the drainers 42,

  the tank 8 then ensuring the complete collection of condensates.

  The recovery tank 8 is also constituted by end elements 45, 451 each constituted in the form of a half-box having a transverse side 46 similar to the transverse sides 25 of the plates and equipped with the watertight connection means 28. Preferably, one of the end members 45 is provided with a border 30, while the other end member 451 is provided with a dropped flange 32. In addition, the orifice S of the condensate discharge is formed in one of the end members, preferably the one 45 provided with an edge 30 as a covering means 281. In addition, the lateral sides 46 of the end members 45, 451 are provided with the means 282 interlocking type connection. Thus, the transverse side 46 of the end member 45 is equipped with two receiving passages for the male sleeves 38, while the side 46 of the end member 451 is provided with a half

  male sleeve 381 engaging in a socket 39 (Fig. 3).

  The constitution of the tray 8 according to the invention derives directly from the

  above description. The number of plates 21 used to form a tray 8

  depends on the power of the evaporator 1 which comprises, for each power, a predetermined number of fans 4, for example three in the illustrated example. Three modular plates 21 are assembled together by their transverse sides 25 ensuring, on the one hand, the interlocking of the edge 30 inside the flange 32 and on the other hand, the engagement of each male sleeve 38 inside a female connector 39 placed in correspondence. The retention in position of the male sleeves 38 inside the female ends 39, is ensured by the engagement of the elastic tabs 41 on the corresponding edges 30, 33. A drainer 42 is then mounted to extend between each longitudinal side 24 and the

  nozzle 91 and over the entire length of the assembly formed by the modular plates 21.

  The extreme modular plates 21 are then equipped with the two end elements 45, 451 ensuring the cooperation between the edges and the flanges that have fallen off the end plates and the end elements. As can be seen from fig. 3, the male sleeves 38 of the plate 21 adjacent to the end element 45,

  freely open inside the volume of this element, while half

  sleeves 381 penetrate inside the female ends 39 of the modular plate

extreme.

  The end plates 21 are mounted hinged to the body 7 via unrepresented pins, carried by the end elements, and engaged in bores formed in the tabs 44. The assembly of the modular plates 21 is thus mounted at the four corners allowing, by dismounting at least two axes placed on the same longitudinal side, to pivot the plates relative to the body 7 and, consequently, to give access to the fans 4. The end elements 45, 451 are mounted by any appropriate means on the body 7 of the evaporator. Each end element 45, 451 is closed by a cap

supplementary 49.

  In a conventional manner, the evaporator 1 is mounted on the support 3 to have an inclination of a few degrees considered in the longitudinal plane P and towards the end member 45 provided with the discharge orifice S. Each plate modular 21 is thus adapted to collect the condensates falling on its inner face 22. Due to the conformation of the internal face 22, the condensates flow naturally towards the channels 37 which, because of the inclination of the apparatus, provide the flow in a general direction represented by the arrow F. The condensates are led from one plate 21 to the other, preferably through the passages 40 of the male sleeves 38 which have a perfect seal due to the conical interlock realized . It should be noted that if condensates pass from one plate 21 to the other, outside the channels 37, sealing is also ensured at the mounting joint, insofar as the seal is capped by the flange fallen 32. In this regard, the modular plates 21 are mounted so that the flanged edges 32 are oriented in the flow direction F of the condensates (Fig. 6), to force the condensates to pass over the fallen flanges.

  without being able to infiltrate between the borders 30, 33.

  The tray 8 according to the invention can thus consist of modular plates 21 identical and assembled in number depending on the power of the evaporator. Such a characteristic authorizes the manufacture of the plates 21 by an injection technique, made of a plastic material such as, for example, acrylonitrile

  Butadiene Styrene (A.B.S.) or Polycarbonate (P.C.) or Polystyrene (P.S.).

  In the embodiment described above, the overlap type connecting means 281 are carried by transverse sides of two adjacent modular plates 21. It should be noted that these overlapping means 281 may be constituted differently, for example, by a seal or by means of a U-shaped cross-section covering piece assembled to cap curbs or flanges formed along the transverse sides 25. This covering piece is fixed by any appropriate means on the plates and covers the mounting gasket between two plates, to ensure a perfect seal between the two plates

  modular or between a modular plate and each end element.

  Furthermore, in the illustrated example, each modular plate 21 has a transverse side 25 provided with a connecting element 30 of the first type, while the other transverse side 25 is provided with a connecting element of the second type 32 It should be noted that it is possible to provide a first type of plate 21 provided, on its two transverse sides, connecting elements of a first type 30, and a second type of plate 21 equipped on two transverse sides. complementary connecting elements 32 of the second type. In the same direction, for certain applications, it may be envisaged to produce a type of modular plate arranged to present in an integrated manner an end element 45, 451. This variant embodiment makes it possible to avoid the

  sealing between the end elements and the adjacent plates.

  This type of plate incorporating an end member, thus comprises a channel opening on a single transverse side 25 to be assembled to a similar plate or a modular plate, as described above or illustrated in the drawings. In this embodiment, each end modular plate has, for example, a zone of low resistance to be removed to constitute the discharge port S. It should also be considered that, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated , the sealed connection means 28 are constituted by covering means 281 and interlocking means 282. Such an advantageous arrangement makes it possible to concentrate the flow of the condensates on a limited portion of the

  transverse sides facilitating the implementation of sealing connection means.

  However, it should be noted that it may be envisaged to remove the channel (es) 37 for collecting condensates. In this case, the sealing of the plates is then ensured on

  the entire length of the transverse sides by the overlapping means 281.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and represented, because

  various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:   1 - Tank for recovering condensates produced by a refrigerating appliance, the tank comprising: - at least two air circulation openings (9) intended to be each associated with a fan (4), and at least one outlet (S) draining the condensates collected by the tank, characterized in that the tank (8) is constituted by at least two condensate recovery modular plates (21), each provided with an orifice (9) for the circulation of air and connected to each other along at least one of their neighboring transverse side, by means of sealing connection means (28, 281, 282) ensuring a flow of the condensates from one plate to the other until the exit of condensate evacuation. 2 recovery tank according to claim 1, characterized in that each modular plate (21) has a condensate drainage surface in the direction of at least one channel (37) formed in the plate to open locally on at least one transverse side (25) in relation to means of sealed connection (282).   3 - recovery tank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each modular plate (21) has a drainage surface condensate towards two channels (37) provided on the plate along its longitudinal sides (24) , in order to debouch locally on at least one side   transverse (25) in relation to sealing connection means (282).   4 - recovery tank according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that   that the channels (37) open on both transverse sides (25) of the plates.   5 - recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that the sealing connection means (28) consist of at least one overlapping assembly means (281) consisting of a connection means of a first type (30) fitted to one of the transverse sides of the plates and means for connecting a second type (32) complementary to the first and   equipping the other transverse sides of the plates.   6 - recovery tank according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized   in that the sealing connection means (282) formed on a transverse side of a plate in relation to the end of a channel, are constituted by a male sleeve (38) carried by a modular plate and intended to cooperate with a mouthpiece   female (39) extending a channel of another modular plate.   7 - recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that the sealing connection means (281) consist of a cover piece intended to be attached to cover edges made on   along the transverse sides of the modular plates.   8 - recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that the modular plates (21) are interconnected via one another   an intermediate drip tray (42) fixed on the modular plates.   9 - recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized   in that the modular plates (21) are provided on their transverse sides,   at least one resilient latching lug (41) for the adjacent modular plate.   10 - Recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized   in that the modular plates (21) are made of an injected plastic material.   11 - Recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that it comprises, on either side of the modular plates (21), an end element (45, 451) provided, on one of its transverse sides (46), with a   sealing connection means (28) with the modular plates.   12 - recovery tank according to one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that it comprises modular plates (21) each incorporating a end element (45, 451).   13 - Refrigerating apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a tray (8) for recovering condensates according to claim 1, mounted so that each air flow orifice (9) receives a fan (4) and that the condensate   flow naturally towards the exhaust outlet (S).