GB2173584A

GB2173584A - Domestic refrigerator

Info

Publication number: GB2173584A
Application number: GB08607800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Duilio Besson
Original assignee: Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Electrolux Zanussi Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date: 1985-04-05
Filing date: 1986-03-27
Publication date: 1986-10-15
Also published as: DE8608881U1; ES293221U; FR2580062B3; IT8534028V0; ES293221Y; GB2173584B; FR2580062A3; GB8607800D0

Abstract

A domestic refrigerator appliance of built-in type, comprises a refrigerated compartment (1) and a base portion (2) therebeneath, in which a condenser (4), a fan (5) and a compressor (6) are housed, the base portion being provided with a front grill (9) with openings for the intake and discharge of the air for cooling said components of the refrigerating unit. A central, depressed portion (3) of the bottom of the refrigerated compartment (1) extends within the base portion (2) forming therein two juxtaposed chambers of different heights and freely communicating with each other. The components (4-6) of the refrigerating unit are housed in the chamber of greater height, and aligned longitudinally with respect to the front grill (9) of the base portion (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Domestic refrigerator appliance for unit kitchens The present invention relates to a domestic refrigerator or freezer which is capable of being fitted between or adjacent the units of a unit or sectional kitchen.

Refrigerator appliances of that type may be disposed in-various positions among the sectional units of the kitchen but are normally disposed under a working surface which is common to various units and are supported directly on the floor.

Whatever their position of installation, refrigerators pose the problem of providing for an adequate circulation of air for cooling the condenser and the compressor of the refrigerating unit. In fact, for refrigerator appliances which are referred to as 'free-standing' and for those which are truly fitted, the condensor is disposed on the rear wall of the unit and the compressor is housed in an open space provided in the base portion; those components are cooled by natural circulation of air which is drawn in from the bottom front region of the base and which issues by way of a 'chimney' provided between the rear wall of the unit and the kitchen wall which is therebehind.

In contrast, in refrigerator appliances for unit or sectional kitchens, the compressor and the condenser must be contained within the base perimeter of the refrigerator unit to permit it to be installed directly against the kitchen wall therebehind. There is therefore no possibility of providing for a circulation of air by means of natural draft, as the top will be closed off by the working surface.

Consequently, refrigerator appliances have been designed in which the condenser and the compressor are fitted in the base portion, below the refrigerator compartment, and are cooled by circulation of air which is forced by means of a fan, the air being drawn in and expelled by way of front openings in the base portion of the unit.

In one type of construction, the refrigerated compartment has a flat bottom and is substantially reduced in capacity by virtue of the space that is lost in order to house the refrigerating unit.

In addition, in order to ensure proper circulation of the air in the base portion, the base portion is subdivided by an intermediate vertical wall so as to define a U-shaped channel or duct in which the condenser, the fan and the compressor are fitted.

To avoid the reduction in capacity of the refrigerated compartment, a construction has also been proposed which provides a partial extension of the compartment in a downward direction in the base portion, so that in section the bottom of the compartment is of a configuration at different levels.

The compressor is mounted beneath a section at a higher level while the fan and the condenser are installed beneath the section at the lowest level. That construction makes it possible to recover a certain useful capacity for the refrigerated compartment. In that case however it is necessary to use a centrifugal fan and a condenser of special type, in particular of shrouded type, since the space available is fairly restricted in height. In addition the particular posi tion of the components of the refrigerating unit requires the use of suitable wall portions to create the conduits required for circulation of the cooling air. All that complicates the construction and mainte nance of the condenser-compressor assembly.

According to the present invention, there is pro vided a domestic refrigerator appliance of built-in type, comprising a refrigerated compartment and a base portion there-beneath, in which a condenser, a fan and a compressor are housed, said base portion being provided with a front grill with openings for the intake and discharge of the air for cooling said components of the refrigerating unit, a portion of the bottom of the refrigerated compartment extending downwardly relative to the remainder thereof there by forming within the base portion juxtaposed chambers of different heights freely communicating with each other, said components of the refrigerat ing unit being housed in the chamber of greater height, and aligned longitudinally with respect to the front grill of the base portion.

The term "refrigerator appliance" as used in this description and the appended claims is intended to include refrigerators and freezers.

As will become apparent from the following description, the illustrated embodiment of the inven tion increases the efficiency and convenience of use of the condenser-compressor unit in the base portion of a refrigerator appliance, overcoming the limitations and disadvantages of the solutions which are known hitherto.

The construction of the appliance makes it possi blue to use refrigerating components of conventional type, to create in the base portion a duct for the circulation of air without the need for dividing wall portions, and to recover a greater useful capacity for the refrigerated compartment.

The invention will be further described in the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying draw ing in which the sole Figure is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of a refrigerating ap pliance constructed in accordance with the invention.

The Figure shows a refrigerated compartment 1 which is disposed upon a base portion 2. The bottom ofthe compartment 1 has a downward recess or depression 3 which involves a lateral portion (greater than 50%) of its surface area.

The base portion 2 is thus subdivided into two internal chambers of different heights.

Housed in the chamber of greater height are a condenser 4 of normal construction (for example of finned unit type, of plate type or of wire type), an axial flow fan 5 and a sealed refrigerating compresser 6; those functional elements of the refrigerating unit are aligned in the order specified with respect to the front of the base portion and are thus positioned along one side of the appliance.

Disposed in the chamber of smaller height, below the lower extension portion 3 of the refrigerated compartment 1, is a bowl or tray 7 for collecting the defrosting water which arrives by way of a discharge conduit 8 from the downwardly hollow bottom of the compartment 1.

The base portion 2 is closed laterally and at its rear topermftthe apparatus to befitted in a built-in position and positioned in line with the sectional furnishing units of the kitchen. Atthe front the base portion 2 is provided with a grill 9 having apertures for the air required for cooling the condenser 4 and the compressor 6 to pass therethrough.

The air is drawn in by the fan 5 by way of the grill portion 9 which is in front of the condenser 4 (as indicated by the arrow A) and, after having passed around and cooled the compressor 6, it is discharged to the outside appliance by way of the grill portion 9 corresponding to the section of reduced height of the base portion 2 (as indicated by the arrow B).

The heated air, passing beneath the bowi tray 7, also causes evaporation of the defrosting water, thus rendering operation of the appliance completely automatic. The effect could be enhanced by placing the surface ofthe bowl ortry in heat conducting relationship with aportion of the intake or delivery conduit of the condenser.

The grill 9 is obviously removable to permit periodic cleaning of the condenser 4 and any maintenance operations that may be required on the refrigerating unit.

To conclude, the illustrated appliance, in compari son with the construction having a refrigerated compartment with a flat bottom, affords the advan tagethatthe compartment is of larger capacity, and the construction provides a duct for correct circulation of the air in the base portion without the need for divider walls. In comparison with theconstruc tion having a shaped bottom atvarious levels for the refrigerated compartment, the illustrated construction affords a higher level of efficiency and conveni ence of use by virtue ofthe particular arrangement of the components in the base portion and the use of components of conventional type.

Claims

1. A domestic refrigerator appliance of built-in type, comprising a refrigerated compartment and a base portion there-beneath, in which a condenser, a fan and a compressor are housed, said base portion being provided with a front grill with openings for the intake and discharge of the air for cooling said components of the refrigerating unity a portion of the bottom of the refrigerated compartment extending downwardly relative to the remainder thereof there by forming within the base portion juxtaposed chambers of different heights freely communicating with each other, said components of the refrigerat ing unit being housed in the chamber of greater height, and aligned longitudinally with respecttothe front grill of the base portion.

2. A refrigerator appliance according to claim 1 wherein housed in the chamber of lower height of the base portion is a bowl for collecting defrost water delivered by way of a suitable conduit from the depressed portion of the bottom, which is disposed thereabove, of the refrigerated compart ment.

3. A refrigerator appliance according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the components of the refrigeratingunit comprise a condenser of finned unit or similar type, disposed immediately behind the front grill, and a sealed compressor, an axial flow fan being interposed between said condenser and said com-pressor.

4. A refrigerator appliance constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.