JP2006522301A - Refrigerated cabinet - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage space having a front opening, the space having access to the space through the opening, the space being subdivided into at least one compartment (15), each compartment (15) being pulled out (31) Each drawer (31) is movable within the zone from a retracted position within the zone and an extended position extending forward from the space, and when the drawer (31) is in the retracted position. The compartment is connected to the cooling means (23), the interior of the compartment is accessible from the upper part of the drawer (31) when the drawer is in the extended position, and the drawer (31) is the cooling Isolated from the means (23), the isolation means being in front of the drawer (31) The refrigerating cabinet that is configured to isolate sealingly said cooling means (23) a cooling means from the compartment (15) when not in retracted position.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerated cabinet.

  It is a feature of refrigerated cabinets such as domestic refrigerators to provide a storage space and to have a front door that opens to make this storage space accessible. The disadvantage of this conventional domestic refrigerator arises from the situation that when the door is opened, all the cold air held in the storage cabinet easily escapes from the front opening of the storage space. Further, in commercial situations, it is common to provide a cooling chamber with a door that allows easy access to the cooling chamber for removing items from and / or for storing items. In addition, at retail sites, it is common to provide a cooling cabinet with the front side open so that customers can easily access the goods in the cabinet. To prevent loss of cold air from the cabinet, generate a forced air flow in the space and control the flow of cold air to limit the loss of cold air through the open front opening of the cabinet, and / or Or it is often done to provide a curtain-like lid that closes the space temporarily but allows easy access to the space.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention is a refrigerated cabinet comprising a storage space having a front opening with good access to a storage space, the space comprising a zone subdivided into at least one compartment, wherein each compartment Are defined by drawers, each drawer is movable from the retracted position located in the zone into the zone, and the drawer is movable from the extended position to the front side of the space into the zone. In the interior of the compartment from the top of the drawer, and when the drawer is in the retracted position, the compartment can communicate with the remainder of the space and cool at least the upper part of the remainder of the space The cooling means comprised as follows is provided.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, a separating means is associated with the cooling means.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, a separating means is associated with the compartment.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, a portion of the compartment is associated with a lid, the lid is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the lid is in a position when the drawer is in a retracted position. Moving to the open position to provide the communication, the lid is in the closed position when the drawer is in the extended position.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, the remaining portion of the space comprises a plenum formed between the wall of the space and at least one compartment, and the communication is between the plenum and the at least one compartment.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, the lid comprises at least a portion of the rear wall of the drawer, and the plenum is located between the rear walls of the face of the rear wall of the at least one compartment.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, the plenum is defined by a wall of the space and an opposing wall, the opposing wall being provided with a set of lids, the lid and the compartment being 1: 1. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position, and when the drawer is in the retracted position, the lid cooperates with the lid moved to the open position to provide the communication; When the drawer moves from the retracted position, the lid closes to prevent the communication.

  A preferred feature of the present invention is that at least a portion of the upper face of the compartment is open. A further preferred feature of the invention is that that portion of the upper face is in communication with the source when the drawer is in the retracted position.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, the front opening of at least one compartment seals in cooperation with the front opening when the drawer is in the retracted position.

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, a plurality of compartments are provided in the zone. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the compartment is supported in a vertical array.

  According to a further feature of the present invention, the front opening is connected to a door that controls the access. According to a further feature of the present invention, the door accommodates one or more storage zones, and a space defined between the door and the front opening communicates with the remainder of the space. According to one embodiment, the storage zone is closed by an openable lid, the interior of the storage zone being in communication with the rest of the space. According to a preferred feature of this embodiment, the communication between the remaining part of the space and the space and / or storage zone defined between the door and the front opening passes through a passage provided in the door. .

  According to a preferred feature of the invention, the cooling means comprises a duct element, the separating means comprises a valve associated with the duct element, and the drawer opens the valve when the drawer is in the retracted position. And a means for closing the valve when the drawer is not in the retracted position.

  According to a further feature, the present invention is a refrigeration system comprising a plurality of refrigeration cabinets of the type described above, wherein the cooling means is provided to each refrigeration cabinet from a common cooling lease.

  The invention can be more fully understood from the following description of several embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS The first embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings relates to a domestic refrigerator, and includes a cabinet 11 that defines a storage space inside. The cabinet 11 allows access to the front opening of the cabinet and the closed position shown in FIG. 1 where the front opening is open and the door 13 associated with the front opening prevents access to the front opening of the cabinet. It is movably provided from the open position shown in FIG. The cabinet storage space has a zone defined by a set of compartments 15. Each compartment 15 is closed at its lower and upper faces. Furthermore, the rear face of each compartment is closed by a lid element 17, which is pivotally supported from the lower side wall of each compartment, with the upper edge of the lid 17 being the rearmost end of the upper side wall of the compartment. A closed position that cooperates to substantially seal with the compartment, and the compartment leans back to communicate with the compartment through a gap defined between the upper edge of the lid and the rear edge of the top wall of each compartment. It can be moved between the open positions to be provided.

  The cabinet comprises a compressor 19 indicated at the lower position of the cabinet, a capacitor 21 supported from the rear external surface of the cabinet, and a vaporizer 22 at the upper end of the space compartment. Attached to a conventional refrigeration circuit. If desired, the refrigerator may be provided with a fan that causes air to flow through the vaporizer into the space.

  The space in the cabinet includes a plenum 23 defined between the rear walls 25 of the space in an intermediate wall 27 that is spaced inward from the rear wall 25 of the space. The intermediate wall is provided in a plurality of openings 29 that communicate between the plenum 23 and the intermediate portion 24 of the space defined between the intermediate wall 27 and the rear wall of the compartment.

  Each compartment 15 slidably supports a drawer 31 which is from the retracted position where the entire drawer is located in the compartment 15 (as shown in FIG. 1) and the drawer is forward from the compartment. It can be moved between extended positions (shown in the top compartment of FIG. 2). Each drawer has a lower wall, a front wall 35 and a rear wall 33 and has an open top. The front side 35 of each drawer cooperates with the front opening of the cabinet so that the compartment closes and seals the front side when the drawer is in the retracted position. The rear wall 33 of each drawer cooperates with the lid 17 of each compartment to move the lid to the open position when the drawer is in the retracted position. Each lid 17 is biased, and when the drawer is moving toward the extended position, the engagement with the lid is released and the lid moves to the closed position.

  In this embodiment, the space in the refrigerated cabinet is divided into a plurality of spaces each defined by the drawer 31. Access to the drawer 31 is made by opening the cabinet door 13 and moving each drawer to its extended position. As a result of closing the lid 17 at that time, the communication between the plenum 23 and each compartment 15 is closed. Access to the contents of the drawer 31 is made through the open top of the drawer. As a result, the communication between the plenum 23 and each compartment is effective only when the drawer contained in the compartment is in the retracted position. Thus, when the cabinet door 13 is opened, any access to the interior of the drawer effectively causes a slight loss of cool air from the storage space in the cabinet. When the door 13 is open and the drawer 31 is in the extended position, the plenum 23 is closed and access to the drawer is made only through the open top, so that only a small amount of cool air is lost from the compartment. is there. The most significant loss of cold is due to obstruction of the contents of the drawer.

  In addition, the door 13 supports a set of storage zones 41, each associated with a separate lid that allows access to each storage zone. Each storage zone is connected to a duct 43 in the door, which is connected to a corresponding passage 45 in the upper wall of the cabinet when the door is closed, and communicates with the space around the vaporizer. Then, the contents can be cooled by flowing cool air into each storage zone. If desired, the passage 45 is also in communication with the space defined between the cabinet door and the front opening when the door is in the closed position.

  According to a second embodiment of the invention (not shown), the lid of each compartment is accommodated by the rear wall of the drawer, which seals the compartment above the drawer that moves from the retracted position to the extended position. When the drawer is in the closed position, it opens to provide communication between the cold source and the interior of the drawer.

  According to a third embodiment of the present invention, the drawer substantially cooperates with the compartment wall to substantially prevent substantial movement of cold air from the plenum to the drawer and through the front opening. This engagement need not be a sealing engagement. Furthermore, the upper side cooperates with the upper side wall of the compartment, so that when the drawer is moved to the retracted position, the upper opening surface of the drawer opens into the plenum space. According to this embodiment, without a lid between each compartment and the plenum space, the compartment is separated from the plenum space as the drawer moves to the extended position.

  The above-described embodiments of the present invention can be used in domestic refrigerated cabinets, domestic freezers, commercial cooling rooms, commercial refrigerated cabinets, and the like.

  However, according to the application of the present invention, there are no restrictions on the design of the refrigeration system, and the designer can provide a totally revolutionary design employing the present invention. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a refrigeration system employing the flexibility obtained by the present invention is provided. This embodiment includes at least one compartment 111 that provides a storage space that is incorporated into a suitable enclosure 112 for use. Unlike the embodiment described above, the compartment enclosure of the fourth embodiment may be any enclosure, such as a conventional kitchen cabinet, rather than a special refrigerated cabinet.

  Compartment 111 includes an isolation wall, includes a front opening for accessing the space, and includes a drawer 114 configured to slide between an extended position for access and a retracted position. It is substantially enclosed in the compartment 111. The outer wall 115 on the front side of the drawer is isolated and a sealing means is provided between the drawer and a compartment (not shown) to fully seal the contents of the drawer when the drawer is in the retracted position. , Isolated in the compartment. Appropriate cooling means are provided such that when the drawer 114 is in the retracted position, the cooling means cools the contents of the drawer, and when the drawer 114 is not in the retracted position, the drawer is separated from the cooling means.

  This configuration gives considerable freedom in the choice of cooling means. In the fourth embodiment, chilled air made from a remote source is distributed through a suitable duct system 121. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, a duct system 121 is provided in the vicinity of the compartment, comprising valve port means 122 that takes the form of a short connecting duct that enters the compartment and becomes the housing of the valve 123. The valve 123 is configured to be engaged by corresponding port means in the drawer 114 in the form of a suitable nozzle 124 at the rear of the drawer 114. When the drawer 114 is in the retracted position, the nozzle 124 opens the valve 123 to allow chilled air to enter the drawer space.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the valve in the connecting duct 122 includes a plurality of flexible leaves 125 that typically extend to the throat of the connecting duct 122, thereby sealing the duct 122. This leave 125 can be easily replaced by the nozzle 124, and chilled air can be communicated to the drawing space. Since chilled air circulates at a low pressure, it is not necessary to seal completely, and a simple valve arrangement is sufficient.

  In certain applications, the nozzle 124 can be a valve when it is not considered critical but the outside air must be vented into the space behind the drawer when the drawer is in the extended position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a pair of one inlet port and one outlet port are provided, whereby chilled air is circulated well. This is also not considered necessary for a given configuration. The port arrangement described above should be considered as an example of a non-engaging type of connection that may be used, and it should be recognized that one of many known configurations can be applied to the embodiments. is there.

  As described above, the cooling means takes various forms. In the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 5, chilled refrigerant is distributed instead of chilled air. An evaporator 211 is partially provided in the plenum 212 in association with each compartment, and a separating means is provided between the drawer and the cooling means. This means is usually the shape described in the first embodiment. This configuration is believed to provide a system that provides partial thermostat control to each drawer in a multi-drawer system.

  The arrangement as described with respect to the fourth and fifth embodiments is suitable for providing a plurality of compartments within a single refrigeration system, as shown in FIG. This compartment is produced in several standard sizes and can be selected by the interior designer and placed in different locations around the kitchen. These compartments can be linked to a single common cooling source that can be remotely located from the compartment, thereby allowing them to be located elsewhere to eliminate the main noise sources. Some compartments may be placed immediately below the upper level of the bench to provide a transparent panel so that the user can view the contents without opening the drawer. In such a configuration, the transparent panel is hermetically hinged so that it can be opened, thereby providing additional means that can also be accessed by extending the drawer. Within such a system with individual thermostat control, certain compartments can be configured as refrigeration units, and other compartments can be cooled to a lesser extent for typical chilled products. In fact, the other compartments can only be cooled slightly, for example for wine storage.

  All the embodiments substantially improve the overall efficiency over conventional refrigerators as a result of substantially reducing the amount of cold lost when opening the compartment. Furthermore, it is easier to access because the items are placed in the drawer rather than being relatively inaccessible to the farthest items stacked on the shelf. This is an advantage for general users, but is a greater advantage especially for users who are troubled with such problems.

  Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, variations such as “comprise” or “comprise” are intended to include the complete or complete group described, and other complete or complete It does not exclude body groups.

  The scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific scope of the embodiments described above.

The present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerated cabinet according to a first embodiment with a door in a closed position. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the refrigerated cabinet according to the first embodiment with the door in the open position, in which the drawer is in the extended position. FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the refrigerated compartment according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a valve with a connection duct according to a fourth embodiment, in which the valve is in a closed position. FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a valve with a connection duct according to a fourth embodiment, in which the valve is in an open position. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the refrigerated compartment according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a refrigeration system using three refrigeration compartments according to the fourth embodiment, connected to a common cooling lease.

Claims (21)

In a refrigerated cabinet comprising a storage space, a cooling means and a separating means, the storage space has a front opening through which the space is accessed, and the space is subdivided into at least one compartment Each compartment is defined by a drawer, and each drawer is movable in a zone from a retracted position in the zone to an extended position that extends forward from the space, and when the drawer is in the retracted position. The compartment is connected to the cooling means, and the interior of the compartment is accessible from the upper portion of the drawer when the drawer is in the extended position, and the drawer is isolated from the cooling means, the isolation Means that the drawer is not in the retracted position Refrigerated cabinet, characterized in that it is configured so that the cooling means can isolate and seal the cooling means from the compartment. 2. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 1, wherein a portion of the compartment is coupled to a lid, the lid is movable between an open position and a closed position, and the lid is in the retracted position. The refrigeration cabinet wherein the lid is in its closed position when the drawer is in its open position to communicate and the drawer is in its extended position. 3. A cabinet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the remaining portion of the space comprises a plenum formed between the wall of the space and at least one compartment, and the communication is between the plenum and the at least one compartment. A refrigerated cabinet characterized by 4. The refrigerated cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the lid is located between at least a part of the rear wall of the drawer, and between the rear wall of the drawer and the rear wall surface of the at least one compartment. Refrigerated cabinet. 5. A refrigerated cabinet according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the plenum is defined by a wall of the space and an opposite wall, the opposite wall providing a set of lids, each compartment being Associated with the at least one lid, each lid being movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein when the drawer is in a retracted position, the lid is cooperated with the at least one lid. A refrigerated cabinet that is moved to an open position to provide the communication and that each of the at least one lid is closed to prevent the communication when the drawer is moved from the retracted position. 6. The refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the upper face of the compartment is open. The refrigeration cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the upper face portion communicates with the source when the drawer is in a retracted position. 8. The refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1, wherein a front opening of the at least one compartment seals in cooperation with the front opening when the drawer is in a retracted position. Refrigerated cabinet. 9. A refrigerated cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of compartments are in the zone. The refrigerated cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the compartment is supported by a vertical array. 11. A refrigerated cabinet according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the front opening is associated with a door for controlling the access. 12. A refrigerated cabinet according to claim 11, wherein the door has a space defined between one or more storage zones and a front opening communicating with the door and the remainder of the space. . 13. The refrigerated cabinet according to claim 12, wherein the storage zone is closed by a lid that can be opened, and the interior of the storage zone communicates with the remainder of the space. The refrigeration cabinet according to claim 13, wherein communication between the remaining portion of the space and the space defined between the door and the front opening and / or the storage zone is via a passage provided in the door. A refrigerated cabinet characterized by being. 2. A refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said isolation means is associated with said cooling means. 2. A refrigerated cabinet according to claim 1, wherein said isolation means is associated with said compartment. 16. The refrigerated cabinet of claim 15, wherein the cooling means comprises a duct element configured to carry chilled air, the separating means comprises a valve associated with the duct element, and the drawer is in a position where the drawer is retracted. A refrigeration cabinet comprising means for functioning to open the valve at a time, and means for closing the valve when the valve is not in the retracted position. 18. A refrigeration system comprising a plurality of refrigeration cabinets according to claim 1 wherein the cooling means is provided to each refrigeration cabinet from a common cooling source. Refrigerated cabinet substantially as described here. A refrigerated cabinet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Refrigeration system substantially described here.

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