MXPA98004169A - Refrigerator length - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet comprising: (a) an external metal cabinet frame having an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that provide an open side, (b) an inner plastic liner adapted to fit inside the outer cabinet frame, the inner liner has two internal cavities that define a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, the inner liner has a stringer wall that extends into the side walls and faces the open side, the wall of the stringer repairs the two internal cavities to define a space between the two internal cavities, (c) a metal stringer band of reinforcement that extends between and is connected to the side walls, the strip of the stringer is located in the space between first and second cavities, the stringer band is separated from and behind the stringer wall in a non-contact relationship with the inner lining; , (d) insulating foam located in the space between the first and second cavities thermally insulating the stringer band from the interliner.

Description

LENGTH FOR REFRIGERATOR # FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to refrigerator cabinets and in particular relates to a stringer construction for refrigerator cabinets that has improved heat transfer characteristics while maintaining * 10 flexibility of decorative appearance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the construction of a refrigerator cabinet, it is typical to include a metal bar position of the spar between the side walls of a horizontally placed freezer and # fresh food compartment or between the top and bottom walls of the freezer side by side and the fresh food compartment. The purpose of the bar or rail of the stringer is well known to provide support between the side walls of the refrigerator and to provide a load-bearing structure near which the freezer liners and the fresh food compartment are constructed. The rails or bars of the stringer are located along the open front of the refrigerator cabinet exposed to the ambient atmosphere and at least a portion of the inner liner of the freezer compartment and / or the fresh food compartment. Typically, the stringer bar provides a structural support to which a division for the freezer and the 5 compartments of fresh food is constructed. Since the stringer bar is a metallic material, the stringer is a good means of transferring heat between the ambient atmosphere and the freezer compartment and / or the fresh food compartment. When the environment is humid, condensation appears on the face of the crossbar.

To prevent sweating the stringer bar has a heater that heats the surface of the stringer exposed to the environment. However, these heaters also heat the fresh food compartment and / or the freezer compartment by raising the energy requirements necessary to maintain the operation of the freezer. refrigerator. The stringer bar also provides a reinforced surface * against which doors can be closed. The door includes a washer that has magnets that are attracted to the bar of the metal spar to make a seal against the bar of the spar. This In a manner, the stringer bar is required to provide an effective seal against the door washers that must withstand repeated door closing tensions and provide a means of magnetic attraction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a refrigerator cabinet having improved heat transfer characteristics associated with the spar. In particular, a rail or stringer of the metal reinforcement stringer is located in a space between the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment of an internal plastic liner. The rail of the stringer is secured with respect to the side walls of the frame of the external metal cabinet to strengthen the walls of the external frame of the refrigerator. However, the stringer band is placed in non-contact relation to the inner lining and is surrounded by thermally insulating foam to significantly reduce the loss or transfer of heat through the stringer band to the environment, since the stringer band It is not touching the inner lining and is not in direct contact with the environment. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator cabinet comprising an external metal cabinet frame having an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls having an open side The cabinet includes an internal plastic liner adapted to fit inside the external cabinet frame. The inner liner has first and second internal cavities respectively defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. The inner liner has a stringer wall having a relatively flat surface portion extending between the strips. # side walls and that looks towards the open side. The wall of the spar separates the first and second cavities to define a space between the first and second cavities. The cabinet includes a band of the reinforcing beam extending between and connected to the side walls. The stringer band is in the space between the first and second cavities. The stringer band is separated from and behind the stringer wall > ^ in relation without contact with the inner lining. An insulating foam is is located in the space between the first and second cavities thermally insulating the stringer band of the inner lining. By locating the band of the reinforcing spar within the space between the first and second cavities in non-contact relation with the inner liner, the heat loss is significantly reduced through the stringer's band. The refrigerator cabinet preferably includes a cover * plastic stringer superimposed on the wall of the stringer. The top of the stringer has a central recess that extends over the top of the stringer between the side walls. The top of the stringer defines two channels receiving elongated magnets on an inner surface of the stringer lid separated from one another by the central recess. The elongated magnets extend over each of the magnet receiving channels between the top of the stringer and the wall of the stringer against which magnets closing the door can be sealed. A The decorative cover of the stringer is inserted into the central recess of the top of the stringer. The beam cover preferably includes elongated tubes for carrying hot coolant to heat an outer surface of the beam cover. By using a plastic cover of the stringer superimposed on the lining stringer wall, the top of the stringer allows a decorative design of the stringer cover. In addition, the top of the stringer is a strengthened surface against which the doors can be closed. The top of the beam distributes the closing load on the * ^ _ surface of the stringer wall without direct contact between the surface of the wall of the stringer of the internal lining and the door. The top of the stringer also carries magnets to provide relatively easy assembly of the stringer magnets against the outer surface of the stringer wall. Since the plastic lid of the stringer extends into the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment and extends over the lining stringer wall, this plastic lid of the stringer does not drive or * transfers heat as soon as a metal rod from the crossbar. Also the top of the stringer protects the wall of the stringer of the lining of direct exposure to the environment. Preferably, the stringer band is on an elongated first axis parallel to a second elongated shaft passing through the central recess of the stringer cap. The stringer band has the first elongated shaft separated horizontally below the second elongated shaft. As a consequence, the band of The stringer reinforcement is aligned adjacent horizontally to the lock washer of the lower and usually heavier doors of the fresh food compartment to provide greater support for the cross piece of the refrigerator stringer or cabinet. Also, to reduce heat loss, the stringer band is closer to the relatively warmer fresh food compartment and further away from the relatively colder freezer compartment. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator cabinet and first and second pairs of refrigerator doors is provided. The refrigerator cabinet includes an external metal cabinet frame having an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls having an open side. The cabinet has an internal plastic liner adapted to fit inside the external cabinet frame. The inner lining has two internal cavities that respectively define a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. The inner liner has a stringer wall having a relatively flat surface portion extending between the side walls and facing the open side. The wall of the spar separates the first and second cavities to define a space between them. The cabinet also includes a stringer lid that extends over the plastic wall of the stringer. The cover of the spar defines two channels receiving elongated magnets on an internal surface of the spar cap separated from each other. The elongated magnets extend over each of the channels receiving magnets between the top of the stringer and the wall of the stringer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention reference may be made by way of example to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having side-by-side or "French" doors; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator cabinet of the present invention with the doors removed; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the refrigerator cabinet showing the inner bubble plastic liner, the stringer strip and the outer cabinet frame; Figure 4 is a front view of the stringer strip shown connected to the external cabinet frame of the refrigerator prior to the insertion of the inner liner; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the construction of the stringer of the present invention as seen on section V-V of Figure 1; and Figure 6 is an exploded partial perspective view showing the assembly of the stringer cover and stringer cover with respect to the stringer wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES «.

Referring to Figure 1, a domestic refrigerator 10 having an external cabinet frame 12 is shown. The refrigerator 10 includes an inner liner 14. The inner liner 14 includes two sections or bubble cavities that provide a compartment of the upper freezer 16 and a lower fresh food compartment 18. Access is allowed to the freezer compartment 16 and the fresh food compartment 18 at the front of the * 10 refrigerator 10 for doors that open 20. The doors 20 have handles 22 that facilitate opening the doors that open in the direction shown by the arrows 24. The bottom of the refrigerator 10 has a decorative protection plate 25. Figure 2 shows the cabinet 26 without the addition of the doors 20. Figure 3 shows an exploded illustrative view of the components of the cabinet 26 into which the inner liner 14 is inserted on the open side 28 of the external cabinet frame 12. This is represented by the arrow 30. It shows a strip of the metal stringer 15 placed on the external cabinet frame 12 behind the liner 14. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the outer cabinet frame 12 has a frame edge flange 32 extending around the open side of the top wall 29, bottom wall 31 and side walls 33 towards the opening of the open side 30. The external cabinet frame 12 is made of metal from # sheet. The inner liner 14 is adapted to fit within the outer cabinet frame 12. The inner liner includes a liner flange 5 that extends outwardly of said liner. The liner flange 34 is shown to extend outward from the upper, lower and side walls of the liner 14. The liner 14 is a one-piece or one-part plastic material made of a mold. A band - ^ - switch 36 interconnects the inner liner 14 with the frame of w 10 external case 12. The liner further includes openings 40 through which hinges 42 (see figure 2) extend for the assembly of the doors 20 of the fridge. The separation of the fresh food compartment 18 from the freezer compartment 16 of the one-part liner 14 is a stringer wall 64 as best shown in figure 3. The wall r¿ £. of the stringer 64 has a relatively flat surface portion that * extends between the side walls 33 of the external cabinet frame 12. The cover of the spar 38 is shown in Figure 2 while the wall of the spar 64 is shown in Figure 3.

The lid of the stringer 38 has a decorative cover of the stringer 66 extending over the face of the lid of the stringer 38. The reinforcement strip of the stringer 15 fits in the space 62 between the compartment of the freezer 16 and the fresh food compartment 18 .

The stringer band 15 comprises a band, bar or # steel bracket 15 connected by rivets 27 (see figure 4). The purpose of the steel band 1 is to provide reinforced support between the side walls 33 of the external frame 12 of the refrigerator cabinet. The hinges 42 pass through openings 40 in the inner liner 14 and are preferably connected to external flange brackets 17 located at the end of the stringer reinforcement strip 15. j ^ t In accordance with the novel features of the In this invention, reference is now made to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings for a better understanding of the relationship between the wall of the stringer 64, the top of the stringer 38, the decorative cover of the stringer 66 and the stringer reinforcement strip. 15. The stringer strip 15 is positioned towards the back of the wall of the stringer 64 of the inner liner 14. The strip of the stringer 15 is separated from the inner liner in non-contact relation to prevent heat transfer between the inner liner 14 and the stringer strip 15. Insulation 56 is provided in space 62 between the cavities or compartment of the freezer 16 and the compartment fresh food 18 of the liner 14. By locating the stringer band 15 in this position, the stringer band 15 reinforces the side walls 33 (Fig. 4) of the refrigerator cabinet frame 12 to prevent buckling of these walls with respect to one of the other . In addition, a stronger metal band or bracket 15 may be used and not in view of the user. The band is not in relation # direct heat transfer between the environment and the liner 14. A wall of the stringer 64 has an upper corner 78 that connects the wall of the stringer 64 of the inner liner 14 to the lower floor wall 86 of the compartment of the freezer 16. The wall of the stringer 64 has a lower corner 84 that connects the wall of the stringer 64 to the roof wall 82 of the fresh food compartment 18. The wall of the stringer 64 is a generally flat wall extending between the side walls 33 of the frame from external cabinet 12. The wall of the stringer 64 has a projection 98 that extends over the surface of the wall of the stringer 64. A cover of the stringer 38 extends over the wall of the stringer 64. The purpose of this cover of the stringer 38 is provide a hardened plastic surface against which you can close refrigerator doors 20. The cover of the stringer 38 acts to absorb and distribute the closing forces of the doors 20 more evenly on the wall of the stringer 64 of the plastic lining. The cover of the spar 38 extends between the side walls 33 of the cabinet frame 12. The cover of the spar 38 includes two receiving channels 70 located on an internal surface 72 of the lid of the stringer 38. The receiving channels 70 extend in elongated manner on the lid of the stringer 38. The receiving channels 70 are horizontally separated with a central recess 68 located in the stringer lid 38. The channels receivers 70 are adapted to receive magnets 74 (FIG. 5) therein. Accordingly, another purpose for the lid of the stringer 38 is to ensure the sealing of magnets of the stringer between the top of the stringer 38 and the wall of the stringer 64. A decorative cover of the stringer 66 is inserted in the central recess 68 of the stringer lid. 38. The top of the stringer 38 has openings 69 in the central recess 68, lower wall tabs 71 (Figure 6) are inserted that extend from the decorative cover of the stringer 66. The upper wall of the decorative cover of the stringer 66 includes spines 73 which fit in the central recess 68. Alternatively, the stringer cover 66 can be secured by adhesives within the central recess 68 of the stringer cover 38. The decorative cover of the stringer 66 is considered decorative in that one purpose is to provide a nice appearance. The cover of the stringer 66 is made of a plastic material. The cover of the stringer 66 also includes a tube 102 through which hot coolant passes to heat the decorative cover of the spar 66 and to prevent sweating wherein the cover of the stringer 66 meets the lock washer of the door 50. The tube 102 is coated with a mastic material having a relatively high thermal inertia to contain the heat on the decorative cover of the spar 66 for a longer period. The cover of the stringer 38 includes an upper flange 87 and a lower flange 88 that extend rearwardly to respectively engage in interference relationship the lower floor wall 86 and the upper roof wall 82 secured to the top of the stringerh. * with respect to the wall of the stringer 64. The cover of the stringer 38 includes an elongated channel 100 in the central recess 68. The central recess 68 is opposite the elongated channel 100. That is, the elongated channel 100 has a concave shape while the central hollow 68 has a convex shape with respect to the front of the cabinet. The projection 98 of the wall of the spar 64 locates the cover of the stringer 38 with respect to the wall. The union of the projection 98 and the channel 100 helps to locate the cover of the spar 38 with respect to the stringer wall 64. In addition, 3 or 4 separate aligned openings 83 are located in the top of the stringer 38, the wall of the stringer 64 and the stringer strip 15. Bolts 85 pass through the openings 83 to secure the cover of the stringer. stringer 38 in place with respect to the wall of the stringer 64 and the stringer strip 15. In Figure 5, the door 20 is shown to comprise an outer frame 44 having an inverted flange 45. Within the • door 20 is insulating foam 56. The inside of the door is provided with a door liner 44 having an outwardly turned tab 46. The outwardly flipped tab 46 is provided with a hook 48 for performing a clamping movement with a door seal washer usually at 50. The washer 50 is provided with a band 52 which maintains an elongated magnet 54 in an elongated magnet chamber 52 surrounding the magnet 54. Adjacent to the magnet camera 55 is a second air chamber 58. The second air chamber 58 is located closer to the outer side 60 of the door 20. The second air chamber * air 58 is adapted to couple or partially overlap the decorative cover of the spar 66 adjacent to the tubes 102 to allow heat transfer in the second air chambers 58 5 of the tubes 102. The tubes 102 are connected to the evaporator / compressor apparatus of heat transfer from the cooler, so that the heat transfer fluid passes through the tubes 102 to prevent sweating of the refrigerator stringer on the decorative cover of the stringer 66. In this manner, the top of the stringer 38 it provides a protective closing surface against which the doors 20 can be closed. The cover of the spar 38 protects the wall of the spar 64 and is easier to mold to control the shape as opposed to being more difficult to work with the wall of the spar 64. of the inner lining of double-part bubbled plastic 14. The cover of the stringer 38 covers the wall of the stringer 64, so that the wall of the stringer 64 # is not exposed to the environment. The heat transfer on the liner 14 to the wall of the stringer 64 and to the environment must pass through the cover of the stringer 38. The cover of the stringer 38 is a construction of plastic that has heat transfer characteristics poorer than metal. In this way, the energy losses of the refrigerator are reduced by means of the spar. The cover of the stringer 38 also carries a cover of the stringer 66 where the cover 38 is exposed to the environment which cover includes heaters 102 for compensate for sweating.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS 1 .- A refrigerator cabinet comprising: (a) an external metal cabinet frame having an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that provide an open side; (b) an inner plastic liner adapted to fit within the outer cabinet frame, said inner liner having two internal cavities respectively defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, said inner liner having a stringer wall that has a relatively flat surface portion extending between the side walls and facing the open side, the wall of the spar separating the first and second cavities to define a space between the first and second cavities; (c) a band of the metal reinforcing stringer extending between and connected to the side walls, the stringer band being in the space between the first and second cavities, the stringer band being separated from and behind the wall of the stringer in relation without contact with the inner lining; and (d) insulating foam located in the space between the first and second cavities thermally insulating the stringer band of the inner liner.
2. 2. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet includes frame edge flanges extending from the side walls on the side 4B. open, and the stringer reinforcement band is connected to the frame edge flanges.
3. 3. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 5, further comprising: a plastic lid of the stringer extending over the wall of the stringer; the top of the stringer that has a central hole that extends over the top of the stringer between the walls - lateral g; the top of the stringer that defines two receiving channels of 10 elongated magnets on an internal surface of the stringer cover separated from each other by the central recess; elongated magnets extending over each of the magnet receiving channels between the top of the spar and the wall of the spar; and a decorative cover of the stringer inserted in the central recess of the top of the stringer.
4. 4. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the inner liner is a one-piece liner with the second cavity having a lower floor wall that meets the stringer wall in a first top corner. and the first cavity having an upper roof wall that meets the wall of the spar in a second lower corner, and the top of the spar including top and bottom flanges that extend rearwardly to respectively engage the wall in interference relationship. of the lower floor of the second cavity and the upper roof wall of the first cavity. 5. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 4, further including a plurality of bolts 5 located separately that pass through aligned openings in the top of the spar, the wall of the spar and the band of the spar to secure the cover of the spar against the wall of the spar. 6. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the cover of the spar includes separate openings 10 on the central recess and the cover of the spar includes spikes and tabs, tabs adapted for insertion into the openings and the tines that they provide a reinforcement adjustment against the central gap. 7. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the beam cover includes elongated tubes for carrying hot coolant to heat an outer surface of the beam cover. 8. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 3, wherein the stringer band is on a first elongated shaft parallel to a second elongated shaft passing through the central recess of the stringer cap, said band of the stringer. Stringer having the first elongated shaft separated horizontally below the second elongated shaft. 9. The refrigerator cabinet according to claim 8, wherein the wall of the stringer includes an elongated projection that extends over the wall of the stringer, and the cover of the stringer. ^ -HL stringer which has an elongated channel in the central recess placed opposite the central recess to receive the projection. 10. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet 5 comprising: (a) an external metal cabinet frame having an upper wall, a lower wall and side walls that provide an open side; - ^ fc (b) an inner plastic liner adapted to fit inside the 10 external cabinet frame, said inner liner having two internal cavities respectively defining a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, said inner liner having a stringer wall having a relatively flat surface portion extending between the walls 15 side and facing the open side, the wall of the spar separating the first and second cavities to define a space between the first and second cavities; (c) a plastic cover of the spar extending over the top of the spar; the top of the stringer that defines two channels 20 elongated magnet receivers on an internal surface of the spar cap separated from each other; and (d) elongated magnets extending over each of the magnet receiving channels between the top of the spar and the wall of the spar. 1 .- The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the lid of the stringer has a central recess extending over the top of the stringer between the side walls, the two receiving channels of elongated magnets being separated from each other with the same. central gap that extends between them, and a decorative plastic cover of the stringer inserted in the central recess of the top of the stringer. 12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further including refrigerator doors fixed by hinges to the external cabinet adapted to close the open front of the internal cavities, each of said doors including a washer for coupling and sealing against said top of the stringer to make contact and overlap in relation to the stringer cover, said door washer carrying a door magnet to seal the coupling with one of the two magnets carried by the top of the stringer. 13. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the refrigerator cabinet further includes: a stringer reinforcement strip extending between and 20 connected with the side walls, the stringer band being in the space between the first and second cavities, the stringer band being separated from and behind the stringer wall in non-contact relation with the inner liner, and, insulating foam located in the space between the first and 25 second cavities insulating the stringer band from the inner lining. 14. - The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said cabinet includes frame edge flanges extending from the side walls on the open side, and said reinforcing band is connected to the edge flanges of 5 frame.
5. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the second cavity has a lower floor wall that meets the wall of the spar in a first upper corner, and the first cavity has an upper roof wall that HE 10 encounters the wall of the stringer at a second lower corner, and the top of the stringer including upper and lower flanges that extend rearwardly to respectively engage in interference relation the bottom floor wall of the second cavity and the ceiling wall top of the first cavity. 16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, which further includes a plurality of bolts located apart. &p each passing through aligned openings in the top of the spar, the wall of the spar and the stringer band to secure the top of the spar against the long leg net. 17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cover of the beam includes separate openings on the central recess and the longitudinal cover includes spikes and tabs, tabs adapted for insertion into the openings and the tines. which provide a reinforcement adjustment against the central gap l. 18. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the beam cover includes elongated tubes for carrying hot coolant to heat an outer surface of the beam cover. 19. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the stringer band is on a first elongated shaft parallel to a second elongated shaft passing through the central recess of the stringer cap, said strip of the stringer has the first elongated axis separated horizontally below the 10 second elongated shaft. 20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the wall of the stringer includes an elongated projection that extends over the wall of the stringer, and the lid of the stringer having an elongated channel in the central recess located opposite the recess 15 central to receive the outgoing. 21. The refrigerator according to claim 12, in # where the beam cover includes elongated tubes for carrying hot coolant to heat an outer surface of the beam cover and each said washer includes a first 20 chamber for maintaining said door magnet and a second air chamber adjacent to the first chamber, said second air chamber connecting at least partially said decorative cover of the stringer adjacent to the elongated tubes for heat transfer in said second chamber of air.