US20110056229A1

US20110056229A1 - Subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit

Info

Publication number: US20110056229A1
Application number: US12/874,571
Authority: US
Inventors: Anton Rothmund
Original assignee: Liebherr Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
Current assignee: Liebherr Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
Priority date: 2009-09-03
Filing date: 2010-09-02
Publication date: 2011-03-10
Also published as: EP2317259A2; DE102009056423A1; EP2317259A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, wherein the subassembly element has a front side, a rear side and two side regions, at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, and wherein at least one air guidance means is provided in the subassembly element by means of which air can be guided from the air inlet to the air outlet in the subassembly element. The invention furthermore relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.
A so-called subassembly is usually formed for refrigerator units in which the refrigeration unit, the fan and the condenser are arranged in the unit base, said subassembly then being screwed to the already foamed unit housing or to the carcass. This is relatively complicated and/or expensive since the subassembly which is heavy in relative terms has to be screwed to the foamed unit housing.
A further disadvantage is furthermore that these units have a so-called horizontal air duct, i.e. that an abrupt change in the direction of air guidance is present in these units which is due, for instance, to a deflection plate which effects a compulsory deflection in the vertical direction of the inflowing air. An irregular flow through the condenser thus arises and also an irregular action of cooling air on the compressor. Flow losses furthermore arise in that a non-directed deflection by up to 180° takes place from the fan over the condenser up to the compressor and to the front-side air outlet. The heat exchange thus takes place in a very ineffective manner.
A refrigerator unit is already known from DE 297 01 474 U1 which has a unit base with a wide air inlet passage and a wide air outlet passage arranged parallel thereto. The inflowing air is, however deflected in a Z shape at the air inlet side, i.e. the air flows through the front grill in a first horizontal plane, is then abruptly deflected into a second horizontal plane via a deflection wall and is directed by the unit base to this second horizontal plane. The air discharged from the unit base likewise takes place after a Z-shaped deflection so that this unit base has a horizontal air guidance which, as already indicated above, is disadvantageous due to the flow losses.
EP 0 650 680 B1 discloses a base for a built-in refrigerator unit which is placed on support rails with adjustable feet and is arranged in a recess for furniture. This base is made in trough shape and does not have any separate air guidance so that the air flowing in at the front side for cooling purposes is likewise swirled when flowing through the base and thus high flow losses occur.
A unit base flowed through by refrigerating air is also known from DE 44 45 286 A1 which directs the air through the base in a labyrinth-like manner. Flow losses likewise arise due to this multiple deflection which are not insignificant and which as a rule have to be compensated by an increased speed of the fan.
A unit base is known from EP 0 444 461 A2 in which the air is guided on one side of the base via an inlet passage into the motor space arranged at the rear side, flows through the motor space there without any further guidance by a 90° deviation and then exits the unit base via the air deflection passage again by a 90° deviation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to further develop a subassembly element of the initially named kind in an advantageous manner, in particular such that a subassembly element can be constructed in a simple manner, has an improved flow guidance and is preferably easy to assemble.
This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a subassembly element having the features herein. Provision is thereby made that a subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit has a front side, a rear side and two side regions, at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, with at least one air guidance means being provided in the subassembly element by means of which air in the subassembly element can be guided from the air inlet to the air outlet and with at least one heat exchanger, which is located at the rim side in the side regions of the subassembly element, being arranged in a part of the air guidance means
Provision can furthermore be made that at least one fan is arranged downstream or upstream of the at least one heat exchanger in the air guidance element.
It is furthermore possible that the heat exchanger is a condenser, in particular a spiral condenser, a wire tube condenser made as a molded part or a coiled wire tube condenser.
It is advantageously conceivable that the air guidance means expands to a reception space for a compressor, with fastening means, in particular fastening receivers, being provided for the compressor in the reception space.
Provision can be made that the fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and/or at the point in the air guidance means at which the air guidance means expands to the reception space.
It is furthermore possible that the subassembly element has a cut-out for the reception and/or fastening of the inner container of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit. A simple assembly of the subassembly element with the inner container thereby becomes possible. For the cut-out can be utilized as an adhesive surface which engages around a part of the inner tank and which is adhered to the inner container by pouring in heat insulation material, preferably insulting foam. A screwing of the subassembly to the already foamed unit housing can thus be dispensed with; an installation of the subassembly with the inner container and the outer wall is possible simply by the foaming which has anyway to be carried out.
Provision can furthermore be made that the cut-out is arranged at the middle or centrally and/or that the cut-out is molded into the subassembly element in the manner of a trough on the upper side. The advantage thereby results of being able to insert the inner container simply into the cut-out, optionally with spacers for a positioning to prepare for the installation. Foam is then advantageously injected in the region between the cut-out and the inner container, which preferably has a molding adapted to the shape of the cut-out, so that the subassembly element and the inner container are connected to one another.
It is furthermore conceivable that the air guidance means extends, starting from the air inlet, laterally past the cut-out, via the reception space located in the rear region of the subassembly element and again laterally past the cut-out to the air outlet, with a heat exchanger being arranged in the part of the air guidance means which starts from the air inlet and with a further heat exchanger simultaneously being provided in the part of the air guidance means which leads to the air outlet.
Provision can moreover be made that the air guidance means is made in passage manner and/or that the air guidance means has a round, oval or rectangular cross-section, at least sectionally, with the oval or rectangular cross-section of the air guidance means preferably being arranged vertically. A vertical alignment of the oval or rectangular cross-section is advantageously achieved in that the height of the air guidance means is larger than the width at this point.
It is particularly advantageous if the subassembly element is a unit base and/or an injection molded part. A simple and inexpensive production is made possible by the injection molding process. It is preferred if an impact resistant plastic is used for this purpose.
It is furthermore conceivable that the rim-side parts of the air guidance means are partly formed by a side cover, with the side cover preferably having one or more winding domes for the winding up of a heat exchanger tube and with the side cover further preferably being produced from a metallic material.
It is furthermore possible that the subassembly element has a rear wall cover which forms a closed air guidance path in conjunction with the air guidance means.
Provision can furthermore be made that a condensate collection tray or an evaporation tray is provided, with the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray being arranged in a front region of the subassembly element and/or in a region of the subassembly element accessible from the front. The advantage thereby results that the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can be removed and emptied easily. After the emptying, a simple insertion into the subassembly element can take place. This is in particular advantageous for hygienic reasons since a dwelling of liquid in the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can hereby be avoided.
For example, the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can be integrated into the side cover of the subassembly element and can be removed and reintroduced from the side. A lateral removal for cleaning purposes is thereby possible advantageously and simply.
Provision can be made that the subassembly element is made such that the at least one condenser can be inserted from the front side. The advantage thereby results of being able to realize an inexpensive installation of the condenser since it is sufficient to push a condenser plate through the air inlet or the air outlet into the side air guidance passage(s) of the subassembly element and to fasten it there e.g. by latching in a shape-matched manner.
The invention furthermore relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having the features herein. Provision is thereby made that a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit has at least one subassembly element in accordance with the features herein. The refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit can be a fully integrated built under unit which is used in a built-in kitchen. It is furthermore conceivable that the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a built under unit suitable for a décor panel or an insertion compartment unit which can be built under. A use as a stand-alone unit is also conceivable.
It is furthermore conceivable that the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a side-by-side unit.
It is particularly advantageous if the units of the side-by-side unit arranged next to one another each have a subassembly element and if the subassembly elements are made and/or can be used in mirror-inverted manner to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

There are shown:

FIG. 1: a perspective rear view of a subassembly element;

FIG. 2: a schematic plan view of a subassembly element;

FIG. 3: a further perspective view of the subassembly element;

FIG. 4: a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element;

FIG. 5: a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element;

FIG. 6: a schematic plan view of a subassembly element for a side-by-side unit;

FIG. 7: a perspective view of a side part of a subassembly element;

FIG. 8: a perspective view of a side cover for a side part of a subassembly element;

FIG. 9: a perspective view of a subassembly element with a laterally removable evaporation tray;

FIG. 10: a perspective view of the evaporation tray; and

FIG. 11: a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a subassembly element 10 in accordance with the present invention in a perspective rear view. The subassembly element 10 is made as a unit base 10 which is produced in one part as an injection molded part. In this respect, the unit base 10 is an injection molded part of impact resistant plastic.
Without this being shown in any more detail in FIG. 1, the unit base 10 has support surfaces at its lower side by means of which the unit base 10 can be installed directly on the floor. At the same time or alternatively, threaded bores can be provided into which adjustable feet can be screwed.
The pallet-like unit base 10 has a trough-like cut-out 20 at it is upper side which is provided for the reception of the inner container of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.
The air inlet for the air L, whose flow path through the unit base 10 is indicated by means of corresponding arrows, takes place through the front-side part 12 or through the air inlet 12 of the air guidance means which is expanded at this point. The air guidance means or the air guidance passage narrows in width in the side part section 14 of the air guidance means or of the air guidance passage, but expands slightly in the vertical direction since the base 15 of the side part section 14 drops slightly obliquely in the downward direction.
The air L is thus guided, starting from the air inlet 12, substantially horizontally and without any abrupt changes of direction with respect to the vertical through the side part section 14 of the air guidance passage to the motor space 16 which is formed by an expansion of the air guidance passage in the rear part of the unit base 10.
After flowing through the motor space 16, the heat L heated there enters into the side part section 18 of the air guidance passage disposed at the other side so that the air is guided past the cut-out 20 to the air outlet 19 not visible in FIG. 1.
The structure shown in FIG. 1 is shown again schematically in FIG. 2 which represents a schematic plan view of the unit base 10. As further additionally visible in FIG. 2, the unit base 10 can be provided at the front side with a front panel 40 which can be pushed onto the unit base 10 in a depth-adjustable manner by means of side projections 42. An adjustability and adaptability of the front panel 40 to the respective installation situation is thereby made possible. A simple depth adjustment can in particular be carried out for built-in units.
An air separation means 30 is provided to separate the air inlet 12 and the air outlet 19 from one another, i.e. in particular to avoid short-circuit flows. The air separation means 30 can be formed by corresponding projections 44 in the front panel 40 which engage into a corresponding cut-out 22 in the unit base 10. Provision can alternatively or simultaneously be made that the air separation means 30 includes a molded foamed part 32 which is inserted between the projections 44 and the cut-out 22 and is held in a clamping manner there.
A fastening means 17 for the compressor 70 (see FIG. 3) is furthermore provided in the motor space 16. The fastening means 17 can be a cut-out or a receiver into which the compressor 70 can be inserted to allow a simple and fast installation.
In FIGS. 3 and 4, the subassembly element 10 already shown schematically in FIG. 2 is shown with further installed components of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit with the mode of operation of the unit base 10 being able to be explained in detail with reference to this Figure. The same components or features are also provided with the same reference numerals in this respect.
Cold environmental air L enters through oblique slats in the front panel 40 into the air inlet 12 of the unit base 10 and then flows through the side passage 14 which has a cross-section of substantially rectangular shape with a vertical alignment, i.e. is higher than wide. The air L is guided in the passage 14 onto the condenser 50 and cools it.
A fan 60 is preferably provided downstream of the condenser 50 (see also FIGS. 4 and 5) and allows air L to circulate through the unit base 10. The fan 60 can alternatively also be arranged in the motor space 16 and furthermore charges the compressor which is received in the holder 17 with air L guided past the condenser 50 so that an ideal heat dissipation can also take place from the compressor. After the compressor, the air L enters into the side passage 18 which has the same construction as the side passage 14 and is in particular made symmetrical thereto. Through the side passage 18, the air L is guided through the further condenser 50′ to the air outlet 19 and there exits via the slats of the front panel 40 which is hidden here.
It is achieved due to the vertical alignment of the side passages 14 and 18 that the actual air inflow substantially takes place at the outwardly disposed part of the air inlet 12, while the outflow of the air L heated in the unit base 10 takes place at the outwardly disposed part of the air outlet 19. The inflowing cold airflow L and the outflowing hot airflow L are thus maximally spaced apart from one another.
The airflow is furthermore substantially guided on a horizontal plane, whereby flow losses can be avoided. The air inlet and the air outlet as well as the air guidance in the unit base 10 extend horizontally on the same plane, with the expansion in the side passages 14 and 18 being neglected in this observation. There is thus no deflection of the airflow with respect to the vertical in accordance with the invention so that the flow resistances are kept small. It thereby becomes possible to operate the fan 60 at a comparatively low speed so that the noise level in operation can be reduced.
FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment variant of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which differs in that a first fan 60 is arranged downstream of the condenser 50 in the transition from the side passage 15 to the motor space 16 and in that a second fan 60′ is arranged in the transition from the motor space 16 to the side passage 18 to achieve an ideal air circulation in the unit base 10.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of the two unit bases 10 of a side-by-side unit, with the unit bases 10 each being identical, but being used in mirror inversion with respect to the air guidance. Features and components already known from the above-described Figures are provided with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, of a side-by-side unit, the air, as already described in connection with FIGS. 3 to 5, flows through the inlet 12 over the condenser 50 arranged in the side passage 14 in the unit base 10 shown at the right, with a fan 60 being arranged downstream of the condenser 50. A mirror inverted process takes place in the unit base 10 arranged at the left. The inlets 12 are thus each arranged outwardly disposed and the air outlets 19 inwardly disposed in the side-by-side unit shown in FIG. 6. Short-circuit flows are thus advantageously avoided.
FIG. 7 shows a side wall for a unit base 10 in a perspective representation, with a cover 100 being inserted in the side wall and being able to be used as an additional heat exchanger. The cover 100 is in this respect shown further in FIG. 8 without the side wall and is preferably made of metal for an improved heat reception and is in heat-conductive contact with the condenser 50. The cover 100 can be made as a metal part with lugs set through and can be adhesively bonded in an airtight manner with the side wall by means of an adhesive film so that the side wall and the cover produce an airtight wall. The cover 100 can e.g. be a continuous cast part or a zinc die cast part.
FIG. 9 shows a part of a subassembly element 10 in a perspective representation in a further embodiment, with the evaporation tray 110′ being integrated into a side cover 100′ of the subassembly element 10 and being made as laterally removable and reinsertable. The evaporation tray 110′ is in this respect accessible from the front and can hereby be easily removed for cleaning purposes and reinserted again afterward. The outer wall 112′ of the evaporation tray 110′ in this respect itself forms the outer wall of the side cover 100′ of the subassembly element 10. As is further shown in FIG. 9, a condenser 50 is arranged behind the evaporation tray 110′ and can be pushed into the subassembly element 10 from the front side, through the air outlet 19 here.
FIG. 10 shows the evaporation tray 100′ shown in FIG. 9 in a perspective representation. As shown here, the evaporation tray 110′ has a plurality of latch elements 120′ by means of which the evaporation tray 110′ can be latched in the subassembly element 10.
FIG. 11 shows, in a schematic plan view of the subassembly element 10, how the condenser 50 shown in FIG. 9 is in each case arranged at both sides in the side passages of the subassembly element 10 and can in each case be pushed in at the front side through the air inlet 12 or through the air outlet 19. In this respect, a respective fan 60 is associated with each condenser 50.

Claims

1. A subassembly element (10) for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit, wherein the subassembly element (10) has a front side, a rear side and two side regions, at least one air inlet (12) and at least one air outlet (19), and wherein at least one air guidance means is provided in the subassembly element (10) by which air can be guided from the air inlet (12) to the air outlet (19) in the subassembly element (10), and at least one heat exchanger (50, 50′) is arranged in a part (14, 18) of the air guidance means and is located at the rim side in the side regions of the subassembly element (10).

2. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one fan (60) is arranged in the air guidance element downstream or upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (50, 50′).

3. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger (50, 50′) is a condenser (50, 50′), in particular a spiral condenser, a wire tube condenser made as a molded part or a coiled wire tube condenser.

4. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air guidance means expands to a receiver space (16) for a compressor, with fastening means, in particular fastening receivers (17), being provided for the compressor in the receiver space (16).

5. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 4, wherein the fan (60, 60′) is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger (50, 50′) and/or at the point in the air guidance means at which the air guidance means expands to the receiver space (16).

6. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the subassembly unit (10) has a cut-out (20) for the reception and/or fastening of the inner container of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit.

7. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cut-out (20) is arranged at the middle or centrally; and/or in that the cut-out (20) is molded into the subassembly element (10) in trough-form at the upper side.

8. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim, wherein the air guidance means, starting from the air inlet (12), extends laterally past the cut-out (20) over the receiver space (16) located in the rear region of the subassembly element (10) again laterally past the cut-out (20) to the air outlet (19), with a heat exchanger (50) preferably being arranged in the part of the air guidance means which starts from the air inlet (12) and with a further heat exchanger (50′) simultaneously being arranged in the part of the air guidance means which leads to the air outlet (19).

9. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air guidance means is made in passage form; and/or the air guidance means has a round, oval or rectangular cross-section at least sectionally, with the oval or rectangular cross-section of the air guidance means preferably being aligned vertically.

10. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the subassembly element (10) is a unit base (10) and/or an injection molded part.

11. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rim-side parts of the air guidance means are partly formed by a side cover (100), with the side cover (100) preferably having one or more winding domes for the winding up of a heat exchanger tube and with the side cover (100) further preferably being produced from a metallic material.

12. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the subassembly element (10) has a rear wall cover which forms a closed air guidance path in conjunction with the air guidance means.

13. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1, wherein a condensate collection tray (110′) or an evaporation tray (110′) is provided, with the condensate collection tray (110′) or evaporation tray (110′) being arranged in a front region of the subassembly element (10) and/or in a region of the subassembly element (10) accessible from the front.

14. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 3, wherein the subassembly element (10) is made such that the at least one condenser (50) can be pushed in from the front side.

15. A refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having at least one subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 1.

16. A refrigerator and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 15, wherein the refrigerator and/or freezer unit is a side-by-side unit.

17. A refrigerator and/or freezer unit in accordance with claim 16 wherein the units of the side-by-side unit arranged next to one another each have subassembly elements (10); and the subassembly elements (10) are made and/or can be used with mirror inversion with respect to one another.

18. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger (50, 50′) is a condenser (50, 50′), in particular a spiral condenser, a wire tube condenser made as a molded part or a coiled wire tube condenser.

19. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 18, wherein the air guidance means expands to a receiver space (16) for a compressor, with fastening means, in particular fastening receivers (17), being provided for the compressor in the receiver space (16).

20. A subassembly element (10) in accordance with claim 3, wherein the air guidance means expands to a receiver space (16) for a compressor, with fastening means, in particular fastening receivers (17), being provided for the compressor in the receiver space (16).