US20110232309A1 - Refrigerating appliance - Google Patents

Refrigerating appliance Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20110232309A1
US20110232309A1 US13/155,428 US201113155428A US2011232309A1 US 20110232309 A1 US20110232309 A1 US 20110232309A1 US 201113155428 A US201113155428 A US 201113155428A US 2011232309 A1 US2011232309 A1 US 2011232309A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
compressor
refrigerant
collecting receptacle
condensed water
collecting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/155,428
Inventor
Helmut Konopa
Wolfgang Nuiding
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Original Assignee
BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH filed Critical BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority to US13/155,428 priority Critical patent/US20110232309A1/en
Publication of US20110232309A1 publication Critical patent/US20110232309A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/14Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/02Detecting the presence of frost or condensate
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2321/00Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/141Removal by evaporation
    • F25D2321/1411Removal by evaporation using compressor heat
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2321/00Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/141Removal by evaporation
    • F25D2321/1413Removal by evaporation using heat from electric elements or using an electric field for enhancing removal
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2321/00Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/144Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by the construction of drip water collection pans
    • F25D2321/1442Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by the construction of drip water collection pans outside a refrigerator

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a refrigerating appliance with a collecting or evaporation receptacle for condensed water.
  • a refrigerating appliance is disclosed in DE 198 55 504 A1.
  • This refrigerating appliance of prior art has a heat insulating housing which encloses a storage compartment for goods to be refrigerated and has, in a lower corner, a recess open towards the outside in which a compressor is installed for a refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating appliance.
  • a collecting receptacle is mounted on the compressor housing for condensed water which condenses in the storage compartment and flows out through an opening formed above the collecting receptacle in the housing into the collecting receptacle.
  • the collecting receptacle is mounted on the compressor housing in order to utilise loss heat which the compressor generates during operation, and to heat the condensed water in the collecting receptacle, thereby accelerating its evaporation.
  • the object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating appliance in which overflowing of the collecting tray can be reliably avoided, even if waste heat discharged from the compressor to the drip tray is low.
  • the object is achieved by a refrigerating appliance with the features of the claims.
  • the heating power supplied to the collecting tray can be supplemented by means of the independent heating device to the extent required to prevent overflowing.
  • the heating device is preferably formed essentially by an ohmic resistance.
  • the heating device can be arranged simply on a wall of the collecting receptacle; in order to introduce the thermal energy discharged by it into the condensed water contained in the collecting receptacle with the lowest possible loss, the heating device is preferably arranged so that it is immersed in the collecting receptacle.
  • a control circuit may be provided for operating the heating device periodically. If the ratio of the operating time of the heating device to the total operating time of the refrigerating appliance can be adjusted on the control circuit, the mean heating power may always be limited to the minimum required to prevent overflow, according to the climatic conditions under which the refrigerating appliance is used.
  • a door opening sensor is provided on a door of the refrigerating appliance, and a control circuit connected to the door opening sensor controls the average power of the heating device according to the frequency of the recorded door openings.
  • This embodiment is based on the consideration that a certain quantity of moisture is introduced into the refrigerating appliance whenever the door is opened due to the air exchange between the storage compartment of the refrigerating appliance and its surroundings, and that this moisture eventually reaches the collecting receptacle as condensed water, and must be evaporated from it so that the heat energy required for this must be supplied.
  • a water level sensor is arranged on the collecting receptacle and a control circuit connected to the water level sensor operates the heating device if the water level recorded by the water level sensor exceeds a limit value.
  • heat energy is actually only expended when this is required to prevent overflow; here there are no safety margins which are required in the case of purely time-controlled operation of the heating device or operation of the heating device controlled on the basis of the frequency of the door openings in order to allow for fluctuations in the climatic conditions or the emission of moisture by goods to be refrigerated and stored in the refrigerating appliance.
  • the water level sensor is preferably formed by a float switch.
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic section through a refrigerating appliance according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 shows a compressor with a collecting receptacle mounted therein, according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 3 shows a compressor with a collecting receptacle according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic section through a collecting receptacle with a float switch.
  • the refrigerating appliance shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 in section comprises a heat insulating housing with a body 1 and a door 2 articulated to it, which enclose a storage compartment 3 .
  • An evaporator 5 is arranged on the rear side of storage compartment 3 divided into drawers by a plurality of draw bottoms 4 .
  • evaporator 5 is represented as a plate-shaped body which is inserted between a wall of the insulating receptacle of body 1 bounding interior space 3 , and an insulating foam filling 6 .
  • a refrigerant circuit extends from a high pressure outlet of a compressor 7 via a liquefier 8 fitted on the outside of the rear of body 1 and evaporator 5 to a suction connection of compressor 7 .
  • Compressor 7 is installed in a recess 9 close to the bottom on the rear side of body 1 below evaporator 5 .
  • Air moisture from interior space 3 which condenses on its wall cooled by evaporator 5 , is accumulated on the lower edge of this wall in a gutter 10 and is fed from there via a drain pipe 11 guided through foam filling 6 to a bowl-shaped collecting receptacle 12 , which is mounted on compressor 7 in order to be heated by its waste heat.
  • the air moisture produced by evaporation from collecting receptacle 12 in recess 9 is flushed away by an air flow which, driven by the heat discharged by liquefier 8 in a flue between the rear wall of body 1 and an opposing cabinet or building wall, not shown, runs firstly through an intake duct 30 guided along the bottom of body 1 , then through recess 9 and finally via the flue and into the open air.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a special embodiment of the upper section of compressor 7 and collecting receptacle 12 mounted on it.
  • collecting receptacle 12 has in its bottom 13 an opening into which an upper section of the housing of compressor 7 is inserted so that it is sealed.
  • the water in collecting receptacle 12 therefore comes into direct contact with the housing of compressor 7 , so that the waste heat discharged by compressor 7 in operation is absorbed with high efficiency from the condensed water.
  • FIG. 2 By inserting upper housing section 14 directly into bottom 13 it is possible, as shown in FIG. 2 , unlike the diagrammatic representation in FIG. 1 , to lead a pressure connection 15 and suction connection 16 of compressor 7 through collecting receptacle 12 and condensed water contained in it.
  • Suction connection 16 through which flows expanded, cold refrigerant coming from evaporator 5 , is provided with an insulating jacket; pressure connection 15 , through which flows compressed, warm refrigerant to liquefier 8 , is not insulated, so that heat from the refrigerant can also be dissipated to the condensed water.
  • a further pipe section may be provided between pressure connection 15 and liquefier 8 , which section runs in the manner of a loop or meanders through the condensed water.
  • An electrically operating heating rod 17 is immersed from above into collecting receptacle 12 , and extends in it in the form of a loop. It is supplied with energy by a control circuit 18 (see FIG. 1 ).
  • control circuit 18 comprises a timer, which switches heating rod 17 on and off for a fixed period.
  • the proportion of the connection time of each period may in the simplest case also be fixed, since in the case of a refrigerator used in a hot environment, the quantity of liquid which is introduced into storage compartment 3 whenever the door is opened, and which must ultimately be evaporated in collecting receptacle 12 , is indeed greater than in the case of a refrigerator used in a cold environment.
  • the proportion of the compressor running time of the total operating time of the refrigerator is also higher in a hot environment than in a cold one, with the result that more waste heat from compressor 7 is also available for evaporation.
  • the length of operating phases 17 may also be adjusted on control circuit 18 to take account of the influence of the ambient climate, or other ambient factors that vary from one appliance to another, on the condensed water produced.
  • a door opening sensor 19 is connected to control circuit 18 .
  • This sensor may, for example, be a magnetic field sensor subjected to the magnetic field of a magnetic seal of door 2 , or simply a switch which is normally provided on each refrigerating appliance for switching the interior lighting of storage compartment 3 on and off, depending on the opening condition of door 2 .
  • Control circuit 18 counts the door opening processes recorded by this door opening sensor 19 and switches on heating rod 17 after a predetermined number of recorded door openings for a predetermined period of time which is preset by the manufacturer so that the waste heat from compressor 7 , together with the quantity of heat given off by heating rod 17 , would have to be sufficient to evaporate an estimated quantity of moisture introduced by the door openings.
  • sensor circuit 18 is instead connected to a door opening sensor with a water level sensor 20 fitted on collecting receptacle 12 .
  • FIG. 4 shows, in a diagrammatic section, collecting receptacle 12 provided with such a water level sensor 20 .
  • Water level sensor 20 is here designed as a float switch, with an electrical switch 22 that can be actuated by an elongated arm 21 , and a floating body 23 immersed in the condensed water of collecting receptacle 12 fitted on the free end of arm 21 . If the water level in collecting receptacle 12 exceeds a critical value, switch 22 closes and heating rod 17 is supplied with electrical energy until water level 24 drops below the critical value again.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of collecting receptacle 12 mounted on upper section 14 of the housing of compressor 7 . Whilst upper housing section 14 is shown in a perspective view, collecting receptacle 12 is shown half in section in order to show a heating wire 25 which is fitted in a plurality of windings to the inner face of collecting receptacle 12 . Since heating wire 25 is supported by collecting receptacle 12 , it need not be as rigid as heating bar 17 .
  • Collecting receptacle 12 can here be provided on its outside with an insulation coating (not shown) to ensure that heat dissipated by heating wire 25 is fully absorbed by the condensed water in collecting receptacle 12 and is not lost to the surrounding atmosphere through the outer faces of collecting receptacle 12 .
  • a temperature sensor 26 fitted to the inside of collecting receptacle 12 , in the vicinity of heating wire 25 serves as a sensor for the water level in collecting receptacle 12 .
  • the temperature recorded by temperature sensor 26 depends on whether it, and regions of heating resistance 25 adjacent to it, lie below the water level or not. If the temperature recorded by this sensor 26 during the operation of heating wire 25 exceeds an empirically established limit value, it may be concluded from this that these regions of heating wire 25 adjacent to temperature sensor 26 are not immersed in the condensed water, and that consequently it is not necessary to operate heating wire 25 .
  • a control circuit 18 connected to temperature sensor 26 can, from time to time, put heating wire 25 into operation for test purposes in order to evaluate the resistance in collecting receptacle 12 on the basis of the heating of temperature sensor 26 , and if the evaluation indicates that the water level is not critical, the operation of heating wire 25 is interrupted again immediately. Otherwise its operation is continued, if necessary with an output that is higher than in the preceding test phase, until the water level has dropped below a critical value and this is reflected in a rise in the temperature recorded by sensor 26 .
  • Such a temperature sensor 26 could also be secured directly to heating rod 17 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 . It is also conceivable to use heating wire 25 or heating rod 17 itself as a temperature sensor if its heating resistance has a temperature-dependent resistance value whose measurement by control circuit 18 indicates whether heating wire 25 or heating rod 17 has been cooled by condensed water or not.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Removal Of Water From Condensation And Defrosting (AREA)

Abstract

A refrigerating appliance comprising a storage compartment, a refrigerant circuit which serves to cool the storage compartment and contains a compressor, and comprising a collecting receptacle for condensed water flowing out of the storage compartment. The collecting receptacle can be heated by a heating device that can be independently operated by the operation of the compressor.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application is a Divisional, under 35 U.S.C. §121, of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/592,970, filed Jun. 25, 2008, which is a U.S. national stage application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT/EP2005/051136, filed Mar. 14, 2005, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, to German Application No. 10 2004 012 498.1, filed Mar. 15, 2004.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates to a refrigerating appliance with a collecting or evaporation receptacle for condensed water. A refrigerating appliance is disclosed in DE 198 55 504 A1. This refrigerating appliance of prior art has a heat insulating housing which encloses a storage compartment for goods to be refrigerated and has, in a lower corner, a recess open towards the outside in which a compressor is installed for a refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating appliance. A collecting receptacle is mounted on the compressor housing for condensed water which condenses in the storage compartment and flows out through an opening formed above the collecting receptacle in the housing into the collecting receptacle.
  • The collecting receptacle is mounted on the compressor housing in order to utilise loss heat which the compressor generates during operation, and to heat the condensed water in the collecting receptacle, thereby accelerating its evaporation.
  • In recent years considerable efforts have been made to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerating appliances, as a result of which the power input which the compressor must have in order to cool the storage compartment effectively is being increasingly reduced with advanced development. In modern refrigerating appliances with high quality insulation it may therefore happen that the waste heat from the compressor is no longer sufficient to evaporate the condensed water at the rate at which it flows out of the storage compartment, so that the collecting receptacle eventually overflows. If the overflowing condensed water reaches live parts below the drip tray, damage to the electrics of the refrigerating appliance may result. Condensed water escaping from the appliance may also lead to damage elsewhere, particularly in the case of built-in appliances which are provided for installation in kitchen cabinets. Problems of this kind may arise, particularly in the case of self-defrosting appliances in which the condensed water is produced in pulses in large quantities.
  • BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The object of this invention is to provide a refrigerating appliance in which overflowing of the collecting tray can be reliably avoided, even if waste heat discharged from the compressor to the drip tray is low.
  • The object is achieved by a refrigerating appliance with the features of the claims. The heating power supplied to the collecting tray can be supplemented by means of the independent heating device to the extent required to prevent overflowing.
  • The heating device is preferably formed essentially by an ohmic resistance.
  • The heating device can be arranged simply on a wall of the collecting receptacle; in order to introduce the thermal energy discharged by it into the condensed water contained in the collecting receptacle with the lowest possible loss, the heating device is preferably arranged so that it is immersed in the collecting receptacle.
  • A control circuit may be provided for operating the heating device periodically. If the ratio of the operating time of the heating device to the total operating time of the refrigerating appliance can be adjusted on the control circuit, the mean heating power may always be limited to the minimum required to prevent overflow, according to the climatic conditions under which the refrigerating appliance is used.
  • According to a preferred embodiment a door opening sensor is provided on a door of the refrigerating appliance, and a control circuit connected to the door opening sensor controls the average power of the heating device according to the frequency of the recorded door openings. This embodiment is based on the consideration that a certain quantity of moisture is introduced into the refrigerating appliance whenever the door is opened due to the air exchange between the storage compartment of the refrigerating appliance and its surroundings, and that this moisture eventually reaches the collecting receptacle as condensed water, and must be evaporated from it so that the heat energy required for this must be supplied.
  • According to a particularly economic embodiment a water level sensor is arranged on the collecting receptacle and a control circuit connected to the water level sensor operates the heating device if the water level recorded by the water level sensor exceeds a limit value. In this embodiment heat energy is actually only expended when this is required to prevent overflow; here there are no safety margins which are required in the case of purely time-controlled operation of the heating device or operation of the heating device controlled on the basis of the frequency of the door openings in order to allow for fluctuations in the climatic conditions or the emission of moisture by goods to be refrigerated and stored in the refrigerating appliance.
  • The water level sensor is preferably formed by a float switch.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Further features and advantages of the invention are explained in the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the attached figures, where:
  • FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic section through a refrigerating appliance according to the invention;
  • FIG. 2 shows a compressor with a collecting receptacle mounted therein, according to a first embodiment of the invention;
  • FIG. 3 shows a compressor with a collecting receptacle according to a second embodiment of the invention; and
  • FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic section through a collecting receptacle with a float switch.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
  • The refrigerating appliance shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 in section comprises a heat insulating housing with a body 1 and a door 2 articulated to it, which enclose a storage compartment 3. An evaporator 5 is arranged on the rear side of storage compartment 3 divided into drawers by a plurality of draw bottoms 4. Here evaporator 5 is represented as a plate-shaped body which is inserted between a wall of the insulating receptacle of body 1 bounding interior space 3, and an insulating foam filling 6. A refrigerant circuit extends from a high pressure outlet of a compressor 7 via a liquefier 8 fitted on the outside of the rear of body 1 and evaporator 5 to a suction connection of compressor 7. Compressor 7 is installed in a recess 9 close to the bottom on the rear side of body 1 below evaporator 5.
  • Air moisture from interior space 3, which condenses on its wall cooled by evaporator 5, is accumulated on the lower edge of this wall in a gutter 10 and is fed from there via a drain pipe 11 guided through foam filling 6 to a bowl-shaped collecting receptacle 12, which is mounted on compressor 7 in order to be heated by its waste heat.
  • The air moisture produced by evaporation from collecting receptacle 12 in recess 9 is flushed away by an air flow which, driven by the heat discharged by liquefier 8 in a flue between the rear wall of body 1 and an opposing cabinet or building wall, not shown, runs firstly through an intake duct 30 guided along the bottom of body 1, then through recess 9 and finally via the flue and into the open air.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a special embodiment of the upper section of compressor 7 and collecting receptacle 12 mounted on it. Here collecting receptacle 12 has in its bottom 13 an opening into which an upper section of the housing of compressor 7 is inserted so that it is sealed. The water in collecting receptacle 12 therefore comes into direct contact with the housing of compressor 7, so that the waste heat discharged by compressor 7 in operation is absorbed with high efficiency from the condensed water.
  • By inserting upper housing section 14 directly into bottom 13 it is possible, as shown in FIG. 2, unlike the diagrammatic representation in FIG. 1, to lead a pressure connection 15 and suction connection 16 of compressor 7 through collecting receptacle 12 and condensed water contained in it. Suction connection 16, through which flows expanded, cold refrigerant coming from evaporator 5, is provided with an insulating jacket; pressure connection 15, through which flows compressed, warm refrigerant to liquefier 8, is not insulated, so that heat from the refrigerant can also be dissipated to the condensed water. To reinforce this effect a further pipe section (not shown in the figure) may be provided between pressure connection 15 and liquefier 8, which section runs in the manner of a loop or meanders through the condensed water.
  • An electrically operating heating rod 17 is immersed from above into collecting receptacle 12, and extends in it in the form of a loop. It is supplied with energy by a control circuit 18 (see FIG. 1).
  • According to a simple embodiment control circuit 18 comprises a timer, which switches heating rod 17 on and off for a fixed period. The proportion of the connection time of each period may in the simplest case also be fixed, since in the case of a refrigerator used in a hot environment, the quantity of liquid which is introduced into storage compartment 3 whenever the door is opened, and which must ultimately be evaporated in collecting receptacle 12, is indeed greater than in the case of a refrigerator used in a cold environment. At the same time, however, the proportion of the compressor running time of the total operating time of the refrigerator is also higher in a hot environment than in a cold one, with the result that more waste heat from compressor 7 is also available for evaporation. However, the length of operating phases 17 may also be adjusted on control circuit 18 to take account of the influence of the ambient climate, or other ambient factors that vary from one appliance to another, on the condensed water produced.
  • According to a second further developed embodiment a door opening sensor 19 is connected to control circuit 18. This sensor may, for example, be a magnetic field sensor subjected to the magnetic field of a magnetic seal of door 2, or simply a switch which is normally provided on each refrigerating appliance for switching the interior lighting of storage compartment 3 on and off, depending on the opening condition of door 2. Control circuit 18 counts the door opening processes recorded by this door opening sensor 19 and switches on heating rod 17 after a predetermined number of recorded door openings for a predetermined period of time which is preset by the manufacturer so that the waste heat from compressor 7, together with the quantity of heat given off by heating rod 17, would have to be sufficient to evaporate an estimated quantity of moisture introduced by the door openings.
  • In a third further developed embodiment sensor circuit 18 is instead connected to a door opening sensor with a water level sensor 20 fitted on collecting receptacle 12. FIG. 4 shows, in a diagrammatic section, collecting receptacle 12 provided with such a water level sensor 20. Water level sensor 20 is here designed as a float switch, with an electrical switch 22 that can be actuated by an elongated arm 21, and a floating body 23 immersed in the condensed water of collecting receptacle 12 fitted on the free end of arm 21. If the water level in collecting receptacle 12 exceeds a critical value, switch 22 closes and heating rod 17 is supplied with electrical energy until water level 24 drops below the critical value again.
  • FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of collecting receptacle 12 mounted on upper section 14 of the housing of compressor 7. Whilst upper housing section 14 is shown in a perspective view, collecting receptacle 12 is shown half in section in order to show a heating wire 25 which is fitted in a plurality of windings to the inner face of collecting receptacle 12. Since heating wire 25 is supported by collecting receptacle 12, it need not be as rigid as heating bar 17. Collecting receptacle 12 can here be provided on its outside with an insulation coating (not shown) to ensure that heat dissipated by heating wire 25 is fully absorbed by the condensed water in collecting receptacle 12 and is not lost to the surrounding atmosphere through the outer faces of collecting receptacle 12.
  • A temperature sensor 26 fitted to the inside of collecting receptacle 12, in the vicinity of heating wire 25, here serves as a sensor for the water level in collecting receptacle 12. When the heating wire is in operation the temperature recorded by temperature sensor 26 depends on whether it, and regions of heating resistance 25 adjacent to it, lie below the water level or not. If the temperature recorded by this sensor 26 during the operation of heating wire 25 exceeds an empirically established limit value, it may be concluded from this that these regions of heating wire 25 adjacent to temperature sensor 26 are not immersed in the condensed water, and that consequently it is not necessary to operate heating wire 25. In other words, in this embodiment a control circuit 18 connected to temperature sensor 26 can, from time to time, put heating wire 25 into operation for test purposes in order to evaluate the resistance in collecting receptacle 12 on the basis of the heating of temperature sensor 26, and if the evaluation indicates that the water level is not critical, the operation of heating wire 25 is interrupted again immediately. Otherwise its operation is continued, if necessary with an output that is higher than in the preceding test phase, until the water level has dropped below a critical value and this is reflected in a rise in the temperature recorded by sensor 26.
  • Such a temperature sensor 26 could also be secured directly to heating rod 17 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. It is also conceivable to use heating wire 25 or heating rod 17 itself as a temperature sensor if its heating resistance has a temperature-dependent resistance value whose measurement by control circuit 18 indicates whether heating wire 25 or heating rod 17 has been cooled by condensed water or not.

Claims (7)

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a body at least partially defining a storage compartment;
a refrigerant circuit defining a flow path for refrigerant and cooling the storage compartment and including a compressor;
a collecting receptacle collecting condensed water from the storage compartment;
a heating device heating the collecting receptacle;
a sensor detecting an operating parameter of the refrigerator; and
a control circuit connected to the sensor and controlling the heating device in response to the operating parameter detected by the sensor.
2. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the heating device and the compressor are operated independently from one another.
3. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, wherein the compressor includes an upper housing section forming at least a portion of the collecting receptacle, condensed water within the collecting receptacle contacting the upper housing section and absorbing waste heat from the compressor.
4. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes:
a liquefier receiving compressed relatively warm refrigerant from the compressor; and
a pressure connection connected to the upper housing portion of the compressor and carrying refrigerant from the compressor to the liquefier, the pressure connection passing through the collecting receptacle and heat from the refrigerant being dissipated to the condensed water in the collecting receptacle.
5. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes:
a evaporator providing expanded relatively cold refrigerant to the compressor; and
a suction connection connected to the compressor and carrying refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor, the suction connection passing through the collecting receptacle and having an insulating jacket surrounding the suction connection within the collection receptacle to insulate the refrigerant from the condensed water in the collecting receptacle.
6. A refrigerator comprising:
a body at least partially defining a storage compartment;
a collecting receptacle collecting condensed water from the storage compartment;
a refrigerant circuit defining a flow path for refrigerant and cooling the storage compartment and including:
a compressor having an upper housing section forming at least a portion of the collecting receptacle, condensed water within the collecting receptacle contacting the upper housing section and absorbing waste heat from the compressor;
a liquefier receiving compressed relatively warm refrigerant from the compressor, a pressure connection connected to the upper housing portion of the compressor and carrying refrigerant from the compressor to the liquefier, the pressure connection passing through the collecting receptacle and heat from the refrigerant being dissipated to the condensed water in the collecting receptacle;
a heating device heating the collecting receptacle, the heating device and the compressor being operated independently from one another.
7. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes:
a evaporator providing expanded relatively cold refrigerant to the compressor; and
a suction connection connected to the compressor and carrying refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor, the suction connection passing through the collecting receptacle and having an insulating jacket surrounding the suction connection within the collection receptacle to insulate the refrigerant from the condensed water in the collecting receptacle.
US13/155,428 2004-03-15 2011-06-08 Refrigerating appliance Abandoned US20110232309A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/155,428 US20110232309A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2011-06-08 Refrigerating appliance

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102004012498A DE102004012498A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2004-03-15 The refrigerator
DE102004012498.1 2004-03-15
PCT/EP2005/051136 WO2005090878A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2005-03-14 Refrigerating appliance
US59297008A 2008-06-25 2008-06-25
US13/155,428 US20110232309A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2011-06-08 Refrigerating appliance

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2005/051136 Division WO2005090878A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2005-03-14 Refrigerating appliance
US59297008A Division 2004-03-15 2008-06-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110232309A1 true US20110232309A1 (en) 2011-09-29

Family

ID=34961353

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/592,970 Expired - Fee Related US8020392B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2005-03-14 Refrigerating appliance
US13/155,428 Abandoned US20110232309A1 (en) 2004-03-15 2011-06-08 Refrigerating appliance

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/592,970 Expired - Fee Related US8020392B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2005-03-14 Refrigerating appliance

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (2) US8020392B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1728031A1 (en)
CN (1) CN1930428B (en)
DE (2) DE102004012498A1 (en)
RU (1) RU2374573C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2005090878A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102349769A (en) * 2011-10-13 2012-02-15 合肥美的荣事达电冰箱有限公司 Display cabinet
WO2014019850A1 (en) * 2012-07-31 2014-02-06 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerator having an evaporation tray

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2313718B1 (en) * 2008-07-04 2017-09-06 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi A cooling device
DE102010000956B4 (en) * 2010-01-15 2014-05-28 Thermofin Gmbh The heat exchanger
US8534083B2 (en) 2010-08-12 2013-09-17 General Electric Company Evaporative cooling condenser for household appliance
US20120036874A1 (en) * 2010-08-12 2012-02-16 Jianwu Li Active cooling of a compressor in an appliance
DE102010040250A1 (en) * 2010-09-03 2015-03-26 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance
CN102538345B (en) * 2010-12-10 2015-11-25 博西华家用电器有限公司 Refrigerating plant
DE102011078323A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration unit with evaporation tray and auxiliary device for evaporation promotion
DE102011078321A1 (en) * 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration unit with evaporation tray and auxiliary device for evaporation promotion
DE102011078320B4 (en) * 2011-06-29 2021-04-01 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration device with evaporation tray and auxiliary device for promoting evaporation
DE102011078318A1 (en) 2011-06-29 2013-01-03 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration apparatus has heating unit, which heats collecting container, where switching device is provided for switching heating unit for heating collecting container in response to filling level of collecting container
DE102011079201A1 (en) 2011-07-14 2013-01-17 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH The refrigerator
DE102011079202B4 (en) * 2011-07-14 2020-09-03 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Evaporation tray with level sensor for a refrigerator
DE102011084718A1 (en) * 2011-10-18 2013-04-18 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigeration unit with evaporation tray and heater for evaporation promotion
DE102012003904A1 (en) * 2012-02-01 2013-08-01 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Cooling and/or freezing apparatus, has water drain comprising spacer and water drain valve, and container i.e. bowl, provided for collecting water discharged by spacer, where drain valve is arranged in or at fastening unit
DE102012221296A1 (en) * 2012-11-21 2014-05-22 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerating appliance with a cooling compartment
ES2604003B1 (en) * 2015-09-02 2017-12-12 Bsh Electrodomésticos España, S.A. Household refrigerator appliance with a specific receiver for defrosting water
CN109323485A (en) * 2018-10-30 2019-02-12 南安市泰谷工业设计有限公司 A kind of condenser for refrigerator of compound pipeline complex pipeline heat energy utilization
CN111397283A (en) * 2020-03-05 2020-07-10 东越厨具金属(苏州)股份有限公司 Bottom-mounted drainage evaporation device of refrigerator
DE102021125917A1 (en) 2021-10-06 2023-04-06 Vaillant Gmbh Method and device for preventing ice formation in a pan for collecting condensate of an evaporator of a heat pump
DE102021212370A1 (en) 2021-11-03 2023-05-04 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Household refrigerating appliance and method therefor

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2315222A (en) * 1939-04-25 1943-03-30 Nash Kelvinator Corp Refrigerating apparatus
JPH0835757A (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-02-06 Sharp Corp Refrigerator
US5545878A (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-08-13 Wirekraft Industries, Inc. Defrost heater with spiral vent
JPH08271120A (en) * 1995-03-31 1996-10-18 Toshiba Corp Refrigerator
US5881566A (en) * 1996-04-26 1999-03-16 Fisher & Paykel Limited Evaporation device for refrigeration equipment
JP2002107049A (en) * 2000-10-02 2002-04-10 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Refrigerator
KR20040057156A (en) * 2002-12-24 2004-07-02 엘지전자 주식회사 Defrosting control method for refrigerator

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19855504A1 (en) 1998-12-01 2000-06-08 Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Refrigeration device has condensed water collection pan with flexurally slack base that can come into thermally conducting contact with compressor housing, at least in some sections
DE19956995A1 (en) * 1999-11-26 2001-05-31 Bsh Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Refrigerator has thermally insulated housing, door, machine volume, condensed water collection container with base and holding section connected together by variable height side wall
US6260365B1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2001-07-17 Traulsen & Company, Inc. Control system and related methods for refrigeration and freezer units
JP2003130535A (en) * 2001-10-19 2003-05-08 Fujitsu General Ltd Refrigerator
DE10208558A1 (en) * 2002-02-27 2003-09-04 Vasilios Zigaris Method for evaporating excess condensation water from cooling appliances has tray containing heater, thermostat and float switch
DE10208588A1 (en) * 2002-02-27 2003-09-11 Kbe Windpower Gmbh Wind power generator for generating electricity, has stator windings arranged in cowling and magnet elements arranged in radially outer regions of rotor blades
JP2003279229A (en) * 2002-03-25 2003-10-02 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Cooling storage house

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2315222A (en) * 1939-04-25 1943-03-30 Nash Kelvinator Corp Refrigerating apparatus
JPH0835757A (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-02-06 Sharp Corp Refrigerator
US5545878A (en) * 1994-11-10 1996-08-13 Wirekraft Industries, Inc. Defrost heater with spiral vent
JPH08271120A (en) * 1995-03-31 1996-10-18 Toshiba Corp Refrigerator
US5881566A (en) * 1996-04-26 1999-03-16 Fisher & Paykel Limited Evaporation device for refrigeration equipment
JP2002107049A (en) * 2000-10-02 2002-04-10 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Refrigerator
KR20040057156A (en) * 2002-12-24 2004-07-02 엘지전자 주식회사 Defrosting control method for refrigerator

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102349769A (en) * 2011-10-13 2012-02-15 合肥美的荣事达电冰箱有限公司 Display cabinet
WO2014019850A1 (en) * 2012-07-31 2014-02-06 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Refrigerator having an evaporation tray

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US8020392B2 (en) 2011-09-20
DE202005021918U1 (en) 2011-05-19
RU2374573C2 (en) 2009-11-27
US20080250799A1 (en) 2008-10-16
EP1728031A1 (en) 2006-12-06
CN1930428A (en) 2007-03-14
CN1930428B (en) 2010-05-05
WO2005090878A1 (en) 2005-09-29
DE102004012498A1 (en) 2005-10-06
RU2006130847A (en) 2008-04-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8020392B2 (en) Refrigerating appliance
US5941085A (en) Refrigerator having an apparatus for defrosting
JP4954484B2 (en) Cooling storage
KR20140043292A (en) Cooling device and air conditioner with same
RU2233410C2 (en) Domestic refrigeration device
JP5178771B2 (en) Freezer refrigerator
US8555664B2 (en) Condenser/compressor fan control for refrigerator
KR100348068B1 (en) Controlling method of refrigerator
KR102610474B1 (en) Evaporating unit and refrigerator having the same
JP2005172303A (en) Refrigerator
JP2005156105A (en) Refrigerator
US11549740B2 (en) Refrigerator and controlling method for the same
JP5031045B2 (en) Freezer refrigerator
KR100886168B1 (en) Method for controlling operation of food storage
JP3399784B2 (en) Freezer refrigerator
CN110873491A (en) Refrigerator control method and refrigerator
KR20130008990A (en) Defrost device of refrigerator
JP2021143826A (en) refrigerator
KR20130110174A (en) Heat storage device and air conditioner using same
JP2012087995A (en) Drain evaporator
EP1111317B1 (en) Refrigerator
US10488102B2 (en) Household cooling appliance with an ice tray and a cooling device in a door
JP2007040666A (en) Control device of refrigerator
JP6937938B2 (en) refrigerator
WO2023284589A1 (en) Refrigerator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION