WO2008080798A2

WO2008080798A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2008080798A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/063928
Authority: WO
Inventors: F. Alper Soysal; Hakan Tunca
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-12-29
Filing date: 2007-12-14
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: TR200903806T1; WO2008080798A3

Abstract

Cooling devices (1) comprising at least one vacuum insulated cabinet (2) having one inner wall (3) and one outer wall (4) that is closed vacuum tightly to the atmosphere after insulation material is filled in between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4). One or more heaters (5) are arranged in a cut out (12) disposed on the outer wall (4).

Description

Description A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device that comprises a vacuum insulated cabinet.

[0002] The cooling cabinet of particularly the cooling devices can be produced by using the vacuum insulated cabinets (VIC) formed by applying insulation material between the walls formed of plastic elements, shaped as desired by thermal processes and then closing these walls by vacuum tight closure. The use of vacuum insulated cabinets is well known for maintaining effective heat insulation in cooling devices with deep freezers wherein there is a big temperature difference between the interior and exterior environment.

[0003] The vacuum insulated cabinet is produced by filling in insulation materials such as glass fiber, silica, perlite, aerogel, extruded open cell polystyrene, open cell polystyrene, or recyclable urethane fiber (RUF) between the walls having various shapes by thermal processing and then closing vacuum tightly.

[0004] When the door is closed, moisture is formed on the frame that is partially in contact with the door because of the temperature difference between the cabin interior and the exterior environment. This moisture can freeze when the door is closed and result in the gasket disposed between the door and the frame to adhere to the frame. When the door is desired to be opened by the user, quite a lot of force needs to be exerted due to the adhesion and in some cases the gasket may be torn and damaged because of the excessive force exerted. In state of the art applications, this surface is heated by arranging a heater on the frame and the moisture formed thereon is prevented.

[0005] However in vacuum insulated cabinets, various problems are encountered in arranging heaters on the frame, because the heaters to be disposed on the vacuum insulated cabinets should be assembled in such a way that the insulation feature of the cabinet is not impaired and also the user should not be able to contact directly. Moreover, from the esthetic point of view, the heaters assembled on the cabinet are preferred to be concealed.

[0006] In state of the art United States of America Patent No US4114065, a refrigerator is explained wherein an arcuate recess containing the heaters placed therein is covered by a decorative band.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device whereby the heaters can be easily assembled on the vacuum insulated cabinet.

[0008] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a channel configured of a base and sides surrounding this base whereby the heaters can be disposed on the vacuum insulated cabinet and a lid covering this channel and the heaters placed in the channel. [0009] During the production of the vacuum insulated cabinet, the outer wall of the vacuum insulated cabinet is separated into two such that it stays on the same plane over the areas wherein the heaters are to be placed. The channel is disposed between these parts separated into two to remain between the outer wall and the inner wall.

[0010] Consequently, the heaters are easily assembled on the cabinet without impairing the insulation property of the vacuum insulated cabinet.

[0011] The lid prevents the heaters placed in the channel disposed on the outer surface of the vacuum insulated cabinets both from intervention of the user and also prevents the said heaters from being seen from the outside and extends over the channel covering the channel and the heaters placed therein.

[0012] In this embodiment, the channel is arranged on the outer wall without forming any kind of protrusion on the outer wall.

[0013] Consequently, both the heaters are placed on the vacuum insulated cabinets and intervention to the channel and the heaters placed therein from outside is prevented as well.

[0014] In this embodiment of the present invention, the channel is formed on the frame to which the gasket disposed on the door contacts.

[0015] By means of the present invention, channels are formed on the regions that the heaters will pass in the vacuum insulated cabinets such that the insulation property will not be impaired and the heaters can be carried to the desired section on the vacuum insulated cabinet.

[0016] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0017] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the cooling device of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the channel.

[0019] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of the channel and the outer wall whereon it is placed.

[0020] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the channel closed by a lid.

[0021] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Vacuum insulated cabinet

3. Inner wall

4. Outer wall

5. Heater

6. Channel

7. Lid

8. Frame

9. Sealing element

10. Base

11. Side 12. Cut out

[0022] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises at least one vacuum insulated cabinet (2) having one inner wall (3) and one outer wall (4) that is closed vacuum tightly to the atmosphere after insulation material is filled in between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and one or more doors preventing heat transfer between the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and the exterior surroundings when closed, and providing access of the user to the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) when opened.

[0023] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a gasket preferably made of plastic material, secured on the door, disposed between the outer wall (4) and the door minimizing the heat transfer between the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and the exterior surroundings when the door is closed in order to keep the temperature and pressure values of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) at the desired levels, providing to close the door such that air flow from the outside is not allowed inside the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and one or more heaters (5) arranged on the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) for preventing the gasket from adhering on the outer wall (4) (Figure 1).

[0024] The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises:

• a cut out (12) disposed on the outer wall (4) and

• a channel (6) arranged to remain between the outer wall (4) and the inner wall (3) without forming any protrusion on the outer wall (4),

• for connecting both zones of the cut out (12) [0025] (Figure 2).

[0026] The channel (6) comprises a base (10) and at least two opposite sides (11) that surround the said base (10). The channel (6) is situated along the cut out (12) opened on the outer wall (4) and the heaters (5) are disposed therein.

[0027] Thus the heaters (5) can be easily assembled on the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) without impairing the insulation property of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2). The channel is joined to the outer wall (4) by welding or a similar method (Figure 3).

[0028] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a lid (7) that covers the channel (6) and the heaters (5) arranged therein. The lid (7) extends along the channel (6) covering the channel (6) and the heaters (5) placed therein and prevents both the intervention of the user to the heaters (5) placed in the channel (6) disposed on the outer wall (4) of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and conceals the said heaters (5) from the outside (Figure 4).

[0029] Thus both the heaters (5) can be arranged on the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and also intervention from outside is prevented to the channel (6) and the heaters (5) disposed therein.

[0030] In this embodiment of the present invention, the outer wall (4) is separated into two by the cut out (12) at the regions wherein the heaters (5) will be positioned, and one portion of the cut out (12) separated into two is fixed to one side (11) of the channel (6) and the other is fixed to the side (11) opposite the former side (11) before con- figuring the vacuum insulated cabinet (2). Thus a channel (6) is formed on the outer wall (4) of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) that can be accessed inside. The channel (6) abuts on the outer wall (4) and the channel (6) remains between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4). In this position, vacuuming process can be performed such that the channel (6) remains between the inner wall (3) and the outer wall (4) and thus the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) is formed. The heaters (5) are disposed in the channel (6) thus formed and the lid (7) covers the channel (6) and the heaters (5) disposed therein. By means of the lid (7), formation of any recess / protrusion on the outer wall (4) of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) is prevented.

[0031] In this embodiment, the cooling device (1) comprises more than one sealing element (9) that provides leak-proofing between the sides (11) of the channel (6) and the outer wall (4). Thus leak-proofing is provided at the point wherein the outer wall (4) and the channel (6) are joined together and leak-proofing of the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) is enhanced.

[0032] In another embodiment of the cooling device (1), the outer wall (4) comprises a frame (8) on which the door rests when closed. The channel (6) is formed on the frame (8) disposed on the outer wall (4) to which the sealing element (9) on the door contacts.

[0033] By means of the present invention, the heaters (5) can be placed without impairing the insulation property of the vacuum insulated cabinets (2).

Claims

[0001] A cooling device (1) comprising at least one vacuum insulated cabinet

(2) having one inner wall (3) and one outer wall (4) that is closed vacuum tightly to the atmosphere after insulation material is filled in between the inner wall

(3) and the outer wall

(4) and one or more doors preventing heat transfer between the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and the exterior surroundings when closed, and providing access of the user to the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) when opened, a gasket providing to close the door such that air flow from the outside is not allowed inside the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) and one or more heaters

(5) arranged on the vacuum insulated cabinet (2) preventing the gasket from adhering on the outer wall (4), and characterized by - a cut out (12) disposed on the outer wall (4) and - a channel (6) disposed to remain between the outer wall (4) and the inner wall (3) without forming any protrusion on the outer wall (4), - for connecting both zones of the cut out (12).

[0002] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the channel (6) that is disposed along the cut out (12) opened on the outer wall (4).

[0003] A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the channel (6) configured of a base (10) and at least two opposite sides (11) surrounding the said base (10).

[0004] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the channel

(6) inside which the heater (5) is placed.

[0005] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a lid

(7) that covers over the channel (6).

[0006] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by one or more sealing elements (9) that provide leak-proofing between the sides (11) of the channel (6) and the outer wall (4).

[0007] A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the outer wall (4) comprising a frame (8) on which the door rests when closed and a channel (6) disposed on the frame (8).