WO2009000640A1

WO2009000640A1 - Refrigeration device

Info

Publication number: WO2009000640A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/057201
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Gerd Keller; Renate Pradel
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2007-06-25
Filing date: 2008-06-10
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: DE102007029185A1; CN101688733B; RU2469246C2; EP2160551A1; RU2009147679A; CN101688733A

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device comprising a housing (7) enclosing an interior (71) and a fan assembly (1) which has a frame (2), a ventilator (3) mounted on said frame, and a cladding shell (4) adapted to separate the fan assembly (1) from a useful area of an interior (71) of the refrigeration device. The frame (2) has at least one guide element (21, 21') and the cladding shell (4) can be placed on the frame (2) by means of the guide element (21, 21').

Description

The refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator such as a refrigerator or freezer with a housing enclosing an interior and with a fan unit wherein the fan unit is mounted in the interior. Such a fan unit can e.g. serve to intensify an air flow over a heat exchanger surface, so as to improve the cooling effect of the heat exchanger, or to equalize the temperature distribution in this by mixing the air of the interior.

There are fan units for refrigerators known, which consist of a compact component and are fixedly mounted in the interior of the refrigerator. The fan unit may include an air filter, which must be replaced at regular intervals. To change the air filter, depending on the design of the fan assembly either the entire fan unit must be removed, or it must be provided on the housing of the fan unit an opening, for example, with an openable cover, which makes the air filter accessible for replacement. Both alternatives are disadvantageous. Tools are required to remove the entire fan assembly, and expertise is required to complete the removal. An opening with an associated cover on the housing of the fan unit requires design effort and increases the number of components.

Next fan units for refrigerators are known in which the fan unit is extended by an interior lighting to a fan-light combination that can be mounted as a pre-assembled module in the interior. In such a

Fan-light combination, at least the slot of the bulb must be accessible from outside the case, so that a defective bulb can be replaced. The above-mentioned problem of replacing the air filter for the fan can also exist here. Such a device is known for example from the patent ES 2 054 570 A2. The solution disclosed there provides a recess in the housing of the fan unit at the slot of the lamp, which is normally closed with a removable cover. The housing is firmly mounted on the interior of the refrigerator. A disadvantage of this solution is also the high design effort to provide the opening on the housing of the fan unit and a corresponding cover for this.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration device with a fan unit, in which replaceable parts inside the fan unit are easily accessible, and the number of components is minimized, so that the design complexity is not increased.

The object is achieved in that in a refrigeration device with a fan unit, which comprises a frame, a fan mounted on the frame and a cladding shell, which is adapted to separate the fan unit from a useful range of an interior of the refrigerator, the frame at least one guide rail has and the cladding shell along the guide rail on the frame can be plugged. The frame and the cladding shell of the fan assembly are designed as separate components, with replaceable wear parts of the fan unit can be mounted on the frame or on the cladding shell. The cladding shell can completely cover the frame and separate it from the interior. An attachment of the cladding shell on the guide rail can be made without tools. Since the cladding shell can be solved as a whole of the frame, in the cladding shell neither special openings for concealed wear parts, nor covers for these openings necessary, so that the design effort can be reduced.

Preferably, the cladding shell in the latched state on a movement margin along the guide rail. Pulling on the cladding shell thus does not yet cause the cladding shell to detach from the frame, but rather the cladding shell may yield slightly in the direction of the guide rail. This can also preclude accidental release of the lining shell For the optical design of the cladding shell, it is advantageous if the frame comprises a latching element, which engages from the inside into the cladding shell. As a result, the structure underlying the latching can be completely covered by the cladding shell.

Preferably, the locking element is exposed outside of the cladding shell. As a result, the locking element is also visible when the panel shell is mounted and gives a user immediately its function without the user having to consult a documentation. In particular, if the cladding shell as mentioned above has a range of motion, a movement of the cladding shell leads to a movement of the externally visible locking elements, whereby a user is intuitively pointed to their function.

Preferably, the latching element is simultaneously an actuating element for releasing the latching. As a result, the locking can be easily solved again, and a removal of the lining shell can also be done very easily without tools.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the frame is composed of several parts of a fan frame carrying the fan and an attached to an outside of the fan frame, an additional functional element supporting additional part. The fan unit, which always comprises a fan frame and a fan as a basic element, can be extended by a component which has an additional function, such as a lamp. Thus, more complex fan units can be assembled very easily modular, with different types of equipment can be realized, which differ in each case in the additional functional element and a correspondingly adapted variant of the cladding shell.

Preferably, in this case, the guide rail is formed by the fan frame and by the additional part. The cladding shell, which can be plugged onto the guide rail, thus receives an additional support on the additional part, so that even a conditional by the additional functional element enlarged cladding shell can be securely held on the frame. Here, the guide rail is divided in particular in the longitudinal direction, wherein a first part of the guide rail is formed by the fan frame and a second part of the guide rail through the additional part. The additional part can thus extend the guide rail.

In addition, it is particularly advantageous in a multi-part frame when the locking element is formed by the fan frame. Due to the fact that the fan unit comprises the fan frame as the basic element in all the different modularly assembled variants, the locking element on the fan frame can ensure the locking of the panel shell on all variants.

In particular, it is advantageous if in a refrigeration device with a housing enclosing an interior and a fan unit mounted in the interior, the cladding shell is held on the housing via the frame. Then, no additional mounting devices for the lining shell must be provided in the interior of the refrigerator, since only the frame carries the cladding shell. Overall, this minimizes the design effort.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic section through a refrigerator in which a fan unit is mounted, according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a fan assembly without a fairing shell, seen obliquely from the front;

Fig. 3 is a view of the fan unit of Figure 2, seen from above.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a cladding shell according to the invention; 5 shows a schematic section through the lining shell along a line B in FIG. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an extended with an additional functional element

Fan unit, without cover shell, seen at an angle from the front.

1 shows a schematic section through a refrigeration appliance, for example a refrigerator, in which a ventilator unit 1 is installed at an upper rear corner of an interior 71.

The fan unit 1 comprises a fan frame 2, a fan 3, which is mounted in the frame 2, and a cladding shell 4. The cladding shell 4 and the frame 2 form a housing for the fan 4. The fan 4 is preferably designed as an axial fan, which directed its air flow to a rear wall 73 of the interior 71. The fan frame 2 is fixed in any suitable manner, for example by latching in cut into a solid inner skin of a housing 7 of the refrigerator, in the position shown. The cladding shell 4, which surrounds the fan frame 2 closely, is attached to the fan frame 2.

An evaporator 74 is disposed in the rear wall 73 of the inner space 71, so that the air flow discharged from the fan unit 1 passes over a wall surface cooled by it. A compressor 75 is housed in a conventional manner in a rear niche of the refrigerator housing.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a fan assembly 1 without cladding shell, seen obliquely from the front. Shown is a fan frame 2, in which a fan 3 is mounted.

At a front side of the fan 3 is located on the frame 2, a filter support 23 in the form of a grate. On the filter support 23 a plurality of locking tongues 24 are formed, which serve as a holder for an air filter (not shown here), which is attached to the filter carrier 23 when needed. On an upper side of the frame 2 extend on both sides from a front edge of the frame 2 to about the center of the top two upwardly open grooves, which form two guide rails 21 and 21 'and are arranged parallel to each other. The interior of the frame 2 facing flanks 25, 25 'of the guide rails 21, 21' are each higher than the outside of the frame 2 facing flanks 26, 26 '. An upper edge of the flanks 25, 25 'is in each case aligned with the upper side of the frame 2.

On one side of the frame 2, a locking element 22 is formed, which has the shape of a square plate, is arranged parallel to the side of the frame 2 and protrudes from this. Also on an opposite side of the frame 2, a locking element 22 in the form and position corresponding locking element is formed, which is hidden in this view, and also protrudes from all other parts on its side of the frame 2.

In Fig. 3 is a view is shown, which shows the fan unit 1 of FIG. 2 from above. From the fan 3, a housing is visible, which surrounds a fan of the fan 3. The guide rails 21 and 21 'extend on both sides along a front part of the top of the frame 2 and are parallel to each other.

The latching elements 22, 22 'occupy a slightly oblique position relative to the guide rails 21, 21', the distance between two front edges of the latching elements 22, 22 ', which face the guide rails 21, 21', being smaller than the distance between two rear edges. The front edges protrude relative to the frame 2 via planes A, A ', which constitute a lateral boundary of the frame 2, by a distance which corresponds essentially to a wall thickness of the lining shell 4. The rear edges protrude a greater distance beyond the planes A, A '.

The locking elements 22, 22 'are connected via suspensions 27, 27' to the frame 2. The suspensions 27, 27 'are each formed by a pair of legs, of which a leg on the front and a leg at the rear edge of the locking elements 22, 22' is integrally formed. Each of the legs is divided into three sections, which merge into each other at transition points with very small wall thickness, so that the legs are flexible overall. The pairs of legs have seen from above a substantially X-shaped shape, with the legs do not touch at the crossing point of the X. By this shape of the suspensions 27, 27 ', the locking elements 22, 22' give a pressure on the same from the outside in the direction of the frame 2, and return to the starting position once the pressure subsides. In addition, they can yield elastically to a force acting parallel to the lines A, A '.

4 shows a side view of a cladding shell 4. The cladding shell 4 has two side walls 41, of which only one is visible in this view, and a front wall 45. An upper edge 43 of the side wall 41 is continuous in a curve a rear edge 44 of the side wall 41 via. This rounding is complementary to a rounding, on the ceiling 72 and rear wall 73 of the interior 71 merge into one another. The shape of the cowl 4 may vary, but the cowl 4 is always shaped to closely enclose the frame 2.

The side wall 41 has a recess 42 which has a substantially square shape and is disposed in an upper half of the side wall 41. The size and shape of the recess 42 corresponds to the outer contours of the locking element 22, which engages from the inside into the recess 42 and passes through it, when the lining shell 4 is attached to the frame 2.

FIG. 5 now shows a schematic section through the lining shell 4 along a line B in FIG. 4. At the upper edge 43, 43 'of the side walls 41, 41', transverse straps 46, 46 'are formed which extend from the side walls 41, 41 extend 'in an interior of the lining shell 4, and which each hold a rail 47, 47', which projects from the transverse brackets 46, 46 'substantially vertically downwards into the interior of the lining shell 4.

The rails 47, 47 'are shaped so that they can reach into them as a counterpart to the guide rails 21, 21' of the frame 2. Thus, when the cowling 4 is mounted on the frame 2, the transverse brackets 46, 46 'extend beyond the outer flanks 26, 26' of the guide rails 21, 21 'and the rails 47, 47' are spaced from the guide rails 21, 21 'and whose outer and inner flanks 26, 26 ', 25, 25' firmly enclosed. The length of the transverse straps 46, 46 'and the rails 47, 47' corresponds substantially to the length of the guide rails 21, 21 'on the frame 2.

When the frame 2 is mounted in the rear upper corner of the interior 71 of the refrigerator, the casing shell 4 is pushed from the front onto the frame 2, so that the rails 47, 47 'engage in the guide rails 21, 21'. When pushing the rear edge 44 of the lining shell 4 abuts the locking element 22, this differs due to its flexible suspension 27 on the one hand to the rear and on the other hand to the center of the frame 2 back out. At the latest when the rear edge 44 of the cladding shell 4 abuts against the rear wall 73, the locking element 22 moves into the recess 42 due to the bias of the suspension 27 and thus locks in it. When the fairing shell 4 is released, the suspension 27 also relaxes in the depth direction of the inner space 71 and slightly pushes the fairing shell 4 forward.

The inclination of the locking element 22 on the one hand when sliding the panel shell 4 facilitates the retraction of the locking element 22, on the other hand, the panel shell 4 is securely held in the mounted state by the protruding rear edge of the locking element 22.

The same applies to the second side wall, which limits the cladding shell 4 on its opposite side, wherein the locking element 22 'there cooperates with the recess 42'.

In the assembled state of the lining shell 4 on the frame 2 are upper sides of the transverse bar 46, 46 'and the upper edges of the inner flanks 25, 25' of the frame 2 on the ceiling 72 of the interior 71, so that the lining shell 4 from above through the ceiling 72 is fixed in the guide rails 21, 21 '. The fairing shell 4, however, is only by the arranged on the frame 2 guide rails 21, 21 'and the

Locking elements 22, 22 'held and is not additionally attached to the housing of the refrigerator.

To release the cladding shell 4 from the frame 2, pressure is exerted on the locking elements 22 and 22 'from both sides of the cladding shell 4. The Locking elements 22, 22 'soft in the recesses 42, 42' inwardly back and give the latch free. Thus, the cladding shell 4 again, guided by the guide rails 21, 21 ', are pulled off to the front of the frame 2. Since, on the one hand, the latching elements 22, 22 'are visible in the recesses 42, 42' of the lining shell 4 and, on the other hand, by moving in the recesses 42, 42 'when a user pulls on the lining shell 4, without the latching elements 22, 22'. the user is immediately alerted to the way in which the locking can be solved. Thus, this arrangement of the locking elements 22, 22 'facilitates intuitive handling, without first having to consult a manual.

The illustration in FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a fan assembly 1, which has been extended with an additional functional element, without a lining shell 4, seen obliquely from the front. The illustrated fan unit 1 comprises a fan frame 5 with a fan 3 and an additional part 6, which carries a lighting means 67. The fan unit 1 in Fig. 6 is thus a fan-light combination.

The fan frame 5 substantially corresponds to the frame 2 of FIG. 2 and comprises a guide rail 51, the inner and outer flanks 55 and 56, and a latching element 52. On the opposite side of the frame, the same elements are arranged, of which, however, in this illustration only an inner edge 55 'is visible. On a filter support 53, an air filter (not shown) can be attached.

The additional part 6 is attached to the fan frame 5, for example by plugging and locking. On the exact nature of the attachment will not be discussed here.

At the additional part 6 extend on an upper side on both sides of a rear edge of the additional part 6 forth two upwardly open grooves, which form two guide rails 61 and 61 'and are arranged parallel to each other. The guide rails 61, 61 'are bounded laterally by inner flanks 65, 65' and outer flanks 66, 66 '. The guide rail 61, together with its flanks 65, 66 directly adjoins the guide rail 51 of the fan frame 5 and its flanks 55, 56 and continues its cross-section, so that the guide rails 51 and 61 together form an elongated guide rail, wherein a first part through the guide rail 51 and a second part is formed by the guide rail 61. Analogously, on the opposite side of the fan unit 1, a guide rail arranged in parallel is formed by a first part (not visible in this illustration) on the fan frame 5 and a second part 61 'on the additional part 6. The inner edge 55 'on the fan frame 5 forms with the inner edge 65' on the additional part 6 an escape, as well as an outer edge of the guide rail (not shown) on the fan frame 5 with an outer edge 66 'on the additional part 6 is aligned.

The lining shell 4 (not shown) of the fan assembly 1 shown in Fig. 6 has over the representation in Fig. 4 has an elongated shape, which also covers the additional functional element. Along the upper edges of the side walls 41, 41 ', the brackets 46, 46' and rails 47, 47 'formed there also have an elongate shape which extends in total over the length of the composite guide rails 51, 61 and 51', 61 ', so that the elongated rails 47, 47 'engage substantially over their entire length in the assembled guide rails 51, 61 and 51', 61 'and hold the panel shell 4 to the extended fan unit 1.

The cutouts 42, 42 'on the extended lining shell 4 are arranged at the same position as shown in Fig. 4, since the locking element 52 and an opposite locking element (not visible) on the fan frame 5 in the extended fan unit 1, the same position relative to the Cladding shell 4 maintained as the locking elements 22, 22 'on the fan frame. 2

Even with the extended fan unit 1, the cover shell 4 requires no further attachment to the housing of the refrigerator, but is only held by the fan frame 5 and the additional part 6.

When the fairing shell 4 is removed, replaceable parts of the fan assembly 1 such as an air filter attached to the filter support 23, 53 or a light source 67 are easily accessible and can be replaced if necessary. The air filter is optional in the versions shown and may also be missing. However, the invention is also applicable to such fan units in which no air filter is provided from the outset. The device according to the invention not only has the advantage that the lining shell 4 can be easily attached and removed, but offers the possibility of cladding shells 4 in different versions for different refrigeration appliance models by the uniform structural design of the holder for the lining shell 4 on the fan frame 2, 5 use, without having to adjust the fan frame 2, 5 and without the housing of the refrigerator.

Claims

claims

1. Refrigerating appliance having a housing (7) surrounding an interior space (71) and a fan unit (1) mounted in the interior space (71), comprising a frame (2), a fan (3) mounted on the frame, and a lining shell (4) ) which is set up to separate the fan unit (1) from a usable area of an interior (71) of the refrigeration device, characterized in that the frame (2) has at least one guide element (21, 21 ') and the lining shell (4) by means of the guide element (21, 21 ') on the frame (2) can be plugged.

2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide element (21, 21 ') is designed as a guide rail.

3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the lining shell (4) in the latched state has a movement margin along the guide rail (21, 21 ').

4. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises a latching element (22, 22 ') which engages from the inside into the lining shell (4).

5. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the latching element (22, 22 ') on the outside of the cladding shell (4) exposed.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the

Locking element (22, 22 ') at the same time is an actuating element for releasing the locking.

7. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (2) consists of several parts of a fan (3) carrying the fan frame (5) and one on an outside of the fan rack (5) fixed, an additional functional element supporting additional part (6) is composed.

8. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide rail (21, 21 ') by the fan frame (5) and by the additional part (6) is formed.

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide rail (21, 21 ') is divided in the longitudinal direction, wherein a first part (51, 51') of the guide rail (21, 21 ') by the fan frame (5) is formed and a second part (61, 61 ') of the guide rail (21, 21') is formed by the additional part (6).

10. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the latching element (22, 22 ') by the fan frame (5) is formed.

11. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering shell (4) is held on the housing (7) via the frame (2).