WO2009027436A2

WO2009027436A2 - A cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2009027436A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/061227
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semih Erol; Alper Mirza; Osman Vardar
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2007-08-31
Filing date: 2008-08-27
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Also published as: WO2009027436A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to drawer-type cooling devices (1) wherein a cooling or freezing volume is separated by drawers (3) placed on top of one another without a wall therebetween.

Description

A COOLING DEVICE

[0001] The present invention relates to a drawer-type cooling device.

[0002] The drawer-type cooling devices are devices wherein a cooling or freezing volume is separated by drawers placed on top of one another without a wall therebetween. Access to inside of the cooling device is maintained by pulling the drawer outward, loading and unloading therein can be performed when the drawer is pulled out.

[0003] Gaskets that surround the cover are provided behind each drawer cover. A beam or beams are provided between the drawers, whereto these gaskets bear against, insulating the cooling volume from the outside. When the drawer is closed, the gasket bears against the beam and sealing is maintained.

[0004] These beams connect the two side walls at the front of the body and do not separate the cooling volume into two, only forming a surface whereto the gaskets bear against when the drawers are closed for providing insulation of the cooling volume. Thus, in a cooling volume, for example two drawers can exist in the same cooling conditions.

[0005] In the implementations known in the technique, the said beam is stationary. The cooling volume is reduced and the loading or unloading operation is made difficult due to the fact that the beam is stationary.

[0006] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP911315, a drawer-type refrigerator is explained. In this implementation, the beam is secured to the drawer cover and the beam does not pose an obstacle for the user in loading and unloading by moving together with the drawer. When the drawer is closed, the beam is seated on the locking mechanisms formed on the side wall.

[0007] In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No JP8271132, a beam is explained that moves together with the drawer as well.

[0008] In both implementations known in the technique, use of various locking mechanisms on the body side walls is required so that the beam moving together with the drawer can be seated when the drawer is closed for providing sealing, and this causes various difficulties in maintaining full sealing. Moreover, in this type of implementations, when the drawer is pulled out, the beam is rotated around its own axis in order to release the beam from the closed lower drawer since the beam is secured underneath the drawer. Using this type of mechanisms is both costly and also increases labor costs.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a drawer-type cooling device wherein the cooling volume is increased by the beam that is made movable.

[0010] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is a drawer-type wherein more than one drawer is provided, disposed in the vertical direction in the cooling or freezing volume and comprises at least one beam that moves from the front of the body towards the body side wall to be concealed as the drawer is pulled out and a movement mechanism that moves the beam.

[0011] The movement mechanism transmits the force applied on the drawer to the beam by means of the transmitter and changes the orientation and direction of the beam from the front of the body towards the side by means of the guide.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, a cord like transmitter and a bobbin shaped guide are used. Thus, the direction of the force applied on the drawer by the user is changed by means of the guide and the beam can move with the force delivered by the transmitter.

[0013] In this embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism comprises one guide each at the front and rear of the body side wall. Direction is changed by moving around the guides, and the transmitter is wound over the coil spring situated on the other side wall. Thus, the transmitter that can only counteract for the pulling force is enabled to also counteract for the thrust forces.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, a chain-like transmitter comprises a cogwheel type guide suitable for this chain.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the beam is produced of a resilient material such that the movement from the front of the body to the side is not hindered. [0016] By means of the present invention, the beam is prevented from hindering the access of the user into the body when the drawer is pulled out of the body. [0017] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0018] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device when the drawers are in the body. [0019] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of the beam and the movement mechanism when in front of the body. [0020] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the cooling device when the drawers are pulled out of the body. [0021] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the beam and the movement mechanism when the drawer is out of the body. [0022] Figure 5 - is the top view of detail D in Figure 4. [0023] Figure 6 - is the schematic view of the cooling device when the drawers are in the body. [0024] Figure 7 - is the schematic view of the cooling device when one of the drawers is in the body and the other is out of the body. [0025] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Drawer

4. Cover

5. Beam

6. Gasket

7. Movement mechanism

8. Transmitter

9. Guide

10. Coil spring

[0026] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), at least two drawers (3) disposed vertically in the body (2) for storing food items therein, a cover (4) allowing the drawer (3) to be pulled out of the body (2) for accessing inside, and a resilient/bendable beam (5) disposed between the drawers (3) whereto the cover (4) bears against when the drawer (3) is in the body (2) and a movement mechanism (7) that allows the beam (5) to move between the front and side wall of the body (2) depending on the movement of the drawer (3). [0027] The movement mechanism (7) comprises,

- a transmitter (8), with one end fastened to the drawer (3), whereon the beam (5) is mounted, providing the beam (5) to move from the front to the side or from the side to the front of the body (2) depending on the movement of the drawer (3),

- a coil spring (10) whereto the other end of the transmitter (8) is secured, that rotates around its own axis for winding the transmitter (8) thereon and

- more than one guide (9) secured on the side walls that changes the orientation and direction of the beam (5) depending on the pulling or pushing of the drawer (3).

[0028] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a gasket (6) arranged peripherally behind each drawer (3) cover (4).

[0029] In this embodiment of the present invention, when the drawer (3) is pulled out of the body (2) by the user, this movement reaches the beam (5) mounted on the transmitter (8). The guide (9) provides the movement of the drawer (3) to be transmitted to the beam (5) in the most suitable orientation and direction. The transmitter (8) is activated by the movement of the drawer (3). For example, when the drawer (3) is pulled out of the body (2), the transmitter (8) is activated and the beam (5) on the transmitter (8) is turned 90° from the front of the body (2) by means of the guides (9), moving towards the side of the body (2). When the drawer (3) is pulled out of the body (2), the beam (5) has moved from the front of the body (2) to a position at the side (Figure 1 and Figure 3).

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (7) comprises cord like transmitters (8) and bobbin shaped guides (9) whereon the transmitters (8) are wrapped or go around. One end of the cord-like transmitter (8) is attached to the cover (4) of the drawer (3) and the other end to the coil spring (10) on the side wall of the body (2) and extends between the guides (9) from the side wall of the body (2) towards the front of the body (2). The transmitter (8) extends parallel to the body

(2) side wall from the drawer (3) cover (4) to the guide (9) at the rear of the body (2) side wall. The transmitter (8) changes direction after moving around the said guide (9) and extends, again parallel, in the opposite direction up to the guide (9) in the front of the same side wall. The transmitter (8) changing both direction and orientation by again moving around the guide (9) here, this time extends upright up to the coil spring (10) on the other side wall and is secured to the coil spring (10). Thus, the movement of the beam (5) starting from the front of the body (2) by the pulling out of the drawer (3) is changed 90° by means of the guides (9) and is completed by passing to the side of the body (2). Since the cord-like transmitter (8) supports only the pulling force, the coil spring (10) whereto the other end of the transmitter (8) is secured, provides the transmitter (8) to wind thereon (Figure 2 and Figure 4). In this embodiment of the present invention, when the drawer (3) is inside the body (2), the beam (5) is at the front of the body (2) between the side walls, extending from one side wall to the other. In this position, the gasket (6) disposed peripherally on the drawer (3) cover (4) contacts on the beam (5) and heat transfer between the inner volume of the body (2) and the outside is prevented (Figure 7). Moreover, in this position, some portion of the transmitter (8) is wrapped on the coil spring (10). When the drawer (3) is pulled out of the body (2) by the user, the coil spring (10) uncoils, and the transmitter (8) with one end fastened to the drawer (3) cover (4) moves together with the beam (5) thereon. During this movement, the beam (5) moves together with the transmitter (8) from the front to the side of the body (2) (Figure 5 and Figure 6). When the pulling operation of the drawer

(3) out from the body (2) is completed by the user, the beam (5) has passed to the side of the body (2) without forming a barrier at the front of the body (2) (Figure 8). In this position, only the side of the transmitter (8) secured initially on the coil spring (10) extends from one side wall to the other. When the drawer (3) is desired to be placed into the body (2), this time the drawer (3) is pushed by the user inwards the body (2). In this position, the transmitter (8) starts to wind around the coil spring (10) and the beam (5) passes from the side to the front of the body (2). When the drawer (3) is entirely placed inside the body (2), the beam (5) extends from one side wall to the other. Thus, sealing is provided by means of the beam (5) forming a surface whereon the gaskets (6) behind the cover (4) are seated.

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement mechanism (7) comprises a chain-like transmitter (8) and cogwheel type guide (9) conforming to the chain.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the beam (5) is produced of a resilient material. Thus the beam (5) provides the beam (5) to bend approximately 90° while passing from the front of the body (2) to the side wall.

[0034] By means of cooling device (1 ) of the present invention, more drawer (3) space is attained and an unused space behind the beam (5) is presented for the utilization of the user.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) that comprises a body (2), at least two drawers (3) disposed vertically in the body (2) for storing food items therein, a cover (4) allowing the drawer (3) to be pulled out of the body (2) and for accessing inside, and characterized by a resilient/bendable beam (5) disposed between the drawers (3) whereto the cover (4) bears against when the drawer (3) is in the body (2) and a movement mechanism (7) that allows the beam (5) to move between the front and side wall of the body (2) depending on the movement of the drawer (3).

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by a movement mechanism (7) comprising a transmitter (8), with one end fastened to the drawer (3), whereon the beam (5) is mounted, providing the beam (5) to move from the front to the side or from the side to the front of the body (2) depending on the movement of the drawer (3), a coil spring (10) whereto the other end of the transmitter (8) is secured, that rotates around its own axis for winding the transmitter (8) thereon and more than one guide (9) secured on the side walls that changes the orientation and direction of the beam (5) movement depending on the pulling or pushing of the drawer (3).

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by cord-like transmitters (8) and bobbin-like guides (9) whereon the transmitters (8) are wrapped or go around.

4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by chain-like transmitters (8) and cogwheel type guides (9) conforming to the chain.