WO2012022638A2

WO2012022638A2 - Refrigerator having an ice maker

Info

Publication number: WO2012022638A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/063553
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali Ihsan Topcu
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2010-08-19
Filing date: 2011-08-05
Publication date: 2012-02-23
Also published as: WO2012022638A3; DE102010039537A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerator (1) having an internal container (14) having an interior space (2) which can be cooled, an ice maker (9) which is arranged inside the interior space (2), a refrigeration apparatus for cooling the interior space (2), and a duct (15) which is provided to conduct air, which is cooled by the refrigeration apparatus, into the interior space (2) via a first opening (17) and to conduct the cooled air to the ice maker (9) via a second opening (18). The refrigerator (1) also has a closing apparatus (20) which is designed, depending on position, to close or at least partially open the second opening (18).

Description

Refrigeration unit with an icemaker

The invention relates to a refrigerator with an icemaker.

US 6,732,537 B1 discloses a household refrigerating appliance having an inner container with a coolable interior and a refrigerating device for cooling the interior. Within the interior, which is cooled to temperatures below freezing, an icemaker is arranged. In the rear wall of the household refrigerator, a distribution channel is arranged, which conducts cooled air from the refrigeration device through openings in the interior and to the icemaker. The opening provided for the icemaker is associated with a baffle that diverts the cooled air through the orifice associated with the icemaker.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigeration appliance with ice maker, which can be supplied via a channel with cooled air.

The object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device, having a

Inner container having a coolable interior space, an ice maker disposed inside the interior space, a refrigeration device for cooling the interior space, and a channel provided via a first opening of the refrigeration device cooled air into the interior and a second opening the cooled air to the To guide icemaker, as well as a closing device which is adapted depending on the position to close the second opening or at least partially open. The invention

Refrigeration appliance is in particular a household refrigerator. The coolable interior is particularly a freezer compartment, i. the interior is preferably on

Freezing temperatures, that is cooled to temperatures less than 0 ° C. The

Refrigeration appliance according to the invention is preferably a Haushaltsgefriergerät or a

Household refrigerating appliance with a freezer compartment such as a freezer-fridge combination.

According to the invention therefore comprises the refrigeration device, the channel through which the coolable interior is cooled. The channel is provided that of the refrigeration device, which is designed as a refrigeration cycle with an evaporator, for example, cooled air can flow through the channel and through the first opening into the interior. The icemaker needed Cooling or cooled air can also at least accelerate or support the production of the pieces of ice for producing pieces of ice. For this purpose, the second opening of the channel is provided, through which air cooled by the refrigeration device can also escape, in order to cool the icemaker, at least thereof

Ice making device, which is intended to receive water, which then freezes to pieces of ice. The refrigerator according to the invention further comprises the

Closing device which is adapted to close depending on the position of the second opening or at least partially open. This makes it possible to change the cooled air flow for the icemaker in a relatively simple manner. It is thus possible, as needed, to supply the icemaker with cooled air via the second opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the invention, this has a control device which is set up to operate the closing device in the position in which this air passes at least partially through the second opening when the ice maker is currently producing ice pieces, and / or then

To operate closing device in the position in which it closes the second opening when the icemaker is currently producing no pieces of ice. If the ice maker is not currently producing ice pieces, then according to this embodiment it is possible to close the second opening, for example to close the second opening. to guide the entire cooled air into the interior, which has a positive effect on the cooling of the interior. In addition, due to the closable second opening, it is possible to prevent air circulation e.g. in a

Storage device of the ice maker to store the pieces of ice to reduce or even prevent, whereby the stored ice pieces shrink less, since they are less moisture removed. The closing device may preferably be arranged to guide the cooled air at least partially through the second opening in one of its positions. According to this embodiment, the closing device is also designed as a diverting device, which at least partially conducts the cooled air through the second opening in the relevant position. As a result, if necessary, the cooling of the ice maker can be improved, whereby, for example, the speed of Eisstückherstellung can be increased. The closing device may preferably be part of the ice maker or at least partially disposed outside the channel. As a result, costs for the assembly of the refrigeration device according to the invention can be reduced.

According to another preferred variant of the refrigerator according to the invention, the closing device has a pivotable flap, which is pivotable between the positions. The flap can in particular be controlled by a control device of the refrigeration device or the ice maker by means of an adjusting device, in particular by means of an electric motor, between the positions to be pivotable. Such

Embodiment can be relatively easily implemented.

Thus, the flap in one of its positions, the cooled air at least partially passes through the second opening, this may preferably be formed such that it pivots in at least one of the positions at least partially into the channel. The inner container may form an inner wall of the channel in which the second opening is arranged. The flap may be pivotable relative to an axis which extends in or near the surface formed by the inner wall. Thus, it is possible in a relatively simple manner that the flap closes the second opening in one of its positions. The remote from the axis end of the flap can touch in one of the positions opposite the second opening extending inner wall of the channel. In this position, it is then possible to pass the entire cooled air of the channel through the second opening, whereby the production of ice cubes can be shortened by the icemaker.

Depending on the embodiment, the refrigerating appliance according to the invention provides an icemaker or ice maker with air guidance, in particular with a motorized flap. For example, in order to increase the time unit per piece of ice produced, the air duct with the aid of the closing device, in particular in the form of a motorized flap, can be controlled so that, if required, the entire air flow in the channel, ie the entire cooled air, is directed to the ice maker. It can also be provided that the entire air flow is directed into the interior. Thus, the refrigeration device according to the invention optionally has an icemaker with its own, controllable air supply. In order to direct the air flow, ie to guide the cooled air, depending on the embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention, the closing device, which is designed in particular as a diverter, used, which is switchable in at least two positions. The closing device or diverter optionally comprises an electrically controlled motorized flap which the

Air duct of the ice maker is assigned. The closing device or

Diverter may for example be part of the icemaker.

The closing device or diverting device, for example the motorized flap, can be controlled by the ice maker in order, in particular, preferably to open the air supply at its maximum, if necessary, or to close it completely. Preferably, the motorized flap can be integrated into the ice maker.

The flap may e.g. be controlled stepwise by means of a stepper motor. The flap may e.g. have the position "half open", "fully open" or "completely close." The closing device can also be designed purely mechanical.

Advantages of the refrigeration device according to the invention can be: - A need-based increase ice-cream production can be achieved.

- It can be a targeted, possibly even an optimized air flow to

Ice maker can be achieved.

- If necessary, the motorized flap can be controlled by the icemaker.

- Has the icemaker currently finished its production of pieces of ice or is the

Ice maker off, then it may be possible by means of the closing device to close the second opening. As a result, the entire cooled air can be conducted into the interior of the refrigerator according to the invention, whereby the

Cooling of the interior can be improved. While the icemaker is switched off, the air supply to the icemaker can also be reduced or even switched off. As a result, an air circulation, for example, in a storage device of the ice maker for storing the pieces of ice reduced or even prevented, causing the pieces of ice to shrink less. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a household refrigeration device in a perspective view, Figures 2, 3 is a side view of a portion of the household refrigeration appliance in cut

Depictions and

Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a portion of the household refrigerator. FIG. 1 shows a household refrigerating appliance 1 as an example of a refrigerating appliance in a perspective illustration. Figures 2 and 3 show a side view of a portion of the household refrigerator 1 in sectional views.

The household refrigerator 1 is in the case of the present embodiment, a freeze-refrigeration combination in the form of a so-called side-by-side device. The

Domestic refrigeration appliance 1, which is designed in particular as a no-frost device, has a body or a housing with a heat-insulating inner container 14. The inner container 14 is divided into a freezer compartment 2 and a cooling space 3 arranged next to the freezer compartment 2. The freezer compartment 2 is used for example for

Freezing frozen food at e.g. about minus 18 degrees Celsius.

The household refrigerating appliance 1 further comprises a non-illustrated, the skilled person in principle, however, known refrigeration device for cooling the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator 3, which is controlled by a control device, not shown, so that the refrigerator 2 and the freezer compartment 3 at least approximately in advance have set target temperature. The refrigeration device comprises e.g. one or more refrigeration circuits, e.g. one or more evaporator, condenser, etc. have.

The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 has two door leaves 4, 5 hinged to the housing by means of hinges for closing the freezer compartment 2 or the refrigerator compartment 3. When the door leaves 4, 5 open, the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3 are accessible. On the directed towards the refrigerator compartment 3 side of the door provided for closing the refrigerator compartment 3 door leaf 5 and on the directed towards the freezer compartment 2 side of the for closing the freezer compartment 2 provided door leaf 4 a plurality of door racks 6 are arranged in the case of the present embodiment.

In the case of the present embodiment, a plurality of shelves 7 are arranged one above the other in the cooling space 3 and the freezer compartment 2, on which refrigerated goods or frozen goods can be stored. In addition, several drawers 8 are provided for storing refrigerated goods or frozen food in the refrigerator 3 and in the freezer compartment 2.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerator 1 has an ice maker 9, which is arranged inside the freezer compartment 2. The ice maker 9 comprises e.g. an ice-making device 10 shown in Figures 2 and 3, which is adapted to produce pieces of ice, e.g. in a storage device of

Eisbereiters 9 are stored, if necessary from a. can be removed in the door leaf 4 of the freezer compartment 2 arranged issue 11 with the door closed 4. The ice-making device 10 includes e.g. several chambers for receiving from the water, which freezes to the ice pieces, as is in principle known to those skilled in the art.

In the case of the present embodiment run in the housing of the

Domestic refrigerating appliance 1, in particular in the rear wall 12 of the housing a plurality of channels 13, 15, are passed through the cooled by the refrigeration device, in particular by the evaporator air into the freezer compartment 2 and the cooling chamber 3. The channels 13, 15 run in particular behind the inner container 14 and in particular in the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 4 is illustrated. The cooled air flows

for example, from the evaporator via the channels 13, 15 in the arrow directions of arrows 16 shown in FIG. 2 and through openings 17 of the inner container 14 in the freezer compartment 2 and in the refrigerator compartment 3. The openings 17 are in particular in the lower region of the freezer compartment 2 and ., The refrigerator 3 arranged.

In order for the water filled into the ice making device 10 during operation of the ice maker 9 to freeze or accelerate this freezing process, at least one of the channels 15 has an opening 18 arranged in the region of the ice maker 9 in the inner container 14, through the air also cooled by the evaporator can flow. This is illustrated in FIG. 3 by means of arrows 19. In the case of the present Embodiment, the opening 18 for the ice maker 9 relative to

Ice making device 10 arranged such that the for the ice maker 9th

provided opening 18 is disposed above the ice-making device 10, so that provided for the ice maker 9 cooled air over the

Ice making device 10 flows.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerating appliance 1 has a closing device 20 for at least partially closing the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9. This is in particular also designed as a diverting device which, in a state shown in FIG. 3, diverts the cooled air originating from the evaporator in the direction of the arrows 19 through the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the closing device 20 closes the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9 so that the cooled air coming from the evaporator flows through the entire channel 15 and through the opening provided in the lower part of the domestic refrigerator 1 into the freezer compartment 2 flows.

In the case of the present embodiment, the closing device 20 is designed as a pivotable flap 21, which is e.g. can be adjusted by means of an electric motor 22. The flap 21 is arranged relative to the inner container 14 such that on the one hand in the state shown in FIG. 2 it closes the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9, in particular completely closes it. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the flap 21 is in the channel 15 by means of the electric motor 22

pivoted, in particular pivoted completely into the opening 18 for the

To open Einsicker 9 and in particular to divert cooled air through the opening 18. It can also be provided that the flap 21 pivots only partially into the channel 15 in order to guide the cooled air only partially through the provided for the ice maker 9 opening 18 so that a part of the cooled air provided by the for the freezer compartment 2 Opening 17 can flow. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the closing device 20, in particular the electric motor 22, is controlled by a control device 23 of the ice maker 9, which may be separate from the control device of the household refrigerating appliance 1 or is part of this control device, as follows: If ice pieces are currently to be produced by means of the ice making device 10, ie if the water in the chambers is to freeze into ice pieces, the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9 is opened by the control device 23 of the ice maker 9 driving the electric motor 22 so that the flap 21 pivots into the channel 15 into it.

If the ice maker 9 is currently not producing ice pieces, the control device 23 controls the electric motor 22 in such a way that the flap 21 closes the opening 18 provided for the ice maker 9.

Claims

Refrigerating appliance, in particular household refrigerating appliance, having an inner container (14) with a coolable interior (2), one inside the interior (2)

arranged ice maker (9), a cooling device for cooling the interior (2), and a channel (15), which is provided via a first opening (17) of the cooling device cooled air in the interior (2) and via a second opening (18) to guide the cooled air to the ice maker (9), characterized by a closing device (20) which is arranged to close or at least partially open the second opening (18) depending on the position.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized by a control device (23) which is arranged to then operate the closing device (20) in the position in which this air at least partially passes through the second opening (18) when the ice maker (9) currently producing pieces of ice, and / or then the

Closing device (20) in the position in which it closes the second opening (18) when the ice maker (9) currently does not produce pieces of ice.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the

Closing device (20) is arranged to redirect the cooled air in one of its positions at least partially through the second opening (18).

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closing device (20) part of the ice maker (9) or at least partially outside the channel (15) is arranged.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closing device (20) comprises a pivotable flap (21) which is pivotable between the positions, wherein in particular the flap (21) controlled by a control device (23) of the refrigerating device ( 1) or the ice maker (9) by means of an adjusting device (22), in particular by means of an electric motor, between the positions is pivotable.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the flap (21) in at least one of the positions at least partially in the channel (15)

into pans. 7. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the inner container (14) forms an inner wall of the channel (15), in which the second opening (18) is arranged, and the flap (21) is pivotable with respect to an axis, which extends in or near the surface formed by the inner wall. 8. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that of the axis

the distal end of the flap (15) in one of the positions of an opposite the second opening (18) extending inner wall of the channel (15) touched.