WO2012076487A2

WO2012076487A2 - Refrigeration appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2012076487A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/071835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Xiupeng Chen; Songtao Lu; Jiangwen Zhang; Weizhong Zhu
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2011-12-06
Publication date: 2012-06-14
Also published as: WO2012076487A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance (1) comprises a storage compartment (2, 3) and an air guiding plate (10) disposed in the storage compartment (2, 3), the air guiding plate (10) comprising at least one group of outlet openings (15) for discharging cooling air to the storage compartment (2, 3), and each group of outlet openings (15) being composed of a plurality of outlet openings (15), characterized in that the plurality of outlet openings (15) are aligned along an arc, so that the cooling air enters into the storage compartment (2, 3) divergently through these outlet openings (15).

Description

REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Technical Field

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, such as a household refrigerator, a wine cooler, a freezer, and the like.

Background Art

In order to obtain a uniform temperature distribution in a storage compartment of a refrigeration appliance, it is known to provide an air circulation device for the storage compartment. Chinese utility model CN2515612Y discloses a cooling air deflection device which comprises a substantially "L" shaped deflection plate/air guiding plate which is disposed directly proximal to a top wall and a back wall of the storage compartment for defining an air passage therewith. The air guiding plate comprises a horizontal top plate which has a front end provided with a discharge opening for discharging cooling air, and a vertical plate which is provided with a plurality of outlet openings. Under the driving force of a fan, air in the storage compartment enters into the air passage through the plurality of outlet openings, and is then cooled directly or indirectly by an evaporator. After that, the air is discharged into the storage compartment from the top portion of the storage compartment through the discharge opening.

Further, in a solution disclosed in Chinese patent CN1254652C, a cooling air passage on a top portion of a storage compartment comprises a bottom wall which is formed with several groups of outlet openings for outputting an air flow downwards. These outlet openings are substantially parallel to the moving direction of the cooling air because the cooling air is moved forwards, and thus the air discharging volume is low. Further, the outlet openings in each group are aligned along a straight line, which design is disadvantage to the spreading of the cooling air in a certain area and thus negatively affects the refrigerating efficiency. Summary of the Invention

An object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration appliance in which the refrigerating efficiency can be advantageously increased.

For this end, the invention in one aspect relates to a the refrigeration appliance which comprises a storage compartment and an air guiding plate disposed in the storage compartment, the air guiding plate comprising at least one group of outlet openings for discharging cooling air to the storage compartment, and each group of outlet openings being composed of a plurality of outlet openings, characterized in that the plurality of outlet openings are aligned along an arc, so that the cooling air enters into the storage compartment divergently through these outlet openings.

In this way, the cooling air can enter into the storage compartment divergently through the outlet openings which are orientated in different directions, which benefits the spreading of the cooling air in the storage compartment, especially in a particular space (such as in a container which is disposed in the storage compartment), so that heat exchange efficiency between cold and warm spaces can be improved and the refrigerating efficiency can be increased. On the other hand, such a design is also advantageous for preventing any high-temperature dead area from being created in the storage compartment, so that the storage compartment may have a more uniform temperature distribution.

Other features of the invention, which are disclosed here individually or in combination with other correlated features, will be described in the following technical solutions.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of outlet openings are distributed in an arc-shaped wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wall is substantially perpendicular to the flowing direction of the cooling air.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet openings are secondary outlet openings.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration appliance further comprises a main outlet opening at a front end of the air guiding plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of outlet openings discharge the cooling air to the storage compartment from a top portion of the storage compartment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outlet openings which are aligned along an arc are located substantially in a middle area of the storage compartment in a front-to-back direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration appliance further comprises a container in the storage compartment, and the outlet openings which are aligned along an arc are located corresponding to a middle portion and/or a middle-to-back portion of the container.

The structural details and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more comprehensively understood by reading the description to preferred embodiments below with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The drawings, which form a portion of the specification and provide further understanding to the invention, show some preferred embodiments of the invention and disclose the principle of the invention together with the detailed description, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial assembled view of a refrigeration appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein an outer shell and an insulation material of the refrigeration appliance are not shown;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an air guiding plate according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the air guiding plate shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line A-A in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along a line B-B in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

With reference to the drawings, especially with reference to Figure 1 first, a refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a storage compartment 24 for storing foods, the storage compartment 24 being defined by an inner shell 21. The storage compartment 24 is enclosed by thermally insulated walls. The thermally insulated walls define an inner shell 21, an outer shell (not shown) surrounding the inner shell, and a thermal insulation material (not shown) between the inner and outer shells.

As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the interior of the storage compartment 24 is divided by a vertical separation wall 4 into a first storage chamber 2 and a second storage chamber 3 which are arranged side by side. In the present embodiment, the first storage compartment 2 and the second storage compartment 3 closed by a common door 50. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 can be closed by respective doors.

The separation wall 4 is provided with many through holes 28 for establishing fluid communication between the first and second storage chambers 2 and 3, so that the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 may have substantially the same storing temperature therein.

The first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 are each provided with at least one container 31 for storing items. A moisture retaining unit 29 may be provided in the second storage chamber 3, so that the second storage chamber is particularly suitable for storing vegetables, fruits, or similar foods. The moisture retaining unit 29 is arranged in an upper portion of the container 31, for retaining the moisture of items stored in the container 31 inside the container 31. In this way, the storage compartment 24 is divided in a lateral direction into a "dry area" (the first storage compartment) and a "wet area" (the second storage compartment) which are arranged side by side.

As shown in Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 6, the refrigeration appliance 1 comprises an evaporator 30 which can perform heat exchange with the storage compartment 24 (including both the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3). The evaporator 30 comprises a refrigerant pipe and a heat conductive element arranged in close contact with the refrigerant pipe. In the present embodiment, the heat conductive element is in the form of a plate which covers nearly the whole back wall 32 of the storage compartment 24. The evaporator 30 may be arranged on a side of the back wall 32 of the storage compartment 24 which faces towards the thermal insulation layer, and the evaporator abuts closely against the back wall 32 to cool the back wall 32, so that the back wall 32 forms a cooling surface. In another embodiment, the evaporator 30 may be provided on the inner side of the back wall 32 within the storage compartment 24, so that the evaporator 30 itself forms a cooling surface.

In order to lower down the temperature gradients in the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3, the refrigeration appliance 1 comprises an air circulation device for drawing out air from the first and second storage chambers 2 and 3, cooling the air directly or indirectly by means of the evaporator, and then supplying the cooled air into the first and second storage chambers 2 and 3 again. The air circulation device comprises an air guiding plate 10 for forming an air passage 5 and a fan 6 disposed in the air passage 5.

With reference to Figure 2 to Figure 6, in this embodiment, the air guiding plate 10 comprises a top plate 13 which is located near a common top wall 12 of the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 of the storage compartment 24 and is separated from the top wall 12 by a distance. The air guiding plate 10 further comprises a back plate 33 bending from the back end of the top plate 13 and extending downwards. The back plate 33 is proximal to the back wall 32 and is separated from the back wall 32 by a distance. In this way, the air passage 5 extends from a gap between the back plate 33 and the back wall 32 to a gap between the top plate 13 and the top wall 12. Lateral edges of the top plate 13 and the back plate 33 may comprise spacing walls 34 extending towards the top wall 12 and the back wall 32 respectively, so that the above described gaps are formed between the air guiding plate 10 and the inner shell 21.

The top plate 13 and the back plate 33 may be substantially perpendicular to each other, so that the air guiding plate 10 forms a substantially "L" shape in cross section. In the present embodiment, the back plate 33 covers a majority of the back wall 32. A gap existed between a lower end of the back plate 33 and the bottom walls of the first storage compartment 2 and the second storage compartment 3 forms a back flow port 41. The back flow port 41 is proximal to the bottom wall of the storage compartment 24. It is understood that, in other embodiments, the back plate 33 may cover only a portion of the back wall 32. For example, it is possible that the back plate 33 covers a small portion near an upper end of the back wall 32 or covers an upper half portion of the back plate 33.

The top plate 13 comprises a pair of substantially plate-like main bodies 35 exposed above the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 respectively, and a middle portion 36 between the pair of main bodies 35.

The main bodies 35 are substantially parallel to the top wall 12 and extend in horizontal directions. The air passage 5 comprises a first branch 8 and a second branch 9, which are formed between the top wall 12 of the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 and corresponding main bodies 35, for transferring cooling air into the storage chambers 2 and 3 respectively. In the present embodiment, the first branch 8 and the second branch 9 are symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central normal plane of the top plate 13.

The middle portion 36 comprises a protrusion part 11 protruded downwards. The protrusion part 11 is located in a back portion of the middle portion 36. The protrusion part 11 comprises a space 38 having an open upper end. The space 38 is in fluid communication with the first branch 8 and the second branch 9. A back end of the space 38 is open into the back plate 33. Thus, the space 38 is in fluid communication with a portion of the air passage 5 between the back plate 33 and the back wall 12. After having been cooled by the cooling surface, air can enter into the space 38 via the opening of the space 38 in the back plate 33.

The separation wall 4 is substantially plate like, with the upper end of the separation wall 4 connected to the under side of the middle portion 36. The separation wall 4 is provided with a recessed space 7 for accommodating the protrusion part 11. The recessed space 7 is recessed downwards from the back portion of the upper end of the separation wall 4. In the present embodiment, the separation wall 4 has a reduced height in its back portion for forming the notch-like recessed space 7.

The fan 6 is accommodated in a back end of the protrusion part 11. Since the protrusion part 11 is protruded into the recessed space 7, the fan 6 is at least partly accommodated in the recessed space 7.

The fan 6 blows air in a front direction. When the fan 6 is operated, cooling air, which has been cooled by the evaporator 30, is drawn by the fan 6 into the space 38 and is forced to flow forwards. Then, the cooling air enters into the first branch 8 and the second branch 9 from opposite sides of the space 38 respectively, and then enters into corresponding one of the storage chambers 2 and 3 via the outlet openings 14 in the front end of each of the main bodies 35.

By means of the air passage 5, a negative pressure is established near the cooling surface, and thus the air in the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 leaves the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 from the back flow port 41 at the lower end of the back plate 33 and enters into the portion of the air passage 5 which is behind the back plate 33, so that the air is cooled by means of heat exchange with the evaporator 30. Then, the cooled air is drawn by the fan 6 into the space 38 again, is then divided from the space 38 and flows into the first branch 8 and the second branch 9, and is finally supplied into the first storage chamber 2 and the second storage chamber 3 respectively. In this way, compulsory air circulation is established.

In addition to the main outlet openings 14 in the front end of the air guiding plate 10, the air circulation system may further comprise at least one group of secondary outlet openings 15 between the fan and the main outlet openings 14.

These secondary outlet openings 15 are disposed in substantially middle areas of the storage compartments 2 and 3 in a front-to-back direction. The cooling air are blown into the containers 31 in the first storage compartment 2 and the second storage compartment 3 through the secondary outlet openings 15. The secondary outlet openings 15 may be provided to face towards middle areas and/or the middle-to-back areas of the containers 31.

The top plate 13 comprises indentations 42 recessed downwards. Each of the indentations 42 has a side wall 43 extending in the vertical direction, with a corresponding sub-group of the secondary outlet openings 15 formed through the side wall 43. The secondary outlet openings 15 are orientated to form an angle with a horizontal plane. In the present embodiment, the side wall 43 is substantially perpendicular to the flowing direction of the cooling air. Thus, when the cooling air is blown forwards, it is easier for the flow of the cooling air, which moves substantially parallel to a horizontal plane, to enter into corresponding one of the storage compartments 2 and 3 from the secondary outlet openings 15, which helps to increase the cooling air intake volume in the middle areas and/or the middle-to-back areas of the storage compartments 2 and 3.

The indentations 42 each have a slanted and smooth bottom surface 44. The bottom surface 44 has a higher edge connected to the top plate 11 and a lower edge connected to the side wall 43. Such a structure is advantage to the manufacture of the air guiding plate 10 when it is formed by integral injection molding.

Each side wall 43 has an arc shape, so that the secondary outlet openings 15 aligned in a row in the side wall 43 are distributed in an arc. In this way, the cooling air may be blown into the container 31 divergently, which facilitates the distribution of the cooling air inside the container 31.

In the above embodiments, the air passage is formed between the air guiding plate and an inner wall (such as the top wall) of the storage compartment. However, in other embodiments, the air passage may be formed directly by the air guiding plate. In this case, the air guiding plate may have a pipe-like structure. For example, at a location near the top wall of the storage compartment, the air passage may comprise an upper wall and a lower wall both composed of the air guiding plate.

In the above embodiments, the secondary outlet openings 15 are configured for discharging cooling air as complementary or to local areas. However, the concrete location or function of the outlet openings are not limited to the solution in which the outlet openings in the lower wall of the air passage are formed through the side walls of the indentations of the lower wall. Further, the concrete structure of the air circulation device does not form any limitation to the technical solution of the invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the air circulation device supplies cooling air to two storage compartments which are arranged side by side, so that air circulation is established in each of the two storage compartments respectively. However, the invention principle related with the secondary outlet openings can also be used in other air circulation devices, such as the existing air circulation device, as mentioned above as background art, in which the air circulation device only serves a single storage compartment.

Claims

Claims:

1. A refrigeration appliance (1) comprising:

a storage compartment (2, 3); and

an air guiding plate (10) disposed in the storage compartment (2, 3), the air guiding plate (10) comprising at least one group of outlet openings (15) for discharging cooling air to the storage compartment (2, 3), and each group of outlet openings (15) being composed of a plurality of outlet openings (15);

characterized in that the plurality of outlet openings (15) are aligned along an arc, so that the cooling air enters into the storage compartment (2, 3) divergently through these outlet openings (15).

2. The refrigeration appliance (1) of claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of outlet openings (15) are distributed in an arc-shaped wall (43).

3. The refrigeration appliance (1) of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall (43) is substantially perpendicular to the flowing direction of the cooling air.

4. The refrigeration appliance (1) of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outlet openings (15) are secondary outlet openings.

5. The refrigeration appliance (1) of claim 4, characterized in that it further comprises a main outlet opening (14) at a front end of the air guiding plate (10).

6. The refrigeration appliance (1) of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plurality of outlet openings (15) discharge the cooling air to the storage compartment (2, 3) from a top portion of the storage compartment (2, 3).

7. The refrigeration appliance (1) of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outlet openings (15) which are aligned along an arc are located substantially in a middle area of the storage compartment (2, 3) in a front-to-back direction.

8. The refrigeration appliance (1) of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a container (31) in the storage compartment (2, 3), and the outlet openings (15) which are aligned along an arc are located corresponding to a middle portion and/or a middle-to-back portion of the container (31).