WO2012136537A2

WO2012136537A2 - Refrigerator arrangement having a refrigerating storage element

Info

Publication number: WO2012136537A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/055493
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christoph Becke; Max Eicher; Swetlana Gorodezki; Maike Kirschbaum; Ralph Staud; Thomas Tischer
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2011-04-07
Filing date: 2012-03-28
Publication date: 2012-10-11
Also published as: WO2012136537A3; DE102011006960A1

Abstract

In the case of a refrigerator arrangement, in particular a combination refrigerator, with a first and a second storage chamber (9, 10), the first storage chamber (9) is kept at a lower operating temperature than the second storage chamber (10), and a refrigerating storage element (1) is optionally fittable in a holder (8; 19) of the first storage chamber (9) or in a holder (17) of the second storage chamber (10).

Description

Refrigeration device arrangement with cold storage body

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device arrangement with a first and a second storage chamber for operation at different operating temperatures. Household freezers are known which have a special flat drawer for

Have accommodation of cold storage bodies. These cold storage body, filled with a liquid at room temperature storage medium plastic hollow body can be frozen in the freezer to use them then to keep food cool in an insulated container without its own chiller.

It is also known to permanently install cold storage body in a freezer in direct contact with the evaporator to achieve longer periods of operation and rest of a compressor and ultimately a more energy efficient operation by the storage medium of the cold storage body is frozen in each case in an operating phase of the compressor and in a Resting phase of the compressor again.

Longer-lasting power outages, which can cause the storage chamber of a refrigeration appliance to rise noticeably above its intended operating temperature, are rare in Europe, but occur more frequently in some non-European countries, so that increases in temperature caused by such power failures increase the shelf life of refrigerated appliances can affect.

Object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device, which allows to minimize caused by such power outages quality losses of refrigerated goods.

The object is achieved by having a refrigeration device arrangement with a first and a second storage chamber, wherein the first storage chamber at a lower

Operating temperature is maintained as the second storage chamber, at least a first cold storage body is mounted selectively in a holder of the first storage chamber or a holder of the second storage chamber. By the cold storage body normally in the first storage chamber at its lower operating temperature is held, it is available in case of power failure, to be placed in the holder of the second storage chamber, thus preventing a rise in the temperature of the second storage chamber over its operating temperature for a long time.

In particular, the refrigerator arrangement may be a combination refrigerator, e.g. with a freezer as a first storage chamber and a normal refrigeration compartment as a second storage chamber. But it can also be an arrangement of two autonomous

Refrigeration appliances such as a household refrigerator and a freezer act, each having adapted for a same first cold storage body mounts.

A heat transfer medium of the first cold storage body should in the

Operating temperature of the first storage chamber and be liquid at the operating temperature of the second storage chamber, so that the latent heat, which receives the heat transfer medium during melting, is effective to prevent an increase in the temperature of the second storage chamber over its operating temperature.

Preferably, the first cold storage body is plate-shaped, and the holder of the first and / or second storage chamber comprises at respectively opposite

Side walls of the storage chamber formed stages on which rests the cold storage body. By thus extending the cold storage body over the entire width of the first and / or second storage chamber, in the former case a good

Space utilization and in the second case also achieved a uniformly distributed over the entire width of the second storage chamber cooling effect. Preferably, in particular in the case of the second storage chamber, the steps are formed as tops of ribs projecting from the side walls of the storage chamber. If these ribs are wide enough, they can also have one

Safely support cold storage body whose width is slightly less than the width of the second storage chamber. Such a smaller width may be necessary in particular if, as in a combination refrigerator, the rule, the width of the first storage chamber, due to a thicker surrounding insulating layer, is lower than that of the second storage chamber. The holder of the first and / or the second storage chamber is preferably arranged in each case under a cover or under a shelf of the storage chamber in order to minimize the likelihood of a conflict of place with other goods to be cooled in one or the other storage chamber. In particular, in the case of the first storage chamber, it is expedient that such a shelf is formed as a second cold storage body, in order to also in this

Storage chamber in case of power failure, the temperature increase, although it can not be completely prevented, at least slow down. In order to keep the temperature in the first storage compartment as long as possible for a long time, a heat transfer medium of the second cold storage body should expediently have a lower melting point than the heat transfer medium of the first

Cold storage body. The holder of the first storage compartment may be secured under the second cold storage body. This is particularly useful if the possibility is provided to remove both cold storage body in the case of lack of space in the first storage compartment, and then the holder is not superfluous space in the first storage compartment. The first cold storage body should expediently extend substantially over the entire depth of that storage compartment in which it is mounted. In the case of the first storage compartment is so ensured that it can not be blocked by previously placed refrigerated goods, but in case of need immediately accessible to be removed and placed in the second storage compartment. In the second storage compartment is such a

ensures uniform distribution of the cooling effect over the entire depth of the storage compartment.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. From this description and the figures are also features of the

Embodiments, which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features may also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed herein. The fact that several such features in a same sentence or in another Therefore not conclude that they can occur only in the combination specifically disclosed;

instead, it must be assumed that, of several such characteristics, it is also possible to omit or modify individual ones, provided that this is the case

Functionality of the invention is not in question. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of the first cold storage body

according to the invention;

2 shows a partial section through the first and a second cold storage body, mounted in the freezer compartment of a refrigeration device.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of a combination refrigerator with the two in one

Freezer compartment mounted cold storage bodies; 4 shows a partial view of the combination refrigerator from a different perspective;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the refrigerating appliance with a cold storage body offset into the normal cooling compartment; FIG. FIG. 6 shows the refrigeration device with a cold storage body displaced into the normal refrigerating compartment in a view analogous to FIG. 4; FIG.

Fig. 7 is a partial section through the mounted in a normal refrigeration compartment first

Cold storage body according to a modified embodiment; and

Fig. 8 is a partial section analogous to Fig. 2 by mounted in a freezer compartment

Cold storage body according to a further modified embodiment.

1 and 2 show a cold storage body 1 according to the present invention in a perspective view and in a partial section. This is a plate-shaped hollow body made of plastic, which is filled with a liquid at room temperature heat transfer material 2, for example a mixture of water and an alcohol. In a top 3 of the cold storage body 1 forming wall 3 are Numerous mutually parallel grooves 4 recessed to improve the rigidity of the wall 3 and to prevent any lying thereon refrigerated goods from rolling away. To the grooves 4 parallel narrow sides 5 of the cold storage body 1 each have

elongated lower side recesses 6, which are provided to receive, as shown in Fig. 2, from a side wall 7 of a freezer compartment inner container protruding ribs 8 and so support the cold storage body 1 in the manner of a shelf between two side walls 7.

Fig. 3 shows a partial view of a combination household refrigerator with a

Freezer compartment 9 and an underlying normal cooling compartment 10. Two immediately superimposed cold storage body 1, 11 extend in the manner of

Shelves between the side walls 7 of the freezer compartment 9. We can see in Fig. 2, on the side walls 7 two ribs 8 tightly formed one above the other to keep the cold storage body 1, 1 1 at a small distance from each other. The

Cold storage body 1, 11 do not differ in their external shape. However, the composition of the heat transfer materials 2 in them is different, which may be indicated by a label or other externally visible mark. While the heat transfer material 2 of the upper cold storage body 11 has a melting temperature which is a few degrees above the operating temperature of the

Freezer compartment 9, e.g. in a temperature range of -15 ° C to -8 ° C, is the

Melting temperature of the heat transfer material 2 in the lower cold storage body 1 higher, e.g. in an interval of -5 ° C to + 5 ° C. As long as the refrigerator is working regularly, the heat transfer materials 2 of both cold storage body 1, 11 permanently frozen when stored in Gerierfach 9. Fig. 4 shows a view obliquely from below into the freezer compartment 9 and into the normal refrigerating compartment 10 of the refrigerator of Fig. 3. Immediately below a dividing wall 12 between the compartments 9, 10 is within the normal refrigerating compartment 10, e.g. divided by a bottom plate and a front flap, a fresh cooling compartment 13, whose operating temperature is a few degrees lower than that of the surrounding normal cooling compartment 10, but higher than that of the freezer compartment 9. In order to efficiently cool the fresh-refrigerating compartment 13 over short distances, an evaporator chamber of the combination refrigerating appliance can be provided in the dividing wall 12

be housed. The normal cooling compartment 10 has side walls 14 with a stepped course in the depth direction. While the distance between opposing front portions 15 of the side walls 14 is greater than that between the side walls 7 of the freezer compartment 9, the distance between rear portions 16 of the side walls 14 corresponds to the width of the freezer compartment 9. Just below the fresh refrigerating compartment 13 are at the rear portion 16 of the side wall 14 ribs 17 attracted, whose cross section is equal to the ribs 8. As a result, the cold storage body 1, when it is out of the

Freezer compartment 9 is pulled out, be placed securely on these ribs 17, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 to see. If a user detects a power failure, he can remove the cold storage body 1 from the freezer compartment 9 and hang on the ribs 17 of the normal refrigeration compartment 10. The removal is not difficult, since the cold storage body 1 extends substantially over the entire depth of the freezer compartment 9 and therefore can not be blocked by refrigerated goods placed in front of it, and, unlike the

Cold storage body 1, which can actually perform the function of a shelf, the cold storage body 1 due to its placement immediately below the

Cold storage body 11 can not be loaded with refrigerated goods, before the

Removal would only be tedious and otherwise stowed away. Since the melting temperature of the cold storage body 1 is lower than that

Operating temperature of the normal refrigeration compartment of typically + 5 ° C to + 7 ° C, begins after attachment of the cold storage body 1 in the normal refrigeration compartment 10 whose

Heat transfer material 2 to melt immediately. The cold storage body 1 thus forms a heat sink, which can keep at least its immediate environment during a power failure for several hours at the melting temperature. To the

Cold storage body 1 cooled air may be in the underlying

Distribute the normal refrigeration compartment 10 evenly over its entire depth and width, thus keeping the entire compartment safely cool for a long time. Because the volume of

Fresh cooling compartment 13 is considerably smaller than that of the normal cooling compartment 10, but the entire top 3 of the cold storage body 1, the fresh cooling compartment 13 cools, there may be a few degrees lower temperature than the normal refrigeration compartment 10 long time

be maintained. The structure of the side walls 14 of the normal cooling compartment 10 in a strong rear area 16 and a weaker front area 15 is due to the desire to be able to install the cold storage body 1 in the same manner in the normal refrigeration compartment 10 as in the freezer compartment 9. Although the stepped shape of the walls 14 allows a thicker layer of insulating material to be accommodated in the rear area 16, the resulting improvement in insulation efficiency is relatively low, since the heat input from the environment into the normal refrigeration compartment 10 bypasses the strong rear area 16 and weaker insulated front portion 15 can run. The best ratio of insulation effect to volume or amount of insulation material is achieved when the heat flow per unit area on all outer surfaces of the freezer 9 and

Normal cooling compartment 10 is the same. For this purpose, the wall thickness of the normal cooling compartment 10 over the entire depth of the side walls 14 must be constant and lower overall than that of the freezer compartment 9. A secure suspension of the cold storage body 1 in both compartments 9, 10 is still achievable if, as shown in Fig. 7 in that ribs 17 on the side walls 14 of the normal refrigeration compartment 10 corresponding to the thickness difference Aw between the side walls 7, 14 of the two compartments 9, 10 are wider than the ribs 8 of the freezer compartment, so that the distance between each other

End faces 18 of the ribs 8, 17 in both compartments 9, 10 is the same and the ribs 17 engage from both sides far enough into the recesses 6 of the cold storage body to prevent slipping. The relative to the narrow ribs 8 relatively low load capacity of the wide ribs 17 is acceptable in the normal refrigeration compartment 10, since these ribs 17 in normal use never with more than the weight of

Cold storage body 1 are charged.

The closely adjacent pairs of ribs 8 shown in Fig. 2, which are needed in the freezer compartment 9 to support both cold storage bodies 1, 11, imply strong stretching in the manufacture of the side wall 7 by deep drawing and, accordingly, a considerable reduction in the wall thickness of the material. This may be avoided according to a modification in that, as shown in Fig. 8, on each side wall 7 of the freezing compartment 9 only one rib 8 is tightened and this rib 8 both

Cold storage body 1, 11 carries. For this purpose, a profile element made of sheet metal 19, for example of approximately S-shaped cross section, be attached to the upper cold storage body 1 1 in the recess 6, so that the lower cold storage body 1 engages in grooves 20 of the mirror image opposite profile elements 19 and thereby in Depth direction is held displaceable. This embodiment also has the advantage that the distinctiveness of the cold storage body 1, 1 1 is ensured despite the same shape of their plastic hollow body by the profile elements 19, and, since the cold storage body 11 can not be removed from the freezer compartment 9, without simultaneously the body 1, an accidental mounting of the non-designated cold storage body 11 in the normal refrigeration compartment 10 largely

is excluded.

Claims

1. Refrigerating appliance arrangement, in particular combination refrigerating appliance, with a first and a second storage chamber (9, 10), wherein the first storage chamber (9) is maintained at a lower operating temperature than the second (10), characterized in that at least one first cold storage body (1) optionally in a holder (8; 19) of the first storage chamber (9) or a holder (17) of the second storage chamber (10) is mountable.

2. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first cold storage body (1) contains a heat transfer medium, which in the

Operating temperature of the first storage chamber (9) fixed and at

Operating temperature of the second storage chamber (10) is liquid.

3. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first cold storage body (1) is plate-shaped and that the holder (8; 17) of the first and / or the second storage chamber (9;

Side walls (7; 14) of the storage chamber (9; 10) formed stages, on which the cold storage body rests.

4. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the steps are the upper sides of the side walls (7; 14) of the storage chamber (9; 10) projecting ribs (8; 17).

5. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

in that the holder of the first and / or the second

Bearing chamber (9; 10) is arranged under a ceiling or under a shelf (11) of the storage chamber.

6. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that a shelf (1 1) of the first storage chamber (9) as a second cold storage body (11) is formed.

7. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the second cold storage body (11) contains a heat transfer medium having a lower melting point than the heat transfer medium of the first cold storage body (1).

8. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the holder (19) of the first storage compartment (9) under the second cold storage body (11) is fixed.

9. Refrigerating appliance arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized

characterized in that the first cold storage body (1) when mounted in the holder (8; 17; 19) of the first and / or second storage compartment (9; 10) extends substantially over its entire depth.