WO2013000968A2

WO2013000968A2 - A refrigerator comprising a machine room

Info

Publication number: WO2013000968A2
Application number: PCT/EP2012/062502
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tolga APAYDIN; Tugrul Kodaz; Sabahattin Hocaoglu; Erkan KARAKAYA; Ersin Donmez
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2011-06-27
Filing date: 2012-06-27
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Also published as: WO2013000968A3; TR201106329A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising the machine room (13) wherein the compressor (2), the condenser (3), the evaporator (4) and the fan (10) are disposed.

Description

A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING A MACHINE ROOM

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, wherein the mounting of the fan is facilitated.

In refrigerators with modular machine rooms, all of the cooling system components (compressor, condenser, fan and evaporator) are grouped in a machine room to form a machine room These grouped cooling system components are placed below or over the refrigerator cabin. The components that become cool or heat up in the machine room are separated from each other by means of a wall. In the machine room, for cooling purposes the evaporator and the evaporator fan are placed into a machine room separate from the condenser and the compressor. The air cooled by the evaporator is delivered into the compartment by means of a fan disposed on the evaporator. The fan must be easily mounted into/dismounted from the machine room. However, especially in refrigerators, during the placement of the evaporator and the evaporator fan into the machine room, the evaporator fan is mounted into the machine room by being attached to the evaporator by means of a method such as welding, screwing, etc. The evaporator also has to be removed out of the machine room during the removal of the fan out of the machine room, and this causes loss in terms of cost and time.

In the state of the art International Patent Document No. WO2006101512, a refrigerator is described, having a refrigeration unit comprising a support member used for mounting the fan-motor pair.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator having a machine room wherein the mounting of the fan is facilitated.

The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims, comprises at least one compartment wherein the items to be cooled or frozen are placed, a compressor providing the cooling circulation to be performed, a condenser providing the refrigerant to be condensed, an evaporator providing the cooling by drawing thermal energy from the environment, a fan having at least one propeller providing the cooled air to be sucked, at least one volute casing that is disposed at the part thereof facing the evaporator and that has a channel through which the air sucked moves and a motor, at least one machine room having at least one side wall and a cover, wherein the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator and the fan are disposed, at least one bracket having at least one housing disposed thereon, wherein the motor is placed and a protrusion providing the bracket to be mounted to the side wall.

The motor is fixed onto the casing snap-fittingly by means of the shaft disposed at the core thereof or by using screws. By seating the motor to the housing, the bracket and the casing bear against each other and are joined. The fan is hung on the side wall by means of the protrusion. As the cover is closed, the cover bears against the bracket and provides the fan grouped with the bracket to be rigid. In a situation that the fan must be removed out of the machine room, the fan is easily removed out of the machine room by means of the bracket.

The machine room furthermore comprises at least one guide disposed on the machine room wall, wherein the bracket remains when it is hung to the machine room wall. While the bracket is in the guide, the protrusion bears against side wall.

Moreover, the protrusion comprises at least one lug extending from its side in the horizontal direction. When the protrusion is mounted to the housing, the lug bears against the upper surface of the side wall. The bracket is prevented from sliding in the horizontal direction due to the vibrations occurring during the operation of the fan and the bracket is provided to be rigid on the side wall. By the cover being closed over the machine room, the cover applies pressure in the vertical direction onto the protrusion and prevents the bracket from moving in the vertical direction. Thus, the bracket is squeezed both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, and the bracket is prevented from sliding left-right or downwards-upwards on the side wall.

The refrigerator furthermore comprises the side wall having at least one protrusion disposed at the part of the bracket facing the side wall and at least one cavity wherein the protrusion is placed. While the fan is hung inside the machine room, the protrusion is seated into the cavity. Thus, the bracket is secured to the side wall.

The refrigerator furthermore comprises at least one pin extending from the lateral surface of the bracket towards the lateral surface of the guide and at least one recess arranged in the guide, wherein the said pin is seated. The pin is secured into the recess, thereby supporting the bracket on the side wall.

The refrigerator furthermore comprises at least one detent means disposed on the casing and at least one fixing member that has at least one retainer fixed with the detent means and that is placed on the machine room base so as to be over the ventilation holes, whereon the casing is placed. By the detent means locked with the retainer, the fan grouped with the bracket is fixed to the machine room base.

The refrigerator furthermore comprises at least one rest that extends from the cover into the machine room at the middle of the cover and that has a support disposed on the surface thereof bearing the casing.

The model embodiments relating to the refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a refrigerator.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a machine room and the bracket whereon a fan is placed and of the bracket before being placed into the machine room.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of a machine room and the bracket whereon a fan is placed and of the bracket after being placed into the machine room.

Figure 4 – is the view of detail A in Figure 2.

Figure 5 – is the view of detail B in Figure 3.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of a bracket.

Figure 7 – is the front perspective view of a bracket.

Figure 8 – is the rear perspective view of a bracket.

Figure 9 – is the sideways perspective view of a bracket.

Figure 10 – is the top perspective view of a bracket.

Figure 11 – is the exploded view of a fan.

Figure 12 – is the rear perspective view of a fan.

Figure 13 – is the front perspective view of a fan.

Figure 14 – is the perspective view of a half-closed machine room that is covered by means of a cover.

Figure 15 – is the bottom perspective view of a cover.

Figure 16 – is the perspective view of a cover and a fan while the cover is closed.

Figure 17 – is the perspective view of a machine room, a fan and a fixing member.

Figure 18 – is the perspective view of a fixing member.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Refrigerator
Compressor
Condenser
Evaporator
Compartment
Propeller
Channel
Casing
Motor
Fan
Side wall
Cover
Machine room
Housing
Protrusion
Bracket
Guide
Lug
Extension
Cavity
Pin
Recess
Detent means
Retainer
Support
Fixing member
Rest

The refrigerator (1) comprises at least one compartment (5) wherein the items to be cooled or frozen are placed, a compressor (2) providing the cooling circulation to be performed, a condenser (3) providing the refrigerant to be condensed, an evaporator (4) providing the cooling by drawing thermal energy from the environment, a fan (10) having at least one propeller (6) providing the cooled air to be sucked, at least one volute casing (8) that is disposed at the part thereof facing the evaporator (4) and that has a channel (7) through which the air sucked moves and a motor (9) and at least one machine room (13) having at least one side wall (11) and a cover (12), wherein the compressor (2), the condenser (3), the evaporator (4) and the fan (10) are disposed (Figure 1).

The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises at least one bracket (16);

having at least one housing (14) whereon the fan (10) is mounted and wherein the motor (9) is inserted and
at least one protrusion (15) that provides the bracket (16) to be hung to the side wall (11)

(Figure 2, Figure 3).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the machine room (13) comprises a side wall (11) having ventilation holes, that separates the volume containing the evaporator (4) and the fan (10) from the volume containing the condenser (3) and the compressor (2). The motor (9), the propeller (6) and the casing (8) are grouped collateral by means of the shaft passing therethrough, then fixed to each other with screws, thus forming the fan (10). With the motor (9) being placed into the housing (14), the bracket (16) and the fan (10) are grouped. During the mounting of the bracket (16) grouped with the fan (10) to the machine room (13), the bracket (16) is provided to be detachably mounted to the side wall (11) by placing the protrusion (15) to the side wall (11). During the hanging of the bracket (16) to the side wall (11), no connection element such as screw, etc. is used. With the cover (12) being covered over the machine room (13), the cover (12) applies pressure onto the bracket (16) and prevents the bracket (16) from sliding from over the side wall (11) (Figure 4 and Figure 5).

The air leaving the evaporator (4) is sucked by the propeller (6) to pass through the channel (7) and is guided to the inner volume of the refrigerator (1). The air circulating the inner volume of the refrigerator (1) returns into the machine room (13) and thus the air circulation is provided.

The machine room (13) furthermore comprises at least one guide (17) disposed on the side wall (11), wherein the bracket (16) is seated. The surface of the protrusion (15) bearing against the side wall (11) is larger than the depth of the guide (17). During the mounting of the fan (10) inside the machine room (13), the bracket (16) is seated into the guide (17) and the protrusion (15) provides the bracket (16) to be hung by bearing against the side wall (11).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the side wall (11) comprises a guide (17) that prevents the protrusion (15) from sliding in the horizontal and vertical directions by being mounted thereon. By means of the guide (17) that is formed so that the protrusion (15) can be seated therein, the protrusion (15) is prevented from sliding from over the side wall (11).

Moreover, the protrusion (15) comprises at least one lug (18) extending from its side thereof in the horizontal direction. During the hanging of the bracket (16) to the side wall (11), the lug (18) stays on the side wall (11), thereby providing the bracket (16) to be kept rigid on the side wall (11). Thus, the bracket (16) is prevented from sliding in the horizontal direction due to the vibrations occurring during the operation of the fan (10). With the cover (12) being covered over the machine room (13), the cover (12) applies pressure on the protrusion (15) in the vertical direction and prevents the bracket (16) from moving in the vertical direction (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 10).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the side wall (11) comprises a guide (17) that prevents the lug (18) from sliding in the horizontal and vertical directions by being mounted thereon. By means of the guide (17) that is formed so that the lug (18) can be seated therein, the lug (18) is prevented from sliding from over the side wall (11).

The refrigerator (1) comprises at least one extension (19) disposed at the part of the bracket (16) facing the side wall (11) whereon the bracket (16) is hung and at least one cavity (20) placed in the guide (17), wherein the extension (19) is embedded. During the mounting of the fan (10) inside the machine room (13), the bracket (16) is tightly placed to the side wall (11) with the extension (19) being seated into the cavity (20). Thus, the bracket (16) is prevented from sliding left-right due to the vibrations occurring during the operation of the fan (10) and is provided to be rigid (Figure 4, Figure 9 and Figure 13).

The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises at least one pin (21) extending from the lateral surface of the bracket (16) towards the lateral surface of the guide (17) and at least one recess (22) placed at the inner wall of the guide (17), wherein the said pin (21) is embedded. With the pin (21) being embedded into the recess (22), the bracket (16) is prevented from sliding (Figure 4, Figure 6 and Figure 13).

The refrigerator (1) furthermore comprises at least one detent means (23) disposed on the casing (8) and at least one fixing member (26) that has at least one retainer (24) that locks with the detent means (23) and that is fixed on the machine room (13) base so as to be over the ventilation holes, whereon the casing (8) is placed. During the mounting of the fan (10) inside the machine room (13), the casing (8) is attached to the fixing member (26). With the detent means (23) being fixed to the retainer (24), the fan (10) is fixed inside the machine room (13). The air sucked by the fan (10) is delivered into the compartment (5) through the ventilation holes placed on the fixing member (26). Consequently, the bracket (16), thus the fan (10) is prevented from sliding off its place (Figure 16, Figure 17 and Figure 18).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least one rest (27) that extends from the cover (12) into the machine room (13) at the middle of the cover (12) and that has a support (25) disposed on the surface thereof bearing the casing (8). When the cover (12) is covered over the machine room (13), the casing (8) bears against the front wall of the support (25), thus the fan (10) is provided to be kept rigid inside the machine room (13) (Figure 14 and Figure 15).

The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises a bracket (16) that provides the fan (10) to be easily mounted and dismounted. The fan (10) is not connected to any one of the compressor (2), the condenser (3) and the evaporator (4) in the machine room (13). Thus, mounting process is facilitated. Moreover, during the hanging of the bracket (16) to the side wall (11), no connection element such as screw, etc. is used, thus time and cost savings are provided.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising at least one compartment (5) wherein the items to be cooled or frozen are placed, a compressor (2) providing the cooling circulation to be performed, a condenser (3) providing the refrigerant to be condensed, an evaporator (4) providing the cooling by drawing thermal energy from the environment, a fan (10) having at least one propeller (6) providing the cooled air to be sucked, at least one volute casing (8) that is disposed at the part thereof facing the evaporator (4) and that has a channel (7) through which the air sucked moves and a motor (9) and at least one machine room (13) having at least one side wall (11) and a cover (12), wherein the compressor (2), the condenser (3), the evaporator (4) and the fan (10) are disposed,

characterized by a bracket (16);

- having at least one housing (14) whereon the fan (10) is mounted and wherein the motor (9) is inserted and

- at least one protrusion (15) that provides the bracket (16) to be hung to the side wall (11).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one guide (17) arranged on the side wall (11), wherein the bracket (16) is seated.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the guide (17) preventing the protrusion (15) from sliding in the horizontal and vertical directions by being mounted thereon.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the protrusion (15) having at least one lug (18) extending from the side thereof in the horizontal direction.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the guide (17) preventing the lug (18) from sliding in the horizontal and vertical directions by being mounted thereon.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized by at least one extension (19) disposed at the part of the bracket (16) facing the side wall (11) whereon the bracket (16) is hung and at least one cavity (20) placed in the guide (17), wherein the extension (19) is embedded.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 6, characterized by at least one pin (21) extending from the lateral surface of the bracket (16) and at least one recess (22) placed on the inner wall of the guide (17), wherein the pin (21) is embedded.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one detent means (23) disposed on the casing (8) and at least one fixing member (26) that has at least one retainer (24) that locks with the detent means (23) and that is fixed on the machine room (13) base so as to be over the ventilation holes, whereon the casing (8) is placed.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one rest (27) that extends from the cover (12) into the machine room (13) at the middle of the cover (12) and that has a support (25) disposed on the surface thereof bearing the casing (8).