WO2015074704A1

WO2015074704A1 - Cooling device

Info

Publication number: WO2015074704A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/074413
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kedarnath BHATT; Daniel Malandrin
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2013-11-21
Filing date: 2013-11-21
Publication date: 2015-05-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device having an air channel (101), which is arranged between a freezer compartment and fridge compartment and which comprises a rotary knob (107) for adjusting an air flow within the air channel (101) by turning a butterfly plate (109) so that in a closed position the rotary knob (107) is adjustable for opening and closing a gap (111) between the butterfly plate (109) and an interior wall (113) of the air channel (101).

Description

Cooling device

The present invention relates to a cooling device having an air channel, which is arranged between a freezer compartment and a fridge compartment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device having an air channel the air flow of which can be manually adapted with respect to different ambient temperatures.

This object is solved by subject-matter having the features according to the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to a an aspect of the invention this object is solved by a cooling device having an air channel, which is arranged between a freezer compartment and fridge compartment and which comprises a rotary knob for adjusting an air flow within the air channel by turning a butterfly plate so that in a closed position the rotary knob is adjustable for opening and closing a gap between the butterfly plate and an interior wall of the air channel. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that performance of the appliance is maintained even at low ambient temperatures without using heaters or other devices that increase energy consumption.

In particular a cooling device is a household cooling device for cooling food and articles of households or gastronomy. More particular the cooling device serves for storing foods and beverages at certain temperatures. For example the cooling device is a refrigerator, a freezer, a chest freezer, a fridge-freezer combination or a wine refrigerator.

In a preferred embodiment of the cooling device the rotary knob is shiftable along a rotary axis for opening and closing the gap. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that a user can easily open and close the gap by pressing the rotary knob. In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the shiftable rotary knob comprises a spring arranged around the rotary axis. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the rotary knob is exposed to a force exerted by the spring.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the air channel comprises protruding walls arranged parallel to the butterfly plate in a closed position. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the gap can be closed by shifting the butterfly plate with respect to the protruding walls.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device in a closed position a first protruding wall adjoins one side of the butterfly pate and a second protruding wall adjoins the opposite side of the butterfly pate. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that that each wing of the butterfly plate can be brought in contact with the protruding walls by turning the butterfly plate.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the rotary knob comprises a hinge pin extending through the air channel. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the rotary knob is firmly supported.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the butterfly plate is affixed to the hinge pin. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the butterfly plate can be easily coupled with the rotary knob.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the interior wall of the air channel comprises an opening for inserting the hinge pin. In this embodiment also the technical advantage is achieved that the rotary knob is firmly supported.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the rotary knob comprises a second butterfly plate for closing the gap between the first butterfly plate and an interior wall of the air channel. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that an effective and easily operable mechanism for continuously closing the gap is realized.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the second butterfly plate is affixed to a tube surrounding a hinge pin of the first butterfly plate. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the second butterfly plate can be supported on the same axis. In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the rotary knob comprises a turning ring for manually turning the second butterfly plate. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the second butterfly plate is easily operable. In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the turning ring is turnable around the rotary axis of the rotary knob. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that a compact rotary knob is realized.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the turning ring is arranged between the rotary knob and a wall of the air channel. In this embodiment also the technical advantage is achieved that a compact rotary knob is realized.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the turning ring has a larger diameter than the rotary knob. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that a user can handle the turning ring easily.

In a further preferred embodiment of the cooling device the air channel has a rectangular cross section. In this embodiment the technical advantage is achieved that the air channel can be easily covered by a rectangular butterfly plate.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the figures and are explained in the following description.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cooling device;

Fig. 2 shows an inner view of an air channel with a butterfly plate; and

Fig. 3 shows an inner view of a further air channel with a butterfly plate. Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a cooling device 100. The cooling device 100 has an insulated cabinet of suitable volume and equipment for household use. The cooling device has a fridge compartment 103 for cooling goods above freezing temperature and a freezer compartment 105 for cooling goods below freezing temperature. The cooling device 100 is cooled by energy-consuming means.

In particular the cooling device comprises an evaporator, a refrigerant compressor, a condenser and a flow reducing valve. The evaporator is a heat exchanger in which, after expansion, the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by absorbing heat from the medium to be refrigerated. The refrigerant compressor is a mechanically operated component which withdraws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and discharges it at a higher pressure to the condenser. The condenser is a heat exchanger in which, after compression, vaporized refrigerant is liquefied by rejecting heat to an external cooling medium. The flow reducing valve is a device for reducing the flow by narrowing the cross-section. The Refrigerant is a fluid used for heat transfer in a refrigerating system, which absorbs heat at a low temperature and a low pressure of the fluid and rejects heat at a higher temperature and a higher pressure of the fluid, usually involving changes of state of the fluid.

The cooling device, e.g. a no frost appliance concept, can be controlled by the fridge compartment 105 so that a temperature of the freezer compartment 103 is a consequence of cooling the fridge compartment 105. If the cooling device 100 is warm according the thermostat or electronic parameters, the compressor will be switched on and the internal air is circulated through the evaporator. One part of the circulated air is fed to the freezer compartment 103 and another part of the circulated air is fed to the fridge compartment 105. Between the freezer compartment 103 and the fridge compartment 105 the cooling device 100 comprises an air channel. The air flow in the air channel can be adjusted so that a user can manually select the temperature in the freezer compartment 103. The temperature of the freezer compartment 103 and the fridge compartment 103 are controlled by air flow regulation of a single slide or butterfly plate.

Fig. 2 shows an inner view of the air channel 101 with the butterfly plate 109. The air channel 101 comprises a rotary knob 107 for adjusting the air flow within the air channel 101 by turning the butterfly plate 109. In coldest position, the butterfly plate 109 is positioned in closed position so that only little air is fed from the freezer compartment 103 to the fridge compartment 105. The compressor will run longer and the freezer compartment 103 is colder. In warmest position, the butterfly plate 109 is positioned in open position so that most air is fed from the freezer compartment 103 to the fridge compartment 105. The compressor runs less and the freezer compartment 103 is not so cold. Further the butterfly plate 109 can be positioned between the coldest and the warmest position in diagonal middle position.

At low ambient temperatures there is no large difference between the temperature of the fridge compartment 105 and the ambient temperature. The cooling device 100 uses a low compressor running time in order to cool the fridge compartment 105 so that the freezer compartments 103 is warmer than recommended, to keep the stored foods. Therefore it is an object to reduce the air flow sent to the fridge compartment 105 only under such conditions in which the ambient temperature is colder than usual, for example in winter season. In this case the compressor runs longer, since it is controlled by the temperature in the fridge compartment 105. The freezer compartment 103 receives more air quantity while the fridge compartment 105 receives less, which allows keeping the temperature of the freezer compartment 103 in a proper interval.

The butterfly plate 109 can be turned in radial axis to open or close the air flow to the fridge compartment 105. In closed position the butterfly plate 109 can be additionally shifted in axial direction in order to open or close a gap 1 1 1 between the butterfly plate 109 and an interior wall 1 13 of the air channel 101 . Closing the gap 1 1 1 restricts the airflow to the fridge compartment 105 and increases the compressor running time. The butterfly plate 109 is affixed to a hinge pin 1 17 that extends through the air channel 101. The wall of the air channel 101 comprises an opening for inserting the hinge pin 1 17.

The "winter switch" can be activated by a customer by pressing the rotary knob 107, which is equipped with a spring 1 15 in order to effectuate the axial movement of the butterfly plate 109 for closing the gap 1 1 1. When pressing the rotary knob 107 the butterfly plate 109 shifts with respect to protruding walls 1 13-1 and 1 13-2 on an interior wall 1 13 of the air channel 101 . In a closed position of the butterfly plate 109 the protruding wall 1 13-1 adjoins one side of the butterfly pate 109 and the protruding wall 1 13-2 adjoins the opposite side of the butterfly pate 109. Fig. 3 shows an inner view of a further air channel 101 with a butterfly plate 109. As in Fig. 2 the butterfly plate 109 is turnable around the radial axis in order to open or close the air flow to fridge compartment 105. In addition a further butterfly plate 121 is provided for opening or closing the gap 1 1 1 between the butterfly plate 109 and an interior wall 1 13 of the air channel 101 . The additional butterfly plate 121 is controlled by a turning ring 1 19 that is installed around the rotary knob 107 and affixed to the internal additional butterfly plate 121 .

The turning ring 1 19 is arranged between the rotary knob 107 and a wall of the air channel 101 . The turning ring 1 19 has a larger diameter than the rotary knob 107. The additional butterfly plate 121 is affixed to a tube 123 that surrounds the hinge pin 1 17 of the first butterfly plate 109. The additional butterfly plate 121 is affixed to the tube 123.

The turning ring can be turned in winter-position or summer position, by turning the ring around the rotary axis. In winter-position the additional butterfly plate 121 reduces the airflow to the fridge compartment 105 so that the compressor works longer and keeps the temperature of the freezer compartment 103 in a proper way. In summer-position the additional butterfly plate 121 increases the airflow to the fridge compartment 105

The advantages of this invention are that the performance of the cooling device can be kept even at low ambient temperatures without using heaters or other devices that increase the energy consumption. Food preservation, cooling performance, and energy consumption are improved.

All features shown or discussed with respect to particular embodiments of the invention can be combined in various applicable combinations in order to realize their positive technical effects simultaneously.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not restricted by the exemplary embodiments discussed in the description or depicted in the figures.

REFERENCE SIGN LIST

100 Cooling device

101 Air channel

103 Freezer compartment

105 Fridge compartment

107 Rotary knob

109 Butterfly plate

111 Gap

113 Interior wall

113-1 Protruding wall

113-2 Protruding wall

115 Spring

117 Hinge pin

119 Turning ring

121 Butterfly plate

123 Tube

Claims

1 . Cooling device (100) having an air channel (101 ), which is arranged between a freezer compartment (103) and fridge compartment (105) and which comprises a rotary knob (107) for adjusting an air flow within the air channel (101 ) by turning a butterfly plate (109) characterized in that in a closed position the rotary knob (107) is adjustable for opening and closing a gap (1 1 1 ) between the butterfly plate (109) and an interior wall (1 13) of the air channel (101 ).

2. Cooling device (100) according claim 1 , characterized in that the rotary knob (107) is shiftable along a rotary axis for opening and closing the gap (1 1 1 ).

3. Cooling device (100) according claim 2, characterized in that the shiftable rotary knob (107) comprises a spring (1 15) arranged around the rotary axis.

4. Cooling device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air channel (101 ) comprises protruding walls (1 13-1 , 1 13-2) arranged parallel to the butterfly plate (109) in a closed position.

5. Cooling device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that in a closed position a first protruding wall (1 13-1 ) adjoins one side of the butterfly pate (109) and a second protruding wall (1 13-2) adjoins the opposite side of the butterfly pate (109).

6. Cooling device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary knob (107) comprises a hinge pin (1 17) extending through the air channel (107).

7. Cooling device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the butterfly plate (109) is affixed to the hinge pin (1 17).

8. Cooling device (100) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the interior wall (1 13) of the air channel (101 ) comprises an opening for inserting the hinge pin (1 17).

9. Cooling device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary knob (107) comprises a second butterfly plate (121 ) for closing the gap (1 1 1 ) between the first butterfly plate (109) and an interior wall (1 13) of the air channel (101 ).

10. Cooling device (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the second butterfly plate (121 ) is affixed to a tube (123) surrounding a hinge pin (1 17) of the first butterfly plate (109).

1 1 . Cooling device (100) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the rotary knob (107) comprises a turning ring (1 19) for manually turning the second butterfly plate (121 ).

12. Cooling device (100) according to claim 1 1 , characterized in that the turning ring (1 19) is turnable around the rotary axis of the rotary knob (107).

13. Cooling device (100) according to claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the turning ring (1 19) is arranged between the rotary knob (107) and a wall of the air channel (101 ).

14. Cooling device (100) according to any of the claims 1 1 to 13, characterized in that the turning ring (1 19) has a larger diameter than the rotary knob (107).

15. Cooling device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air channel (101 ) has a rectangular cross section.