WO2016134910A1

WO2016134910A1 - Refrigeration device with frame heating

Info

Publication number: WO2016134910A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/051670
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Vogl; Günther Murg; Hans Ihle
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2015-02-23
Filing date: 2016-01-27
Publication date: 2016-09-01
Also published as: DE102015203147A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in which an inner container (1) and an outer wall (6) are connected via a groove/tongue connection, wherein an edge (3) of the inner container forms a tongue and the outer wall (6) forms a groove (9) of the connection. A heating pipe (10) is engaged in a gutter (4) which is deep-drawn in the edge (3).

Description

Refrigerating appliance with frame heating

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator The housing of household refrigerators conventionally comprise a body with a plastic deep-drawn inner container and an outer wall, which form a tongue and groove connection on a front frame of the body, and hinged to the body door , which in the closed position on the front frame is tight. The front frame forms an inevitable weak spot in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator. In order to prevent condensation on the parts of the front frame not covered by the door and parts of the outer wall adjacent thereto, it is customary to provide frame heating on the front frame, often in the form of a heating tube in which warm refrigerant circulates.

In DE 60 013 987 T2 a refrigerator is described in which a partition wall between two compartments comprises a foam heat insulation wall and, between this and the subjects, each a lining of plastic material. The liners each have a front edge which extends to the front edge of the heat insulating wall and in each of which a semicircular mounting groove is formed, which receives a heating tube. The front edges of the liners are inserted in laterally open recesses of a cover that covers the leading edge of the heat insulation wall. If the heating tube does not remain in its full length in the semicircular groove, it can prevent the mating of the liners and the cover.

DE 60 013 987 T2 makes no reference to the question of how to prevent escape of the heating tube from the semicircular groove. Commonly used methods in practice are the sticking of the heating tube in the groove, for example with hot glue, or pasting the groove over with an adhesive tape. Both methods are labor intensive, since the attachment of the hot melt adhesive or the adhesive tape each represents an additional operation in addition to the insertion of the heating tube in the groove.

The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration device, which allows a simpler and more rational installation of the heating tube. The object is achieved in that, in a refrigerator with an inner container and an outer wall, an edge of the inner container forms a spring and the outer wall of a tongue and groove connection between the inner container and the outer wall, a heating tube is accommodated in a channel formed in the rim. and the heating tube is engaged in the channel. Although the latching involves overcoming a supernatant until the heating tube reaches its target position in the channel, the same resistance then also counteracts an undesired escape of the heating tube from the channel and thus makes the use of adhesives superfluous. The gutter can be deep drawn in the edge of the inner container, preferably in a same operation with the forming of side walls of the inner container.

It is also conceivable, however, to press the gutter into the edge of the inner container. The gutter may optionally be open to a front of the refrigerator or to a space extending between the inner container and the outer wall.

To effect latching, at least one of a pair of opposite sidewalls of the trough should have a first projection behind which the heating tube engages in the latched position.

In order to fix the heating tube in the locked position, it should be in contact with the projection, with the other side wall and with a bottom of the groove at the same time.

A plane contacting the heating tube at a contact point between it and the one side wall and a plane contacting the heating tube at a contact point between it and the other side wall should cross each other in front of the groove at an angle of at least 10 °. In general, the greater this angle, the greater is the resistance that must be overcome for snapping the heating tube into the groove or for releasing it. How large the angle is suitably chosen in each case, depends on the deformability of the inner container and the heating tube, that is, on their material and wall thickness from. The other side wall may have a second projection, behind which the heating tube also engages in the latched position.

The projections may overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the channel and thus form an entrance region of the channel which is narrower than the diameter of the heating tube and which has to be spread open in order to lock the heating tube into the channel.

According to an alternative embodiment, the first projection, the second projection and a third projection of the one side wall can be offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the channel; Then, in order to effect the locking of the heating tube in the channel, the elastic flexibility of the heating tube itself can be used, and a deformation of the channel is not essential.

If the depth of the channel is smaller than the diameter of the heating tube, part of the heating tube must protrude from the channel. This part can be pressed against the outer wall in order to achieve efficient heat transfer between the heating tube and the outer wall.

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

Show it:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inner container and an outer wall of a refrigeration device according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a section through the edge of the inner container shown in Fig. 1, as

Spring is inserted in a groove of an outer wall of the refrigerator;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the edge of the inner container, in which the sectional plane of the

Fig. 2 is designated II-II;

FIG. 4 shows a section analogous to FIG. 2 according to a second embodiment; FIG. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the edge of the inner container according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows a section analogous to FIG. 2 according to a third embodiment; FIG. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the edge of the inner container according to the third

design;

FIG. 8 shows a section analogous to FIG. 2 according to a fourth embodiment; FIG. and FIG. 9 shows a section analogous to FIG. 2 according to a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows in perspective view an inner container 1 of a household refrigerator such as a refrigerator or freezer, which is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material by deep drawing, and one of a plurality of outer wall elements, which are joined together with the inner container 1 to a body of the refrigerator ,

When deep drawing, the board is in a known per se and therefore not shown in a Fig. Way initially placed on a mold so that one edge of the board rests tightly against an edge of the mold and sealingly closes an interior of the mold. Subsequently, while a mandrel is pressed against the board and retracted into the interior of the mold, this is evacuated simultaneously, so that the board is stretched, conforms to the walls of the mold while a rear wall and four side walls 2 a storage chamber 5 of the inner container 1 trains. Around the central interior of the mold used to form these walls 2, there is a channel-shaped cavity which is also evacuated, possibly supported by a complementarily shaped mandrel, in the edge of the board and the resulting one from the front edges of the side walls 2 outwardly projecting edge 3 of the inner container to form a circumferential groove 4. FIG. 1 shows by way of example an outer wall 6 formed from sheet metal, which is provided for attachment to the edge 3 beyond the left lateral wall 2 of the inner container 1. Further, not shown outer walls are provided to be plugged onto other areas of the edge 3 and assembled into a dense outer skin, the extends at a distance around the side walls 2, so that a space between the outer walls 6 and opposite side walls 2 can be foamed to form an insulating layer around the bearing chamber 5. The outer wall 6 comprises a parallel to the opposite side wall 2 wall panel 7, a along a front edge of the wall panel 7 angled frame portion 8. Along an inner edge of the frame portion 8, the sheet of the outer wall 8 is formed into a groove 9, in which the edge 3 is inserted as a spring.

Fig. 2 shows a section through the edge 3 and the groove 4 formed therein according to a first embodiment of the invention. In the channel 4, a heating tube 10 is received by a circular cross-section. Above its widest point, indicated in the figure by a dot-dash line 11, on both side walls of the channel 4, the bearing chamber 5 facing inner side wall 12 and the opposite outer side wall 13, projections 14, 15 are formed, which are above the widest point 1 1 define an inlet region 16 of the channel 4 whose width is smaller than the diameter of the heating tube 10, so that the heating tube 10 to reach the position shown in Fig. 2 in the channel 4, when passing through the inlet portion 16, the side walls 12th 13 must press apart elastically.

Channel 4 and heating tube 10 touch each other here at three points 17, 18, 19, at the bottom of the channel 4 and at the two projections 14, 15. Planes 20, 21, the heating tube 10 and the side walls 12, 13 of the channel 4th at the points 18, 19, cross each other in a direction perpendicular to the sectional plane of Fig. 2 line 22, which lies outside the housing of the refrigerator in front of the channel 4 and the frame section 8.

The cross-sectional shape of the channel 4 shown in Fig. 2 in the form of a slightly flattened ellipse can be obtained in which the channel 4 is first deep-drawn in the form of a circular segment with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the heating tube 10 and is widened elastically by pressing the heating tube 10 , The elastic restoring force, which acts on the heating tube 10 at the points 18, 19, keeps it firmly pressed against the point 17 at the bottom of the channel 4 and prevents unwanted Escape of the heating tube 10 from the channel 4 during assembly of the refrigerator.

In a subsequent to the engagement of the heating tube 5 in the channel 4 assembly step, the edge 3 is inserted as a spring in the groove 9 of the outer wall 6. The edge 3 is elastically clamped between side walls 23, 24 of the groove 9, the cross-section of the groove 9 widening towards a bottom 25 ensuring that the edge 3 is drawn into the groove 9 after overcoming a bottleneck at the entrance of the groove 9 and strikes the ground 25. A region 26 of the heating tube 5 projecting from the channel 4 is in direct contact with the front side wall 23 and thus ensures efficient heat transfer to the frame section 8.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view from the front of a part of the edge 3, in which it can be seen that the heating tube 10 engages in the locked position behind the projections 14, 15 on both sides of the groove 4 in the straight line shown in FIG. Although the projections 14, 15 are here elongated in the longitudinal direction of the channel 4, but do not extend over the entire length, in particular curved portions 27 of the channel 4 at the corners of the edge 3 (see Fig. 1) of the projections 14, 15 should be free be.

Fig. 4 shows a variant in which only one side of the channel 4, a projection is formed. In the case shown here, a projection 15 is provided only on the outer side wall 13; Thus, a space portion 28 between the inner side wall 8 and the side wall 2 of the storage space 7 without undercuts, which simplifies the demolding of the inner container 1 from the deep-drawn mold. The one projection 15 is sufficient to define at the contact points 18, 19 between the heating tube 5 and the side walls 12, 13 tangential planes 20, 21, which intersect in front of the inner container 3 at 22 and so for the locking of the heating tube 10 in the channel 4 worry.

The angle a, under which the planes 20, 21 intersect, in the case of Fig. 4 is smaller than in Fig. 2, and accordingly here is the force at given dimensions of the edge 3 and the heating tube 10 for locking the Heating tube 10 or to release Its latching is required, less than in the case of Fig. 2. In order to fix the heating tube 10 sufficiently, an angle of α of 10 ° should not be fallen below in the rule.

6 and 7 show a section and a plan view of the edge 3 according to a third embodiment of the invention. The projections 14, 15 on the two side walls 12, 13 are here less elongated in the longitudinal direction of the channel 4 than in the first and second embodiment and are each distributed alternately on the inner side wall 12 and the outer side wall 13. Again, a locking of the heating tube 10 in the channel 4 under elastic deformation of the channel 4 is possible, but at the same time, the flexibility of the heating tube 10 can be exploited here, in which the heating tube 10 to a projection such as 14 on the side wall 12 to pass, is deflected into a gap 29 between projections 15 of the opposite side wall 13 into it. Although here, too, the width b of the inlet region is smaller than the diameter of the heating tube 5 as measured in the transverse direction of the channel 4, but if in each case the distance d between a projection and a region of the opposite side wall directly opposite this projection is at least as large as the diameter of the heating tube 5, a locking is still possible even if the edge 3 itself is not deformable. In each of the embodiments considered so far a passage is needed in the edge 3, which connects the laid in the channel 4 heating tube 10 with in the space between one of the side walls 2 of the inner container 1 and an opposite wall panel 7 extending supply and discharge lines. This passage must be carefully sealed before the insulating layer surrounding the inner container 1 is formed by foaming the intermediate space. The necessity of sealing is eliminated in a fourth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 8 in a cross section analogous to FIG. 2. In contrast to the previous embodiments, here the gutter 4 is not open to the front of the body but, conversely, to the gap 30 to be foamed.

The heating tube 10 in this case directly touches the intermediate space 30 facing, metallic and therefore good heat-conducting side wall 24 of the groove 9, thus ensuring effective heating of the frame section. 8 In order to be able to supply the heating tube 10 with warm refrigerant, it is sufficient if the side wall 24 (outside the sectional plane of FIG. 8) has a gap through which a feed line or discharge line 31 (integral with the heating tube 10) runs. Since the edge 3 of the inner container 1 has no opening at this point, no elaborate sealing is required to prevent the penetration of insulating foam into the groove 9 and through this to the front of the body.

The cross section of the channel 4 is the same as in Fig. 2. Analogous to the case shown in Fig. 8 on both side walls 12, 13 of the channel 4 projections 14, 15 are formed, and channel 4 and heating tube 5 touch each other at three points 17, 18, 19, at the bottom of the channel 4 and at the two projections 14, 15. Planes 20, 21, which contact the heating tube 5 and the side walls 12, 13 of the channel 4 at the points 18, 19, cross each other a line 22 perpendicular to the sectional plane of FIG. 8, which lies outside the channel 4, but here within the intermediate space 30.

Fig. 9 shows in a cross-section analogous to Fig. 2, a fifth embodiment of the invention, in which the channel 4, as in the case of Fig. 8 to the gap 30 is open. In contrast to the previously considered embodiments, the groove 4 is not formed by deep drawing, but it is the fact that the frame 3, since it substantially does not participate in the stretching of the central part of the board during deep drawing of the side walls 2 and the rear wall on finished inner container has a higher wall thickness than this. In this edge 3 here the channel 4 is formed by a tool is pressed against the inside of the edge 3, which has a projection in the form of a horizontal cylinder. Material of the edge 3 is displaced sideways and piled up to the side wall 12 of the channel 4.

In Fig. 8 and 9, respectively, as shown in Fig. 2, opposite projections 14, 15 on both side walls 12, 13 of the channel 4 are shown. It is understood that analogously to FIG. 4, a projection may also be provided here only on one of the side walls, or that projections, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, may be situated alternately on both sides of the channel 4. REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 inner container

2 wall

3 edge

4 gutter

5 storage chamber

6 outer wall

7 wall board

8 frame section

9 groove

10 heating tube

1 1 widest point

12 inner sidewall

13 outer side wall

14 lead

15 advantage

16 inlet area

17 point

18 point

19 point

20 level

21 level

22 line

23 side wall

24 side wall

25 floor

26 projecting area

27 curved section

28 room area

29 gap

30 gap

31 supply / discharge

Claims

Refrigerating appliance with an inner container (1) and an outer wall (6), wherein an edge (3) of the inner container a spring and the outer wall (6) has a groove (9) of a tongue and groove connection between the inner container (1) and the outer wall (6) and in a in the edge (3) formed groove (4) a heating tube (10) is accommodated, characterized in that the heating tube (10) is engaged in the channel (4).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the channel (4) is deep-drawn.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (4) is open towards a front of the refrigerator.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (4) to a between the inner container (1) and the outer wall (6) extending intermediate space (30) is open.

Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (4) has mutually opposite side walls (12, 13), of which at least one (13) has a first projection (15) behind which the heating tube (10) in the engages locked position.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the heating tube (10) at the same time with the projection (15), the other side wall (12) and a bottom of the channel (4) is in contact.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a plane (21) which contacts the heating tube (10) at a contact point (19) between the heating tube (10) and the one side wall (13), and a plane (20) the heating tube (10) at a contact point (18) between the heating tube (10) and the other side wall (12), crossing each other in front of the channel (4) at an angle (von) of at least 10 °.

8. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the other side wall (12) has a second projection (14), behind which engages the heating tube (10) in the engaged position.

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the projections (14, 15) overlap one another in the longitudinal direction of the channel (4).

10. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the first projection (15), the second projection (14) and a third projection (15) of a side wall (13) in the longitudinal direction of the channel (4) are offset from each other.

1 1. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depth of the channel (4) is smaller than the diameter of the heating tube (10) and that of the channel (4) projecting part of the heating tube (10) to the outer wall (6) is pressed.