EP1882136A1

EP1882136A1 - Refrigerator featuring recirculated air cooling

Info

Publication number: EP1882136A1
Application number: EP06743318A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alexander GÖRZ; Hans Ihle; Ralf Spiller
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2005-05-10
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-18
Also published as: CN101171474B; DE102005021557A1; CN100561084C; CN101171474A; EP1882136B1; US7870756B2; CN101175956A; RU2392550C2; US20090038336A1; RU2007137540A; WO2006120110A1

Abstract

According to the invention, an evaporator zone (2) and at least one cooling zone (3) are separated from each other in a refrigerator housing (1). A fan drives a cold air flow from the evaporator zone into the cooling zone (3) via a central inlet port (10) that is arranged next to a heat-insulating partition (7) located between the evaporator zone (2) and the cooling zone (3). A distributing device which diverts a partial air flow into at least one distributor pipe (25) that extends along at least one wall of the cooling zone (3) is mounted upstream of the central inlet port (10) in the direction of flow of the cold air. Said distributor pipe (25) is provided with holes (11) that are distributed along the height of the wall and extend into the cooling zone (3).

Description

Describe

Refrigeration unit with circulating air cooling

The present invention relates to a refrigerator with circulating air cooling, i.e., a

Refrigerating appliance, in the housing, an evaporator area and a cooling area for receiving refrigerated goods are separated from each other and the cooling area is cooled by supplied from the evaporator section cold air.

The supply of cold air to the cooling area can via a so-called

Air shower or via a distribution channel. In the simplest case, the air shower is an opening in a partition wall between the evaporator area and the cooling area, through which the entire cold air stream is supplied to the cooling area. Since the cooling area is usually divided by refrigerated goods in several subjects, there is the problem that the cold air flow pours completely into one of the compartments, which is much more cooled as a result of other, further away from the air shower and shielded by the refrigerated goods Subjects. Therefore, when the temperature in the cooling area is thermostatically controlled by means of a temperature sensor disposed in a remote compartment, there may be a problem that, especially if a heavy load obstructs air circulation in the cooling area, the compartment immediately adjacent to the air shower is cooled more than that Content is beneficial. On the other hand, if a temperature sensor is used in the compartment located directly on the air shower, further fans can be insufficiently cooled.

In order to address this problem, refrigerators with distribution channels have been developed, i. with channels fed with cold air from the evaporator area, which run along a wall of the cooling area and are provided with openings through which cold air can flow directly into each compartment of the cooling area. By suitable dimensioning of the cross sections of channels and openings, variable cold air inflow rates for the individual compartments can be realized to a large extent, so that a desired temperature distribution in the compartments can be achieved independently of the degree of loading. The flow rate of the cold air in such a distribution channel must not be too large, otherwise a powerful fan is needed to drive it, and such a fan whose waste heat must be removed from the device, the energy efficiency is impaired. In addition, high lead

Flow velocities to unwanted operating noise. However, a high channel cross-section leads to undesirable losses either to cold storage or insulation strength. In order to achieve sufficient cooling with low air flow, the cold air supplied to the cooling area must be colder than in a device with an air shower, which is not subject to these restrictions. However, if this leads to cold air being supplied to a cooling zone with a setpoint temperature above 0 ° C, this may cause damage to the refrigerated goods.

There are convection-cooled refrigerators with two separate, to be maintained at different temperatures cooling areas. To the To regulate temperature in both areas independently, it is necessary to be able to dose the cold air flow to both areas independently. This can be done with the aid of a valve which, depending on the position, supplies the cold air flow from the evaporator region to the first or the second cooling region. With the help of such a valve, it is possible, optionally one leading into a first cooling area

Supply cold air supply opening or a cold air supply line, which leads to a wall of the first cooling area along to the second cooling area. On the other hand, it is problematic to supply the cold air optionally to the cold air supply line or to a distribution line which also runs along the wall for the first cooling area. The reason for this lies in the cross sections of the lines. These should not protrude at best or at least slightly beyond the wall into the first cooling area, as this makes its use more difficult. You must not penetrate too deep into the wall, because then only a thin layer of insulation between the lines and the outer skin of the device remains. This forces the cross-section of the lines in the thickness direction of the wall to be made significantly smaller than transversely, with the result that a valve capable of switching between the distribution line of the first cooling area and the supply line of the second cooling area becomes very large and bulky would be and hardly be accommodated without sensitive losses of useful volume of the cooling areas.

The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration device with convection cooling, which allows to realize a uniform or to a desired extent uneven temperature distribution in a cooling area and thereby avoids the above-stated problems of refrigerators with distribution channels.

The object is achieved by a refrigerator with a housing in which a

Evaporator area and at least one cooling area are separated from each other, and a fan for driving a cold air flow from the evaporator area in the cooling region via a to a heat-insulating partition wall between evaporator and cooling zone adjacent central inlet opening, in which the central inlet opening on the flow path of the cold air upstream of a distribution device , which branches off a partial air flow into at least one distribution line running along at least one wall of the cooling region, which has openings which are distributed over the height of the wall and open into the cooling region.

By this construction, the remaining part of the cold air flow is the

Cooling area supplied divided cold air flow. Part of the cold air flow is supplied via the central inlet opening, via the openings in the distribution line. Due to the aforementioned division of the cold air flow, a uniform temperature distribution is generated within the cold zone. Depending on the design of the distribution device, cold air flows can be the same or unequal volume flow, advantageously the overwhelming part of the cold air flow should escape via the central inlet opening.

The distribution device may be formed by a hood which covers a cold air supply opening formed in the partition and at least one of the openings of the distribution line. Likewise, the distributor device can be formed by an adjustable deflecting flap.

The hood forms a flow resistance for through

Cold air supply opening passed through the air and forces it at least partially through the covered by her opening into the distribution line. The cold air is distributed at different locations of the first cooling area via the openings of the distribution line which are not covered by the hood.

Preferably, the central inlet opening is formed directly on the hood.

[001 1] A preferred field of application of the invention are refrigerators with two

Cooling areas. If, in such a refrigeration device, the second cooling area is cooled via a cold air supply line extending from the evaporator area on the first cooling area to the second cooling area in a wall of the housing, the space for a distribution line for distributing the cold air in the first cooling area is particularly scarce in or on the housing wall ,

In such a refrigerator, a deflection means is preferably used e.g. in the form of a valve or diverter flap or the like between a position in which it blocks the cold air supply to the distribution device and the cold air supply line releases, and a position in which it releases the cold air supply to the distribution device and the cold air supply line blocks, switchable to the Temperatures of the two cooling areas to regulate independently.

In order to drive the cold air with low flow resistance in the distribution line, the latter is preferably arranged substantially parallel to the flow direction of the cold air through the cold air supply opening, while the flow direction of the cold air through the air passage opening differs from that through the passage opening. Since the cold air supply opening is adjacent to the wall in which the distribution line runs, only a small deflection of the air flow is required to introduce it into the distribution line, and the flow resistance is low.

In the wall of the housing a channel is expediently recessed, in which the cold air supply line and the distribution line are adjacent to each other. If the channel is recessed from the insulating material layer of the rear wall, a solid inner skin of the housing, which separates the Isoliermaterialschicht from the cooling area, follow the course of the recess, so that for delimiting the channel against the cooling area, a recess bridging cover profile is required. Preferably, the channel is recessed only in the insulating material layer, and the inner skin bridges the channel.

In this latter case is suitably an extruded profile with a

Rear wall and two contacting the inner skin contacting side walls, which separates the channel of the insulating material layer and thus prevents that when the insulating material layer is generated by expanding a polymer material into a foam between the inner and outer skin of the wall, this foam also penetrates into the channel or fill it.

Thus, the extruded profile can withstand the pressure of the expanding foam better, at least one extending to the inner skin web is formed on its rear wall.

A layer of insulating material disposed between the inner skin and the cold air supply line ensures thermal separation between the air flowing in the cold air supply line and the first cooling area so that it is not undesirably cooled when cold air flows through this line to the second cooling area ,

The layer is preferably part of an angle profile, particularly preferably a U-profile, which also extends between the cold air supply line and the distribution line, to ensure a thermal separation between them.

For a uniform distribution of the cold air in the first cooling region, it is advantageous if two distribution lines extend on both sides of the cold air supply line.

The valve for selectively supplying cold air to the cold air supply line and the cold air supply opening preferably comprises a flap, which is hinged to a partition wall between the two.

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

Figure 1 is a perspective view obliquely from below of the body of a refrigerator according to the invention.

2 shows a section through a vertically and in the depth direction extending center plane of the body along the line II of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a section through the upper portion of the body in a plane offset from the median plane to the side along the line III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hood disposed at the cold air supply opening; and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal partial section through the rear wall of the body of the refrigerator.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a body 1 of a refrigerator according to the invention. The device has a door, which is omitted in the figure. The interior of the body 1 is subdivided into an evaporator area 2 at the top under the ceiling of the carcass, a first cooling area 3 and, by means of this, by an insulating intermediate wall 4 separated, a second cooling area 5. In the second cooling area 5, a drawer is housed. The first cooling area 3 is normally subdivided by a plurality of refrigerated goods carriers into compartments lying one above the other, which however are omitted in the figure in order to be able to show the rear wall 6 of the body 1 as large as possible.

At the front of the evaporator region 2 separating from the first cooling region 3 intermediate wall 7 (see Fig. 2), an air inlet opening 8 is formed, can enter through the air from the first cooling region 3 in the evaporator section 2. Lines through which air can flow from the second cooling area 5 to the evaporator area 2 can-not visible in the figure-extend in side walls of the body 1; Another possibility is an air line inside the door, which begins at the level of the second cooling area 5 and ends opposite the air inlet opening 8.

Adjacent to the rear wall 6, a distributor hood 9 is fixed to the intermediate wall 7, on which a plurality of air holes 10 is formed, through which cold air originating from the evaporator region 2 is distributed in the upper part of the first cooling region 3 in various directions. Below the distributor hood 9 are located on the rear wall 6 a plurality of pairs of openings 1 1, from which also cold air can flow out. The height of these pairs of openings is chosen so that, when refrigerated goods carriers are mounted in the first cooling area 3, each pair of openings 11 feeds a compartment.

Fig. 2 shows the refrigerator of Fig. 1 in a section along a vertically and in the depth direction of the body 1 extending center plane, which is shown in Fig. 1 by a dashed line II. In the interior of the evaporator region 2, cooling coils of an evaporator 12 can be seen in the section, which are flowed through by air entering through the air inlet opening 8. The intermediate wall 7 is down to the rear wall 6 of the body down to a channel 13, in which collects from the evaporator 12 dripping condensate. Via a pipe, not shown, the condensate reaches a in the base region 14 (see Fig. 1) of the body 1 housed evaporator.

Behind the channel 13, adjacent to the rear wall 6, a fan is housed, which comprises a motor 15, a paddle wheel 16 driven by this and a housing 17. At the front of the housing 17, in the axial direction of the impeller, an intake opening is formed. The upper half of the housing 17 extends in the circumferential direction closely around the impeller 16, down the housing 17 is open, so that by a rotation of the impeller 16 radially outwardly accelerated air flows down into a chamber 18.

In this chamber 18 a pivotable flap 19 is housed. In the position shown in the figure, the flap 19 blocks a

Cold air supply opening 20, which leads vertically down to the first cooling area 3. The air is thus forced towards the rear wall 6 and into a cold air supply line 21 which, in the interior of the rear wall, separated from the first cooling area 3 by a thin insulating layer 22, leads to the second cooling area 5. When the flap 19 hinged to an intermediate wall 23 between the cold air supply port 20 and the cold air supply line 21 is brought into a vertical position shown as a dotted outline in the figure, it obstructs the cold air supply line 21 and the cold air flow reaches the distributor hood 9 through the cold air supply port 20. In the figure, one of the air holes 10 can be seen, through which the air flows out of the distributor hood 9 into the first cooling region 3.

Fig. 3 shows a section through the upper part of the body 1 along the plane designated III in Fig. 1. In this figure, it is clearer that the arcuately extending around the impeller 16 housing 17 can be seen. In addition, it can be seen that in this plane the rear wall 6 facing side of the distributor hood 9 has an opening 24 which is in alignment with an opening of the rear wall 6, which leads to a vertically extending in the rear wall 6 distribution line 25. One of the several other openings 1 1 leading from the distribution line 25 into the first cooling area 3 can likewise be seen.

When the cold air supply opening 20 is open, resulting from the deflection of this vertically downwardly flowing air in an obliquely downward and forward direction of the air holes 10 of the hood 9, a dynamic pressure inside the hood 9, a part of the air in the distribution line 25 drives. How big this part is, by appropriate definition of the cross sections of the air holes 10, the openings 1 1, 24 and the manifold 25 can be fixed.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the distributor hood 9. It is composed of a rigid outer skin 26, on which a plurality of pins 27 are integrally formed for locking to the intermediate wall 7, a first layer of expanded foam 28, the inside the outer skin 26 abuts and may be integrally formed therewith, and a second foam body 29. The layer 28 and the foam body 29 form at the top of the hood 9 a aligned with the cold air supply opening 20 Durchläse 30, and at the viewer facing the back of the hood 9, bounded by the layer 28 and the body 29, two openings 24 are seen, each leading to one of two manifolds 25 extending in the back wall 6 adjacent to the cold air supply line 21.

Fig. 5 shows a section through the rear wall 6 of the body 1 at the level indicated in Fig. 3 with VV line. The rear wall is constructed of a rigid inner skin 31, which, deep drawn from a plastic plate, the interior of the body 1 in one piece, an outer skin 32 and a layer 33 of foamed insulating material. From the layer 33, a vertical channel 34 is recessed, which is delimited from the insulating layer 33 by a plastic extruded profile 35. The extruded profile 35 has a rear wall 36, extending from the edges of the rear wall 36 to the inner skin 31 side walls 37 and at the edges of the inner skin 31 foam-tight glued elongated Flanges 38. Protruding from the rear wall 36 ribs 39 each extend to the already mentioned, as a flat, U-shaped profile shaped insulating layer 22 and are based on this against the pressure acting on the back of the wall 36 during the expansion of the insulating foam layer 33 from , The ribs 39 divide here together with the insulating layer 22, the channel 34 in a total of five parallel lines, of which the two outer each form a manifold 25 and represent the three inner the cold air supply line 21.

Claims

claims

1. Refrigerating appliance having a housing (1) in which an evaporator section (2) and at least one cooling section (3) are partitioned from each other, and a fan for driving a cold air flow from the evaporator section into the cooling section (3) via a heat-insulating partition wall (7) between the evaporator section (2) and the cooling zone (3) adjacent central inlet opening (10), characterized in that the central inlet opening (10) upstream of the flow path of the cold air, a distribution device, which is a partial air flow in at least one along at least one wall the distribution of the cooling region (3) extending branch line (25) distributed over the height of the wall distributed in the cooling region (3) opening openings (1 1).

2. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the distributor device is formed by a hood (9) which covers a cold air supply opening (20) formed in the dividing wall (7) and at least one of the openings of the distribution line (25).

3. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that the central inlet opening (10) on the hood (9) is formed.

4. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a second cooling area (5), which via a in a wall (6) of the housing (1) from the evaporator area (2) on the first cooling area (3) along the second cooling zone (5) extending cold air supply line (21) is cooled, and that a deflection between a position in which it blocks the cold air supply to the distribution device and the cold air supply line (21) releases, and a position in which it is the cold air supply to the manifold releases and the cold air supply line (21) locks, is switchable.

5. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the distribution line (25) substantially parallel to the flow direction of the cold air through the cold air supply opening (20), while the flow direction of the cold air through the air passage opening (10) of that through the passage opening (20) differs.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that in the wall (6) of the housing (1) a channel (34) is recessed, in which the cold air supply line (21) and the distribution line (25) adjacent to each other.

7. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the channel (34) is recessed in an insulating material layer (33) of the wall (6) and that an inner skin (31) of the wall (6) bridges the channel (34).

8. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the channel (34) of the insulating material layer (33) by an extruded profile (35) having a rear wall (36) and two inner skin (31) contacting side walls (37) is separated, and in that at least one rib (39) extending towards the inner skin (31) is formed on the rear wall (36).

9. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in the channel (34) a layer (22) made of an insulating material between the inner skin (13) and the cold air supply line (21) is arranged.

10. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the layer (22) is part of an angle profile, which further extends between the cold air supply line (21) and the distribution line (25).

1 1. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that extending two distribution lines (25) on both sides of the cold air supply line (21).

12. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 4 to 1 1, characterized in that the valve comprises a flap (19) which is articulated to a partition wall between the cold air supply line (21) and the cold air supply opening (20).