Refrigeration Device Comprising a Water Filter

Abstract

Refrigeration device comprising a water filter, which is housed in a central cavity of a coil condenser.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device comprising a water filter and a coil condenser.

Since water dispensers and automatic ice makers have become less and less expensive and more and more common, domestic refrigerators are increasingly being equipped with water filters in order to filter the water for the water dispenser and the automatic ice maker. Such a water filter is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,355,177 B2.

Coil condensers are built into more and more refrigeration devices to be able, among other things, to situate the condenser within the machine compartment. In the case of a coil condenser, the condenser has an essentially helical form and occupies a considerable volume in the space where it is located. Such a coil condenser is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,829.

As a result of the increasing number of additional components built into refrigeration devices, the available space for the individual components is becoming more and more restricted.

Until now, the water filter was usually located in the cold compartment of the devices, and in the base of the device in some cases. Location in the base gives the disadvantage that the base has to be increased in height, which reduces the interior space. However, building it into the interior space results in the problem that the usable volume in the interior space is reduced.

One object of the present invention is to arrange the water filter such that better use is made of the available space.

According to the invention this is achieved by housing the water filter in a central cavity of a coil condenser.

As until now there are usually no components in the central cavities of refrigeration device coil condensers, these can be used for housing the water filters.

By this means a refrigeration device can be equipped with a water filter without the need to reduce the interior space or its usable volume. Housing the water filter in the central cavity of the coil condenser prevents an air stream created by a fan from circumventing the condenser by flowing through the central cavity. Blocking the central cavity thereby becomes redundant.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the water filter is surrounded by a sleeve. This serves to protect the water filter from the heat radiated from the coil condenser.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is advantageous for the sleeve to have surfaces that reflect radiant heat. Mirror-like surfaces, such as those of metallic materials, are particularly suitable. This reduces the exchange of heat between the coil condenser and the water filter.

For this it is appropriate if the water filter includes a filter base and a replaceable filter cartridge installable in said filter base. This enables replacement of the filter cartridge to be performed relatively simply.

It is advantageous if the filter base is located adjacent to a first axial end of the central cavity and the filter cartridge can be inserted into the cavity from the other axial end. This makes particularly effective use of the available space in the central cavity.

It is advantageous for the filter base to be located on the axis outside the cavity. This enables the filter base to be mounted relatively simply in the refrigeration device.

Alternatively a fan motor can be brought into the cavity and the filter base located in the cavity adjacent to the fan motor. If a fan motor is included in the central cavity, the water filter can then be housed in the remaining part of the cavity. The filter base of the water filter can then be mounted adjacent to the fan motor.

In another embodiment of the invention, a drip pan is arranged at least under the filter base 2. This has the effect that when the water filter is replaced, any escaping water is caught in the drip pan and does not reach the interior of the refrigeration device.

The idea of the invention also provides for the ability to insert the filter cartridge into the cavity through an opening formed in an exterior wall of the housing of the refrigeration device. This gives the user easy access to the water filter and enables unproblematic replacement of the filter cartridge. It is then not necessary to open the device when replacing the water filter.

It can also be advantageous to arrange the opening on the front side of the housing. If, for example, the refrigeration device is built into a fitted kitchen or is positioned against a wall, the water filter can be replaced without the need to move the refrigeration device.

In a further embodiment of the invention the cartridge includes a water-tight capsule containing filter material and a handle section attached to the capsule. The filter cartridge is fixed to the handle section removably or non-removably by screwing, latching, adhesive or welding. Since the handle can serve as an extension it makes it possible to mount the filter in places that are otherwise difficult to access. For the design of the filter handle there are many possibilities, such as in terms of shape and color. This enables the production of many filter handles that are clearly different in their appearance. The filter handle can enclose the filter cartridge entirely, partially or not at all. Simply by replacing the filter handle filter cartridges can be distinguished easily.

Finally the capsule can be entirely contained in the housing in such a way that it is protected and not visible to the user; the handle section nevertheless enables the filter cartridge to be handled easily.

Further features and advantages of the invention arise from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

These show:

FIG. 1 a sectional diagram of a refrigeration device;

FIG. 2 a sectional view of a water filter;

FIG. 3 a longitudinal view through a water filter arranged according to the invention;

FIG. 4 a perspective view of a partially cut section of a handle section embodied as in the first preferred embodiment, and an end section of a capsule;

FIG. 5 a longitudinal view through a second arrangement of the water filter;

FIG. 6 a longitudinal view through a third arrangement of the water filter; and

FIG. 7 a plan view of a handle section constructed as in a second preferred embodiment.

The refrigeration device shown schematically in FIG. 1 has a type of housing 11 known per se with a thermally insulated interior space 25 and below the interior space 25 a device base 18 in which a water filter 1 is housed. The device base 18 contains further components such as a compressor and a condenser which are known per se and are not shown here.

The water filter 1 is connected to the process water network of a building by means of a supply line 29 and feeds an automatic ice maker 26 housed in the interior space 25, and a dispenser 27 for cooled drinking water that is housed in a recess in the door 30.

Since valves that are automatically controlled by the water requirement of the ice maker 26 or the dispenser 27 are known per se they are omitted from the drawing.

FIG. 2 shows a section through the water filter 1 and its means of fixing in the device base 18 according to a first embodiment. The means of fixing includes a screw-type or bayonet-type base 2 with a radially oriented inlet 14 and an axially oriented outlet 15. A filter cartridge 3 screwed or latched in the base 2 has a cup-shaped capsule 4 that is equipped adjacent to its open side with an external thread or bayonet ribs that operate in conjunction with the base 2. Along the longitudinal axis of the cup is a tube 31 pierced by a number of holes, of which tube a downstream end 35 at the base 2 is a tight fit around the outlet 15.

Inside the capsule 4 a hollow cylindrical filter body 34 surrounds the tube 31.

FIG. 3 shows schematically the position of the water filter 1. The greater part of the water filter 1 is housed in a central cavity 7 of a coil condenser 6. The filter base 2 is disposed axially external to the central cavity 7. With this arrangement it is appropriate to provide an evaporation tray 13 at least under the filter base 2. By this means, water that may come out of the filter base 2 when the filter cartridge 3 is replaced is caught so that it does not drip on to the coil condenser 6.

Between the water filter 1 and the coil condenser 6 there is a sleeve 8. This sleeve 8 extends over the greater part of the length of the water filter 1. By this means radiant heat of the coil condenser 6 is reflected. A fan not shown here creates a flow of air through the coil condenser 6. Between the sleeve 8 and the handle section 5 there is a first opening 19 through which air can flow into the region between the water filter 1 and the sleeve 8. Between the sleeve 8 and the filter base 2 there is a second opening 20 through which air can flow out of the region between the water filter 1 and the sleeve 8. Air within the sleeve 8 is thus constantly exchanged, so that air that may be warmed despite the shielding by the sleeve 8 is immediately removed. In this manner the water filter 1 is kept cool. Since the water that flows through the water filter is later cooled as drinking water or frozen into ice cubes, it is appropriate that it should not be warmed unnecessarily. The filter cartridge 3 has here a handle section 5 attached to the capsule 4.

FIG. 4 shows the handle section 5 in a preferred embodiment with an end section of the capsule 4 in a partial perspective view. The handle section 5 that is formed as a single piece of plastic has a cup- or dish-shaped section 21 that encloses the opposite end of the capsule 4 to the base 2. By this means a relatively large contact area is achieved that offers various possibilities for joining such as pressing, use of adhesive, welding or latching. From a base surface of the cup- or dish-shaped section there projects a rib 22 that a user can conveniently grasp and rotate in order to remove the filter cartridge 3 without the assistance of a tool.

FIG. 5 shows a second arrangement of the water filter 1 according to the invention within the housing 11 of a refrigerator. Water filter 1, fan motor 10 and coil condenser 6 are arranged adjacent to an opening 12 in the housing 11. They are arranged in such a way that the handle section 5 faces the housing opening 12. The cup-shaped section 21 ends flush with the housing 11. This avoids the user trapping fingers between the handle section 5 and the edge of the opening 12 when removing the filter cartridge 3. The rib 22 protrudes here beyond the housing 11 and so facilitates accessing the rib 22.

Unlike the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the filter base 2 is here within the central cavity 7 of the coil condenser 6. Additionally there is also a fan motor 10 for a fan within the central cavity 7 of the coil condenser 6. Here the fan motor 10 and the water filter 1 are arranged at axially opposite ends of the central cavity 7. Fan motor 10 and filter base 2 are adjacent to each other and consequently the filter base 2 and the fan motor 10 can be affixed next to each other or on a common carrier (not shown).

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has a drip pan 9. This is disposed below the water filter 1 between sleeve 8 and coil condenser 6. It extends axially from the opening 12 in the housing 11 as far as beneath the filter base 2. Additionally an evaporation tray 13 is provided that is here disposed below a drip edge 23 of the drip pan 9. The provision of the drip pan 9 prevents water that may come out when the filter cartridge 3 is changed from reaching the interior of the refrigeration device. Water that comes out when the filter cartridge 3 is changed is caught in the drip pan 9 and led to the evaporation tray 13.

Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the cup-shaped section 21 of the handle section 5 is here recessed in the housing 11. In order to avoid the user trapping fingers between the handle section 5 and the edge of the opening 12 when removing the filter cartridge 3, the handle section is here provided with a ring-shaped ridge 16 that surrounds the rib 22. The upper edges of the ridge 16 and rib 22 are flush with the housing 11.

FIG. 7 shows the front face of the handle section 5 as in FIG. 6 in plan view. Through the provision of two recessed essentially semi-circular finger hollows 17, the fingers of a user are within a ring-shaped ridge 24 when changing the filter cartridge. This avoids the possibility that the fingers can become trapped between the handle section 5 and the housing 11. Between the finger hollows 17 there is a ridge 22 that the user can grasp and rotate.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A refrigeration device comprising:

a water filter; and

a coil condenser having a central cavity; the water filter being located in the central cavity of the coil condenser.

15. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the water filter is surrounded by a sleeve.

16. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sleeve has surfaces that reflect radiated heat.

17. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the water filter includes a filter base and a filter cartridge; the filter cartridge being replaceably installable in the filter base.

18. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the filter base is disposed adjacent to a first axial end of the central cavity and the filter cartridge is insertable into the cavity from the other axial end.

19. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the filter base is disposed axially externally to the central cavity.

20. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 17 further including a fan motor; the fan motor being housed in the central cavity and the filter base being disposed in the central cavity adjacent to the fan motor.

21. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 17 further including a drip pan; the a drip pan being disposed at least beneath the filter base.

22. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 14 further including a housing having an external wall; an opening formed in the external wall; the filter cartridge being insertable into the central cavity through the opening in the external wall of the housing.

23. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the opening is disposed in the front side of the housing.

24. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 17 further including a handle section; the filter cartridge including a water-tight capsule in which filter material is contained; and the handle section being attached to the water-tight capsule.

25. The refrigeration device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the water-tight capsule is entirely contained in the housing.