COOLING DEVICE

Abstract

Preventing the flow of the ambient air into the cabinet (2) by closing the discharge pipe (4) under normal conditions, balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure by opening into the cabinet (2) from the side of the ambient air when the cabinet (2) interior pressure drops and discharging the water in the cabinet (2) especially after defrosting, outside of the cabinet (2) is accomplished by utilizing the valve (5) which is the object of the present invention.

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a valve which provides the balancing of the pressure imbalanced during opening, closing of the door and discharging the water created especially during the defrost process.

Cooling device of the current state-of-the-art comprises a cooling cabinet and a door which is attached to the cooling cabinet, to be opened or closed by the help of a hinge, providing access to the cooling cabinet. The cooling cabinet is insulated from the outer surroundings in a leak-proof manner when the door is closed. Frosting occurs around the evaporator during the cooling process. This frost is melted by various defrost methods, the melted water is discharged with the help of a drain pipe, one end of which opens into the cooling cabinet and the other to the outside of the cabinet, that is to the ambient atmosphere. The water discharged to outside of the cabinet is transferred to a collector unit situated preferably in the section of the cooling device where the compressor cabinet is positioned.

In cooling devices where forced air circulation is made especially by a fan, when the door is opened/closed, the fan starts operating and draws the air towards the evaporator, causing the pressure inside the cabinet to drop results in a vacuum effect in the cabinet. An additional force needs to be exerted to overcome this pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the cooling cabinet when the door of the cooling cabinet is desired to be opened again.

Furthermore the discharge pipe discharging the water collected in the cooling cabinet is the only exit passage of the cabinet to the atmosphere. As a vacuum is formed inside the cabinet due to the opening and closing of the door or other causes, air is sucked into the cabinet from the end of the discharge pipe opening to the ambient atmosphere. If the amount of water in the discharge pipe or in the collecting unit where the end of the discharge pipe opens is more than enough, water and air is sucked into the cabinet until the cabinet pressure is in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure. During this involuntary process, the noise generated by the air and water mixture flowing through the discharge pipe can reach a level that is annoying to the user.

The discharge pipe being the only place that is open to the ambient atmosphere while the door of the cabinet is closed, will also result in temperature and pressure abnormalities in the cooling cabinet, in addition to all the above explained adversities.

In the current state of the art, the discharge pipe is made in a “U” shape so that some amount of water stays in the pipe—especially water from the defrost process—preventing the air which is comparably warmer than the cooling cabinet medium to flow into the cooling cabinet from the end of the discharge pipe that is open to atmospheric pressure, disrupting the temperature and pressure balance of the cabinet. However the entrapping of water in the “U” shaped discharge pipe prevents the flow of air into and out of the cabinet. Since the flow of air from the ambient atmosphere into the cabinet to eradicate the pressure imbalance is blocked by the water entrapped in the discharge pipe, as a result the pressure imbalance in the cabinet can not be adjusted and opening the cooling device door requires the exertion of a larger force.

In the current state of the art, in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,514, a description is given of a refrigerator comprising a “U” shaped discharge pipe and a one way valve positioned above the maximum level of the trapped water, wherein the valve allows the flow from the atmosphere to the inside of the food storage compartment. While an air inflow from the end of the discharge pipe open to the atmosphere towards the end opening into the compartment is prevented by the water accumulated in the “U” shaped pipe, the imbalance of pressure created by the opening, closing of the refrigerator door is also prevented by the valve on the side surface of the discharge pipe opening into the compartment which stays open until the compartment pressure is in equilibrium with the atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, the noise generated during the flow of the above explained air-water mixture through the discharge pipe is also prevented by this valve.

Another embodiment of the current state of the art is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,942. In this embodiment, a chamber where some amount of water is collected and a by-pass air passage between the water drain conduit and said chamber is described. In an alternative embodiment of this patent document the description is given for a movable closure device that rises or falls, acting as a float, in response to the level of trapped water inside the chamber to close the said air passage opening to the ambient air.

The object of the present invention is to design a cooling device comprising a valve which prevents the temperature and pressure abnormalities inside the cooling cabinet and also provides the discharging of especially the defrost water.

The cooling device designed to fulfill the objective of the present invention is shown in the attached figures where:

FIG. 1—is the schematic view of a cooling device.

FIG. 2—is the schematic top view of a valve.

FIG. 3—is the schematic top view of a flap valve.

FIG. 4—is the schematic view of a valve when it is in closed position.

FIG. 5—is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 6—is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid collected in the cabinet is discharged.

FIG. 7—is the schematic view of a valve comprising a stopper.

FIG. 8—is the schematic view of a valve in a closed position in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9—is the schematic view of a valve when the cabinet interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10—is the schematic view of a valve while the fluid collected in the cabinet is discharged in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11—is the schematic view of a valve comprising a stopper in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12—is the schematic view of a valve in closed position attached to the discharge pipe by snap-fitting method.

FIG. 13—is the schematic view of a valve attached to the discharge pipe by snap-fitting method when the cabinet interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure.

FIG. 14—is the schematic view of a valve attached to the discharge pipe by snap-fitting method while the fluid collected in the cabinet is being discharged.

Elements shown in figures are numbered as follows:

• 1. Cooling device
• 2. Cooling cabinet
• 3. Door
• 4. Discharge pipe
• 5. Valve
• 6. First flap valve
• 7. Second flap valve
• 8. Opening
• 9. Stopper
• 100., 101. Hinge

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises one or more cooling cabinets (2) where items to be cooled are stored, a door (3) serving to close the cooling cabinet (2) and allowing the user to access the items stored inside the cooling cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4) one end of which opens into the cooling cabinet (2) and the other end outside the cooling cabinet (2), a valve (5) positioned inside and/or over the dischargepipe (4) , opening and/or closing the discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the cooling cabinet (2) thereby balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure and at the same time providing the discharge of fluid collected in the cabinet (2), water resulting from defrost process for example, outside of the cabinet (2) (FIG. 1).

The valve (5) comprises, each moving independently in different directions, a first flap valve (6) opening and/or closing the discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the cabinet (2) via the discharge pipe (4) when opened, and a second flap valve (7) on which the first flap valve (6) is mounted, moving to open in the opposite direction of the opening direction of the first flap valve (6), providing the discharge of the fluid in the cabinet (2) out of the cabinet (2) via the discharge pipe (4) (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first and a second flap valve (6 and 7), one inserted into the other, is utilized in the valve (5). In this embodiment, the valve (5) comprises a hinge (100) providing the attachment of the second flap valve (7) on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4), an opening (8) on the second flap valve (7) which is the first flap valve (6) opens, closes, and a hinge (101) providing the attachment of the first flap valve (6) on the second flap valve (7) (FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6).

The hinges (100 and 101) which movably attach the second flap valve (7) to the wall of the discharge pipe (4) to be opened or closed, and movably attach the first flap valve (6) on the second flap valve (7) to be opened or closed, allows the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) to be opened or closed with a minimum amount of force exerted on them.

The second flap valve (7) opens towards the atmosphere in the direction of the gravitational force as a result of the weight of the water collected on it. The second flap valve (7) is formed in conformity with the structure of the discharge pipe (4) (FIG. 6, FIG. 10 and FIG. 14).

The first flap valve (6) opens towards the interior of the cabinet (2) in the direction of the air flow formed from high pressure side to low pressure when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is lower than atmospheric pressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG. 13).

Each of the first flap valve (6) and the second flap valve (7) can move independently. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second flap valve (7) can be opened when the first flap valve (6) is closed, and the first flap valve (6) can be opened when the second flap valve (7) is closed.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve (5) comprises a stopper (9) situated on the inner wall of the dischargepipe (4) preventing the second flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4) to move in a direction from the atmosphere towards the inside of the cabinet (2) (FIG. 7 and FIG. 11). The stopper (9) avoids the second flap valve (7) from opening in the other direction, that is, towards the inside of the cabinet (2).

The valve (5), preferably positioned on the end of the discharge pipe (4) that opens to the atmosphere, prevents the flow of the air into the cabinet (2) from the open end of the discharge pipe (4) by closing the discharge pipe (4) entirely since it is in a closed position under normal conditions, i.e., when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is in equilibrium and when there is no fluid flowing in the discharge pipe (4) from the cabinet (2), when both of the first flap valve (6) and the second flap valve (7) are closed. Thus the unbalancing of the cabinet (2) interior temperature and the cabinet (2) interior pressure by the inflow of ambient air which is warmer than the cabinet (2) interior is prevented (FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 12).

The first flap valve (6) which is situated in the valve (5) that is normally in a closed position, opens without resisting to the inflow of atmospheric air that is higher in pressure compared to the cabinet (2) interior pressure and allows the inflow of air into the cabinet (2) when the cabinet (2) interior pressure drops below the atmospheric pressure due to the opening, closing of the cooling device (1) door (3) or for any other reason. The air flows in through the end of the discharge pipe (4) opening to the ambient air into the discharge pipe (4), flowing through the gap opened by the first flap valve (6) and reaches inside the cabinet (2) from the end of the discharge pipe (4) extending into the cabinet (2) in this case. This inflow of air goes on until the cabinet (2) interior pressure reaches the level of the atmospheric pressure, the first flap valve (6) closes the discharge pipe (4) and disallows more air inflow into the cabinet (2) when the pressure exerted on the first flap valve (6) is lifted because the inflow of air stops is when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is equalized with the atmospheric pressure (FIG. 5, FIG. 9 and FIG. 13).

When there is any fluid that must be discharged from the cabinet (2) for various reasons , —water after defrost process, for example—this fluid is transferred to the discharge pipe (4) to be discharged out of the cabinet (2). The fluid reaching the discharge pipe (4) flows through the discharge pipe (4) and collects over the valve (5) which is in a closed position under normal conditions. The second flap valve (7) actuates around its end attached to the valve (5) and opens to discharge the fluid out of the cabinet (2) through the discharge pipe (4) when the amount of the accumulated fluid on the second flap valve (7) and the first flap valve (6) situated on the valve (5) increases (FIG. 6, FIG. 10 and FIG. 14).

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the valve (5) is attached to the end of the discharge pipe (4) by snap-fitting method. The valve (5) is produced of preferably rubber material and the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) open, close owing to the elastic feature of the material only, without the need to use any hinges. In this embodiment the valve (5) is produced in one-piece, the opening, closing of the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) is accomplished by changing the thickness of the material on the sections of the valve (5) and the discharge pipe (4) where the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) will be attached, whereby these sections with changed material thickness act as hinges (FIG. 12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14).

Preventing the inflow of ambient air into the cabinet (2) by closing the discharge pipe (4) under normal conditions, balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure by opening into the cabinet (2) from the side of the ambient air when the cabinet (2) interior pressure drops and discharging the water in the cabinet (2) outside of the cabinet (2) especially after defrosting is accomplished by utilizing the valve (5), the object of the present invention.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) comprising one or more cooling cabinets (2) where items to be cooled are stored, a door (3) serving to close the cooling cabinet (2) and allowing the user to access the items stored inside the cooling cabinet (2), a discharge pipe (4) one end of which extends into the cooling cabinet (2) and the other end outside the cooling cabinet (2), and characterized by a valve (5), having a first flap valve (6) opening into the discharge pipe (4), allowing the inflow of ambient air into the cabinet (2) and a second flap valve (7) on which the first flap valve (6) is mounted, moving in the opposite direction of the opening direction of the first flap valve (6), providing the discharge of fluid in the cabinet (2) out of the cabinet (2), opening and/or closing the discharge pipe (4), allowing the flow of the ambient air into the cooling cabinet (2) thereby balancing the cabinet (2) interior pressure and providing the discharge of fluid collected in the cabinet (2) outside of the cabinet (2).

2. A cooling device (1) as in claim 1, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6) and a second flap valve (7), one inserted into the other.

3. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4) by a hinge (100).

4. A cooling device (1) as in claim 2 or 3, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7) having an opening (8) on it.

5. A cooling device (1) as in claim 4, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6) mounted on the second flap valve (7) by a hinge (101), opening or closing the opening (8) on the second flap valve (7) by moving independently from the second flap valve (7).

6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a second flap valve (7) which opens to the atmosphere as a result of the weight of the water collected over it.

7. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a first flap valve (6) which opens towards the interior of the cabinet (2) in the direction of the air inflow formed from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, when the cabinet (2) interior pressure is lower than the atmospheric pressure.

8. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a valve (5) comprising a stopper (9) on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4), which prevents the second flap valve (7) mounted on the inner wall of the discharge pipe (4) moving in a direction from the atmosphere towards the inside of the cabinet (2).

9. A cooling device (1) as in any claim 1, characterized by a valve (5) attached on the discharge pipe (4) by snap-fitting method.

10. A cooling device (1) as in claim 9, characterized by a valve (5) produced as a single-piece.

11. A cooling device (1) as in claim 9 or 10, characterized by a valve (5) in which the opening, closing of the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) is accomplished by changing the thickness of the material on the sections where the first and second flap valves (6 and 7) are attached, whereby these sections with changed material thickness act as hinges.