Refrigeration Device Comprising a Flap Motor Compartment and a Motor Compartment Cover
A refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, including: an evaporator area delimited from the cooling chamber at least partly by an evaporator cover; an air channel located within the evaporator area for guiding air to the cooling chamber; a flap, which is configured to guide air within the air channel; a flap motor, which is configured to operate the flap and which is positioned in a flap motor compartment located within the evaporator area; a motor compartment cover, which is configured to guide water, away from the flap motor compartment.
The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration device.
A refrigeration device can be used to store a variety of goods in a cooling chamber at reduced temperature. The refrigeration device includes a refrigerant circuit, which inter alia comprises an evaporator, which in turn is configured to function as a cooler to cool surrounding air. A fan may be positioned in the refrigeration device to supply the cold air to the cooling chamber through an air channel.
Due to humidity in the air, ice can accumulate on the evaporator and on the fan during a cooling cycle of the refrigeration device. Increasing amounts of surface ice can impair the function of the evaporator and the fan. Therefore, to remove surface ice from said components, a heating element can be activated during a defrost cycle of the refrigeration device. The heating element emits heat, which is transferred to the evaporator to melt surface ice accumulated on the evaporator thereby generating melting water. To collect the melting water, an evaporator tray may be positioned in an evaporator area of the refrigeration device. However, when the melting water exits the evaporator tray in an unregulated way, the exiting melting water can eventually get into contact with electrical components, such as motors or switches and can cause short circuits.
In US 2009/0151387, a refrigeration device is disclosed, which comprises a pivotable flap for controlling the flow of air in an air channel of the refrigeration device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a concept for preventing melting water from getting into contact with electrical components of the refrigeration device.
This object is achieved by way of the features of the independent patent claim. Further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the description and the appended figures.
The present disclosure is based on the finding that the above object can be achieved by a motor compartment cover, which is positioned within the evaporator area and is able to guide water, in particular water arising or being produced within the evaporator area such as melting water, away from the flap motor compartment. Therefore, if melting water exits for example an evaporator tray in an unregulated way, the motor compartment cover ensures that the melting water is guided away from a flap motor and/or other components within the flap motor compartment. Consequently, due to the motor compartment cover, the exiting melting water cannot get into contact with electrical components within the flap motor compartment, thereby preventing electrical short circuits.
A refrigeration device according to the present disclosure refers to a domestic house-hold refrigeration device, which includes any refrigeration device, which is used in the house-hold in homes or in gastronomy. The refrigeration device functions to store food and/or beverages at certain temperatures, and comprises a refrigerator, a freezer, a chest freezer, a fridge-freezer-combination, an ice-box or a wine fridge.
According to an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, comprising an evaporator area delimited from the cooling chamber at least partly by an evaporator cover; an air channel located within the evaporator area for guiding air to the cooling chamber; a flap, which is configured to guide air within the air channel; a flap motor, which is configured to operate the flap and which is positioned in a flap motor compartment located within the evaporator area; a motor compartment cover, which is configured to guide water, away from the flap motor compartment.
According to an example, the present disclosure relates to a refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, comprising an air channel for conducting air to the cooling chamber; an evaporator tray, which is positioned in an evaporator area of the refrigeration device, and which is configured to collect melting water from an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit during a defrost cycle of the refrigeration device; and a fan, which is positioned, in particular behind the evaporator tray, in the evaporator area, and which is configured to supply air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber; wherein the fan comprises a pivotable flap, which is configured to guide air in the air channel, wherein the fan comprises a flap motor compartment, wherein a flap motor for operating the pivotable flap is positioned in the flap motor compartment, and wherein the refrigeration device comprises a motor compartment cover, which is configured to guide melting water, which exits the evaporator tray, away from the flap motor compartment.
As a result of the motor compartment cover, melting water is effectively guided away from the flap motor compartment. Therefore, it is prevented that melting water enters the flap motor compartment and causes potential damage to electrical components in the flap motor compartment, such as the flap motor.
Upon activation of a heating element during the defrost cycle, ice on an evaporator may be melted and the resulting melting water may be collected in an evaporator tray. However, if the melting water cannot be discharged from the evaporator in a controlled way, the melting water can eventually reach the rim of the evaporator tray and could overflow. Since a fan is typically positioned behind the evaporator tray, and the flap motor is typically positioned below the evaporator tray, in conventional refrigeration devices overflowing melting water, which exits the evaporator tray in an unregulated way, can potentially enter the flap motor compartment and could cause damage to electrical components of the fan.
However, according to the present disclosure, the motor compartment cover of the fan protects the flap motor compartment from entering melting water by guiding the melting water away from the flap motor compartment. Therefore, the flap motor located in the flap motor compartment is protected from melting water and any short circuits can be prevented.
The motor compartment cover may prevent not only prevent melting water to enter the flap motor compartment but also may prevent condensed water to enter the flap motor compartment.
According to one example, the refrigeration device further comprises a fan, which is configured to supply air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber and further comprising a fan cover which at least partly embodies the motor compartment cover.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover is at least partly formed integrally with the fan cover. In this context, the term “a first object and a second object being at least partly implemented integrally” is in particular to mean that at least one component of the first object and at least one component of the second object are implemented integrally with each other. “Implemented integrally” is in particular to mean, in this context, connected at least by substance-to-substance bond, e.g. by a welding process, an adhesive bonding, an injection-molding process and/or by another process that is deemed expedient by a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, “implemented integrally” could in particular mean made of one piece. “Made of one piece” is, in particular, to mean, in this context, manufactured from one single piece, e.g. by production from one single cast and/or by manufacturing in a one-component or multi-component injection-molding process, or from a single blank. In case the fan cover is made of two or more pieces, the motor compartment cover may be formed integrally with one of these pieces or one component of the motor compartment cover may be formed integrally with a first piece of the fan cover while a further component of the motor compartment cover may be formed by a second piece of the fan cover. As a result, by forming the fan cover and the motor compartment cover at least partly in one piece, a durable and stable connection between fan cover and motor compartment cover is ensured.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover is made at least partly of plastic. In particular, the motor compartment cover may be a injection molded part. Additionally or alternatively, the motor compartment cover is made at least partly of metal, for example metal sheet. In both ways the motor compartment cover can be formed in an optimized shape to protect the flap motor compartment against melting water.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover is an integral part of the flap motor compartment. In this way not only a simple production may result. Also a water tight connection between walls of the flap motor compartment, e.g. a vertical and/or lateral oriented base and/or a rear wall, and the motor compartment cover can easily be achieved. Alternatively at least one part of the motor compartment cover may be a separate part with respect to the flap motor compartment. In particular said part may be attached to the flap motor compartment either permanently, e.g. by an adhesive joint, or detachably, e.g. by a screw connection and/or may include a sealing to reduce the risk of water entering at the joint.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover closes the flap motor compartment with respect to at least one side or at least two sides or at least three sides or at least four sides or at least five sides. In particular it may not be necessary to completely close the flap motor compartment, since a sufficient prevention of water entering the flap motor compartment can already be achieved in case of at least one side being closed. Furthermore, since the evaporator area is delimited from the cooling chamber by the evaporator cover, it may not be necessary to completely cover of the flap motor compartment in order to prevent a user to unintentionally grab into the flap motor compartment.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover closes the flap motor compartment at least from above or from at least a front side or from at least a lateral side. A lateral side in this context refers to a side being essentially vertical and being essentially parallel to a front to rear direction of the cooling device when standing in front of the cooling device positioned according to its intended use. Closing the flap motor compartment in this way allows an effective prevention of water entering while the production of the flap motor compartment and the assembly of the components therein may still be comparatively simple.
According to one example, the flap motor compartment comprises a compartment opening towards the evaporator area. The compartment opening may be configured to mount or to detach components into or from the flap motor compartment. The compartment opening may be configured to allow wires or cables to enter the flap motor compartment. The compartment opening may be configured to open a lateral side, e.g. a left or right side, of the flap motor compartment. In this case there may be a gap between the compartment opening and the lateral side of the lateral inner wall of the refrigerator casing to which the compartment opening is facing. This gap may allow to assemble or disassemble components within or from the flap motor compartment.
According to one example, the flap motor compartment comprises a compartment opening towards the evaporator area at a lateral side of the flap motor compartment. In this way the compartment opening is oriented such that the likelihood of water entering the flap motor compartment is still low while access to the flap motor compartment for the assembly/disassembly of components within the flap motor compartment may be easily granted.
According to one example, the evaporator area is positioned at a top side of the refrigeration device and extends from a front side of the refrigeration device to a back side of the refrigeration device. As a result of the position of the evaporation area, cold air can be efficiently transferred from the evaporator area through the air channel into the cooling chamber, without significantly limiting the volume of the cooling chamber.
According to one example, the flap motor compartment comprises a switch, which is electrically connected to an electrical system of the refrigeration device and is configured to control the operation of the flap motor. In this way the switch and also a possible connection between the switch and the flap motor is protected from water.
According to one example, the motor compartment cover comprises a first projection facing towards the evaporator tray and a second projection facing away from the evaporator tray. As a result, the first projection and the second projection improve the water guiding properties of the motor compartment cover. When melting water from the evaporator tray flows down onto the motor compartment cover, the water stream is efficiently redirected by the first projection away from the flap motor compartment. When the water stream reaches the second projection the water stream can be redirected to a respective collection element for collecting the melting water.
The motor compartment cover may comprise an exterior surface which is essentially oriented vertically to guide the water away from the flap motor compartment. This exterior surface may also be curved, in particular convexly curved, such that the likelihood of water accumulating and not flowing off this exterior surface is reduced.
According to one example, an exterior surface of the motor compartment cover facing away from the flap motor compartment comprises at least one channeling element, which is configured to channel melt water away from the flap motor compartment. As a result, the channeling element improves the water guiding properties of the motor compartment cover by preventing any uncontrolled water spill originating from the motor compartment cover.
According to one example, the channeling element comprises at least one recess or at least one ridge on a surface of the motor compartment cover. As a result, the at least one recess or ridge can ensure a uniform direction of flow of melting water on the surface of the motor compartment cover.
According to one example, an air-sealing element is positioned at an edge region of the flap motor compartment, wherein the air-sealing element is configured to seal off the air channel to the evaporator area. In this way the flap motor compartment may additionally be used to act as a fitting surface of said air-sealing element.
According to one example, the flap motor drives an eccentric element, which is positioned in the flap motor compartment, wherein the eccentric element may drive a flap pin of the flap, wherein the flap pin may be positioned in the flap motor compartment, and wherein the flap pin may operate the flap. As a result, an effective operation of the flap by the flap motor can be ensured. The eccentric element converts the rotational movement of the flap motor into a longitudinal movement, which is transmitted to the flap pin. Consequently, the flap pin movement is transmitted to the flap, thereby moving the flap in the corresponding position to guide air in the air channel.
According to one example, the flap motor is connected to an electrical system of the refrigeration device by an electrical cable. As a result an effective functioning of the flap motor is ensured.
According to one example, the fan comprises a fan motor housing, and wherein a fan motor for operating the fan is positioned in the fan motor housing. In case the fan cover and the motor compartment cover are least partly be embodied integrally, assembling both motors within these covers allows for a compact design of these covers.
Further examples of the principles and techniques of that disclosure are explained in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
The refrigeration device 100 comprises a refrigerator door 101 and a refrigerator casing 102, wherein the refrigerator door 101 closes a cooling chamber 103 of the refrigeration device 100.
The refrigeration device 100 comprises one or several refrigerant circuits each comprising an evaporator, compressor, condenser and throttle. The evaporator is a heat exchanger, wherein the liquid refrigerant is vaporized after expanding by heat-uptake from the external medium, e.g. air. The compressor is a mechanically operated device, which pumps refrigerant vapor from the evaporator to the condenser at an increased pressure. The condenser is a heat exchanger wherein after compression the refrigerant vapor is liquidized by transferring heat from the refrigerant to an external medium, e.g. air. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a ventilator to provide an air-flow to the condenser to efficiently cool the condenser. The throttle is a device to reduce the pressure by reducing the diameter within the refrigerant circuit, e.g. by using capillary tubes. The refrigerant is a fluid, which takes up heat at low temperatures and low pressure and transfers heat at higher temperatures and higher pressure.
A cross-section of the refrigeration device 100 is shown, which comprises a refrigerator casing 102 at a rear side 104 of the refrigeration device 100. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a cooling chamber 103 capable of storing goods at low temperature, e.g. at a temperature between 4° C. and 8° C., wherein the cooling chamber 103 is only schematically depicted in
An evaporator area 106-1 is positioned in the refrigeration device 100 at a top side 105 and extends from a front side 107 to the back side 104 of the refrigeration device 100. An air channel 106-2 is connected to the evaporator area 106-1 and to the cooling chamber 103 to conduct air from the evaporator area 106-1 to the cooling chamber 103.
In the evaporator area 106-1, an evaporator 108 of a refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration device 100 is positioned. The evaporator 108 functions as a heat exchanger, wherein the liquid refrigerant is vaporized by heat-uptake from air after expansion of the refrigerant, which results in cooling of the air surrounding the evaporator 108.
Further, a fan 109 is positioned in the evaporator area 106-1 behind the evaporator 108. The fan 109 comprises a fan cover 110, which encloses a fan motor housing with a fan motor for powering the fan 109. During a cooling cycle of the refrigeration device 100, the fan 109 draws in air from the evaporator area 106-1, wherein the air passes the evaporator 108 in a direction of flow 111 and is cooled by the evaporator 108. Inside the fan 109, the direction of flow 111 of the cold air is changed and the cooled air is transferred to the air channel 106-2 and further into the cooling chamber 103.
To control the air flow, the fan 109 comprises a pivotable flap 112, which is not depicted in
Because of the low surface temperatures of the evaporator 108 and the fan 109, which occur during cooling cycles of the refrigeration device 100, and because of the humidity present in the air, surface ice can accumulate on the evaporator 108, thereby eventually preventing a proper function of the evaporator 108.
Therefore, to remove the surface ice from the evaporator 108, a heating element 115, which is positioned in the evaporation area 106-1, is activated during a defrost cycle of the refrigeration device 100 to melt the surface ice accumulated on the evaporator 108, thereby generating melt water. The heating element 115 comprises a metal sheet, which is positioned at a bottom side 116 of the evaporator area 106-1. Since the evaporator 108 is positioned on the bottom side 116 of the evaporator area 106-1 in an inclined way, the melt water 117 flows along the surface of the bottom side 116 and is collected in an evaporator tray 118. After several defrost cycles, the amount of melt water 117 in the evaporator tray 118 can eventually reach the rim of the evaporator tray 118 and might overflow.
In conventional designs, melt water 117, which flows out of the evaporator tray 118 in an unregulated way can eventually reach the flap motor compartment 114 and flap motor 113 positioned therein, which are positioned below the evaporator tray 118 in the evaporator area 106-1. The melt water 117 could potentially damage the flap motor 113 and/or could potentially cause a short circuit in the electrical system of the flap motor 113.
Thereby, according to the present disclosure, to prevent any melt water 117 from entering the flap motor compartment 114, the fan cover 110 is complemented with a motor compartment cover 119, which closes off the flap motor compartment 114 from above and from front. The motor compartment cover 119 is configured to provide a layer of protection against the exterior of the flap motor compartment 114. The motor compartment cover 119 is configured to guide melt water 117 away from the flap motor compartment 114, so that the melt water 117 flows along the surface of the motor compartment cover 119 in a water flow direction 120 and is thereby removed from the evaporator tray 118 without the risk of damaging the flap motor 113.
Therefore, by complementing the fan cover 110 with a motor compartment cover 119 to close off the flap motor compartment 114 at least partly, the complexity of the assembly of the fan 109 is not increased, which means that no extra tool or extra manufacturing efforts are necessary to partly close off the flap motor compartment 114. Melt water 117 flows along the exterior surface of the motor compartment cover 119 without entering the flap motor compartment 114, thereby reducing the risk of any short circuits occurring in the electrical system of the flap motor 113.
An evaporator cover 132 delimits the evaporator area 106-1 from the cooling chamber. The evaporator cover 132 prevents a user from grabbing into the flap motor compartment 114.
The fan 109 for supplying air from the air channel 106-2 into a cooling chamber 103 of the refrigeration device 100 comprises a fan cover 110, which encloses a fan motor housing with a fan motor for powering the fan 109, wherein the fan motor housing and the fan motor are not depicted in
To control the air flow through the air channel 106-2, the fan 109 comprises a pivotable flap 112, which is not depicted in
However, in conventional designs, melt water 117, which flows out of an evaporator tray 118 in an unregulated way can eventually reach the flap motor compartment 114 and flap motor 113 positioned therein. The melt water 117 could potentially damage the flap motor 113 and/or could potentially cause a short circuit in the electrical system of the flap motor 113. To prevent melt water 117 from entering the flap motor compartment 114, the motor compartment cover 119 is configured to provide a layer of protection in addition to the fan cover 110 against the exterior of the flap motor compartment 114. The motor compartment cover 119 is configured to guide melt water 117 away from the flap motor compartment 114, so that the melt water 117 flows along the surface of the motor compartment cover 119 in a water flow direction 120 and is thereby removed from the evaporator tray 118 without the risk of damaging the flap motor 113.
The motor compartment cover 119 comprises an interior roof surface 124 facing towards the flap motor compartment 114 and comprises an exterior roof surface 125 facing away from the flap motor compartment 114, and wherein the motor compartment cover 119 is configured to guide melting water on the exterior roof surface 125 away from the flap motor compartment 114. The motor compartment cover 119 may be formed as a plastic or metal sheet, which is adjusted to the shape of the fan cover 110, however in this case the motor compartment cover 119 is embodied as an integral part of the fan cover 110.
The motor compartment cover 119 comprises a first projection 126 facing towards the evaporator 108 and comprises a second projection 127 facing away from the evaporator 108. When melting water from the evaporator tray 118 flows down onto the motor compartment cover 119, the water stream is efficiently redirected by the first projection 126 away from the flap motor compartment 114. When the water stream reaches the second projection 127, the water stream can be redirected to a respective collection element for collecting the melting water 117.
The fan 109 for supplying air from an evaporator area 106-1 through an air channel 106-2 into a cooling chamber 103 of the refrigeration device 100 comprises a fan cover 110, which encloses a fan motor housing with a fan motor for powering the fan 109, wherein the fan motor housing and the fan motor are not depicted in
To control the air flow through the air channel 106-2, the fan 109 comprises a pivotable flap 112, which is depicted in
The eccentric element 128 and the flap pin 122 are connected to a fixation element 129, which positions the eccentric element 128 and the flap pin 122 at the fan cover 110. Further, in the flap motor compartment 114 an electrical switch 130 is positioned, which is configured to connect the flap motor 113 with an electrical system of the refrigeration device 100.
In the flap motor compartment 114 an air-sealing element 131, in particular a sponge, is positioned at an edge region of the flap motor compartment 114, wherein the air-sealing element is configured to seal off the air channel 106-2 to the evaporator area 106-1.
While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept and scope of the disclosure. Such variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after inspection of the specification and the drawings. The disclosure therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of any appended claims.
The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:
- 100 refrigeration device
- 101 refrigerator door
- 102 refrigerator casing
- 103 cooling chamber
- 104 rear side
- 105 top side
- 106-1 evaporator area
- 106-2 air channel
- 107 front side
- 108 evaporator
- 109 fan
- 110 fan cover
- 111 direction of flow
- 112 pivotable flap
- 113 flap motor
- 114 flap motor compartment
- 115 heating element
- 116 bottom side of the evaporator area
- 117 melt water
- 118 evaporator tray
- 119 motor compartment cover
- 120 water flow direction
- 121 compartment opening
- 122 flap pin
- 123 electrical cable
- 124 interior roof surface
- 125 exterior roof surface
- 126 first projection
- 127 second projection
- 128 eccentric element
- 129 fixation element
- 130 electrical switch
- 131 sealing element
- 132 evaporator cover
Claims
1. Refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, comprising:
- an evaporator area delimited from the cooling chamber at least partly by an evaporator cover;
- an air channel located within the evaporator area for guiding air to the cooling chamber;
- a flap, which is configured to guide air within the air channel;
- a flap motor, which is configured to operate the flap and which is positioned in a flap motor compartment located within the evaporator area;
- a motor compartment cover, which is configured to guide water, away from the flap motor compartment.
2. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan, which is configured to supply air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber and further comprising a fan cover which at least partly embodies the motor compartment cover.
3. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the motor compartment cover is at least partly formed integrally with the fan cover.
4. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the motor compartment cover is made at least partly of plastic.
5. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the motor compartment cover is an integral part of the flap motor compartment.
6. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the motor compartment cover closes the flap motor compartment with respect to at least one side or at least two sides or at least three sides or at least four sides or at least five sides.
7. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the motor compartment cover closes the flap motor compartment at least from above or at least from a front side or at least from a lateral side.
8. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the flap motor compartment comprises a compartment opening towards the evaporator area.
9. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the flap motor compartment comprises a compartment opening towards the evaporator area at a lateral side of the flap motor compartment.
10. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the flap motor compartment comprises a compartment opening towards the evaporator area and components located within the flap motor compartment are mountable and/or detachable from the flap motor compartment in a mounted state of the motor compartment cover through that compartment opening.
11. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the flap motor drives an eccentric element, which is positioned in the flap motor compartment, wherein the eccentric element drives a flap pin of the flap, wherein the flap pin is positioned in the flap motor compartment, and wherein the flap pin operates the flap.
12. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator area is positioned at a top side of the refrigeration device and extends from a front side of the refrigeration device to a back side of the refrigeration device.
13. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the flap motor compartment comprises a switch, which is electrically connected to an electrical system of the refrigeration device and is configured to control the operation of the flap motor.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 2, 2016
Publication Date: Jun 7, 2018
Inventors: MESUT FARUK COEMERT (ISTANBUL), NECATI BORA GUEREL (TEKIRDAG), DENIZ KAYACAN (ISTANBUL)
Application Number: 15/367,495
