Abstract:
A refrigeration appliance has a supply pipe for connecting the refrigeration appliance to a water supply connection and has a controllable safety valve in the supply pipe of the refrigeration appliance for shutting off the water supply connection. The refrigeration appliance further contains a leak detection device for detecting a leak in a water circuit, which leak detection device contains a micro-switch for interrupting a current supply to the safety valve when a leak is detected.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance with a supply pipe for connecting the refrigeration appliance to a water supply connection and with a controllable safety valve in the supply pipe of the refrigeration appliance for shutting off the water supply connection. 
     The publication DE 11 2006 000 552 T5 describes a cooling apparatus with a fluid supply system for a user apparatus with a protective system, in order to prevent an overflow resulting from a possible escape of fluid. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object underlying the invention to specify a refrigeration appliance with water-bearing components, in which the refrigeration appliance and its environment are largely protected from the possible consequences of a water leak. 
     This object is achieved by the subject matter with the features as claimed in the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention form the subject matter of the figures, the description and the dependent claims. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a refrigeration appliance having a supply pipe for connecting the refrigeration appliance to a water supply connection and a controllable safety valve in the supply pipe of the refrigeration appliance for shutting off the water supply connection, which comprises a leak detection device for detecting a leak within a water circuit comprising a micro-switch for interrupting a current supply to the safety valve when a leak is detected. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that a current circuit is interrupted if a leak occurs and a short-circuit is prevented. 
     A refrigeration appliance is understood in particular to mean a domestic refrigeration appliance, in other words a refrigeration appliance which is used to manage the household in homes or in the field of gastronomy, and serves in particular to store foodstuffs and/or beverages at specific temperatures, like for instance a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge/freezer combination, a chest freezer or a wine chiller. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance has a controllable function valve for outputting water from the water circuit. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the water circuit can be shut off redundantly by two independent valves. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance is embodied to interrupt a current supply to the function valve when a leak is detected. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that in addition to shutting off a water supply connection of the refrigeration device, the output of water to an output device is also shut off. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance includes a valve housing, in which the function valve and the leak detection device are arranged. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that an unwanted escape of water from the function valve is detected. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, a non-return valve is arranged in the water circuit between the safety valve and the function valve. As a result, the technical advantage is likewise achieved for instance in that an unwanted escape of water from the refrigeration appliance is prevented. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the function valve is embodied to shut off the output of water if a current supply is interrupted. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the output of water is blocked, as soon as the current supply is interrupted by the micro-switch or another fault, like for instance a cable break. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the function valve is integrated in a supply pipe behind the safety valve. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the design of the refrigeration appliance is simplified. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the leak detection device comprises a collection trough for collecting leakage water. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that an escape of leakage water out of the refrigeration appliance is prevented. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the leak detection device comprises a float for detecting the leakage water level in the collection trough. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the leakage water level is detected in a simple and reliable manner. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the float is connected to the micro-switch by way of a lever. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the float and the micro-switch are arranged separated from one another and the micro-switch is protected from moisture. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the safety valve is embodied to shut off the water supply connection if a current supply is interrupted. As a result, the technical advantage is likewise achieved for instance in that the water supply connection of the refrigeration appliance is blocked, as soon as the current supply is interrupted by the micro-switch or another fault, like for instance a cable break. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, a non-return valve is arranged between the safety valve and the water supply connection. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that an unwanted backflow of water out of the refrigeration appliance, for instance when the refrigeration appliance is separated from the water supply, is prevented. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance comprises a control facility for controlling the safety valve and/or the function valve. For instance the control facility comprises a microprocessor. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the control facility can control the safety valve and the function valve in a flexible manner as a function of different parameters. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance comprises an alarm sensor for outputting an alarm when a leak is detected. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that a user is warned of the unwanted escape of water and can introduce countermeasures. 
     In a further advantageous embodiment of the refrigeration appliance, the valve housing comprises a plug-in connection for supplying the leak detection device with electrical energy. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved for instance in that the valve housing can be easily connected to an electrical power supply upon assembly of the refrigeration appliance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and described in more detail below, in which 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a refrigeration appliance; 
         FIG. 2  shows a refrigeration appliance with water supply; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a design of a valve housing and further function components. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a refrigerator which is representative of a general refrigeration appliance  100 . The refrigerator serves for instance to cool foodstuffs and comprises a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a throttle organ. The evaporator is a heat exchanger, in which, after expansion the liquid refrigerant is evaporated through the heat uptake from the medium to be cooled, i.e. the air inside the refrigerator. 
     The compressor is a mechanically operated component, which draws refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and strikes the condenser at a higher pressure. The condenser is a heat exchanger in which after compression the evaporated coolant is condensed through heat output to an outer cooling medium, i.e. the ambient air. The throttle organ is an apparatus for constantly reducing the pressure by means of cross-sectional tapering. 
     The coolant is a fluid, which is used to transmit heat in the cold-generating system, which absorbs heat at low temperatures and low pressure of the fluid, and outputs heat at a higher temperature and higher pressure of the fluid, wherein status changes in the fluid are usually effected. 
       FIG. 2  shows a water supply in the refrigeration appliance  100  viewed from the front of the appliance. The refrigeration appliance  100  is connected to an external water supply and is equipped with an automatic ice and/or water dispenser with corresponding water-bearing components. The refrigeration appliance  100  is connected to an external water supply connection  117  by means of a supply pipe  127 , which forms a supply line from the water supply connection  117 . The supply pipe  127  comprises an electrical safety valve  121 , which is arranged directly on the water supply connection  117  and is controlled by the refrigeration appliance  100 . The safety valve  121  is disposed at the start of the supply pipe  127 . 
     The safety valve  121  serves as a water valve in the water circuit of the refrigeration appliance  100  and shuts off the line pressure to the external water supply connection  117 , so that the subsequent water circuit is connected without pressure inside the refrigeration appliance  100 . 
     The supply pipe  127  has an inner pipe  125 , which directs the water from the water supply connection  117  to the refrigeration appliance  100  and an outer pipe  123 , which surrounds the inner pipe  125  and directs the possible leakage water from the inner pipe  125  or the safety valve  121  and its connecting points to a collection trough  103 . The supply pipe  127  is connected to a valve housing  113 , which is arranged inside the refrigeration appliance  100  and comprises a leak detection device  101 . A water line  111  leads from the function valve and the valve housing  113  to an automatic ice dispenser  139  and/or to another water output. 
     The collection trough  103  for the leakage water is integrated in the valve housing  113 . The valve housing  113  serves at the same time as a receiving housing for a function valve and for the components which are responsible for the leak detection. Leakage points inside the refrigeration appliance  100  can appear in particular at connecting points or connection points of different water-bearing components. 
     The elastic water line  111  is directed by a drainage tube  109  to the pipe guide, which is placed in the insulation foam of the refrigeration appliance  100 . The drainage tube  109  serves for simple pipe laying. Moreover, the drainage tube  109  serves to discharge the leakage water, which can occur in the course of the water line  111  and the connecting points thereof to further components. For this purpose, the empty conduits  109  are connected to the valve housing  113  so that the leakage water is routed into the collection trough  103  inside the valve housing  113 . In particular, the connecting points and transitions between different water-bearing components can be protected from the escape of water by means of the surrounding empty conduits  109 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a design of the valve housing  113  and further function components. The refrigeration appliance  100  comprises the safety valve  121  on the water supply connection  117  and the function valve  115  inside the refrigeration appliance  100 . The function valve  115  enables a controlled water flow in order to output water from the water circuit. The safety valve  121  is a valve without a flow control for the complete release or stopping of the water supply. 
     The safety valve  121  and the function valve  115  are connected in series. The function valve  115  is arranged downstream of the safety valve  121  in the water circuit in the direction of the water flow. Even if one of the two valves should no longer be able to close a water supply due to a malfunction, in this case the water supply can be closed by the other of the two valves. The water supply can therefore be completely closed even with a temporarily dripping valve. 
     Both the safety valve  121  and also the function valve  115  can be electrically connected by a control facility. Both a simultaneous and also a time-displaced switching-on and off of the valves are possible on account of the electronic control of the valves. 
     The water-bearing components and their water supply connections are arranged in the valve housing  113  such that potentially escaping leakage water is collected in the collection trough  103 . The collection trough  103  has an overflow  105  for collected leakage water. The overflow  105  serves on the one hand to protect the electrical components from increasing leakage water and on the other hand to discharge the excess leakage water. 
     In order to collect this excess leakage water, the collection trough  103  is arranged above an evaporation tray  107 . The actual purpose of the evaporation tray  107  is to collect condensate water from the refrigeration appliance  100 . On account of the arrangement of the collection trough  103  above the evaporation tray  107 , an additional collection volume is produced for the leakage water, so that the valve housing  113  can itself be embodied in as compact a manner as possible. 
     The leakage water is guided to the collection trough  103  as part of the leak detection device  101 . A float  131  is arranged there, which floats due to the rising leakage water and actuates a micro-switch  129  by way of a switch lever  133 . The collection trough  103  inside the valve housing  113  has a small collection volume for leakage water. In order to actuate the micro-switch  129  using the float  131  in the event of a leak, only a small volume of water is therefore required. As a result, the advantage is achieved in that a leak can be reliably detected even with small quantities of escaping water. If further water flows out of the leak, this is routed in a controlled manner by way of the overflow  105  to the evaporation tray  107  with a larger collection volume. The collection trough  103  is arranged above the evaporation tray  107  so that water flows from the overflow  105  into the evaporation tray  107  on account of the gravity in the evaporation tray. For this purpose, the overflow  105  can be connected to the evaporation tray  107  by means of a pipe. 
     As a result, both a detection of the leak by small quantities of leakage water and also an escape of the leakage water can be prevented. Moreover, on account of the small collection volume of the collection trough  103 , the valve housing  117  can be produced in a compact form. 
     The micro-switch  129  is thus integrated into the current circuit of the safety valve  121 , such that it interrupts the current supply to the safety valve  121 . The current supply is provided for instance by a current supply network. This ensures that in the event of a leakage, the safety valve  121  is mechanically separated from the current supply. Current lines and the line connector inside the refrigeration appliance  100  are arranged spatially such that these do not come into contact with water. To this end, water-bearing components and possible leakage points are arranged below the electrical power lines and plugs. 
     As a result, the safety valve  121  is closed in the event of a leak and the water flow to the refrigeration appliance  100  is interrupted at the connecting point with the water supply. The actuated micro-switch  129  outputs a signal to a control facility, so that a current supply to the function valve  115  is likewise interrupted by way of the control facility. With an interrupted current supply, both the function valve  115  and also the safety valve  121  are in the closed state. If the current supply is interrupted, the valves close automatically. The direct interruption of the current supply offers mechanically a maximum switch-off safety. If a water leak is detected by the leak detection device  101  using the micro-switch  129 , a visible or audible alarm is output to the control panel of the refrigeration appliance  100 . 
     Moreover, a non-return valve  133  is integrated in the valve housing  113  between the safety valve  121  and the function valve  115 . The non-return valve  133  prevents an uncontrolled flowing out of water from the water circuit of the refrigeration appliance, for instance if the refrigeration appliance  100  is separated from an external water supply during disassembly. Moreover, the non-return valve  133  prevents the water disposed in the refrigeration appliance  100  from flowing back into the domestic water line. This can be achieved in a particularly reliable and space-saving manner by using the non-return valve  133  inside the water circuit. Contrary to other domestic appliances, like for instance dishwashers, which use a free flow path, the use of the non-return valve  133  in the water circuit of the refrigeration appliance  100  is possible without any problem, since the water in the water circuit of the refrigeration appliance  100  does not carry dirt residues with it and has a high water quality. 
     The laying of water lines  111  in the refrigeration appliance  100  takes place by way of empty conduits  109 , into which pipes are guided. These empty conduits  109  are used to guide the leakage water from the water-bearing components to the collection trough  103 . For this purpose the valve housing  113  has an empty conduit connection  135  with a pipe output  143 . The intake pipe  127  from the safety valve  121  is connected at one connection  119  with a pipe input with the valve housing  113 . 
     The collection trough  103  has the overflow  105  which lies directly above an evaporation tray  107 . The function valve  115  is coupled mechanically to the non-return valve  133  by way of a connecting part  141 . In addition, the valve housing  113  has a number of plug-in connections  137  to supply the leak detection device with electrical energy. The plug-in connections  137  serve to supply electrical energy or convey control signals. A first plug-in connection  137  is provided for instance to supply energy to the function valve  115 , a second plug-in connection  137  is provided for instance to convey electrical signals from the micro-switch  129  and a third plug-in connection  137  is provided to connect a control line to the safety valve  121 . 
     In further embodiments, the non-return valve  133  can be positioned between the safety valve  121  and the water supply connection  117 . The supply pipe  127  can be directly connected to the safety valve  121  without a connecting piece. The function valve  115  can be integrated in the supply pipe  127  directly behind the safety valve  121 . 
     The explained system can be used in all refrigeration appliances, like for instance refrigerators, freezers or combined fridge/freezers. The system prevents damage due to leakage water from water-bearing components and their connecting points. A direct arrangement of the safety valve  121  on the water supply connection  117  enables a pressureless water system inside the refrigeration appliance  100 , if no water is requested from the refrigeration appliance  100 . A combination of the safety valve  121  and the function valve  115  achieves an increased functional reliability of the water circuit. The empty conduit  109  in the insulation foam of the refrigeration appliance  100  serves not only to guide water lines and pipes but instead also to discharge leakage water. The safety valve  121  and/or the function valve  115  can be formed by a solenoid valve. 
     On account of the overflow  105  for leakage water from the collection trough  103  into the evaporation tray  107 , the valve housing  113  can be realized in a compact manner. The evaporation tray  107  can form part of the valve housing  113 . In addition, the evaporation tray  107  can be formed from a thermally conductive material such as metal or sheet metal so that the transmission of heat onto the evaporation tray  107  is improved and evaporation is increased. 
     All features shown and explained in conjunction with the individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the inventive subject matter in order at the same to realize their advantageous effects. 
     The scope of protection of the present invention is provided by the claims and is not restricted by the features explained in the description or shown in the figures. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           100  Refrigeration appliance 
           101  Leak detection device 
           103  Collection trough 
           105  Overflow 
           107  Evaporation tray 
           109  Empty conduit 
           111  Water line 
           113  Valve housing 
           115  Function valve 
           117  Water supply connection 
           119  Connection 
           121  Safety valve 
           123  Outer pipe 
           125  Inner pipe 
           127  Supply pipe/supply line 
           129  Micro-switch 
           131  Float 
           133  Non-return valve 
           135  Empty conduit connection 
           137  Plug-in connection 
           139  Ice dispenser 
           141  Connecting part 
           143  Pipe output