A GASKET ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CABINET DOOR OF A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE

Abstract: A gasket arrangement for the cabinet door of a refrigeration appliance of the type comprising a cabinet (G), a respective door (P) and a sealing gasket (60), which is operatively associated with peripheral rear and front flanges (41, 11) of the door (P) of the cabinet (G), respectively. There is further provided at least one additional gasket (80) in elastomeric material of reduced thermal conductivity, which is operatively associated with an inner box (20) of the cabinet (G) and with an inner panel (50) of the door (P), and which is affixed internal to the sealing gasket (60).

Description: A GASKET ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CABINET DOOR OF A REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE. Field of the Invention Tne present invention refers to a gasket arrangement to be used for sealing the door of refrigeration appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers of the type m which the cabinets and the doors are respectively provided with an inner box and an inner panel constructed m a molded plastic material of reduced thermal conductivity and affixed to an outer wall or panel constructed m metallic plate. Background of the Invention The cabinets for the refrigeration appliances considered herein usually consist of a surrounding outer wall, m metallic plate, to which is coupled an inner box, which is usually molded m polystyrene or similar material of reduced thermal conductivity, and whose peripheral edge is seated and affixed against the free edge of a peripheral front flange of the surrounding outer wall, said front flange projecting orthogonal to the inside of the cabinet, m order to define a peripheral portion of the front face of said cabinet . Against said front ace peripheral portion is seated a sealing gasket carried by the cabinet door, which is also made of an outer panel m metallic plate, incorporating a surrounding peripheral wall and a peripheral flange, to which is affixed the sealing gasket. To the outer panel is affixed an inner panel which is also usually molded m polystyrene or similar material . Between the surrounding outer wall and the inner box of the cabinet and between the inner and outer panels cf the door is provided a thermal insulating filler m colvuretnane . In this type of construction, the front wall of the cabinet is defined by the peripheral front flange of the outer wall, forming an integral part therewith and extending by a width sufficient to define a seating surface for the sealing gasket and a fixation surface for the peripheral edge of the inner box of the cabinet, said peripheral front flange acting as a heat conducting element, conducting heat from the outside to the inside of the refrigerated cabinet. The same operational deficiency of the prior art construction occurs m relation to the peripheral rear flange of the outer panel of the door. Said rear flange has a width sufficient to affix the sealing gasket and the peripheral edge of the inner panel, thus also acting as a heat conducting element, conducting heat to the inside of the cabinet. It should be observed that the width of the front and rear peripheral flanges is superior to the width of the sealing gasket, making their marginal portions, which are going to be coupled to the inner box and to the inner panel, respectively, be positioned inside the refrigerated environment which has been sealed by the gasket . It is known m the art that the penetration of heat into the refrigerated cabinet occurs not only by the sealing gasket itself, but also and mainly by the region m which it is installed, i.e., by the front peripheral flange of the cabinet and by the rear peripheral flange of the door which are constructed m metallic plate and m direct contact with the environment external to the refrigerated cabinet. Typical values for the penetration of heat into the region of the sealing gasket reach about 20% the total penetration of heat (thermal load) ir.ro the inside of the cabinet . Considering that most of the heat that penetrates into the cabinet is conducted through said metallic flanges operatively associated with the gasket, the replacement of the elastomeric material, which is generally used for said gasket, by an insulating material, will therefore lead to a relatively low gam m terms of reducing the penetration of heat into the refrigerated environment . Disclosure of the Invention Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a gasket arrangement for the cabinet door of a refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator or freezer, which allows, by a simple construction and without requiring alteration the design of any of the parts of the refrigeration appliance, to attain a relevant reduction the penetration of heat into the refrigerated environment . The objective mentioned above is achieved by the provision of a refrigeration appliance of the type considered herein and provided with a sealing gasket, which is operatively associated with a peripheral portion of the rear face of the door and to a peripheral portion of the front face of the cabinet. According to the invention, the gasket arrangement further comprises at least one additional gasket, elastomeric material of reduced thermal conductivity, which is provided internal to the sealing gasket and which is affixed to one of the parts defined by the inner panel of the door and by the inner box of the cabinet and to be seated to the other of said parts upon closing the door. With the new constructive arrangement, which is preferably obtained by the simple application of a cord of elastomeric material of the hot melt type, for example to the inner box of the cabinet, it is possible to form a heat insulating barrier between the environment immediately internal to the sealing gasket and m contact with the marginal portions of the metallic flanges operatively associated with said sealing gasket and the internal environment of the refrigerated cabinet, minimizing the heat transfer to the inside of said cabinet through said metallic flanges . Brief Description of the Drawing The invention will be described below, with reference to the appended drawing, which: Figure 1 is a simplified partial cross-sectional view of a cabinet-door assembly of a re rigeration appliance provided with the gasket arrangement of the present invention. Best Mode of Carrying Out the Invention As already mentioned above and illustrated m the appended drawing, the present gasket arrangement is applied to refrigeration appliances, such as refrigerators and freezers having a cabinet G, and formed by a surrounding outer wall 10 m metallic plate and incorporating a peripheral front flange 11, to whose marginal portion is seated and affixeα the peripheral edge of an inner box 20, which is usually molded m polystyrene or other material of reduced thermal conductivity. Between the surrounding outer wall 10 and the inner box 20 is provided a heat insulator m the form of a filler 30, for example ιr_ polyurethane . The cabinet G is usually closed at the front by at least one door P, whicr. is conveniently made of an outer panel 40 m metallic plate, incorporating a peripheral rear flange 41, to whose marginal portion is seated ana affixed, tr.e peripheral eαge of an inner panel 50 usually molded m polystyrene. The inside of the door P also comprises a filler 30, such as that used the cabinet G. This prior art construction further has a sealing gasket 60, usually made of an elastomeric material and affixed to the peripheral rear flange 41 of the door P, so as to be seated against the peripheral front flange 11 of the cabinet G. Both the front and the rear peripheral flanges 11 and 41 have a width usually superior to that of the sealing gasket 60. According to the invention, the present gasket arrangement comprises at least one additional gasket 80, in elastomeric material and of reduced thermal conductivity, such as for example, expanded polyurethane, which is usually affixed to the inner box 20 of the cabinet G, an internal region relation to the sealing gasket 60 and dimensioned to be seated against the inner panel 50 of the door P, when the latter is closed. It should be understood that the additional gasket 80 may be affixed to either the inner box 20 or to the inner panel 50, said fixation causing no alteration in its function of creating at least one additional thermal barrier between the marginal portions of the front and rear peripheral flanges 11 and 41 and the refrigerated environment of the cabinet G. The additional gasket 80 may ce provided by applying, for example, a cord made of expanded polyurethane of the hot melt type directly to tr.e surface of the inner box 20 or the inner panel 50. The application of the polyurethane-based cord, for example by extrusion, may be carried out without any previous alteration m the design of the plastic internal parts of the ref igeration appliance or msiαe a respective housing (not illustrated) provided ene inner box 20 or the inner panel 50, m order to avoid shear forces m the material of the gaskets. The reduction of the thermal load the refrigeration appliance obtained with the new arrangement has the advantage of reducing the internal temperature of the cabinet and increasing energy saving, besides making possible to use a refrigeration system with lower capacity.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A gasket arrangement for the cabinet door of a refrigeration appliance of the type comprising a cabinet (G) having a surrounding outer wall (10) in metallic plate affixing an inner box (20) a material of reduced thermal conductivity; a respective door (P) having an outer panel (40) in metallic plate affixing an inner panel (50) m a material of reduced thermal conductivity; and a sealing gasket (60) , which is operatively associated with a peripheral rear flange (41) of the outer panel (40) and with a peripheral front flange (11) of the surrounding outer wall (10) , characterized in that there is further provided at least one additional gasket (80) in elastomeric material of reduced thermal conductivity, which is affixed, to one of the parts defined by the inner panel (50) of the door (P) and by the inner box (20) of the cabinet (G) , internal to the sealing gasket (60) , and which is seated to the other of said parts upon closing of the door (P) . 2. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized m that the additional gasket (80) is obtained from a cord of elastomeric material applied to the surface of one of the parts defined by the inner panel (50) and by the inner box (20) . 3. The arrangement of claim 2, characterized in that the cord of elastomeric material is extruded directly onto the surface that will carry it. 4. The arrangement of claim 1, characterized that the additional gasket (60) is affixed inside a housing provided on the surface ~ o which it is affixed.

Inventors: CORINO LEANDRO HERMAN, FERREIRA GILMAR CANALI, MARQUES MARCO EDUARDO, THOMAZ GERALDO LUIZ, CORINO, LEANDRO, HERMAN, FERREIRA, GILMAR, CANALI, MARQUES, MARCO, EDUARDO, THOMAZ, GERALDO, LUIZ
Applicants: CORINO LEANDRO HERMAN, FERREIRA GILMAR CANALI, MARQUES MARCO EDUARDO, MULTIBRAS ELETRODOMESTICOS SA, THOMAZ GERALDO LUIZ, CORINO, LEANDRO, HERMAN, FERREIRA, GILMAR, CANALI, MARQUES, MARCO, EDUARDO, MULTIBRAS S.A. ELETRODOMESTICOS, THOMAZ, GERALDO, LUIZ
Application year: 2000
Main classification: F25D23
IPC codes: F25D23