Patent Publication Number: US-2011056229-A1

Title: Subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit and to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit. 
     A so-called subassembly is usually formed for refrigerator units in which the refrigeration unit, the fan and the condenser are arranged in the unit base, said subassembly then being screwed to the already foamed unit housing or to the carcass. This is relatively complicated and/or expensive since the subassembly which is heavy in relative terms has to be screwed to the foamed unit housing. 
     A further disadvantage is furthermore that these units have a so-called horizontal air duct, i.e. that an abrupt change in the direction of air guidance is present in these units which is due, for instance, to a deflection plate which effects a compulsory deflection in the vertical direction of the inflowing air. An irregular flow through the condenser thus arises and also an irregular action of cooling air on the compressor. Flow losses furthermore arise in that a non-directed deflection by up to 180° takes place from the fan over the condenser up to the compressor and to the front-side air outlet. The heat exchange thus takes place in a very ineffective manner. 
     A refrigerator unit is already known from DE 297 01 474 U1 which has a unit base with a wide air inlet passage and a wide air outlet passage arranged parallel thereto. The inflowing air is, however deflected in a Z shape at the air inlet side, i.e. the air flows through the front grill in a first horizontal plane, is then abruptly deflected into a second horizontal plane via a deflection wall and is directed by the unit base to this second horizontal plane. The air discharged from the unit base likewise takes place after a Z-shaped deflection so that this unit base has a horizontal air guidance which, as already indicated above, is disadvantageous due to the flow losses. 
     EP 0 650 680 B1 discloses a base for a built-in refrigerator unit which is placed on support rails with adjustable feet and is arranged in a recess for furniture. This base is made in trough shape and does not have any separate air guidance so that the air flowing in at the front side for cooling purposes is likewise swirled when flowing through the base and thus high flow losses occur. 
     A unit base flowed through by refrigerating air is also known from DE 44 45 286 A1 which directs the air through the base in a labyrinth-like manner. Flow losses likewise arise due to this multiple deflection which are not insignificant and which as a rule have to be compensated by an increased speed of the fan. 
     A unit base is known from EP 0 444 461 A2 in which the air is guided on one side of the base via an inlet passage into the motor space arranged at the rear side, flows through the motor space there without any further guidance by a 90° deviation and then exits the unit base via the air deflection passage again by a 90° deviation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore the object of the present invention to further develop a subassembly element of the initially named kind in an advantageous manner, in particular such that a subassembly element can be constructed in a simple manner, has an improved flow guidance and is preferably easy to assemble. 
     This object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a subassembly element having the features herein. Provision is thereby made that a subassembly element for a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit has a front side, a rear side and two side regions, at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, with at least one air guidance means being provided in the subassembly element by means of which air in the subassembly element can be guided from the air inlet to the air outlet and with at least one heat exchanger, which is located at the rim side in the side regions of the subassembly element, being arranged in a part of the air guidance means 
     Provision can furthermore be made that at least one fan is arranged downstream or upstream of the at least one heat exchanger in the air guidance element. 
     It is furthermore possible that the heat exchanger is a condenser, in particular a spiral condenser, a wire tube condenser made as a molded part or a coiled wire tube condenser. 
     It is advantageously conceivable that the air guidance means expands to a reception space for a compressor, with fastening means, in particular fastening receivers, being provided for the compressor in the reception space. 
     Provision can be made that the fan is arranged downstream of the heat exchanger and/or at the point in the air guidance means at which the air guidance means expands to the reception space. 
     It is furthermore possible that the subassembly element has a cut-out for the reception and/or fastening of the inner container of the refrigerator and/or freezer unit. A simple assembly of the subassembly element with the inner container thereby becomes possible. For the cut-out can be utilized as an adhesive surface which engages around a part of the inner tank and which is adhered to the inner container by pouring in heat insulation material, preferably insulting foam. A screwing of the subassembly to the already foamed unit housing can thus be dispensed with; an installation of the subassembly with the inner container and the outer wall is possible simply by the foaming which has anyway to be carried out. 
     Provision can furthermore be made that the cut-out is arranged at the middle or centrally and/or that the cut-out is molded into the subassembly element in the manner of a trough on the upper side. The advantage thereby results of being able to insert the inner container simply into the cut-out, optionally with spacers for a positioning to prepare for the installation. Foam is then advantageously injected in the region between the cut-out and the inner container, which preferably has a molding adapted to the shape of the cut-out, so that the subassembly element and the inner container are connected to one another. 
     It is furthermore conceivable that the air guidance means extends, starting from the air inlet, laterally past the cut-out, via the reception space located in the rear region of the subassembly element and again laterally past the cut-out to the air outlet, with a heat exchanger being arranged in the part of the air guidance means which starts from the air inlet and with a further heat exchanger simultaneously being provided in the part of the air guidance means which leads to the air outlet. 
     Provision can moreover be made that the air guidance means is made in passage manner and/or that the air guidance means has a round, oval or rectangular cross-section, at least sectionally, with the oval or rectangular cross-section of the air guidance means preferably being arranged vertically. A vertical alignment of the oval or rectangular cross-section is advantageously achieved in that the height of the air guidance means is larger than the width at this point. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the subassembly element is a unit base and/or an injection molded part. A simple and inexpensive production is made possible by the injection molding process. It is preferred if an impact resistant plastic is used for this purpose. 
     It is furthermore conceivable that the rim-side parts of the air guidance means are partly formed by a side cover, with the side cover preferably having one or more winding domes for the winding up of a heat exchanger tube and with the side cover further preferably being produced from a metallic material. 
     It is furthermore possible that the subassembly element has a rear wall cover which forms a closed air guidance path in conjunction with the air guidance means. 
     Provision can furthermore be made that a condensate collection tray or an evaporation tray is provided, with the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray being arranged in a front region of the subassembly element and/or in a region of the subassembly element accessible from the front. The advantage thereby results that the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can be removed and emptied easily. After the emptying, a simple insertion into the subassembly element can take place. This is in particular advantageous for hygienic reasons since a dwelling of liquid in the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can hereby be avoided. 
     For example, the condensate collection tray or the evaporation tray can be integrated into the side cover of the subassembly element and can be removed and reintroduced from the side. A lateral removal for cleaning purposes is thereby possible advantageously and simply. 
     Provision can be made that the subassembly element is made such that the at least one condenser can be inserted from the front side. The advantage thereby results of being able to realize an inexpensive installation of the condenser since it is sufficient to push a condenser plate through the air inlet or the air outlet into the side air guidance passage(s) of the subassembly element and to fasten it there e.g. by latching in a shape-matched manner. 
     The invention furthermore relates to a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit having the features herein. Provision is thereby made that a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit has at least one subassembly element in accordance with the features herein. The refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit can be a fully integrated built under unit which is used in a built-in kitchen. It is furthermore conceivable that the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a built under unit suitable for a décor panel or an insertion compartment unit which can be built under. A use as a stand-alone unit is also conceivable. 
     It is furthermore conceivable that the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit is a side-by-side unit. 
     It is particularly advantageous if the units of the side-by-side unit arranged next to one another each have a subassembly element and if the subassembly elements are made and/or can be used in mirror-inverted manner to one another. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. 
       There are shown: 
         FIG. 1 : a perspective rear view of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 2 : a schematic plan view of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 3 : a further perspective view of the subassembly element; 
         FIG. 4 : a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 5 : a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 6 : a schematic plan view of a subassembly element for a side-by-side unit; 
         FIG. 7 : a perspective view of a side part of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 8 : a perspective view of a side cover for a side part of a subassembly element; 
         FIG. 9 : a perspective view of a subassembly element with a laterally removable evaporation tray; 
         FIG. 10 : a perspective view of the evaporation tray; and 
         FIG. 11 : a further schematic plan view of a subassembly element. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a subassembly element  10  in accordance with the present invention in a perspective rear view. The subassembly element  10  is made as a unit base  10  which is produced in one part as an injection molded part. In this respect, the unit base  10  is an injection molded part of impact resistant plastic. 
     Without this being shown in any more detail in  FIG. 1 , the unit base  10  has support surfaces at its lower side by means of which the unit base  10  can be installed directly on the floor. At the same time or alternatively, threaded bores can be provided into which adjustable feet can be screwed. 
     The pallet-like unit base  10  has a trough-like cut-out  20  at it is upper side which is provided for the reception of the inner container of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit. 
     The air inlet for the air L, whose flow path through the unit base  10  is indicated by means of corresponding arrows, takes place through the front-side part  12  or through the air inlet  12  of the air guidance means which is expanded at this point. The air guidance means or the air guidance passage narrows in width in the side part section  14  of the air guidance means or of the air guidance passage, but expands slightly in the vertical direction since the base  15  of the side part section  14  drops slightly obliquely in the downward direction. 
     The air L is thus guided, starting from the air inlet  12 , substantially horizontally and without any abrupt changes of direction with respect to the vertical through the side part section  14  of the air guidance passage to the motor space  16  which is formed by an expansion of the air guidance passage in the rear part of the unit base  10 . 
     After flowing through the motor space  16 , the heat L heated there enters into the side part section  18  of the air guidance passage disposed at the other side so that the air is guided past the cut-out  20  to the air outlet  19  not visible in  FIG. 1 . 
     The structure shown in  FIG. 1  is shown again schematically in  FIG. 2  which represents a schematic plan view of the unit base  10 . As further additionally visible in  FIG. 2 , the unit base  10  can be provided at the front side with a front panel  40  which can be pushed onto the unit base  10  in a depth-adjustable manner by means of side projections  42 . An adjustability and adaptability of the front panel  40  to the respective installation situation is thereby made possible. A simple depth adjustment can in particular be carried out for built-in units. 
     An air separation means  30  is provided to separate the air inlet  12  and the air outlet  19  from one another, i.e. in particular to avoid short-circuit flows. The air separation means  30  can be formed by corresponding projections  44  in the front panel  40  which engage into a corresponding cut-out  22  in the unit base  10 . Provision can alternatively or simultaneously be made that the air separation means  30  includes a molded foamed part  32  which is inserted between the projections  44  and the cut-out  22  and is held in a clamping manner there. 
     A fastening means  17  for the compressor  70  (see  FIG. 3 ) is furthermore provided in the motor space  16 . The fastening means  17  can be a cut-out or a receiver into which the compressor  70  can be inserted to allow a simple and fast installation. 
     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the subassembly element  10  already shown schematically in  FIG. 2  is shown with further installed components of a refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit with the mode of operation of the unit base  10  being able to be explained in detail with reference to this Figure. The same components or features are also provided with the same reference numerals in this respect. 
     Cold environmental air L enters through oblique slats in the front panel  40  into the air inlet  12  of the unit base  10  and then flows through the side passage  14  which has a cross-section of substantially rectangular shape with a vertical alignment, i.e. is higher than wide. The air L is guided in the passage  14  onto the condenser  50  and cools it. 
     A fan  60  is preferably provided downstream of the condenser  50  (see also  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and allows air L to circulate through the unit base  10 . The fan  60  can alternatively also be arranged in the motor space  16  and furthermore charges the compressor which is received in the holder  17  with air L guided past the condenser  50  so that an ideal heat dissipation can also take place from the compressor. After the compressor, the air L enters into the side passage  18  which has the same construction as the side passage  14  and is in particular made symmetrical thereto. Through the side passage  18 , the air L is guided through the further condenser  50 ′ to the air outlet  19  and there exits via the slats of the front panel  40  which is hidden here. 
     It is achieved due to the vertical alignment of the side passages  14  and  18  that the actual air inflow substantially takes place at the outwardly disposed part of the air inlet  12 , while the outflow of the air L heated in the unit base  10  takes place at the outwardly disposed part of the air outlet  19 . The inflowing cold airflow L and the outflowing hot airflow L are thus maximally spaced apart from one another. 
     The airflow is furthermore substantially guided on a horizontal plane, whereby flow losses can be avoided. The air inlet and the air outlet as well as the air guidance in the unit base  10  extend horizontally on the same plane, with the expansion in the side passages  14  and  18  being neglected in this observation. There is thus no deflection of the airflow with respect to the vertical in accordance with the invention so that the flow resistances are kept small. It thereby becomes possible to operate the fan  60  at a comparatively low speed so that the noise level in operation can be reduced. 
       FIG. 5  shows a further embodiment variant of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  which differs in that a first fan  60  is arranged downstream of the condenser  50  in the transition from the side passage  15  to the motor space  16  and in that a second fan  60 ′ is arranged in the transition from the motor space  16  to the side passage  18  to achieve an ideal air circulation in the unit base  10 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic plan view of the two unit bases  10  of a side-by-side unit, with the unit bases  10  each being identical, but being used in mirror inversion with respect to the air guidance. Features and components already known from the above-described Figures are provided with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , of a side-by-side unit, the air, as already described in connection with  FIGS. 3 to 5 , flows through the inlet  12  over the condenser  50  arranged in the side passage  14  in the unit base  10  shown at the right, with a fan  60  being arranged downstream of the condenser  50 . A mirror inverted process takes place in the unit base  10  arranged at the left. The inlets  12  are thus each arranged outwardly disposed and the air outlets  19  inwardly disposed in the side-by-side unit shown in  FIG. 6 . Short-circuit flows are thus advantageously avoided. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side wall for a unit base  10  in a perspective representation, with a cover  100  being inserted in the side wall and being able to be used as an additional heat exchanger. The cover  100  is in this respect shown further in  FIG. 8  without the side wall and is preferably made of metal for an improved heat reception and is in heat-conductive contact with the condenser  50 . The cover  100  can be made as a metal part with lugs set through and can be adhesively bonded in an airtight manner with the side wall by means of an adhesive film so that the side wall and the cover produce an airtight wall. The cover  100  can e.g. be a continuous cast part or a zinc die cast part. 
       FIG. 9  shows a part of a subassembly element  10  in a perspective representation in a further embodiment, with the evaporation tray  110 ′ being integrated into a side cover  100 ′ of the subassembly element  10  and being made as laterally removable and reinsertable. The evaporation tray  110 ′ is in this respect accessible from the front and can hereby be easily removed for cleaning purposes and reinserted again afterward. The outer wall  112 ′ of the evaporation tray  110 ′ in this respect itself forms the outer wall of the side cover  100 ′ of the subassembly element  10 . As is further shown in  FIG. 9 , a condenser  50  is arranged behind the evaporation tray  110 ′ and can be pushed into the subassembly element  10  from the front side, through the air outlet  19  here. 
       FIG. 10  shows the evaporation tray  100 ′ shown in  FIG. 9  in a perspective representation. As shown here, the evaporation tray  110 ′ has a plurality of latch elements  120 ′ by means of which the evaporation tray  110 ′ can be latched in the subassembly element  10 . 
       FIG. 11  shows, in a schematic plan view of the subassembly element  10 , how the condenser  50  shown in  FIG. 9  is in each case arranged at both sides in the side passages of the subassembly element  10  and can in each case be pushed in at the front side through the air inlet  12  or through the air outlet  19 . In this respect, a respective fan  60  is associated with each condenser  50 .