Patent Publication Number: US-2011061416-A1

Title: Subassembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, assembly and refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus

Description:
The present invention relates to a subassembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, an assembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, and a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus. 
     In refrigerating apparatuses in which the refrigeration unit, fan and condenser are arranged in the device base, a so-called subassembly is usually formed that is then screwed into the apparatus housing or the body that is already foam-filled. This is relatively complex because the relatively heavy subassembly must be screwed into the apparatus housing which is already foam-filled. 
     A further disadvantage is that this device has a so-called horizontal air flow, i.e., in these devices, there is an abrupt change in the air flow direction caused partially by a baffle plate that causes a forced deflection of the inflowing air in the vertical direction. This causes an uneven flow through the condenser and an uneven cool air load on the compressor. Furthermore, flow losses are caused by the fact that an unguided deflection of up to 180° occurs from the fan through the condenser past the compressor and to the front-side air outlet. The heat exchange is thus rather ineffective. 
     A refrigerating apparatus is known from DE 297 01 474 U1 consisting of a device base with a broad air inlet channel and a broad air outlet channel arranged parallel thereto. On the air inlet side, the inflowing air is, however, deflected in a Z shape, i.e., the air in a first horizontal level flows in through the front panel, is then abruptly deflected over a deflection wall into a second horizontal level and then fed through the device base on this second horizontal level. The air outlet from the device base also occurs after a Z-shaped deflection so that this device base has a horizontal air flow which is, as previously indicated above, disadvantageous due to flow losses. 
     EP 0 650 680 B1 discloses a base for a built-in refrigerating apparatus which is placed on mounting rails with leveling feet and is arranged in a furniture niche. This base is formed like a tray and does not have a separate air flow so that the front-side inflowing air for refrigerating purposes is also swirled when flowing through the base and thus high flow losses are created. 
     A device base with cool air flow-through is also known from DE 44 45 286 A1 that guides the air through the base labyrinth-style. Substantial flow losses are also caused by these multiple deflections, which losses generally must be compensated for by increased fan rotation. 
     A device base is known from EP 0 444 461 A2 in which the air is guided from one side of the base through an inlet channel into the machinery compartment, then without further guidance, the air flows through the machinery compartment with a bend of 90° and then leaves the device base through the air outlet channel with a bend of another 90°. 
     WO 2009/012121 A2 shows a separator for a base plate of a refrigerating apparatus through which the plug flow of the air through the device base is supposed to be prevented. The separator is used here on the front side in the fins of the base panel. 
     The present invention thus relates to improving a subassembly of the type stated at the beginning in an advantageous manner, particularly in that the subassembly will be easy to build, will provide improved flow guidance and will preferably be easy to assemble. 
     This task is solved according to the invention by a subassembly with the characteristics of claim  1 . It provides for a subassembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus consisting of at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, wherein at least one air guidance device is provided in the subassembly through which air can be guided into the subassembly by the air inlet to the air outlet, and wherein the air guidance device consists of at least one direction changing device to deflect the air fed into the air guidance device without an abrupt change in direction and/or fanning out of said air. This results in the advantage of being able to create a particularly simple and simultaneously low-turbulence air guidance device in a subassembly. Furthermore, simple installation is possible. The direction changing device can be placed in and/or at the air guidance device. It is possible that the air changing device might be a part of the air guidance device. 
     Moreover, it is possible that the direction changing device is placed downstream from the air inlet and/or upstream from the air outlet in the air guidance device, and/or that the direction changing device is designed as a control vane. It is particularly advantageous when the control vane rises to the height of the inlet or the outlet, and particularly to the height of one of the front panels covering the inlet and/or outlet. With the control vanes, the air flow can be adjusted such that, for example, the heat exchanger placed in the subassembly, particularly the condenser, experiences a uniform load with the air refrigerating medium over the full area. 
     By narrowing the spaces between the control vanes to the outlet, an increase in the air flow velocity is achieved, resulting in an air flow that is blown out into the free area, e.g., before the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus. This substantially reduces the risk that aspirated air on the inlet side might mix with the heated air from the outlet side. At the same time, the control vanes advantageously cause an increase in the stability of the subassembly. 
     Furthermore, it is possible that by means of the air guidance device arranged essentially in a horizontal plane in the subassembly air can be guided into the subassembly without an abrupt change in direction from the air inlet to the air outlet, where the deviation from the horizontal plane is not more than ±30°; not more than ±15° is particularly preferred. It is particularly advantageously when the air is guided without abrupt change in direction into or through the subassembly. The flow losses can thus be kept low. A deviation in the air guidance from the horizontal plane can also consist in an expansion of the air flow. It is possible that the air guidance device has a first horizontal wall, such as a ceiling or floor, and a second wall running at an angle thereto, or a ceiling or a floor that encloses an angle of not more than ±30° with the horizontal plane, and preferably not more than ±15°. 
     It is further possible that the air guidance device is arranged at least partially at the edge in the subassembly and/or that the subassembly has a recess for acceptance and/or fastening of the inner receptacle of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, where the recess is preferably arranged in the middle or center and/or that the recess is shaped like a tray on the upper side of the subassembly. For example, the air guidance device can be arranged in the side area of the subassembly, on the edge, where the middle area of the subassembly can remain free or be otherwise used. Moreover, this results in the advantage that with the respective arrangement on the edge of the parts of the air guidance device in the side area of the assembly connecting to the air inlet and air outlet, the inflowing and outflowing air flow can enter or exit on the front side with a maximum distance between them. Simple assembling of the subassembly with the inner receptacle becomes possible through the recess for accepting and/or fastening the inner receptacle of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus. Because the recess can be used as an adhesive surface that grips a portion of the inner receptacle and by filling with thermal insulating material, the insulating foam is preferably adhered to the inner receptacle. The screwing of the subassembly into the device housing previously foam-filled can thus be done away with, and the assembling of the subassembly with the inner receptacle and the outside wall is made simple by the foaming which must be undertaken in any event. The tray-like formation of the recess, among other things, has the advantage of being able to use the inner receptacle in the recess, possibly with spacers for positioning in preparation for assembly. Foam is injected advantageously into the area between the recess and the inner receptacle, which is preferably in a form adapted to the form of the recess, so that the subassembly and inner receptacle can be connected together. 
     Provision can be made for the air guidance device to expand into an accommodating space for at least one compressor, at least one fan and at least one condenser, where fasteners, particularly fasteners for the compressor, fan and condenser, are provided, where the fasteners for the condenser, fan and compressor are preferably arranged one after the other in the direction of the flow. The accommodating space can further advantageously consist of air guidance walls that surround the components of the cooling circuit of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus in the accommodating space. 
     It is also possible for the direction changing component to be arranged downstream from the compressor and/or upstream from the condenser in the air guidance device. 
     It can be advantageously provided for the air guidance device to extend starting laterally from the air inlet past the recess over the accommodating space located in the back area of the subassembly, again laterally past the recess to the air outlet. 
     It is also possible for the air guidance device to be formed in the shape of a channel and/or for the air guidance device to have a round, oval or rectangular cross-section, at least in parts, where the oval or rectangular cross-section of the air guidance device is preferably constructed vertically. The vertical construction of the oval or rectangular cross-section is preferably achieved by the height of the air guidance device being greater at this location than the width. 
     It is an advantage for the subassembly group to be a device base and/or an injection-molded part. Simple and inexpensive production is enabled by the injection molding process. An impact-resistant plastic is preferably used here. 
     Provision can further be made to provide a condensation water catch tray or an evaporation tray, where the condensation water catch tray or the evaporation tray is arranged in the front area of the subassembly and/or in an area of the subassembly accessible from the front. This results in the advantage that the condensation water catch tray or the evaporation tray is easy to remove and can be emptied. After emptying, it can be re-inserted easily into the subassembly. This is particularly advantageous for health reasons since leaving liquid in the condensation water catch tray or the evaporation tray can thus be avoided. 
     For example, the condensation water catch tray or the evaporation tray is integrated into the side covering of the subassembly and can be removed and reinserted laterally. Lateral removal for cleaning purposes thus becomes advantageous and simple. 
     Provision can be made for the subassembly to be built such that the minimum of one condenser can be inserted into the front side. This results in the advantage of being able to create an inexpensive assembly for the condenser since inserting a condenser template through the air inlet or the air outlet in the air guidance channels or the side air guidance channels of the subassembly and assembling it there, e.g., with a positive connection by means of locking will suffice. 
     Moreover, the invention relates to a subassembly with the characteristics of claim  12 . According to this claim, provision is made for the subassembly of a refrigerating and/or freezing device to have at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, where at least one air guidance device is provided in the subassembly, by means of which air can be guided in the subassembly from the air inlet to the air outlet, where at least one filter component on the inlet or outlet side of the subassembly is arranged such that the inflowing and/or outflowing air can be filtered through the filter component. 
     The filter component can advantageously be produced with the device floor so that inexpensive production is possible. It is also possible for the filter component to contain a screen. This screen is advantageously designed and arranged such that it is easy for the end customer to clean it. This can be realized particularly through the fact that the screen is located in the front easily accessible area of the subassembly. 
     It is advantageously possible for the subassembly to also have the characteristic features of claims  1  through  11 . 
     Moreover, the invention relates to an assembly with the characteristics of claim  14 . According to this claim, provision is made for an assembly of at least one subassembly for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus to consist of at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet, at least one front panel and at least one air separator, by means of which plug flow between the air inlet and the air outlet can be prevented, where the air separator is formed such that it closes the gap between the subassembly and front panel, where it preferably involves a subassembly according to one of claims  1  through  13 . 
     Particularly in the case of integratable subassemblies, a front panel, also known as a base cover, is generally attached to the front of the device and covers the inlet and outlet openings with diagonal fins. This panel is generally designed to be adjustable in depth, approximately in an adjustment range of up to approximately 55 mm so that it can be adjusted to the base depths of the various kitchen manufacturers. To prevent the warm air exiting from the base on the outlet side from being sucked directly into the inlet side again, air separation is advantageously created by the air separator. 
     Furthermore, provision can be made to build the air separator in an elastic, pivotable, telescope-like form and/or at least in part as a molded form part. 
     It is possible for the separator to be a molded foam part that is elastically compressible so that the gap between the subassembly and the front panel can be closed merely by using the air separator without requiring an adjustment, and the air inlet and air outlet are separated from each other with certainty. This also enables an inexpensive mass production solution since a simple cut can be made from profiles or panel material. There is also the advantage that no assembly costs are incurred since the air separator can be used by customers without further ado during the assembling of the apparatus. 
     Alternatively, it is possible for the air separator to be built as a 2-fold or 3-fold telescoping component so that the gap between the subassembly and the front panel can be closed. It is possible for a spring to be provided that tensions the telescope-like air separator in the gap against the subassembly and front panel and thus holds the gap securely closed and separates the air inlet from the air outlet. 
     Alternatively, it is also possible for the air separator to be built as a pivoting flap. Here, for example, it is possible that the pivoting flap is linked via a hinge in a pivotable manner to the subassembly and pressed against the front panel by means of a hold-down spring. The gap adjustment or front panel positioning can also be very simply guaranteed with simultaneously assured air separation from the inlet and outlet. 
     It is also possible for the front panel to have one or more air slots and an interference contour, where the interference contour lifts the front panel, at least in the assembled state, outward over the air slot(s). The interference contour also facilitates assurance of forced ventilation with the coverage of the front panel by a decorative plate since the decorative plate is necessarily distanced from the front panel. Thus, the ventilation is guaranteed with at least the air volume, e.g., of the adjacent base cabinets. 
     Moreover, the present invention relates to a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus with the characteristics of claim  17 . According to this claim, provision is made for a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus to have at least one subassembly according to one of claims  1  through  13  and/or an assembly according to one of claims  14  through  16 . 
    
    
     
       The further details and advantages of the invention are explained in greater detail based on an embodiment shown in the drawing. 
       The figures show: 
         FIG. 1 : A perspective rear view of a subassembly; 
         FIG. 2 : A schematic top view of a subassembly; 
         FIG. 3 : A perspective view of the subassembly with the assembled components of a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus; 
         FIG. 4 : A perspective view of the inlet-side side area of the subassembly; 
         FIG. 5 : A perspective view of the outlet-side side area of the subassembly; 
         FIG. 6 : A perspective view of the subassembly with the assembled components of a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus; 
         FIG. 7 : A detail view of the subassembly; 
         FIG. 8 : Another detail view of the subassembly with an alternative air separator; 
         FIG. 9 : Another detail view of the subassembly with another alternative air separator; 
         FIG. 10 : A perspective view of the front-side area of the subassembly; 
         FIG. 11 : A perspective view of the front-side inlet area of the subassembly; 
         FIG. 12 : A perspective view of a subassembly with laterally-removable evaporation tray; 
         FIG. 13 : A perspective view of the evaporation tray; and 
         FIG. 14 : Another schematic top view of a subassembly. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective rear view of subassembly  10  according to the present invention. The subassembly  10  is designed as a device base  10 , which is finished as an injection molded part on one side. In the case of the device base  10 , this is an injection molded part made of impact-resistant plastic. 
     Without being shown in greater detail in  FIG. 1 , the device base  10  has support surfaces on its lower side by which the device base  10  can be adjusted directly on the floor. Simultaneously or alternatively, threaded holes can be provided into which the leveling feet can be screwed. 
     The pallet-like device base  10  has a tray-like recess  20  on its top side that is provided for acceptance of the inner receptacle of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus. 
     The air inlet for air L, whose direction of flow through the device base  10  is indicated by means of the corresponding arrow, takes place through the front-side part  12  or air inlet  12  of the air guidance device which is expanded at this location. In the side partial view  14  of the air guidance device or the air guidance channel, the air guidance device or the air guidance channel narrows in width, but expands slightly in height since the floor  15  of the side partial section  14  drops away down-ward slightly diagonally. 
     The air L is thus discharged from air inlet  12  essentially horizontally and without an abrupt change in direction from the vertical, is guided through the side partial section  14  of the air guidance channel to the machinery compartment  16  which is formed by the expansion of the air guidance channel in the rear portion of the device base  10 . 
     After the air flows through the machinery compartment  16 , the heated air L exits there in the side partial section  18  of the air guidance channel located in the other side, so that the air is guided past recess  20  to the air outlet  19 , not seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     The installation shown in  FIG. 10  is shown again schematically in  FIG. 2 , which represents a schematic top view of the device base  10 . Also visible from  FIG. 2 , the device base  10  can be provided on the front side with a front panel  40  that can be thrust into the device base  10  to adjust the depth by means of side bosses  42 . The adjustability and adaptability of the front panel  40  to the respective positioning is ensured. In particular, with built-in devices, a simple depth adjustment can be made. 
     To separate the air inlet  12  and the air outlet  19  from each other, i.e., particularly to avoid plug flow, an air separator  30  is provided. The air separator  30  can be formed by the corresponding bosses  44  in the front panel  40 , which bosses penetrate into a corresponding recess  22  in the device base  10 . Alternatively or simultaneously, provision can be made for the air separator to contain an injection molded part  32  that is placed between the bosses  44  and the recess  22  and held there tightly. 
     In the machinery compartment  16 , a fastening device  17  is also provided for the compressor  70  (see  FIG. 3 ). The fastening device  17  can be a recess or a retainer in which the compressor  70  can be placed to facilitate simple, quick assembly. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the subassembly  10  with assembled components of a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus, where the method of functioning of device base  10  can be explained in detail based on this Figure. 
     Cold ambient air L enters through oblique fins in the front panel  40  into the air inlet  12  of the device base  10  and then flows through the side channel  14 , which has essentially a rectangular cross-section with a vertical orientation, i.e., it is higher than wide. Due to the slanted floor wall  15  (see  FIG. 1 ), the cross-section widens slightly since channel  14  increases in height. 
     The air L is guided through channel  14  to the spiral condenser  50  and cools it. To enable an optimal flow around the condenser  50 , bent air guidance walls  52  are provided in machinery compartment  16  that surround the vertical spirals of the condenser  50 . 
     Downstream from the condenser  50 , a fan  60  is provided that allows the air L to circulate through the device base  10 . The fan  60  further loads the compressor  70  with the air L fed past the condenser  50  so that the optimal heat removal from compressor  70  can also be achieved. After the compressor  70 , the air L enters into side channel  18  which is installed similarly to side channel  14 , and is in particular formed symmetrically to the latter. The air L is fed through the air outlet  19  through side channel  18  and exits there through the fins of the front panel  40 . 
     Based on the vertical orientation of side channels  14  and  18 , the actual air flow essentially succeeds in taking place at the exterior part of air inlet  12 , while the outflow of the air L heated in the device base  10  takes place at the exterior part of the air outlet  19 . The inflowing cold air flow L and the outflowing warm air flow L are thus distanced from each other maximally. 
     Moreover, the air flow is fed essentially on a horizontal plane, whereby flow losses can be avoided. The air inlet and air outlet and air guidance in the device base  10  run horizontally on the same plane, where the expansion in side channels  14  and  18  is omitted in this view. Thus, according to the invention, there is no deflection of the air flow from the vertical, which is why the flow resistances remain low. This enables the fan  60  to run at comparatively low speeds so that the noise level in operation can be reduced. 
       FIG. 3  shows the finished assembled subassembly of a refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus provided for installation in a furniture niche. In the next stage of assembly, this subassembly, consisting of the device base  10  and the components of the cooling circuit assembled in the device base  10  are assembled with the inner receptacle (not shown) and pre-positioned for assembly. 
     Here, the inner receptacle that has a shape corresponding to the recess  20  is inserted into the recess  20  so that a uniform gap is created on all sides in the recess  20 , which gap is intended for foam expansion. This gap is approximately 2 cm and is advantageously adjusted by the corresponding spacers. 
     After pre-positioning the device base  10  and the inner receptacle, the exterior walls of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus are positioned on the device base  10  and the inner receptacle. Then the corresponding gaps between the device base  10 , the inner receptacle and the exterior walls is back-foamed, i.e., filled with foam. The device base  10 , the inner receptacle and the exterior walls are already connected together merely with this so-called back-foaming. This method of assembly thus facilitates a significantly easier and quicker assembly of the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus so that the previously common screwing of the heavy subassembly consisting of the base and the components of the cooling circuit located in the base to the body consisting of the previously back-foamed exterior walls and the inner receptacle can be replaced by the back-foaming, which is required in any event. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the inlet-side side area of the subassembly  10 . The air flow L thus enters through the slanted fins  45  of the front panel  40  in the covered inlet  12  and then into side channel  14 . In side channel  14 , control vanes  100  are arranged that fan out the air flow L. The upper control vane  100  here has a lesser degree of slant that the lower control vane  100 . The condenser  50  can thus be optimally (because uniformly) ventilated so that very good, effective heat removal can be achieved. 
       FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the outlet-side side area  18  of the subassembly  10 . The side area  18  here is manufactured analogously to the side area  14 , particularly symmetrically to the latter. By narrowing the spaces between the control vanes  100  to the outlet  19 , an increase in the air flow velocity is achieved, resulting in an air flow that is blown out into the free area, e.g., before the refrigerating and/or freezing apparatus. 
     The control vanes  100  also advantageously cause an increase in the stability of the subassembly  10 , since with the back-foaming with the device, e.g., the back-foaming with PUR foam, the plastic walls of the device base  10 , which walls here are also the walls of the recess  20 , are not deformed. It is thus advantageous for the vane area not to have to be supported on a foam form and for the foam form to be able to be created simply and accordingly in the area. Depending on the heat exchanger  50  used or the condenser  50  and the fan type, it may be necessary to change the vanes  100  so that, for example, the flow velocity in the heat exchanger  50  or the condenser  50  can be varied. A simple adjustment can be made by a change in the geometry of the vanes  100 , for example, simply by providing one or more adapters for this area in the injection molding tool. 
       FIG. 6  shows, moreover, a perspective view of the subassembly  10  with the assembled components of a refrigerating and/or freezing device and is identical to that extent with  FIG. 2 . Furthermore,  FIG. 6  describes the detail D shown in  FIG. 7  in greater detail with regard to positioning. Here, the detail D relates to the air separator  30  which, in the embodiment shown, is an injection molded part  32 . The elastic injection molded part  32  in connection with the side bosses  42  enables adjustment of the depth with simultaneous prevention of plug flows. The position of the front panel to the base depth, which varies from kitchen manufacturer to kitchen manufacturer, can be adjusted up to approximately 55 mm simply and without tools. 
       FIG. 8  shows an alternative embodiment of an air separator  30  which is arranged in the gap between the device base  10  and the front panel  40 . The air separator  30  can thus be extended in a telescope-like manner, where a first telescoping element  36  is fastened to the device base  10 . A second telescoping element  37  is guided movably to the first telescoping element  36  and held down against the front panel  40  by means of a hold-down spring  35 . The second telescoping element  37  penetrates between the walls  44 . The inlet  12  (not shown in  FIG. 8 ) is thus separated from the outlet  19  fluidically. 
       FIG. 9  shows an alternative embodiment of an air separator  30  which is arranged in the gap between the device base  10  and the front panel  40 . The air separator  30  can thus be pivoted by means of a hinge  38  on the device base and is placed between the inlet  12  and the outlet  19  and is designed as pivoting flap  30 , preferably elastic pivoting flap  30 . The pivoting flap  30  is engaged against the front panel  40  (not shown) by the pressure spring  35  so that the inlet  12  and the outlet  19  are separated fluidically. 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the front-side area of the subassembly  10 , where the front panel  40  is provided with an interference contour  150  arranged at the exterior edge. The interference contour  150  causes the fact that a decorative plate can be applied only at a mandatory distance from the fins  45  so that ventilation is constantly ensured. 
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of the front-side inlet area  12  of the subassembly  10 . A filter component  200 , designed as a screen, is thus arranged in the transition from the inlet  12  to the covered side channel (therefore not visible in  FIG. 8 ), to filter the inflowing air into the base device  10  and to prevent contamination of the base device  10  and the components located therein, such as the condenser  50  or the compressor  70 , because contamination of the condenser  50  or compressor  70  impairs the heat removal from these components and can be simply and surely prevented by the filter component  200 . Furthermore, the filter component  200  is easily accessible to the user who only has to remove the front panel  40  to clean the filter component  200 . 
       FIG. 12  shows a perspective representation of a part of a subassembly  10  in another embodiment, where the evaporation tray  110 ′ is integrated into a side cover  100 ′ of the subassembly  10  and can be removed from the side and reinserted. The evaporation tray  110 ′ is thus accessible from the front and can accordingly be removed simply for cleaning purposes and then reinserted. The exterior wall  112 ′ of the evaporation tray  110 ′ itself forms the exterior walls of the side cover  100 ′ of the subassembly  10 . As also shown in  FIG. 12 , a condenser  50  is located behind the evaporation tray  110 ′, which can be inserted into the subassembly  10  through the air outlet  19  here. 
       FIG. 13  shows a perspective representation of the evaporation tray  110 ′ shown in  FIG. 12 . As shown here, the evaporation tray  110 ′ has several locking components  120 ′ by means of which the evaporation tray  110 ′ can be locked into the subassembly  10 . 
       FIG. 14  shows, in a schematic top view of subassembly  10 , how the condenser  50  shown in  FIG. 12  is arranged on both sides in the side channels of the subassembly  10  and how it can be inserted respectively on the front side through the air inlet  12  or through the air outlet  19 . Each condenser  50  is assigned in each case to a fan  60 .