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EP 1 139 045 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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06.10.2004 Bulletin 2004/41 |
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Date of filing: 19.03.2001 |
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International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F25D 23/12 |
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Refrigerator appliance with cool water dispensing unit
Kühlschrank mit Abgabeeinheit von kaltem Wasser
Réfrigérateur avec distributeur d'eau froide
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Designated Contracting States: |
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ES FR GB IT |
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Priority: |
31.03.2000 IT MI000675
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Date of publication of application: |
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04.10.2001 Bulletin 2001/40 |
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Proprietor: CANDY S.p.A. |
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I-20052 Monza (Milano) (IT) |
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Inventor: |
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- Fumagalli, Silvano
20052 Monza (IT)
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Representative: Mittler, Enrico et al |
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Mittler & C. s.r.l.,
Viale Lombardia, 20 20131 Milano 20131 Milano (IT) |
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References cited: :
US-A- 3 358 471 US-A- 4 918 426 US-A- 5 813 245
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US-A- 3 429 140 US-A- 5 003 790
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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[0001] The present invention refers to a refrigerator appliance with unit for dispensing
cool water. An appliance according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, for example,
from US-A-5 813 245.
[0002] Household refrigerators are known that, within them, are provided with drink dispensing
devices. Such devices are suitable to contain, inside of the heat insulated case of
the refrigerator, a bottle containing the desired drink, in upside down position,
and they comprise a tap, for instance a pressure type one, that opens when one wants
to fill a glass with the drink. In this way, the drink in the bottle is kept at the
temperature present inside the heat insulated case of the refrigerator.
[0003] Some refrigerators are provided with devices for dispensing water coming from an
external water network. In such case a circuit for the connection to an external water
network and a hydraulic circuit internal to the refrigerator which is suitable to
take the water up to a tank internal to the heat insulated case of the refrigerator
are provided; a tap connected with the aforesaid tank provides for dispensing water
on the outside.
[0004] However the tank, usually made of plastic material, can break if the pressure of
the water increases and this happens due both to the cooling of the drinking water
as well as due to the increase in the pressure of the water coming from the external
water network.
[0005] In view of the state of the art herein described, the object of the present invention
is to provide a refrigerator appliance with cool water dispensing unit that allows
to solve the aforesaid inconvenience.
[0006] According to the present invention, this object has been attained by means of a refrigerator
appliance comprising a heat insulated case and a unit for dispensing water coming
from an external water network, said unit comprising a first direct operation solenoid
valve connected with said external water network, a tank located inside said heat
insulated case and which receives water coming from the external water network through
said first solenoid valve, a second direct operation solenoid valve located downstream
of said tank, a water dispenser external to the refrigerator appliance, said first
solenoid valve having an orifice for the flow of water inside the tank and said second
solenoid valve having an orifice for the flow of water toward the dispenser, characterized
in that said orifice of said first solenoid valve has a section smaller than the orifice
of said second solenoid valve in order to reduce the pressure inside the water circuit
comprised between said two solenoid valves.
[0007] Owing to the present invention it is possible to realize a refrigerator appliance
provided with a unit for dispensing drinking water on the outside which is provided
with a hydraulic circuit in which the water has a flow rate that keeps constant with
changes in pressure.
[0008] In addition the positioning of the filtering device assigned to the elimination of
chlorine and other organic compounds from the drinking water downstream of the tank
allows that only a small amount of water is constantly non chlorinated and therefore
not disinfected.
[0009] The advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed
description of an embodiment thereof, that is illustrated as a non-limiting example
in the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view from the back, in section according to a vertical plane,
of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a side section according to a vertical plane of the refrigerator in Figure
1;
Figure 3 is a magnified view of the filtering device and of the tank of the refrigerator
in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a front view of the network solenoid valve of the refrigerator in Figure
1;
Figure 5 is a view in section according to a vertical plane of the solenoid valve
in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a front view of the solenoid valve of the dispenser of the refrigerator
in Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a view in section according to a vertical plane of the solenoid valve
in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the filtering device of the refrigerator in Figure
1;
Figure 9 is a view of the device for the connection of the network solenoid valve
with the external water network;
Figure 10 is a schematic view of the detail of the filtering device and of a tank
of a refrigerator according to a variant of the first embodiment of the invention.
[0010] With reference to Figures 1 and 2 a refrigerator according to a first embodiment
of the present invention is shown. The refrigerator comprises in a way known per se
a cabinet 1 that encloses on its inside a heat insulated case 2 and, on the bottom
of the same, a freezing cell 3. The heat insulated case 2 and the freezing cell 3
are frontally open and they are provided with doors 4 and 5 that are hinged to the
cabinet 1 so as to be revolving around a vertical axis. On the back of the case 2
a condenser and a compressor are provided that are part of a known refrigeration system
not visible in the figures.
[0011] The refrigerator is provided with a water inlet 7, that is connectable with the household
water network. A solenoid valve 8 is associated with the water inlet 7. In output
from the solenoid valve 8, a water transport duct 9, housed in a back interspace of
the cabinet 1, goes up to the top of cabinet 1, continues into a upper interspace
of the cabinet 1 toward the front part of the same, passes through the door 4 and
end up in a water accumulation tank 10 that is destined to contain a reserve of drinking
water. The tank 10 is mounted onto the internal wall of the door 4 as a bracket and
it preferably has an elongated shape. With the tank 10 a filtering device 11 is associated
that is suitable to carry out a chemical filtering function of the water supplied
by the water network, for the elimination of possible organic compounds, of products
of the reaction of the chlorine contained in the water, of substances reliesed by
the pipes of the water network, better visible in Figure 3.
[0012] To the filtering device 11 a dispensing device 12 is connected comprising a tap 13
that takes the filtered water on the outside. Between the filtering device 11 and
the dispensing device 12 a second solenoid valve 14 is located.
[0013] The dispensing device 12 comprises a tap 13 consisting of a right angle tubular the
duct 15 and it is provided with a button 16 adjacent to one end 30 of the tap which
is connected with the valve means 14 and control to the opening or the closing of
the same tap.
[0014] The dispensing device 12 also comprises a frame 17, made up of a sheet of plastic
material, applied onto the outside of the door 4 of the heat insulated case 3 in a
substantially central position. The frame 17 comprises a recessed part 18 provided
with a substantially rectangular hole 19 on top and an upper projection 20. The latter
is suitable to contain the external portion of the tap 13 in such a way that the end
30 of the same tap can project from the hole 19 together with the button 16. The recessed
part 18 of the frame 17 is made in such a way so as to allow to fill with water not
only a glass but even other types of larger containers such as bottles.
[0015] The solenoid valve 8 is activated at every pressure on the button 19. In this way
the inflow of water from the water network external to the tank 10 is allowed through
the duct 9 and the quantity of water that flows into the tank is equal to the amount
of water that is drawn by the user with the tank 10 always kept full.
[0016] Preferably the connection of the inlet 7 with the external water network is carried
out by means of a coupling device 21, shown in Figure 9, that is made up of a hose
22 and two threaded ring nuts 23, 24 provided with appropriate internal packings.
The ring nuts 23, 24 are respectively connectable with the threaded inlet 7 of the
solenoid valve 8 and with a tap existing in the building where the refrigerator is
located. If too long the hose 22 can be shortened by uncoupling it from its connection
with a ring nut, by cutting it and by subsequently coupling it with the ring nut.
[0017] The solenoid valve 8, better visible in Figures 4 and 5, is of the direct operation
type and it is provided with a liter counter 70 for the count of the amount of water
that flows inside it. The solenoid valve 8 comprises a body 80 that is made up of
the threaded hole 7 for the connection with the external water network in such a way
that the water passes through a hole 81 with a diameter that is decreasing while getting
toward the inside of solenoid valve 8 and preferably provided with a mesh 82 for the
filtering of the water. The hole 81 leads inside a chamber 83 that has a cylindrical
shape but transversally cut by an oblique wall 84. The chamber 83 has a cylindrical
body 85 inside of it that together with the wall 84 delimits the chamber 83 on the
bottom. The cylindrical body 85 is hollow and it has on its top 86 a round orifice
87, preferably 1.6mm in diameter, for the flow of water through its inside; the orifice
87 is normally closed by a piston 88 that is thrust by a spring 89 located in a tubular
duct 90 of a piece 95 for the closing of the chamber 83. The tubular duct 90 is in
turn located inside a body 91 containing a coil that allows the lifting of the piston
88 according to a known operation and therefore the flow of the water inside the cylindrical
body 85. The latter takes the water to the liter counter 30 that provides to count
the amount of water that is brought through the outlet 92 inside of the tube 9.
[0018] The second solenoid valve 14, controlled by the button 19 too, is a directed operation
solenoid valve, better shown in Figures 6 and 7, which is similar to the solenoid
valve 8 but has a round orifice 140, for the flow of water larger than the orifice
88 found in the solenoid valve 8, it preferably has a diameter of 2mm. Such solenoid
valve 14 allows the water of the dispensing unit not to come to contact with the external
air. For this second solenoid valve 14 too a duct 141 for the inlet of the filtered
water is provided that through the holes 142 that are made in a packing 144 flows
into an area 143. If the piston 145 does not close the orifice 140 the filtered water
can flow inside a tube 146 that leads it toward the tap 13.
[0019] Even if not shown in the figures a non-return valve for the water to avoid the flow
of water from the dispensing unit toward the water network is located upstream of
the solenoid valve 8 or it is inserted into it.
[0020] The operation of the dispensing unit is as following.
[0021] The water coming from the water network passes through the supply hose 22 and the
inlet 7 of the solenoid valve 8 and through the hole 81 it is lead inside the chamber
83.
[0022] If one wants to fill any container with water one operates on the button 19 that
controls the opening of the solenoid valves 8 and 14. In that way the coil 91 provides
to the lifting of the piston 88 and therefore to the flow of water through the orifice
87, the hollow cylindrical body 85, the liter counter 30 and through the outlet 92
toward the tube 9.
[0023] After having flowed inside the tube 9 the water reaches the tank 10 located on the
internal wall of the door 4 of heat insulated case 2. The tank 10 is generally made
up of plastic material, it has an elongated U-shape and it is provided with two threaded
inlets 101, 102 obtained by moulding during the same moulding of the tank 10.
[0024] Once the tank 10 has been filled the water reaches the filtering device 11 made up
of a body 110 to which a filter 111 is connected on the bottom that is arranged inside
a container 112 screwable to the body 110 and which has a glass-like shape. Finally
the water goes through the solenoid valve 14 and it reaches the device 12 for its
output on the outside.
[0025] When one operates on the button 19 so as to stop the output of water the same button
simultaneously controls the closing of the solenoid valve 8 by means of the lowering
of the piston 88 on the orifice 87 and of the solenoid valve 14 by closing the orifice
140 by means of the piston 145. However the difference in dimension between the two
orifices 87 and 140 determines a delayed closing of the orifice 140 and this causes
a reduction in the pressure of the water inside the output circuit that is called
residual pressure. This allows to prevent possible breaks of the tank 10 and possible
high pressure water jets from the tap 13. Preferably the aim is to guarantee a water
pressure inside the dispenser unit that is comprised between 0.2 and 2 bars with a
network pressure comprised between 0.2 bars and 8 bars, considering the fact that
the cooling of the drinking water inside the tank causes the pressure of the water
to raise, for instance the passage from 10 degrees to 4 degrees determines an increase
in the pressure of the water inside of tank 10 equal to 1atm.
[0026] The solenoid valve 8 is preferably calibrated at 8 bars in order to be able to resist
possible sudden changes in pressure (the so-called the "water hammer") of the water
in the external water network.
[0027] The solenoid valve 14 is preferably calibrated at 4 bars. In this way such solenoid
valve 14 signals the breakdown of the solenoid valve 8 by closing itself; in fact
a breakdown of the solenoid valve 8 determines an increase in pressure inside the
circuit of the dispensing unit that cause the closing of the solenoid valve 14 thus
stopping in such way the output of water. If that happens the user can contact the
service department for the control of the dispenser system of the refrigerator appliance.
[0028] Preferably a variation of the aforesaid embodiment is provided whereby an air bag
200, made of a chamber 201 containing air and insulated by a membrane 202 from the
part of the tank 10 that contains water, is inserted inside the tank 10 in order to
additionally lower the residual pressure inside the dispensing unit, as shown in Figure
10.
[0029] The presence of two solenoid valves 8 and 14 facilitates the operation of substitution
of the filter 111 that can take place also in the presence of water in the water circuit
between two solenoid valves 8, 14. Such operation is carried out every time the liter
counter counts an amount of water equal to 1000 liters; that is signaled by the ignition
of an appropriate LED that can preferably be already flashing when the count reaches
950 litres. Such operation provides for the unscrewing of the glass 110 that contains
the filter 111, the uncoupling of the same and its substitution, and the subsequent
screwing back of the glass, as shown in Figure 8.
1. Refrigerator appliance comprising a heat insulated case (2) and a unit for dispensing
water coming from an external water network, said unit comprising a first direct operation
solenoid valve (8) connected with said external water network, a tank (10) located
inside said heat insulated case (2) and which receives water coming from the external
water network through said first solenoid valve (8), a second direct operation solenoid
valve (14) located downstream of said tank (10), a water dispenser (13) external to
the refrigerator appliance, said first solenoid valve (8) having an orifice (87) for
the flow of water inside the tank (10) and said second solenoid valve (14) having
an orifice (140) for the flow of the water toward the dispenser (13), characterized in that said orifice (87) of said first solenoid valve (8) has a section smaller than the
orifice (140) of said second solenoid valve (14) in order to reduce the pressure inside
the water circuit comprised between said two solenoid valves (8, 14).
2. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice (87) of said first solenoid valve (8) is circular and it is substantially
1.6 millimetres in diameter and the orifice (140) of said second solenoid valve (14)
is circular and it is substantially 2 millimetres in diameter.
3. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said second solenoid valve (14) is calibrated in pressure in minor way as compared
with said first solenoid valve (8) in such a way that its closing signals a breakdown
of the first solenoid valve (8).
4. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that said first solenoid valve (8) is calibrated at 8 bars and said second solenoid valve
(14) is calibrated at 4 bars.
5. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said first solenoid valve (8) is provided with a liter counter (70) for the count
of the amount of water that flows through it.
6. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said dispensing unit comprises a filtering device (11) located between said tank
(10) and said second solenoid valve (14).
7. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that said filtering device (11) comprises a filter (111) and a container shaped as a glass
(112) that is easy removable for the substitution of the filter (111).
8. Refrigerator appliance according to claims 7 and 5, characterized in that it provides for the substitution of said filter (111) of the filtering device (11)
to the attainment of a pre-established amount of water that flows through said first
solenoid valve (8).
9. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that said heat insulated case (2) is open and it is closed by a door (4) and said tank
(10) and said filtering device (11) are arranged on the internal wall of said door
(4) of said heat insulated case (2).
10. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that there are provided means (21) for the connection of said first solenoid valve (8)
to the external water network, said connection means (21) comprising a flexible and
shortenable hose (22).
11. Refrigerator appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said tank (10) comprises an air bag (200) in order to additionally reduce the pressure
inside said water circuit between the two solenoid valves (8, 14).
1. , Kühlschrank, welcher ein wärmeisoliertes Gehäuse (2) und eine Einheit zur Ausgabe
von Wasser aufweist, welches von einem externen Wasserleitungsnetz kommt, wobei die
Einheit ein erstes, direktbetriebenes Magnetventil (8) aufweist, welches mit dem externen
Wasserleitungsnetz verbunden ist, einen Behälter (10), welcher im Innem des wärmeisolierten
Gehäuses (2) angeordnet ist, und welcher Wasser aufnimmt, das von dem externen Wasserleitungsnetz
kommt und über das erste Magnetventil (8) geht, ein zweites, direkt betriebenes Magnetventil
(14), welches stromab von dem Behälter (10) angeordnet ist, und eine Wasserabgabeeinrichtung
(13) aufweist, welche außerhalb des Kühlschranks liegt, wobei das erste Magnetventil
(8) eine Öffnung (87) für den Wasserstrom im Innern des Behälters (10) hat, und das
zweite Magnetventil (14) eine Öffnung (140) für den Wasserstrom in Richtung zu der
Abgabeeinrichtung (13) hat, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Öffnung (87) des ersten Magnetventils (8) einen Querschnitt hat, welcher kleiner
als jener der Öffnung (140) des zweiten Magnetventils ist, um den Druck im Innem des
Wasserkreislaufs zwischen den beiden Magnetventilen (8, 14) herabzusetzen.
2. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Öffnung (87) des ersten Magnetventils (8) kreisförmig ausgebildet ist und einen
Durchmesser von etwa 1,6 mm hat und daß die Öffnung (140) des zweiten Magnetventils
(14) kreisförmig ausgebildet ist und einen Durchmesser von etwa 2 mm hat.
3. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das zweite Magnetventil (14) auf einen niedrigeren Druck im Vergleich zu dem ersten
Magnetventil (8) in einer solchen Weise eingestellt ist, daß das Schließen desselben
ein Ausfallen des ersten Magnetventils (8) signalisiert.
4. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das erste Magnetventil (8) auf etwa 8 bar und das zweite Magnetventil (14) auf etwa
4 bar eingestellt ist.
5. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das erste Magnetventil (8) mit einem Literzähler (70) versehen ist, welcher die durchströmende
Wassermenge zählt.
6. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Abgabeeinrichtung eine Filtereinrichtung (11) aufweist, welche zwischen dem Behälter
(10) und dem zweiten Magnetventil (14) angeordnet ist.
7. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Filtereinrichtung (11) einen Filter (111) und einen Behälter aufweist, welcher
in Form eines Glases (112) ausgebildet ist, welches sich leicht setzen beim Ersetzen
des Filters (111) entfernen läßt.
8. Kühlschrank nach den Ansprüchen 7 und 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zum Auswechseln des Filters (111) der Filtereinrichtung (11) eine vorbestimmte Wassermenge
vorhanden ist, welche durch das erste Magnetventil (8) strömt.
9. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das wärmeisolierte Gehäuse (2) offen und durch eine Tür (4) verschließbar ist, und
daß der Behälter (10) und die Filtereinrichtung (11) auf der Innenwand der Türe (4)
des wärmeisolierten Gehäuses (2) angeordnet sind.
10. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Einrichtungen (21) zum Verbinden des ersten Magnetventils (8) mit den externen Wasserleistungsnetz
vorhanden sind, wobei die Verbindungseinrichtungen (21) eine flexible und verkürzbare
Schlauchleitung (22) aufweisen.
11. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Behälter (10) einen Luftsack (200) aufweist, um den Druck im Innem des Wasserkreislaufs
zwischen den beiden Magnetventilen (8, 14) zusätzlich herabzusetzen.
1. Réfrigérateur comprenant un compartiment calorifugé (2) et une unité pour distribuer
de l'eau provenant d'un réseau d'eau externe, ladite unité comprenant une première
électrovanne à fonctionnement direct (8) raccordée audit réseau d'eau externe, un
réservoir (10) situé à l'intérieur dudit compartiment calorifugé (2) et qui reçoit
l'eau provenant du réseau d'eau externe par ladite première électrovanne (8), une
seconde électrovanne à fonctionnement direct (14) située en aval dudit réservoir (10),
un distributeur d'eau (13) externe au réfrigérateur, ladite première électrovanne
(8) ayant un orifice (87) pour l'écoulement de l'eau à l'intérieur du réservoir (10)
et ladite seconde électrovanne (14) ayant un orifice (140) pour l'écoulement de l'eau
vers le distributeur (13), caractérisé en ce que ledit orifice (87) de ladite première électrovanne (8) a une section inférieure à
l'orifice (140) de ladite seconde électrovanne (14) afin de réduire la pression à
l'intérieur du circuit d'eau compris entre lesdites deux électrovannes (8, 14).
2. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'orifice (87) de ladite première électrovanne (8) est circulaire et il a un diamètre
d'environ 1,6 millimètres et l'orifice (140) de ladite seconde électrovanne (14) est
circulaire et il a un diamètre d'environ 2 millimètres.
3. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite seconde électrovanne (14) est calibrée en pression de manière moindre par
rapport à ladite première électrovanne (8) de sorte que sa fermeture signale une panne
de la première électrovanne (8).
4. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ladite première électrovanne (8) est calibrée à 8 bars et ladite seconde électrovanne
(14) est calibrée à 4 bars.
5. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ladite première électrovanne (8) est munie d'un compteur de litres (70) pour le comptage
de la quantité d'eau qui s'écoule à travers celle-ci.
6. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit distributeur comprend un dispositif de filtration (11) situé entre ledit réservoir
(10) et ladite seconde électrovanne (14).
7. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit dispositif de filtration (11) comprend un filtre (111) et un récipient en forme
de verre (112) qui est facilement amovible pour le changement du filtre (111).
8. Réfrigérateur selon les revendications 7 et 5,
caractérisé en ce qu'il propose pour le changement dudit filtre (111) du dispositif de filtration (11)
d'atteindre une quantité préétablie d'eau qui s'écoule par ladite première électrovanne
(8).
9. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que ledit compartiment calorifugé (2) est ouvert et il est fermé par une porte (4) et
ledit réservoir (10) et ledit dispositif de filtration (11) sont agencés sur la paroi
interne de ladite porte (4) dudit compartiment calorifugé (2).
10. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'on propose des moyens (21) pour le raccordement de ladite première électrovanne
(8) au réseau d'eau externe, lesdits moyens de raccordement (21) comprenant un tuyau
flexible et pouvant être raccourci (22).
11. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit réservoir (10) comprend un coussin d'air (200) afin de réduire davantage la
pression à l'intérieur dudit circuit d'eau entre les deux électrovannes (8, 14).