[0001] The present invention relates to a domestic refrigerator of the type comprising a
structure and a refrigerant circuit provided with a compressor having a container
in the form of a dish for the collection and evaporation of defrosting water, said
container being in thermal contact with the compressor.
[0002] A domestic refrigerator is taken to mean any household electrical appliance for preserving
fresh and/or deep-frozen foods, for example refrigerators provided with a fridge compartment
and a freezer compartment, chest or upright freezers etc..
[0003] It is well known that in such domestic refrigerators it is necessary to provide a
system for collecting defrosting water, which is channelled out from the bay to a
container of polymeric material placed on a compressor, said container commonly being
known as a "dish" or "tray". The thermal contact between said container and the hot
compressor ensures sufficient evaporation of the water to prevent overflowing.
[0004] Given the variety of models of compressor that can be installed in refrigerators,
manufacturers of household electrical appliances have to hold stocks of different
types of container, with a consequent increase in costs and complication of component
management. Furthermore, such containers, which are usually produced by injection
moulding of polymeric material, do not always ensure ideal thermal contact with the
compressor.
[0005] The aim of the present invention is provide a domestic refrigerator of the type specified
at the beginning of the description, which does not exhibit the above-stated disadvantages
and which is simple and economic to produce. According to the invention, said object
is achieved by a refrigerator having the features stated in the appended claims.
[0006] Further advantages and features of a refrigerator according to the invention will
emerge from the following detailed description, provided purely by way of nonlimiting
example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a refrigerator according to the invention,
in which the defrosting water container is shown in a pre-assembly configuration;
and
- Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1, in which the defrosting water container is
illustrated in its configuration as installed in the refrigerator.
[0007] With reference to the drawings, the reference number 10 denotes overall a domestic
refrigerator having a structure 10a constituted by a thermally insulated cabinet within
which are accommodated one or more bays (not shown) closed by suitable access doors.
Below the structure there is located, in a known manner, a compartment 12 for the
installation of a compressor 14, fixed at 16 to a metal crosspiece 18 delimiting the
bottom of said compartment 12. The compressor 14 is an integral part of the refrigeration
circuit of the refrigerator, comprising a condenser and one or more evaporators. At
the level of an upper wall 12a of the lower compartment 12, there are provided two
guides 20 capable of co-operating with corresponding parallel edges 22a of a frame
22 that delimits the upper part of a dish V for collecting defrosting water. A flexible
film 24 is joined, for example by comoulding or by adhesive bonding, to the frame
22 of the dish V, which film, once the dish V has been set in place on the compressor
14, adapts itself under the effect of gravity to the dome of the compressor. Such
"adaptation" is facilitated by the weight of the defrosting water that is channelled
to the dish V, in that the greater the volume of water in the dish V, the greater
the area of contact between the flexible film 24 and the compressor 14.
[0008] In the example shown in the drawings, the dish V projects to the rear of the structure
10a by a depth Y such that evaporation of the water is promoted. Alternatively, the
guides 20 can be spaced relative to the upper wall 12a of the compartment 12 so as
to ensure sufficient evaporation of the water.
[0009] The material used to produce the flexible film 24 can be silicone rubber, PVC, polyethylene,
polypropylene, polyester, polyamide or copolymers thereof. Materials other than those
listed here can, of course, also be used. As an alternative to adhesive bonding or
comoulding, the frame 22 can be produced integrally with the flexible film 24.
[0010] To fit the dish V to the refrigerator 10, it is sufficient to slide the frame 22
of the dish V into the appropriate guides 20. In this manner, the flexible film portion
24 of the dish V comes into contact with the compressor 14. Obviously, the flexible
film 24 will be able to adapt itself to different types and shapes of compressor,
with obvious advantages in the management of household electrical appliance components
and spare parts.
1. Domestic refrigerator, of the type comprising a structure (10a) and a refrigerant
circuit provided with a compressor (14) having a container in the form of a dish for
collecting defrosting water, said container being in thermal contact with the compressor
(14), characterised in that said container (V) has at least one portion (24) produced from flexible material
capable of adapting itself to the shape of the compressor (14).
2. Refrigerator according to Claim 1, characterised in that said container is supported by the structure (10a) of the refrigerator (10).
3. Refrigerator according to Claim 2, characterised in that the container (V) has an edge portion (22, 22a) in the form of a frame capable of
sliding in corresponding guides (20) provided on the structure (10a) of the refrigerator
(10) at the time of installation.
4. Refrigerator according to Claim 3, characterised in that said edge portion (22) is joined by comoulding or adhesive bonding to the flexible
portion (24) of the container (V).
5. Refrigerator according to Claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said guides (20) are arranged at the level of a lower wall (12a) of the structure
(10a) of the refrigerator (10).
6. Refrigerator according to Claim 5, characterised in that said container (V) is arranged substantially in contact with said lower wall (12a)
of the structure (10a), and comprises a portion that projects beyond a rear wall of
said structure (10a).
7. Refrigerator according to Claim 3, characterised in that said flexible portion (24) is formed integrally with the edge portion (22, 22a).
8. Refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said flexible portion (24) of the container (V) is constituted by a polymer selected
from the group that consists of silicones, polyvinyl chlorides (PVCs), polyethylenes,
polypropylenes, polyesters, polyamides or the copolymers thereof.