Built-in refrigerating element

Abstract

 Built-in refrigerating element comprising a device for adjusting the power of the quick freezer, and wherein the adjusting device is electronically connected to the quick freezer.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns the sector of built-in home kitchen appliances and in particular it concerns a new built-in deep-freezing module or element.

[0002] At present home food preservation is achieved by means of refrigerating devices, for example freezers or refrigerators, that slow down the growth of bacteria.

[0003] Said refrigerating devices comprise a machine body that is insulated in order to reduce heat dispersion, one or more doors and one or more refrigerating units.

[0004] Said machine body in its turn comprises a frame, usually in the shape of a parallelepiped, whose walls define one or more inner compartments suited for containing food, and one or more openings suited to allow food to be introduced in the respective compartments.

[0005] Said doors, usually rectangular in shape, are positioned at the level of said openings and hinged to said frame on one side, in such a way as to allow the compartments to be closed or opened. Furthermore, said doors comprise a series of gaskets to ensure that said compartments are tight.

[0006] Said refrigerating unit is a device that allows foods to be frozen, and said refrigerating unit also comprises at least one device that, once a preset temperature has been reached, keeps it constant.

[0007] The main drawback posed by the known refrigerating devices lies in that said refrigerating unit freezes food too slowly, thus causing large ice crystals to form inside the products, and said ice crystals tear the tissues and modify the organoleptic properties of food.

[0008] Another negative consequence of this slow freezing process lies in that the torn tissues, even if frozen, deteriorate, so that the food frozen in this way must be consumed within a given period of time.

[0009] Furthermore, hot food should not be introduced in the known refrigerators, since it heats the inner compartment, with a consequent increase in temperature and activation of the refrigerating device, and thus greater energy consumption.

[0010] A further drawback is represented by the fact that hot foods, if positioned near or in contact with other already frozen foods, may affect the freezing conditions of the latter and thus modify their organoleptic properties.

[0011] To remedy all the above drawbacks a new type of built-in refrigerating element has been designed and constructed.

[0012] The main objective of the new built-in refrigerating element is to allow food to be quickly deep-frozen, so as to avoid deterioration or modification of its organoleptic properties.

[0013] The new built-in refrigerating element comprises, in its main parts, an insulated machine body, provided with a frame whose walls define an inner compartment suited to contain food, at least one adjusting device, at least one door and at least one refrigerating unit.

[0014] Said machine body is constructed so that it can be fitted in a piece of furniture.

[0015] Said frame is provided with at least one front opening, at the level of said inner compartment, in such a way as to allow the user to access said inner compartment.

[0016] Said door is hinged to said frame on one side, in such a way as to allow said front opening to be closed. Furthermore, said door comprises a series of gaskets suited to ensure that said inner compartment is tight.

[0017] Said refrigerating unit for quick freezers is a device with adjustable power that allows food to be quickly deep-frozen.

[0018] In the preferred embodiment of the invention said refrigerating unit comprises a grid or coil inside the machine body, a grid or coil outside the machine body and a compressor suited to compress a cooling fluid, generally Freon or ammonia, conveyed to said outer coil, in such a way as to increase both the temperature and the pressure of said cooling fluid and change it to the liquid state.

[0019] While flowing through said outer coil, said cooling fluid transfers heat to the outside and cools down. Successively, said cooling fluid flows through a thermostatic valve and reaches the inner coil, where it reverts to the gaseous state; in this way said cooling fluid expands and absorbs heat from the food placed inside said inner compartment, which leads to the cooling and deep-freezing of the food contained in said inner compartment; successively said cooling fluid, in the gaseous state, is conveyed back to the compressor to start a new cycle.

[0020] Said refrigerating unit comprises a device suited to stop the operation of said compressor once the desired temperature has been reached.

[0021] Said adjusting device comprises a system for controlling the refrigerating unit, at least one timer and at least one thermostat.

[0022] Said control system, said thermostat and said timer are connected to said refrigerating unit so that the user can easily adjust the power of the refrigerating unit, that is, the degree of deep-freezing of food, by setting suitable temperatures and times on an external control panel that can be digital or analogic.

[0023] Said control panel is preferably placed on the front surface of the new built-in refrigerating element.

[0024] Said control panel comprises at least one element for adjusting the timer and at least one element for adjusting the thermostat.

[0025] Furthermore, said control panel may comprise at least one preset button, electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to quickly deep-freeze food, at least one preset button, electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to maintain food at a constant temperature, and at least one preset button, electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to quickly drop the temperature and cool food.

[0026] Said deep-freezing button is suited to send a signal to said control system, in such a way as to deep-freeze food quickly. This deep-freezing system limits the growth of the ice crystals that form in the food tissues, in fact an excessive growth of the ice crystals affects the stability of food over time, its consistency and its quality, since it subjects food to a considerable loss of water during defrosting.

[0027] Said food preservation button is suited to send a signal to send control system, in such a way as to maintain food at a constant temperature, in order to ensure its preservation over time.

[0028] Said cooling button is suited to send a signal to said control system, in such a way as to cool food quickly without freezing it.

[0029] According to a possible embodiment of the invention, said control panel is directly positioned on said machine body, while according to another embodiment it is positioned on the external surface of said door.

[0030] The main advantage offered by the new built-in refrigerating element lies in that food is quickly deep-frozen, thus ensuring increased safety and hygiene in the preservation of food.

[0031] A further advantage is represented by the fact that in this way a considerable reduction in waste is achieved, which goes to the benefit of the environment and ensures savings to the user.

[0032] Built-in refrigerating element, equipped with a quick freezer, comprising a device for adjusting the power of said quick freezer, and wherein said adjusting device is electronically connected to said quick freezer.

[0033] The characteristics of the new built-in refrigerating element will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings attached as non-limiting examples.

[0034] Figure 1 shows an axonometric view of the new built-in refrigerating element with closed door, while Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of the new built-in refrigerating element with open door.

[0035] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the new built-in refrigerating element comprises, in its main parts, a machine body with a substantially parallelepiped frame (A) whose walls define an inner compartment (A1) suited to contain the food to be deep-frozen, at least one adjusting device, at least one door (B) and at least one refrigerating unit.

[0036] In the embodiment illustrated herein, said frame (A) is constructed so that it can be fitted in a piece of furniture.

[0037] Said frame (A) is provided with a compartment or seat (A2) suited to house said refrigerating unit, and with at least one front opening placed at the level of said inner compartment (A1), in such a way as to ensure access to said inner compartment (A1).

[0038] Said substantially plane door (B), hinged to said frame (A) on one side, is suited to allow said front opening to be closed.

[0039] Figures 1 and 2 show said door (B) hinged to said frame (A) on the lower horizontal side, while in a different embodiment said door (B) may be hinged to said frame (A) on one of the two vertical sides.

[0040] Furthermore, said door (B) comprises a series of gaskets to ensure that said inner compartment of the frame (A) is tight.

[0041] Said refrigerating unit is a device that makes it possible to deep-freeze food quickly.

[0042] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, said refrigerating unit comprises a coil inside said machine body, a coil outside said machine body, and a compressor suited to compress a cooling fluid, generally Freon or ammonia, conveyed to said outer coil, in such a way as to increase both the temperature and the pressure of said cooling fluid and change it to the liquid state.

[0043] While flowing through said outer coil, said cooling fluid transfers heat to the outside and cools down. Successively, said cooling fluid flows through a thermostatic valve and reaches the inner coil, where it reverts to the gaseous state; in this way said cooling fluid expands and absorbs heat from the food placed inside said inner compartment, which leads to the cooling and deep-freezing of the food contained in said inner compartment; successively said cooling fluid, in the gaseous state, is conveyed back to the compressor to start a new cycle.

[0044] Said refrigerating unit comprises at least one device suited to stop or start the operation of said compressor, in such a way as to maintain a constant temperature value inside said compartment.

[0045] Said adjusting device comprises a refrigerating unit control system, provided with at least one timer and at least one thermostat, both connected to said refrigerating unit, in such a way as to allow the deep-freezing, freezing or cooling of food at a temperature and in a time defined by the user, and at least one external control panel(C), digital or analogic, for adjusting said timer and said thermostat.

[0046] Said control panel (C), placed on the front surface of said frame (A) of the new built-in refrigerating element, is suited to adjust the timer and the thermostat of said control system of the refrigerating unit according to the user's needs.

[0047] Said control panel (C), positioned on the front surface of said frame (A), comprises at least one element (C5) for adjusting the timer and at least one element (C1) for adjusting the thermostat.

[0048] Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated herein, said control panel comprises at least one preset button (C2), electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to deep-freeze food quickly, at least one preset button (C3), electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to preserve food, and at least one preset button (C4), electronically connected to said refrigerating unit, to be used to quickly drop the temperature and cool food.

[0049] Said deep-freezing button (C2) sends a signal to said timer and said thermostat, thus adjusting them in such a way as to deep-freeze food quickly, with no need for the user to set manually the time and temperature of storage in the new built-in refrigerating element, but only the type of food and its weight. Once the desired temperature has been reached, it remains constant. This freezing system limits the growth of the ice crystals that form in the food tissues, in fact an excessive growth of the ice crystals affects the stability of food over time, its consistency and quality, since food is subject to a considerable loss of water during defrosting.

[0050] Said food preservation button (C3) sends a signal to the timer and the thermostat, adjusting them in such a way as to keep food at a constant temperature, with no need for the user to set the timer and the thermostat manually, but only the type of food and its weight.

[0051] Said food cooling button (C4) sends a signal to said timer and said thermostat, in such a way as to cool food quickly without freezing it, by simply inputting the type of food and its weight.

[0052] Furthermore, according to the invention the control panel (C) comprises a button (C6), suited to allow the new built-in refrigerating element to be switched on and off.

[0053] These are the schematic characteristics that are sufficient to construct the new built-in refrigerating element for a person skilled in the art, consequently upon implementation changes may be made that do not affect the substance of the innovative concept disclosed herein.

[0054] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Built-in refrigerating element for domestic use, characterised in that it comprises a quick freezer, with a device for adjusting the power of said quick freezer, and wherein said adjusting device is electronically connected to said quick freezer.

2. Built-in refrigerating element according to claim 1, characterised in that said adjusting device comprises a control system provided with at least one timer and at least one thermostat that, via a calculating device or microprocessor, adjusts the power of the quick freezer to maintain the temperature at a preset value.

3. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, characterised in that said adjusting device comprises a control panel (C) provided with at least one element (C5) for adjusting said timer and at least one element (C1) for adjusting said thermostat.

4. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, 3, characterised in that said control panel (C) comprises at least one button (C2) for the quick deep-freezing of food, at least one button (C3) for the preservation of food, and at least one button (C4) to be used to quickly drop the temperature and cool food.

5. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that the quick deep-freezing of food has a target temperature of at least -18°C.

6. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that said button (C3) maintains a constant temperature of - 18°C.

7. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that the quick cooling of food has a target temperature of at least + 3°C.

8. Built-in refrigerating element according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, characterised in that said button (C3) maintains a constant temperature of + 3°C.

Drawing