A COOLING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device wherein the evaporator emplace within its body framework is fixed by an evaporator retainer.

[0002] In cooling devices, for example in deep freezers, the evaporator is folded in the shape of a serpentine to be emplaced within the body to carry out the cooling process. Accordingly, the heat transfer between the evaporator pipes and the inner environment of the cooling device is increased. In this type of cooling devices, wire-on-tube or roll-bond type of evaporators are used. After the evaporator is emplaced within the body, it is attached into the inner body of the cooling device by various methods so that it is not displaced during usage. An evaporator retainer that is affixed to the evaporator and the side walls of the cooling device is used in order to attach the evaporator to the inner body of the cooling device. The evaporator retainer can be of various lengths depending on the width of the refrigerator and the thickness of the side walls of the body and each profile member having a different length has to be produced separately. For example, since the width of the evaporators that extend like shelves between the side walls of the cooling devices with different standard widths like 54 cm, 60 cm, or 70 cm and hence the length of the evaporator retainers that help in fastening the evaporators to the side walls have to be according to these standard widths, then a different evaporator retainers in length have to be used for each cooling device of different width which results in increasing the production costs.

[0003] In the patent document no. DE2638364, the evaporator that is emplaced inside the cooling device body is fixed inside the body with a front strip attached to the front portion of the evaporator and two fixture elements attached to the two sides of the profile member. The fixture elements are seated in the housings on the side walls and fix the front strip and the evaporator, one side of which is inserted into the channel in the front strip.

[0004] Patent document EP-A-1 655 564, which is comprised in the state of the art in accordance with Article 54(3) EPC, discloses a cooling device comprising a body having more than one side walls that bound the cooling and /or the freezing compartments, an evaporator emplaced within the body and between the side walls, carrying out cooling process by absorbing the thermal energy within the body, and an evaporator retainer which is attached to the side walls and on the evaporator and which provides fixing of the evaporator to the body.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device enabling the evaporators to be fixed into differently sized bodies with an evaporator retainer.

[0006] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention.is explicated in the claims.

[0007] In the cooling device of the present invention, an evaporator retainer is utilized which is composed of more than one profile member, movable on or within one another, the length thereof adjustable by moving these profile members for fastening the evaporator to the body of the cooling devices in conformity with their different widths.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, an evaporator retainer composed of profile members that can be inserted within each other, having a telescopic configuration is used.

[0009] In the embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator retainer is composed of two side profile members at its sides and a middle profile member that houses the side profile members. Furthermore, on the side profile members and/or the middle profile member, there are recesses and ribs providing the evaporator retainer to be partially locked when the desired length is attained and indicators showing to which length the evaporator retainer should be adjusted and pushing projections allowing the side profile members to be pushed precisely within small distances.

[0010] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a cooling device.

Figure 2 - is the exploded view of an evaporator -retainer.

Figure 3 - is the front view of an evaporator retainer.

Figure 4 - is the perspective view of an evaporator retainer.

Figure 5 - is the schematic view of an evaporator attached to the body of a cooling device and an evaporator retainer.

Figure 6 - is the detailed view of an evaporator retainer attached to the body of a cooling device.

[0011] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1.

Cooling device

2.

Body

3.

Shelf

4.

Evaporator

5.

Side wall

6.

Shelf support

7.

Evaporator retainer

8.

108. Profile member

9.

Rib

10.

Recess

11.

Indicator

12.

Housing

13.

Channel

14.

Latch

15.

Pushing projection

[0012] The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), one or more shelves (3) situated in the body (2) for emplacement of food storage containers thereupon, and an evaporator (4) emplaced within the body (2), carrying out cooling process by absorbing the thermal energy within the body (2).

[0013] The body (2) comprise more than one side walls (5) that bound the cooling and /or freezing compartments and one or more shelf supports (6) situated on the side walls (5) and/or the rear wall, providing support for the shelves (3) emplaced thereon.

[0014] In the embodiment of the present invention the cooling device (1) comprises an evaporator retainer (7) that,

• is attached on the evaporator (4),
• enabling the evaporator (4) to be fixed to the body (2),
• having more than one profile members (8, 108) that can move with respect to each other and
• the total length of which can be adjusted by moving the profile members (8, 108) according to the bodies (2) having different distances (A) between their side walls (5).

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator retainer (7) has a telescopic configuration and the profile members (8, 108) are moved by being inserted into one another.

[0016] The evaporator retainer (7) comprises two side profile members (8) that are mounted to the side walls (5), the distance therebetween adjusted according to the width (A) between the side walls (5) and a middle profile member (108) that houses the side profile members (8), providing the adjustment of its total length according to the width (A) between the side walls (5) by sliding the side profile members (8).

[0017] In an embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator retainer (7) comprises one or more ribs (9) situated on the side profile members (8) and/or the middle profile member (108), preferably of a resilient structure, providing partial locking when the side profile members (8) are moved over the middle profile member (108) adjusting to the required length, preventing the unwanted movement of the side profile members (8) over the middle profile member (108) and one or more recesses (10) into which the ribs (9) are seated.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator retainer (7) comprises one or more indicators (11) providing to mark on the side profile members (8) and/or the middle profile member (108) the predetermined body (2) lengths (A) ( e.g. the standard lengths like 54, 60, 70 cm ) that it will be fixed therein and facilitating the adjustment of the length.

[0019] The evaporator retainer (7) attached to the evaporator (4) is affixed inside the body (2) by being mounted to the side walls (5) from the ends of the side profile members (8).

[0020] The body (2) comprises more than one housings (12) situated oppositely on the side walls (5), wherein the evaporator retainer (7) is seated, preventing the movement of the evaporator retainer (7) in the horizontal and vertical directions.

[0021] The evaporator retainer (7) comprises a channel (13) wherein the front portion of the evaporator (4) is seated and one or more latches (14) situated at the ends of the side profile members (8) allowing for affixation by being seated in the housing (12).

[0022] The evaporator retainer (7) utilized in the cooling device of the present invention is used as a common element in different products having variable distances (A) between the body (2) side walls (5) and provide the evaporators (4) emplaced between the side walls (5) to be fastened inside the body (2). The length of the evaporator retainer (7) is adjusted by means of the indicators (11), recesses (10) and ribs (9) in accordance with the width (A) of the body (2) inside which it will be attached. While the length of the evaporator retainer (7) is being adjusted, the side profile members (8) are moved by sliding inside the middle profile member (108). When the evaporator retainer (7) is adjusted to the desired length by means of the indicator (11), the ribs (9) are seated in the recesses (10) and the total length of the evaporator retainer (7) is adjusted by enabling the side profile members (8) to be partially locked in the middle profile member (108). The evaporator retainer (7) adjusted to the final length is attached to the evaporator (4) by means of the channel (13) and the latches (14) on the ends of the side profile members (8) are seated in the housings (12) in the side walls (5), affixing it inside the body (2).

[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, the evaporator retainer (7) comprises one or more pushing projections (15) situated on the side profile members (8), providing the side profile members (8) to be pushed up to the proper distance by sliding on the middle profile member (108) (Figure 6).

[0024] The evaporator retainer (7) is also used for attaching the evaporator (4) to the bodies (2) having small width (A) differences among them, the total length of the evaporator retainer (7) is precisely adjusted by pushing the side profile members (8) from the pushing projections (15) in small distances. The evaporator retainer (7) can be easily adjusted to the suitable width and fixed to the side walls (5) in mass produced standard-width cooling devices (1) having width differences between their side walls (5) due to the variable thickness of the polyurethane, e.g. when the required width between the side walls (5) should be 700 mm. but is instead 699 or 701 mm.

[0025] The evaporator retainer (7) provides the evaporator (4) to be fixed inside the body (2) of the cooling device (1) conforming with different body widths (A) of the cooling devices (1) enabling reductions in the costs of moulding, inventory etc by means of producing a single-type evaporator retainer (7).

Claims

1. A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2) having more than one side walls (5) that bound the cooling and /or the freezing compartments, an evaporator (4) emplaced within the body (2) and between the side walls (5), carrying out cooling process by absorbing the thermal energy within the body (2), and an evaporator retainer (7) that

- is attached to the side walls (5) and on the evaporator (4),

- provides fixing of the evaporator (4) to the body (2),

- has more than one profile members (8, 108) that can move with respect to each other, and

- the total length of which can be adjusted by moving the profile members (8, 108) to fit bodies (2) having different distances (A) between their side walls (5).

2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) having a telescopic configuration, that is moved by inserting the profile members (8, 108) into one another.

3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) comprising two side profile members (8) that are mounted to the side walls (5) from their ends by adjusting the distance therebetween according to the width (A) between the side walls (5) and a middle profile member (108) that houses the side profile members (8), providing the adjustment of the total length according to the width (A) between the side walls (5) by sliding the side profile members (8) therein.

4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) comprising one or more ribs (9) situated on the side profile members (8) and/or the middle profile member (108), providing partial locking when the side profile members (8) are adjusted to the required length by moving over the middle profile member (108), preventing the unwanted movement of the side profile members (8) over the middle profile member (108) and one or more recesses (10) into which the projections (9) are seated.

5. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) comprising one or more indicators (11) providing to mark on the side profile members (8) and/or the middle profile member (108) the predetermined body (2) lengths (A) for fixing it therein and facilitating the adjustment of the length.

6. A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims 3-5, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) comprising more than one housings (12) situated oppositely on the side walls (5), wherein the evaporator retainer (7) is seated, preventing the movement of the evaporator retainer (7) in the horizontal and vertical directions and one or more latches (14) situated at the ends of the side profile members (8) providing fixation by being seated in the housing (12).

7. A cooling device (1) as in claim 3, characterized by an evaporator retainer (7) comprising one or more pushing projections (15) situated on the side profile members (8), providing the side profile members (8) to be pushed up to the proper distance by sliding it over the middle profile member (108).

Ansprüche

1. Kühlvorrichtung (1), umfassend einen Gehäusekörper (2) mit mehr als einer Seitenwand (5), die an das Kühl- und/oder Gefrierfach angrenzt, einen Verdampfer (4), der in dem Gehäusekörper (2) und zwischen den Seitenwänden (5) angeordnet ist und einen Kühlvorgang ausführ, indem er die Wärmeenergie im Gehäusekörper (2) absorbiert, und eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die

- an den Seitenwänden (5) und an dem Verdampfer (4) angebracht ist,
das Befestigen des Verdampfers (4) am Gehäusekörper (2) ermöglicht,

- mehrere Profilelemente (8, 108) aufweist, die sich in Bezug aufeinander bewegen, und

- deren Gesamtlänge angepasst werden kann, indem die Profilelemente (8, 108) in Anpassung an Gehäusekörper (2) mit unterschiedlichen Abständen (A) zwischen ihren Seitenwänden (5) bewegt werden.

2. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7) mit einer teleskopischen Konfiguration, die durch Einführen der Profilelemente (8, 108) ineinander bewegt wird.

3. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die zwei Seitenprofilelemente (8), die von ihren Enden an den Seitenwänden (5) angebracht sind, indem der Abstand zwischen ihnen entsprechend der Breite (A) zwischen den Seitenwänden (5) angepasst wird, und ein mittleres Profilelement (108) umfasst, das die Seitenprofilelemente (8) aufnimmt und das Anpassen der Gesamtlänge entsprechend der Breite (A) zwischen den Seitenwänden (5) ermöglicht, indem die Seitenprofilelemente (8) in es hinein geschoben werden.

4. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die eine oder mehrere Rippen (9), die an den Seitenprofilelementen (8) und/oder dem mittleren Profilelement (108) angeordnet sind und eine Teilarretierung ermöglichen, wenn die Seitenprofilelemente (8) auf die erforderliche Länge angepasst werden, indem sie sich über das mittlere Profilelement (108) bewegen und die unerwünschte Bewegung der Seitenprofilelemente (8) über das mittlere Profilelement (108) verhindern, und eine oder mehrere Vertiefungen (10) umfasst, in denen die Vorsprünge (9) sitzen.

5. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 4, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die eine oder mehrere (11) Anzeigen umfasst, die es ermöglichen, an den Seitenprofilelementen (8) und/oder dem mittleren Profilelement (108) die vorgegebenen Längen (A) des Gehäusekörpers (2) zur Befestigung darin zu markieren, und das Anpassen der Länge unterstützen.

6. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche 3 bis 5, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die mehrere Gehäuse (12), die einander gegenüber an den Seitenwänden (5) angeordnet sind und in denen die Verdampferhalterung (7) sitzt und die die Bewegung der Verdampferhalterung (7) in der horizontalen und vertikalen Richtung verhindern, und einen oder mehrere Riegel (14) umfasst, die an den Enden der Seitenprofilelemente (8) angeordnet sind und eine Befestigung ermöglichen, indem sie in das Gehäuse (12) gesetzt werden.

7. Kühlvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 3, gekennzeichnet durch eine Verdampferhalterung (7), die einen oder mehrere Druckvorsprünge (15) umfasst, die an den Seitenprofilelementen (8) angeordnet sind und es ermöglichen, dass die Seitenprofilelemente (8) bis zum angemessenen Abstand nach oben gedrückt werden, indem sie über das mittlere Profilelement (108) geschoben werden.

Revendications

1. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) comprenant un corps (2) ayant plus d'une paroi latérale (5) qui joint les compartiments de refroidissement et/ou de congélation, un évaporateur (4) qui est placé dans le corps (2) et entre les parois latérales (5) et qui effectue le processus de refroidissement en absorbant l'énergie thermique dans le corps (2), et un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7)

- qui est fixé aux parois latérales (5) et sur l'évaporateur (4),

- qui permet la fixation de l'évaporateur (4) au corps (2),

- qui présente plus d'un élément profilé (8, 108) qui peut se déplacer par rapport l'un à l'autre, et

- dont la longueur totale peut être ajustée en déplaçant les éléments profilés (8, 108) à rentrer dans des corps (2) ayant des distances différentes (A) entre ses parois latérales (5).

2. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) qui présente une configuration télescopique, qui est déplacé par l'insertion des éléments profilés (8, 108) l'un dans l'autre.

3. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon la Revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) qui comprend deux éléments profilés latéraux (8) qui sont montés aux parois latérales (5) à partir de leurs extrémités en ajustant la distance entre eux en fonction de la largeur (A) entre la parois latérales (5) et un élément profilé intermédiaire (108) qui abrite les éléments profilés latéraux (8), permettant l'ajustement de la longueur totale en fonction de la largeur (A) entre les parois latérales (5) en y glissant les éléments profilés latéraux (8).

4. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon la Revendication 3, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) comprenant une ou plusieurs nervures (9) qui sont disposées sur les éléments profilés latéraux (8) et/ou l'élément profilé intermédiaire (108), permettant un verrouillage partiel lorsque les éléments profilés latéraux (8) sont ajustés à la longueur souhaitée en déplaçant sur l'élément profilé intermédiaire (108), empêchant le mouvement indésirable des éléments profilés latéraux (8) sur l'élément profilé intermédiaire (108) et un ou plus évidements (10) dans lesquels les protubérances (9) sont placées.

5. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon la Revendication 4, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) comprenant un ou plusieurs indicateurs (11) permettant de marquer, sur les éléments profilés latéraux (8) et/ou l'élément profilé intermédiaire (108), les longueurs prédéterminées (A) du corps (2) pour l'y fixer et pour faciliter l'ajustement de la longueur.

6. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications de 3 à 5, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) comprenant plus d'un logement (12) qui est disposé de manière opposée sur les parois latérales (5), où l'élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) est placé, empêchant le mouvement de l'élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) dans les sens horizontal et vertical, et un ou plusieurs verrous (14) qui sont disposés aux extrémités des éléments profilés latéraux (8) pour permettre la fixation en étant insérés dans le logement (12).

7. Un dispositif de refroidissement (1) selon la Revendication 3, caractérisé par un élément de retenue de l'évaporateur (7) comprenant une ou plusieurs protubérances de poussée (15) qui sont disposées sur les éléments profilés latéraux (8) pour permettre aux éléments profilés latéraux (8) d'être poussés jusqu'à la distance correcte en les glissant sur l'élément profilé intermédiaire (108).

Drawing