LOW PRESSURE STORAGE UNIT AND REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE HAVING THE LOW PRESSURE STORAGE UNIT

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a low pressure storage unit and a refrigeration appliance having such a low pressure storage unit. More particularly, the present invention relates to a low pressure storage unit which has a closure member for closing a fluid passage, and to a household or commercial refrigeration appliance having such a low pressure storage unit.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Chinese patent application publication CN101358795A discloses a refrigeration appliance having a low pressure storage unit (also referred to as "vacuum low pressure storage unit"). The low pressure storage unit comprises a main body which defines a storage chamber having a food access opening, and a door which is adapted for opening and closing the access opening. A sealing element is arranged between the door and the main body around the access opening to provide the low pressure storage unit with a vacuum seal, so that, when the storage chamber is closed, air inside the storage chamber can be drawn out by an evacuation device, such as a vacuum pump, to keep the storage chamber in a low pressure state, which helps to extend food storage time.

[0003] Document US 3,538,616 relates to a moisture extracting and drying apparatus having a housing with an enclosed chamber and a door therefor, in which an electrical heating device heats the air in the chamber and the material placed therein for driving off the excess moisture which is dissipated through an opening in or near the top of the housing.

[0004] Document WO 2009/038403 A2 relates to a refrigerator and a degassing container for the refrigerator.

[0005] Document US 945,542 relates to a refrigerator. The door of the refrigerator comprises a bellow which is operated by a u-shaped member.

[0006] Document US 2,109,002 relates to the preservation of foodstuffs and other perishables, and consists in a refrigerator in which a condition of subatmospheric pressure is established and maintained.

[0007] Document JP 2009036443 A relates to a low pressure compartment disposed in the storage compartment, and a pressure reducing means for reducing a pressure in the low pressure compartment.

[0008] Document US 2,425,816 A discloses a low-pressure storage unit with features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0009] The low pressure storage unit is provided with a pressure release valve / pressure relief valve for relieve the low pressure state in the low pressure chamber. The pressure relief valve comprises a rubber valve seat mounted in a through hole in a door body, and a valve element integrally formed on the backside of a door handle for opening/closing the valve seat. Once the door of the low pressure chamber is closed, when the door handle is pressed, the valve element abuts against the valve seat and closes it. Once the door of the low pressure chamber is opened, when the door handle is pulled, the door handle rotates and thus drives the valve element to rotate, so that the valve seat is opened. More specifically, by manipulating the door handle, the low pressure state in the low pressure chamber can be released, or the low pressure chamber can be sealed in an airtight manner.

[0010] However, when the low pressure chamber is evacuated, or the low pressure storage unit has been used for a long period, the door and/or handle of the low pressure chamber may present a certain degree of deformation which results in a change in the distance between the main body and the inner side of the handle. As a result, airtightness of the pressure relief valve in a closed state is decreased, which further negatively affects airtightness of the whole low pressure storage unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a low pressure storage unit which has improved airtightness, and a refrigeration appliance having such a low pressure storage unit.

[0012] The subject matter according to the independent claims solves the above object. Especially, the present invention in one aspect relates to a low pressure storage unit comprising a storage chamber capable of maintaining a low pressure state; a first portion having a through hole for communicating the storage chamber with an external fluid; and a second portion provided with a closure member for selectively opening or closing the through hole; characterized in that the closure member is adjustably connected to the second portion at a position relative to the second portion. The present invention in another aspect is characterized in that the closure member is floatingly connected to the second portion. According to the present invention, the closure member is slidably connected to the second portion. The second portion comprises a first wall and a second wall opposite to each other and separated from each other, the first wall is closer to the first portion than the second wall and has a through hole, and the closure member is inserted through the through hole to extend between the first wall and the second wall and is movable between the first wall and the second wall.

[0013] The low pressure storage unit comprises an elastic member, wherein the elastic member is located between the second wall and the closure member and/or between the first wall and the closure member, and the closure member adjusts its position with the change of the length of the elastic member.

[0014] The second portion is rotatably connected to the first portion.

[0015] Since the location of the closure member on the second portion is self-adjustable, the closure member always seals the through hole tightly, even when the low pressure storage unit is suffered from a certain degree of deformation.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second portion comprises a cavity, and the closure member is slidably extended into the cavity.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member is located between the second member and the closure member, so as to adjust the position of the closure member on the second member.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the closure member adjusts its position with the change of the length of the elastic member. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, before the closure member closes the through hole, the elastic member is compressed to apply a force to the closure member in a direction towards the first portion. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member comprises a spring.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position of the closure member is adjusted within a range.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the through hole is a pressure relief channel for the low pressure storage unit.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the through hole is formed on a door for selectively opening or closing the storage chamber, and the second portion is a handle disposed on the door.

[0022] The present invention in yet another aspect relates to a refrigeration appliance comprising a low pressure storage unit as defined in any of the above solutions.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the refrigeration appliance comprises a cabinet for defining a heat insulation storage chamber, wherein the low pressure storage unit is received in the storage chamber.

[0024] The configuration of the present invention and other objectives and beneficial effects thereof will be well understood from description of preferred embodiments in accompany of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Provided as a part of the description and for further explaining the present invention, the drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and disclose the principle of the present invention together with the detailed description below. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the appliance door of the refrigeration appliance is not shown.

Figure 2 is a schematic assembled perspective view of a low pressure storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a main body of the low pressure storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is an exploded schematic view of the low pressure storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the door is in the opened state and is exploded.

Figure 5 is an assembled perspective view of a brake unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic exploded view of a handle of the low pressure storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of the handle of the low pressure storage unit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic partial sectional view of the low pressure storage unit when the pressure relief passage is closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] With reference to Figure 1, a refrigeration appliance 1 comprises a thermally insulated cabinet 2, with the cabinet 2 comprising an outer shell 2a, an inner shell 2b, and a thermal insulation layer (not shown) therebetween. The cabinet 2 defines several thermally insulated storage compartments 3, 4 and 5 for storing articles such as foods therein. In this embodiment, these storage compartments comprise an upper refrigeration compartment 3, a lower freezing compartment 5, and a preservation compartment 4 which is located between the upper and lower compartments and is maintained at a temperature slightly higher than zero degree Celsius. These storage compartments 3, 4 and 5 can be closed by corresponding doors (not shown).

[0027] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to specific arrangements of the storage compartments of the refrigeration appliance. The present invention can be applied for other types of refrigeration appliance well, such as a refrigerator having refrigerating and freezing compartments arranged one above the other, a side-by-side combination refrigerator, a refrigerator having a drawer type door, a refrigerator having French type doors, and the like.

[0028] The refrigeration appliance 1 has a closed-loop evaporative refrigeration system. The refrigeration system comprises at least a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), a throttling device (not shown) and an evaporator (not shown). Since this type of refrigeration system is well known in the prior art, its detailed explanation is omitted here. Of course, the refrigeration appliance 1 may also adopt other types of refrigeration systems (such as an absorption refrigeration system or a thermoelectric refrigeration system).

[0029] The refrigeration appliance 1 is provided with a low pressure storage unit 7 which can be maintained in a low pressure state, and an evacuation device (not shown) which is adapted for evacuating air from the low pressure storage unit 7. The evacuation device may comprise a vacuum pump and pipelines (not shown) connected between the vacuum pump and the low pressure storage unit 7.

[0030] In this embodiment, the low pressure storage unit 7 is provided in the preservation compartment 4. It should be understood that, in an alternative embodiment, the low pressure storage unit 7 can be provided in other storage compartments, such as the refrigerating compartment 3, or a variable compartment whose temperature zone can be changed between a refrigerating temperature zone and a freezing temperature zone.

[0031] The low pressure storage unit 7 is located at a bottom of the preservation compartment 4, and is supported on a bottom wall of the preservation compartment 4. In this embodiment, a preservation container 6 may be provided above the low pressure storage unit 7, which preservation container has a higher humidity and is adapted for storing foods such as vegetables.

[0032] The low pressure storage unit 7 may be constructed separately from the cabinet 2 and then assembled in the cabinet 2. With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3, in this embodiment, the low pressure storage unit 7 is substantially of a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, having a width slightly smaller than the width of the preservation compartment 4, so that the low pressure storage unit 7 can be inserted into the preservation compartment 4 or drawn out of the preservation compartment 4.

[0033] The low pressure storage unit 7 comprises a main body 8 which is fixed in the preservation compartment 4, and a door 10 which is coupled to the main body 8 and can be pushed into or retracted out of the preservation compartment 4.

[0034] With reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3, the main body 8 has a box shaped structure, defining a flat storage chamber 15 having a food access opening. The access opening is preferably formed in the front end of the main body 8 to face towards users.

[0035] The door 10 may be provided with a ring shaped sealing element (not shown), so that, when the door 10 in a closed position, air tightness engagement is formed between the main body 8 and the door 10 to prevent air from entering into the storage chamber 15 through the interface between the main body 8 and the door 10. The sealing element may alternatively be provided on the front end of the main body 8.

[0036] The door 10 is of drawer type, which can be pushed towards the main body 8 to close the storage chamber 15, or be pulled outwards to open the storage chamber 15. The backside of the door 10 is connected with a tray shaped container 12 for containing articles therein. A user may push or pull the tray shaped container 12 into or out of the storage chamber 15 to get an article contained in the low pressure storage unit 7 or to put articles into the low pressure storage unit 7. The door 10 and the tray shaped container 12 together form a drawer unit which can be pushed into and pulled out of the main body 8.

[0037] A telescopic guide unit 14 may be provided between the tray shaped container 12 and the main body 8, such that the door 10 and the tray shaped container 12 can be smoothly pulled out of the main body 8 or pushed into the main body 8.

[0038] The low pressure storage unit 7 may be provided with a locking mechanism for locking the door 10 which is in the closed position with the main body 8. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the locking mechanism comprises a first matching portion 34 provided on the door 10 and a second matching portion 44 provided on the main body 8. By means of the cooperation of the first matching portion 34 and the second matching portion 44, the door 10 is locked in the closed position. Meanwhile, the sealing element between the main body 8 and the door 10 is fully deformed under a locking force created by the locking mechanism, so that air tightness between the door 10 and the main body 8 is increased.

[0039] The low pressure storage unit 7 is provided with an evacuation passage (not shown) for establishing fluid communication between the storage chamber 15 and the evacuation device, and an evacuation valve 60 for selectively controlling the fluid communication between the evacuation passage and the evacuation device. The evacuation passage and the evacuation valve 60 are provided on the back end of the main body 8. In other embodiments, the evacuation passage and the evacuation valve 60 may be provided in other proper positions, such as the door 10, the sidewalls or the top wall of the main body 8, and the like.

[0040] When the storage chamber 15 is closed by the door 10 and the evacuation device is activated, air within the storage chamber 15 is evacuated, and the storage chamber 15 comes to the low pressure state after its pressure is removed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the evacuation procedure is finished, the pressure in the storage chamber 15 is in a range between one standard atmosphere pressure (atm) and absolute vacuum, for example, having an absolute pressure lower than 690 mbar. The storage chamber 15 is generally referred to as "vacuum chamber" by those skilled in the art, since air pressure inside it is lower than the standard atmosphere pressure.

[0041] With reference to Figure 4, the door 10 comprises a door body 26, a brake unit 27 fixed to the door body 26, fixing members 28 for fixing the brake unit 27 to the door body 26, and a decorative cover 29 connected to the door body 26 to cover a corresponding portion of the brake unit 27.

[0042] The door body 26 has a substantially rectangular plate shape and is preferably formed of a plastic material. The door body 26 is formed with an accommodating space 30 recessed from its front surface 26a for receiving at least a portion of the brake unit 27.

[0043] As shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the brake unit 27 comprises a handle 32 of a substantially plate shape, a cylindrical rotational rod 33 fixed to the handle 32, and a pair of first matching portions 34 fixed opposite ends of the rotational rod 33 respectively.

[0044] The rotational rod 33 is fixed to the back side of the handle 32. The handle 32 has several fixing portions 35 protruded from its back surface, the fixing portions 35 being provided on an upper portion of the handle 32. Each fixing portion 35 has a cylindrical fixing hole 61 extending transversely to allow the rotational rod 33 to extend through the fixing holes 61 so as to be connected to the handle 32.

[0045] In this embodiment, the rotational rod 33 and the handle 32 are fixed to each other, with no relative movement between them being allowed then. This can be done by screws 37 which fasten the rotational rod 33 to the fixing portions 35.

[0046] Opposite ends of the rotational rod 33 are each fixed with a corresponding first matching portion 34. In this embodiment, once the first matching portion 34 is inserted through by a corresponding end of the rotational rod 33, it is fixed to the rotational rod 33 without being able to move with respect to the rotational rod 33 then, by means of a fixing member such as a screw, so that, after the rotational rod 33 is fixed to a door plate 26, when the rod is rotated around its central axis X, the first matching portion 34 also rotates around the central axis X of the rotational rod 33.

[0047] Once fixed to the door body 26, the handle 32 is rotatably connected to the door 10. When the handle 32 is rotated, the rotational rod 33 inside the door body 26 is also rotated around its central axis X while driving the first matching portion 34 to rotate. The rotational rod 33 defines a rotation shaft (axis) for the handle 32 and the first matching portion 34. In this procedure, when the rod 33 is rotated, the rod also acts as a rotation shaft of the handle 32 and the first matching portion 34, with the central axis X of the rod having no displacement with respect to the door body 26.

[0048] The handle 32 is rotatable around the central axis X of the rotational rod 33 between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a maximum angle is formed between the handle 32 and the front surface 26a of the door body 26, with a maximum distance being formed between the lower end of the handle and the front surface 26a of the door body 26, and thus the first position is also referred to as extended position. In the second position, a minimum angle is formed between the handle 32 and the front surface 26a of the door body 26, with a minimum distance being formed between the lower end of the handle and the front surface 26a of the door body 26, and thus the second position is also referred to as retracted position.

[0049] In the first position, an angle formed between the handle 32 and a vertical plane is less than 90 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, when the handle 32 is rotated to form an angle of 30 degrees to 60 degrees (for example, 50 degrees) with a vertical plane, it is restricted from rotating outwards further. This can be achieved by a corresponding retention structure (not shown). The retention structure may be configured in the following manner: when the handle 32 is rotated outwards through the maximum angle to the first position, the retention structure abuts against the inner side of a portion of the handle 32 which is located above the rotational rod 33. Preferably, the retention structure is arranged near the upper inner wall of the accommodating space 30 but is still separated from it by a distance, so that, when the handle 32 is rotated to the first position, the inner side of the portion of the handle 32 which is located above the rotational rod 33 abuts against the retention structure, so that the handle 32 is restricted from being further rotated.

[0050] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the handle 32 is in the second position, the front surface of the handle 32 is in a vertical position substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane, which is particularly advantageous for retracting the handle 32 into the door 10. Preferably, in the second position, at least a majority of the handle 32 is received in the accommodating space 30 to reduce the space occupied by the low pressure storage unit 7. Particularly preferably, in the second position, the handle 32 is wholly received in the door body 26, without extending out beyond the front surface of the door 10.

[0051] The door 10 can be provided with a retention structure for restricting the handle 32 from being further rotated after it is rotated to the vertical plane (the second position), so as to prevent the handle 32 from being continuously rotated, which otherwise may cause the upper end of the handle 32 to protrude out of the accommodating space 30. In this way, the door 10 may have a further smoothed appearance. The retention structure may be formed by protrusion structures fixed to the inner side of the handle 32 and/or to the front side of the door body 26, and it is configured in the following manner: when the front surface of the handle 32 is in the vertical position, the retention structure (if it is fixed to the door body 26) just abuts against the inner side of a portion of the handle 32 which is located below the rotational rod 33; alternatively, the retention structure (if it is fixed to the inner side of the handle 32) just abuts against the front side of the door body 26.

[0052] When the handle 32 is in the second position, the first matching portion 34 catches the second matching portion 44, so that the front end of the first matching portion 34 overlaps with the locking portion 46 of the second matching portion 44 in a front-back direction. In order to avoid the front end of the first matching portion 34 colliding with the locking portion 46 and thus damaging the low pressure storage unit 7 when a user pushes the door 1, which is in a pulled out state, towards the closed position, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the low pressure storage unit 7 comprises a holding device 49 holding the first matching portion 34 in a safe position after the door 10 is released from the locked state. This safe position is selected in the following manner: during the closing procedure of the door 10, the first matching portion 34 which is moving forwards is in a position where it cannot collide with the locking portion 46.

[0053] In a preferred embodiment, the first matching portion 34 is held in the safe position by the holding mechanism 49 which holds the handle 32 in a safe angle. The safe angle may be equal to an angle formed between the handle 32 which is in the first position and a vertical plane, also called maximum outward rotation angle, or slightly smaller than the maximum outward rotation angle, or in other words, the safe position of the first matching portion 34 may be its first extreme position or near to the first extreme position. It can be understood that, when the handle 32 is in the first position / extended position, the front end of the first matching portion 34 does not overlap the locking portion 46 in the front-back direction.

[0054] In an embodiment which is particularly easy to be practiced, the holding device 49 comprises a spring. Preferably, the holding device 49 is in the form of a torsion spring having a first end 49a fixed to the door body 26 or a member which is fixed to the door body 26 without any movability (for example, the fixing member 28) and a second end 49b fixed to the handle 32. When the handle 32 is in the first position, the torsion spring applies an outward torque to the handle 32 so that the handle 32 has power to continue its outward rotation. On the other hand, the handle 32 is restricted by a first retention structure 48 from further rotation, and thus it is reliably kept in the first position.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present invention, the holding device 49 may be configured to provide an inward torque to the handle 32 which is in the second position to prevent the lower end of the handle 32 from kicking out, and thus reliably keep the handle 32 in a vertical position.

[0056] Thus, with the holding device 49 for providing the handle 32 with torques in opposite directions when it is in the first position and in the second position respectively, the handle 32 is in an equilibrium state when it is in an equilibrium position between the first position and the second position. When the handle 32 is rotated outwards slightly from this equilibrium position, the holding device 49 provides torque to the handle 32 to rotate it outwards until the handle 32 reaches the first position where it is restricted from further rotation. When the handle 32 is rotated inwards slightly from this equilibrium position, the holding device 49 provides torque to the handle 32 to rotate it inwards until the handle 32 reaches the second position where it is restricted from further rotation.

[0057] When the door 10 is closed, by pressing down the lower end of the handle 32, the handle 32 rotates around the central axis X of the rotational rod 33 inwards. Meanwhile, the rotational rod 33 also rotates around its central axis X to drive the first matching portion 34 to rotate upwards. When the handle 32 reaches the second position, the first matching portion 34 and the second matching portion 44 are engaged and locked together. By holding the lower end of the handle 32 and forcing the handle 32 outwards, the handle 32 rotates outwards and drives the first matching portion 34 to rotate downwards. In this way, the locking between the first matching portion 34 and the second matching portion 44 is released.

[0058] The low pressure storage unit 7 is provided with a pressure relief passage 19 for establishing fluid communication between the storage chamber 15 and outside and thus releasing the low pressure state in the storage chamber 15, and a closure member 25 for selectively opening or closing the pressure relief passage 19.

[0059] The pressure relief passage 19 is provided on and through the door body 26. The outer end of the pressure relief passage 19 is in communication with the accommodating space 30. Through the pressure relief passage 19, the storage chamber 15 can establish fluid communication with outside, and air from outside can thus enter into the storage chamber 15 to release the low pressure state in the storage chamber 15, so that the door 10 can be opened. The pressure relief passage 19 can be provided with an elastic sealing seat to improve its air tightness.

[0060] The closure member 25 is disposed on the backside of the handle 32 and is kinetically coupled with the handle 32. When the handle 32 is in the second position, the pressure relief passage 19 is sealed hermetically. When the handle 32 leaves the second position, the pressure relief passage 19 is opened, and air from outside is allowed to enter into the storage chamber 15 to equalize the inside-outside pressure difference of the storage chamber 15. Then, a user can pull the door 10 forwards to open the low pressure storage unit 7.

[0061] During the evacuation procedure of the low pressure storage unit 7 and after the low pressure storage unit 7 has been used for a long period, some components of the door 10, such as the door body 26 and/or the handle 32, may present a certain degree of deformation, so that the distance between the handle 32 which carries the closure member 25 and the door body 26 which carries the pressure relief passage 19 may vary, which results in a worse sealability of the pressure relief passage 19.

[0062] In order to prevent the air tightness of the low pressure storage unit 7 from being lowered down for this reason, according to the present invention, the closure member 25 is mounted to the handle 32 in the following manner: its position on the handle 32 is adjustable. That is to say, when the door 10 presents a certain degree of deformation, the position of the closure member 25 can be adjusted automatically to tightly seal the pressure relief passage 19.

[0063] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an elastic member is provided between the closure member 25 and the handle 32, the position of the closure member 25 with respect to the handle 32 can be automatically adjusted by means of the change in the shape of the elastic member. In the present embodiment, the elastic member is in the form of a spring 50.

[0064] As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, a mounting seat 56 is formed on the inner side of the handle 32 for mounting the closure member 25. The mounting seat 56 protrudes from the inner side of a base wall 54 of the handle 32 backwards and comprises several periphery walls 58 which are joined together to form a frame. The mounting seat 56 further comprises a first tubular portion 59 formed with the frame.

[0065] The handle 32 further comprises a mounting cover 62 for fitting with the mounting seat 56. The mounting cover 62 is engaged to a free end of the mounting seat 56, to form a chamber 51 therebetween. The mounting cover 62 has a main body wall 53 which is substantially parallel with the base wall 54, the main body wall 53 being formed with a through hole 55 which extends through the main body wall 53. The mounting cover 62 is preferably removably mounted to the mounting seat 56, for example, fixed to the periphery walls 58 in a snap-on manner.

[0066] The closure member 25 comprises a first end 25a facing towards the door body 32 and a second end 25b opposite to the first end 25a. The second end 25b is formed with a flange 64. The closure member 25 comprises a second tubular portion 63 which extends in a certain length from the second end 25b inwardly and has the same outer diameter with the first tubular portion 59, and a ring shaped slot (not marked) formed around the second tubular portion 63.

[0067] When assembling, an end of the spring 50 is slid onto the second tubular portion 63. Then, the other end of the spring 50, which is now connected to the closure member 25, is slid onto the first tubular portion 59. The through hole 55 in the mounting cover 62 is aligned with the closure member 25, and the first end 25a of the closure member 25 is inserted through the through hole 55. Finally, the mounting cover 62 is snapped on the mounting seat 56. After assembling, as shown in Figure 7, a portion of the closure member 25 is received in the chamber 51, the spring 50 is compressed, and the spring 50 applies the closure member 25 an elastic force to push the flange 64 of the closure member 25 against the inner side of the main body wall 53 of the mounting cover 62. Now, the spring 50 has a length L0, and a gap D1 exists between the first tubular portion 59 and the second tubular portion 63.

[0068] Since the length of the spring 50 is variable, the closure member 25 carried by the spring 50 is actually supported on the handle 32 in a floating manner. When the first end 25a of the closure member 25 is pressed down, the closure member 25 is able to slide with respect to the chamber 51. In the present embodiment, the sliding range of the closure member 25 equals to the gap D1 between the first tubular portion 59 and the second tubular portion 63 when the closure member 25 is not engaged with the open end of the pressure relief passage 19.

[0069] With reference to Figure 8, when the handle 32 is in the second position, the closure member 25 is engaged with the open end of the pressure relief passage 19. The distance between the handle 32 and the door body 26 is set in a manner that, in a normal state, the closure member 25 is retracted under the action of the door body 26 by a distance (for example, 1 to 2 millimeters), the spring 50 is further compressed, and the flange 64 of the closure member 25 is separated from the main body wall 53. Now, the spring 50 has a length of L1 which is smaller than L0. The gap between the flange 64 and the main body wall 53 corresponds to the difference between L0 and L1.

[0070] However, after a period of use, the low pressure storage unit 7 may present a certain degree of deformation. When the deformation results in that the distance between the handle 32 of the low pressure storage unit 7, which is in a pressure relieved state or to be relieved state, and the door body 26 is larger than the normal distance therebetween, the spring 50 applies a force to the closure member 25 in a direction towards the pressure relief passage 19, so that the retracted distance of the closure member 25 is decreased, or even it is not retracted but abuts against the inner side of the main body wall 53. That is to say, with respect to normal condition, now the position of the closure member 25 is adjusted to be protruded more from a fixed portion on the handle 32 (for example, the mounting cover 62 and the base wall 54). The closure member 25 keeps to hermetically seal the pressure relief passage 19 whenever the deformation is not larger than the difference between L0 and L1.

[0071] When the deformation results in that the distance between the handle 32 of the low pressure storage unit 7, which is in a pressure relieved state or to be relieved state, and the door body 26 is smaller than the normal distance therebetween, the closure member 25 receives an increased pressure, and the spring 50 is compressed to a length L2 which is smaller than L1. Now the gap between the flange 64 of the closure member 25 and the main body wall 53 is larger than the gap between the flange 64 and the main body wall 53 in the normal condition (i.e., the difference between L0 and L1).

[0072] Although it is described in the above embodiment that the pressure relief passage is provided on the door while the closure member is provided on the handle, the invention is not limited to this. In other embodiments, it is possible to provide the pressure relief passage in proper positions on the low pressure storage unit, for example, on the main body, while the closure member is provided on the other component. Further, the invention is also applicable in sealing of the evacuation passage.

Claims

1. A low-pressure storage unit (7), comprising:

a storage chamber (15) capable of maintaining a low-pressure state;

a first portion (26) having a through hole (19) for communicating the storage chamber (15) with an external fluid; and

a second portion (32) provided with a closure member (25) for selectively opening or closing the through hole (19),

characterized in that, the closure member (25) is slidably connected to the second portion (32) at a position relative to the second portion (32) and the second portion (32) is rotatably connected to the first portion (26), wherein the second portion (32) comprises a first wall (53) and a second wall (54) opposite to each other and separated from each other, the first wall (53) is closer to the first portion (26) than the second wall (54) and has a perforation (55), and the closure member (25) penetrates the perforation (55) to be extended between the first wall (53) and the second wall (54) and is movable between the first wall (53) and the second wall (54), the low-pressure storage unit (7) further comprising an elastic member (50), wherein the elastic member (50) is located between the second wall (54) and the closure member (25) and/or between the first wall (53) and the closure member (25), and the closure member (25) adjusts its position with the change of the length of the elastic member (50).

2. A low-pressure storage unit (7) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the closure member (25) is connected floatingly to the second portion (32).

3. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the second portion (32) comprises a cavity (51), and the closure member (25) is slidably extended into the cavity (51).

4. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by comprising the elastic member (50) located between the second portion (32) and the closure member (25), so as to adjust the position of the closure member (25) on the second portion (32).

5. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to claim 4, characterized in that, the closure member (25) adjusts its position with the change of the length of the elastic member (50).

6. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, before the closure member (25) closes the through hole (19), the elastic member (50) is compressed to apply a force to the closure member (25) in a direction towards the first portion (26).

7. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, the elastic member (50) comprises a spring.

8. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, the position of the closure member (25) is adjusted within a fixed range.

9. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, the through hole (19) is a pressure relief channel for releasing the low-pressure state of the storage chamber (15).

10. The low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that, the through hole (19) is formed on a door (10) for selectively opening or closing the storage chamber (15), and the second portion (32) is a handle disposed on the door (10).

11. A cooling appliance (1), comprising the low-pressure storage unit (7) according to any one of the above claims.

12. The cooling appliance (1) according to claim 11, characterized by comprising a case (2) for defining a heat insulation storage cabinet (4), wherein the low-pressure storage unit (7) is received in the storage cabinet (4).

Ansprüche

1. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7), die Folgendes umfasst:

ein Aufbewahrungsfach (15), das in der Lage ist, einen Niederdruckzustand aufrechtzuerhalten,

einen ersten Abschnitt (26) mit einem Durchgangsloch (19) zum Verbinden des Aufbewahrungsfachs (15) mit einem externen Fluid und

einen zweiten Abschnitt (32), der mit einem Schließelement (25) zum gezielten Öffnen oder Schließen des Durchgangslochs (19) versehen ist,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schließelement (25) an einer Position in Bezug zu dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) verschiebbar mit dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) und der zweite Abschnitt (32) drehbar mit dem ersten Abschnitt (26) verbunden ist, wobei der zweite Abschnitt (32) eine erste Wand (53) und eine zweite Wand (54) umfasst, die einander gegenüberliegen und voneinander getrennt sind, wobei die erste Wand (53) näher an dem ersten Abschnitt (26) liegt als die zweite Wand (54) und eine Durchbohrung (55) aufweist und das Schließelement (25) durch die Durchbohrung (55) hindurch verläuft, so dass es sich zwischen der ersten Wand (53) und der zweiten Wand (54) erstreckt und zwischen der ersten Wand (53) und der zweiten Wand (54) bewegbar ist, wobei die Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) ferner ein flexibles Element (50) umfasst, wobei sich das flexible Element (50) zwischen der zweiten Wand (54) und dem Schließelement (25) und/oder der ersten Wand (53) und dem Schließelement (25) befindet und das Schließelement (25) bei der Änderung der Länge des flexiblen Elements (50) seine Position anpasst.

2. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schließelement (25) frei beweglich mit dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) verbunden ist.

3. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Abschnitt (32) einen Hohlraum (51) umfasst und das Schließelement (25) verschiebbar in den Hohlraum (51) ausgefahren ist.

4. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie das flexible Element (50) umfasst, das sich zwischen dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) und dem Schließelement (25) befindet und so die Position des Schließelements (25) an dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) anpasst.

5. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Schließelement (25) bei der Änderung der Länge des flexiblen Elements (50) seine Position anpasst.

6. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach Anspruch 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das flexible Element (50), bevor das Schließelement (25) das Durchgangsloch (19) verschließt, komprimiert wird und in Richtung des ersten Abschnitts (26) eine Kraft auf das Schließelement (25) ausübt.

7. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das flexible Element (50) eine Feder umfasst.

8. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Position des Schließelements (25) innerhalb eines festen Bereichs angepasst wird.

9. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich bei dem Durchgangsloch (19) um einen Druckentlastungskanal zum Abbauen des Niederdruckzustands des Aufbewahrungsfachs (15) handelt.

10. Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Durchgangsloch (19) an einer Tür (10) zum gezielten Öffnen oder Schließen des Aufbewahrungsfachs (15) ausgebildet ist und es sich bei dem zweiten Abschnitt (32) um einen an der Tür (10) angeordneten Griff handelt.

11. Kühlgerät (1), das die Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche umfasst.

12. Kühlgerät (1) nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es ein Gehäuse (2) zum Definieren eines Wärmedämmungsaufbewahrungsschranks (4) umfasst, wobei die Niederdruckaufbewahrungseinheit (7) in dem Aufbewahrungsschrank (4) aufgenommen ist.

Revendications

1. Unité de stockage basse pression (7), comprenant :

une chambre de stockage (15) capable de maintenir un état de basse pression ;

une première partie (26) possédant un trou débouchant (19) afin de relier la chambre de stockage (15) à un fluide externe ; et

une deuxième partie (32) dotée d'un membre de fermeture (25) pour l'ouverture ou la fermeture sélective du trou débouchant (19),

caractérisée en ce que le membre de fermeture (25) est relié de manière coulissante à la deuxième partie (32) en une position relative à la deuxième partie (32) et la deuxième partie (32) est reliée en rotation à la première partie (26), dans laquelle la deuxième partie (32) comprend une première paroi (53) et une deuxième paroi (54) opposées l'une à l'autre et séparées l'une de l'autre, la première paroi (53) étant plus proche de la première partie (26) que la deuxième paroi (54) et possédant une perforation (55), et le membre de fermeture (25) pénètre dans la perforation (55) afin de s'étendre entre la première paroi (53) et la deuxième paroi (54) et est déplaçable entre la première paroi (53) et la deuxième paroi (54), l'unité de stockage basse pression (7) comprenant en outre un membre élastique (50), dans laquelle le membre élastique (50) est situé entre la deuxième paroi (54) et le membre de fermeture (25) et/ou entre la première paroi (53) et le membre de fermeture (25), et le membre de fermeture (25) adapte sa position selon la variation de la longueur du membre élastique (50).

2. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que le membre de fermeture (25) est relié de manière flottante à la deuxième partie (32).

3. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisée en ce que la deuxième partie (32) comprend une cavité (51), et le membre de fermeture (25) s'étend de manière coulissante dans cette cavité (51).

4. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'elle comprend le membre élastique (50) situé entre la deuxième partie (32) et le membre de fermeture (25), de sorte à adapter la position du membre de fermeture (25) sur la deuxième partie (32).

5. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que le membre de fermeture (25) adapte sa position selon la variation de la longueur du membre élastique (50).

6. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon les revendications 1 à 5, caractérisée en ce que, avant que le membre de fermeture (25) ne ferme le trou débouchant (19), le membre élastique (50) est comprimé afin d'exercer une force sur le membre de fermeture (25) dans un sens dirigé vers la première partie (26).

7. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisée en ce que le membre élastique (50) comprend un ressort.

8. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que la position du membre de fermeture (25) s'adapte dans les limites d'une plage déterminée.

9. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le trou passant (19) est un canal de décompression afin de mettre un terme à l'état de basse pression de la chambre de stockage (15).

10. Unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisée en ce que le trou passant (19) est formé sur une porte (10) pour l'ouverture ou la fermeture sélective de la chambre de stockage (15), et la deuxième partie (32) est une poignée disposée sur la porte (10).

11. Appareil frigorifique (1) comprenant l'unité de stockage basse pression (7) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

12. Appareil frigorifique (1) selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une carcasse (2) afin de définir un compartiment de stockage calorifuge (4), dans lequel l'unité de stockage basse pression (7) est intégrée au compartiment de stockage (4).

Drawing