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(11) |
EP 0 974 797 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
| (45) |
Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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17.12.2003 Bulletin 2003/51 |
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Date of filing: 24.07.1999 |
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Refrigerator, such as fridge or freezer
Kältegerät, wie Kühl- oder Gefrier-Schrank
Appareil frigorifique, tel que réfrigérateur ou congélateur
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| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
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Designated Extension States: |
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AL LT LV MK RO SI |
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Priority: |
24.07.1998 ES 9801566
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Date of publication of application: |
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26.01.2000 Bulletin 2000/04 |
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Proprietor: BSH Fabricacion, S.A. |
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31191 Esquiroz (Navarra) (ES) |
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| (72) |
Inventors: |
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- Diaz Landibar, Fernando
31010 BARANAIN (Navarra) (ES)
- Melero Armendariz, José Ramon
31005 PAMPLONA (ES)
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| (74) |
Representative: Thoma, Lorenz |
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BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH,
Hochstrasse 17 81669 München 81669 München (DE) |
| (56) |
References cited: :
CA-A- 999 631 DE-A- 1 751 797 US-A- 4 097 096
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DE-A- 1 401 611 FR-A- 1 597 346 US-A- 4 805 293
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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).
|
[0001] The present invention concerns a refrigerator according to the preamble of claim
1.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] It is known that refrigerator units and the like have a heat-insulating casing formed
physically by a wall in which there is a layer of foam as heat insulator, an internal
covering which faces the side of the refrigeration compartment, and an external covering.
[0003] It is also known that through the heat-insulating wall passes a breather tube coupled
to the actual evaporator of the cold storage unit, to the outside.
[0004] Now, the water that is condensed in the breather tube mentioned can reach the external
face, i.e. the external covering, water absorption occurring on the part of the latter
due to capillary action, resulting in the corresponding water stain as well as the
detachment of the layer forming this external covering with respect to the surface
of the foam layer to which the external covering or layer is fixed.
[0005] On the other hand, in the injecting of the foam to form the heat-insulating wall,
there usually occurs a penetration of said foam into the refrigeration compartment,
exuding even to the outside through the surface of the external covering.
[0006] Although at the present time penetration ducts are employed through which the breather
tube runs, and which are soldered to or mounted on the internal covering, also called
container, there is no guarantee that escapes due to expansion do not occur, particularly
into the inside of the refrigeration compartment.
[0007] The invention consists of a refrigerator having the technical features given in claim
1.
[0008] The second section can have an internal or external enclosing surface which narrows
in a conical manner, and which can collaborate with a sealing effect with an internal
or external enclosing surface narrowing equally in a conical manner in the indentation
of the internal covering.
[0009] Preferentially, this second section is narrowed in a conical manner towards the intermediate
partition that separates it from the first section, said second section conically
narrowed towards the intermediate partition being coupled, with a sealing effect,
with the narrowed indentation on its external enclosing surface and to be found on
the side of the heat insulation.
[0010] The second section cited can have a series of channels arranged over its internal
enclosing surface, in order to facilitate the expulsion of air when being coupled
with the indentation of the internal covering.
[0011] Said indentation of the internal covering can have its free end implemented in a
seal which can be perforated in order to permit the passage of the breather tube.
[0012] Regarding the first section of the penetration duct, this can have an internal enclosing
surface which is narrowed in conical manner from its free end towards the second section,
such first section incorporating at its free end a surrounding lip which rests, with
sealing effect, on the outside face of the external covering, away from the heat-insulating
layer.
[0013] Preferentially, both the first section and the second section, and the actual indentation
of the internal covering, have a cross section that is circular in outline.
[0014] A fundamental advantage of the refrigerator with the penetration duct described,
in accordance with one of the preferred implementations, consists in that as a consequence
of the seal that is determined by the intermediate partition which can be perforated
and lies between the two sections of the penetration duct itself, it is impossible
for the foam which is injected to form the heat-insulating layer of the casing to
penetrate into the internal refrigeration compartment, preventing likewise that it
can exude to the outside due to poor assembly of the duct.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order to complete the description that follows here below and for the purpose
of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this
document is accompanied with a set of drawing on a basis of which descriptions are
provided, without being limiting in nature, of some preferred embodiments of the penetration
duct corresponding to the refrigerator of the invention.
Figure 1.- Shows a cross sectional view of the penetration duct which forms part of the refrigerator
object of the invention, in a preferred embodiment, said duct being mounted in the
corresponding orifice or passage made for the purpose in the heat-insulating wall
of the casing of said refrigerator, capable of being constituted by a cold storage
unit or the like.
Figure 2.- Shows another cross sectional view of the same penetration duct assembly but in
this case in a variant of the embodiment in which the intermediate wall between the
two sections of the penetration duct is shaped in the form of a truncated cone.
Figure 3.- Shows a top view of the penetration duct as illustrated in the previous figure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Regarding figure 1, it can be seen that the penetration duct 1 is mounted in the
feed-through corresponding to a heat-insulating wall of a refrigerator or cold storage
unit, said wall being formed by a layer of foam 2, as the actual heat-insulating material,
an external covering 3 and an internal covering 4, this latter delimiting the refrigeration
compartment.
[0017] According to the object of the invention, the penetration duct intended to house
the respective breather tube, from the cold storage unit evaporator to the outside,
has two clearly differentiated sections 5 and 7 separated from each other by means
of an intermediate partition 6 which can be perforated or even removed.
[0018] The first section 5 has at its free end a surrounding lip 11 projecting outwards,
constituting a support wall on the layer that forms the external covering 3, it being
possible for said section 5 to be slightly in the form of a truncated cone decreasing
in perimeter from the free end towards the intermediate partition 3.
[0019] For its part, the second section 7, which can also be in the form of a truncated
cone, in one direction or the other, both internally and externally, has the particularity
that internally it is provided with a segment 8 in the form of a truncated cone diverging
towards the free end, into which is pressure-fitted a indentation 9 corresponding
to the internal covering 4, said indentation 9 having at its innermost extremity a
partition which can be perforated, conical in shape, capable of being removable.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, shown in the figure 2, the intermediate partition 6' of
the penetration duct has the shape of a truncated cone, closed and also able to be
perforated or removed like the intermediate partition 6 of the embodiment shown in
figure 1, the penetration duct being constituted in identical manner to that already
indicated, i.e. with sections 5 and 7, the surrounding lip 11 of the first section
5 for support on the external covering 3, and section 7 pressure-fitted to the truncated
cone indentation 9 of the internal covering 4. In this embodiment shown in figure
2, section 7 of the penetration duct 1 has a series of channels 12 on its inside surface
in the direction of the generatrices, constituting vents through which air is expelled
when pressure-fitting indentation 9 of the internal covering 4.
1. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, including a casing having a heat-insulating wall with an internal covering (4), a
heat-insulating layer (2) and an external covering (3), the refrigerator having at
least one storage space which is refrigerated by an evaporator, which is coupled to
a breather tube led through the heat-insulating wall, from the storage space to the
outside, the path followed by the breather tube being provided by a penetration duct
and, the breather tube having a flexible insulating pipe, to prevent the wall of the
casing from being covered with condensation or dew, characterised in that the penetration duct has a first section (5) for housing, at least in part, the flexible
insulating pipe, and a second section (7) as a continuation of the first, which is
coupled pressure-fitted onto an indentation (9) of the internal covering (4), and
wherein the first (5) and second (7) sections of the penetration duct are separated
from each other by means of an intermediate partition (6) which can be perforated
or removed, in order to permit the passage of the breather tube.
2. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1, characterised in that the second section (7) has an internal or external enclosing surface which narrows
in a conical manner (8), to collaborate with a sealing effect on an internal or external
enclosing surface equally narrowed in a conical manner on the indentation (9).
3. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claim 2, characterised in that the second section (7) has a conical form narrowing towards the intermediate partition
(6 or 6') on its internal enclosing surface and is coupled with sealing effect onto
the indentation (9) narrowed on its external enclosing surface, situated on the side
of the heat insulation.
4. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the second section (7) has channels (12) arranged along its internal enclosing surface,
for the expulsion of air.
5. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1 or 4, characterised in that the indentation (9) has at its free end a sealing partition (10) where it is perforated.
6. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the first section (5) has an internal enclosing surface which narrows in a conical
manner from its free end towards the second section (7).
7. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1, 2 or 6, characterised in that the first section (5) has at its free end a surrounding lip (11) which forms a support
wall with sealing effect on the outside face of the external covering (3), away from
the layer of heat insulation.
8. REFRIGERATOR, SUCH AS COLD STORAGE UNIT OR FREEZER, according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the first section (5), the second section (7) and the indentation (9) are circular
in cross section.
1. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
umfassend ein Gehäuse mit einer Wärmedämmungswand, welche eine Innenabdeckung (4),
eine Wärmedämmschicht (2) und eine Außenabdeckung (3) aufweist, wobei die Kältemaschine
wenigstens einen Speicherraum aufweist, welcher durch einen Verdampfer gekühlt wird,
der mit einem Entlüftungsrohr verbunden ist, welches vom Speicherraum durch die Wärmedämmwand
zur Außenseite geführt wird, wobei die Bahn, welche vom Entlüftungsrohr verfolgt wird,
durch eine Penetrationsrohrleitung bereitgestellt wird und das Entlüftungsrohr einen
Isolierschlauch aufweist, um zu verhindern, dass die Wand des Gehäuses mit Kondensation
oder Tau bedeckt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Penetrationsrohrleitung einen ersten Abschnitt (5) zur wenigstens teilweisen
Aufnahme des Isolierschlauchs und einen zweiten Abschnitt (7), welcher mit einer Einbuchtung
(9) der Innenabdeckung (4) pressgepasst verbunden ist, als eine Fortsetzung des ersten
aufweist, und wobei der erste (5) und der zweite (7) Abschnitt der Penetrationsrohrleitung
durch eine Mitteltrennung (6), welche durchlocht oder weggelassen werden kann, um
den Durchgang des Entlüftungsrohrs zu erlauben, voneinander getrennt sind.
2. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Abschnitt (7) eine innere oder äußere Einfassungsfläche aufweist, welche
sich auf eine kegelförmige Weise (8) verengt, um mit einer dichtenden Wirkung auf
einer inneren oder äußeren Einfassungsfläche, welche sich gleichfalls auf eine kegelförmige
Weise verengt, auf der Einbuchtung (9) zusammenzuwirken.
3. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Abschnitt (7) eine Kegelform aufweist, welche sich zur Mitteltrennung
(6 oder 6') auf seiner inneren Einfassungsfläche verengt, und mit dichtender Wirkung
mit der Einbuchtung (9) verbunden ist, welche sich an ihrer äußeren Einfassungsfläche
verengt und auf der Seite der Wärmedämmung angeordnet ist.
4. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zweite Abschnitt (7) Kanäle (12) aufweist, welche zum Ausstoßen von Luft entlang
seiner inneren Einfassungsfläche angeordnet sind.
5. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einbuchtung (9) an ihrem freien Ende eine Dichtungstrennung (10) aufweist, wo
sie durchlocht wird.
6. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Abschnitt (5) eine innere Einfassungsfläche aufweist, welche sich von ihrem
freien Ende zum zweiten Abschnitt (7) auf eine kegelförmige Weise verengt.
7. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Abschnitt (5) an seinem freien Ende eine Umschließungslippe (11) aufweist,
welche eine Tragwand mit dichtender Wirkung auf der Außenfläche der Außenabdeckung
(3) von der Wärmedämmschicht weg bildet.
8. Kältemaschine, wie beispielsweise eine Kältespeichereinheit oder ein Gefrierschrank,
nach Anspruch 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der erste Abschnitt (5), der zweite Abschnitt (7) und die Einbuchtung (9) einen kreisförmigen
Querschnitt aufweisen.
1. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, comprenant une caisse possédant une paroi calorifuge comportant un revêtement interne
(4), une couche calorifuge (2) et un revêtement externe (3), l'appareil frigorifique
possédant au moins un espace d'entreposage qui est réfrigéré par un évaporateur, qui
est couplé à un tube reniflard traversant la paroi calorifuge, depuis l'espace d'entreposage
jusqu'à l'extérieur, le chemin suivi par le tube reniflard étant assuré par un conduit
de pénétration, et le tube reniflard possédant un tuyau souple isolant, pour empêcher
la paroi de la caisse d'être recouverte de condensation ou de rosée, caractérisé en ce que le conduit de pénétration possède une première section (5) pour loger, au moins en
partie, le tuyau souple isolant, et une seconde partie (7) dans le prolongement de
la première, qui est couplée par emboîtement par pression sur une échancrure (9) du
revêtement interne (4), et dans lequel les première (5) et seconde (7) sections du
conduit de pénétration sont séparées l'une de l'autre au moyen d'une paroi de séparation
intermédiaire (6) pouvant être perforée ou retirée, afin de permettre le passage du
tube reniflard.
2. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la seconde section (7) présente une surface enveloppante interne ou externe qui se
rétrécit d'une manière conique (8), pour coopérer avec un effet d'étanchéité sur une
surface enveloppante interne ou externe également rétrécie d'une manière conique sur
l'échancrure (9).
3. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la seconde section (7) présente une forme conique se rétrécissant vers la paroi de
séparation intermédiaire (6 ou 6') sur sa surface enveloppante interne et est couplée
avec un effet d'étanchéité sur l'échancrure (9) rétrécie sur sa surface enveloppante
externe, située du côté de l'isolant thermique.
4. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon les revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la seconde section (7) possède des gorges (12) disposées le long de sa surface enveloppante
interne, pour l'expulsion de l'air.
5. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon les revendications 1 ou 4, caractérisé en ce que l'échancrure (9) possède à son extrémité libre une paroi de séparation étanche (10)
où elle est perforée.
6. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon les revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la première section (5) présente une surface enveloppante interne qui se rétrécit
de manière conique depuis son extrémité libre vers la seconde section (7).
7. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon les revendications 1, 2 ou 6, caractérisé en ce que la première section (5) possède à son extrémité libre une lèvre périphérique (11)
qui forme une paroi de support avec un effet d'étanchéité sur la face extérieure du
revêtement externe (3), à distance de la couche d'isolant thermique.
8. APPAREIL FRIGORIFIQUE, TEL QU'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENTREPOSAGE FRIGORIFIQUE OU UN CONGELATEUR, selon les revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce que la première section (5), la seconde section (7) et l'échancrure (9) ont une section
transversale circulaire.

