(19)
(11) EP 1 862 751 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
05.12.2007 Bulletin 2007/49

(21) Application number: 07468007.5

(22) Date of filing: 21.05.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25D 23/00(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 02.06.2006 SI 200600136

(71) Applicant: Gorenje Gospodinjski aparati d.d.
3503 Velenje (SI)

(72) Inventors:
  • Golcman, Damjan
    3320 Velenje (SI)
  • Borovnik, Valentin
    3000 Celje (SI)
  • Pocajt, Edi
    3327 Smartno ob Paki (SI)
  • Strigl, Stane
    3330 Mozirje (SI)

(74) Representative: Ivancic, Bojan 
Inventio d.o.o., PO Box 2410
1001 Ljubljana
1001 Ljubljana (SI)

   


(54) Modular refrigerating component


(57) The present invention refers to a modular refrigerating component, preferably to a refrigerating component tor a so called no-frost freezing apparatus. According to the invention it is provided for that both a feeding pipe (8) for cooling fluid and return pipe (9) for cooling fluid can be connected to a refrigerating component (7) on the side facing a door (1) of a freezing apparatus, said pipes (8, 9) are lead from a compressor (5) to connecting points on the refrigerating component (7) in an insulation of a back (13) and top (6), and drop down towards the refrigerating component (7) from the top (6) directly in front of said connecting points.




Description


[0001] The present invention refers to a modular refrigerating component, preferably to a refrigerating component for a so called no-frost freezing apparatus, comprising an evaporator with a heater, an insulation enclosing the evaporator, a plate for condensate drainage, an attachment for condensate drainage with a heater, and a fan, where said component is assembled separately and incorporated into the freezing apparatus at a later time.

[0002] Freezing apparatuses as mentioned above are known and in use, however, they have several drawbacks. Particularly, it is a characteristic with all known refrigerating components that the evaporator of the refrigerating component is connected with a return pipe on the back side i.e. the side facing the back of the freezing apparatus. For this reason a hole must be provided in the wall of the apparatus through which said return pipe is lead resulting in accelerated deterioration of the insulation. In addition, the assembling and maintenance of the modular refrigerating component is rendered difficult due to the inaccessibility of the return pipe.

[0003] It is the object of the present invention to create a modular refrigerating component which will remedy the drawbacks of the known solutions.

[0004] A refrigerating component according to the invention is preferably intended for use with so called no-frost freezing apparatus. This is a kind of apparatus where ice does not collect on the refrigerating component but thaws itself automatically, and the water is lead away via a suitable drainage.

[0005] The object as set above is solved, according to the invention, by that both a feeding pipe of cooling fluid and a return pipe of cooling fluid, respectively, can be connected to the refrigerating component on the side facing the door of a freezing apparatus. Thereby, the access to connecting points is significantly facilitated, both with the assembling of the refrigerating component and with potential repair or replacement, respectively. Here said pipes for the cooling fluid leading from a compressor to connecting points on the refrigerating component are lead in the insulation of the hack and top, and drop toward the refrigerating component from the top directly in front of said connecting points.

[0006] Further, it is provided according to the invention that on the side of the refrigerating component facing the back and away from the top a fan can be inserted through an aperture in the refrigerating component. Thus, quick and easy replacement of the fan is achieved.

[0007] An attachment of the refrigerating component for condensate drainage facing the back is lead into the drainage which, however, is the subject of another patent application. Said condensate drainage is lead in the insulation of the back of the freezing apparatus.

[0008] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawing, wherein a vertical cross-section of a so called no-frost freezing apparatus is schematically shown.

[0009] A freezing apparatus comprises a door 1 which closes a housing 2 in which there is arranged vertically oriented plurality of drawers 3 for the storage of food. In the area of a bottom 4 of the housing 2 is arranged a compressor 5 provided for maintaining the chosen temperature inside the freezing apparatus. In the area directly under a top 6 of the housing 2 there is arranged a refrigerating component 7 which is connected with a feeding pipe 8 and a return pipe 9 for a cooling fluid on one hand, and with an attachment 10 for drainage of the melted ice is connected with a water and/or condensate drain 11 on the other. The refrigerating component 7 is further provided with a fan 12.

[0010] According to the invention it is provided for that both the feeding pipe 8 and the return pipe 9, respectively, are connected to the refrigerating component 7 at the front side thereof i.e. on the side facing the door 1 of the freezing apparatus. The pipes 8, 9 are lead from the compressor 5 forward in the insulation of the freezing apparatus in a manner that, at first, they extend vertically in the back 13 of the freezing apparatus, and afterwards they extend horizontally in the insulation of the top 6 where they drop vertically down in the area of the front of the refrigerating component 7 i.e. the part thereof facing the door 1 of the freezing apparatus. The connection of the feeding pipe 8 and the return pipe 9 of the cooling fluid with the refrigerating component 7 is significantly facilitated both with the assembling of the refrigerating component 7 into the freezing apparatus and with potential maintenance or replacement of the refrigerating component, respectively. The connection of the pipes 8, 9 with the refrigerating component 7 is known per se and thus not described in detail.

[0011] A fan 12 is arranged in the area of the back portion of the refrigerating component 7 i.e. the portion facing the back 13 of the freezing apparatus, said fan 12 can be conveniently inserted into the refrigerating component 7 through an aperture 14 on the side facing away from the top 6. According to the invention it is provided for that the fan 12 can be inserted into the refrigerating component 7 in a manner that, when replacing a fan for example, the refrigerating component 7 remains fixed in its position and there is no need whatsoever either to move it or remove it from the freezing apparatus.

[0012] The refrigerating component 7 comprises in said back portion an attachment 10 for draining of the water and/or condensate, said attachment being lead into a drain 11 extending in the insulation of the back 13 of the freezing apparatus. Said drain 11 is the subject of a separate patent application and thus it is not described in detail.


Claims

1. A modular refrigerating component, preferably a refrigerating component for a so called no-frost freezing apparatus, comprising an evaporator with a heater, an insulation enclosing the evaporator, a plate for condensate drainage, an attachment for condensate drainage with a heater, and a fan, where said component is assembled separately and incorporated into the freezing apparatus at a later time, characterized in that both a feeding pipe (8) for cooling fluid and return pipe (9) for cooling fluid can be connected to a refrigerating component (7) on the side facing a door (1) of a freezing apparatus, said pipes (8, 9) are lead from a compressor (5) to connecting points on the refrigerating component (7) in an insulation of a back (13) and top (6), and drop down towards the refrigerating component (7) from the top (6) directly in front of said connecting points, that a fan (12) can be inserted through an aperture (14) on the side of the refrigerating component (7) facing the back (13) and away from the top (6), and that an attachment (10) for condensate drainage of the refrigerating component (7), said attachment facing the back (13), is lead into a drain (11).
 
2. A modular refrigerating component according to claim 1, characterized in that the condensate drain (11) is lead in the insulation of the back of the freezing apparatus.
 




Drawing