(19)
(11) EP 2 331 889 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
13.12.2017 Bulletin 2017/50

(21) Application number: 09782726.5

(22) Date of filing: 08.09.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F25D 23/06(2006.01)
F25B 39/02(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/EP2009/061589
(87) International publication number:
WO 2010/029052 (18.03.2010 Gazette 2010/11)

(54)

A REFRIGERATOR

KÜHLVORRICHTUNG

RÉFRIGÉRATEUR


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 09.09.2008 TR 200806822

(43) Date of publication of application:
15.06.2011 Bulletin 2011/24

(73) Proprietor: Arçelik Anonim Sirketi
34950 Istanbul (TR)

(72) Inventors:
  • IYIGUN, Han
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • KAHRAMAN, Soner
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • DEMIR, Ahmet Ziya
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • ERCAN, Turgay
    34950 Istanbul (TR)
  • UNGOR, Murat
    34950 Istanbul (TR)


(56) References cited: : 
EP-A1- 0 217 121
DE-A1-102007 005 949
US-A- 2 675 687
WO-A1-03/021171
US-A- 2 059 840
US-A- 5 361 599
   
       
    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).


    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, in the cooling system of which a cold wall evaporator is used. Such a refrigerator is known for example from US-A-2 059 840. This document discloses all the features of the preamble of claim 1.

    [0002] In some refrigerators, the cooling process is performed by means of an evaporator embodiment known as cold wall evaporator. In this embodiment, the evaporator is adhered to the back surface of the compartment wall to be cooled. This surface, whereto the evaporator is adhered, is the surface that remains at the back of the surface visible to the user and that contacts the polyurethane material used for insulation during the refrigerator production (Figure 1).

    [0003] In some of these types of refrigerators, the hanging shelf embodiment is performed in order to allow the user to adjust the height of the shelf. In this embodiment, unlike normal embodiments, shelves are carried by means of shelf supports that are located not on the side walls of the refrigerator inner cabinet but on the rear wall of the inner cabinet (see, for example, US-A-5 361 599 or DE-A1-10 2007 005 949). These shelf supports are fastened to the refrigerator rear wall by means of screws and extensions.

    [0004] However, in situations wherein the hanging shelf embodiment is performed, the shelf supports assembled to the rear wall and the evaporator fixed to the other surface of the rear wall by being adhered, overlap.

    [0005] In the state of the art, beginning from a level of alignment below the shelf supports, the evaporator is fixed to the rear wall. However, in this situation, an efficient cooling cannot be provided. Because, the evaporator is not in alignment with the shelf supports.

    [0006] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cold wall evaporator embodiment in refrigerators wherein shelf supports fixed to the rear wall are situated and efficient cooling of height-adjustable shelves can be achieved.

    [0007] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is defined in the claims. It comprises a cut-out wherein the portion of the shelf support, being mounted to the rear wall, that is corresponding to the panel mounted to the other side of the rear wall is cut out and separated from the panel, and a flow pipe at both sides of the cut-out, fixed to the panel such that it will sweep almost the entire surface of the panel, bent in a serpentine shape such that a continuous flow will be provided.

    [0008] Thus, when the shelf support is mounted onto the rear wall, the portion of the shelf support mounted to the rear wall corresponds to the cut-out on the evaporator fixed to the other side of the rear wall. Thus, both the shelves can be easily assembled onto the rear wall and an effective cooling process can be performed by means of the cold wall evaporator embodiment. Furthermore, while the height adjustment of the hanging shelves mounted to the inner cabinet rear wall can be performed, every region of the inner cabinet is also provided to be cooled in a balanced way.

    [0009] The panel comprises two additional surfaces remaining at both sides of the cut-out and a main surface remaining at the lower portion of the cut-out. Thus, the shelves that are disposed into the inner cabinet side by side and that can be adjusted to different heights are enabled to be cooled almost equally.

    [0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, after being turned around on one of the additional surfaces, the flow pipe passes to the main surface and is turned around on the main surface, and then passes to the other additional surface and is turned around on this additional surface. Thus, the flow pipe is fixed onto the panel such that it will sweep almost the entire surface of the panel.

    [0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, after being turned around on one of the additional surfaces, the flow pipe passes to the other additional surface and after the turning around on these two additional surfaces is completed, the flow pipe is turned around such that it will sweep the main surface.

    [0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, while the additional surfaces on the panel correspond to the hanging shelves, the main surface corresponds to the shelf that extends between the side walls and that is seated onto the shelf supports on the side walls. Thus, two different types of shelves are provided to be cooled together without any imbalance in cooling.

    [0013] By means of the present invention, while hanging shelves are enabled to be used in refrigerators such that they will not cause any reduction in the cooling efficiency, cold wall evaporators are also enabled to be used in refrigerators comprising hanging shelf embodiments.

    [0014] A refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

    Figure 1 - is the rear perspective view of a refrigerator inner cabinet in the former technique.

    Figure 2 - is the front perspective view of a refrigerator inner cabinet.

    Figure 3 - is the front schematic view of the refrigerator.

    Figure 4 - is the view of detail D in Figure 2.

    Figure 5 - is the rear perspective view of the refrigerator inner cabinet.



    [0015] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
    1. 1. Refrigerator
    2. 2. Inner cabinet
    3. 3. Rear wall
    4. 4. Shelf
    5. 5. Shelf support
    6. 6. Evaporator
    7. 7. Panel
    8. 8. Flow pipe
    9. 9. Cut-out
    10. 10. Inlet
    11. 11. Outlet


    [0016] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises an outer wall, a rear wall (3) and an inner cabinet (2), between which and the outer wall insulation material is filled, one or more shelves (4) disposed into the inner cabinet (2), carrying the items placed thereon, one or more shelf supports (5) which are fixed to the side of the rear wall (3) facing the inside of the inner cabinet (2) and whereon the shelves (4) are seated, and an evaporator (6) that has a flat sheet-shaped panel (7) mounted to the other side of the rear wall (3) such that it will remain between the outer wall and the inner cabinet (2) and a flow pipe (8) fixed onto the panel (7), bent in a serpentine shape such that it will form a continuous flow (Figure 2). The evaporator (6) is an evaporator (6) that is identified as cold wall evaporator (6) in the technique and is fixed to the outer surface of the inner cabinet (2) rear wall (3) preferably by being adhered by means of the panel (7).

    [0017] The evaporator (6) comprises a cut-out (9) which is located on the panel (7), whereto the shelf support (5) mounted to the rear wall (3) corresponds and which partially divides the panel (7) into two, and a flow pipe (8) at both sides of the cut-out (9), fixed to the panel (7) such that it will sweep almost the entire surface of the panel (7).

    [0018] The shelf (4) is a hanging shelf and carried by means of the shelf supports (5) that are assembled not to the inner cabinet (2) side walls but to the inner cabinet (2) rear wall (3). The shelf supports (5) are mounted onto the rear wall (3) by means of fixing elements. When the shelf supports (5) are assembled to the rear wall (3), the fixing elements and some of the shelf supports (5) pass to the other side of the rear wall (3) whereon the panel (7) is fixed by passing over the rear wall (3).

    [0019] The cut-out (9) is provided by a quadrilateral-shaped piece, whereto the shelf support (5) mounted to the rear wall (3) corresponds on the panel (7) mounted to the other side of the rear wall (3), being cut out of the sheet-shaped panel (7). In this situation, when the shelf support (5) is mounted onto the rear wall (3), the portion of the shelf support (5) mounted to the rear wall (3) corresponds to this cut-out (9) which is cut-out of the panel (7) and which is on the evaporator (6) fixed to the other side of the rear wall (3). Thus, both the shelves (4) can be easily assembled onto the rear wall (3) and the cold wall evaporator (6) embodiment can be effectively performed. Furthermore, while the height adjustment of the shelves (4) mounted to the inner cabinet (2) rear wall (3) can be performed, every region of the inner cabinet (2) is provided to be cooled in a balanced way, also (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

    [0020] The panel (7) comprises two additional surfaces (A) remaining at both sides of the cut-out (9) and a main surface (B) remaining at the lower portion of the cut-out (9).

    [0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, after being turned around on one of the additional surfaces (A), the flow pipe (8) passes to the main surface (B) and is turned around on the main surface (B), and then passes to the other additional surface (A) and is turned around on this additional surface (A). Thus, the flow pipe (8) is fixed onto the panel (7) such that it will sweep almost the entire surface of the panel (7) (Figure 5).

    [0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, after being turned around on one of the additional surfaces (A), the flow pipe (8) passes to the other additional surface (A) and after the turning around on these two additional surfaces (A) is completed, the flow pipe (8) is turned around such that it will sweep the main surface (B).

    [0023] In both embodiments, the flow pipe (8) extends on the panel (7) in the horizontal direction.

    [0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, a shelf is situated under the hanging shelf (4) that is seated to the side walls and that extends between the side walls. In this embodiment, while the hanging shelves (4) correspond to the additional surfaces (A) on the panel (7), the other shelf corresponds to the main surface (B) (Figure 3).

    [0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, the inlet (10) and the outlet (11) of the flow pipe (8) are located on the same edge of the panel (7).

    [0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the surface area of the main surface (B) is at least equal to the sum of the areas of the two additional surfaces (A) and the cut-out (9).

    [0027] By means of the present invention, while hanging shelves (4) are enabled to be used in refrigerators (1) such that they will not cause any reduction in the cooling efficiency, cold wall evaporators (6) are enabled to be used in refrigerators (1) comprising hanging shelf (4) embodiments.

    [0028] It is to be understood that the said present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and an expert in the technique can easily introduce different embodiments within the scope of the claims.


    Claims

    1. A refrigerator (1) comprising an outer wall, an inner cabinet (2) having a rear wall (3), insulation material filled between the inner cabinet (2) and the outer wall, one or more shelves (4) disposed into the inner cabinet (2), for carrying items placed thereon, one or more shelf supports (5) which are fixed to the side of the rear wall (3) facing the inside of the inner cabinet (2) and whereon the shelves (4) are seated, and an evaporator (6) that has a flat sheet-shaped panel (7) mounted to the other side of the rear wall (3) such that it will remain between the outer wall and the inner cabinet (2), the evaporator (6) comprising a cut-out (9) which is located on the panel (7), at a position corresponding to that of the shelf supports mounted to the rear wall (3), and which partially divides the panel (7) into two and characterized by a flow pipe (8) fixed onto the panel (7), bent in a serpentine shape such that it will form a continuous flow, the flow pipe (8) being at both sides of the cut-out (9), fixed to the panel (7) such that it will sweep almost the entire surface of the panel (7), the panel (7) comprising two additional surfaces (A) remaining at both sides of the cut-out (9) and a main surface (B) remaining at the lower portion of the cut-out (9), wherein, after being turned around on one of the additional surfaces (A), the flow pipe is ether turned around on the main surface (B) and then turned around on the other additional surface (A), or turned around on the other additional surface (A) and then turned around on the main surface (B).
     
    2. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cut-out (9) provided by a quadrilateral-shaped piece being cut out on the panel (7).
     
    3. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the main surface (B), the surface area of which is at least equal to the sum of the areas of the two additional surfaces (A) and the cut-out (9).
     
    4. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the flow pipe (8) extending on the panel (7) in the horizontal direction.
     
    5. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the flow pipe (8), the inlet (10) and the outlet (11) of which are located on the same edge of the panel (7).
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Ein Kühlschrank (1) bestehend aus einer Außenwand, einer inneren Kabine (2) mit einer Rückwand (3), dem Isolationsmaterial eingefüllt zwischen der inneren Kabine (2) und Außenwand,einem oder mehreren Regale (4) angeordnet in die innere Kabine (2), für die Tragung von Gegenstände darauf hingelegt, einer oder mehreren Regalstützen (5), die fixiert sind zur Seite der Rückwand (3) gegenüberstehend zum Innern der inneren Kabine (2) und wo die Regale (4) hinsetzen, und einem Verdampfer (6), der eine flache blattförmige Platte (7) hat, einmontiert zur anderen Seite der Rückwand (3), sodaß er zwischen der Außenwand und inneren Kabine (2) zurückbleibt, der Verdampfer (6) beinhaltet einen Unterbrecher (9) der auf die Platte (7) hingesetzt ist, an einer Position entsprechend zu denen der Regalstützen einmontiert zur Rückwand (3) und die Platte (7) teilweise in zwei unterteilt und dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß eine Flussleitung (8) fixiert auf die Platte (7), gebogen in eine Form der Serpentine, sodaßsie einen kontinuierlichen Fluss bildet, die Flussleitung (8) ist an beiden Seiten des Unterbrechers (9), fixiert zur Platte (7), sodaß sie nahezu die ganze Oberfläche der Platte (7) fegt, die Platte (7) beinhaltet zwei zusätzliche Oberflächen (A) an beiden Seiten des Unterbrechers (9) und eine Hauptfläche (B) am unteren Teil des Unterbrechers (9), wo, nach der Drehung um eine der zusätzlichen Oberflächen (A) die Flussleitung ist entweder gedreht um die Hauptfläche (B), und danach gedreht um eine andere zusätzliche Oberfläche (A), oder gedreht um eine andere zusätzliche Oberfläche (A) und danach gedreht um Hauptfläche (B).
     
    2. Ein Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Unterbrecher (9) sichergestellt ist durch einen vierseitigen Teil, der auf der Platte (7) ausgeschnitten ist.
     
    3. Ein Kühlschrank (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß, die Oberfläche der Hauptfläche (B) mindestens gleich ist zur Summe der Flächen der zwei zusätzlichen Oberflächen (A) und des Unterbrechers (9).
     
    4. Ein Kühlschrank (1) nach den vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Flussleitung (8) sich erstreckt auf die Platte (7) in horizontaler Richtung.
     
    5. Ein Kühlschrank (1) nach den vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß seine Flussleitung (8), sein Einlaß (10) und Auslaß (11) sich auf derselben Kante der Platte (7) befinden.
     


    Revendications

    1. Réfrigérateur (1) comprenant une paroi extérieure, un cabinet intérieur (2) ayant une paroi arrière (3), un matériau isolant rempli entre le cabinet intérieur (2) et la paroi extérieure, une ou plusieurs étagères (4) disposées dans l'armoire intérieure (2), pour transporter des articles placés dessus, un ou plusieurs supports d'étagère (5) fixés sur le côté de la paroi arrière (3) orienté vers l'intérieur de le cabinet intérieur (2) et sur lequel reposent les étagères (4), et un évaporateur (6) qui a un panneau plat en forme de feuille (7) monté de l'autre côté de la paroi arrière (3) de manière à rester entre la paroi extérieure et le cabinet intérieur (2), l'évaporateur (6) comprenant une découpe (9) située sur le panneau (7), en position correspondant à celle des supports d'étagère montés sur la paroi arrière (3) et qui divise partiellement le panneau (7) en deux et caractérisé par
    un tuyau d'écoulement (8) fixé sur le panneau (7), plié en forme de serpentin de manière à former un écoulement continu, le tuyau d'écoulement (8) étant des deux côtés de la découpe (9), fixé sur le panneau (7) de manière à balayer presque toute la surface du panneau (7), le panneau (7) comprenant deux surfaces supplémentaires (A) restant des deux côtés de la découpe (9) et une surface principale (B) restant dans la partie inférieure de la découpe (9), dans lequel, après avoir été retourné sur l'une des surfaces supplémentaires (A), le tuyau d'écoulement est soit retourné sur la surface principale (B), puis retourné sur l'autre surface supplémentaire (A), soit retourné sur l'autre surface (A) et ensuite tourné sur la surface principale (B).
     
    2. Réfrigérateur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la découpe (9) formée par une pièce en forme de quadrilatère est découpé sur le panneau (7).
     
    3. Réfrigérateur (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé par la surface principale (B) dont la surface est au moins égale à la somme des surfaces des deux surfaces supplémentaires (A) et de la découpe (9).
     
    4. Réfrigérateur (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le tuyau d'écoulement (8) s'étend sur le panneau (7) dans la direction horizontale.
     
    5. Réfrigérateur (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le tuyau d'écoulement (8) dont l'entrée (10) et la sortie (11) sont situées sur le même bord du panneau (7).
     




    Drawing




















    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description