household appliance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer, with a cooled interior and thermal insulation that partially or completely surrounds the cooled interior, wherein the thermal insulation comprises a vacuum insulation body that has at least one evacuated area, wherein the appliance comprises a refrigeration unit, and wherein means for distributing cooled air from the refrigeration unit to one or more compartments in the cooled interior are located in the cooled interior.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer with a cooled interior and a thermal insulation which partially or completely surrounds the cooled interior, wherein the thermal insulation comprises a vacuum insulation body.

[0002] Even with a refrigerator or freezer with vacuum insulation, there is a need to evenly cool the cooled interior or the interior of a compartment or several compartments within the cooled interior or to supply them with cold air. Cables and pipes for water may also need to be laid.

[0003] In conventional refrigerators and freezers with polyurethane foam insulation, evaporators can be arranged flexibly. Cooling can therefore be generated exactly where it's needed. If air ducts are required, they can be foamed in. Cables and pipes for water, etc., are usually foamed in and can enter or exit the insulation at any point.

[0004] Such flexibility is not available with vacuum-insulated units, as these can be arranged less flexibly than with PU foam. This means that vacuum-insulated units have limitations regarding the arrangement of components such as evaporators or other components that must be connected to pipes.

[0005] The present invention is based on the object of developing a household appliance of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that a uniform or desired cold distribution within the cooled interior is ensured despite the presence of vacuum insulation.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to this, the cooled interior contains means for distributing cooled air from the refrigeration unit to one or more compartments within the cooled interior. This air distribution allows for the design of a cold air duct, independent of the evaporator arrangement, to ensure the desired air distribution or temperature distribution within the cooled interior.

[0008] The means for distributing cooled air or the air ducts can, as an essential function, enable the concealed laying of cables, refrigerant or water pipes.

[0009] The actual vacuum housing or vacuum body and the space that accommodates it can thus be designed simply, shifting the complexity to the modules or components to be installed. This is also advantageous in terms of recycling.

[0010] The vacuum insulation body(s) are located in an area between the inner container and the outside of the body and / or between the inside and outside of the door or other closure element.

[0011] The cooling unit can be an evaporator or a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element. This or these devices are suitable for distributing the cold air as desired.

[0012] The means may comprise or consist of an air duct. This cold air duct may extend from the refrigeration unit and open into the cooled interior at a suitable location. Multiple outlets or openings may also be provided.

[0013] The at least one air duct can be arranged inside and / or outside (ie behind the wall delimiting the cooled interior space) of the cooled interior space.

[0014] It is also conceivable that there are several air ducts.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the cooled air is guided from the one or more evaporators or other refrigeration units to the temperature zones or compartments by means of one or more air ducts.

[0016] Preferably, the air duct has a cover.

[0017] The air duct and / or cover can fulfill one or more additional functions in addition to defining an air duct. These additional functions can include a support for shelves and / or a means or device for mounting additional functional components. These additional functional components can be one or more of the following components: lighting, fan, air damper, water tank, water dispenser, ice cube maker.

[0018] The cooled interior may have a wall that defines it.

[0019] The air duct can be arranged on the side of the wall facing the cooled interior and / or on the side facing away from the cooled interior. The air duct(s) can thus be arranged on the thermal insulation side or on the cooling chamber side.

[0020] The wall mentioned may be a wall of the inner container and / or the door of the device.

[0021] At this point, it should be noted that the term "door" is to be understood broadly and includes any closure element by means of which the refrigerated interior can be closed. This includes doors, flaps, lids, drawers, etc.

[0022] The air duct(s) may be located between the inner container or the inner door and the vacuum insulation body and may have inlets and outlets that communicate with the cooled interior so that the cold air can be introduced into the cooled interior.

[0023] The inlets and outlets can be provided in the form of cutouts in the inner container and / or in the inner door.

[0024] The means can have areas, such as undercuts, which allow the concealed laying of lines, cables, etc.

[0025] The air duct or ducts can be designed as ducts that are attached or arranged in the interior and covered by additional components.

[0026] Recesses can be provided in the vacuum insulation body for laying the air ducts.

[0027] One or more air ducts communicating with the evaporator chamber may, for example, be provided at the rear left and / or right and / or at the sides left and / or right and / or at the top or bottom.

[0028] It is conceivable that there is at least one air duct with a cover on the rear wall in the cooled interior.

[0029] In one embodiment, the air duct does not extend over the entire width of the device or the cooled interior, but only around a part of it.

[0030] The air duct can be set off inwards and / or have areas that allow the concealed installation of pipes, cables, etc.

[0031] The means can be located on the rear and / or side wall of the cooled interior.

[0032] The means may include openings leading into the cooled interior.

[0033] In addition to the air guidance, the means can have at least one further function, such as a holding function for a storage element and / or for a consumer, such as a fan or lighting.

[0034] It should be noted that references to cables also apply to wires and vice versa.

[0035] In principle, one or more temperature zones or compartments can be cooled by means of one or more evaporators or refrigeration units.

[0036] In one embodiment, the cooled air from the refrigeration unit is guided from the one or more evaporators to the temperature zones or compartments by means of one or more air ducts.

[0037] There may be an air duct with a cover inside.

[0038] For example, it is conceivable to lay the cable inside a (special) door seal or in the channel of the seal holder, such as in the channel for a sealing rubber or in the sealing rubber itself.

[0039] Preferably, one or more evaporators are installed in a space behind a cover. Devices for connecting the space to air ducts may be provided.

[0040] One or more fans may be provided to convey air over the refrigeration unit(s) and to guide the cold air, for example, through an air duct and / or into the cooled interior.

[0041] It is also conceivable to install covers inside the device, behind which the lines and cables run. The covers and / or the inner container or the inside of the door can have guides or brackets for the lines / cables to ensure they are routed safely and precisely.

[0042] The terms “inside” and “outside” refer, on the one hand, to the cooled interior (= inside) and, on the other hand, to an area outside the cooled interior (= outside).

[0043] The vacuum insulation body may have a gas-tight barrier, preferably a film and particularly preferably a high-barrier film.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum insulation body is a full vacuum insulation body. This refers to a vacuum insulation body that has a casing made of a film, preferably a gas-tight film, and in particular a high-barrier film, that encloses an evacuated area. A core material, such as perlite, is located within this area.

[0045] The vacuum insulation body may have an opening for vacuum generation and zeolite in the area of ​​this opening.

[0046] The film is preferably a gas-tight film and particularly preferably a high-barrier film. The term "high-barrier film" preferably refers to a film by means of which the gas ingress into the vacuum insulation body is reduced to such an extent that the increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body caused by gas ingress is sufficiently low over its service life. A service life can be assumed, for example, to be 15 years, preferably 20 years, and particularly preferably 30 years. The increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body caused by gas ingress over its service life is preferably < 100% and particularly preferably < 50%. The area-specific gas transmission rate of the high-barrier film is preferably < 10-5 mbar * l / s *m 2 and particularly preferably < 10-6 mbar * l / s *m 2(measured according to ASTM D-3985). This gas transmission rate applies to nitrogen and oxygen. For other gases (especially water vapor), low gas transmission rates also exist, preferably in the range of < 10-2 mbar * l / s * m 2 and particularly preferably in the range of < 10-3 mbar * l / s * m 2 (measured according to ASTM F-1249-90). Preferably, these low gas transmission rates achieve the aforementioned low increases in thermal conductivity. High-barrier films, in the context of the present invention, are preferably understood to mean single- or multi-layer films (which are preferably sealable) with one or more barrier layers (typically metallic layers or oxide layers, with aluminum or an aluminum oxide preferably being used as the metal or oxide) that meet the above-mentioned requirements (increase in thermal conductivity and / or area-specific gas transmission rate) as a barrier against gas ingress.

[0047] The term "household appliance" is to be understood broadly in the context of this invention. This includes both appliances intended and suitable for private use and commercial appliances.

[0048] The present invention includes designs of household appliances in which the thermal insulation is formed only by one or more vacuum insulation bodies, as well as designs in which, in addition to the vacuum insulation body(s), another insulation medium, such as foam, is present.

[0049] It is preferred if the proportion of vacuum insulation bodies in the thermal insulation is at least 50%, preferably at least 80%, and particularly preferably at least 90%. The percentage can refer to the mass, volume, or thermal insulation performance.

[0050] It should be noted here that the terms "a" and "an" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also encompasses several of the elements in question.

[0051] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0052] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail using an embodiment described below.

[0053] In a first embodiment, the embodiment relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a cooled interior that can be closed by means of a door.

[0054] The cooled interior is limited by an inner container and the inside of the door.

[0055] Between the inner container and the outside of the device body there is a vacuum insulation body, which is designed as a full vacuum body.

[0056] An evaporator is arranged in a space that is separated from the cooled interior.

[0057] From these, a cold air duct leads into the cooled interior. The air duct preferably extends past the vacuum insulation body rather than through it.

[0058] In one version, the cold air duct ends in the wall of the cooled interior.

[0059] It is also conceivable for the cold air duct to continue within the cooled interior and have one or more openings through which cold air is introduced into the cooled interior at various locations, preferably at different heights. The cold air duct is located at the rear of the inner container, on the side of the inner container wall facing the cooled interior. It does not extend across the entire width of the inner container rear wall, but only across part of it.

Claims

[1] Household appliance, in particular a refrigerator and / or freezer with a cooled interior and a thermal insulation which partially or completely surrounds the cooled interior, wherein the thermal insulation comprises a vacuum insulation body which has at least one evacuated area, wherein the appliance comprises a refrigeration unit, characterized by that means for distributing cooled air from the refrigeration unit to one or more compartments in the cooled interior are located in the cooled interior. [2] Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized by that the refrigeration unit is an evaporator or a thermoelectric element. [3] Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the means comprise or consist of an air duct. [4] Household appliance according to claim 3, characterized bythat the air duct has a cover, wherein the cover preferably serves to conceal cables and / or refrigerant and / or water pipes. [5] Household appliance according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the cooled interior space has a wall delimiting it and that the air duct is arranged on the side of the wall facing the cooled interior space and / or on the side facing away from the cooled interior space. [6] Household appliance according to claim 5, characterized by that the wall is a wall of the inner container or the door of the device. [7] Household appliance according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized by that the air duct does not extend over the entire width of the rear wall of the cooled interior. [8] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the means are located on the rear and / or side wall of the cooled interior. [9] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the means comprise or represent openings which lead into the cooled interior. [10] Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , the means have at least one further function besides air guidance.