Refrigeration and / or freezer device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling and / or freezing appliance with a cooled interior space bounded by a wall and with an evaporator module arranged in the cooled interior space, wherein on the outside of the wall facing away from the cooled interior space there is an assembly in which one or more refrigerant lines and / or one or more cables are provided, which lead from the assembly through a recess in the wall to the evaporator module.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a cooled interior space which is delimited by a wall and with an evaporator module arranged in the cooled interior space, in particular a NoFrost evaporator module.

[0002] When routing refrigerant lines and cables from the outside of the inner vessel to an evaporator module located in the cooled interior, the state of the art uses individual foamed parts to secure the lines and cables during the foaming process. This procedure is comparatively complex.

[0003] The present invention is therefore based on the object of ensuring a simple and reliable laying of lines and / or cables from the outside of the inner container to an evaporator module located in the cooled interior.

[0004] This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer having the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to this, it is provided that on the outer side of the wall facing away from the cooled interior there is an assembly in which one or more refrigerant lines and / or one or more cables are present, which lead from the assembly through a recess in the wall to the evaporator module.

[0006] The assembly can be designed like a housing.

[0007] The invention is therefore based on the idea of ​​fixing the refrigerant lines and / or cables for the internal evaporator module in the defined position in an assembly located on the outside of the wall, so that they reliably remain in the desired position during foaming.

[0008] A further advantage of the invention is that several refrigerant lines and / or cables are arranged in a common component in the form of the assembly, so that a separate foam part is not required for each line or cable, which correspondingly reduces the manufacturing effort.

[0009] In particular, by arranging several lines and / or cables in a common component, their relative position to one another can be precisely specified.

[0010] The terms "line," "cable," "pipe," etc., also refer to sections of these elements. Thus, a "refrigerant line" installed in an assembly also refers to the fact that not necessarily the entire refrigerant line, but rather just a section of it, is located in the assembly.

[0011] Preferably, the assembly is a separate part from the wall. It is also conceivable for the assembly and the wall to be constructed as a single piece, possibly manufactured from a single plastic plate in a deep-drawing process.

[0012] Preferably, the refrigerant lines and / or cables are pre-assembled in the assembly. In this case, the lines and / or cables are pre-assembled in the assembly, and the assembly is then mounted on the outside, i.e., on the side of the wall facing away from the cooled interior.

[0013] The wall is preferably formed by an inner container which, together with the inside of a closure element, such as a door, defines the cooled interior.

[0014] One or more connectors and / or sensors, in particular temperature sensors, can be arranged in the assembly. The temperature sensor(s) can be arranged such that they detect the evaporator temperature when the evaporator module and the assembly are assembled.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a mounting bracket for the assembly is located between the assembly and the wall. In this case, the wall itself does not need to have any fixing elements for the assembly, since the assembly is held in place by the mounting bracket.

[0016] Preferably, the holder is designed as a separate part from the wall and the assembly, i.e. not as a single piece with the wall and / or assembly, although such a single piece design is also encompassed by the invention.

[0017] Preferably, the bracket is glued to the wall or otherwise bonded.

[0018] Furthermore, it is preferred if the assembly is positively connected to the holder. It is conceivable for the assembly to be locked to the holder.

[0019] The evaporator module can be screwed to the wall or a holding part or otherwise positively connected.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, a motor unit with a fan is provided, wherein the evaporator module is located at least partially between the motor unit and the wall.

[0021] The motor unit can be screwed to the wall and / or to the evaporator module.

[0022] The assembly and the pre-assembled cables, lines, sensors, etc. can be foamed or surrounded by other thermal insulation, such as vacuum insulation.

[0023] A cable can be a cable leading to a defrost heater of the evaporator module and / or a sensor cable.

[0024] The present invention further relates to a method for producing a refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the method provides that the evaporator module is arranged in the cooled interior, that the assembly is arranged on the outer side of the wall facing away from the cooled interior, and that the refrigerant lines and / or cables pre-assembled or fixed in the assembly are guided through an opening in the wall to the evaporator module and connected to it.

[0025] The steps do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order mentioned; a different order is also covered by the invention.

[0026] Preferably, the assembly is connected in a foam-tight manner to the outside of the wall or to a holder.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the holder is connected to the outside of the wall in a foam-tight manner, and the assembly is connected to the holder in a foam-tight manner. This reliably prevents foam from penetrating the interior of the assembly and / or through the opening in the wall and thus into the cooled interior during the foaming of the housing.

[0028] Preferably, the assembly and / or the holder are also designed in such a way that no foam from the foaming can enter the cavities formed by them, in which the pre-assembled lines, cables, etc. are located.

[0029] It is conceivable that the bracket is glued to the outside of the wall and / or that the assembly is locked to the bracket or otherwise positively connected.

[0030] There may be a labyrinthine structure between the assembly and the bracket that prevents foam from entering the connection area between the assembly and the bracket.

[0031] 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.

[0032] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0033] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0034] In the figures, identical or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0035] They show: Figure 1: a perspective exploded view of the assembly, the holder, a part of the inner container wall, the evaporator module and the motor unit, Figure 2: a perspective view of the assembly on its inside, Figure 3: a perspective view of the assembly on its outside, Figure 4: a perspective view of the evaporator module, Figure 5: a longitudinal sectional view through the arrangement according to Figure 4 and Figure 6: a perspective view of the motor unit.

[0036] In Figure 1 Reference number 1 shows a wall of an inner container of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention.

[0037] The reference number 10 shows a recess therein.

[0038] The wall 1 can be, for example, the rear wall, but any other wall, such as a side wall, the floor or the ceiling of the inner container is also encompassed by the invention.

[0039] Reference number 2 designates the bracket for assembly 9.

[0040] When assembled, the bracket 2 is bonded to the outer side of the wall 1 with double-sided adhesive tape. The "outer side" refers to the side of the inner container wall facing away from the cooled interior and toward the thermal insulation.

[0041] Refrigerant lines 8 are pre-assembled in the assembly 9. Reference numeral 3 denotes a seal, preferably a rubber seal, which prevents foam from entering the interior of the assembly.

[0042] The assembly 9 has a housing-like structure with an outer side facing the foam filling and with an inner side in which fastening elements, cables, brackets, etc. are arranged by means of there arranged fastening elements.

[0043] The reference number 6 designates the evaporator module, which is preferably a so-called NoFrost evaporator module.

[0044] This is located in the cooled interior and serves to cool it. It is screwed to the inside of wall 1 using screws 4.

[0045] The reference number 5 designates the motor unit, which comprises a fan arranged such that the fan generates an air flow over the evaporator of the evaporator module 6 when the motor unit 5 is in the assembled state.

[0046] The evaporator module 6 contains the evaporator and an evaporator heater, by means of which the evaporator is defrosted at regular intervals or when required.

[0047] During the manufacturing process, the holder 2 is fixed to the outside of the inner container wall 1. Alternatively or in addition to fixing with adhesive tape, a form-fitting fixation, e.g., using a locking or snap connection, is also conceivable.

[0048] The two refrigerant lines 8 leading from and to the evaporator module 6 are arranged in the assembly 9, which has the shape of a housing. The two lines are part of a refrigerant circuit with a compressor, condenser, and expansion unit. One of the lines carries refrigerant from the expansion unit, such as a capillary tube, to the evaporator, and the other line carries the evaporated refrigerant to the compressor.

[0049] In assembly group 9 there is (as can be seen from Figure 2 visible) a sensor cable 24 for the evaporator sensor, a cable 22 for the defrost heater and a connector 21 for the defrost heater are pre-installed.

[0050] After fixing the bracket 2, the next step is to connect the assembly 9 to the bracket 2, both parts being foamed parts.

[0051] A labyrinth structure or seal between the assembly 9 and the holder 2 prevents foam from penetrating into the interior of the assembly 9 during the foaming process.

[0052] Figure 3 shows the fastening elements 34, which serve for the positive connection between the bracket 2 and the assembly 9.

[0053] With the reference number 35 in Figure 3 are marked screw plates which form a support for the screws 4 with which the motor unit 5 is screwed to the wall 1.

[0054] After fixing the assembly 9 and the holder 2, the area between the outside of the inner container wall 1 and a housing is filled with foam for the purpose of thermal insulation.

[0055] Following the foaming process, the NoFrost evaporator module 6 is mounted on the inside of the wall 1 using screws 4 and two hooks.

[0056] Figure 4shows the state after assembly of the evaporator module 6 in a perspective view starting from the cooled interior and Figure 5 in a sectional view.

[0057] The reference number 61 in Figure 5 The condensate drain of the evaporator module 6 is marked. The water flows through this drain into a channel located on the foam side. This channel opens into a condensate tray, which can be found, for example, on the compressor.

[0058] In a final step, the motor unit 5 is installed by screwing it to the wall 1 using screws 4.

[0059] The motor unit 5 is designed like a housing and, apart from openings for the supply and exhaust air for air to and from the evaporator module 6, covers the entire evaporator module 6 as well as the side of the assembly 9 facing the interior, as can be seen from the perspective view of the Figure 6 emerges.

[0060] During maintenance work, the motor unit 5 can be removed relatively easily by loosening the screws 4, so that the evaporator module 6 and, through the opening 10, also the inside of the assembly 9 are accessible.

[0061] The advantages of the invention in a preferred embodiment are the quick and safe assembly, the exact laying of pipes or lines and cables, the creation of integrated screw plates for fixing the motor unit and the pre-assembled cover on the cable harness in the form of the assembly.

[0062] According to the invention, the precise laying of lines and cables from the foam side or the side of the thermal insulation to the cooled interior is possible.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the evaporator module is fastened to the foamed part, ie to the holder, with one, two or more than two locking hooks, which saves, for example, two screws.

[0064] The design according to the invention allows a quick and safe passage of lines and cables through an opening in the inner container wall and facilitates the subsequent assembly steps.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a safe parking position of the pipes or lines, cables and the evaporator sensor is also ensured during foaming.

[0066] It is also possible to create precise pipe, line and cable lengths for connection to the module.

[0067] The assembly may include a holder for the defrost heater plug.

Claims

1. A refrigerator and / or freezer with a cooled interior space defined by a wall and with an evaporator module arranged in the cooled interior space, characterized in that on the outside of the wall facing away from the cooled interior there is an assembly in which one or more refrigerant lines and / or one or more cables are present which lead from the assembly through a recess in the wall to the evaporator module.

2. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly is a separate part from the wall and / or that the refrigerant lines and / or cables are pre-assembled in the assembly.

3. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or more connectors and / or sensors, in particular temperature sensors, are arranged in the assembly.

4. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthere is a bracket for the assembly between the assembly and the wall.

5. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4, characterized in that the bracket is designed as a separate part from the wall and the assembly.

6. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the bracket is glued to the wall and / or that the assembly is positively connected to the bracket.

7. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporator module is screwed to the wall or otherwise positively connected.

8. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a motor unit with a fan is provided, wherein the evaporator module is located at least partially between the motor unit and the wall.

9. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 8, characterized in thatthe motor unit is screwed to the wall and / or to the evaporator module.

10. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the assembly is foamed or surrounded by other thermal insulation.

11. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one cable is a cable leading to a defrost heater of the evaporator module and / or a sensor cable.

12. A method for producing a refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the evaporator module is arranged in the cooled interior space, that the assembly is arranged on the outer side of the wall facing away from the cooled interior space, and that the refrigerant lines and / or cables pre-assembled in the assembly are guided through an opening in the wall to the evaporator module and connected to it.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the assembly is foam-tightly connected to the outside of the wall or to a bracket.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a bracket is foam-tightly connected to the outside of the wall and that the assembly is foam-tightly connected to the bracket.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the bracket is glued to the outside of the wall and / or that the assembly is locked or otherwise positively connected to the bracket.

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