A cooling device with a fan cover

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a body; one or more than one compartment (1); a compartment rear wall (2) which has an opening (15) thereon; at least one fan which is disposed between the body and the compartment (1) so as to be aligned with the opening (15) on the compartment rear wall (2); a frame (4) which is attached onto the wall of the opening (15); and a fan cover (3) which connects the compartment (2) and the volume where the fan is located and which has a hub (5) attached coaxially to the frame (4) such that an all-around gap (6) remains between the frame (4) and the hub (5). Thus, the user is prevented from reaching the fan and the losses in the fan performance are minimized, ensuring that the losses caused by the volumetric flow are eliminated, the air flow is regulated, the sound power level is reduced and the fan-related noise is prevented.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device with reduced fan noise level.

[0002] According to the new regulations, products with a sound level of 29 dBA and below are classified as A sound class. In a refrigerator, especially a no-frost refrigerator, the sound sources are the compressor, the fan, the refrigerant fluid movement and the structural vibrations. With the improvement of noise levels caused by the compressor, the refrigerant fluid movement and the structural vibrations, especially the fan sound became the dominant noise source in the refrigerators. In the state of the art embodiments, the individual noise level of the fresh food compartment fan of the cooling device is close to 29 dBA. The fan noise is caused by itself or any interaction with the surroundings.

[0003] In the state of the art, the fresh food compartment fan is attached to the evaporator cover. There is a gap which allows the air flow in the blowing area behind the fan. In the suction area in front of the fan, there is a round or square fan cover which is visible to the user and which is composed of two parts. It is determined that the fresh food compartment fan operates noisily and loses flow due to pressure loss in the suction area of the fan. This causes an increase in the sound level, loss of cooling performance and increased energy consumption.

[0004] In the state of the European Patent Application No. EP1488109, a cooling device is disclosed, comprising a fan cover which prevents the fan placed into the fan casing from being accessed from the outside.

[0005] In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2008156029, a cooling device is disclosed, comprising a fan casing which has a fan cover.

[0006] In the state of the United States Patent Application No. US2005173997, a cooling device is disclosed, comprising a mounting assembly which enables a fan casing and a fan cover to be mounted to the fresh food compartment.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device wherein the fan-related noise level is decreased.

[0008] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body; one or more than one compartment; a compartment rear wall which has an opening thereon; at least one fan which is disposed between the body and the compartment so as to be aligned with the opening on the compartment rear wall; a frame which is attached onto the wall of the opening; and a fan cover which connects the compartment and the volume where the fan is located and which has a hub attached coaxially to the frame such that an all-around gap remains between the frame and the hub. Thus, the user is prevented from reaching the fan and the losses in the fan performance are minimized, ensuring that the losses caused by the volumetric flow are eliminated, the air flow is regulated, the sound power level is reduced and the fan-related noise is prevented.

[0009] The frame comprises an all-around holder which enables the same to be attached to the opening wall by snap-fitting and which extends to the volume between the compartment rear wall and the body; a wall which bears against all around the surface of the compartment rear wall facing the inside of the compartment; and a first extension which extends all around towards the compartment volume such that a first angle of up to ninety degrees remains between the first extension and the wall. A slot is formed between the first extension and the wall.

[0010] The hub comprises a base which is parallel to the opening and a second extension which extends all around from the edge of the base towards the opening such that a second angle of up to ninety degrees remains between the second extension and the base.

[0011] The gap remains between the first extension and the second extension.

[0012] The fan cover comprises at least two, preferably four, feet which extend from the frame towards the hub. The hub is fixed onto the frame by means of the said feet.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises the opening which is a circular gap and which is formed on the compartment rear wall.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover comprises a ring-shaped frame.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover comprises a circular hub which is positioned at the center of the frame so as to be coaxial with the frame.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the first angle and the second angle is between five and fifteen degrees at the most. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the first angle and the second angle is ten degrees at the most. Moreover, the first angle and the second angle are less than ninety degrees.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the first extension and the second extension is between five and twenty millimeters at the most. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the first extension and the second extension is nine millimeters.

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the frame diameter to the hub diameter is between 1 and 1.25. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the frame diameter to the hub diameter is between 1.10 and 1.25.

[0019] In an embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover comprises four feet which is arranged at certain intervals in the radial direction. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the feet is the same.

[0020] After the frame is attached to the opening on the compartment rear wall by snap-fitting, the hub is fixed coaxially on the frame such that the gap remains therebetween, and the mounting of the fan cover to the cooling device is completed.

[0021] By means of the present invention, the sound power level of the cooling device is decreased to desired values and the effect of the fan cover to the volumetric flow is increased.

[0022] A cooling device realized in order to attain the aim the object of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a fan cover. Figure 2 - is the sideways view of the fan cover. Figure 3 - is the perspective view of the lower half of the fan cover. Figure 4 - is the sideways view of the fan cover from another angle. Figure 5 - is the cross-sectional view of the area A in Figure 4.

[0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows. 1. Compartment 2. Compartment rear wall 3. Fan cover 4. Frame 5. Hub 6. Gap 7. Foot 8. Holder 9. Wall 10. Base 11. First extension 12. Second extension 13. First angle 14. Second angle 15. Opening T: Distance between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12)

[0024] The cooling device comprises a body; one or more than one compartment (1); a compartment rear wall (2) which has an opening (15) thereon; at least one fan which is disposed between the body and the compartment (1) so as to be aligned with the opening (15) on the compartment rear wall (2); a frame (4) which is attached onto the wall of the opening (15); and a fan cover (3) which connects the compartment (2) and the volume where the fan is located and which has a hub (5) attached coaxially to the frame (4) such that an all-around gap (6) remains between the frame (4) and the hub (5). Thus, the user is prevented from reaching the fan and the losses in the fan performance are minimized, ensuring that the losses caused by the volumetric flow are eliminated, the air flow is regulated, the sound power level is reduced and the fan-related noise is prevented.

[0025] On the frame (4), the fan cover (3) comprises an all-around holder (8) which enables the frame (4) to be attached to the opening (15) wall by snap-fitting and which extends to the volume between the compartment rear wall (2) and the body; a wall (9) which bears against all around the surface of the compartment rear wall (2) facing the inside of the compartment (1); and a first extension (11) which extends all around towards the compartment (1) volume such that a first angle (13) of up to ninety degrees remains between the first extension (11) and the wall (9). A slot is formed between the first extension (11) and the wall (9).

[0026] On the hub (5), the fan cover (4) comprises a base (10) which is parallel to the opening (15) and a second extension (12) which extends all around from the edge of the base (10) towards the opening (15) such that a second angle (14) of up to ninety degrees remains between the second extension (12) and the base (10).

[0027] The gap (6) remains between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12).

[0028] The fan cover (3) comprises at least two, preferably four, feet (7) which extend from the frame (4) towards the hub (5). The hub (5) is fixed onto the frame (4) by means of the said feet (7). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the angle between the feet (7) is the same.

[0029] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device comprises the opening (15) which is a circular gap and which is formed on the compartment rear wall (2).

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover (3) comprises a ring-shaped frame (4).

[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, the fan cover (3) comprises a circular hub (5) which is positioned at the center of the frame (4) so as to be coaxial with the frame (4).

[0032] In an embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the first angle (13) and the second angle (14) is between five and fifteen degrees at the most. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the difference between the first angle (13) and the second angle (14) is ten degrees at the most. Moreover, the first angle (13) and the second angle (14) are less than ninety degrees.

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, the distance (T) between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12) is between five and twenty millimeters at the most. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance (T) between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12) is nine millimeters.

[0034] In another embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the frame (4) diameter to the hub (5) diameter is between 1 and 1.25. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the frame (4) diameter to the hub (5) diameter is between 1.10 and 1.25.

[0035] After the frame (+) is attached to the opening (15) on the compartment rear wall (2) by snap-fitting, the hub (5) is fixed coaxially on the frame (4) such that the gap (6) remains therebetween, and the mounting of the fan cover (3) to the cooling device is completed.

[0036] By means of the present invention, the sound power level of the cooling device is decreased to desired values and the effect of the fan cover (3) to the volumetric flow is increased.

Claims

1. A cooling device comprising a body; one or more than one compartment (1); a compartment rear wall (2) which has an opening (15) thereon; at least one fan which is disposed between the body and the compartment (1) so as to be aligned with the opening (15) on the compartment rear wall (2), characterized by a frame (4) which is attached onto the wall of the opening (15); and a fan cover (3) which connects the compartment (2) and the volume where the fan is located and which has a hub (5) attached coaxially to the frame (4) such that an all-around gap (6) remains between the frame (4) and the hub (5).

2. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (3) which comprises, on the frame (4), an all-around holder (8) which enables the frame (4) to be attached to the opening (15) wall by snap-fitting and which extends to the volume between the compartment rear wall (2) and the body; a wall (9) which bears against all around the surface of the compartment rear wall (2) facing the inside of the compartment (1); and a first extension (11) which extends all around towards the compartment (1) volume such that a first angle (13) of up to ninety degrees remains between the first extension (11) and the wall (9).

3. A cooling device as in Claim 2, characterized by a slot which is formed between the first extension (11) and the wall (9).

4. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (4) which comprises, on the hub (5), a base (10) which is parallel to the opening (15) and a second extension (12) which extends all around from the edge of the base (10) towards the opening (15) such that a second angle (14) of up to ninety degrees remains between the second extension (12) and the base (10).

5. A cooling device as in Claim 2, 4, characterized by the gap (6) which remains between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12).

6. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (3) comprising at least two feet (7) which extend from the frame (4) towards the hub (5).

7. A cooling device as in Claim 6, characterized by the fan cover (3) which comprises four feet (7).

8. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (3) comprising a ring-shaped frame (4).

9. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (3) comprising a circular hub (5) which is positioned at the center of the frame (4) so as to be coaxial with the frame (4).

10. A cooling device as in Claim 2, 4, characterized by the fan cover (3) wherein the difference between the first angle (13) and the second angle (14) is between five and fifteen degrees at the most.

11. A cooling device as in Claim 10, characterized by the fan cover (3) wherein the difference between the first angle (13) and the second angle (14) is between ten degrees at the most.

12. A cooling device as in Claim 2, 4, characterized by the fan cover (3) wherein the distance (T) between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12) is between five and twenty millimeters at the most.

13. A cooling device as in Claim 12, characterized by the fan cover (3) wherein the distance (T) between the first extension (11) and the second extension (12) is between nine millimeters at the most.

14. A cooling device as in Claim 1, characterized by the fan cover (3) wherein the ratio of the frame (4) diameter to the hub (5) diameter is between 1.10 and 1.25.

Images