Refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance

Abstract

A refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance (100) comprising a housing (18) and a refrigeration system (19), the refrigeration system (19) comprising a compressor (1) with a substantially horizontally acting piston and at least two mounting legs (2), and a vibration damper (4) arranged between a respective mounting leg (2) of the compressor and the base (3), the vibration damper (4) comprising an elastic member (5) configured as a flat tubular member (7) and having a bottom side (8), a top side (9) and lateral sides (11, 12) extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member (5) and connecting the bottom (8) and top sides (9), a mounting part (6) arranged centrally on the top side (9) of the elastic member and materially-locked therewith into an integral member, wherein, during the operation of the appliance (100), the longitudinal axis of the flat tubular element (7) is perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the operating piston of the compressor (1).

Description

[0001] Refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance

[0002] Subject of invention

[0003] The subject of the invention is a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance provided with a refrigeration system including a compressor.

[0004] Prior art

[0005] A refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance serves to store food at a temperature lower than ambient temperature. To reach the desired temperature that is lower than the ambient one, a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance has an integrated refrigeration system that includes a compressor. When operating, a compressor generates vibrations which are transmitted to the base via the mounting legs. A compressor is preferably mounted directly on the housing of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance, which produces vibration of the appliance housing as well as other components. Vibrations cause additional noise during operation of the appliance as well as damage to other components of the appliance due to material fatigue, which contributes to a shorter product lifetime. For this reason, an elastic member acting as a vibration damper is arranged between the compressor, more precisely the compressor mounting legs, and the base to dampen the vibrations of the compressor.

[0006] The vibrations of the compressor transmitted to the base are primarily a result of the compressor piston motion during its operation. In compressors, in which the piston moves in the compressor horizontally with respect to the base and offset from the horizontal centre axis of the compressor, the motion of the piston causes axial, radial and torsional vibrations which, due to the fixed mounting of the compressor, are transmitted to the base on which it is mounted. The horizontal action of the piston results in strong vibrations of the compressor in the horizontal direction, which are relatively poorly dampened by the existing vibration dampers and are therefore transmitted from the compressor to the appliance housing.

[0007] A conventional vibration damper which is mounted between the compressor and the base, i.e. the housing of a refrigerating / deep-freezing appliance, is an elastic member, usually in the form of a solid prism or cylinder, which isolates vibrations mainly in the vertical direction perpendicular to the base. Vibration dampers of this type are capable of damping forces and vibrations in the vertical direction, these forces and vibrations being preferably generated during transport, while the isolation and damping of vibrations in non- vertical directions are significantly lower.

[0008] Technical problem

[0009] The technical problem is to provide a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance with an integrated compressor, the vibrations of which will not be transmitted, or will be minimally transmitted to the housing of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance during the operation, which will contribute to a considerably reduced noise of the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance during operation.

[0010] Solution to the technical problem

[0011] The technical problem is solved by the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance, the main characteristics of which are defined in the first independent claim.

[0012] The subject of the present invention is a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance comprising a housing and a refrigeration system arranged within the housing and configured to reach a desired temperature inside the appliance, the refrigeration system comprising a compressor with a substantially horizontally acting piston and at least two mounting legs, with which the compressor is mounted to a base, preferably the housing of the appliance, and a vibration damper is arranged between a respective mounting leg of the compressor and the base, the vibration damper comprising an elastic member configured as a flat tubular element and having a bottom side, a top side and lateral sides extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member and connecting the bottom and top sides; a mounting part arranged centrally on the top side of the elastic member and materially-locked therewith into an integral member and enabling installation of a vibration damper; wherein, during the operation of the appliance, the longitudinal axis of the flat tubular element of the elastic member is perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the operating piston of the compressor such that the vibration damper dampens the horizontal vibrations of the compressor generated by the operation of the piston of the compressor. The ratio between the thickness D and the width S of the top side is equal to or higher than 1:10.

[0013] The vibration damper comprises a flat mounting leg materially locked with the bottom side and restricting deformation of the top side in the perpendicular direction.

[0014] The vibration damper comprises lateral sides, at least one lateral side being arranged with respect to the top side in a way that an angle a is formed between them which is larger than 0° and smaller than 180°. At least one lateral side may be bent in the shape of a concave and / or convex arch.

[0015] The mounting part which is part of the vibration damper comprises a spacer portion and a flange. The spacer portion of the vibration damper is asymmetric in crosssection. The vibration damper comprises a central through hole to receive a fastening member which, when mounted, extends through both the elastic member and the mounting part.

[0016] The vibration damper is integrally formed and made of an elastic material having adequate strength and elasticity, preferably of synthetic rubber such as EPDM rubber.

[0017] The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance of the invention is provided with a refrigeration system which establishes the desired temperature in the food storage compartment. The refrigeration system inter alia comprises a compressor mounted on the base, normally on the housing of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance. The vibration damper of the invention is arranged between the compressor and the base. Due to its tubular design, the vibration damper of the invention is highly efficient in damping compressor vibrations in the horizontal direction which substantially coincides with the direction of the operation of the compressor piston, in which there is strongest vibration, while simultaneously also damping the vibrations in the perpendicular direction, which arise from the movement of the compressor weight and the forces occurring during the transport of the refrigerating and / or deepfreezing appliance. As the elastic member of the vibration damper is configured as a flat tubular member, the elasticity of the vibration damper in the directions of strongest vibrations, i.e. in the horizontal direction, is increased, while the rigidity is reduced. The vibration damper of the invention is capable of efficiently damping the strongest, horizontal vibrations of the compressor, which considerably reduces the transmission of vibrations from the compressor to the base, i.e. the housing of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance, and further to other components in the appliance. In case of strong instantaneous, particularly perpendicular forces that occur during the transport of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance, adequate rigidity of the vibration damper of the invention is ensured, which prevents its permanent deformation and / or destruction.

[0018] The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance of the invention will be described hereinbelow in more detail by way of an embodiment and drawings representing in

[0019] Fig. 1 schematic view of the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance provided with a refrigeration system

[0020] Fig. 2 schematic view of a compressor integrated in the refrigerating and / or deepfreezing appliance

[0021] Fig. 3 vibration damper A refrigerating and / or deep freezing appliance 100 comprises a housing 18 whose sides, base and cover side delimit a storage space intended to store food, said housing being closed from the front side by a door (not shown). For the operation of the appliance, the housing 18 accommodates a refrigerating system 19 that comprises a compressor 1. The compressor 1 is normally arranged in the bottom portion of the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance and mounted on a base 3 with mounting legs 2, said base 3 being preferably the housing of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance. The basic working element of the compressor 1 is a piston arranged in a cylinder and having a piston rod which compresses the fluid in the refrigeration system to the required pressure. The piston in the compressor 1 moves horizontally with respect to the base 3 and offset from the horizontal centre axis of the compressor, this motion causes axial, radial and torsional vibrations on the compressor, which, due to the fixed mounting of the compressor, are transmitted to the base 3 on which it is mounted. The compressor 1 is provided in the section proximal to the base 3 with two or more fixed mounting legs 2 intended for mounting on the base 3. To reduce transmission of vibrations from the compressor 1 to the base 3, a vibration damper 4 of the invention is arranged between the compressor 1 and the base 3, i.e. the housing 18 of the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance.

[0022] The vibration damper 4 of the compressor of the refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance comprises an elastic member 5 that dampens compressor vibrations, so these are not transmitted to the base 3 or are transmitted with a considerably lower oscillation amplitude, and a mounting part 6 for mounting the vibration damper 4 into the mounting leg 2 of the compressor, the elastic member 5 and the mounting part 6 being materially locked with each other to form an integral member.

[0023] The elastic member 5 is configured as a flat tubular member 7 having a bottom 8 and top sides 9 parallel to each other, and lateral sides 11, 12 extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member 5 and connecting the bottom 8 and top sides 9. The top side 9 acts as a vibration elastic membrane. The bottom 8 and top sides 9 are equal or different in length, the bottom side 8 is preferably shorter than the top side 9. The lateral sides 11, 12 are parallel to each other and arranged with respect to the top side 9 in a way that at least one lateral side 11, 12 encloses with the top side 9 an angle a larger than 0° and smaller than 180°. The lateral sides 11, 12 may also be bent in the shape of a concave and / or convex arch. In the embodiment, the lateral sides 11, 12 are inclined towards each other and enclose with the top side 9 an angle a larger than 0° and smaller than 90°. The lateral sides 11, 12 are bent in the shape of a concave arch. The elasticity of the elastic member 5 in the horizontal direction changes as a function of the angle of inclination of the lateral sides 11, 12 towards the bottom 8 and top sides 9, the elasticity of the elastic member 5 being highest when the lateral sides 11, 12 are parallel to each other, when the angle of inclination is 90°, and the elasticity is reduced as a function of the angle of inclination of the lateral sides 11, 12. A bottom surface 81 of the bottom side 8 is materially locked with a flat leg 10, with which the vibration damper 4 is arranged on the base 3, said base being preferably the housing 18 of a refrigerating and / or deep-freezing apparatus.

[0024] The mounting part 6 is materially locked with the elastic member 5 and centrally arranged on a top surface 91 of the top side 9 of the elastic member 5. The vibration damper 4 is mounted to the mounting leg 2 of the compressor 1 by means of the mounting part 6. The mounting part 6 comprises a spacer portion 13 with a flange 14. In its cross-section, the spacer portion 13 corresponds to a through mounting hole 15 of the mounting leg 2 of the compressor, in which the spacer portion 13 is inserted upon the installation of the vibration damper 4. The height of the spacer portion 13 corresponds to the thickness of the mounting leg 2 of the compressor. The flange 14 which is pushed through the mounting hole 15 of the mounting leg upon the installation of the vibration damper 4 acts as an elastic washer for a fastening element 16 of the compressor.

[0025] For installation purposes, the vibration damper 4 is provided between the base 3 and the compressor 1 with a central through hole 17 to receive the fastening element 16, the through hole 17 extending through both the elastic member 5 and the mounting part 6. The vibration damper 4 is inserted in the mounting leg 2 of the compressor in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member 5 is substantially perpendicular to the direction, in which the piston of the compressor acts. To ensure the correct installation of the vibration damper 4 in the mounting leg 2 of the compressor, the cross-section of the spacer portion 13 of the vibration damper and the mounting hole 15 of the mounting leg of the compressor are configured asymmetrically and complementary.

[0026] The tubular design of the elastic member 5 makes the vibration damper 4 less rigid and more elastic in the directions of highest vibrations of the compressor, i.e. in the horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member 5. The vertical vibrations of the compressor deform the elastic membrane 9 in the direction perpendicular to the flat leg 10, yet the membrane does not come in contact with the flat leg 10. The deformation of the elastic membrane 9 linearly increases as a function of the vibration amplitude in the vertical direction, thus ensuring linear damping of vibrations in the vertical direction. To provide adequate elasticity of the elastic membrane 9, the ratio between the thickness D of the elastic membrane 9 and its width S is important and should be equal to or higher than 1:10. In the event of unanticipated huge forces, during transport for instance, the elastic membrane 9 gets considerably more deformed in the vertical direction, consequently coming in contact with the flat leg 10. A further deformation of the elastic membrane 9 is prevented and so is its further permanent deformation or even destruction. Since the elastic membrane 9 comes in contact with the flat leg 10, its further deformation is prevented or nearly prevented, a certain degree of rigidity of the elastic member 5 is achieved.

[0027] The tubular design of the vibration damper 4 having the lateral sides 11, 12 inclined and / or bent towards each other in the form of an arch increases the elasticity and at the same time reduces the rigidity of the elastic member 5 in the horizontal direction which coincides with the horizontal direction, in which the piston of the compressor acts and which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member 5. This direction coincides with the direction, in which the horizontal vibrations of the compressor 1 are highest. Increased elasticity results in increased vibration damping and thus reduced transmission of vibrations from the compressor 1 to the base 3. Due to the tubular design of the elastic member 5, the elastic member 5 remains rigid and inelastic in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0028] The vibration damper 4 is integrally formed and made of an elastic material having adequate strength and elasticity, preferably of synthetic rubber such as EPDM rubber.

Claims

Claims1. A refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance (100) comprising a housing (18) and a refrigeration system (19) arranged within the housing (18) and configured to reach a desired temperature inside the appliance, the refrigeration system (19) comprising a compressor (1) with a substantially horizontally acting piston and at least two mounting legs (2), with which the compressor (1) is mounted to a base (3), preferably the housing of the appliance, and a vibration damper (4) is arranged between a respective mounting leg (2) of the compressor and the base (3), characterized in that the vibration damper (4) comprises an elastic member (5) configured as a flat tubular member (7) and having a bottom side (8), a top side (9) and lateral sides (11, 12) extending in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular elastic member (5) and connecting the bottom (8) and top sides (9), a mounting part (6) arranged centrally on the top side (9) of the elastic member and materially-locked therewith into an integral member and enabling installation of a vibration damper, wherein, during the operation of the appliance (100), the longitudinal axis of the flat tubular element (7) of the elastic member (5) is perpendicular to the horizontal direction of the operating piston of the compressor (1).

2. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio between the thickness (D) and the width (S) of the top side (9) is equal to or higher than 1:10.

3. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration damper (4) comprises a flat leg (10) materially locked with the bottom side (8) and restricting deformation of the top side (9) in the perpendicular direction.

4. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lateral side (11, 12) is arranged with respect to the top side (9) in a way that an angle (a) is formed between them which is larger than 0° and smaller than 180°.

5. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lateral side (11, 12) is bent in the form of a concave arch.

6. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lateral side (11, 12) is bent in the form of a convex arch.

7. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting part (6) comprises a spacer portion (13) with a flange (14).

8. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the spacer portion (13) of the vibration damper is configured with an asymmetrical cross- section.

9. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration damper (4) comprises a central through hole (17) to receive a fastening member (16) which, when mounted, extends through both the elastic member (5) and the mounting part (6).

10. The refrigerating and / or deep-freezing appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration damper is integrally formed and made of an elastic material having adequate strength and elasticity, preferably of synthetic rubber such as EPDM rubber.

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