Domestic refrigeration appliance comprising a valve, downstream of a water tank, in a dispenser device

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance (1) comprising a dispenser device (4) which is designed at least as a water dispenser device (5) for dispensing water, wherein the water dispenser device (5) has a water tank (6) and at least one electronically controlled valve (13, 13') by means of which the flow of water can be adjusted, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is arranged downstream of the water tank (6) in the flow direction of the water so that a flow path between the water tank (6) and a water outlet (15) of the water dispenser device (5), which water outlet is arranged downstream of the valve (13, 13'), can be blocked and unblocked.

Description

[0001] Household refrigeration appliance with a valve of a dispenser device connected downstream of a water tank

[0002] One aspect of the invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance having a dispenser device which is designed at least as a water dispenser device for dispensing water.

[0003] Such household refrigeration appliances are well known. It is also common for the household refrigeration appliance to be connected to an external water supply network, and in particular, to a fixed water connection of this external water supply network via a pipe. This allows water to be supplied from the outside to the household refrigeration appliance and made available to the dispenser.

[0004] In such household refrigeration appliances, it is also common for the water tank to be made of plastic. If water is supplied externally and the water and the water tank have different temperatures, the water tank expands due to the warmer water added from the water supply network. As the water in the water tank cools, the plastic of the water tank contracts, forcing the water out of a water outlet of this dispenser, which is fluidly coupled to the water tank, and it begins to drip from the outlet.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a household refrigeration appliance in which such dripping is prevented simply and yet reliably.

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

[0007] One aspect of the invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance with a dispensing device. The dispensing device is designed at least as a water dispensing device or the dispensing device has at least one such water dispensing device. The water dispensing device is intended to dispense water. The dispensing device, and thus also the water dispensing device, has at least one water tank. Furthermore, the dispensing device, and thus in particular also the water dispensing device, has at least one electronically controlled valve. The water flow can be adjusted using this electronically controlled valve. In the direction of water flow in the dispensing device, the electronically controlled valve is arranged after the water tank. This electronically controlled valve is thus arranged downstream of the water tank.This arrangement allows a flow path between the water tank and a water outlet located downstream of the valve on the water dispenser to be blocked and opened. In particular, this specific additional valve at this specific position in the flow path prevents water from dripping from the water outlet. Furthermore, because this valve is electronically controlled, its tightness is particularly high. This is particularly advantageous in the scenario described above, where the water tank has elastically deformable walls. This ensures a particularly strong blocking effect of this valve.Especially when, due to the scenario described above and the different thermal expansion coefficients, the warmer water flows into the water tank, which is preferably made of plastic, the thermodynamic effects described above occur and the water is pushed out of the water tank towards the water outlet due to these effects, this can be withstood with the electronically controlled valve.

[0008] In one embodiment, the electronically controlled valve is a solenoid valve. This particularly supports the aforementioned advantages. In particular, a solenoid valve can be controlled very quickly, allowing for rapid opening and closing. Furthermore, with the appropriate control, a solenoid valve can also be finely adjusted in terms of flow rate.

[0009] In one embodiment, the water dispenser device has a filter. In particular, this filter is arranged downstream of the water tank in the direction of water flow. This ensures that the water supplied from the external water supply network to the household appliance is already filtered, in particular before reaching the electronically controlled valve. In one embodiment, a further valve, in particular a check valve, is arranged upstream of the filter. This further valve is in particular also a component of the household refrigeration appliance. It can in particular also be a component of the dispensing device. By means of such a further valve, the water supply from outside the household refrigeration appliance to the household refrigeration appliance, in particular the dispensing device, can be blocked and released. Thus, the supply of water from outside the household refrigeration appliance to the household refrigeration appliance can also be individually adjusted and dosed.Because this additional valve is a mechanically operated valve, specifically a check valve, a simpler valve can be used compared to an electronically controlled valve. Therefore, a corresponding electronic control is not required.

[0010] In one embodiment, the electronically controlled valve has only one inlet and one outlet. This electronically controlled valve is thus minimally configured. It only allows one flow path between the water tank and the water outlet to be blocked and opened.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the electronically controlled valve has an inlet and two outlets. It can then, in particular, be a three-way valve. In such an embodiment, it is possible for the dispensing device to have, for example, two separate water outlets. This means that, for example, pure water can be dispensed via one water outlet. In particular, this can be within a specific temperature range. A mixed drink, for example, can be dispensed via the second water outlet, which is separate from this. This can comprise water from the water tank and can comprise an additional medium. The additional medium can, for example, be added by an addition unit of the dispensing device. For example, this can take place on the path between the valve and the second water outlet.

[0012] This can also be used to dispense tea, coffee or a cold mixed drink, for example.

[0013] Furthermore, in another exemplary embodiment, it is also possible for the dispensing device to additionally have an ice dispensing device in addition to the water dispensing device. Thus, with such a valve with two outputs or outlets as mentioned above, it is possible for one outlet to lead to water dispensing and the second outlet to lead to an ice generation unit of the ice dispensing device. Thus, water from the water tank can be supplied via this additional flow path from the second outlet of the electronically controlled valve to this ice generation unit, where this water is then frozen into ice. Even with such configurations, it is then possible to use a minimal configuration with regard to such an electronically controlled valve in the flow path downstream of the water tank. Multiple separate valves are then not required.

[0014] On the other hand, however, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in which an electronically controlled valve has only one inlet and one outlet, it can also be provided that several separate, minimally configured electronically controlled valves of this type are arranged in the flow paths downstream of the water tank. This is because if the dispensing device then has, for example, two water outlets or one water outlet and an ice dispenser, these can each be individually supplied with water via two separate, minimally configured valves of this type.

[0015] In one embodiment, the dispenser device is configured as a water dispenser and ice dispenser. The dispenser device comprises at least one water dispenser and at least one ice dispenser. In such a configuration, the dispenser device is therefore configured to dispense water and / or ice.

[0016] In one embodiment, an outlet of the electronically controlled valve is connected to a downstream water outlet of the water dispenser and ice dispenser device. The second outlet of a single such electronically controlled valve provided in one embodiment is then connected to an ice generation device of the ice dispenser device and, in this context, also indirectly to an ice outlet of the ice dispenser device and thus also to the water dispenser and ice dispenser device. In one embodiment, the water tank is arranged in a housing of a component module of the dispenser device. This means that it is protected, and the connection to inlets and outlets is individually configurable. Furthermore, the installation of such a housing in the household refrigeration appliance is simpler and / or mechanically more stable in some embodiments.

[0017] In one embodiment, a further valve, in particular as mentioned above, and / or a filter of the dispensing device, in particular as mentioned above, are arranged in the housing of the component module. This is a further advantageous embodiment, since the component module can thus accommodate several separate components. On the one hand, these components are then arranged in a protected manner, and on the other hand, a very compact design of these components can be achieved overall. A further advantage is that such a component module can be preconfigured before the individual components are installed in the household refrigeration appliance. This means that such a component module with several components is already prefabricated and can then be installed as such in the household refrigeration appliance. This also has advantages in terms of assembly.In addition, these components to be connected to each other are arranged in a space-saving manner and the flow paths between these individual components are minimized.

[0018] In one embodiment, the housing of the component module is connected to a fixed water connection external to the device by a line. This housing is connected to a water outlet of the dispensing device, in particular the water dispenser, by a further line. In one embodiment, it can be provided that the housing is connected to an ice-making device of the dispensing device by yet another line. This multi-component component module thus forms a central unit at which various lines of the dispensing device enter and exit, thus forming a line hub in this regard.

[0019] This also supports the local arrangement of many components. It also makes it possible for maintenance or replacement work to locate a large number of such components of the dispenser device in one area, namely the housing of the component module. The connection or disconnection of cables and the like can then be carried out locally very quickly and easily.

[0020] In one embodiment, the electronically controlled valve is arranged in the housing of this component module. This allows for a further increase in the number of components in the component module. This further supports a high local concentration of various components of the dispensing device. This also further emphasizes the other advantages mentioned above.

[0021] In another embodiment, the electronically controlled valve can be arranged externally to the housing of the component module. In particular, it can be arranged at a water outlet of the dispensing device. Thus, it can be arranged directly adjacent to the water outlet or at the water outlet itself. This also prevents dripping from the at least one water outlet.

[0022] In one embodiment, a pressure reducer is arranged upstream of the water tank. The pressure reducer is, in particular, a component of the household refrigeration appliance. Such a pressure reducer can reduce the pressure of the water flowing in from outside. This can prevent unwanted interference with components of the household refrigeration appliance and / or unwanted noise in the household refrigeration appliance. Since pressures of greater than eight bar can occur in a water supply network in certain countries, a pressure reducer is advantageous in this regard.

[0023] In one embodiment, the pressure reducer is arranged in a line between an external water connection and the water tank. The line is, in particular, a component of the household refrigeration appliance. In particular, the pressure reducer is therefore also a component of the household refrigeration appliance.

[0024] It is also possible for the pressure reducer to be installed directly on the fixed water connection. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below using schematic drawings. They show:

[0025] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance according to the invention;

[0026] Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance according to the invention; and

[0027] Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance according to the invention.

[0028] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance 1. The household refrigeration appliance 1 is designed for storing and preserving food. The household refrigeration appliance 1 can be a refrigerator, a freezer, or a refrigerator-freezer combination appliance. The household refrigeration appliance 1 has at least one body or an appliance housing 2. At least one receiving space 3 for food is formed in the appliance housing 2. The receiving space 3 can be a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment, it is a refrigerator compartment.

[0030] The household refrigeration appliance 1 further comprises a door that is movably mounted on the appliance housing 2 and is not shown in Fig. 1. The door is provided for closing the receiving space 3.

[0031] The household refrigeration appliance 1 has a dispenser device 4. The dispenser device 4 is designed to at least dispense water. The dispenser device 4 has at least one water dispenser device 5. This is designed to treat and dispense water. This dispenser device 4, and thus also the water dispenser device 5, has a water tank 6. This water tank 6 preferably has walls made of an elastically deformable material. In particular, the walls are made of plastic.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the water tank 6 is preferably arranged in a housing 7 of a component module 8 of the dispensing device 4. As can also be seen in Fig. 1, the household refrigeration appliance 1 is coupled to an external water supply network 9. In particular, a fixed water connection 10 is provided here, to which the household refrigeration appliance 1 is connected for the water supply. For this purpose, it is preferably provided that the household refrigeration appliance 1 has a line 11 connected to the fixed water connection 10. In one embodiment, this line 11 connects this external fixed water connection 10 to the dispensing device 4, in particular the water tank 6.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the dispensing device 4 also includes a filter 12. This filter 12 is arranged in the exemplary embodiment downstream of the water tank 6 in the direction of water flow in the dispensing device 4. It may also be provided that the filter 12 is installed in the housing 7 of the component module 8.

[0034] Furthermore, it is provided that the dispensing device 4 has an electronically controlled valve 13. This is in particular a solenoid valve. The electronically controlled valve 13 can preferably be controlled by a control unit 14 of the household refrigeration appliance 1. In particular, the control unit 14 is provided for controlling the dispensing device 4. Depending on a dispensing request, the dispensing of water, for example, can then also be controlled. For this purpose, the dispensing device 4 and thus also the water dispensing device 5 has a water outlet 15. This water outlet 15 can, for example, be arranged on a door of the household refrigeration appliance 1. It can be accessible from the outside, so that the water outlet can be provided on the outside even when the door is closed. For example, the door can have a niche in which the water outlet 15 is arranged.This means, for example, that a drinking vessel can be held or positioned in this niche and the water can then be fed into this drinking vessel. The water outlet 15 is connected to this valve 13 by a line 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this electronically controlled valve 13 is arranged after the water tank 6 in the direction of water flow in the dispensing device 4. The valve 13 is thus arranged downstream of the water tank 6. In particular, it is also arranged downstream of the filter 12. This electronically controlled valve 13 is arranged between the water outlet 15 and the water tank 6, in particular the filter 12. The electronically controlled valve 13 shown in Fig. 1 has an inlet 13a and here two separate outlets 13b and 13c. The first outlet 13b is connected to the water outlet 15 by means of the line 16.

[0035] In one embodiment, it is possible for the dispenser device 4 to have only this one water dispenser device 5. This can have only this one water outlet 15.

[0036] It is also possible for the dispenser device 4 to have a separate, additional water outlet (not shown). This can then be connected to the second outlet 13c via an additional line.

[0037] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment in which the dispenser device 4 has an ice dispenser device 17 in addition to the water dispenser device 5. This allows ice produced by the dispenser device 4 to be dispensed. The ice dispenser device 17 preferably has an ice-making device 18. This ice-making device 18 produces ice from the supplied water. An ice-forming tray can be provided for this purpose. This can be ice-forming elements such as ice cubes. However, the production of crushed ice is also possible.

[0038] The ice dispenser 17 also has an ice dispenser 19. The ice produced can be dispensed through this dispenser.

[0039] As can be seen, the electronically controlled valve 13 shown here in Fig. 1 is connected to the ice-making device 18 via a line. This allows water from the water tank 6, in particular via the filter 12, to be directed to this ice-making device 18 via the second outlet 13c.

[0040] In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 it is provided that a further valve 21

[0041] Is a component of the dispensing device 4. This further valve 21 is, in particular, a mechanically operated valve. It can preferably be a check valve. This further valve 21 is arranged upstream of the water tank 6 in the direction of water flow in the household refrigeration appliance, in particular the dispensing device 4. In particular, it is arranged between the fixed water connection 10 and the water tank 6. In one embodiment, it can be provided that the further valve 21 is arranged in the housing 7 of the component module 8.

[0042] In a further embodiment, a pressure reducer 22 can be arranged upstream of the water tank 6. The pressure reducer 22 makes it possible to reduce the water pressure of the water supplied from the fixed water connection 10 to the household refrigeration appliance 1. The pressure reducer 22 is installed, in particular, in the line 11. It can also be arranged directly at the fixed water connection 10. It is also possible for the pressure reducer 22 of the household refrigeration appliance 1 to be installed in the housing 7.

[0043] In one embodiment, it is also possible that instead of the single electronically controlled valve 13, which is connected downstream of the water tank 6, two separate electronically controlled valves are installed. This is particularly true if the water dispenser device 5 has two separate water outlets or the dispenser device 4 has a water dispenser device 5 and an ice dispenser device 17. In such an embodiment, these two separate individual valves can then be implemented as shown in Fig. 2. Here, two separate electronically controlled valves 13 and 13' can then be installed. For example, it is then also possible, as shown in Fig. 2, for the electronically controlled valve 13, which is arranged between the water tank 6 and the water outlet 15, to be arranged directly adjacent to the water outlet 15. However, it is also possible for this valve 13 to be arranged as shown in Fig.2, which then has only one inlet and only one outlet, is also arranged in the housing 7 of the component module 8.

[0044] For example, a line splitter 23 can be provided in Fig. 2. This can branch the line leading from the filter 12, so that the lines 16 and 20 are formed therefrom. In addition, Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a further exemplary embodiment of a household refrigeration appliance 1. In contrast to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the dispensing device 4 here only has the water dispensing device 5. This also only has one water outlet 15. In this exemplary embodiment, the electronically controlled valve 13 is therefore only designed with one inlet 13a and one outlet 13b. Otherwise, the aspects explained for Fig. 1 apply analogously to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

[0045] List of reference symbols Household refrigeration appliance Appliance housing Accommodating space Dispenser device Water dispenser device Water tank Housing Component module External water supply network Permanent water connection Pipe Filter Valve ' Valve a Inlet b Outlet c Outlet

[0046] Control unit

[0047] Water dispensing

[0048] Line

[0049] Ice dispenser device

[0050] Ice making device

[0051] Ice cream dispensing

[0052] Line

[0053] valve

[0054] pressure reducer

[0055] Line splitter

Claims

Patent claims 1. Household refrigeration appliance (1) with a dispensing device (4) which is designed at least as a water dispensing device (5) for dispensing water, wherein the water dispensing device (5) has a water tank (6) and at least one electronically controlled valve (13, 13') with which the flow of water can be adjusted, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is arranged downstream of the water tank (6) in the direction of flow of the water, so that a flow path between the water tank (6) and a water outlet (15) of the water dispensing device (5) arranged downstream of the valve (13, 13') can be blocked and released.

2. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is a solenoid valve.

3. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the water dispenser device (5) has a filter (12) which is arranged downstream of the water tank (6) in the flow direction of the water.

4. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 3, wherein the water tank (6) is connected upstream to a line (11) which is connected to an external fixed water connection (10).

5. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a further valve (21), in particular a check valve, is arranged upstream of the filter (12).

6. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') has one inlet (13a) and only one outlet (13b).

7. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') has an inlet (13a) and two outlets (13b, 13c).

8. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing device (4) is designed as a water dispensing and ice dispensing device (5, 17) for dispensing water and / or ice, wherein one outlet (13b) of the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is connected to a downstream water outlet (15) of the water dispensing and ice dispensing device (5, 17) and the second outlet (13c) is connected to an ice generating device (18) of the water dispensing and ice dispensing device (5, 17).

9. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the water tank (6) is arranged in a housing (7) of a component module (8) of the dispensing device (4).

10. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5 and according to claim 9, wherein the further valve (21) and / or the filter (12) are arranged in the housing (7).

11. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the housing (7) is connected by a line (11) to a fixed water connection (10) external to the appliance and is connected by a line (16) to the water outlet (15) of the dispensing device (4), in particular is connected by a further line (20) to an ice-making device (18) of the dispensing device (4).

12. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is arranged in the housing (7).

13. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, wherein the electronically controlled valve (13, 13') is arranged externally to the housing (7), in particular is arranged at the water outlet (15) of the dispenser device (4).

14. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure reducer (22) is arranged upstream of the water tank (6).

15. Household refrigeration appliance (1) according to claim 14, wherein the pressure reducer (22) is arranged in a line (11) between a fixed water connection (10) external to the appliance and the water tank (6).

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