Refrigerating appliance with improved fan enclosure

Abstract

A refrigerating appliance (100) for storing food products to be preserved is provided. The refrigerating appliance comprises a compartment (120) adapted to store food products, the compartment comprising a front door (125) operable for selectively accessing the compartment and a fan enclosure enclosing a fan (225) configured to recirculate air within the compartment (120). The fan enclosure comprises an air guiding structure (3201, 3202; 4201, 4202) configured to split a fan process air exiting the fan into an upward process air flow (UF1, UF2) directed toward an upper region of the compartment (120) and a downward process air (DF1, DF2, DF3) flow directed toward a lower region of the compartment (120) located under the upper region along a vertical direction (Z) of a vertical axis (AV) passing through a rotation center (R) of the fan (225). The air guiding structure comprises a first V-shaped baffle (3201; 4201) comprising a first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) and a first pair of walls connected at the first tip, said first pair of walls comprising an upper first wall (320U(1); 420U(1)) and a lower first wall (320L(1); 420L(1)), the upper first wall being located above the lower first wall along the vertical direction (Z). The air guiding structure comprises a second V-shaped baffle (3202; 4202) comprising a second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) and a second pair of walls connected at the second tip, said second pair of walls comprising an upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and a lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2)), the upper second wall being located above the lower second wall along the vertical direction (Z).- The first V-shaped baffle (3201; 4201) is arranged at a first side of the fan (225) with the first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) facing toward said first side of the fan (225) and the second V-shaped baffle (3202; 4202) is arranged at a second side of the fan (225) with the first tip facing toward said second side of the fan, said second side of the fan being opposite the first side along a horizontal direction (X) of a horizontal axis (AH) passing through the rotation center (R) of the fan and perpendicular to the vertical axis (AV), thereby said upward process air flow (UF1, UF2) comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the upper first wall (320U(1); 420U(1)) and by the upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and said downward process air flow (DF1, DF2, DF3) comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the lower first wall (320L(1); 420L(1)) and by the lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2)). The first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) is located above the rotation center (R) of the fan along the vertical direction and the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) is located below the rotation center (R) of the fan along the vertical direction.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Refrigerating appliance with improved fan enclosure

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of refrigerating appliances, for domestic or professional use. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a refrigerating appliance comprising a compartment (or more thereof).

[0005] Background art

[0006] The background of the present disclosure is hereinafter introduced with the discussion of techniques relating to its context. However, even when this discussion refers to documents, acts, artifacts and the like, it does not suggest or represent that the discussed techniques are part of the prior art or are common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure.

[0007] A refrigerating appliance is configured to store food products to be preserved. A conventional refrigerating appliance comprises a cabinet enclosing one or more refrigerating compartments.

[0008] With reference to a freezer compartment as an example of refrigerating compartment, a conventional freezer compartment comprises an inner liner, and a rear panel coupled to an inner liner rear wall for providing structural support and heat insulation. When the rear panel and the inner liner rear wall are coupled to each other, a gap or air duct is defined between them.

[0009] A conventional freezer compartment comprises a refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator arranged in the air duct.

[0010] In use, the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator is evaporated by heat transfer from relatively-warm process air, then it is fed to the compressor where it is raised to higher pressures, thereafter it is fed to the condenser where it is cooled down (thereby becoming liquid), and finally it flows through the expansion device where it is expanded and is made to flow through the evaporator again.

[0011] A known freezer compartment comprises a fan configured to draw process air from the air duct and recirculate it within the freezer compartment. During operation, under the action of the fan, the relatively-warm process air in the cooling volume of the refrigerating compartment is guided through the air duct and through the evaporator arranged therein (where the relatively-warm process air is cooled by transferring heat to the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator), thereafter it is re-introduced in the cooling volume of the freezer compartment.

[0012] A known fan for a freezer compartment is enclosed in a corresponding fan enclosure having the primary purposes of protecting the fan from dirt, mechanical shocks and humidity, as well as for reducing the noise during operation of the fan. The fan enclosure may be provided with one or more inlet ports through which the process air drawn by the fan enters the fan enclosure and with one or more outlet ports through which the process air exiting the fan exits the fan enclosure.

[0013] Summary

[0014] The Applicant has realized that the known freezer compartment is not satisfactory.

[0015] Indeed, the Applicant has ascertained that elements / portions (e.g., walls) of the fan enclosure act as obstacles which undesirably intercept the process air exiting the fan, causing the generation of significant noise.

[0016] Moreover, when such obstacles are hit by the process air exiting the fan, process air direction becomes uncontrollable. Particularly, air vortices and turbulences are produced that could compromise the efficiency of the way the process air is recirculated in the freezer compartment. For example, some portions of the freezer compartment may be difficult for process air to reach. In order to compensate it, operation of the fan at higher speeds is a conventional approach, which, however, results in a noise increase and in a higher power consumption.

[0017] The Applicant has devised a refrigerating appliance capable of overcoming the above- mentioned, as well as other, drawbacks.

[0018] A simplified summary of the present disclosure is herein presented in order to provide a basic understanding thereof; however, the sole purpose of this summary is to introduce some concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to its following more detailed description, and it is not to be interpreted as an identification of its key elements nor as a delineation of its scope. An aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerating appliance for storing food products to be preserved.

[0019] The refrigerating appliance comprises a compartment adapted to store food products.

[0020] The compartment comprises a front door operable for selectively accessing the compartment and a fan enclosure enclosing a fan configured to recirculate air within the compartment.

[0021] The fan enclosure comprises an air guiding structure configured to split a fan process air exiting the fan into an upward process air flow directed toward an upper region of the compartment and a downward process air flow directed toward a lower region of the compartment located under the upper region along a vertical direction of a vertical axis passing through a rotation center of the fan.

[0022] The air guiding structure comprises a first V-shaped baffle comprising a first tip and a first pair of walls connected at the first tip.

[0023] Said first pair of walls comprises an upper first wall and a lower first wall.

[0024] The upper first wall is located above the lower first wall along the vertical direction.

[0025] The air guiding structure comprises a second V-shaped baffle comprising a second tip and a second pair of walls connected at the second tip, said second pair of walls comprising an upper second wall and a lower second wall.

[0026] The upper second wall is located above the lower second wall along the vertical direction.

[0027] The first V-shaped baffle is arranged at a first side of the fan with the first tip facing toward said first side of the fan and the second V-shaped baffle is arranged at a second side of the fan with the first tip facing toward said second side of the fan.

[0028] Said second side of the fan is opposite the first side along a horizontal direction of a horizontal axis passing through the rotation center of the fan and perpendicular to the vertical axis, thereby said upward process air flow comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the upper first wall and by the upper second wall and said downward process airflow comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the lower first wall and by the lower second wall.

[0029] The first tip is located above the rotation center of the fan along the vertical direction and the second tip is located below the rotation center of the fan along the vertical direction. The peculiar arrangement of the air guiding structure allows to eliminate (or at least reduce) occurrences of air vortices and turbulences in the process air, thereby increasing the efficiency of the way the process air is recirculated, and at the same reducing the noise caused by the process air flows and reducing the power consumption of the fan.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle between said upper first wall and said lower first wall has a value included in the range from 90 degrees to 30 degrees.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle between said upper second wall and said lower second wall has a value included in the range from 90 degrees to 30 degrees.

[0032] This peculiar acute or substantially acute profile advantageously promotes a clean subdivision of the process air exiting the fan into the upward and downward process air flows, reducing the occurrences of air vortices and turbulences.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle between said upper first wall and said horizontal direction is smaller than the angle between said horizontal direction and said lower first wall.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the angle between said upper second wall and said horizontal direction is larger than the angle between said horizontal direction and said lower second wall.

[0035] In this way, each V-shaped air baffle has one of its walls that is orientated more horizontally than the other wall, providing an improved guiding action for the process air flows.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan is a centrifugal fan

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan comprises backward- curved blades.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the first tip and the rotation center of the fan along the vertical direction is lower than the distance between the second tip and the rotation center of the fan along the vertical direction.

[0039] In this way, an asymmetry is introduced in the way the process air is split among the upward and downward process air flows causing an upward process air flow larger than the downward process air flow. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance of the first tip from the fan is between 5 and 20 mm.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the distance of the second tip from the fan is between 5 and 20 mm.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ratio between the radius of the curvature of the first tip and the distance of the first tip from the fan is between 1 and 2.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the ratio between the radius of the curvature of the second tip and the distance of the second tip from the fan is between 1 and 2.

[0043] These distances and ratios promote a smooth flowing of the process air id, further reducing the occurrence of air vortices and turbulences.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan enclosure comprises one or more upper openings allowing the upward process air flow to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards at least one of the upper region of the compartment, and the front door and along its inner side when the front door is closed.

[0045] Having the upward process air flow along the inner side of the door advantageously provides a frost-prevention action, namely a reduction of the buildup of frost around freezer door seals.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the present invention the fan enclosure comprises one or more lower openings allowing the downward process air flow to exit from the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more zones of the lower region of the compartment.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment comprises at least one air channel in fluid communication with at least one of said one or more lower openings of the fan enclosure, for channeling at least a portion of the downward process air flow towards a lowermost zone of the compartment.

[0048] Provision of the air channel for channeling the additional downward air flow improves distribution of the cold process air through the cooling zones of the cooling volume.

[0049] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment comprises at least one air diverter configured to divert at least part of the downward process air flow coming from at least a subset of said one or more lower openings of the fan enclosure towards an intermediate zone of the compartment. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment comprises an inner liner comprising an inner liner rear wall opposite to the front door.

[0050] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment comprises a rear panel covering the inner liner rear wall.

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a gap is defined between the inner liner rear wall and the rear panel.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the rear panel comprises a lower rear panel portion covering a lower region of the inner liner rear wall, and an upper rear panel portion covering an upper region of the inner liner rear wall.

[0053] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compartment comprises a cover panel coupled to the upper rear panel portion.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said fan enclosure is formed by the cover panel and the upper rear panel portion.

[0055] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said upper real panel portion comprises an opening in fluid communication with said gap.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan has an air intake at said opening, the air recirculated within the compartment by the fan being drawn from said gap.

[0057] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said first and second V-shaped baffles extends inside the fan enclosure substantially perpendicular to said cover panel and to said upper rear panel portion.

[0058] According to an embodiment of the present invention, said compartment is a freezer compartment adapted to store frozen food products.

[0059] Brief description of the annexed drawings

[0060] These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be made apparent by the following description of an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment thereof; for its better intelligibility, the following description should be read referring to the attached drawings, wherein:

[0061] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigerating appliance;

[0062] Figure 2A is an exploded view of main components of a freezer compartment of the refrigerating appliance; Figure 2B shows an inner liner and a rear panel of the freezer compartment in a partially decoupled configuration;

[0063] Figures 3A and 3B show front and rear views, respectively, of a cover panel of the freezer compartment;

[0064] Figure 3C shows a rear view of the cover panel with a fan mounted thereto;

[0065] Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the rear panel;

[0066] Figure 4B shows a front view of an upper rear panel portion of the rear panel;

[0067] Figures 5A and 5B show side views of the cover panel coupled to the rear panel in closed and opened positions, respectively.

[0068] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0069] With reference to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a refrigerating appliance 100 (e.g., for domestic or professional use) according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0070] In the following, only features of the refrigerating appliance 100 that are deemed relevant for the understanding of the present disclosure will be discussed, with well-known features and / or obvious variants thereof that will be omitted for the sake of conciseness.

[0071] In the following, directional terminology (for example, upper, lower, top, bottom, lateral, side, front, rear, longitudinal, horizontal, transverse, vertical) associated with the refrigerating appliance 100 and components thereof will be used only in connection with their orientation in the figures, which is assumed as their orientation of use ( / .e., the orientation taken when the refrigerating appliance 100 is installed in the user premises). Therefore, directional terminology should be under no circumstances construed in absolute terms.

[0072] In the following, the directional terminology is referred to mutually orthogonal reference directions X, Y, and Z, denoted as horizontal direction X, transverse direction Y, and vertical direction Z (the X-Y plane identifying, for example, a plane where the refrigerating appliance 100, in use, is intended to rest).

[0073] The refrigerating appliance 100 is configured to store food products to be preserved.

[0074] The refrigerating appliance 100 is a stand-alone refrigerating appliance. Anyway, the present disclosure equivalently applies to built-in refrigerating appliances.

[0075] The refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a cabinet 105. The cabinet 105 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped. However similar considerations apply if the cabinet has a different shape.

[0076] The cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) one or more refrigerating compartments (such as one or more fridge compartments and one or more freezer compartments, as discussed here below).

[0077] The cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) a fresh food storage compartment (hereinafter, fridge compartment) 110, or more thereof, adapted to store fresh food products to be preserved.

[0078] The fridge compartment 110 may comprise or be associated with one or more accessories for the organized positioning of the food products to be refrigerated, such as one or more among shelves, bottle-holder components, fruit and vegetable storage drawers, dairy storage compartments, meat and fish storage compartments, egg storage compartments, and water dispensers. In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting embodiment, the fridge compartment 110 comprises or is associated with shelves 110s, bottle-holder components 110B, and fruit and vegetable storage drawers 110D.

[0079] The refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a front door (hereinafter, fridge door) 115 operable for selectively accessing the fridge compartment 110.

[0080] The cabinet 105 encloses (or, more generally, the refrigerating appliance 100 comprises) a frozen food storage compartment (hereinafter, freezer compartment) 120, or more thereof, adapted to store frozen food products, particularly food products to freeze or to keep frozen, the refrigerating appliance 100 thus identifying a so-called combined refrigerator-freezer appliance or fridge-freezer appliance.

[0081] The freezer compartment 120 comprises or is associated with a plurality of separate chambers defining respective cooling zones. The separate chambers are arranged at different levels along the vertical direction Z (however similar considerations apply in case the chambers are arranged along a different direction, such as the horizontal direction X). Each chamber is designed as a slidably supported drawer.

[0082] In the non-limiting example illustrated in Figure 1 , the freezer compartment 120 comprises or is associated with a top drawer 120DI located at an upper region of the freezer compartment 120, and one or more lower drawers located at one or more lower regions of the freezer compartment 120. In the considered example, the lower drawers comprise a bottom drawer 120D3 located at a lowermost or bottom region of the freezer compartment 120, and an intermediate drawer 120D2 located at an intermediate region of the freezer compartment 120 between the upper and lowermost regions. Nonetheless, the principles of present disclosure equivalently apply for any numbers of drawers or chambers (such as two drawers or chambers, or more than three drawers or chambers), and for any arrangements or positioning thereof.

[0083] In the following, the top drawer 120DI, the intermediate drawer 120D2, and the bottom drawer 120D3 will be concisely referred to also as freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, when distinguishing among them will not be deemed relevant for the discussed feature(s).

[0084] The freezer compartment 120 is thermally insulated from the fridge compartment 110 (or from other refrigerating compartment(s)). The freezer compartment 120 comprises a refrigeration system (discussed in the following), preferably independent from the refrigeration system of the fridge compartment 110 (or from the refrigeration system(s) of other refrigerating compartment(s)).

[0085] In the considered example, the freezer compartment 120 is arranged, along the vertical direction Z, below the fridge compartment 110. Without losing generality, the fridge compartment 110 and the freezer compartment 120 may be arranged in any mutual position and / or in any position with respect to other refrigerating compartments (if any). Just as an example, the freezer compartment 120 may be positioned at the top, bottom, side or in any other position inside the refrigerating appliance 100.

[0086] In the illustrated example, the freezer compartment 120 is smaller (in capacity and / or volume) than the fridge compartment 110, although this should not be construed limitingly.

[0087] The refrigerating appliance 100 comprises a front door (hereinafter, freezer door) 125 operable for selectively accessing the freezer compartment 120. In alternative embodiments, not shown, the refrigerating appliance 100 may comprise a single front door for selectively accessing both the fridge compartment 110 and the freezer compartment 120.

[0088] Although in the foregoing explicit reference has been made to a refrigerating appliance comprising both a fridge compartment and a freezer compartment, the principles of the present disclosure equivalently apply to a refrigerating appliance comprising the freezer compartment 120 and two or more additional refrigerating compartments (including one or more fridge compartments, such as the fridge compartment 110, and one or more freezer compartments, such as freezer compartments analogous to or different from the freezer compartment 120), regardless of number and / or shape and / or size and / or position of the freezer compartment 120 and of the additional refrigerating compartment(s).

[0089] Moreover, although in the foregoing explicit reference has been made to a refrigerating appliance comprising both a fridge compartment and a freezer compartment, the principles of the present disclosure equivalently apply to a refrigerating appliance comprising the freezer compartment 120 and no additional refrigerating compartment(s) ( / .e., a refrigerating appliance comprising only the freezer compartment 120).

[0090] With reference to Figure 2A, it shows an exploded view of main components of the freezer compartment 120. The freezer compartment 120 is illustrated without the cabinet 105, without the freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, and without the freezer door 125.

[0091] The freezer compartment 120 comprises an inner liner 205. The inner liner 205 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials.

[0092] The freezer compartment 120 is delimited by walls of the inner liner 205, such as a rear wall 205R (e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane) opposite to the freezer door 125, opposite lateral walls 205si ,205S2 (e.g., parallel to the Y-Z plane), and opposite top 205T and bottom 205B walls (e.g., parallel to the X-Y plane).

[0093] The rear wall 205R of the inner liner 205 (hereinafter, inner liner rear wall 205R) is preferably shaped to define, between it and the cabinet 105, a compressor housing 205H for housing a compressor of the refrigeration system (the compressor being not shown). In this way, the compressor housing 205H may be advantageously located at a bottom of the refrigerating appliance 100.

[0094] The freezer compartment 120 comprises a rear panel 210. The rear panel 210 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. The rear panel 210 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the inner liner 205.

[0095] The inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, for example in a reversible manner. With reference also to Figure 2B, it shows the inner liner 205 and the rear panel 210 in a partially decoupled configuration (with the rear panel 210 that is shown partially installed, slightly away from the inner liner rear wall 205R).

[0096] When the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, the rear panel 210 covers the inner liner rear wall 205R, for example for providing structural support (e.g., for preventing the inner liner 205, particularly the inner liner rear wall 205R from warping or bending) and heat insulation.

[0097] The rear panel 210 comprises a lower rear panel portion 210L and an upper rear panel portion 21 Ou. When the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 are coupled to each other, the lower rear panel portion 210L covers a lower region of the inner liner rear wall 205R and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou covers an upper region of the inner liner rear wall 205R.

[0098] When the rear panel 210 and the inner liner rear wall 205R are coupled to each other, a gap or air duct 215 is defined between the inner liner rear wall 205R and the rear panel 210 (the air gap 215 being visible in Figure 2B).

[0099] When the rear panel 210 and the inner liner rear wall 205R are coupled to each other, a volume of the freezer compartment 120 delimited by the rear panel 210, the lateral walls 205si ,205S2 of the inner liner 205, and the top 205T and bottom 205B walls of the inner liner 205 defines a cooling volume of the freezer compartment 120 (where chambers, such as the freezer drawers 120DI-120D3, are arranged to define the corresponding cooling zones).

[0100] As mentioned above, the freezer compartment 120 comprises a refrigeration system.

[0101] The refrigeration system comprises an evaporator 220 for cooling relatively-warm process air to be recirculated in the freezer compartment 120. The evaporator 220 is preferably arranged in the air duct 215 (as visible in Figure 2B). In alternative arrangements, not shown, the evaporator 220 may be placed in any suitable position, for example depending on structural and / or operational characteristics of the freezer compartment 120 or of part thereof. Just as an example, the evaporator 220 may be placed behind the inner liner 205, for example behind the inner liner rear wall 205R.

[0102] The refrigeration system further comprises the compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), and an expansion device (not shown). In order to improve the efficiency of the refrigerator, a suction line heat exchanger may be also provided. In use, the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator 220 is evaporated by heat transfer from the relatively-warm process air, then it is fed to the compressor where it is raised to higher pressures (thereby becoming liquid), thereafter it is fed to the condenser where it is cooled down, and finally it flows through the expansion device where it is expanded and is made to flow through the evaporator 220 again.

[0103] The freezer compartment 120 comprises a fan, 225 (or more thereof) arranged to draw process air from the air duct 215 and recirculate it within the freezer compartment 120. The fan 225 is a centrifugal fan, preferably comprising backward-curved blades. The concepts of the present invention can be also applied in case the fan 225 comprises forward- curved blades. The fan 225 comprises an air intake configured to face, in use, an air inlet aperture A of the real panel 210 (particularly, of the upper real panel portion 21 Ou): the fan 225 is therefore in fluid communication with the air duct 215 through said air inlet aperture A, which allows drawing of process air from the air duct 215.

[0104] During operation, under the action of the fan 225, the relatively-warm process air in the cooling volume is guided through the air duct 215 and through the evaporator 220 arranged therein (where the relatively-warm process air is cooled by transferring heat to the cold refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 220), thereafter it is re-introduced in the cooling volume of the freezer compartment 120 (as discussed in the following).

[0105] The freezer compartment 120 comprises a cover panel 230 having mounted thereto the fan 225 (the fan 225 and the cover panel 230 being shown in Figure 2A in a dismounted configuration for illustrative purposes). The cover panel 230 comprises a frame structure S for mounting the fan 225 to the cover panel 230. Without losing generality, the frame structure S may comprise pre-drilled holes (e.g., for mounting through standard screws and tools) and markings guides or rails for positioning / alignment. Without losing generality, the frame structure S may be configured with adjustable mounting points to ensure compatibility with a wide range of fan models and / or sizes.

[0106] In the following, whenever operative states of the cover panel 230 are cited (including, but not limited to, coupled / decoupled conditions, opened / closed positions, opening / closing movements, and locked / unlocked conditions), they are meant to indicate the cover panel 230 with the fan 225 mounted thereto (which is the intended configuration or condition of use). Nonetheless, the operative states of the cover panel 230 may equally indicate the cover panel 230 alone ( / .e., without the fan 225 mounted thereto), in that the capability (of the cover panel 230) of taking the operative states is due to its structural features ( / .e., regardless of whether or not the fan 225 is mounted to the cover panel 230).

[0107] Without losing generality, the cover panel 230 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. Without losing generality, the cover panel 230 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the rear panel 210. The cover panel 230 is detachably coupled to the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou (the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou being shown in Figure 2A in a decoupled condition for illustrative purposes), for example by means of coupling members (discussed in the following).

[0108] Figure 3A shows a perspective front view of the cover panel 230, Figure 3B shows a perspective rear view of the cover panel 230 without the fan 225 mounted thereto, and Figure 3C shows a rear view of the cover panel 230 with the fan 225 mounted thereto. Figure 4A shows a perspective view of the rear panel 210, and Figure 4B shows a front view of the upper rear panel portion 210u of the rear panel 210. Figures 5A and 5B shows side views of the cover panel 230 coupled to the rear panel 210 in closed and opened positions, respectively.

[0109] As visible in Figure 3C, the vertical direction Z identifies a direction of a vertical axis AV of the fan 225 passing through a rotation centre R of the fan 225, and the horizontal direction X identifies a direction of a horizontal axis AH of the fan 225 passing through a rotation centre R of the fan 225. In the exemplary considered arrangement, the fan 225 as illustrated in Figure 3C rotates clockwise.

[0110] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the rear view of the cover panel 230 exhibits a rear part or surface of the cover panel 230 that, in use ( / .e., when the cover panel 230 is coupled to the rear panel 210 and is in a closed position), faces the upper rear panel portion 210u. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the front view of the cover panel 230 exhibits a front part or surface of the cover panel 230 (opposite the rear part or surface thereof) that, in use, forms (together with the lower rear panel portion 210L) the rear wall of cooling volume.

[0111] The coupling members are configured to allow the cover panel 230 to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u between a closed position (visible in Figure 5A) in which the cover panel 230 covers the upper rear panel portion 210u, and an opened position (visible in Figure 5B) in which the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u are at least partially separate from each other. Thus, when the cover panel 230 is coupled to the upper rear panel portion 210u, movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u is allowed between the closed and opened positions.

[0112] In the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u face to each other, e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane. Preferably, in the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 is substantially flush with the lower rear panel portion 21 OL, SO as form, together with lower rear panel portion 210i_, a flat or substantially flat surface (also referred to as rear wall of the cooling volume).

[0113] In the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou form or define a fan enclosure (discussed in the following) enclosing the fan 225. For the purposes of the present disclosure, a fan enclosure is or comprises a housing or casing that almost completely surrounds the fan (with the exception of an input opening in the form of the air inlet aperture A and of air outlet openings, discussed in the following), with the primary purposes of fan protection and noise reduction.

[0114] Having a fan enclosure formed by the fan 225 mounted on the cover panel 230 allows avoiding the use, in the rear panel 210, of dedicated mounting structures which could be hit by the process air exiting the fan thereby resulting in increased noise and uncontrollable process air flow directions. Thus, having a fan enclosure formed by the fan 225 mounted on the cover panel 230 provides for noise reduction and controllable process air flow directions: in its turns, controllable process air flow directions allow operating the fan 225 at lower speeds, thus resulting in a further noise reduction and in lower power consumptions.

[0115] The movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u may advantageously comprise a tilting movement, namely a rotational movement of the cover panel 230 between an upright position (e.g., corresponding to the closed position of the cover panel 230) and a slanted or inclined position being tilted with respect to the closed position (e.g., corresponding to the opened position of the cover panel 230). The concepts of the present invention may be however be applied to cases in which the movement of the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u is different from the exemplary one described and illustrated herein, such as for example a translational movement.

[0116] In the considered example, the coupling members are arranged to allow the cover panel 230 to be moved with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u between the opened and closed positions with a tilting or rotation movement, i.e., by tilting or rotating the cover panel 230 with respect to the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0117] The coupling members may comprise first coupling members 310 associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230, and second coupling members 410 associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210, the first and second coupling members 310, 410 being adapted to cooperate with each other. For example, the first coupling members 310 may comprise coupling arms and the second coupling members 410 may comprise seats, with said coupling arms that slidingly engage the seats thereby allowing a relative a translational and / or rotational movement. Similar considerations may be applied in case the first coupling members 310 are the members comprising the seats and the second coupling members 410 are the members comprising the coupling arms. Coupling members different from the illustrated ones may be also contemplated, for example comprising hinges.

[0118] Advantageously, a closure-lock mechanism may be provided for locking or securing the cover panel 230 in the closed position. For example, the closure-lock mechanism may provide a snap-fit engagement between the cover panel 230 and the rear panel 210 (particularly, the upper rear panel portion 210u).

[0119] In the considered example, the closure-lock mechanism comprises one or more (e.g., two) cantilever beams 315 (visible in Figures 3A and 3B) in the form of flexible arms or walls associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230 (preferably, as illustrated, at a top thereof), one or more (e.g., two) snap-fit engagement portions 315E (visible in Figures 3A and 3B) each one associated with (e.g., formed in) a respective cantilever beam 315 (preferably, as illustrated, at a free end thereof), and one or more (e.g., two) snap-fit engagement receptacles 415 (only one visible in Figure 4A) associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 210 (particularly, in the upper rear panel portion 210u) and each one adapted to receive a respective snap-fit engagement portion 315E to achieve the snap-fit engagement. Alternatively, the closure-lock mechanism may comprise cantilever beams (and corresponding snap-fit engagement portions) associated with (e.g., formed in) the rear panel 210 and snap-fit engagement receptacles associated with (e.g., formed in) the cover panel 230.

[0120] In the closed position of the cover panel 230, the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 210u form a fan enclosure comprising an air guiding structure within the fan enclosure. For the purposes of the present disclosure, an air guiding structure is or comprises a frame surrounding the fan 225, with the primary purpose of efficiently guiding or directing process airflows from the fan 225 towards the different cooling zones of the cooling volume.

[0121] As will be described in details in the following, the air guiding structure is configured to split, in use, the process air exiting the fan 225 into different process air flows directed toward different portions / regions of the freezer compartment 120 for efficiently reaching different cooling zones of the cooling volume located thereat. The air guiding structure comprises two air baffles 320i , 3202 (visible in Figures 3B and 3C) provided in the cover panel 230.

[0122] The air baffles 320i, 3202 have a same general V-shaped profile. In the exemplary implementation illustrated in the figures each air baffle 320i, 3202 has a rounded V-shaped profile, such as a nose-like profile, comprising a tip and a pair of walls connected at the tip.

[0123] Particularly:

[0124] - the air baffle 320i comprises a tip TA(1), an upper first wall 320U(1) and a lower first wall 320L(1 ) (the upper first wall 320U(1) being located above the lower first wall 320L(1 ) along the vertical direction Z);

[0125] - the air baffle 3202 comprises a tip TA(2), an upper second wall 320U (2) and a lower first wall 320L(2) (the upper second wall 320U(2) being located above the lower second wall 320L(2) along the vertical direction Z).

[0126] Although having the same general profile, the profile of the air baffle 320i is different from the profile of the air baffle 3202 (this difference resulting for example from design optimizations).

[0127] The air baffles 320I,3202 are arranged, along the horizontal direction X, at opposite sides of the fan 225 (or, equivalently, at opposite sides of the frame structure S).

[0128] The air baffle 320i is arranged at a first side of the fan 225, with the corresponding tip TA(1 ) facing toward the fan 225 and the upper first wall 320U(1 ) and the lower first wall 320L(1 ) that extend away from the fan 225. By making reference to the non-limiting example illustrated in Figure 3C, the air baffle 320i is arranged at the right side of the fan 225, with the tip TA(1) that faces toward the right side of the fan 225 and the upper first wall 320U(1) and the lower first wall 320L(1 ) that extend at least in part in the right direction.

[0129] The air baffle 3202 is arranged at a second side of the fan 225 opposite to the first side, with the corresponding tip TA(2) facing toward the fan 225 and the upper second wall 320U(2) and the lower second wall 320L(2) that extend away from the fan 225. By making reference to the non-limiting example illustrated in Figure 3C, the air baffle 3202 is arranged at the left side of the fan 225, with the tip TA(2) that faces toward the left side of the fan 225 and the upper second wall 320U(2) and the lower second wall 320L(2) that extend at least in part in the left direction. The air baffles 320I,3202 are arranged at opposite sides of the fan 225 in a substantially mutually flipped configuration, i.e., in a mutually 180-degree (or substantially 180-degree) rotated configuration, with the tip TA(1) of the air baffle 320i that is located above the rotation center R of the fan 225 along the vertical direction Z and the tip TA(2) of the air baffle 3202 that is located below the rotation center R of the fan 225 along the vertical direction Z.

[0130] The air guiding structure further comprises two air baffles 420I,4202 provided in the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou (see Figures 4A and 4B), having substantially same shape, size, and arrangement as the air baffles 320I,3202, respectively. Briefly:

[0131] - the air baffle 420i comprises a tip TB(1) and an upper first wall 42011(1 ) and a lower first wall 420L(1) connected at the tip TB(1) (the upper first wall 420U(1 ) being located above the lower first wall 420L(1) along the vertical direction Z);

[0132] - the air baffle 4202 comprises a tip TB(2) and an upper second wall 420U(2) and a lower first wall 420L(2) connected at the tip TB(2) (the upper second wall 420U(2) being located above the lower second wall 420L(2) along the vertical direction Z).

[0133] In the closed position of the cover panel 230, the air baffles 320i ,3202 and the air baffles 420I,4202 are configured to juxtapose with each other (i.e., with the air baffle 320i that juxtaposes with the air baffle 420i, and with the air baffle 3202 that juxtaposes with the air baffle 42O2), thus providing a reinforced air guiding structure that is capable of withstanding (and, hence, efficiently deflecting) process air with high or relatively high speed and pressure, while avoiding air leaks.

[0134] Thus, in the exemplary arrangement illustrated in the figures, the air guiding structure comprises a first air guiding structure part provided in the cover panel 230 (i.e., the air baffles 320I,3202) and a second air guiding structure part provided the upper rear panel portion 210u (the air baffles 420I,4202) cooperating with each other to define the air guiding structure, wherein the first and second air guiding structure parts are substantially identical to each other.

[0135] In alternative arrangements (not shown), the first and second air guiding structure parts may have mutually complementary shapes and / or size and / or arrangements, so as to define the air guiding structure (such as air baffles similar to the air baffles 320I,3202 or to the air baffles 420I,4202) once the cover panel 230 is in the closed position. In further alternative arrangements (also not shown), the air guiding structure may be provided in the upper rear panel portion 210u only or in the cover panel 230 only. Without losing generality, the first air guiding structure part (when provided) and / or the second air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. The first air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the cover panel 230, and / or the second air guiding structure part (when provided) may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou. Just an example, the first air guiding structure part (such as the air baffles 320I,3202) may be formed in a single piece with the cover panel 230, and / or the second air guiding structure part (such as the air baffles 420I,4202) may be formed in a single piece with the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0136] Thanks to the peculiar shape of the air baffles 320I,3202 and / or the air baffles 420i ,4202 the process air exiting the fan 225 is split into:

[0137] - an upward process air flow directed toward an upper region of the freezer compartment 120 for reaching one or more cooling zones of the cooling volume located thereat, and

[0138] - a downward process air flow directed toward a lower region of the freezer compartment 120 (lower with respect to the upper region according to the vertical direction Z) for reaching one or more cooling zones of the cooling volume located thereat.

[0139] The upward process air flow comprises a portion of the process air exiting the fan 225 that is mainly or essentially guided by the upper first wall 320U(1) of the air baffle 320i and by the upper second wall 320U(2) of the air baffle 3202 of the first air guiding structure part (when provided), and by the upper first wall 420 U (1 ) of the air baffle 420i and by the upper second wall 420U(2) of the air baffle 4202 of the second air guiding structure part (when provided).

[0140] The downward process air flow comprises a portion of the of the process air exiting the fan 225 that is mainly or essentially guided by the lower first wall 320L(1) of the air baffle 320i and by the lower second wall 320L(2) of the air baffle 3202 (when provided), and by the lower first wall 420L(1) of the air baffle 420i and by the lower second wall 420L(2) of the air baffle 4202.

[0141] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the shapes, sizes and positions of the elements of the air guiding structure have been optimized in order to eliminate (or at least reduce) occurrences of air vortices and turbulences in the process air, so as to increase the efficiency of the way the process air is recirculated, and at the same to reduce the noise caused by the process air flows and to reduce the power consumption of the fan 225.

[0142] In order to describe in detail this optimization, reference will be now explicitly made to the first air guiding structure part comprising the air baffle 320i and the air baffle 3202 illustrated in Figure 3C. However, it is pointed out that same or similar considerations can be directly applied to the second air guiding structure part comprising the air baffle 420i and the air baffle 4202 illustrated in Figure 4B.

[0143] The V-shaped air baffles 320i, 3202 are advantageously set to exhibit an acute or substantially acute profile, with the angle a1 between the upper first wall 320U(1) and the lower first wall 320L(1 ) of the air baffle 320i that has a value included in the range from 90 to 30 degrees and the angle a2 between the upper second wall 320U(2) and the lower second wall 320L(2) of the air baffle 3202 that has a value included in the range from 90 to 30 degrees. This peculiar acute or substantially acute profile advantageously promotes a clean subdivision of the process air exiting the fan 225 into the upward and downward process air flows, reducing the occurrences of air vortices and turbulences.

[0144] The angles a1 and a2 may have a same value, for example for shaping the subdivision of the process air exiting the fan 225 according to a desired symmetric pattern.

[0145] Alternatively, in order to shape the subdivision of the process air exiting the fan 225 according to a desired asymmetric pattern, the angles a1 and a2 may be different. In the exemplary and non-limiting arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, a1 is equal to 60 degrees and a2 is equal to 89 degrees.

[0146] The air baffles 320i , 3202 may be also arranged at different distances from the rotation center R of the fan 225 to introduce a further asymmetry in the way the process air is split among the upward and downward process airflows. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, the distance Z1 between the tip TA(1) and the rotation center R along the vertical direction Z ( / .e., the distance between the horizontal axis AH of the fan 225 and the tip TA(1)) is lower than the distance Z2 between the tip TA(2) and the rotation center R along the vertical direction Z ( / .e., the distance between the horizontal axis AH of the fan 225 and the tip TA(2)). In this way, the amount of upward process air flow generated by the splitting action of the air baffles 320i, 3202 may be larger than the amount of downward process airflow. Different arrangements may be contemplated, in which the distance Z1 between the tip TA(1) and the rotation center R is higher than the distance Z2 between the tip TA(2) and the rotation center R (for a downward process air flow larger than the upward process air flow), or in which said distances are the same (for a downward process air flow equal or substantially equal to the upward process air flow).

[0147] In order to further promote a smooth flowing of the process air, and to further reduce the occurrence of air vortices and turbulences, the air baffles 320i , 3202 may be arranged so as to have one or more of the following additional features.

[0148] - The distance D1 of the tip TA(1) from the (border of the) fan 225 is between 5 and 20 mm. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, D1 = 9,7 mm.

[0149] - The distance D2 of the tip TA(2) from the (border of the) fan 225 is between 5 and 20 mm. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, D2 = 10 mm.

[0150] - The ratio RT1 between the radius of the curvature R1 of the tip TA(1) of the air baffle 310i and the distance D1 of the tip TA(1) from the (border of the) fan 225 is between 1 and 2, and the ratio RT2 between the radius of the curvature R2 of the tip TA(2) of the air baffle 3102 and the distance D2 of the tip TA(2) from the (border of the) fan 225 is between 1 and 2. In the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, R1 = 12 mm, D1 = 9,7 mm, R2 = 12,17 mm, D2 = 10 mm, so that RT1 = 1 ,24 and RT2 = 1 ,22.

[0151] - The angles a1 and a2 between the walls of the air baffles 320i, 3202 are not symmetrical with respect to the horizontal direction X. Particularly, in the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Figure 3C, the angle between the upper first wall 320U(1 ) and the horizontal direction X is smaller than the angle between the lower first wall 320L(2) and the horizontal direction X, and the angle between the upper second wall 320U(2) and the horizontal direction X is larger than the angle between the lower second wall 320L(2) and the horizontal direction X. In this way, each air baffle 320i, 3202 has one of its walls that is orientated more horizontally (in the example at issue, the upper first wall 320U(1) and the lower second wall 320L(2)) than the other wall (in the example at issue, the lower first wall 320L(1 ) and the upper second wall 320U(2)).

[0152] - In each air baffle 320i, 3202, the two walls thereof have two different shapes, with the wall that is orientated less horizontally (in the example at issue, the lower first wall 320L(1 ) and the upper second wall 320U(2)) that has a straight or substantially straight shape, and the wall that is oriented more horizontally (in the example at issue, the upper first wall 320U(1 ) and the lower second wall 320L(2)) that has a curved or substantially curved shape.

[0153] Thanks to the peculiar shapes, sizes and positions of the elements of the air guiding structure described above, occurrences of air vortices and turbulences in the process air are eliminated (or at least reduced), allowing a better distribution of the process air at reduced rotation speed of the fan 225, resulting in a reduction of the overall noise.

[0154] As explained above, thanks to the peculiar shape of the air baffles 320I,3202 and / or the air baffles 420i ,4202 the process air exiting the fan 225 is split into an upward process air flow and a downward process air flow. By making reference to the exemplary and non-limiting arrangement illustrated in Figures 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, in which both the first air guiding structure ( / .e., the air baffles 320i and 3202) and the second air guiding structure ( / .e., the air baffles 420i and 42O2) are provided, the upward process air flow comprises upward air flows UF1, UF2 and the downward process air flow comprises downward air flows DFI,DF2 as described in the following. It is pointed out that although in the following of the disclosure the upward air flows UFI,UF2 and the downward air flows DFI,DF2 will be described as being generated by the presence of both the first and second air guiding structures, these air flows may be similarly generated in case the air guiding structure comprises only the first air guiding structure (in this case, the air flows will be guided by the air baffles 320i , 3202 only) or only the second air guiding structure (in this case, the air flows will be guided by the air baffles 420i ,4202 only).

[0155] In the illustrated arrangement:

[0156] - the upward air flow UF1 is essentially or mainly determined by the guiding action of the upper first wall 320U(1) of the air baffle 320i and by the upper first wall 420U(1) of the air baffle 420i;

[0157] - the upward air flow UF2 is essentially or mainly determined by the guiding action of the upper second wall 320U(2) of the air baffle 3202 and by the upper second wall 420U(2) of the air baffle 42O2;

[0158] - the downward air flow DF1 is essentially or mainly determined by the guiding action of the lower first wall 320L(1) of the air baffle 320i and by the lower first wall 420L(1) of the air baffle 420i; - the downward air flow DF2 is essentially or mainly determined by the guiding action of the lower second wall 320L(2) of the air baffle 3202 and by the lower second wall 420L(2) of the air baffle 42(h.

[0159] As visible in Figure 3B, the fan enclosure comprises one or more (e.g., two) upper air outlet openings (in the following referred to as upper openings for the sake of conciseness) UOPI, U0P2 allowing, in use, the upward air flows UF1, UF2 to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards the upper region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the top drawer 120DI).

[0160] As already described above with reference to Figure 3C, the air baffles 320i , 3202 may be arranged with the distance Z1 between the tip TA(1) and the rotation center R that is lower than the distance Z2 between the tip TA(2) and the rotation center R, so as to obtain an upward process air flow larger than the downward process air flow. In this way, the amount of upward air flows U F1 , U F2 is higher than the amount of downward process air flows, so that at least part of the upward air flows UFI, UF2 exiting the fan 225 through the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 is capable of reaching the freezer door and flowing along its inner side: this advantageously provides a frost-prevention action, namely a reduction of the buildup of frost around freezer door seals. Indeed, the (cold and dry) air flows flowing along the inner side of the door rinsing promote the removal of the condensed humidity collected on the door because of the door openings.

[0161] The upper openings UOPI, U0P2 are formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position: however, for ease of illustration, the upper openings UOPI,UOP2 are indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, in Figure 3B) for ease of illustration.

[0162] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting arrangement, the upper openings UOPI, U0P2 are delimited, along the horizontal direction X, by the cantilever beams 315 and the frame structure S, and, along the transverse direction Y, by the upper rear panel portion 210u.

[0163] The provision of two upper openings UOPI, U0P2 each one associated with a respective upward air flow UF1, UF2, allows keeping separation between the upward air flows UF1, UF2: this avoids generation of air vortices that could affect the cooling process of the top drawer 120DI (and, when provided, the frost-prevention action at the freezer door). The fan enclosure comprises one or more lower air outlet openings (in the following referred to as lower openings for the sake of conciseness) allowing, in use, the downward process air flow(s) to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more lower regions of the freezer compartment (such as the cooling zones of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the bottom drawer 120D3 and by the intermediate drawer 120D2). In the illustrated exemplary arrangement, the fan enclosure comprises two lower openings LOPI, LOP2 allowing, in use, the downward air flows DFi, DF2, respectively, to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards the lower region(s) of the freezer compartment.

[0164] The lower openings LOPI, LOP2 are formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position: however, for ease of illustration, the lower openings LOPI, LOP2 are indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, see Figure 3B).

[0165] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting arrangement, along the horizontal direction X, the lower opening LOPI is delimited by the lower first wall 320L(1 ) of the air baffle 320i and the lower opening LOP2 is delimited by the lower second wall 320L(2) of the air baffle 3202, and, along the transverse direction Y, the lower openings LOPI, LOP2 are delimited by the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou.

[0166] The provision of two lower openings LOPI, LOP2 each one associated with a respective downward air flow DF1, DF2, allows keeping separation between the downward air flows DF1, DF2: this avoids air vortices that could affect the cooling process.

[0167] Advantageously, the rear panel 210 (particularly, the lower rear panel portion 210L) comprises an air diverter 425 (visible in Figure 4A and in Figure 4B) configured to divert and redirect the downward air flows, particularly the downward air flows DF1, DF2 coming from ( / .e., exiting through) the lower openings LOPI, LOP2, towards the intermediate region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the intermediate drawer 120D2). The downward air flows DF1, DF2 hitting the air diverter 425 and diverted by it towards the intermediate region of the freezer compartment, are visible in Figure 4A.

[0168] The air diverter 425 may be arranged at a top of the lower rear panel portion 210L, preferably in close proximity to the lower openings LOPI, LOP2, SO as to efficiently intercept the downward air flows DF1, DF2. Advantageously, the air diverter 425 is arranged and / or shaped to direct the downward air flows DFi, DF2 towards the intermediate drawer 120D2. Just as an example, the air diverter 425 may be configured substantially in the form of a plate (for example, in the form of a flat plate or a rounded plate), and / or may be arranged essentially orthogonally to the lower rear panel portion 21 OL ( / .e., orthogonally to the X-Z plane or slightly slanted with respect thereto, for example depending on mutual position and / or distance between the air diverter 425 and the intermediate drawer 120D2).

[0169] Without losing generality, the air diverter 425 may be formed in any suitable material, such as metal, plastic or composite materials. The air diverter 425 may be formed in (or comprise) same or different or partially different materials as compared to the material(s) of the lower rear panel portion 21 OL. For example, the air diverter 425 may be formed in a single piece with the lower rear panel portion 21 OL.

[0170] Advantageously, the fan enclosure may comprise an additional lower air outlet opening (hereinafter referred to as additional lower opening for the sake of conciseness) LOPS (or more thereof) allowing, in use, additional downward air flow(s) DF3 between the downward air flows DFI,DF2 to exit the fan enclosure separately from the downward air flows DFI,DF2 (and be directed towards the lowermost region of the freezer compartment, as discussed in the following).

[0171] The additional lower opening LOPS is formed by cooperation between the cover panel 230 and the upper rear panel portion 21 Ou when the cover panel 230 is in the closed position. However, for ease of illustration, the additional lower opening LOPS is indicated at the cover panel 230 side only (particularly, see Figure 3B).

[0172] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting arrangement, the additional lower opening is located, along the horizontal direction X, between the lower openings LOPI, LOP2, approximately in the middle thereof.

[0173] The lower rear panel portion 21 OL comprises an air channel 430 (or more thereof) in fluid communication with the additional lower opening LOPS for channeling the additional downward airflow DF3 towards the lowermost region of the freezer compartment ( / .e., the cooling zone of the cooling volume defined, and delimited, by the bottom drawer 120DS).

[0174] In the illustrated exemplary and non-limiting arrangement (see Figure 4A), the air channel 430 comprises a vertical, closed air channel portion 430i, configured to receive the additional downward process air flow DF3 from the additional lower opening LOPS and to channel it downwards, and a horizontal, open air channel portion 4302 delimited superiorly by the intermediate drawer 120D2 (not illustrated in Figure 4A) and configured to receive the additional downward process air flow DF3 from the vertical air channel portion 430i and to channel it to the bottom drawer 120D3. The additional downward airflow DF3 through the air channel 430 is visible in Figure 4A, with the additional downward air flow DF3 flowing within the vertical, closed air channel portion 430i that is conceptually represented in the figure by a dashed contour of the respective arrow.

[0175] Provision of the air channel 430 for channeling the additional downward air flow DF3 improves distribution of the cold process air through the cooling zones of the cooling volume.

[0176] Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the disclosure described above many logical and / or physical modifications and alterations. More specifically, although the disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details as well as other embodiments are possible. In particular, different embodiments of the disclosure may even be practiced without the specific details (such as the numeric examples) set forth in the preceding description for providing a more thorough understanding thereof; on the contrary, well-known features may have been omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the description with unnecessary particulars.

[0177] For example, although in the present description reference has been explicitly made to a fan for recirculating air within a freezer compartment, similar considerations apply in case the fan is a fan for recirculating air within a fridge compartment.

[0178] Moreover, although in the present description reference has been explicitly made to a centrifugal fan, the concepts of the present invention can be applied to an axial fan.

[0179] *****

Claims

CLAIMS1. A refrigerating appliance (100) for storing food products to be preserved, wherein the refrigerating appliance comprises a compartment (120) adapted to store food products, the compartment comprising a front door (125) operable for selectively accessing the compartment and a fan enclosure enclosing a fan (225) configured to recirculate air within the compartment (120), wherein:- the fan enclosure comprises an air guiding structure (320i, 3202; 420i, 42(h) configured to split a fan process air exiting the fan into an upward process air flow (UF1, UF2) directed toward an upper region of the compartment (120) and a downward process air (DF-i, DF2, DF3) flow directed toward a lower region of the compartment (120) located under the upper region along a vertical direction (Z) of a vertical axis (AV) passing through a rotation center (R) of the fan (225),- the air guiding structure comprises a first V-shaped baffle (320i ; 420i) comprising a first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) and a first pair of walls connected at the first tip, said first pair of walls comprising an upper first wall (320U(1 ); 420U(1)) and a lower first wall (320L(1); 420L(1 )), the upper first wall being located above the lower first wall along the vertical direction (Z);- the air guiding structure comprises a second V-shaped baffle (3202; 4202) comprising a second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) and a second pair of walls connected at the second tip, said second pair of walls comprising an upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and a lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2)), the upper second wall being located above the lower second wall along the vertical direction (Z);- the first V-shaped baffle (320i; 420i) is arranged at a first side of the fan (225) with the first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) facing toward said first side of the fan (225) and the second V-shaped baffle (3202; 4202) is arranged at a second side of the fan (225) with the first tip facing toward said second side of the fan, said second side of the fan being opposite the first side along a horizontal direction (X) of a horizontal axis (AH) passing through the rotation center (R) of the fan and perpendicular to the vertical axis (AV), thereby said upward process air flow (UF1, UF2) comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the upper first wall (320U(1); 420U(1 )) and by the upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and said downward process air flow (DF1, DF2, DF3) comprises a portion of the fan process air guided by the lower first wall (320L(1 ); 420L(1 )) and by the lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2));- the first tip (TA(1 ); TB(1 )) is located above the rotation center (R) of the fan along the vertical direction and the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) is located below the rotation center (R) of the fan along the vertical direction.

2. The refrigerating appliance (100) of claim 1, wherein:- the angle between said upper first wall (320U(1); 420U(1 )) and said lower first wall (320L(1); 420L(1 )) has a value included in the range from 90 degrees to 30 degrees;- the angle between said upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and said lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2)) has a value included in the range from 90 degrees to 30 degrees.

3. The refrigerating appliance (100) of any of claims 1-2, wherein:- the angle between said upper first wall (320U(1); 420U(1)) and said horizontal direction (X) is smaller than the angle between said horizontal direction (X) and said lower first wall (320L(1 ); 420L(1 ));- the angle between said upper second wall (320U(2); 420U(2)) and said horizontal direction (X) is larger than the angle between said horizontal direction (X) and said lower second wall (320L(2); 420L(2)).

4. The refrigerating appliance (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (225) is a centrifugal fan5. The refrigerating appliance (100) of claim 4, wherein the fan (225) comprises backward-curved blades.

6. The refrigerating appliance (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the distance (Z1) between the first tip (TA(1); TB(1 )) and the rotation center (R) of the fan (225) along the vertical direction is lower than the distance (Z2) between the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) and the rotation center (R) of the fan (225) along the vertical direction.

7. The refrigerating appliance of any of the preceding claims, wherein:- the distance (D1) of the first tip (TA(1); TB(1 )) from the fan (225) is between 5 and 20 mm;- the distance (D2) of the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) from the fan (225) is between 5 and 20 mm;- the ratio between the radius of the curvature of the first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) and the distance (D1) of the first tip (TA(1); TB(1)) from the fan (225) is between 1 and 2;- the ratio between the radius of the curvature of the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) and the distance (D2) of the second tip (TA(2); TB(2)) from the fan (225) is between 1 and 2.

8. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fan enclosure comprises one or more upper openings (UOPI, U0P2) allowing the upward process air flow (UF1, UF2) to exit the fan enclosure and to flow towards at least one of:- the upper region of the compartment (120), and- the front door (120) and along its inner side when the front door is closed.

9. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fan enclosure comprises one or more lower openings (LOPI, LOP2, LOPS) allowing the downward process air flow (DF1, DF2, DF3) to exit from the fan enclosure and to flow towards one or more zones of the lower region of the compartment (120).

10. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 9, wherein the compartment (120) comprises at least one air channel (430i) in fluid communication with at least one of said one or more lower openings (LOPS) of the fan enclosure, for channeling at least a portion of the downward process air flow towards a lowermost zone of the compartment (120).

11. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the compartment (120) comprises at least one air diverter (425) configured to divert at least part of the downward process air flow (LOPI, L0P2) coming from at least a subset of said one or more lower openings of the fan enclosure towards an intermediate zone of the compartment (120).

12. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the compartment (120) comprises:- an inner liner (205) comprising an inner liner rear wall (205R) opposite to the front door;- a rear panel (210) covering the inner liner rear wall (205R), a gap (215) being defined between the inner liner rear wall and the rear panel, wherein the rear panel (210) comprises a lower rear panel portion (210L) covering a lower region of the inner liner rear wall, and an upper rear panel portion (210u) covering an upper region of the inner liner rear wall,- a cover panel (230) coupled to the upper rear panel portion (210u), wherein:- said fan enclosure is formed by the cover panel (230) and the upper rear panel portion (210u);- said upper real panel portion (210u) comprises an opening (A) in fluid communication with said gap (215);- the fan (225) has an air intake at said opening, the air recirculated within the compartment (120) by the fan being drawn from said gap.

13. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to claim 12, wherein said first (320i; 420i) and second (3202; 4202) V-shaped baffles extends inside the fan enclosure substantially perpendicular to said cover panel (230) and to said upper rear panel portion (210u).

14. The refrigerating appliance (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said compartment (120) is a freezer compartment adapted to store frozen food products.

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