Domestic appliance for preparing foodstuffs, comprising a specific embodiment of a cooling device on a door for cooling an electronics module

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a domestic appliance (1) for preparing foodstuffs, comprising a housing (2) in which a preparation chamber (3) is formed, and comprising a door (5) which is arranged movably on the housing (2) in order to close the preparation chamber (3), wherein at least one electronics module (8) of the domestic appliance (1) is arranged on the door (5), and the domestic appliance (1) has a cooling device (9) for cooling the electronics module (8), which cooling device has at least one heat pipe (10), wherein the heat pipe (10) is arranged on the door (5), and heat from the electronics module (8) can be dissipated by means of the heat pipe.

Description

[0001] 202401087

[0002] 1 / 18

[0003] Household appliance for preparing food with a specific design of a cooling device on a door for cooling an electronic module

[0004] One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance for preparing food. The household appliance has a housing. A preparation chamber is formed within the housing. This chamber is designed for placing food into it for preparation. The household appliance also has a door. This door is movably attached to the housing for closing the preparation chamber.

[0005] Household appliances for food preparation, such as cooking appliances, have a cooking chamber as their preparation area. Such a cooking appliance could be, for example, a conventional oven, a microwave oven, or a steam oven. A door is necessary to allow the cooking chamber to be closed at the front during the preparation process. The door is typically a visible component on the front of the appliance.

[0006] It is known, for example, from DE 10 2009 045297 A1, that the household appliance has a control panel on the housing, separate from the door. This panel is typically located above the door and is fixed to the housing. Such a control panel includes, for example, a control device or a display device. Therefore, the installation of electronic components is also provided for there. It is further known from this prior art that these electronic components are cooled. A heat pipe is also provided for this purpose.

[0007] Such a concept imposes a limitation on the variety of options for a household appliance for preparing food, both for the door and for other components, and thus restricts flexibility.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to create a household appliance in which the construction, particularly in the front area of ​​the door, is alternatively possible and 202401087

[0009] 2 / 18 nevertheless, a reliable operation of electronic components is enabled even during a preparation process of the household appliance, in particular overheating is avoided.

[0010] This problem is solved by a household appliance which has the features according to claim 1.

[0011] One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance for preparing food. The household appliance has a housing. A preparation chamber is formed within the housing. This chamber is designed for placing food into it for preparation. The household appliance also has a door. This door is movably attached to the housing for closing the preparation chamber.

[0012] An electronic module of the appliance is located on the door itself. The appliance also has a cooling device for cooling the electronic module. This cooling device includes at least one heat pipe. The heat pipe is located on the door. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to the electronic module to dissipate heat from the electronic module via the heat pipe.

[0013] This design creates a household appliance, particularly for food preparation, that allows for the concentration of functional components at the door itself. This results in a wide variety of design options for the appliance. For example, by arranging the electronic module at the door, one design allows the door to be larger. In this context, it can also extend further upwards in the height of the appliance. In particular, this makes it possible to design the appliance without a conventional control panel, thus eliminating the need for one altogether. Furthermore, this concept also allows the electronic module to move with the door, as it is mounted directly to it.In order to avoid undesirable heating of the electronic module even in such a concept with an electronic module on the door, it is also advantageous to provide a corresponding 202401087 on the door itself.

[0014] 3 / 18

[0015] A cooling device should be provided. It is particularly advantageous to incorporate a heat pipe. This is because it is compact and can be positioned on the door in a space-saving manner. Furthermore, it is relatively lightweight, so the overall mass of the door is not undesirably increased. In addition, a heat pipe is highly efficient at dissipating heat, which is especially beneficial for the electronic module on the door, as it helps to efficiently dissipate heat. This is particularly suitable when the door is also heated by the heat in the preparation chamber during the cooking process, and the electronic module could potentially be exposed to more heat than would be the case with a control panel, as described in the prior art. In such cases, direct heat dissipation via the heat pipe on the door itself is especially appropriate.

[0016] A heat pipe is, in particular, a component that can transfer heat via an evaporation and condensation cycle. When heat is applied to one end of such a heat pipe, a working fluid evaporates and, driven primarily by the temperature or pressure gradient, flows along the adiabatic zone to a condenser. These components can also be part of the cooling system. They can also be located at the door.

[0017] In one embodiment, the electronic module is arranged on the rear side of a door component facing the preparation area. Thus, the electronic module is not exposed to the environment and is therefore protected from unwanted forces. This allows for a low-wear position while still ensuring unrestricted functionality of the electronic module.

[0018] In one embodiment, the heat pipe is arranged on the rear side of the door, particularly a door component, facing the preparation chamber. The advantages mentioned for the corresponding positioning of the electronic module also apply here. Furthermore, this allows for particularly efficient thermal coupling of the heat pipe with the electronic module.

[0019] In one embodiment, the cooling device has at least one cooling element separate from the heat pipe. The heat pipe is thermally coupled to this cooling element. In particular, a direct mechanical coupling between the heat pipe and the cooling element is also provided. On the one hand, this provides a mechanical 202401087

[0020] 4 / 18

[0021] Attaching the heat pipe to the door component, particularly its rear side, allows for a mechanically stable and permanent installation. This ensures that the heat pipe remains stable and functionally reliable even under highly fluctuating environmental conditions, such as those encountered when the appliance is switched off or during cooking. Furthermore, this additional cooling element facilitates the precise and comprehensive dissipation of heat absorbed by the electronic module. The cooling element thus contributes advantageously to the targeted heat dissipation from the electronic module to a specific area of ​​the door and from there into the surrounding environment.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cooling element is a metallic cooling base. This is arranged, in particular, on the rear side of the door, especially on the rear side of a door component. The cooling base can, for example, be made of aluminum. This design of the cooling element makes it inherently stable and allows it to also serve as an advantageous support for the heat pipe. The corresponding mechanical attachment to the door component is also stable as a result. Such a cooling base can then withstand corresponding forces and remains dimensionally stable even under significant temperature exposure.

[0023] In one embodiment, the heat pipe is coupled to the cooling element at one end. Such an end-end coupling further reinforces the advantages already mentioned above.

[0024] In one embodiment, the cooling device has an additional cooling element. This additional cooling element is separate from the aforementioned advantageous cooling element, i.e., the first cooling element. The additional cooling element is, in particular, thermally coupled to the heat pipe. Specifically, this additional cooling element is also directly mechanically coupled to the heat pipe. Here, too, the corresponding advantages apply as already mentioned above for the first cooling element in relation to the heat pipe.

[0025] In one embodiment, the additional cooling element is coupled to the heat pipe at a second end. Thus, in one embodiment, 202401087

[0026] 5 / 18 provides that the heat pipe is coupled to a separate cooling element at each of its two opposite ends.

[0027] In one embodiment, at least the additional cooling element has an uneven geometry. This uneven geometry can be formed by cooling fins attached to a base element of the additional cooling element. This further improves the functionality of the additional cooling element with regard to heat dissipation, particularly heat transferred from the heat pipe.

[0028] In one embodiment, heat is dissipated from the electronic module with the at least one heat pipe by convection. In another embodiment, heat can also be dissipated from the electronic module with the at least one heat pipe by a cooling airflow generated by a fan of the household appliance, which flows towards the heat pipe. The two heat dissipation concepts can also be combined.

[0029] In one embodiment, a fan of the household appliance is arranged on the door. This fan can be used to generate a cooling airflow. This airflow can be directed towards the electronic module and / or the heat pipe. It is also possible for the cooling airflow to be directed towards at least one preferably separate cooling element, which is coupled to the heat pipe.

[0030] In one embodiment, the door, as a door component, comprises at least one door panel that is at least partially transparent. The door panel can be made of glass. It can be part of a glass unit within the door. In this context, the glass unit can comprise several separate door panels, which are, in particular, spaced apart and oriented parallel to one another, especially arranged one behind the other in the depth direction of the appliance. In particular, such a door panel has a back side that faces the cooking chamber. In one embodiment, the electronic module and at least one heat pipe are arranged on this back side of the door panel.

[0031] In one embodiment, the door panel may be designed without an opening. In particular, it then lacks 202401087.

[0032] 6 / 18

[0033] The air outlet opening is designed as a virtually uninterrupted and therefore closed door panel. With such a door panel, cool air from the surroundings of the appliance, including the door, can be drawn in by the fan and directed specifically towards the heat pipe. This warms the drawn-in cool air, and the resulting warmer air is then expelled above and / or below the door, thus also from the appliance.

[0034] In another embodiment, the door panel may also be designed with at least one opening. This opening may, for example, be designed as a slot. In particular, such an opening is designed as an air outlet opening. Such at least one opening may be designed as a horizontal slot in the door panel. The opening may be located adjacent to the electronic module and the heat pipe in the door panel. In this embodiment as well, it may preferably be provided that cool air is drawn in from the surroundings of the appliance by a fan, and the heat, which in this case is dissipated primarily by pure convection via the coupling between the heat pipe and the at least one cooling element, is then selectively blown out through the opening.

[0035] In one embodiment, the door panel extends substantially over the entire height of the appliance when viewed vertically. "Substantially" here means that, when viewed from the front, the door panel covers at least 80 percent, and in particular at least 90 percent, of the appliance's height. In this context, the appliance is designed without a front control panel. This also means that the appliance does not have a separate control panel from the door, in which an electronic module, in particular an operating and / or display device, would be located and accessible from the front. With this front-facing door panel, the door, in one embodiment, constitutes substantially the entire visible front component of the appliance when the door is closed.

[0036] In one embodiment, the electronic module serves as an operating and / or display device for the household appliance. This allows the following to be seen when viewing the front of the 202401087

[0037] 7 / 18

[0038] Door information can be displayed visually. At least one control element can also be provided, which can be operated from the front of the door.

[0039] In one embodiment, the door has at least one hinge over which power supply lines and / or data exchange lines between the electronic module and an external unit of the household appliance are routed. The hinge is coupled to the housing, thus enabling a mechanical connection of the door to the housing. This hinge allows the door to be moved relative to the housing, in particular to be pivoted. Preferably, two such hinges are provided.

[0040] The cooling device may have only a single heat pipe. However, it is also possible for the cooling device to have at least two heat pipes arranged on the door. In one embodiment, the fan can be part of the cooling device. In this case, it can be specifically designed and operated only to generate a cooling airflow directed towards the at least one heat pipe.

[0041] In another embodiment, however, the fan can also be located externally to the door and be a separate component of the appliance. In such an embodiment, the fan may also be used to circulate an airflow within the preparation chamber.

[0042] Another possible way to cool the heat pipe is through pure convection.

[0043] Another aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance door. The door has at least one door component, in particular a door panel. An electronic module is arranged on this door component, in particular on the back side of the door, and especially on the back side of the door component. Furthermore, at least one heat pipe is arranged on the door, in particular on the back side of the door component. This heat pipe is thermally coupled to the electronic module for heat dissipation from the electronic module. 202401087

[0044] 8 / 18

[0045] Advantageous embodiments of the door are to be seen in the advantageous embodiments of the door within the framework of the above-mentioned aspect concerning the household appliance.

[0046] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. These show:

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a perspective schematic representation of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention;

[0048] Fig. 2 shows a representation of the household appliance according to Fig. 1 in the open state of one of the appliance doors;

[0049] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a door of a household appliance according to the invention, with a view of the rear and an electronic module and at least one heat pipe arranged thereon;

[0050] Fig. 4 shows a representation corresponding to Fig. 3 in an embodiment different from Fig. 2;

[0051] Fig. 5 shows a representation corresponding to Fig. 3 with an additional explanation of the heat dissipation concept according to a first embodiment; and

[0052] Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of a door according to the invention with a view of the back of the door and corresponding fittings with an electronic module and at least one heat pipe and a representation of a concept for heat dissipation that differs from Fig. 5.

[0053] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements are given the same reference symbols.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance 1. The household appliance 1 is intended here for preparing food. The household appliance 1 can, for example, be a cooking appliance. 202401087

[0055] 9 / 18

[0056] It could be, for example, an oven, a microwave oven, or a steam oven. These functions can also be implemented in a single appliance. The household appliance 1 has a housing 2. At least one cooking chamber 3 is formed within the housing 2. This cooking chamber 3 is, in particular, a cooking chamber. It can be bounded by the walls of a muffle of the household appliance 1. A space is formed between this muffle and an outer casing 4 of the housing 2, which can be filled with thermally insulating material. Furthermore, the household appliance 1 has a door 5. The door 5 is arranged here for closing the cooking chamber 3 from the front. It is movably mounted on the housing 2. For example, hinges 6 and 7, shown schematically, can be provided for this purpose, by means of which the door 5 is movably mounted on the housing 2.In particular, the door 5 can be pivoted relative to the housing 2 via these hinges 6 and 7. In the embodiment shown here, the household appliance 1 does not have a control panel that is fixed to the housing 2 and separate from the door 5. Specifically, it is provided here that the door 5 has external dimensions in the vertical (y-direction) and / or horizontal (x-direction) direction of the household appliance 1 that correspond to, or substantially correspond to, the dimensions of the housing 2. Thus, when the door 5 is closed and viewed from the front, i.e., when looking in the negative depth direction (z-direction) of the household appliance 1, the housing 2 is covered or substantially completely covered from the front by the door 5.

[0057] Figure 2 shows the household appliance 1, with the door 5 shown in the open position. It is schematically depicted that the door 5 has an electronic module 8. The electronic module 8 is therefore located on the door 5 itself. The electronic module 8 can be an operating and / or display device. Furthermore, the household appliance 1 has a cooling device 9, which also includes at least one heat pipe 10. The heat pipe 10 is located on the door 5.

[0058] Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a door 5. A view of the rear side 11 of the door 5 is shown. When the door 5 is closed, the rear side 11 faces the preparation chamber 3. The door 5 may have a disc assembly 12 as a door component. The disc assembly 12 preferably comprises at least two separate door panels as door components. [Image 202401087]

[0059] 10 / 18 It is also possible that more than two such separate door panels form the glass unit 12. The door panels can be flat, in particular rectangular, glass panels. They are preferably at least partially transparent and thus permeable to light in the visible spectral range.

[0060] Figure 3 shows a door panel 13 of this glass assembly 12. This door panel 13 has, as an example, a rear side 11. It is possible that the electronic module 8 is arranged on this rear side 11, particularly in an upper region. The electronic module 8 can have a module housing 8a in which electronic components 8b are arranged. Figure 3 also shows an arrangement of the heat pipe 10 of the cooling device 9. The heat pipe 10 runs horizontally. It preferably extends over a width that corresponds to at least 50 percent of the width of the door panel 13.

[0061] As can also be seen in Fig. 3, in one embodiment the cooling device 9 also has a cooling element 14, which is separate from the heat pipe 10. This cooling element 14 is preferably attached directly to the rear side 11. It can, for example, be glued to it. The cooling element 14 is designed here as a metallic cooling base. The cooling element 14 is made of aluminum. As can be seen, the heat pipe 10 is thermally coupled directly to this cooling element 14 at a first end 10a, and in particular, it is also directly mechanically connected to it. The cooling element 1 is a separate component from the door plate 13.

[0062] Furthermore, the exemplary embodiment provides for an additional cooling element 15. This element is also arranged, and in particular attached, to the rear side 11. The additional cooling element 15 is separate from the first cooling element 14. The additional cooling element 15, which can also be referred to as the second cooling element 15, is thermally coupled to another end 10b of the heat pipe 10. In particular, this end 10b is also mechanically connected directly to the additional cooling element 15. In an exemplary embodiment, the additional cooling element 15 can also have one or more cooling fins 15a. For the sake of clarity, only some of the cooling fins 15a are shown here with the corresponding reference numerals. 202401087

[0063] 11 / 18

[0064] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the cooling device 9 may include a fan 16 in addition to the at least one heat pipe 10 and the preferably present, separate cooling elements 14 and / or 15. In one embodiment, the fan 16 may be located at the door 5. In another embodiment, the fan 16 may be the cooling air motor for the heat pipe 10. Therefore, its intended purpose is solely to generate a cooling airflow for the heat pipe 10. It is also possible, for example, for the fan 16 to be located at the rear 11. It may be positioned directly adjacent to the heat pipe 10 and / or to a cooling element 14 and / or 15.

[0065] Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the door 5 corresponding to Figure 3. In this embodiment, a cooling device 9 with several heat pipes 10 is shown, only as a supplement, but not the only, element. Furthermore, several cooling elements 14, 15, 17 and 18 are preferably provided here as well, each of which is thermally coupled to a heat pipe 10, in particular to one end of such a heat pipe 10.

[0066] Furthermore, Fig. 4 illustrates, by way of example and purely symbolic representation, that the door 5 has one or more lines 19 which can communicate with an external unit 20 (Fig. 1) of the household appliance 1 for the purpose of power supply and / or data exchange between the electronic module 8 and the door 5. The at least one line 19 is routed here, in particular, via the hinge 7 as a corresponding routing interface, in order to be able to receive or send corresponding signals external to the door.

[0067] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the embodiment of door 5 according to Figure 3 in a perspective view. The block-like or base-like design of the cooling element 14 is visible. The design of the further cooling element 15 with the cooling fins 15a is also visible.

[0068] It is possible that the door panel 13, on which the electronic module 8, which includes at least one heat pipe 10 and possibly further components of the cooling device 9, such as cooling elements 14 and / or 15 and / or 17 and / or 18 and / or a fan 16 are arranged, is designed without any openings. This means that the door panel 13 is open across its 202401087

[0069] 12 / 18 The entire surface does not have a continuous hole that would be designed as an air outlet. Especially in such a configuration, the heat dissipation from the electronic module 8 via the heat pipe 10 can occur exclusively by convection, as indicated here by the corresponding arrows P1. It is then possible that a corresponding airflow is generated by a device fan 21 (Fig. 1), which is installed externally to the door 5 in the housing 2. This airflow then also flows in the area of ​​the door 5, so that the heat emitted by convection from the heat pipe 10 can be expelled, for example, at a lower end of the door 5, through an opening in the household appliance 1, as symbolically represented by arrow P2.

[0070] Figure 6 shows a different embodiment with regard to the heat dissipation concept, similar to Figure 5. Here, heat is not dissipated by pure convection, but rather the door panel 13 has an opening 22. This opening is designed as a slot. The opening 22 is intended to serve as an air outlet opening. It is located adjacent to the electronic module 8 and the heat pipe 10 in the door panel 13. With this design, the fan 16 of the cooling device 9 can draw in cool air from the surroundings of the appliance 1 and direct it, preferably, towards the heat pipe 10 and / or the cooling elements 14 and / or 15.It is also possible that a corresponding intake of cool air from the environment can also occur via the separate and preferably also present fan 21, which is arranged externally to the door and can be referred to as a device fan, with which an airflow is intended and primarily to be generated, for example, also in the preparation chamber 3. This can then, as shown in Fig. 6, reach the door according to arrows P3 and, for example, flow upwards over a lower edge of the door 5, in particular the door panel 13, and thereby also contribute to the directed exhaust airflow P4, which is then to be blown out of the door 5 through the opening 22. 202401087.

[0071] 13 / 18

[0072] Reference symbol list

[0073] 1 household appliance

[0074] 2 cases

[0075] 3 Preparation room

[0076] 4 outer casings

[0077] 5 door

[0078] 6 hinge

[0079] 7 hinge

[0080] 8 Electronic module

[0081] 8a Module housing

[0082] 8b Electronic component

[0083] 9 Cooling device

[0084] 10 Heat pipe

[0085] 10a first end

[0086] 10b second end

[0087] 11 Back

[0088] 12-disc package

[0089] 13 Door panel

[0090] 14 Cooling element

[0091] 15 cooling elements

[0092] 15a Cooling fin

[0093] 16 fans

[0094] 17 Cooling element

[0095] 18 cooling elements

[0096] 19 Management

[0097] 20 external units

[0098] 21 device fans

[0099] 22 Breakthrough

[0100] P1 Airflow

[0101] P2 Airflow

[0102] P3 Airflow

[0103] P4 Airflow 202401087

[0104] 14 / 18

[0105] Latitude

[0106] Altitude

[0107] Depth direction

Claims

202401087 15 / 18 Patent claims 1. Household appliance (1) for preparing food, comprising a housing (2) in which a preparation chamber (3) is formed, and a door (5) which is movably arranged on the housing (2) for closing the preparation chamber (3), characterized in that at least one electronic module (8) of the household appliance (1) is arranged on the door (5) and the household appliance (1) has a cooling device (9) for cooling the electronic module (8), which has at least one heat pipe (10), wherein the heat pipe (10) is arranged on the door (5) and with which heat from the electronic module (8) can be dissipated.

2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic module (8) is arranged on a rear side (11) of a door component (12, 13) of the door (5) facing the preparation chamber (3).

3. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat pipe (10) is arranged on a rear side (11) of a door component (12, 13) of the door (5) facing the preparation chamber (3).

4. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling device (9) has at least one cooling element (14, 15, 17, 18) with which the heat pipe (10) is thermally, and in particular also directly mechanically, coupled.

5. Household appliance (1) according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the cooling element (14, 15, 17, 18) is a metallic cooling base arranged on the rear (11).

6. Household appliance (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the heat pipe (10) is coupled at one end (10a) to the cooling element (14, 15, 17, 18). 202401087 16 / 18 7. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the cooling device (9) has at least one further cooling element (14, 15, 17, 18) which is thermally coupled to the heat pipe (11), in particular also directly mechanically.

8. Household appliance (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the further cooling element (14, 15, 17, 18) has cooling fins (15a).

9. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the heat dissipation from the electronic module (8) can be carried away by convection and / or by a cooling airflow generated by a fan (16, 21) of the household appliance (1), in particular by the flowing air towards the heat pipe (10) via the at least one heat pipe (10).

10. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a fan (16) of the cooling device (9) of the household appliance (1) is arranged on the door (5), with which a cooling airflow can be generated to flow towards at least the heat pipe (10).

11. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (5) has at least one door panel (13) that is at least partially transparent, on which the electronic module (8) and the at least one heat pipe (10) are arranged on the rear side, wherein the door panel (13) is designed without a perforation, in particular without an air outlet perforation.

12. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (5) has at least one at least partially transparent door panel (13) on which the electronic module (8) and the at least one heat pipe (10) are arranged on the rear, wherein the door panel (13) is designed with at least one opening (22), in particular an air outlet opening.

13. Household appliance (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the door plate (13) extends substantially over the entire height of the housing (2). 202401087 17 / 18 14. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic module (8) is an operating and / or display device.

15. Household appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (5) has at least one hinge (6, 7) through which lines (19) for the power supply and / or for data exchange between the electronic module (8) and a door-external unit (20) of the household appliance (1) are provided.

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