EP2236961A2 - Cooler with covered engine area - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a machine area (3) provided with an access opening that is closed by a covering part (7). The covering part exhibits a hinge (9) and a pivotable airfoil (11) that is adjusted between opened and closed positions by the hinge, where the hinge is formed as a film hinge. The hinge connects the pivotable airfoil with a fixed airfoil (10), where the pivotable airfoil is placed above a rotation axis in the closed position. The pivotable airfoil rests against the fixed airfoil in the opened position. An independent claim is also included for a method for installing a cooling device.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigeration device, in which a machine room is protected by a cover from the access of an unsuspecting user.

The engine room of a refrigerator generally contains various essential technical components such as condenser, compressor, a fan for ventilation of the aforementioned components, solenoid valves, compressor electronics, piping, electrical lines, etc. on. If such a machine room is protected from access by an unsuspecting user, safety regulations concerning the protection of the user are much easier to meet than with a refrigeration device with unprotected machine room. For numerous components installed in the machine room, a simpler and cheaper design can be selected than with a device with unprotected machine room. For example, simply insulated electrical lines are sufficient, strain relief on the lines can be dispensed with, covering caps for protecting individual components to be protected against contact are unnecessary, etc.

However, the protection of the machine room from access by an unskilled user shall not result in the accessibility of the machine room during assembly of the unit or in maintenance and repair work.

A problem with the shielding of the engine room is that the steps required to start up the equipment, evacuation of the refrigerant circuit and filling of the refrigerant circuit with the refrigerant should take place only towards the end of the manufacturing process, after the assembly of all the components. However, if one of these components also includes a cover member for closing the engine room, then it is obvious that a ready-assembled cover obstructs the access to the engine room required for evacuating and filling with refrigerant. Although it would be conceivable to attach a cover only after filling the refrigerant circuit with refrigerant, but would such Solution would require significant changes to existing manufacturing facilities and operations, and would therefore cause undue high costs.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a refrigerated appliance with covered engine room, in which the cover of the engine room does not require installation of additional parts after filling the refrigerant circuit, and thus is inexpensively manufacturable in compatible with existing manufacturing processes.

The object is achieved in that in a refrigerator with a machine room in which an access opening to the machine room is closed by a cover, the cover has a hinge and at least one hinged by means of the hinge between an open and a closed position wings. Thus, after the mounting of the cover member, the refrigerant circuit can be filled through the access opening while the cover member is in the open position. After filling the machine room is closed by pivoting the wing, without the need for additional parts must be mounted.

• Einbauen von Teilen in einer Kältemaschine in einem Maschinenraum des Kältegeräts;
• Befüllen der Kältemaschine mit Kältemittel;
• Anbringen eines den Maschinenraum verschließenden Abdeckteils;
  bei dem das Abdeckteil, welches ein Scharnier und wenigsten einen mit Hilfe des Scharniers zwischen einer offenen und einer geschlossenen Stellung schwenkbaren Flügel aufweist, vor dem Befüllen der Kältemaschine angebracht und nach dem Befüllen in die geschlossene Stellung gebracht wird.

The invention accordingly also relates to a method for assembling a refrigeration device with the steps:

• Installing parts in a chiller in a machine room of the refrigerator;
• Filling the refrigerating machine with refrigerant;
• Attaching a covering the engine room cover;
  in which the cover part, which has a hinge and at least one wing pivotable by means of the hinge between an open and a closed position, is mounted prior to filling the chiller and placed in the closed position after filling.

Preferably, the surface of the pivoting wing makes up a partial area, preferably 20% to 40% of the area of the covering part.

Preferably, the pivotable wing is in the closed position above a pivot axis defined by the hinge, so that the open position is stable and there is no danger that the cover unintentionally reaches before the filling of the refrigerator in the closed position.

According to a preferred development, the cover part further comprises a wing fixed to the body of the refrigeration device. This wing, in turn, may obscure a portion of the engine room so that in its open position, the pivotable wing only has to clear as much passage as required for filling and possibly evacuating the chiller.

While in the case that the pivotable wing completely covers one side of the engine room, the attachment of the cover part to the device may be permanent, in a two-part cover part the attachment of the cover part or its stationary wing to the housing is preferably releasable in order to provide a free one for repair work To be able to create access to the engine room.

The pivotable and fixed wings are preferably connected to each other via the hinge.

Since the hinge probably has to be actuated only a few times in the course of the life of the refrigerator, a simple and inexpensive film hinge is sufficient.

Preferably, the entire cover part is injection molded in one piece. This is also possible by the use of a film hinge in a simple manner.

In order to prevent the cover is damaged in its open position during the manufacture of the refrigerator, it is appropriate that the pivotable wing rests in the open position on the stationary wing.

For the same reason, the pivotable wing in the open position should not protrude beyond the stationary wing.

In order to enable a quick and easy installation, the cover is preferably fixed in the closed position by one or more locking points. These may be latching points that anchor the cover part to the housing of the refrigeration device, or at least one of the latching points may also fix the pivotable wing on the stationary wing.

In the closed position, the locking points are preferably within the engine room, so that they are at most difficult to operate and accessible or actuated by an unknowable user only with the help of tools.

On the cover and the body screw holes may be provided which are capable of receiving a screw for fixing the cover in the closed position. Thus, a fastening of the cover is still possible even if the opening of the cover locking points should be damaged and unusable.

To protect against damage during manufacture of the pivotable wing is preferably temporarily fixed in the open position, in particular latched.

The engine room can be housed in a base of the refrigerator.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

Show it:

Fig.1 1

a perspective view of a household refrigerator with base unit according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

one too Fig. 1 analogous perspective view of a household refrigerator according to a second, further developed embodiment;

Fig. 3

an enlarged perspective view of the cover of the refrigerator Fig. 2 ;

Figure 4

a horizontal section through the mounted cover in the open position along the line IV-IV Fig. 3 ;

Figure 5

a section along the line IV-IV through the cover in the closed position; and

Fig. 6

a section through the cover along the line VI-VI Fig. 3 ,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view obliquely from behind a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the invention. The refrigerator has a heat-insulating body 1 and a door 2 of conventional design. A base portion below the body 1 forms a machine room 3 of the device, the various components of a likewise known refrigeration machine such as a condenser 4 and a compressor 5, a fan 6 for cooling the condenser 4 and the compressor 5 and not specifically shown electrical lines , Refrigerant lines, control electronics and the like. The base portion has on its front not visible in the figure, below the door 2, a grid for the inlet and outlet of circulated by the fan 6 air for cooling condenser 4 and compressor fifth

The back of the base portion 3 is closed after completion of the installation of the refrigerator by a cover plate 7, which is shown in the figure in a partially open position. The cover plate 7 is connected to a bottom plate of the base portion 3 via a hinge 8. When installing the device, cover plate 7 and hinge 8 are fixed to the bottom plate of the machine room 3 before the refrigerator is evacuated and filled with refrigerant. A connection for the evacuation and filling is accessible in the machine room 3 as long as the cover plate 7 remains in the open position. Thus, all components of the refrigeration device can be mounted with refrigerant prior to filling the refrigerating machine. After completion of the filling, the cover plate 7 is folded up so that it closes the back of the machine room 3, and firmly locked in the closed position.

A disadvantage of in Fig. 1 shown refrigeration device is that the cover plate 7, as long as it is not closed, over the substantially cuboid shape of the device and therefore the risk is relatively high, that in the handling of the device during manufacture, the cover plate 7 is damaged. This disadvantage avoids the in Fig. 2 in one too Fig. 1 analog view shown embodiment. Body 1, door 2 and machine room 3 of this refrigerator are the same as in Fig. 1 shown; of the Difference between the two embodiments lies in the cover plate 7, which in the embodiment of Fig. 2 consists of two integrally connected via a film hinge 9, molded plastic injection-molded wings 10, 11.

The larger of the two wings, designated 10, is provided to be fixedly locked after mounting all components in the machine room 3 at the open rear. For this purpose, the wing 10 extends over the entire width of the engine room 3 and carries at its lateral edges 12, 13, as in the enlarged view of Fig. 3 to recognize, in the engine room 3 in projecting locking hooks 14, the tips 15 are provided to engage behind each of a projection on a side wall of the engine room 3 in the manner of barbs.

Deviating from the presentation of Fig. 3 For example, further latching hooks may be arranged on the upper and lower edge of the wing 10 in order to anchor the wing 10 also on the floor or the ceiling of the machine room 3.

The wing 10 closes in the assembled state, the back of the machine room 3 except for a rectangular cutout 16 in the right upper corner through which the compressor 5 and the connection for evacuation and filling with refrigerant remain accessible. The wing 11, which is provided to close the neck 16 after filling with refrigerant, is in Fig. 3 shown in an intermediate position between the closed position and an open position, which it lies flat against the fixed wing 10. The film hinge 9 extends at half the height of the stationary wing 10 or slightly above, ie the pivotable wing 11 is at most as high as a below the film hinge 9 extending part of the fixed wing 10, so that the pivoting wing 11 in his on this part of the stationary wing 10 adjacent open position nowhere over an edge of the fixed wing 10 protrudes.

The stationary wing carries one or more of its remote from the engine room outside protruding latching hooks 17 which engage around the edge in the open position of the pivotable wing 11 and fix it so. While the tips 15 of the latching hooks 14 are formed as barbs, so they do not after latching to the walls of the machine room 3 by train on the cover plate 7 can solve more, the locking hooks 17 each have a roof-shaped, both sides beveled tip 18, which allows easy locking, but also easy release of the pivoting wing 11 from the voltage applied to the wing 10 position and folding up into the closed position.

For fixed anchoring of the pivotable wing 11 in the closed position serve latching hooks 19 at its right and left edges, one of which latched as the latching hook 14 on the right edge 13 of the wing 10 on a side wall of the machine room 3 and the other behind a (in Fig. 3 not visible) locking edge of the wing 10th

Fig. 4 shows a section through the cover plate 7 along the in Fig. 3 IV-IV designated line, wherein the pivotable wing 11 is held by the latching hook 17 in its voltage applied to the stationary wing 10 open position. Between the locking hooks 14 and locking edges 20 of the side walls of the machine room 3, where the latching hooks 14 attack, an outwardly open gap 21 is formed, in which a pointed tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted to push the latching hook 14 to the side and to release its tip 15 from the locking edge 20. Only if this happens at all latching hooks of the left or right edge 12 and 13 of the cover plate 7 and, if present, to latching hooks of its upper and lower edge simultaneously, the cover plate 7 can be removed, and the machine room 3 is accessible for repair purposes.

Fig. 5 shows, also cut along the line IV-IV, the cover plate 7 in the closed state. Of the two latching hooks 19 of the pivotable wing 11, the one also engages behind a latching edge 20 of a side wall of the machine room and the other the already mentioned, here designated 22 locking edge of the fixed wing 10th

As in Fig. 3 to see 7 screw holes 23 are formed at the four corners of the cover plate. Like the cut of the Fig. 6 shows, in the mounted state, these screw holes 23 on holes or blind holes 24 in the walls of the engine room 3. You can remain empty when first installing the refrigerator. If, in an attempt to solve the cover plate 7, one of the latching hooks 14, 19 to the Edges 12, 13 of the cover plate 7 should have been damaged, the cover plate 7 can be fixed again by screws in the respective damaged latching hooks adjacent holes 23, 24 are used.

Claims (16)

Refrigeration appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance with a machine room (3), in which an access opening to the machine room (3) by a cover (7) is closed, characterized in that the cover (7) has a hinge (8; 9) and at least one with help of the hinge (8; 9) between an open and a closed position pivotable wings (7; 11). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivotable wing (7; 11) constitutes a partial area of the surface of the cover part (7). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivotable wing (7; 11) is in the closed position above a pivot axis defined by the hinge (8; 9). Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover part (7) further comprises a on the body (1) of the refrigeration device stationary wing (10). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that the hinge (9) connects the pivotable wing (11) with the fixed wing (10). Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the hinge (9) is designed as a film hinge. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cover part (7) is injection-molded in one piece. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pivotable wing (11) rests in the open position on the stationary wing (10). Refrigerating appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the pivotable wing (11) in the open position does not project beyond the stationary wing (10). Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover part (7) in the closed position by one or more detent points (14, 20; 19, 20; 19, 22) is fixed. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 10, as far as dependent on claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the locking points (19, 22) fixes the pivotable wing on the fixed wing. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the latching points (14, 20; 19, 20; 19, 22) lie in the closed position within the machine room (3) and are accessible only with the aid of tools. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the cover part (7) and the body (1) screw (23, 24) are formed, which are capable of fixing the cover member (7) in the closed position a To take the screw. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivotable wing (11) in the open position temporarily fixed, in particular latched, is. Refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the machine room (3) is accommodated in a base of the refrigerating appliance. Method for mounting a refrigerating appliance, in particular a refrigerating appliance according to one of the preceding claims, with the steps: a) installing parts (4, 5, 6) of a chiller in a machine room (3) of the refrigeration device; b) filling the refrigerator with refrigerant; c) attaching a covering the machine room (3) covering part (7); characterized in that the cover part (7) having a hinge (8; 9) and at least one wing (7; 11) pivotable between an open and a closed position by means of the hinge (8; 9), before filling Chiller attached and placed after filling in the closed position.

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