CH707732B1 - Cooling device, in particular household refrigerator, with several temperature zones and temperature control. - Google Patents

Abstract

A cooling device (10) is described which has at least one plurality of openings (161) arranged vertically in the region of the cooling compartment (13) or an opening extending between a cooling air duct (16) and the cooling compartment (13), with openings behind or behind of the opening in the cooling air duct a displaceable screen element (162) with a further plurality of openings (163) or an opening extending between the cooling air duct (16) and the cooling compartment (13) is arranged so that the movement of the diaphragm element (162 ) the effective cross-sections of the openings between the cooling air duct and the cooling compartment can be changed at least partially differently and the temperature can thus be set separately for several zones in the cooling device.

Description

Field of invention

The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator and especially a built-in refrigerator, with a usable space which is divided into several temperature zones, and a control device and method for regulating the temperature zones.

Background of the invention

Common household refrigerators generally have two separate usable spaces which are kept at different temperatures. These two usable spaces are typically referred to as a freezer compartment or a refrigerated compartment and are separated from one another by insulating partitions and have their own doors. Often these two compartments are also connected to separate cooling systems in order to be able to set the desired temperature in each compartment.

In modern household refrigerators, however, it is increasingly desirable to be able to set different temperatures within the refrigerator compartment. On the one hand, goods can be stored at temperatures that are appropriate or preferred for them. On the other hand, the introduction of an item with a relatively high temperature, e.g. room temperature, into the cooling compartment may briefly require increased cooling in the zone in which this item was placed.

There are also refrigerators known, for example from EP 0713064B1 and EP 0805320B1, in which the temperature in areas of the cooling compartment is controlled by controlling the flow of cooling air. The desired flow of cooling air is set as a function of the temperature with rotating flaps that are distributed along, for example, the rear wall of the cooling compartment.

In view of the known prior art, it is considered an object of the invention to provide a refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator, with a useful space which is divided into several temperature zones, and a control device and method for the temperature zones of a refrigerator, which are mechanically robust and allow good control of the temperatures in different zones of the cooling compartment even with a simple design.

Presentation of the invention

This object is achieved by the cooling device according to claim 1. Accordingly, the cooling device has at least one opening extending vertically over a plurality of temperature zones in the region of the cooling compartment or a plurality of openings distributed over a plurality of temperature zones during operation between a cooling air duct and the cooling compartment. A movable screen element is arranged behind this opening or these openings in such a way that the effective cross-sections of the opening or openings can be changed at least partially in different ways for the temperature zones by moving the screen element.

A panel element is preferably a flat element made of plastic or metal, which has at least one opening extending vertically over several temperature zones in the region of the cooling compartment or a plurality of openings distributed over several temperature zones. The panel element can preferably be built into the cooling device as a flat component, in a curved shape or as a component rolled into a cylinder. The effective cross-sections are preferably obtained from the degree of overlap from the opening or openings to the cooling compartment and the opening or openings of the panel element located behind it.

In a preferred embodiment, the cooling air duct has a first supply duct for cooling air, which is essentially vertically oriented in operation, and a first discharge duct for cooling air, which is substantially vertically oriented during operation, wherein both the supply duct and the exhaust duct each have openings with one of these openings Have assigned panel element. The use of screen elements behind both channels enables more precise control of the climatic zones with the same number of openings.

The movements of the diaphragm element assigned to the supply channel are preferably synchronized with the movements of the diaphragm element assigned to the discharge channel, in particular so that the cross section of the openings in a temperature zone changes in the same way to both channels. The synchronization or coupling of the diaphragm elements for both channels can take place mechanically or via a common control. The movements of the diaphragm element assigned to the supply channel can, however, also take place independently of the movements of the diaphragm element assigned to the discharge channel. In this way, for example, greater flexibility is achieved when setting up temperature zones of different sizes, for example, in that the diaphragm elements simultaneously reveal openings in the supply channel and openings in the discharge channel that are vertically offset with respect to these openings.

The supply channel and the discharge channel are particularly preferably two cooling air channels arranged in parallel. The vertically arranged openings of both channels are arranged in such a way that the cooling air flow through the cooling space can run essentially horizontally when the cooling device is in operation. The supply channel and the discharge channel particularly preferably run from a base part of the cooling device to a ceiling part of the cooling device and particularly preferably each close to the corner regions of the rear wall of the cooling space.

The openings on the panel element are preferably arranged so that with a relative movement between the panel element and the wall of the cooling compartment with the openings between the maximum positions of the panel element for at least two or at least three zones in the cooling compartment, the total opening between the cooling air duct and the cooling space is enlarged to one zone, while the corresponding total opening to the other zones is reduced.

The movement of a screen element is preferably a linear movement or a rotational movement. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen element is moved exclusively linearly in the vertical direction during operation. The movement and thus the change in the cross section of the opening or openings to the cooling air duct can take place between discrete positions or continuously.

The movement of the screen element can be done manually, but preferably by motors connected to a refrigerator control. The setting of the position of the screen element is preferably carried out with the inclusion of temperature measurements, in particular a temperature determined for each zone. For this purpose, the cooling device preferably has a plurality of temperature sensors arranged distributed over the cooling space. In a further variant of the invention, the control of the movement of the panel elements can also take place as a function of the position of partitions in the refrigerated compartment and, in the process, generate temperature zones with variable heights in the refrigerated compartment.

It is further preferred to lead the cooling air circuit past an evaporator only in the base area, so that the vertical sections of the cooling air duct or the supply duct and the discharge duct are free of parts of the evaporator and, despite the panel element arranged therein, are flat or with a relatively large free cross-section can be kept for the cooling air.

Brief description of the drawings

[0015] Further refinements, advantages and applications of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and from the description that follows with reference to the figures. They show: FIG. 1 shows a schematic vertical section through a refrigerator parallel to the side walls, FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical section through the refrigerator parallel to the door or rear wall, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the interior of the refrigerator, and FIG. 4A and 4B explain aspects of temperature control according to examples of the invention with discrete positions and with continuous positions of diaphragm elements, and FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate examples with curved screen elements.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

In the following figures, an embodiment of the invention based on a built-in refrigerator, which can be integrated, for example, in a row of cabinets, described in three different views. Directional information such as front, back, bottom, top, back, front, etc. generally relates to the device in its operational position.

The refrigerator 10 has a usable space which is divided into a freezer compartment 12 and a cooling compartment 13 by an insulating partition 11. A base area with a cooling unit 14 is attached below the usable space. The cooling unit contains, in a manner known per se, a compressor, at least one or two condensers and evaporators and one or more fans, which are not shown. A controller 17 controls the active components of the refrigerator. A connection 171 is used to supply the refrigerator with electrical energy.

The fans in the base area drive air through a cooling air circuit which leads from the evaporator cooling unit 14 into a vertically running supply channel 15 which runs between a partition wall to the freezer compartment 12 and to the cooling compartment 13 and the rear wall of the refrigerator 10. Along the vertical part of the supply channel 15, a plurality of gap-shaped openings 151 are made in the cooling compartment 13 in a vertical row along the rear wall of the cooling device.

On the opposite side of the rear wall runs a vertical discharge channel 16 which is connected to the cooling compartment 13 by a series of gap-shaped openings 161. A cooling air flow through the cooling compartment thus preferably takes place between the openings 151 and the openings 161, as indicated by the arrows shown in dashed lines in the figures.

Both rows of openings 151,161 cross a plurality of shelves 131 within the cooling compartment. These can be designed as flat floor elements, as shown, but also as drawers. The shelves 131 divide the cooling compartment in the vertical direction into several zones, between which an exchange of cooling air is difficult. Between two successive shelves 131, the cooling air moves essentially in the horizontal direction, i.e. from openings 151 to the closest openings 161 between the same adjacent shelves 131.

The exhaust duct 16 ends in the base area of the cooling device. The exhaust air is then passed again by the fans via the evaporator of the cooling unit 14 in the base area and is then again available to the supply duct 15 as cooling air.

To set up and control different temperature zones, a panel element 152 with openings 153 is attached in the supply channel 15 behind the area with the openings 151 to the cooling compartment. The screen element 152 extends in the vertical direction at least along the area in which the openings 151 to the cooling space 13 are located.

In the discharge channel 16, a panel element 162 with openings 163 is attached behind the area with the openings 161 to the cooling compartment. The screen element 162 extends in the vertical direction at least along the area in which the openings 161 to the cooling space 13 are located.

Both plates are connected to one or more motors 172. A motor can be, for example, a linear motor or a stepper motor. However, a rotary motor can also be used with a suitable coupling or transmission (e.g. a spindle). To operate the motor or motors, this or these are connected to the electrical supply of the cooling device 10. With the aid of the motor, both screen elements 152, 162 can be moved synchronously in the vertical direction along the openings 151, 162. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the motors 172 may be attached in the ceiling area and from there move the screen elements by means of pull wires. If, for example, at least one independent drive is available per diaphragm element, the diaphragm elements 152, 162 can also be displaced asynchronously. This allows several zones to be cooled at the same time by directing the air across several zones.

The screen elements can be held in their horizontal position in rails or by means of lateral rollers.

Examples of temperature control of such a cooling device are shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B shown schematically. Viewed clockwise, each of the four partial images shows which of the openings 151, 161 are open or blocked for the cooling air in which position of the screen elements 152, 162.

The control includes both the operation of fans, which allow the cooling air to circulate in the cooling air circuit, and the movement of the screen elements 152, 162 relative to the openings 151, 161 to the cooling space 13. The latter is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, wherein in FIG. 4A the screen element 152 shown appears to be laterally offset from its position in the cooling device to illustrate the control process. The diaphragm element 162 arranged in the discharge channel 16, on the other hand, is only made visible through its effect on the openings 161.

In the example shown, the openings 151, 161 to the cooling space have identical dimensions and the same distance from one another. The openings 153 (and 163) on the screen elements 152, 162, on the other hand, are identical in terms of dimensions both to one another and to the openings 151, 161, but have at least partially different distances between adjacent openings. These irregular distances depend on the number of desired climatic zones and on the distances between the openings 151, 161 and can be found, for example, by simple computer simulation.

In the upper left partial figure of FIG. 4A, the screen elements 152, 162 are shown in their maximum vertical position in the cooling device. In this position, the screen elements 152, 162 block all the openings 151, 161 to the cooling space 13, except for four openings in pairs, each at the same height or in a vertical position. These openings are assigned to a temperature zone Z2 of the cooling space or, during operation, bring about increased cooling of the area Z2 between the open, uncovered openings 151, 161 compared to other areas of the cooling space.

In the upper right part of FIG. 4A, the screen elements 152, 162 are shown displaced from their maximum vertical position in the refrigerator to a first lower position. In this position, the screen elements block all openings 151, 161 to the cooling compartment 13 except for four openings in the area Z1 above Z2, each paired at the same height or in a vertical position. These openings are assigned to a temperature zone Z1 of the cooling space or, during operation, bring about increased cooling of the area Z1 between the open, uncovered openings 151, 161 compared to other areas of the cooling space.

In an analogous manner, the diaphragm elements 152, 162 are shown as being moved further downward in the lower left part of the figure and a zone Z3 is now ventilated. In the lower right part of the figure, the screen elements 152, 162 are in their minimal vertical position and the zone Z4 is being cooled.

In the example shown, the cooling device can thus be divided into four temperature zones. It should be noted that one or two flat screen elements 152, 162, which are moved linearly in the vertical direction, are sufficient to set up these zones. In this way, the supply and discharge channels of the cooling circuit can also be kept flat, which is an advantage in particular in the case of built-in refrigerators.

In FIG. 4A only the synchronous movement of the diaphragm elements is shown. These can also be shifted asynchronously so that the cooling air moves over several zones and cools them before it leaves the cooling space 13 again. For example, the screen element 152 in the supply channel can have a position as in the upper right part of FIG. 4A, while the screen element 162 in the discharge channel occupy a position as in the upper left partial figure of FIG. 4A. In such a position, the area marked Z1 and Z2 can be cooled as a temperature zone.

The temperature control can be improved by placing the shelves 131 in the area between two zones, as specified by the arrangement of the openings 151, 161, 152, 162. This reduces air circulation between zones. It is therefore preferred if the shelves are permanently installed in the refrigerator or if a user is given appropriate assembly instructions for movable shelves, for example by means of color coding, which indicates the position and / or boundaries of the zones in the refrigerator itself.

One of the temperature zones can be the freezer compartment 12, for example the highest zone Z1 or the lowest zone Z4. As an alternative to this, the control with the aid of the movable screen elements 152, 162 can be limited only to the refrigerator compartment 13 and the temperature in the freezer compartment 12 can be controlled by separate means.

In FIG. 4A, the relative positions and sizes of the openings 151, 161, 153, 163 are selected so that four discrete arrangements result, which are assigned to the temperature zones Z1-24. Such a discrete distribution of the relative positions and sizes of the openings 151, 161, 153, 163 can be well optimized for dividing the cooling space into predefined temperature zones. Greater flexibility with regard to the size and / or number of temperature zones can be achieved if the relative positions and sizes of the openings 151, 161, 153, 163 are set up for continuous control. This also results in partial overlaps of openings 151, 161, 153, 163 as in FIG. 4B. The flow profile 41 of the cooling air in FIG. 4B shows at which point or zone Z the greatest cooling can be expected with the setting shown.

The cooling device can be equipped with sensors 173 for more precise control of the temperature zones. These sensors can be temperature sensors, for example, which determine the temperature in each zone and forward it to the controller 17. In response to a temperature measurement by the sensors 173, the controller 17 can activate the motors 172 and adjust the screen elements 152, 162 so that the desired zone can be cooled.

In a further variant, for example, position sensors can also be used to determine the installation height or position of the shelves 131. The controller 17 is thus able to control the screen elements 152, 162 as a function of the position of the shelves 131. Accordingly, a user would also have the option of changing the distribution of the temperature zones and their volumes in the cooling compartment by simply moving the shelves 131.

The openings 151,162 to the cooling space can be protected to protect the supply and discharge channel 15,16 and the movable screen elements 152,162 by a spaced cover, with grids, or flaps movable by the air flow. These are not shown in the figures. A flat rear cover with vertical gaps on the sides can, for example, cover the interior of the cooling compartment 13 largely evenly and over the entire surface, despite the presence of the openings 151, 162 behind it, so that the use and cleaning of the cooling device is not significantly impaired by this zone cooling .

Due to their flat design, the supply and discharge channels 15, 16 with the movable panel elements 152, 162 can also be attached behind side walls and / or within the door of the refrigerator.

The supply and discharge channels 15, 16 can be kept free or largely free of further elements of the cooling system, such as parts of the evaporator, the condenser or fans. This favors the flat design of the channels.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly pointed out that the invention is not limited to these and can also be carried out in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Thus, in the example described above, the flat panel elements can also be shaped as hollow cylinders, as shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B shown. In the examples, the openings 151 are provided in a corner area which is rounded towards the cooling compartment and which is partially shown in the figures. In the space behind the corner area, a cylindrical screen element 152 is attached, which can be rotated during operation. By distributing openings 153 on the cylinder 152, the openings 151 to the cooling compartment can be selectively opened or closed. The cooling air can be passed through the interior of the cylinder 152 for supply and / or removal.

In the example of FIG. 5A, the openings 153 on the cylindrical shutter member 152 are discrete openings. In the example of FIG. 5B shows an opening 153 in the form of a vertically extending slot which is at least partially wound around the cylinder axis. Here, as in the examples described above, the temperature zones can also be controlled by a single larger opening instead of a large number of openings. Since the effective total cross-section of an opening to a temperature zone can be adjusted by a relative position or movement of openings on the screen element and the openings to the cooling compartment, it is clear that the positions and size of the openings 151, 161, 153, 163 between the fixed and moving parts are interchangeable.

It is also possible, for example, not to control the cross-section of the openings to the cooling compartment by the relative overlaying of openings arranged one behind the other, but also, for example, by the fact that the panel element has pins or contour surfaces in place of openings, which with one or more Cover flaps of one of the openings to the cooling space cooperate. By moving the screen element, with the forced movement of the cover flap, a more or less open cross-sectional area of the openings can be set in the desired manner.

Claims (13)

1. Cooling device, in particular a household refrigerator, with a cooling compartment (13) with at least two temperature zones (Z, Z1-Z4), characterized in that the cooling device has at least one vertically extending over a substantial part of the height of the cooling compartment (13) opening ( 151,161) between at least one cooling air duct (15, 16) and the cooling compartment (13) and that behind this at least one opening (151,161) at least one movable panel element (152,162) is arranged so that a movement of the at least one panel element (152,162) a first part of the at least one opening (151, 161) is at least partially blocked and a second part of the at least one opening (151, 161) is at least partially opened by the same movement. 2. Cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one screen element (152, 162) has at least one opening (153, 163) which is arranged in such a way that during a relative movement between the at least one screen element (152, 162) and a wall of the at least one cooling air duct (15 , 16) with the at least one opening (151, 161) between the maximum positions of the at least one screen element (152, 162) for the at least two, in particular at least three, temperature zones (Z, Z1-Z4) in the cooling compartment, the total opening between the at least one cooling air duct (15 , 16) and the cooling space (13) is enlarged in one of the at least two temperature zones, while the corresponding overall opening to the other temperature zone or zones is reduced simultaneously. 3. Cooling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least two cooling air ducts (15, 16) run vertically and parallel, a first serving as a supply duct (15) for supplying air into the cooling space, while a second serving as a discharge duct (16) for removing air from the cooling space (13) is used so that the cooling air flow through the cooling space (13) during operation of the cooling device can run in an essentially horizontal direction through parts of the at least one opening (151, 161) arranged at approximately the same height. 4. Cooling device according to claim 3, wherein the movement of one of the at least one screen element (152) which is assigned to the supply channel (15) is synchronized with the movement of one of the at least one screen element (162) which is assigned to the discharge channel (16) is. 5. Cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the at least one screen element (152, 162) is limited to a substantially linear vertical movement or to a rotational movement in the at least one cooling air duct (15, 16). 6. Cooling device according to one of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein the distances and / or the cross-sections of successive openings (153,163) of the at least one opening (153,163) on the at least one panel element (152,162) are at least partially different from distances and / or Cross-sections of successive openings (151,161) of the at least one opening (151,161) to the cooling compartment. 7. Cooling device according to claim 3, characterized in that the supply channel (15) and the discharge channel (16) each run along and close to the corners opposite the door of the cooling device. 8. Cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the supply channel (15) and / or the discharge channel (16) of the at least one cooling air channel free of elements of a cooling unit (14) for cooling the cooling space (13), in particular free of parts of an evaporator, is or are. 9. Cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature zones (Z, Z1-Z4) in the cooling compartment (13) are separated by shelves (131). 10. Cooling device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling device also has openings (151, 161), which are arranged between the at least one cooling air duct (15, 16) and the cooling compartment (13), to one above or below the cooling compartment (13 ) arranged freezer compartment (12) and the at least one panel element (152,162) extends along the cooling compartment (13) and the freezer compartment (12) so that the freezer compartment can be cooled like a temperature zone. 11. A method for regulating the temperature in at least two temperature zones (Z, Z1-Z4) of a cooling compartment (13) of a refrigerator (10), in particular a household refrigerator, characterized in that for setting a desired temperature in one of the at least two temperature zones (Z , Z1-Z4) at least one screen element (152,162) with at least one opening (153,163) is moved relative to at least one opening (151,161) between at least one cooling air duct (15,16) and the cooling compartment (13) and by the movement of the at least one Screen element (152,162) parts of the at least one opening (151,161) which is arranged between the at least one cooling air duct (15,16) and the cooling compartment (13) and which are assigned to a first of the at least one temperature zone (Z, Z1-Z4) , at least partially blocked and parts of the at least one opening (151, 161) which is arranged between the at least one cooling air duct (15, 16) and the cooling compartment (13), and which is a r second of the at least one temperature zone (Z, ZI -Z4) are assigned, are at least partially opened. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the temperature for each temperature zone (Z, Z1-Z4) is determined and a variable is derived therefrom which indicates the position of the at least one diaphragm element (152,162) relative to the at least one opening (151,161) between the at least a cooling air duct (15, 16) and the cooling compartment (13) determined. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the position of the at least one screen element (152,162) relative to a series of openings (151, 161) between the at least one cooling air duct (15,16) and the cooling compartment (13) depending on an im Operation changeable position of shelves (131) is set.