REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH AN EVAPORATOR MOUNTED ON AN INNER WALL AND METHOD FOR THE ASSEMBLY THEREOF

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes an inner space, an evaporator assembly extending at a wall of the inner space, a retaining device including a base plate extending between the wall and the evaporator assembly, and protrusions protruding from the wall on a first and a second edge of the base plate. At least the protrusion protruding on the first edge includes an elastic clip that can be deflected out of a position in which it engages with a first outer section of the evaporator assembly into a position in which it releases the outer section. A method for mounting an evaporator assembly on a wall of an inner space of a refrigeration appliance is also provided.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A refrigeration appliance, comprising: a wall delimiting an inner space; an evaporator assembly extending along said wall, said evaporator assembly having a first outer section; a retaining device including a base plate extending between said wall and said evaporator assembly, said base plate having first second edges; and protrusions each protruding from said wall on a respective one of said first and second edges; at least said protrusion protruding on said first edge including an elastic clip configured to be deflected from a position engaging around said first outer section of said evaporator assembly into a position releasing said first outer section of said evaporator assembly.

19. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said protrusion protruding on said second edge has a recess facing said first protrusion, and said evaporator assembly has a second outer section configured to be plugged into said recess.

20. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said evaporator assembly includes an evaporator and at least one bypass blocker, and at least said first outer section of said evaporator assembly is formed by said at least one bypass blocker.

21. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 20, wherein said evaporator is a fin evaporator having laterally protruding tube loops, said at least one bypass blocker has a flank facing said evaporator and recesses in said flank, and said evaporator assembly is held together by said tube loops frictionally or form-lockingly engaging in said recesses.

22. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 21, wherein said at least one bypass blocker includes a flank facing away from said evaporator and a groove in said flank facing away from said evaporator, and said elastic clip extends in said groove in said position engaging around said first outer section.

23. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, which further comprises an insertion slope formed on an end of said groove facing said base plate.

24. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, wherein said first protrusion includes at least one rigid wall plate lying against said flank of said at least one bypass blocker facing away from said evaporator.

25. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 24, wherein said first protrusion includes a section extending as far as said base plate, and said at least one rigid wall plate is separated from said elastic clip by said section.

26. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 25, wherein said first protrusion includes at least one connecting piece oriented transversely relative to said first edge.

27. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 26, wherein said at least one connecting piece is bent outward from an edge of said at least one rigid wall plate.

28. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said base plate adheres to said wall.

29. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 28, wherein said base plate has a third edge, and an adhesive strip bridges said third edge and adheres said base plate to said wall.

30. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said base plate has a fourth edge, and a condensed water channel is formed on said fourth edge.

31. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 30, which further comprises a plug connector penetrating a drain opening in said condensed water channel and engaging in a drain formed in said wall.

32. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said evaporator assembly includes an evaporator heater.

33. A method for mounting an evaporator assembly on a wall of an inner space of a refrigeration appliance, the method comprising the following steps: a) providing a retaining device including a base plate having first and second edges, first and second protrusions respectfully protruding from the wall on the first and second edges and an elastic clip protruding from the first protrusion of the first edge, and attaching the retaining device to the wall; b) providing the evaporator assembly with a first outer section, and placing the evaporator assembly on the second protrusion protruding from the second edge; and c) pivoting the evaporator assembly about an axis adjacent the second protrusion in a direction toward the base plate until reaching a position of the evaporator assembly causing the elastic clip to engage around the first outer section of the evaporator assembly.

34. The method according to claim 33, which further comprises carrying out steps b) and c) with the refrigeration appliance lying in a horizontal orientation and the second protrusion supporting the evaporator assembly in step b).

35. The method according to claim 33, which further comprises extending the axis through a point at which the second protrusion and the evaporator assembly make contact.

Description

[0031] Further features and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a retaining device for mounting an evaporator assembly in the inner space of a refrigeration appliance;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the retaining device having an evaporator assembly inserted therein;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a section through a bypass blocker of the evaporator assembly;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic section through a housing of a refrigeration appliance in accordance with the invention prior to the installation of the evaporator assembly;

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a section through the wall of the refrigeration appliance and a retaining device mounted thereon for the evaporator assembly;

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a section similar to FIG. 4 during the installation of the evaporator assembly;

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a further section similar to FIG. 4 during the installation of the evaporator assembly; and

[0039] FIG. 8 shows a section similar to FIG. 4 after the installation of the evaporator assembly.

[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a retaining device 1 that is provided for mounting an evaporator assembly in the inner space of a refrigeration appliance, in particular of a household refrigeration appliance such as a refrigerator or a freezer. The retaining device 1 is formed as one piece from a section of sheet metal. Said retaining device has a rectangular base plate 2 that is provided so as in the mounted state to lie against a wall, in particular a rear wall, of the inner space. The section is bent over on two edges 3, 4 of the base plate 2 in order to form protrusions 5, 6, said edges being oriented in a vertical manner when the refrigeration appliance is finished and set upright in the position of use.

[0041] The protrusion 5 comprises a wall plate 7 that extends over a major part of the edge 3 and protrudes at a right angle with respect to the base plate 2. On an upper and lower edge and also on an edge that is remote from the base plate 2, connecting pieces 8, 9, 10 are in turn bent outward away from the wall plate 7 in order to form a flat recess 11 that is facing the other protrusion 6. In order to make the connection between the wall plate 7 and the base plate 2 as bend-resistant as possible, corrugations 12 are distributed along the edge 3, said corrugations 12 extending in each case into the base plate 2 and the wall plate 7.

[0042] The protrusion 6 is divided into three parts, two outer and one middle part, along the edge 4 by means of sections 13 that extend in each case as far as the base plate 2. The two outer parts 14, 15 comprise respectively as the protrusion 5 a wall plate 16 or 17, which protrudes at a right angle from the base plate 2, and a connecting piece 18 or 19 that is bent outward on the outer edge of the wall plate 16, 17 toward the protrusion 5. However, in contrast to the protrusion 5, a connecting piece that is bent outward toward the opposite-lying protrusion is not provided on the edge 20 of the wall plates 16, 17, said edge being remote from the base plate 2. The connection between the wall plates 16, 17 is reinforced by means of corrugations 12 that extend across the edge 4.

[0043] The middle part of the protrusion 5 is formed as a clip 21 having an arm 22 that protrudes from the base plate and that in order to be flexible is narrower than the plates 16, 17 and is connected to the base plate 2 via a section of the edge 4 that is not provided with corrugations and having a barbed hook 23 that protrudes outward from the free end of the arm 22 beyond the base plate 2. In order to realize a uniform curvature of the arm 22 in the case of a sideward deflection of the barbed hook 23, the width of the arm 22 continuously reduces from the edge 4 toward the barbed hook 23.

[0044] A condensed water channel 24 is formed on a third edge of the base plate 2, said third edge being the lower edge after the retaining device 1 has been installed in the finished refrigeration appliance. The condensed water channel 24 slopes toward the middle from its two ends on the edges 3, 4 and comprises a through-going passage 25 at its deepest point. The angle between the base plate 2 and the condensed water channel 24 is reinforced by means of further corrugations 12.

[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates the retaining device 1 having an evaporator assembly 26 mounted therein. A middle section of the evaporator assembly 26 is formed by means of an evaporator 27, in this case a fin evaporator. The evaporator 27 comprises in a manner known per se a plurality of mutually parallel fins 28 and a refrigerant tube 29 that extends in a meandering manner through openings of the fins 28, wherein tube loops of the refrigerant tube 29 protrude beyond the outer fins 28. End pieces 58 of the refrigerant tube 29 that are still unconnected and are to be inserted into a refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration appliance extend beyond the block of fins 28.

[0046] An evaporator heater 59, in this case in the form of a tube that is bent in the shape of a hair pin and contains an electrical heating resistor, extends below the evaporator 27. The tube is pushed into openings in two fins 28 that protrude downward beyond the block-shaped evaporator 27. The evaporator heater 59 is used in a manner known per se for defrosting white frost that during the operation precipitates on the evaporator 27 as a result of radiation and rising warm air.

[0047] Two bypass blockers 30, 31 that form the outer sections of the evaporator assembly 26 are attached to the outer fins 28 lying on both sides on the evaporator 27. The protruding tube loops of the evaporator engage in recesses of the bypass blocker 30, 31 and therefore are not visible in FIG. 2. The bypass blockers 30, 31 are shaped bodies embodied from a closed-pore synthetic material foam, typically from expanded polystyrene.

[0048] The bypass blocker 30 engages in the recess 11 of the protrusion 5 and by being in contact with the mutually opposite connecting pieces 8, 10 or rather with the connecting piece 9 and the base plate 2 is held so as not to move in the direction of the edge 3 and also in the direction that is perpendicular to the base plate 2. A part of the bypass blocker 30 extends upward beyond the connecting piece 8 and forms a rib 32 that protrudes outward in the lateral direction beyond the wall plate 7. A further rib 60 protrudes forward between the connecting piece 9 and the evaporator 27 in the direction of the observer.

[0049] The bypass blocker 31 has on its outer face that is remote from the evaporator 27 a groove 33 that receives the clip 21. The groove 33 is flanked on the upper and lower side by ribs 34 that protrude to the side outward through the cut-outs 13 beyond the wall plates 16, 17. The front edges 20 of the wall plates 16, 17 are bent behind ribs 61 of the bypass blocker 31, said ribs protruding forward beyond the wall plates 16, 17.

[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through the bypass blocker 31 along a plane that extends through the groove 33 and perpendicular to its flank 35 that is facing the evaporator 27. The groove 33 extends along a flank 36, which is remote from the evaporator 27, from a rear side 37, which lies against the base plate 2, as far as a front side 38 of the bypass blocker 31, said front side being remote from the base plate 2. The depth of the groove 33 gradually reduces along an insertion slope 39, which is open toward the rear side 37, starting from the rear side 37 to a minimum 40. The minimum 40 extends in this case in a longitudinal manner along the flank 35 and extends as far as just before the front side 38.

[0051] The arm 22 of the clip 21 is just sufficiently long that when the evaporator assembly 26 is pushed against the base plate 2, the barbed hook 23 may pass the minimum 40 and as illustrated in FIG. 3 may engage in a deeper section of the groove 33 between the minimum 40 and the front side 38 with the result that the clip 21 engages around an edge of the evaporator assembly 26.

[0052] Recesses 41 somewhat in the shape of semi-circular discs are formed on a flank 36 of the bypass blocker 31, said flank lying opposite the flank 35 and facing the evaporator 27, said recesses being provided in order to receive the above mentioned tube loops of the refrigerant tube 29. Corresponding recesses are also provided on the bypass blocker 30. The width of the recesses 41 is somewhat less that the diameter of the refrigerant tube 29 in order to ensure by means of a frictional or form-locking connection that the bypass blocker 30, 31 sits firmly on the evaporator 27, that the evaporator 27 and the bypass blocker 30, 31 may be joined together to form the evaporator assembly 26 prior to being installed in the inner space of the refrigeration appliance and reliably holds together this evaporator assembly 26 as it is being installed.

[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic section through the rearward part of a housing 42 of a still unfinished refrigeration appliance along a plane that extends horizontally when the appliance is set upright in the position of use. The figure illustrates a part of an inner space 43 and part of side walls 44 and also a rear wall 45 of the housing 42. The retaining device 1 is mounted in the inner space 43 with the base plate 2 lying against the rear wall 45. The width of the retaining device 1 is smaller than that of the inner space 43 with the result that gaps 46 remain between the protrusions 5, 6 and the side walls 44 respectively. The width of the gap 46 varies depending upon the width of the housing 42.

[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a section through the refrigeration appliance along a plane that is perpendicular to the section plane of FIG. 4 and vertical when the finished refrigeration appliance is in the position of use. The plane is described in FIG. 4 by V-V and extends through the through-going passage 25 of the condensed water channel 24 and an upper edge 47 of the base plate 2. The rear wall 45 comprises a layer of insulating material 48 and an inner vessel 49 that separates the layer of insulating material 48 from the inner space 43. A groove 50 is formed on a lower edge of the rear wall 45 in the inner vessel 49 and the condensed water channel 24 of the retaining device 1 is inlaid in said inner vessel.

[0055] The retaining device 1 is fixed in the illustrated position with the aid of an adhesive band 51, typically an aluminum adhesive band, which bridges the upper edge 47 of the base plate 2, adhered in part to the base plate 2 and in part to the inner vessel 49 and also with the aid of a plug connector 52. The plug connector 52 has a pin section 53 that penetrates the opening 25 and engages in a drain 54 that is formed on the inner vessel 49 and extends through the layer of insulating material 48 into the atmosphere, and a head 55, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the through-going passage 25. The condensed water channel 24 is also fixed in the groove 50 by virtue of the pin section 53 being held in the drain 54, for example by means of a frictional connection or a latching arrangement.

[0056] In order not to block the outflow of the condensed water, the plug connector 52 may not fill the cross-section of the drain 54. The pin section 53 therefore has in this case a U-shaped cross-section having a groove 56 that extends over the entire length of the pin section 53 and on its upper end becomes one or multiple grooves 57 on the lower face of the head 55.

[0057] In order to install the evaporator assembly 26 in the refrigeration appliance illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing 42 is placed on the side with the result that the protrusion 5 of the retaining device 1 comes to lie at the very bottom. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the evaporator assembly 26 is inserted into the inner space 43 in an inclined position and its bypass blocker 30 is placed in the recess 11 of the protrusion 5.

[0058] Subsequently the evaporator assembly 26 is pivoted against the rear wall 45 about the axis that is determined by means of the bypass blocker 30 engaging in the recess 11. As a consequence, the barbed hook 23 of the clip 21 comes to lie against the entrance of the groove 33 of the bypass blocker 31.

[0059] During a further pivot movement, the barbed hook 23 engages into the groove 33 and by virtue of making contact with its base in the region of the insertion slope 39 is deflected upward, in other words toward the side wall 44 of the housing 42, said side wall being the upper side wall in the horizontal position (FIG. 7), until said barbed hook finally passes the minimum 40 and engages between this and the front side 38 further deeper into the groove 33 and thus engages around the bypass blocker 31 as illustrated in FIG. 8.

[0060] As the same time as the clip 21 moves into the groove 33, the ribs 34 (not illustrated in FIGS. 6-8) also engage in the sections 13. It is thus possible to dimension their lateral overhang in such a manner that after the clip 21 has latched in the groove 33 said ribs fill the gap 46 between the wall plates 16, 17 and the upper side wall 44.

[0061] Accordingly, the rib 32 of the bypass blocker 30 is dimensioned in order to bridge the gap 46 between the wall plate 7 and the lower side wall 44. If the bypass blockers 30, 31 are provided in different shapes having respectively a height of the ribs 32, 34 that is tailored to suite the width of the housing 42, it is possible to use an identical model of evaporator 27 and retaining device 1 in the housings 42 of a different width. Alternatively, it is possible to use a respective single model of bypass blocker 30, 31 in which the height of the ribs 32, 34 may be tailored to suit the width of the narrowest housing that is to be used, and with supplementary shaped parts fill gaps that occur when using these bypass blockers 30, 31 in a wider housing 42.

[0062] The evaporator assembly 26 is now held in a sufficiently fixed manner in the housing 42 in order to solder the end pieces 58 of the refrigerant tube 29 to the already installed parts of the refrigerant circuit and to connect the evaporator heater 59 to a current supply. Once these tasks have been completed, a partition wall 62 may be inserted that lies against the ribs 60, 61 of the bypass blockers 30, 31 and subdivides the inner space 43 into a storage compartment for chilled goods and an evaporator chamber that receives the evaporator assembly 26.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0063] 1 Retaining device [0064] 2 Base plate [0065] 3 Edge [0066] 4 Edge [0067] 5 Protrusion [0068] 6 Protrusion [0069] 7 Wall plate [0070] 8 Connecting piece [0071] 9 Connecting piece [0072] 10 Connecting piece [0073] 11 Recess [0074] 12 Corrugation [0075] 13 Section [0076] 14 Outer part [0077] 15 Outer part [0078] 16 Wall plate [0079] 17 Wall plate [0080] 18 Connecting piece [0081] 19 Connecting piece [0082] 20 Edge [0083] 21 Clip [0084] 22 Arm [0085] 23 Barbed hook [0086] 24 Condensed water channel [0087] 25 Through-going passage [0088] 26 Evaporator assembly [0089] 27 Evaporator [0090] 28 Fin [0091] 29 Refrigerant tube [0092] 30 Bypass blocker [0093] 31 Bypass blocker [0094] 32 Rib [0095] 33 Groove [0096] 34 Rib [0097] 35 Flank [0098] 36 Flank [0099] 37 Rear side [0100] 38 Front side [0101] 39 Insertion slope [0102] 40 Minimum [0103] 41 Recesses [0104] 42 Housing [0105] 43 Inner space [0106] 44 Side wall [0107] 45 Rear wall [0108] 46 Gap [0109] 47 Edge [0110] 48 Layer of insulating material [0111] 49 Inner vessel [0112] 50 Groove [0113] 51 Adhesive strip [0114] 52 Plug connector [0115] 53 Pin section [0116] 54 Drain [0117] 55 Head [0118] 56 Groove [0119] 57 Groove [0120] 58 End piece [0121] 59 Evaporator heater [0122] 60 Rib [0123] 61 Rib [0124] 62 Partition wall