Household appliance apparatus with a flow separating unit and household appliance

Abstract

A household appliance apparatus, in particular a household refrigeration appliance apparatus, has at least one flow separating unit which is provided for separating at least two airflows. In order to provide improved properties with regard to a ventilation of heat-generating freestanding household appliance components, the flow separating unit is provided for mounting on an outer wall of a freestanding household appliance.

Claims

1. A household appliance apparatus, comprising: a freestanding appliance having an outer wall; a support for resting against a supporting surface and supporting said freestanding appliance on the supporting surface and spacing said outer wall from the supporting surface at a gap; at least one flow separating unit provided for separating at least two airflows, said at least one flow separating unit configured for mounting on said outer wall, said at least one flow separating unit having at least one first separating portion and at least one second separating portion, said at least one first separating portion being configured as a sealing lip, said at least one first separating portion constructed for being in contact with at least one of the supporting surface or a surface defining an alcove.

2. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first separating portion is at least partially configured as a vertical slat blind.

3. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one flow separating unit extending at least substantially over an entire width of said outer wall.

4. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the outer wall is configured as a machine space outer wall.

5. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one second separating portion has a flexibility which is different from said at least one first separating portion.

6. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one first separating portion is configured to be more flexible than said at least one second separating portion.

7. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when viewed in a longitudinal direction said at least one first separating portion has a curved path, at least in some regions.

8. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said at least one second separating portion is provided to fasten said at least one flow separating unit to the outer wall.

9. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said at least one second separating portion is at least partially configured as a U-shaped profile which is provided for receiving at least one part of the outer wall.

10. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said at least one second separating portion has at least one outer part and at least one inner part which is disposed on said outer part and which has a greater flexibility than said outer part.

11. The household appliance apparatus according to claim 10, wherein when viewed in a longitudinal direction of said at least one second separating portion, said inner part has at least in some regions a tooth geometry and is provided to fasten said at least one flow separating unit to the outer wall by means of a clamped connection.

12. A system, comprising: a freestanding household appliance containing an outer wall having a width; at least one kitchen unit defining an alcove having a surface; and a household appliance apparatus having at least one flow separating unit provided for separating at least two airflows, said at least one flow separating unit mounted on said outer wall, said at least one flow separating unit having at least a separating portion being configured as a sealing lip, said separating portion constructed for being in contact with at least one of a supporting surface of the freestanding household appliance substantially over an entirety of said width of said outer wall or said surface of said alcove over substantially an entirety of said width of said outer wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, side view of a freestanding household appliance configured as a combined fridge/freezer with a household appliance apparatus in an arrangement in a kitchen unit;

(2) FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of a longitudinal section of area IA shown in FIG. 1 of a rear corner of the combined fridge/freezer and the flow separating unit fastened to the outer wall;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lower rear face of the combined fridge/freezer with a machine space outer wall;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective, side view of a flow separating unit as seen obliquely from above; and

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective, side view of an alternative flow separating unit as seen obliquely from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a system, in particular a kitchen system, with a freestanding household appliance 16 in a kitchen unit 38. The kitchen unit 38 at least partially defines an alcove 36. The alcove 36 may be defined, in particular, by an internal wall or an external wall. The freestanding household appliance 16 is arranged in the kitchen unit 38 which is configured as an alcove 36. The freestanding household appliance 16 has a household appliance apparatus 10. The household appliance apparatus 10 has a flow separating unit 12. The flow separating unit 12 is provided for separating at least two airflows 60, 62, 64. The freestanding household appliance 16 is configured as a combined fridge/freezer 44.

(7) The freestanding household appliance 16 is provided for mounting in the alcove 36. The combined fridge/freezer 44 is at least substantially arranged entirely in the alcove 36 which is defined by the kitchen unit 38. The combined fridge/freezer 44 has an outer wall 14. A lower face 40 of the freestanding household appliance 16 is in contact with a supporting surface 42 of the alcove 36, wherein the lower face 40 forms a part of the outer wall 14. A gap 46 is formed between the lower face 40 and the supporting surface 42.

(8) The lower region of the combined fridge/freezer 44 has a machine space 48. In particular, a condenser unit, a compressor unit and a fan unit 50 are arranged in the machine space 48. The machine space 48 is delimited at the bottom by a compressor support rail 72 and to the rear by a machine space outer wall 18, wherein the compressor support rail 72 and the machine space outer wall 18 in each case are part of the outer wall 14 of the combined fridge/freezer 44.

(9) The machine space outer wall 18 has circular ventilation openings 52 (FIG. 2). The ventilation openings 52 may also be of slotted configuration. The ventilation openings 52 are located on one side of the machine space outer wall 18. It is also conceivable that the ventilation openings 52 are arranged on an upper face of the machine space outer wall 18. The flow separating unit 12 is arranged on the machine space outer wall 18 such that firstly it does not cover the ventilation openings 52 and secondly it is fastened below the ventilation openings 52 to the machine space outer wall 18. The fan unit 50 generates a vacuum in a region of the machine space 48 and as a result draws in air on a rear face 54 of the combined fridge/freezer 44 into the machine space 48.

(10) The flow separating unit 12 is fastened in a lower region of the combined fridge/freezer 44 to the machine space outer wall 18 of the combined fridge/freezer 44. The flow separating unit 12 extends over the entire width of the lower face 40. The flow separating unit 12 covers the gap 46 produced between the lower face 40 and the supporting surface 42. The flow separating unit 12 at least substantially forms an air-impermeable barrier.

(11) FIG. 3 shows the flow separating unit 12 in a perspective side view obliquely from above. The flow separating unit 12 has a first separating portion 20. The flow separating unit 12 has a second separating portion 22. The flow separating unit 12 is configured integrally.

(12) The second separating portion 22 may have at least partially a flexibility which is different from the first separating portion 20. Preferably, the first separating portion 20 is configured to be more flexible than the second separating portion 22. The first and the second separating portion 20, 22 are formed from the same plastics material. The first and the second separating portion 20, 22 have a variable concentration of plasticizing components which determine the variable flexibility of the first and the second separating portion 20, 22. The flow separating unit 12 may also be configured at least partially from an elastomer and/or a rubber. It is possible that the flow separating unit 12 is able to be produced as an extruded profile in an extrusion method.

(13) The flow separating unit 12 is fastened by the second separating portion 22 to the machine space outer wall 18. The second separating portion 22 is entirely configured as a U-shaped profile 26. It is also conceivable that the second separating portion 22 is formed only in some regions as a U-shaped profile 26. The U-shaped profile 26 receives the lower face of the machine space outer wall 18 between the flanges of the U-shaped profile 26. A clamped connection 34 produced thereby fixes the flow separating unit 12 to the machine space outer wall 18. To this end, the flow separating unit 12 is able to be pushed from the bottom onto a lower face of the machine space outer wall 18.

(14) The second separating portion 22 has an outer part 28 and an inner part 30. The inner part 30 has a greater flexibility in comparison with the outer part 28. The inner part 30 is arranged on the outer part 28.

(15) Viewed in a longitudinal direction of the second separating portion 22, the inner part 30 continuously has a tooth geometry 32. The individual teeth of the tooth geometry 32 are formed so as to be oriented counter to a mounting direction such that the flow separating unit 12 is mounted with a smaller expenditure of force than when the flow separating unit 12 is dismantled. When the flow separating unit 12 is mounted, the outer part 28 of the second separating portion 22 is elastically deformed and produces a contact pressure due to a restoring force. By means of the contact pressure a clamped connection 34 is produced between the flow separating unit 12 and the machine space outer wall 18. In this case, the inner part 30 and, in particular, the individual teeth of the tooth geometry 32 are deformed, which leads to a stable non-positive connection.

(16) In a view in a longitudinal direction of the first separating portion 20 the first separating portion 20 has a curved path. The first separating portion 20 is curved such that an at least substantially concave side 56 of the first separating portion 20 faces in the direction of a front face 66 of the combined fridge/freezer 44. The first separating portion 20 is in contact with the supporting surface 42 along the entire longitudinal extent of the flow separating unit 12.

(17) The first separating portion 20 is entirely configured as a sealing lip 24. Bending stress is produced by a curvature 70 of the first separating portion 20. The bending stress produces an additional contact pressure of the first separating portion 20 on the supporting surface 42 and thus an advantageous sealing action of the sealing lip 24. Due to the flexibility of the sealing lip 24 the curvature 70 of the sealing lip 24 may be configured to be of variable strength and of variable configuration, whereby the gap 46 may be partially sealed irrespective of the gap size.

(18) It is also conceivable that the first separating portion 20 is configured as a vertical slat blind 58 (see FIG. 4). The vertical slat blind 58 has vertical slats 74. The individual vertical slats 74 of the vertical slat blind 58 have a similar sealing action as the sealing lip 24. The vertical slats 74 may have a curved path. The vertical slats 74 may overlap one another.

(19) As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 1A, an air circuit is produced by a circulation of the air by means of the fan unit 50 around the combined fridge/freezer 44. The fan unit 50 draws in the air through the ventilation openings 52 of the machine space outer wall 18 (see FIG. 2), whereby a first airflow 60 is produced. The drawn-in air is provided to dissipate heat from heat-generating and/or heat-dissipating components of the combined fridge/freezer 44 and to cool the components thereby.

(20) The fan unit 50 conveys the drawn-in air from the machine space 48 on the lower face 40 of the combined fridge/freezer 44 through the gap 46 in the direction of a front face 66 of the combined fridge/freezer 44. As a result, a second airflow 62 is produced, the second airflow subsequently passing on the front face 66 of the combined fridge/freezer 44 via an upper face 68 of the combined fridge/freezer 44 to the rear face 54 of the combined fridge/freezer 44.

(21) A third airflow 64 flows as a portion of the air which is expelled by the fan unit 50 from the machine space 48 and which is oriented at least substantially toward the rear face 54, the third airflow flowing back on itself. The flow separating unit 12 at least substantially entirely seals the region between the lower face 40 and the supporting surface 42 relative to a region on the rear face 54.

(22) The flow separating unit 12 diverts the third airflow 64 by the advantageous curvature 70 of the flow separating unit 12 which in this case additionally functions as a barrier. Thus the first airflow 60 and the third airflow 64 are separated at least substantially from one another by the flow separating unit 12. As a result, a heat-dissipating cooling air circuit is produced around the combined fridge/freezer 44. By means of the flow separating unit 12, heat is prevented from being stored in the machine space 48 and in the regions adjacent thereto. As a result, an uninterrupted operation of a refrigeration circuit system of the combined fridge/freezer 44 is possible.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

(23) 10 Household appliance apparatus 12 Flow separating unit 14 Outer wall 16 Freestanding household appliance 18 Machine space outer wall 20 Separating portion 22 Separating portion 24 Sealing lip 26 U-shaped profile 28 Outer part 30 Inner part 32 Tooth geometry 34 Clamped connection 36 Alcove 38 Kitchen unit 40 Lower face 42 Supporting surface 44 Combined fridge/freezer 46 Gap 48 Machine space 50 Fan unit 52 Ventilation opening 54 Rear face 56 Side 58 Vertical slat blind 60 Airflow 62 Airflow 64 Airflow 66 Front face 68 Upper face 70 Curvature 72 Compressor support rail 74 Vertical slat