REFRIGERATOR WITH A COMPRESSOR

Abstract

Refrigerator (2), comprising a coolant compressor (50) which comprises a hermetically sealed housing (52) as well as a drive unit arranged inside said housing with a unit for cyclic compression of a coolant and an electric motor for driving said unit, whereby said coolant compressor (50) further comprises at least one connecting part (70) for connecting said compressor (50) to a mounting structure (64) of said refrigerator (2), whereby said connecting part (70) comprises an inner element (82) and an outer element (84) encompassing said inner element (82), whereby said inner element (82) has a larger stiffness compared to said outer element (84), whereby both said inner element (82) and said outer element (84) are built as having respective elastic elements (82, 84).

Claims

1. Refrigerator (2), comprising a coolant compressor (50) which comprises a hermetically sealed housing (52) as well as a drive unit arranged inside said housing with a unit for cyclic compression of a coolant and an electric motor for driving said unit, whereby said coolant compressor (50) further comprises at least one connecting part (70) for connecting said compressor (50) to a mounting structure (64) of said refrigerator (2), whereby said connecting part (70) comprises an inner element (82) and an outer element (84) encompassing said inner element (82), whereby said inner element (82) has a larger stiffness compared to said outer element (84), characterized in that both said inner element (82) and said outer element (84) are built as having respective elastic elements (82, 84).

2. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said outer element (84) in a first damping region fully encompasses said inner element (82) and in a second engagement region partly encompasses said inner element (82).

3. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said compressor (50) comprises at least one compressor base (60), said compressor base (60) comprising at least an opening, and whereby said elastic element of said inner element (82) comprises retaining means (92) configured for engaging with said at least one opening (232) of said compressor base (60).

4. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 3, whereby said retaining means (92) are encompassed by said elastic element of said outer element (84).

5. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 3, whereby said retaining means comprise at least one hook (92) configured for engaging with said at least one opening (232) of said compressor base (60).

6. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 5 whereby said at least one hook (92) in a radially outer area is encompassed by said respective elastic element of said outer element (84) as to form a neck region.

7. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 5, whereby said at least one elastic element of said inner element (82) comprises a bar (120) which protrudes from a base region (126), said hook (92) being integrally formed with said bar.

8. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 5, whereby along a circumference the relation of a segment covered by said hook (92) and a segment not covered by a hook (92) is 95% to 50%

9. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby in an axial direction in a bottom region said outer element (84) extends farther than said inner element (82).

10. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said inner element (82) comprises a base region (126) in which in radial direction said inner element has a radial extension being larger than in its other regions.

11. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said inner element (82) comprises a fixation channel (164) adapted for receiving a fixation element (160).

12. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 11, whereby the at least one elastic element of said inner element (82) are adapted to get deformed when said fixation element (160) is pushed into said fixation channel (164).

13. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 11, whereby in the mounted configuration a mounting structure (64) is fixed to said connecting element (70) by said fixation element (160).

14. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said inner element (82) is made of plastic.

15. The refrigerator (2) according to claim 1, whereby said outer element (84) is made of rubber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted in greater detail in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, provided with reference to the enclosed drawings and given as an indication and not for limiting purposes.

[0037] In particular, the attached drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings together with the description explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, corresponding characteristics and/or components are identified by the same reference numbers. In these drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator with a compressor and a connecting part in a perspective rear view;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the connecting part according to FIG. 1 interposed between a compressor bracket and a compressor support;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows the connecting part according to FIG. 1 in a section as indicated in FIG. 2;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows the connecting part and the compressor bracket in a first assembly step;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows the connecting part and the compressor bracket in a second assembly step:

[0043] FIG. 6 shows the connecting part, the compressor bracket and the compressor support in a third assembly step;

[0044] FIG. 7 shows the connecting part, the compressor bracket and the compressor support in a fourth assembly step;

[0045] FIG. 8 shows the connecting part, the compressor bracket, the compressor support and a fixation element in a third assembly step;

[0046] FIG. 9 shows the assembly step of FIG. 8 in a different perspective;

[0047] FIG. 10 shows the connecting part, the compressor bracket, the compressor support and a fixation element in an assembled configuration; and

[0048] FIG. 11 shows the connecting part, the compressor bracket, the compressor support and a fixation element in an assembled configuration in a different perspective.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] In FIG. 1, a refrigerator 2 is shown in a perspective rear view. Refrigerator 2 comprises a casing 6 with two side walls 10, a back wall 14 and a top wall 18, in which in an inner liner at least one cooling compartment 22 is arranged. Optionally, refrigerator 2 can also or alternatively comprise a freezing compartment 26. The cooling compartment 22 can be accessed by a front cooling compartment door 32, The freezing compartment 26 can be accessed by a front freezing compartment door 36.

[0050] On a backside 40 of refrigerator 2, a heat exchanging element 44 is arranged for exchanging heat of a cooling medium with the environment; the heat exchanging element 44 is preferably partly covered by/in touch with a cooling element 48 which comprises cooling fins. Refrigerator 2 comprises a coolant compressor 50 for compressing the cooling medium/agent. The compressor 50 comprises a hermetically sealed housing 52 in which a drive unit is preferably arranged in a lower part of the casing 6 in a compressor niche 56. The drive unit comprises preferably a piston-cylinder unit for cyclic compression of a coolant and an electric motor for driving the piston-cylinder-unit.

[0051] Attached to compressor 50, especially welded, at least one compressor bracket 60 is preferably provided. The respective compressor bracket is connected to a compressor support 64 by respective connecting parts 70. The compressor support 64 is preferably part of a frame 76 of refrigerator 2. The respective connecting part 70 is designed to reduce the transfer of vibrations of the compressor to the frame 76 and other parts of the refrigerator, thereby reducing the noise and vibrations of the refrigerator 2. In this way, the user obtains a high qualitative impression of the machine and disturbance due to noise is significantly reduced.

[0052] The connecting part 70 is shown in FIG. 2 in a side view together with compressor bracket 60 and compressor support 64. In FIG. 3, connecting part is shown in a section A-A indicated in FIG. 2. Connecting part 70 is built of two elements, namely an inner element 82 and an outer element 84. Outer element 84 encompasses inner element 82 at least partly. In a first damping region 88 the outer element 84 preferably fully encompasses inner element 82 and in a second engagement region 86 preferably partly encompasses inner element 82. In engagement region 86, in axial direction hooks 92 preferably exceed the outer element 84. In this way, material of the outer element 84 is saved in places where it is not necessary for the connecting part 70 to fulfil its function.

[0053] Inner element 82 has a larger stiffness than outer element 84 and is preferably built of plastic. In other words, the inner element 82 is made of a material which is stiffer than the material of the outer element 84. According to the invention, both elements are built having, respectively, at least one elastic element.

[0054] Outer element 84 is preferably made of rubber. The elastic element of the inner element 82 preferably comprises a plurality of elastic hooks 92 which are retaining elements, in the preferred embodiment shown four hooks are provided. In a neck region 94, outer element 82 forms a neck part 98 which is arranged radially outside of a straight part 100 of the respective hook 92. In the mounted configuration as shown, the compressor bracket 60 is sandwiched between the neck part 98 and a protrusion 108 formed in outer element 84. In this way, the compressor bracket is partly embedded in/encompassed by the outer element 84 which allows an efficient damping of vibrations. Since the respective hook 92 is made of the inner element 82 with a larger stiffness, a large range of frequencies can be damped.

[0055] The respective hook 92 is preferably formed integrally with an elastic bar 120 which is preferably integrally built with a foot or base part 126. In this way, the inner element 84 can absorb also vibrations which result in a radial movement of hook 92 and/or bar part 120 and can provide deformation properties to the elastic elements.

[0056] The base part 126 is preferably surrounded/encompassed by a foot part 130. In the mounted configuration, only the foot part 130 of outer element 84 which preferably is made of rubber is in contact with the compressor support 64. This preferably leads to a spring-mounted connection of connecting part 70 and compressor support 64. The fact that the stiffer element 82 is not in contact with the compressor support 64 allows specially to absorb and damp vibrations of compressor 50 with higher frequencies and avoid that they are transmitted to the machine frame. An intermediate part 142 is preferably built with an S-shaped cross section, allowing a contraction in an axial direction 150 of connecting part 70.

[0057] The connecting part 70, which is a compressor foot, comprises inner element 82 and outer element 84 which are preferably made of two different materials. The inner element 82 is preferably made of plastic which gives structure to the connecting part and serves to fix connecting part 70 to the compressor base. The outer element 84, preferably made of rubber, is especially designed to amortise vibrations of compressor 50.

[0058] As described above, an upper part of connecting element 70 preferably comprises for elastic plastic hooks 92 to fix connecting part 70 to the bottom part of the compressor, preferably via a compressor bracket 60. The hooks 92 externally are at least preferably partly covered by rubber to avoid the transmission of vibrations. A central part of the connecting part 70 is preferably composed of a rubber cylinder. The compressor is preferably supported on this part. The cylinder can have material gaps along a circumference as to allow a radial bending of hooks 92. A bottom part is preferably composed of inner element 82 covered by outer element 84. Connecting part 70 or compressor foot is placed on the compressor base/support 64 with its rubber part which functions to reduce the transmission of vibrations.

[0059] Connecting part 70 is preferably fixed to the compressor support 64 by a fixation element 160 which is lead into a fixation channel 164 formed in inner element 82 in axial direction 150. Fixation element 160 preferably comprises a collar 170 which in a fully inserted state abuts with a lower surface 174 of compressor base 64. In this way, outer element 84 is preferably partly sandwiched between compressor bracket 60 and compressor support 64 and fixed. The fixation element 160 is preferably releasably inserted into fixation channel 164. The inner element 82 is preferably adapted to get deformed when the fixation element 160 is inserted, especially the fixation channel 160 widens in a radial direction and presses against the radially outer lying outer element 84. In this way, a force-fit connection between fixation element 160 and inner element 82 is realized. In a preferred embodiment, for releasing the fixation element 160, the fixation channel 164 and the fixation element 160 are configured that the fixation element 160 can be unscrewed from the inner element 82. Since the fixation element 160 be pushed into inner element 82, the assembly process is accelerated compared to situations in which a screw would be used. Fixation element 160 is preferably built as a PUSHTITE-screw. It can be inserted only by pressure. It can be removed unscrewing as a normal screw. Its function is to block the compressor foot/connecting part 70 on compressor support 64. The fixation element can also be built as a pivot or a plastic screw

[0060] In FIGS. 4-11, the assembly process of connecting part 70 with compressor bracket 60 is illustrated. As can be seen in FIG. 4, four hooks 92 are preferably distributed equally around a circumference. Each hook 92 preferably comprises a hook part with a contour 180 which is a segment of a circle. As can be seen in the FIG. along the circumference between two neighbouring hooks 92, a free space is preferably built, allowing a movement/deformation of hooks 92 along this circumferential direction.

[0061] In a first assembly step shown in FIG. 4, connecting part 70 is moved in insertion direction 184 towards compressor bracket 60 until elastic hooks 92 engage with an opening 192 built in compressor bracket 60. During the insertion of hooks 92 in opening 192, the hooks 92 as they are built of an elastic material/are built as elastic elements bend radially inwards until the neck parts 98 of outer element 84 engages with opening 192 and hooks 92 can move radially outward again for engaging with compressor bracket 60.

[0062] In FIG. 5 a second assembly step is shown in which connecting part 70 engages with compressor bracket 60. Hooks 92 and protrusions 108 lead to a form-fit connection between connecting part 70 and compressor bracket 60.

[0063] In FIG. 6, a third assembly step is shown. In this step the compressor base 64 is moved towards connecting part 70 or the compressor, having the connecting parts 70 connected on the compressor bracket as shown in FIG. 5, is moved toward its mounting position on the compressor base 64/refrigerator, until compressor support 64 is in contact with a bottom side 302, which corresponds to a step shown in FIG. 7. As can be seen in FIG. 6, an opening 232 is formed in compressor support 64 through which the fixation element 160 can pass for fixing connecting part 70 to compressor support 64.

[0064] In a subsequent assembly step shown in FIG. 8, fixation element 160 is lead in direction 184 through opening 232 of compressor support 64 into the fixation channel 164 of connecting part 70. Fixation element 160 in the preferred embodiment shown is pushed into fixation channel 164, thereby radially extending/deforming fixation channel 164 and hence inner element 82, leading to a tight and force-fit connection. This assembly process can be performed very fast since no screwing is necessary. In other preferred embodiment, fixation element 164 could be a screw which is screwed into fixation channel 164 or a pivot pushed into channel 164. FIG. 9 shows this step from a different perspective. Fixation element 164 is pushed into fixation channel 164 until collar 170 is in tight contact with compressor support 64.

[0065] The assembly steps shown in FIGS. 4-9 are part of a method for assembling a refrigerator 2, especially a method for connecting a compressor 50 to a mounting structure, especially a compressor support 64, of the refrigerator.

[0066] FIGS. 10 and 11 show the assembled configuration in which the compressor bracket 60 is connected to the compressor support 64 by connecting part 70. In this way, the compressor 50 can be connected to a frame or casing or other mounting components of the refrigerator 2. Due to the design of the connecting element 70 as described above, vibrations of the compressor are strongly absorbed and damped by connecting part 70. Preferably, several, preferably four, connecting parts 70 are used for connecting the compressor 50 to mounting structures of the refrigerator 2.

[0067] The invention thus conceived can be subjected to numerous modifications and variants all falling within the scope of the inventive concept. In addition, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the shapes and contingent dimensions, may vary depending on the requirements without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.