Water-guiding component assembly for a household cooling appliance

Abstract

A water-guiding component assembly for a household cooling appliance contains a plurality of connection interfaces connecting to units not forming part of the component assembly and/or to components forming part of the component assembly. The component assembly contains an outer housing, in which the connection interfaces are comprised and housed.

Claims

1. A water-guiding component assembly for a household cooling appliance, the water-guiding component assembly comprising: a plurality of connection interfaces connecting to units not forming part of the water-guiding component assembly and/or to components forming part of the water-guiding component assembly; a filter having a longitudinal axis; and an outer housing in which said connection interfaces are disposed, said outer housing having a first housing part and a second housing part releasably connected to one another in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; a filter housing part disposed on an outer surface of said outer housing for receiving said filter therein by insertion along the longitudinal axis.

2. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 1, wherein said outer housing has at least one opening formed therein, by said opening a connector of the unit not forming part of the water-guiding component assembly is insertable in said outer housing for connecting to the component forming part of the water-guiding component assembly in an interior of said outer housing, wherein a connection inside said outer housing between the connector of said unit not forming part of the water-guiding component assembly and the component is at least one of said connection interfaces.

3. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising two separate components forming part of the water-guiding component assembly, one of said connection interfaces is configured between said two separate components disposed in said outer housing.

4. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a connection hose; and wherein said outer housing has a filter opening formed therein and, through said filter opening said connection hose is passed, with which said component in said outer housing is connected with said filter in a fluid-conducting way.

5. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least two valves, which are disposed in said outer housing and at a respective one of said connection interfaces are connected to units not forming part of the water-guiding component assembly or to components forming part of the water-guiding component assembly.

6. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first housing part and second housing part, in an assembled state, bound an interior of said outer housing.

7. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 6, wherein said first and second housing parts are connected in a non-destructively releasable manner.

8. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 7, wherein said first and second housing parts are latched.

9. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 6, wherein: said second housing part has a second basic body; and said first housing part has a first basic body and a stop, said first housing part in a state connected to said second housing part with said first basic body up to said stop is fully inserted into said second basic body of said second housing part.

10. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first housing part has integrated therein at least one housing socket protruding in a tube-shaped manner from said first basic body, said housing socket having an end facing away from said first basic body with an opening formed in said end.

11. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 10, wherein said outer housing has a cover cap disposed in a non-destructively releasable manner at said end of said housing socket facing away, and said cover cap having a cap opening formed therein that in comparison with said opening of said housing socket is reduced in cross-section.

12. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 9, wherein said second basic body of said second housing part has integrated therein at least one housing socket protruding in a tube-shaped manner from said second basic body, said housing socket having an end facing away from said second basic body and said end having an opening formed therein.

13. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 12, wherein said outer housing has a second cover cap, disposed in a non-destructively releasable manner on said end of said housing socket, which faces away, and said second cover cap has a cap opening formed therein that is reduced in cross-section in comparison with said opening of said housing socket.

14. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 6, wherein said first housing part has at least one wall with an inner side; wherein said second housing part has at least one wall; and further comprising positioning bars disposed on said inner side of said at least one wall of said first housing part integrated in an interior of said first housing part and/or on an inner side of said at least one wall of said second housing part integrated in an interior of said second housing part, said positioning bars for positioning a component forming part of the water-guiding component assembly.

15. The water-guiding component assembly according to claim 6, wherein said first and second housing parts each have at least one wall with an external surface; and further comprising at least one fastening element disposed on said external surface of said at least one wall of at least one of said housing parts for fastening the water-guiding component assembly on a unit not forming part of the water-guiding component assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a household cooling appliance;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of partial areas of the household cooling appliance according to FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of an embodiment of a water-guiding component assembly according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 4 a first perspective view of an embodiment of a water-guiding component assembly according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 5 a perspective view of the component assembly according to FIG. 4 in a perspective that is different therefrom;

(6) FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the water-guiding component assembly according to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5; and

(7) FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through a housing of the water-guiding component assembly according to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) In the figures same elements and elements having the same function are equipped with the same reference signs.

(9) Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a schematic view a household cooling appliance 1 is shown, which is configured for storing and preserving food items. The household cooling appliance 1 can be a cooling appliance or a freezer or a fridge/freezer combination device. The household cooling appliance 1 is preferably a rack-mounted model. The household cooling appliance 1 has a housing 2, in which at least one receiving space for food items is configured. In the embodiment, to be understood merely as an example, the household cooling appliance 1 contains two doors 3 and 4, which close the at least one receiving space at the front, and which can be opened and closed independently of each other, and for this purpose are each pivotable about a vertical axis orientated in the height direction and thus in the y direction. In the embodiment moreover a dispenser unit 5 is arranged in the door 3 and at the front and thus is also accessible when the door 3 is closed. The dispenser unit 5 is configured for dispensing ice form elements, such as for instance ice cubes and/or crushed ice, and thus can additionally or instead also be configured for dispensing chilled drinks. The dispenser unit 5 in this connection contains a dispenser element 6, via which the ice form elements and/or the chilled liquid can be dispensed. Moreover, in this connection a niche 7 is formed on the front side and thus accessible from the front, in which a receiving vessel can be inserted, in order to be able to contain the media dispensed by the dispenser element 6.

(10) The household cooling appliance 1 moreover contains a machine space 8 formed in the bottom portion of the household cooling appliance 1.

(11) In FIG. 2 the machine space 8 is shown in a perspective view. In the machine space 8 components of a cooling circuit 9 of the household cooling appliance 1 are arranged. Moreover, in this machine space 8 also a water-guiding component assembly 10 is arranged. The water-guiding component assembly 10 is connected to a domestic water network external to the appliance so that water of the domestic water network reaches the household cooling appliance 1 and is further taken through this water-guiding component assembly 10 to the dispenser unit 5. Adjacent to the water-guiding component assembly 10 is arranged an electronics component 11. Moreover also further electronics components 11 are arranged in the machine space 8 adjacent to the water-guiding component assembly 10.

(12) In FIG. 3 the water-guiding component assembly 10 is shown in an embodiment in an exploded view. The water-guiding component assembly 10 contains an outer housing 12, which contains a first housing part 13 and a second housing part 14. The two separate housing parts 13 and 14 are non-destructively releasable and thus capable of being reversibly assembled and disassembled again. Moreover, the water-guiding component assembly 10 contains a filter housing for a filter 64, through which water is drained. Preferably the filter housing contains a first filter housing part 15 and a separate second filter housing part 16. The preferably tube-like housing parts 15, 16 are configured for holding the filter 64. Especially the first filter housing part 15 is, in particular, integrally formed, on the outer housing 12, in particular the second housing part 14.

(13) On the second housing part 14 moreover a housing socket 17 is integrally formed, which is formed upon the side wall facing away from the second housing part 14.

(14) Moreover, the first housing part 13 contains two housing sockets 18 and 19, which are equally formed in particular as a single piece, in particular upon the second side wall facing away from the second housing part 14.

(15) The water-guiding component assembly 10 moreover contains a plurality of functional components, which are configured for conducting the water. In this connection in the embodiment two valves 20 and 21 are envisaged, which are magnetic valves. Moreover, in the embodiment a further valve 22 and a connector 23 is provided, which in the mounted state extends into the housing sockets 18 and 19. Moreover a T-piece 24 is provided, which in turn is connected with a further valve 25. The valves 20, 21, 22, and 25 are connected with each other via further components 26, 27, 28, 29. Between every correspondingly named connection point of the individual components, there are connection interfaces formed. However, connection interfaces 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 are here named as examples. Moreover, also further connection interfaces 35, 36, and 37 are present, which are configured as connections between components forming part of the component assembly and components not forming part of the component assembly. The further named connection interfaces 30 to 34 represent connection interfaces between individual components forming part of the component assembly.

(16) In the mounted state and thus in the assembled state of the water-guiding component assembly 10 all of the named connection interfaces 30 to 37 are arranged within the outer housing 12 and thus enclosed and correspondingly protected.

(17) Depending on how the dispenser unit 5 is configured, and thus whether it is configured merely for dispensing ice form elements or merely for dispensing chilled liquids or for dispensing both media, the design of the water-guiding component assembly 10 is individually designed. This means that depending thereon for instance then only the housing socket 18 or only the housing socket 19 is provided and in this connection then for instance also only the valve 22 or the connector 23 is provided. In the shown embodiment the dispenser unit 5 is configured both for dispensing ice form elements as well as for dispensing chilled liquid so that the water-guiding component assembly 10 is configured according to the embodiment in FIG. 3. This is because with such a design then the dispenser element for dispensing the chilled liquid is connected with the valve 22 via the housing socket 18. The ice maker is connected via the connector 23 and the housing socket 19 with the water-guiding component assembly 10.

(18) Via the housing socket 17 the first filter housing part 15 and therefore the filter 64 too, is connected with the valve 25. The domestic water network conduit and thus the external water supply is connected with the filter 64.

(19) The outer housing 12 thus contains at least one opening, through which a connection not forming part of the component assembly can be passed into the outer housing 12 for connection to a component of the component assembly 10 positioned within the interior of the outer housing 12, wherein this connection internal to the housing or coupling between the connection not forming part of the component assembly and the components of the component assembly 10 then is a connection interface. These were already set out in the above in exemplary explanations.

(20) Thus at least one connection interface is formed between two components arranged in the outer housing 12, which are separate and belong to the component assembly 10. In the embodiment it is also envisaged that at least one connection interface 35, 36, 37 between a component forming part of the component assembly 10 and a component not forming part of the component assembly 10, wherein also then this connection interface is positioned in the outer housing 12. All connection interfaces 35, 36, 37 are to be understood as of such kind, through which water conducted in the water-conducing component assembly 10, can exit. The openings of the external housing 12 are on the one hand formed by the housing sockets 17, wherein here the opening then is configured as filter opening 38. On the other hand, openings 39 and 40 are envisaged, that are formed on the external housing 12 and are provided by the housing sockets 18 and 19. Through these openings 39 and 40 a connection not forming part of the component assembly or a component not forming part of the component assembly can be passed into the external housing 12 and is configured for connection positioned in the interior of the external housing 12 connecting to a component forming part of the component assembly, in particular the valve 22 and the connector 23, is configured.

(21) It is moreover envisaged that the water-guiding component assembly 10 contains a first cover cap 41 and a second cover cap 42. The separate cover caps 41 and 42 are envisaged for plugging on the housing sockets 18 and 19. They can in particular be latched on them. The cover caps 41, 42 have cap openings 43 and 44, which in comparison with the openings 39 and 40 are reduced in cross-section. These cap openings 43 and 44 thus reduce the cross-section of the openings 39 and 40 of the outer housing 12 and thus in particular of the housing sockets 18 and 19.

(22) Moreover it is envisaged that on the first housing part 13 a connection element or fastening element 45 is formed as a single piece, which in particular is configured for latching-in with the counter element or the fastening element 46 formed on the second housing part 14. On the opposite side of the housing parts 13 and 14 once again corresponding elements 45 and 46 are envisaged.

(23) In FIG. 4 the water-guiding component assembly 10 is shown in the assembled state. It can be seen that a connection hose 47 is arranged between the first filter housing part 15 and the outer housing 12. The connection hose 47 extends via the filter opening 38 into the housing socket 17 and therein is connected with the valve 25 via the connection interface 37.

(24) In FIG. 4 also the latched-in state between the elements 45 and 46 is shown. The cover caps 41 and 42 are plugged upon the housing sockets 18 and 19 and thus are latched.

(25) In FIG. 5 the water-guiding component assembly 10 is shown in a perspective that is different from FIG. 4. It can here be recognized that on a bottom wall 48 of the outer housing 12, in particular the second housing part 14 a bottom opening 49 is configured. The water-guiding component assembly 10 is arranged with this bottom wall 48 on a component not forming part of the component assembly, in particular fastened to it on a bottom of the machine space 8. For this fastening it is envisaged that in particular on this bottom wall 48 several fastening elements 50, 51, and 52 are formed as a single piece. These fastening elements 50 to 52 are configured in the embodiment as holding lugs engaging with corresponding recesses in the bottom of the machine space 8. Additionally it is preferably envisaged that the outer housing 12 is also screwed to this bottom and therefore at least one lug is integrally formed with at least one screw passage 53. In FIG. 5 also the interior 54 of the outer housing 12 can be viewed.

(26) In FIG. 6 in a vertical sectional view along the intersection line VI-VI in FIG. 4 the water-guiding component assembly 10 is shown. The arrangement of the components belonging to the component assembly 10 can be recognized in the outer housing 12.

(27) In FIG. 7 in a horizontal sectional view and thus in a sectional plane corresponding to the x-z plane the outer housing 12 is shown in the assembled final state. As can also be seen here, in particular on the first housing parts 13 on several inner sides, preferably on an inner side 55 of a bottom wall 56 of the first housing part 13 positioning bars 57 and 58 are integrally formed. These serve as positioning elements and thus also as stops for the valves 20 and 21 in the assembled final state. Thereby no undesired shifting in the depth direction and thus in the z direction can occur. As can be seen in particular in the views according to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, in the assembled state of the outer housing 12 the first housing part 13 is arranged to be fully plunged with a basic body 59 up to a stop 60 formed on the basic body 59 into a basic body 61 of the second housing part 14.

(28) In FIG. 7 also a separate cover cap 62 is shown, which is slid upon the housing socket 17 and in particular is latched with it. The cover cap 62 has a cap opening 63 that in comparison with the filter opening 38 is reduced in cross-section and through which the connection hose 47 can be passed to fit precisely.

(29) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 1 household cooling appliance 2 housing 3 door 4 door 5 dispenser unit 6 dispenser element 7 niche 8 machine space 9 refrigeration circuit 10 water-guiding component assembly 11 electronics component 12 outer housing 13 housing part 14 housing part 15 first filter housing part 16 second filter housing part 17 housing socket 18 housing socket 19 housing socket 20 valve 21 valve 22 valve 23 connector 24 T-piece 25 valve 26 component 27 component 28 component 29 component 30 connection interface 31 connection interface 32 connection interface 33 connection interface 34 connection interface 35 connection interface 36 connection interface 37 connection interface 38 filter opening 39 opening 40 opening 41 cover cap 42 cover cap 43 cap opening 44 cap opening 45 fastening element 46 fastening element 47 connection hose 48 bottom wall 49 bottom opening 50 fastening element 51 fastening element 52 fastening element 53 screw passage 54 interior 55 inner side 56 bottom wall 57 positioning bar 58 positioning bar 59 basic body 60 stop 61 basic body 62 cover cap 63 cap opening 64 filter