Refrigeration device comprising a fan with an heat-conducting element

Abstract

A refrigeration device has a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber. An air channel conducts air to the cooling chamber. A fan is positioned in an evaporator area and supplies air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber; an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit cools air during a cooling cycle. The evaporator is positioned in front of the fan in relation to the direction of flow. An heating element is positioned in the evaporator area and heats the evaporator during a defrost cycle to melt surface ice accumulated on the evaporator. The heating element heats the evaporator and a first area of the fan during the defrost cycle. The fan has a heat-conducting element extending from the first area to a second area, and transfers heat from the first to the second area to melt surface ice accumulated thereon during the defrost cycle.

Claims

1. Refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, comprising: an air channel for conducting air to the cooling chamber; a fan being positioned in an evaporator area of the refrigeration device, and being configured for supplying air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber in a direction of flow; an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit being configured for cooling air during a cooling cycle, the evaporator being positioned in the evaporator area in front of the fan in relation to the direction of flow; and a heating element, being positioned in the evaporator area and being configured for heating the evaporator during a defrost cycle for melting surface ice accumulated on the evaporator; the fan including a first area facing towards the evaporator and a second area facing away from the evaporator, the heating element being configured for heating the evaporator and the first area of the fan during the defrost cycle, and the fan including a heat-conducting element extending from the first area to the second area of the fan, and being configured for transferring heat from the first area to the second area for melting surface ice accumulated on the second area during the defrost cycle; the fan including a fan cover with a top side facing towards the evaporator, the heat-conducting element being positioned at the top side, and the heat-conducting element being in thermally conductive contact with the first and second area.

2. Refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling a cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, comprising: an air channel for conducting air to the cooling chamber; a fan being positioned in an evaporator area of the refrigeration device, and being configured for supplying air from the evaporator area through the air channel to the cooling chamber in a direction of flow; an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit being configured for cooling air during a cooling cycle, the evaporator being positioned in the evaporator area in front of the fan in relation to the direction of flow; and a heating element, being positioned in the evaporator area and being configured for heating the evaporator during a defrost cycle for melting surface ice accumulated on the evaporator; the fan including a first area facing towards the evaporator and a second area facing away from the evaporator, the heating element being configured for heating the evaporator and the first area of the fan during the defrost cycle, and the fan including a heat-conducting element extending from the first area to the second area of the fan, and being configured for transferring heat from the first area to the second area for melting surface ice accumulated on the second area during the defrost cycle; the fan having a fan motor housing with a bottom side facing away from the evaporator, the heat-conducting element being positioned at the bottom side, and the heat-conducting element being in thermally conductive contact with the first and second area.

3. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the heat-conducting element comprises a heat-absorbing area, which is in thermally conductive contact with the first area of the fan, and wherein the heat-conducting element comprises a heat-emitting area, which is in thermally conductive contact with the second area of the fan.

4. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the fan comprises a fan channel comprising a fan inlet and a fan outlet, wherein air is introduced into the fan inlet, is transferred through the fan channel and is released into the air channel through the fan outlet, wherein the first area of the fan is in thermally conductive contact with the fan inlet.

5. Refrigeration device according to claim 4, wherein the fan comprises a fan motor housing configured to enclose a fan motor, and wherein the fan comprises a fan cover configured to enclose the fan channel, wherein the fan channel is positioned between the fan motor housing and the fan cover.

6. Refrigeration device according to claim 5, wherein the fan inlet comprises an annular inlet opening, or wherein the fan outlet comprises a rectangular outlet opening.

7. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the heat-conducting element comprises metal, in particular aluminum or steel.

8. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the heat-conducting element is formed as a ring or as a rectangular sheet.

9. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the heating element is formed as a metal sheet and is positioned at a bottom side of the evaporator area.

10. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the air channel is positioned at a rear side of the refrigeration device and extends from a top side of the refrigeration device to a bottom side of the refrigeration device.

11. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the evaporator area is positioned at a top side of the refrigeration device and extends from a front side of the refrigeration device to a rear side of the refrigeration device.

12. Refrigeration device according to claim 11, wherein the fan is positioned behind the evaporator in the evaporator area.

13. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, the air channel comprises an air channel wall, wherein a thermal insulator is positioned between the air channel wall and the cooling chamber as well as between the air channel wall and an exterior of the refrigeration device.

14. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, wherein the fan comprises a recess configured to receive the heat-conducting element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) Further examples of the principles and techniques of that disclosure are explained in greater detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a fan positioned in an evaporator area of a refrigeration device; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a fan with a heat-conducting element according.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device according to the principles described herein.

(6) The refrigeration device 100 comprises a refrigerator door 101 and a refrigerator casing 102, wherein the refrigerator door 101 closes a cooling chamber 103 of the refrigeration device 100.

(7) The refrigeration device 100 comprises one or several refrigerant circuits each comprising an evaporator, compressor, condenser and throttle. The evaporator is a heat exchanger, wherein the liquid refrigerant is vaporized after expanding by heat-uptake from the external medium, e.g. air. The compressor is a mechanically operated device, which pumps refrigerant vapor from the evaporator to the condenser at an increased pressure. The condenser is a heat exchanger wherein after compression the refrigerant vapor is liquidized by transferring heat from the refrigerant to an external medium, e.g. air. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a ventilator to provide an air-flow to the condenser to efficiently cool the condenser. The throttle is a device to reduce the pressure by reducing the diameter within the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant is a fluid, which takes up heat at low temperatures and low pressure and transfers heat at higher temperatures and higher pressure.

(8) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a fan positioned in an evaporator area of a refrigeration device according to the principles described herein.

(9) A cross-section of the refrigeration device 100 is shown, which comprises a refrigerator casing 102 of the refrigeration device 100. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a cooling chamber 103 capable of storing goods at low temperature, e.g. at a temperature between 4 C. and 8 C.

(10) An evaporator area 104-1 is positioned in the refrigeration device 100 and extends from a front side 105 to a rear side 106 of the refrigeration device 100. An air channel 104-2 is connected to the evaporator area 104-1 and to the cooling chamber 103 to conduct air from the evaporator area 104-1 to the cooling chamber 103.

(11) In the evaporator area 104-1 an evaporator 107 of a refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration device 100 is positioned. The evaporator 107 functions as a heat exchanger, wherein the liquid refrigerant is vaporized after expanding by heat-uptake from air, thereby cooling the air surrounding the evaporator 107.

(12) Further, a fan 108 is positioned in the evaporator area 104-1 behind the evaporator 107. The fan 108 comprises a fan cover 109, which encloses a fan motor housing with a fan motor for powering the fan 108. During a cooling cycle of the refrigeration device 100, the fan 108 draws in air from the evaporator area 104-1, wherein the air passes the evaporator 107 in a direction of flow 110 and is cooled by the evaporator 107. Inside the fan 108, the direction of flow 110 of the cold air is changed and the cooled air is transferred to the air channel 106-2 and further to the cooling chamber 103.

(13) Because of the low surface temperatures of the evaporator 107 and the fan 108, which occur during the cooling cycles of the refrigeration device 100, and because of the humidity present in the air, surface ice can accumulate on the evaporator 107 and on the fan 108, thereby eventually preventing a proper function of the evaporator 107 and the fan 108.

(14) Therefore, to remove the surface ice from the evaporator 107, a heating element 111, which is positioned in the evaporator area 104-1, is activated during a defrost cycle of the refrigeration device 100 to melt the surface ice accumulated on the evaporator 107, thereby generating melt water, which is removed. The heating element 111 comprises a metal sheet, which is positioned at a bottom side 104-3 of the evaporator area 104-1.

(15) During the defrost cycle, the fan 108 is typically turned off. Due to the close proximity of a top surface 112 of the fan 108 and the heating element 111 in the evaporator area 104-1, heated air generated by the heating element 111 is directed to the top surface 112 of the fan 108. The heated air enters a fan inlet 114 of a fan channel 113 and melts surface ice, which is formed in the channel 113, and which is also formed at the top surface 112 of the fan 108. However, when reaching the fan outlet 115, the temperature of the air is not sufficient to properly and completely heat a bottom side 116 of the fan 108. Therefore, a complete removal of ice at the bottom side 116 of the fan 108 is not guaranteed.

(16) In particular, ice can be still present at an ice-depositing area 116-2 close to the bottom side 116.

(17) Consequently, two areas are present in the fan 108, a first area facing towards the evaporator 107, which is positioned at the top surface 112 of the fan 108, and a second area, which is positioned at the bottom side 116 of the fan facing away from the evaporator 107. The first area and the second area of the fan 108 are not depicted in FIG. 2. During the defrost cycle of the refrigeration device 100, the heating element 111 is configured to heat the first area of the fan 108, thereby melting the surface ice accumulated at the first area. However, since the heated air is not sufficiently warm to properly heat the second, more distant, area of the fan 108, a sufficient removal of all surface ice accumulated at the second area of the fan 108 cannot be guaranteed by the heating element 111 itself.

(18) At the bottom side 116 of the fan 108 a heat-conducting element is positioned, which extends from the first area to the second area of the fan 108 and which is configured to transfer heat from the first area to the second area to melt surface ice at the second area of the fan 108, in particular surface ice at the ice-depositing area 106-2. Therefore, by using the heat-conducting element a complete removal of surface ice from both the first and second area of the fan can be accomplished during the defrost cycle.

(19) The heat-conducting element, as well as the first and second area of the fan 108 is not depicted in FIG. 2.

(20) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a fan with a heat-conducting element in an exploded view.

(21) The fan 108 comprises a fan motor housing 117, which typically comprises metal and/or plastic and is configured to enclose a fan motor to power the fan 108. The fan 108 further comprises a fan cover 109, which typically comprises plastic and is configured to enclose a fan channel 113, which is enclosed by the fan motor housing 117 and the fan cover 109. The channel 113 comprises a fan inlet 114 having an annular inlet opening and comprises a fan outlet 115 having a rectangular outlet opening. Air is introduced into the channel 113 from the fan inlet 114 in a direction of flow 110, wherein the direction of flow 110 of the air is redirected, and wherein the air is transferred through the channel 113 and is released through the fan outlet 115 in a direction of flow 110.

(22) During continuous cooling cycles of the refrigeration device, surface ice accumulates on the surface of the fan 108 and also in the channel 113. Therefore, to enable a sufficient defrosting of the fan 108, a heating element 111 in an evaporator area 104-1, which is not depicted in FIG. 3, is activated. Since the fan inlet 114 is facing towards the heating element 111, while the fan outlet 115 is facing away from the heating element 111, the heat generated by the heating element 111 is sufficient to melt surface ice at the fan inlet 114, but is not sufficient to melt surface ice at the fan outlet 115.

(23) Therefore, the fan 108 comprises a first area 118 facing towards the evaporator 107, which is sufficiently heated by the heating element 111 of the evaporator 107, and comprises a second area 119 facing away from the evaporator 107, which is not sufficiently heated.

(24) To allow for a sufficient heating of the second area 119 of the fan 108, the fan 108 comprises a heat-conducting element 120, which is at least partially inserted into a recess 121 at the bottom side 116 of the fan motor housing 117. The heat-conducting element 120 is formed as a ring, is comprised of aluminum and is in thermally conductive contact with the fan motor housing 117. The heat-conducting element 120 comprises a heat-absorbing area 122, which is in thermally conductive contact with the first area 118 of the fan 108, and comprises a heat-emitting area 123, which is in thermally conductive contact with the second area 119 of the fan 108. Thereby, the heat-conducting element 120 is configured to transfer heat from the first area 118 to the second area 119 of the fan 108 to melt surface ice on the second area 119 during a defrosting cycle of the refrigeration device.

(25) Therefore, even if heated air from the evaporator 107 cannot reach the second area 119 of the fan 108, the heat-conducting element 120 allows for a transfer of heat to the second area 119 by thermal conduction. Therefore, the defrost cycle of the refrigeration device 100 allows for an efficient and complete removal of all surface ice on the evaporator 107 and on the fan 108 without the necessity to add an additional heating source to the fan 108.

(26) Moreover, the fan motor housing 117 comprises connection elements 124, which are received in receiving elements 125 of the fan cover 109, for connecting the fan motor housing 117 with the fan cover 109.

(27) While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept and scope of the invention. Such variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after inspection of the specification and the drawings. The disclosure therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of any appended claims.

(28) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 100 Refrigeration device 101 Refrigerator door 102 Refrigerator casing 103 Cooling chamber 104-1 Evaporator area 104-2 Air channel 104-3 Bottom side of evaporator area 105 Front side 106 Rear side 107 Evaporator 108 Fan 109 Fan cover 110 Direction of flow 111 Heating element 112 Top surface of fan 113 Fan channel 114 Fan inlet 115 Fan outlet 116 Bottom side of fan 116-2 Ice depositing area 117 Fan motor housing 118 First area of fan 119 Second area of fan 120 Heat conducting element 121 Recess 122 Heat-absorbing area 123 Heat-emitting area 124 Connection elements 125 Receiving elements