DOMESTIC REFRIGERATION DEVICE

Abstract

A domestic refrigeration appliance apparatus includes at least one side wall component and at least one machine compartment top wall. In order to simplify assembly, the domestic refrigeration appliance apparatus has at least one sealing element which seals at least one region between the side wall component and the machine compartment top wall. A method for assembling a household refrigeration appliance apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A household refrigeration appliance apparatus, comprising: at least one side wall component; at least one machine compartment top wall; and at least one sealing element sealing at least one region between said at least one side wall component and said at least one machine compartment top wall.

17. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one machine compartment top wall is bend-resistant.

18. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one machine compartment top wall is fireproof.

19. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one machine compartment top wall is mostly formed of metal.

20. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one sealing element at least partly grips around said at least one machine compartment top wall.

21. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one side wall component has at least one receiving region for said at least one machine compartment top wall and at least one guiding element guiding said at least one machine compartment top wall into said receiving region during an assembly.

22. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one sealing element is a sealing foam.

23. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one side wall component has a latching element, and said at least one machine compartment top wall has at least one latching element latched with said latching element of said at least one side wall component.

24. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16, which further comprises at least one side wall and at least one machine compartment top wall attached to said at least one side wall.

25. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 24, wherein at least one of said at least one machine compartment top wall or said at least one side wall is deformed for attaching said at least one machine compartment top wall to said at least one side wall.

26. A household refrigeration appliance or at least one of a freezer or a refrigerator, comprising at least one household refrigeration appliance apparatus according to claim 16.

27. A method for assembling a household refrigeration appliance apparatus, the method comprising: providing a household refrigeration appliance apparatus having at least one side wall component and at least one machine compartment top wall; and using a sealing element to seal at least one region between the at least one side wall component and the at least one machine compartment top wall.

28. The method according to claim 27, which further comprises connecting the at least one machine compartment top wall to the at least one side wall component.

29. The method according to claim 27, which further comprises pressing the at least one machine compartment top wall into the at least one sealing element.

30. The method according to claim 27, which further comprises using a deforming process to connect the at least one machine compartment top wall to at least one side wall.

Description

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a household refrigeration appliance having a household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a rear view of a part of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus having at least one side wall component and at least one sealing element in a pre-assembled state,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a part of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus having a machine compartment top wall,

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a single illustration of a side wall component,

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a single illustration of a machine compartment top wall,

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a part of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of a method for assembling household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a method step of the method for assembling the household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a further method step of the method for assembling the household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a further method step of the method for assembling the household refrigeration appliance apparatus,

[0043] FIG. 11 shows a further method step of the method for assembling the household refrigeration appliance apparatus and

[0044] FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of a part of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus.

[0045] Of the objects that are present several times, only one is provided with a reference character in the figures in each case.

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a household refrigeration appliance 10a which is designed as a refrigerator-freezer combination appliance. The household refrigeration appliance 10a has a household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has an appliance body 32a. The appliance body 32a has an outer housing 56a and an inner liner 54a (cf. also FIG. 2). The appliance body 32a has two side walls 30a, a top wall 58a, a rear wall and a base wall (not illustrated).

[0047] The inner liner 54a defines in part a cold compartment (not illustrated). The cold compartment is designed as a refrigeration compartment. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has an appliance door 34a. The appliance door 34a is mounted in such a manner so as to be able to pivot relative to the appliance body 32a. In a closed state, the appliance door 32a seals the cold compartment.

[0048] The inner liner 54a defines in part a further cold compartment (not illustrated). The further cold compartment is designed as a freezer compartment. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has a further appliance door 36a. The further appliance door 36a is mounted in such a manner as to be able to pivot relative to the appliance body 32a. In a closed state, the further appliance door 36a seals the further cold compartment. The further cold compartment is arranged in an installed position with respect to a vertical direction below the cold compartment. However, a different number and arrangement of cold compartments would also be conceivable. In an installed position, the appliance body 32a is placed on a placement surface 38a.

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates a part of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus in a pre-assembled state. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has two side wall components 14a and a machine compartment top wall 16a (cf. FIGS. 2 and 3). In addition, the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has a machine compartment 44a which is provided so as to receive in particular a compressor and/or other components of a cooling circuit of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus. The machine compartment top wall 16a defines the machine compartment 44a in part and in fact at least in the upward direction. The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has an insulation space 46a. The machine compartment top wall 16a separates the machine compartment from the insulation space 46a. The side wall components 14a are arranged respectively on one of the side walls 30a. The side wall component 14a is latched to the respective side wall 30a.

[0050] The machine compartment top wall 16a is attached in each case to the two side walls 30a (cf. FIG. 3). The machine compartment top wall 16a has a bracket 40a. In an assembled state, the bracket 40a lies against an edge of the side wall 30a. In the illustrated example, the machine compartment top wall 16a is attached in each case to the side wall 30a by means of deforming the bracket 40a of the machine compartment top wall 16a and of the side wall 30a.

[0051] The household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has a sealing element 18a (cf. also FIG. 2). In an assembled state, the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has a region 20a between the side wall component 14a and the machine compartment top wall 16a. The sealing element 18a is provided so as in an assembled state to seal the region 20a between the side wall component 14a and the machine compartment top wall 16a (cf. also FIG. 6). In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sealing element 18a is designed as a sealing foam (cf. FIGS. 2, 3 and 6). The sealing element 18a that is designed as a sealing foam grips around the machine compartment top wall 16a in an edge region of the machine compartment top wall 16a (cf. FIGS. 3 and 6),

[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates the side wall component 14a of the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a in a perspective detailed view. The side wall component 14a is designed as a plastic part, in the illustrated example in particular as a plastic injection molded part.

[0053] The wall component 14a has a receiving region 22a which is provided so as in an assembled state to receive the machine compartment top wall 16a. The receiving region 22a is designed as a groove in the side wall component 14a. The side wall component 14a has a guiding element 24a which is provided so as to guide the machine compartment top wall 16a into the receiving region 22a during an assembly. The guiding element 24a is formed as a guiding surface which is created by extending a limb of the receiving region 22a that is designed as a groove.

[0054] Moreover, the side wall component 14a has four lead-throughs 42a. The lead-through 42a is provided so as to receive at least one cable and/or at least one pipe, in particular so as to lead from the machine compartment 44a through into the insulation space 46a. The lead-through 42a is formed as a groove in the side wall component 14a. Moreover, the side wall component 14a has two corresponding latching elements 28a, which are designed in the illustrated example as nipples are and are formed as one piece with the side wall a component 14a.

[0055] The machine compartment top wall 16a has six latching elements 26a which correspond to the corresponding latching elements 28a of the side wall component 14a (cf. FIG. 5). In an assembled state, the latching element 26a is provided so as to be latched with the corresponding latching element 28a of the side wall component 14a (cf. also FIGS. 3 and 5). The latching element 26a is designed as one piece with the machine compartment top wall 16a. In particular, the latching element 16a is formed by a bent bracket of the machine compartment top wall 16a.

[0056] The machine compartment top wall 16a has a plurality of cut-outs 48a. At least one cut-out 48a is provided so as in at least one assembly step to allow the insulation material that fills the insulation space 46a to pass through. In particular, at least one cut-out 48a is used as a through-passage for foam when the insulation space 46a is being filled with foam. At least one further cut-out 48a is provided so as in an assembled state to drain off into the machine compartment 44a condensate water that condenses in the cold compartment.

[0057] The machine compartment top wall 16a is formed from metal, in the illustrated example, the machine compartment top wall 16a is formed in particular from galvanized steel plate. The machine compartment top wall 16a is designed to be bend-resistant. In particular, the machine compartment top wall 16a is dimensionally stable when the insulation space 46a is being filled with foam and the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 10a is in an assembled state. In addition, the machine compartment top wall 16a is designed to be fireproof. In particular, the machine compartment top wall 16a complies with the requirements of the IEC 60335-2-24, particular with respect to fire prevention.

[0058] FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a method for assembling a household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a which has at least one side wall component 14a and at least one machine compartment top wall 16a. The method for assembling the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a comprises at least one assembly step 100, 110, 120 and 130 (cf. also FIGS. 8 to 11).

[0059] In the assembly step 100a, the appliance body 32a is pre-assembled (cf. FIG. 8). In particular, the side walls 30a are moved into a pre-assembly position, wherein the side walls 30a are arranged at an angle with respect to one another. The side wall components 14a are respectively mounted on the side wall 30a. The side wall components 14a are latched with the side wall 30a in each case. The sealing element 18a is pre-assembled. For this purpose, the sealing element 18a, which is designed in the illustrated example as a sealing foam, is injected in an automated manner into the receiving region 22a of the side wall component 14a. In the assembly step 110a, the machine compartment top wall 16a is inserted into the pre-assembled appliance body 32a, which is illustrated schematically by the insertion direction 52a (cf. FIG. 9). The machine compartment top wall 16a is placed in the insertion direction 52a on the guiding element 24a.

[0060] In the assembly step 120, the side walls 30a are pressed together relative to one another with the result that they are moved into a position in which they are oriented in a parallel manner with respect to one another (cf. FIG. 10). The machine compartment top wall 16a is thus connected to the side wall component 14a, whereby in particular the household refrigeration appliance apparatus is stabilized. In particular, the machine compartment top wall 16a latches with the side wall component 14a. By virtue of the fact that the side walls 30a are pressed together relative to one another, the machine compartment top wall 16a is pressed into the sealing element 18a that is arranged between the machine compartment top wall 16a and the side wall component 14a. This assembly step 120a causes the sealing element 18a to deform in a plastic manner. Consequently, in the assembly step 120a, the region 20a between the side wall component 14a and the machine compartment top wall 16a is filled by means of the sealing element 18a.

[0061] In the assembly step 130a, the machine compartment top wall 16a is connected to two side walls 30a by means of a deforming process (cf. FIG. 11). The deforming process amounts to pushing through.

[0062] In FIG. 12, a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The description below is limited essentially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein, with regard to like components, features and functions, reference can be made to the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 11. In order to differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a that is attached to the reference character of the exemplary embodiment in the FIGS. 1 to 11 is replaced by the letter b in the case of the reference characters of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 12. With respect to like-described components, in particular with respect to components having like reference characters, reference can also fundamentally be made to the drawings and/or, the description of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, a household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12a has a sealing element 18b. The sealing element 18b is designed as a beading, in particular as a rubber beading. The sealing element 18b has a plurality of in particular four sealing lips 50b. The sealing lips 50b are provided so as to fix a machine compartment top wall 16b in addition in side wall components 14b. The sealing element 18b is provided so as to be mounted in at least one assembly step on an edge region of the machine compartment top wall 16b.

[0064] When the household refrigeration appliance apparatus 12b is being assembled, the sealing element 18b that is designed as a beading is plugged in one assembly step onto the edge of the machine compartment top wall 16b. In a subsequent assembly step, the machine compartment top wall 16b together with the already pre-assembled sealing element 18b is pushed into the side wall component 14b, in particular into a receiving region 22b of the side wall component 14b. In particular, during a foaming procedure, the sealing lips 50b deform in a plastic manner, whereby, the sealing lips 18b seal a region between the side wall component 14b and the machine compartment top wall 16b.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0065] 10 Household refrigeration appliance [0066] 12 Household refrigeration appliance apparatus [0067] 14 Side wall component [0068] 16 Machine compartment top wall [0069] 18 Sealing element [0070] 20 Region [0071] 22 Receiving region [0072] 24 Guiding element [0073] 26 Latching element [0074] 28 Corresponding latching element [0075] 30 Side wall [0076] 32 Appliance body [0077] 34 Appliance door [0078] 36 Further appliance door [0079] 38 Placement surface [0080] 40 Bracket [0081] 42 Lead-through [0082] 44 Machine compartment [0083] 46 Insulation space [0084] 48 Cut-out [0085] 50 Sealing lip [0086] 52 Insertion direction [0087] 54 Inner liner [0088] 56 Outer housing [0089] 58 Top wall [0090] 100 Assembly step [0091] 110 Assembly step [0092] 120 Assembly step [0093] 130 Assembly step