COOLING APPARATUS

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling device 1, in particular a freezer 2, having a cooling circuit 3, wherein the cooling circuit 3 has a compressor 4, at least one evaporator 5, and a condenser 44, and a closable cooling space 6 with a plurality of cooling space sidewalls 7, a cooling space base 8, at least one cooling element 9, and an insulation vessel 10. In the cooling device 1 the evaporator 5 and the cooling element 9 are disposed within the cooling space 6 such that the back of the cooling element 11 at least partially abuts on the evaporator 5 and the front of the cooling element 12 faces the insulation vessel 10, and the insulation vessel 10 is closed at least towards the at least one cooling element 9 and forms a space for cooling goods 13. The back of the cooling element 11 abutting the evaporator 5 has at least one recess 14 into which at least one removable cold accumulator 15 can be inserted. Preferably in the region of the downwardly facing end 16 of the insulation vessel 10 at least one heating element 17 and at least one storage element 18 are arranged.

Claims

1. A cooling device (1), in particular a freezer (2), having a cooling circuit (3), wherein the cooling circuit (3) has a compressor (4), at least one evaporator (5), and a condenser (44), and a closable cooling space (6) with a plurality of cooling space sidewalls (7), a cooling space base (8), at least one cooling element (9), and an insulation vessel (10), wherein the at least one evaporator (5) and the at least one cooling element (9) are disposed within the cooling space (6) such that a first side (11) of the cooling element (9) at least partially abuts on the at least one evaporator (5) and a second side (12) of the cooling element (9) faces the insulation vessel (10), and the insulation vessel (10) is closed at least towards the at least one cooling element (9) and forms a space for cooling goods (13), characterized in that the first side (11) of the cooling element (9) abutting the at least one evaporator (5) has at least one recess (14) into which at least one removable cold accumulator (15) can be inserted and at least one heating element (17) and at least one storage element (18) are arranged preferably in the region of the downwardly facing end (16) of the insulation vessel (10).

2. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the region within the cooling space (6) and outside of the space for cooling goods (13) forms a freezing zone (19) and the space for cooling goods (13) formed by the insulation vessel (10) forms a cooling zone for receiving cooling goods (21).

3. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature in the space for cooling goods (13) can be controlled by the interaction of at least the insulation vessel (10) as well as the at least one heating element (17) and/or the at least one storage element (18), preferably be adjusted in the range of a defined minimum temperature.

4. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one heating element (17) is preferably electrically operated and has a control that prevents falling below the required minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods (13).

5. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one storage element (18) is preferably formed as latent-heat storage tank that is designed such that it emits the stored thermal energy into the space for cooling goods (13) in case of reaching the required minimum temperature.

6. The cooling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the space for cooling goods (13) a storage facility (22) for storing the cooling goods (21) is provided that is configured such that a contact of the cooling goods (21) with the insulation vessel (10) as well as the at least one heating element (17) and the at least one storage element (18) is avoided and at the same time the cooling goods (21) can be removed.

7. The cooling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a spacer grid (23) can be inserted into the space for cooling goods (13) spaced apart from the heating element (17) and/or the at least one storage element (18) by which the cooling goods (21) can be stored spaced apart from the at least one heating element (17) and/or the at least one storage element (18).

8. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one cooling element (9) and/or the at least one removable cold accumulator (15) can be filled with a substance, preferably a fluid such as water or a eutectic medium (24).

9. The cooling device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the volume of the at least one cooling element (9) and/or the at least one removable cold accumulator (15) is chosen such that after filling the at least one cooling element (9) and/or the at least one removable cold accumulator (15) with the predefined amount of the substance there inevitably results a dead volume (26) serving as an expansion space for the freezing substance.

10. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one removable cold accumulator (15) can be inserted into and removed from the at least one recess (14) of the at least one cooling element (9) with a cold accumulator holder (27).

11. The cooling device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the cold accumulator holder (27) is formed as an elastic spring element such that the cold accumulator holder (27) serves to make one first side of the at least one removable cold accumulator (15) abutting on the at least one evaporator (5) in a resiliently manner at least over a part of the surface, preferably over the whole surface.

12. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cold accumulator holder (27) at its upper end (41) has a holding portion (42) for manipulation by the user.

13. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one cooling element (9) at its upper edge (28) and/or lower edge (29) has at least one recess (30) for receiving at least one holding means (38), wherein the holding means (38) is preferably formed as an elastic spring element such that the holding means (38) serves to make the first side (11) of the at least one cooling element (9) abutting on the at least one evaporator (5) in a resiliently manner at least over a part of the surface, preferably over the whole surface.

14. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one recess (14) for receiving the at least one cooling element (9) has inclined lateral surfaces (31) and an inclined bottom surface (31).

15. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first side (11) of the cooling element (9) has at least one preferably vertically arranged groove (32) for the flow off of condensed water from the recess (14).

16. The cooling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one cooling element (9) can be secured by means of a covering frame (34) that can be attached to the upper edge of the cooling space (33), wherein the covering frame (34) has at least one opening (35) for access to the at least one removable cold accumulator (15).

17. The cooling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the temperature in the space for cooling goods (13) can be controlled by the interaction of at least the insulation vessel (10) as well as the at least one heating element (17) and/or the at least one storage element (18), preferably be adjusted in the range of a defined minimum temperature.

18. The cooling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one heating element (17) is preferably electrically operated and has a control that prevents falling below the required minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods (13).

19. The cooling device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one heating element (17) is preferably electrically operated and has a control that prevents falling below the required minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods (13).

20. The cooling device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the at least one heating element (17) is preferably electrically operated and has a control that prevents falling below the required minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods (13).

Description

[0027] A suitable embodiment of the cooling device according to the invention is described with respect to the following drawings wherein

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooling device according to the invention;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cooling device according to the invention with cooling goods;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the cooling device according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a perspective front view of a cooling element according to the invention as well as a removable cold accumulator and a cold accumulator holder;

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a perspective back view of a cooling element according to the invention as well as a removable cold accumulator and a cold accumulator holder;

[0033] FIG. 6 shows a perspective detailed view of the insulation vessel according to the invention with heating element and storage elements; and

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a removable cold accumulator according to the invention.

[0035] The cooling device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a freezer 2. However, further types of the cooling device are conceivable, for example as refrigerator. The freezer 2 is composed of a freezer body 45 that ends with a lid 41 and can be closed therewith. Within the freezer 2 there is a cooling space 6. In addition, the freezer 2 has an insulation vessel 10 that is disposed inside the cooling space 6 and that separates the space for cooling goods 13 from the cooling space 6. The area between the insulation vessel 10 and the cooling space 6 ends in a covering frame 34 at the upper edge of the cooling space 33. The covering frame 34 further has a plurality of openings 35 through which a removable cold accumulator 15 can be removed by means of a cold accumulator holder 27. Deviating from the illustrated embodiment, the cooling device 1 may also have more or less openings 35 and removable cold accumulators 15 with the covering frame 34 then having the number of openings 35 that corresponds to the number of removable cold accumulators 15.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of a cooling device 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein in the space for cooling goods 13 a storage facility, in the present example in the form of a grid basket 22, is inserted. The storage facility may also be in the form of a tableau or a similar suitable form. The storage facility is removable. The cooling goods 21 (schematic view) are inserted into the storage facility.

[0037] The cooling device 1 according to the invention of FIG. 3 consists of a freezer 2 that has a cooling space 6 that is bounded by four cooling space side walls 7, the cooling space base 8 as well as a closable lid 40. On the surface of the cooling space sidewalls 7 facing the cooling space 6 an evaporator 5 is arranged such that it covers the surface of the cooling space sidewalls 7 facing the cooling space 6. Altogether, the cooling device 1 shown in the example has an evaporator 5. Moreover, the cooling device 1 has four cooling elements 9. These are attached on the surface of the evaporator 5 by holding clamps 38 in the mounted state. Further, the cooling space 6 of the present example has eight removable cold accumulators 15 and eight accompanying cold accumulator holders 27. However, also other numbers are conceivable. According to the number of removable cold accumulators 15 eight openings 35 are provided in the covering frame 34. Further, the space for cooling goods 13 is separated from an insulation vessel 10 that is closed towards the four cooling elements 9. The upper and lower ends of the insulation vessel 10 have openings. In the region of the lower end of the insulation vessel 10 a spacer grid 23 is arranged. Four storage elements 18 are provided on a receiving plate 37 below the spacer grid 23. Further, a heating element 17 is provided below the receiving plate 37. For receiving the cooling goods 21 the cooling device 1 has the storage facility in the form of a grid basket 22 that is inserted into the cooling space 13.

[0038] In FIG. 4 a cooling element 9 together with two accompanying removable cold accumulators 15 as well as cold accumulator holders 27 are illustrated. The shown embodiment of the cooling elements 9, the removable cold accumulators 15 as well as the cold accumulator holders 27 corresponds to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The cooling element 9 has two recesses 14 on the first side 11, in the present example the back 11 of the cooling element 9. In the recesses 14 each one of the two removable cold accumulators 15 together with one of the two cold accumulator holders 27 is inserted. Further, the cooling element 9 according to the invention has inclined lateral surfaces 31 and an inclined bottom surface 31 in each of the recesses 14. For each recess 14 a vertical groove 3 follows the inclined surfaces 31 on the back 11 of the cooling element 9. Here, the inclination of the inclined surfaces 31 is selected such that the condensed water collected in the recess 14 flows towards the vertical groove and can flow off through the vertical groove 32 towards the lower edge of the cooling element 29. Hereby, when freezing the cooling element 9 and the accompanying removable cold accumulators 15 an ice formation in the recess 14 in response to forming condensed water is avoided. Further, three recesses 30 can be seen on the upper edge 28 of the cooling element 9 with each of which a holding means, here in the form of a holding clamp 38, engages. The holding clamp 38 seen at the lower edge 29 of the cooling element 9 also engages with a recess 30 at the lower edge 29 of the cooling element 9 that cannot be seen in the perspective view. By means of the holding clamps 38 engaging with the recesses 30 the cooling element 9 is fixed when mounted, wherein the back 11 of the cooling element 9 faces the evaporator 5. As seen in FIG. 4, the holding clamps 38 are made of a plate such that the holding clamps 3 resiliently press the cooling element 9 against the evaporator 5 and thus, the back 11 of the cooling element 9 is in contact with the surface of the evaporator 5. Like the holding means 38 also the cold accumulator holders 27 are made of a thin plate and here, have an arc-shaped deformation from their upper end 41 to their lower end 43. Said arc-shaped deformation causes the removable cold accumulators 15 to be pressed against the evaporator 5 as soon as the removable cold accumulators 15 are inserted into the recess 14 by means of the cold accumulator holders 27. Further, the cold accumulator holders 27 at their upper end 41 have a holding portion 42 at which the user of the cooling device 1 can ergonomically grab the cold accumulator holder 27.

[0039] In FIG. 5 a cooling element 9 according to the invention together with two accompanying removable cold accumulators 15 as well as cold accumulator holders 27 are illustrated in accordance with the example described in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, wherein in FIG. 5 the front of the cooling element 12 is shown. On the front of the cooling element 12 four recesses 30 are present with each of which a holding means 38 engages to fix the cooling element 9 on the evaporator 5. As already explained above, the cooling element 9 in the illustrated embodiment has three recesses 30 at its upper edge 28 of the cooling element 9. The recess 30 not seen in FIG. 4 at the lower edge of the cooling element 29 can now be seen in FIG. 5. Further, there can be seen the two recesses 14 present on the back 11 of the cooling element 9 that each can receive a removable cold accumulator 15 and a cold accumulator holder 27. Further, the central recess 30 of the recesses 30 arranged at the upper edge 28 of the cooling element 9 has a re-closable opening 25 through which the cooling element 9 can be filled with water or a eutectic medium 24. The reclosable opening 25 is disposed deeper than the upper edge 28 of the cooling element 9 so that a dead volume 26 is formed above the re-closable opening 25. Hereby, the maximum filling level 39 of the cooling element 9 is defined. Said dead volume 26 serves as an expansion space for the water or the eutectic medium 24 during freezing. Moreover, on the two cold accumulator holders 27 at their upper ends 41 a holding portion 42 can be seen at which the user of the cooling device 1 can ergonomically grab the cold accumulator holder 27.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of the insulating vessel 10 as well as the storage elements 18 and the heating element 17 which are arranged at the lower end 16 of the insulation vessel 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling device 1 has four storage elements 18 that in case of falling below the minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods 13 emit the stored heat into the space for cooling goods 13. In order to avoid that the cooling goods 21 that are in the space for cooling goods 13 are heated too much upon contact with the storage elements 18 a spacer grid 23 is attached above the storage elements 18. In addition to the uniform tempering of the cooling goods 21 in the space for cooling goods 13 also an unauthorized removal of the storage elements 18 is prevented by the spacer grid 23. The storage elements 18 are held in the cooling device 1 in a receiving plate 37. A heating element 17 is located below the receiving plate 37. Said heating element 17, that is for example electrically operated, ensures that, as long as energy for the operation of the cooling device 1 is available, on the one hand the storage elements 18 are sufficiently charged with heat to avoid falling below the minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods 13 during the energy-free time. On the other hand, the heating element 17 ensures that falling below the minimum temperature in the space for cooling goods 13 is avoided by the evaporator 5 that is arranged around the insulation vessel in the freezing zone 19, the cooling elements 9 and the removable cold accumulators 15, as long as energy is available.

[0041] In FIG. 7 a removable cold accumulator 15 according to the invention is illustrated. It can be seen that said removable cold accumulator 15 has a re-closable opening 25 through which the cold accumulator 15 can be filled with water or a eutectic medium 24. Since the re-closable opening 25 is disposed deeper than the highest point in the interior of the removable cold accumulator this results in a maximum filling height 39 that at the same time ensures that a dead volume 26 is formed above the maximum filling height 39 that functions as an expansion space during freezing of the water or the eutectic medium 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0042] 1: Cooling device [0043] 2: Freezer [0044] 3: Cooling circuit (not shown) [0045] 4: Compressor (not shown) [0046] 5: Evaporator [0047] 6: Cooling space [0048] 7: Cooling space sidewall [0049] 8: Cooling space base [0050] 9: Cooling element [0051] 10: Insulating vessel [0052] 11: First side of the cooling element [0053] 12: Second side of the cooling element [0054] 13: Space for cooling goods [0055] 14: Recess [0056] 15: Removable cold accumulator [0057] 16: Lower end [0058] 17: Heating element [0059] 18: Storage element [0060] 19: Freezing zone [0061] 20: Cooling zone (not shown) [0062] 21: Cooling goods (not shown) [0063] 22: Storage facility [0064] 23: Spacer grid [0065] 24: Eutectic Medium [0066] 25: Re-closable opening [0067] 26: Dead volume [0068] 27: Cold accumulator holder [0069] 28: Upper edge of the cooling element [0070] 29: Lower edge of the cooling element [0071] 30: Recess [0072] 31: Inclined lateral surfaces and inclined bottom surface [0073] 32: Vertical groove [0074] 33: upper edge of the cooling space [0075] 34: Covering frame [0076] 35: Openings [0077] 36: Contact surfaces (not shown) [0078] 37: Receiving plate [0079] 38: Holding means [0080] 39: Filling level [0081] 40: Lid [0082] 41: Upper end [0083] 42: Holding portion [0084] 43: Lower end [0085] 44: Condenser (not shown) [0086] 45: Freezer body