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EP0540873B1 - Réfrigérateur du type à circulation forcée d'air comprenant un conduit d'air équipé d'un obturateur - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur du type à circulation forcée d'air comprenant un conduit d'air équipé d'un obturateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0540873B1
EP0540873B1 EP92116590A EP92116590A EP0540873B1 EP 0540873 B1 EP0540873 B1 EP 0540873B1 EP 92116590 A EP92116590 A EP 92116590A EP 92116590 A EP92116590 A EP 92116590A EP 0540873 B1 EP0540873 B1 EP 0540873B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerator
shutter member
shutter
box casing
aperture
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP92116590A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0540873A2 (fr
EP0540873A3 (en
Inventor
Armando Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. Pellizzari
Salvatore Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. De Caprio
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool Europe BV
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Europe BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Whirlpool Europe BV filed Critical Whirlpool Europe BV
Publication of EP0540873A2 publication Critical patent/EP0540873A2/fr
Publication of EP0540873A3 publication Critical patent/EP0540873A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0540873B1 publication Critical patent/EP0540873B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
    • F24F13/10—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
    • F24F13/12—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers built up of sliding members
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/042—Air treating means within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/045—Air flow control arrangements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a refrigerator of forced air circulation type comprising an air duct opening via an aperture into a freezer or refrigeration compartment, said aperture being provided with a shutter member cooperating with drive means able to move the shutter member from a first to a second working position, and elastically loadable return means for returning the shutter member from said second to said first working position.
  • the shutter member or shutter is used to close a corresponding duct when the temperature within the compartment, for example the refrigeration compartment, has reached a preset value.
  • a usual thermostat provided in the compartment senses when the preset value has been reached and closes said duct by means of said shutter. After this, the cold air normally fed into the refrigeration compartment can no longer enter it, so that the temperature within this latter is not further reduced.
  • the shutter is usually operated by two drive members (for example formed by usual resistors of positive or negative temperature coefficient fixed to opposing ends of the shutter and controlled in their operation by a usual electrical or electronic control circuit to which the thermostat is also connected.
  • two drive members for example formed by usual resistors of positive or negative temperature coefficient fixed to opposing ends of the shutter and controlled in their operation by a usual electrical or electronic control circuit to which the thermostat is also connected.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator of the aforesaid type which is of simple construction, short assembly and maintenance time and low cost.
  • a further object is to provide a refrigerator of the aforesaid type which is much less liable to develop faults or problems than analogous known devices.
  • a refrigerator of the aforesaid type characterised in that it comprises retention means able to cooperate with the shutter member for retaining it in its second working position.
  • the retention means are able to be released by the drive means.
  • the device of the invention is indicated overall by 1 and is positioned at a wall 2 of a compartment 3, for example the refrigeration compartment, of the cabinet 4 of a refrigerator 5 of forced air circulation type, a usual air circulation duct 8 opening at this wall via an aperture 7.
  • a grille 11 On the aperture 7 of the duct 8 there is provided a grille 11 along which there can be positioned a shutter 12 movable along guides 13 fixed for example to said grille.
  • the shutter 12 comprises a projection 15 which cooperates with a pusher member or pusher 16 which is separate from this projection and is operated in any known manner, for example by a resistor of positive or negative temperature coefficient (PTC or NTC), not shown, enclosed in a block 23 associated with the grille 12.
  • PTC positive or negative temperature coefficient
  • an arm 18 is provided projecting from the shutter 12.
  • This arm comprises opposing projections or fins 19 having a rounded first side 20 and a straight second side 21 angularly connected to the first side 20 to hence define a substantially triangular fin.
  • the shutter 12 is also preferably of grille formation with alternating full portions 12A and empty portions 12B reproducing the form of the grille 11.
  • the projecting arm 18 cooperates with a retention member 25 associated with a fixed support 26 fixed for example to the grille 11.
  • the retention member 25 comprises a box casing 27 within which a gripper element 28 comprising elastically movable arms 29 and extending from a body 30 moves inwardly and outwardly, one end 31 (projecting with said arms from the casing 27) of which cooperates with one end 18A of the projecting arm 18.
  • the gripper element 28 moves within a cavity 33 in the casing 27 against a spring 34 the opposing ends of which are fixed to the casing 27 and to the element 28 respectively.
  • the body 30 of this latter comprises a channel 37, formed about a pad 40, and within which (relatively speaking) there moves a pin 41 associated with an upper part 42 of the box casing 27 and able to move transversely in known manner relative to said part 42.
  • the channel 37 and pad 40 are of such a shape that the pin, during its movement within said channel, can become locked at a recessed end 40A of the pad 40 to hence retain the gripper element 28 within the casing 27 when this element is pressed into this latter.
  • the pin 41 is released from said end 40A.
  • the pin is then guided within the channel 37 until it reaches an end-of-travel seat 48 in which the pin stops. When in this seat the gripper element 28 projects from the box casing 27.
  • the shutter 12 slides along guides 13.
  • Proximity sensors 51 such as microswitches, are associated with these shoulders, against which the shutter 12 rests when in its end-of-travel position.
  • the sensors 51 are connected by an electrical connection to a control unit 54, advantageously of microprocessor type. To this latter there are also connected a usual thermostat 55 and the drive member for the pusher 16 housed in the block 23.
  • the thermostat and the unit 54 are indicated only by way of example. During the use of the refrigerator 5 it will be assumed that the temperature within the compartment 3 reaches a set minimum value but that the shutter 12 has yet to close the aperture 7.
  • thermostat 55 senses that the set temperature has been reached and feeds a signal V A to the unit 54.
  • this latter enables the drive member associated with the pusher 16 (for example a known PTC) to act on this latter to move it towards the shutter 12.
  • the drive member associated with the pusher 16 for example a known PTC
  • the pusher 16 makes contact with the projection 15 to then act on it and move the shutter 12 along the guides 13.
  • the end 17 of the shutter therefore approaches the member 25, with the shutter simultaneously closing the aperture 7 of the duct 8.
  • the projecting arm 18 penetrates with its end 18A between the elastic arms 29 of the gripper element 28.
  • the drive member presses against the shutter, which in its turn urges the body 30 into the casing 27.
  • the sensors 51 sense this and feed a relative signal to the unit 54, which on the basis of this interrupts the action of the drive member on the pusher 16, hence halting the movement of the shutter.
  • the pin 41 undergoes the described movement relative to said body 30.
  • the pin moves into the recessed end 40A of the said pad 40 and halts said body in its inserted position in the box casing 27.
  • the arms 29 are closed about the fins 19 of the projecting arm 18 by virtue of the cooperation between said arms and the walls of the cavity 33.
  • the arm 18 urges the body 30 into the cavity 33 of the box casing 27, to release the pin 41 from the end 40A of the pad 40 in the described manner.
  • the element 28 emerges from the box casing 27 to enable the arms 29 to diverge and release the fins 19 from the arm 18.
  • the spring 34 also pushes the shutter 12 into a position such as to open the duct 8, ie to move the empty portions 12B of the shutter 12 into positions corresponding with those of the grille 11.
  • Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment of the invention as an alternative to that described.
  • this figure in which parts corresponding to those already described are indicated by the same reference numerals, there is no longer the element 28 associated with the box casing 27, but instead there are provided at least two parts 200 movable towards and away from each other by the action of small electromagnets 201 powered in known manner and arranged to cooperate with the fins 19 of the arm 18. At least one pair of such parts 200 is provided to retain the shutter 12 associated with the member 25 and maintain the duct 8 closed.
  • a plurality of such pairs can be provided to retain the arm 18 of the shutter 12 inserted to a greater or lesser extent in the box casing 27. In this manner said shutter can be halted in different positions along the aperture 7, which can then be variously restricted.
  • the springs 100 return the shutter 12 into the position in which it does not restrict the grille 11 when such restriction is no longer required.
  • This embodiment operates in the following manner.
  • the shutter is driven in the described manner against elastic elements provided along the guides 13.
  • the electromagnets 201 act on metal projections 202 associated with the parts 200, to cause these latter to approach each other and close the arm 18 between them in the manner of jaws.
  • the shutter 12 By operating suitably in cascade on a plurality of elements 200 (if present), the shutter 12 can be moved from a position in which it completely closes the aperture 7 to a position in which it partly closes it.
  • the member 25 does not necessarily have to comprise the arms 29.
  • the loading of the spring 34 enables this latter to return the shutter to a second working position (for example grille open) when the pusher acts on it the second time (in the manner already described).
  • a second spring 270 acts on the end 14 of the shutter 12 to maintain it in contact with the member 25 when the shutter is in its first working position. This second spring, generating a force less than that of the spring 34, prevents undesirable grille movement due for example to vibration arising within the refrigerator during its use.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Air-Flow Control Members (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Réfrigérateur du type à circulation forcée d'air, comprenant un conduit à air (8) débouchant via une ouverture (7) dans un compartiment de congélation ou de réfrigération (3), ladite ouverture étant pourvue d'un élément de clapet (12) coopérant avec des moyens d'entraînement (16,23) capables de déplacer l'élément de clapet (12) depuis une première jusqu'à une seconde position de travail, et des moyens de rappel capables d'être chargés élastiquement (34, 100) pour ramener l'élément de clapet (12) depuis ladite seconde jusqu'à ladite première position de travail, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de rétention (28, 29 ; 200, 201) capables de coopérer avec l'élément de clapet (12) pour le retenir dans sa seconde position de travail.
  2. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de rétention (28, 29 ; 200, 201) sont capables d'être libérés par les moyens d'entraînement (16, 23).
  3. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'entraînement sont un poussoir (16) associé à une résistance présentant un coefficient de température positif ou négatif et agissant sur une partie (15) associée à une extrémité (14) de l'élément de clapet (12).
  4. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de rappel comprennent un corps (30) mobile dans un boîtier fixe (27) à l'encontre de moyens élastiques (34), ledit corps étant capable d'occuper au moins deux positions stationnaires par rapport au boîtier (27), par rapport auquel il se déplace.
  5. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de rétention comprennent un élément de saisie (28) comportant des bras élastiquement mobiles (29) et s'étendant depuis le corps (30) des moyens de rappel mobiles jusque dans une cavité (33) dans le boîtier (27) à l'encontre des moyens élastiques (34), lesdits bras (29) se projetant depuis ledit boîtier (27) et coopérant avec une partie en projection (18) de l'élément de clapet qui comprend des moyens d'engagement (19) pour engager lesdits bras élastiques.
  6. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens d'engagement de la partie en projection (18) de l'élément de clapet (12) sont des ailettes opposées (19) de forme sensiblement triangulaire.
  7. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens formant capteur (51) pour détecter au moins lorsque l'élément de clapet atteint la position dans laquelle il ferme l'ouverture (7) du conduit d'air (8), c'est-à-dire lorsqu'il atteint l'une de ses deux positions de travail.
  8. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens formant capteur sont des micro-interrupteurs (51) agencés sur des épaulements (50) prévus dans une position qui correspond aux moyens de rétention (28, 29).
  9. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 8, caractérisé en ce que les micro-interrupteurs (51) sont connectés à une unité de commande connectée à un thermostat (55) situé dans le compartiment (3) dans lequel s'ouvre le conduit (8), ladite unité alimentant la résistance à coefficient de température positif ou négatif.
  10. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de rétention sont au moins une paire de parties (200) mutuellement mobiles en rapprochement et en éloignement l'une de l'autre et agencées pour se déplacer perpendiculairement à une partie en projection (18) de l'élément de clapet (12), lesdites parties mobiles étant déplacées par des électroaimants (201).
  11. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une pluralité de paires de parties mutuellement mobiles (200) qui fonctionnent en séquence et/ou indépendamment les unes des autres, pour obtenir des degrés différents de fermeture du conduit d'air (8).
EP92116590A 1991-11-08 1992-09-29 Réfrigérateur du type à circulation forcée d'air comprenant un conduit d'air équipé d'un obturateur Expired - Lifetime EP0540873B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI912979A IT1251782B (it) 1991-11-08 1991-11-08 Dispositivo attuatore del movimento di un organo di intercettazione di un condotto d'aria in un refrigeratore del tipo a circolazione d'aria
ITMI912979 1991-11-08

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0540873A2 EP0540873A2 (fr) 1993-05-12
EP0540873A3 EP0540873A3 (en) 1993-11-24
EP0540873B1 true EP0540873B1 (fr) 1996-05-08

Family

ID=11361057

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92116590A Expired - Lifetime EP0540873B1 (fr) 1991-11-08 1992-09-29 Réfrigérateur du type à circulation forcée d'air comprenant un conduit d'air équipé d'un obturateur

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0540873B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69210541T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2092609T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT1251782B (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19806041A1 (de) * 1998-02-13 1999-08-19 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Behälter zur Einlagerung von Nahrungsmitteln
KR101542962B1 (ko) * 2013-09-09 2015-08-10 현대자동차 주식회사 차량용 액티브 에어 플랩
EP3191776A1 (fr) * 2014-09-11 2017-07-19 Arçelik Anonim Sirketi Réfrigérateur comprenant un compartiment à régulation d'humidité et de température

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3645108A (en) * 1970-06-01 1972-02-29 Ranco Inc Air damper control for refrigerators
GB8410927D0 (en) * 1984-04-27 1984-06-06 Dixon International Ltd Ventilator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI912979A1 (it) 1993-05-08
ITMI912979A0 (it) 1991-11-08
ES2092609T3 (es) 1996-12-01
EP0540873A2 (fr) 1993-05-12
EP0540873A3 (en) 1993-11-24
IT1251782B (it) 1995-05-24
DE69210541T2 (de) 1996-11-28
DE69210541D1 (de) 1996-06-13

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