EP2769157B1 - Refrigeration device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, which has an inner container with a coolable interior and a door opening provided for opening and closing the interior.

Such refrigeration devices include a refrigerant circuit, optionally at least one fan, interior lighting, etc., as well as a control device for driving the refrigerant circuit, the fan, the interior lighting, etc. The control device of such refrigeration equipment can be set up, the refrigerant circuit, the fan and / or the To control the interior lighting depending on the opening status of the door leaf. In particular, the control device may be configured to switch the interior lighting on when the door leaf is open and off when the door leaf is closed. Also, the control device may be configured to turn off the fan with the door open and left off while the door leaf is open. In order to detect an opened door leaf, conventional refrigerators include magnetic or mechanical door switches connected to the control device which detect opening and closing of the door leaf.

A refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP1911921A2 known.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigeration device.

The object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device, comprising an inner container with a coolable interior, a refrigerant circuit provided for cooling the inner space, a door panel provided for opening and closing the inner space, a control device which is set up, at least one component of the refrigeration appliance in dependence the door opening state, and an electric door opening aid operating independently of the control device arranged to at least assist opening of the door leaf and therefore comprising information about the current opening state of the door leaf, and connected and arranged with the control device to transmit to the control device the information about the current opening state of the door leaf.

The refrigerator according to the invention is in particular designed as a household refrigerating appliance, such as e.g. a household refrigerator, a household freezer or as a fridge-freezer. The refrigeration device comprises the inner container, which is designed in particular as a heat-insulating inner container, as is generally known to the skilled person. The inner container comprises the coolable interior, which can be closed by means of the door leaf. The door leaf, for example, hinged relative to the inner container, in particular pivotable on the inner container and can preferably be pivoted relative to a vertically extending pivot axis for opening and closing the interior.

The interior is cooled by means of the refrigerant circuit. The coolable interior is e.g. a cold room, which is intended to be cooled to temperatures around 10 ° C. The interior can also be a freezer, the target temperatures below the freezing point, preferably by -18 ° C, are.

The refrigeration device according to the invention comprises the control device, which is set up to control at least one component of the refrigeration appliance as a function of the opening state of the door leaf. The control device comprises e.g. an electronics and is arranged according to a variant of the refrigerator according to the invention, the refrigerant circuit, in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit to control such that the actual temperature of the interior is at least approximately equal to a desired temperature of the interior. For this purpose, the control device can be set up to carry out a temperature control of the interior, known in principle to the person skilled in the art, by means of a suitable control of the refrigerant circuit.

The component, which controls the control device according to the invention as a function of the opening state, may be, for example, an interior lighting for at least partially illuminating the interior. In this case, the control device preferably switches on the interior lighting as soon as the door leaf is open, and off again as soon as the door leaf is closed again. However, the component can also be at least one fan for conveying through the refrigerant circuit cooled air in the interior. Such a fan includes eg no-frost refrigerators. In this case, the control device may be configured to automatically switch off the fan as soon as the door leaf is opened. With closed door leaf For example, the control device can control the fan in accordance with the established temperature control. However, the component may also be a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit.

The refrigerator according to the invention further comprises the electrical or electronic door opening aid, which operates independently of the control device. The electronic door opening aid is therefore independent. Electric door opening aids are provided to support an opening of the door panel at least partially in an automated manner and are in the art in principle, for example, from DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 known. Since a circumferential seal, in particular a magnetic seal is usually attached to the door leaf, which rests in the closed state of the door leaf, for example on the inner container or a body of the refrigerator, with the door closed in the interior form a negative pressure, which is a manual opening of the door panel difficult. In order to at least support the opening of the door leaf, electrical door opening aids are usually set up such that they automatically open the door leaf at least so far that air outside the refrigeration device can enter the interior space. For this purpose, electric door opening aids comprise, for example, an actuator which has, for example, a plunger which, when the door leaf is opened, automatically pushes it away from the inner container.

Since the door opening aid is intended to at least automatically assist the opening of the door leaf, it is possible that the door opening aid is arranged according to the invention to have information about the current opening state of the door leaf, ie the door opening aid comprises information as to whether the door leaf is currently open or closed. Furthermore, according to the invention, the door opening aid is connected to the control device and transmits this information about the current opening state of the door leaf. Thus, the control device has the information about the current opening state of the door leaf, thereby enabling it to control the at least one component as a function of the opening state of the door leaf. Thus, the refrigeration device according to the invention does not need a door opening switch, as is the case with conventional refrigerators. In particular, the door opening aid may communicate the information about the current opening state of the door leaf with each change of the opening state to the control device, ie each time the door leaf is opened and is closed. The control device can also be set up to query the information about the opening state of the door leaf from the door opening aid.

The door opening aid of the refrigeration appliance according to the invention may preferably have an electronic control unit and an actuator connected to the control unit, which is set up, controlled by the control unit, to at least partially open the door leaf. The actuator is e.g. designed as an electromechanical actuator, which extends to open the door leaf automatically controlled by the control unit and thereby pushes the door leaf away from the inner container. When closing the door leaf this pushes the actuator back to its original position.

According to one embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the invention, the door opening aid has a sensor connected to the control unit, which is set up to detect a movement of the door leaf. The control unit is then preferably set up to control the actuator on the basis of signals generated by the sensor so that it at least at least partially supports the opening of the door leaf. Suitable sensors are those skilled in the art, for example from the DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 known and are, for example, pressure or Hall sensors. Thus, it is possible for a user of the refrigerator according to the invention, the closed door initially easy to move what the sensor detects, so that then the door opening help automatically by means of its actuator and controlled by the control unit, the door leaf opens.

According to a further variant of the refrigeration appliance according to the invention, this has an input means connected to the control unit, on the basis of which actuation of which the control unit actuates the actuator, so that it at least partially supports the opening of the door leaf. The input means is e.g. a button.

The door opening aid can preferably have an independent power supply which is set up to generate an electrical supply voltage for the control unit and / or a supply voltage for the actuator from a mains voltage for the refrigeration appliance. Especially in connection with the sensor, which is set up is to detect a movement of the door leaf, thus the door opening help can be performed completely independently and completely independent of the control device.

In order to connect the door opening aid to the control device, the door opening aid may have an output via which the door opening aid, in particular its control unit, is connected to the control device. The output is e.g. executed as a potential-free output that can be queried by the control device.

The refrigeration device according to the invention accordingly comprises an independently operating door opening aid, which preferably requires no input signal and has only one connection for the mains voltage. This facilitates opening of the door panel and the door opening aid can e.g. be designed as a so-called pull-to-open or push-to-open door opening help. The door opening aid is usually always informed about the opening status of the door leaf in order to rule out false alarms.

The door opening aid is already designed such that it has the information about the current opening state of the door leaf. This is preferably achieved in that the detection of the current opening state of the door leaf is already integrated in the sensor system of an opening request recognition. For this purpose, the door opening aid comprises e.g. the sensor for detecting a movement of the door leaf. Since, according to the invention, the door opening aid is connected to the control device of the refrigeration device, it is possible to dispense with a separate door switch, which is present in conventional refrigeration devices.

Fig. 1

ein Haushaltskältegerät und

Fig. 2

Komponenten des Haushaltskältegerätes.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a household refrigerator and

Fig. 2

Components of the household refrigerator.

The Fig. 1 shows a household refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigerator. The household refrigerator 1 is designed as a no-frost refrigerator and has an inner container 2 with a coolable interior, which in the case of the present Embodiment in a freezer compartment 3 and a above the freezer compartment 3 arranged cooling space 4 is divided. The freezer compartment 3 is used, for example, for freezing frozen food at, for example, about minus 18 degrees Celsius. The refrigerator 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are separated by a heat insulating partition 9. The intermediate wall 9 is part of the inner container 2 in the case of the present embodiment.

The household refrigerator 1 comprises at least one in the Fig. 2 For the refrigerator compartment 4 and the freezer compartment 3, a common refrigerant circuit may be provided which includes, for example, an evaporator provided for cooling the refrigerator compartment 4 and an evaporator provided for cooling the freezer compartment 3. The household refrigerator 1 may also have separate refrigerant circuits for the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4.

The household refrigerator 1, in the case of the present embodiment, two door leaves 5, 6 for closing the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4. When the door leaves 5, 6 open the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4 are accessible. On the directed towards the refrigerator 4 side of the door provided for closing the refrigerator 4 door leaf 6 a plurality of door racks 12 are arranged for storing refrigerated goods in the case of the present embodiment. The door leaves 5, 6 are pivotable relative to the inner container 2 by means of hinges, e.g. arranged on the inner container 2, as is known in the art in principle. When the door leaves 5, 6 open the refrigerator 4 and the freezer compartment 3 are accessible. In addition, in each case one of the person skilled in principle known magnetic seal 7, 8 are peripherally attached to the inwardly facing surfaces of the door leaves 5, 6, which abut with closed door leaves 5, 6 on the inner container 2 substantially airtight.

In the freezer compartment 3, for example, several drawers 10 for storing frozen food and in the refrigerator 4 a plurality of shelves 11 are arranged for storing refrigerated goods.

The household refrigerator 1 also has a in the Fig. 2 illustrated control device 22 which is adapted to control the or the refrigerant circuit, if necessary, the refrigerant circuit 21 in the operation of the household refrigerator 1 such that the freezer compartment 3 and the cooling chamber 4 have at least approximately predetermined or adjustable desired temperatures, as is known to those skilled in principle. The control device 22 is configured, for example, to realize a suitable temperature control of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4. For this purpose, the household refrigerating appliance 1 includes, for example, connected to the control device 22, not shown temperature sensors, which are adapted to determine the actual temperatures of the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator 4. On the basis of the actual temperatures determined by means of the temperature sensors or the signals associated with the actual temperatures, it is possible for the control device 22 to suitably control the refrigerant circuit 21 in a manner known to the person skilled in the art.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the household refrigerating appliance 1 comprises at least one fan 23 connected to the control device 22 and / or at least one interior lighting 24 connected to the control device 22. The fan 23 is provided in particular to convey cooled air from the refrigerant circuit 22 into the cooling space 4 , The interior lighting 24 is provided in particular, when the door leaf 6 is open, which is associated with the cooling space 4, to illuminate the cooling space 4 at least partially.

In the case of the present embodiment, the control device 22 is configured to automatically switch off the fan 23 with the door leaf 6 open, which is assigned to the cooling space 4, and to switch on the interior lighting 24. When the door leaf 6 is closed, the control device 22 automatically switches off the interior lighting 24 and operates the ventilator 23 in accordance with the predefined desired temperature and in accordance with the determined actual temperature of the refrigerated space 4. Generally, the control device 22 is thus set up, at least one component of the household refrigerating appliance 1 in FIG Dependence of the opening state of the refrigerator 4 associated door leaf 6 to operate. Alternatively or additionally, the control device 22 may also be set up to operate at least one component of the household refrigerating appliance 1 as a function of the opening state of the door leaf 7 assigned to the freezer compartment 5. Such a component may be, for example, an interior lighting, not shown, of the freezer compartment 3, a fan associated with the freezer compartment 3, or a defrosting apparatus associated with the refrigerant circuit 21.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerator 1 has an electric door opening aid 25. This is arranged to at least partially support an opening of the refrigerator 4 associated door leaf 6. The door opening aid 25 is foamed in the present embodiment in the intermediate wall 9 and operates independently of the control device 22 and works completely independently.

In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the door opening aid 25 has an actuator or an actuator 26, a control unit 27 connected to the actuator 26, and a power supply unit 28. The actuator 26, the control unit 27 and the power supply 28 are arranged, for example, within a common housing 29. The power supply 28 is provided to generate an electrical supply voltage for the control unit 27 and optionally a supply voltage for the actuator 26 from a mains voltage for the household refrigerating appliance 1. The control unit 27 comprises e.g. an electronics with a microcontroller or microprocessor and is adapted to drive the actuator 26.

The door opening aid 25 is set up to at least partially support an opening of the door panel 6 assigned to the cooling space 4. For this purpose, in the case of the present embodiment and as is known in the art in principle, arranged relative to the door leaf 6, that the actuator 26, controlled by the control unit 27, if necessary extends from a retracted position to an extended position and thus the Door leaf 6 opens at least as far that the magnetic seal 8 of the door panel 6 is no longer applied to the inner container 2. Preferably, the door opening aid 25 is arranged on the inner container 2 in such a way that the actuator 26 presses against the door leaf 6 approximately centrally during the opening.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 includes a sensor 30 for detecting a movement of the door panel 6. This sensor 30 is coupled to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 and is adapted to detect a movement of the closed door panel 6, whereupon the control unit 27 the Actuator 26 controls so that it opens the door panel 6 at least partially. Suitable sensors 30 are those skilled in the art, for example from the DE 10 2006 061 083 A1 known and are, for example, pressure or Hall sensors. Thus, it is possible for a user of the household refrigerating appliance 1 to move the closed door leaf 6 in such a way that so that the magnetic seal 8 is still applied to the inner container 2. This movement is detected by the sensor 30, whereupon automatically the actuator 26, the door leaf 6 abuts.

Alternatively or additionally, instead of the sensor 30, an input means connected to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 may be provided, on the basis of which the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 automatically extends the actuator 26 in order to at least partially open the door leaf 6. The input means may e.g. one with the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25 button 14, which is arranged for example on the outwardly directed side of the door panel 6.

When the open door leaf 6 is closed, the face of the door panel 6 directed towards the refrigerator 4 pushes the actuator 26 back into its non-extended, i.e. retracted position. This information is transmitted to the control unit 27 of the door opening aid 25.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 is coupled or connected to the control device 22 of the household refrigerating appliance 1. For this purpose, the door opening aid 25 comprises e.g. an output 31 connected to the control unit 27, via which the door opening aid 25 is connected to the control device 22.

In the case of the present embodiment, the door opening aid 25 is arranged to transmit to the control device 22 information about the opened door leaf 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is extended. In addition, the door opening aid 25 is arranged to transmit to the control device 22 information about the closed door leaf 6 as soon as the actuator 26 is pressed into its retracted position. The controller 22 may also be configured to query this information from the output.

Consequently, the control device 22 receives information about the current opening state of the door leaf 6, thereby allowing the control device 22 to operate at least one component of the household refrigerator 1 depending on the opening state of the door 4 associated with the refrigerator 4, as described above.

Alternatively or additionally, the household refrigerating appliance 1 may have an electric door opening aid 32, which is set up to at least partially support an opening of the door panel 7 assigned to the freezer compartment 3. The door opening aid 32 may, for example, be foamed in a bottom 13 of the inner container 2 and operates independently of the control device 22. The freezer compartment 3 associated door opening aid 32 may be executed in particular corresponding to the refrigerator 4 associated door opening aid 25 and thus the control device 22 information about the convey current opening state of the freezer compartment 3 associated door leaf 5. As a result, it is possible for the control device 22 to operate at least one component of the household refrigerating appliance 1 as a function of the opening state of the door leaf 5 assigned to the freezer compartment 3, as has been described above.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Household refrigerator

2

inner container

3

freezer

4

refrigerator

5, 6

door leaf

7, 8

magnetic seal

9

partition

10

drawers

11

shelves

12

door racks

13

ground

14

button

21

Refrigerant circulation

22

control device

23

fan

24

Interior lighting

25

Door opening aid

26

actuator

27

control unit

28

power adapter

29

casing

30

sensor

31

output

32

Door opening aid

Claims (7)

1. Refrigeration device, in particular a domestic refrigerator, comprising an inner container (2) with a coolable interior space (3, 4); a refrigerant circuit (21) provided for cooling the interior space (3, 4); a door panel (5, 6) provided for opening and closing the interior space (3, 4); and a control device (22) designed to control at least one component (23, 24) of the refrigeration device (1), characterised by an electrical door opening assistance mechanism (25), which operates independently of the control device (22), which mechanism is designed to at least support an opening of the door panel (5, 6), and comprises information on the current opening state of the door panel (5, 6), and which is connected to the control device (22) and is designed to transmit information on the current opening state of the door panel (5, 6) to the control device (22), and to control the at least one component of the refrigeration device as a function of the opening state of the door panel (5, 6).
2. Refrigeration device according to claim 1, characterised in that the door opening assistance mechanism (25) has an electronic control unit (27) and an actuator (26) connected to the control unit (27), the actuator being designed to at least partially support the opening of the door panel (5, 6) controlled by the control unit (27).
3. Refrigeration device according to claim 2, characterised in that the door opening assistance mechanism (25) has a sensor (30) connected to the control unit (27), and this is designed to detect a movement of the door panel (5, 6), and the control unit (22) is designed to control the actuator (26) on the basis of the signals generated by the sensor (30) so the actuator at least assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel (5, 6), and/or the refrigeration device (1) has an input means (14) connected to the control unit (27), on the basis of actuation of which input means the control unit (22) controls the actuator (26) so the actuator at least partially assists in the at least partial opening of the door panel (5, 6).
4. Refrigeration device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the door opening assistance mechanism (25) has an independent power supply (28) which is designed to generate, from a mains voltage for the refrigeration device (1), an electrical supply voltage for the control unit (27) and/or a supply voltage for the actuator (26).
5. Refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the door opening assistance mechanism (25) has an output (31) by which the door opening assistance mechanism (25), and in particular its control unit (27), is connected to the control device (22).
6. Refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the component which the control device (22) controls as a function of the opening state of the door panel (5, 6) is an interior space light (24) for at least partially illuminating the interior space (3, 4); a fan (23) for conveying air cooled by the refrigerant circuit (21) into the interior space (3, 4), and/or a defrosting device for defrosting an evaporator of the refrigerant circuit (21).
7. Refrigeration device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the control device (22) is designed to control the refrigerant circuit (21), in particular a compressor of the refrigerant circuit (21), in such a way that the actual temperature of the interior space is at least approximately the same as a desired temperature of the interior space (3, 4).

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