U.S. patent application number 12/516625 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-25 for refrigerator with an ice maker.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH. Invention is credited to Adolf Feinauer, Klaus Flinner.
Application Number | 20100071400 12/516625 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39226622 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100071400 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Feinauer; Adolf ; et
al. |
March 25, 2010 |
REFRIGERATOR WITH AN ICE MAKER
Abstract
A refrigerator includes an interior and an ice maker that is
arranged in the interior and has a removable ice tray. A central
module of the ice maker is firmly mounted on an inner wall of the
refrigerator and the ice tray is detachably connected to the
central module. A fresh water tank is detachably coupled to the
central module such that fresh water can be transferred from the
fresh water tank to the central module.
Inventors: |
Feinauer; Adolf; (Giengen,
DE) ; Flinner; Klaus; (Zoschingen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
100 BOSCH BOULEVARD
NEW BERN
NC
28562
US
|
Assignee: |
BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE
GMBH
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
39226622 |
Appl. No.: |
12/516625 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
December 11, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP07/63650 |
371 Date: |
May 28, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 5/22 20180101; F25C
1/25 20180101; F25D 2323/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/340 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/00 20060101
F25C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 22, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 061 087.3 |
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A refrigeration appliance comprising: a plurality of internal
walls delimiting an interior space; and an ice maker, the ice maker
being located in the interior space and having a removable ice
tray, a central module, and a fresh water reservoir, the central
module of the ice maker being mounted on an internal wall of the
refrigeration appliance and the ice tray being removably connected
to the central module, and the fresh water reservoir being
removably coupled to the central module in a manner permitting
transfer of fresh water from the fresh water reservoir into the
central module.
11. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein at
least one of the ice tray and the fresh water reservoir is
configured such that a respective unoccupied volume in the interior
space of the refrigeration appliance that is results from a removal
of the respective ice tray or fresh water reservoir is available as
usable interior space of the refrigeration appliance.
12. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
central module, the ice tray, and the fresh water reservoir are
constructed and arranged in a block shape.
13. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
ice tray and the fresh water reservoir are connected to the central
module via guide rails.
14. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
central module is mounted on the internal wall via an adapter
plate.
15. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10 and further
comprising at least one sensor for detecting the presence of at
least one of the ice tray and the fresh water reservoir.
16. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 15 and further
comprising a switching contact operable to determine the presence
or absence of at least one of the ice tray and the fresh water
reservoir in its respective designated position relative to the
central module.
17. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 16, wherein the
ice maker is put into operation only when at least one of the ice
tray and the fresh water reservoir in its respective designated
position
18. The refrigeration appliance as claimed in claim 10, wherein the
central module has at least one of an electrical interface and a
refrigeration engineering interface that operatively interacts with
a corresponding interface of the refrigeration appliance.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance as
claimed in the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] It is known to arrange ice makers in the refrigeration zone
of refrigeration appliances. In arrangements of this kind, on the
one hand ice makers are used which are filled with water and cooled
from outside, the water freezing from the outside inward and in the
process ultimately producing an ice cube. In addition there are
what are termed crystal ice makers, in which a plurality of
refrigerating fingers are immersed in a water-filled container. By
means of a refrigerant circulating inside the refrigerating
fingers, the latter are cooled down to such an extent that a layer
of ice grows on the refrigerating fingers immersed in the water. As
soon as the layer of ice on the refrigerating fingers has attained
a usable size, it is detached from the refrigerating fingers. A
crystal ice maker of said kind is described in DE 103 36 834 A1.
Ice makers of this type are generally installed in the
refrigeration compartment of a fridge-freezer.
[0003] Ice makers of said type are available in a multiplicity of
embodiment variants. These include fully automatic embodiments
which are connected to a fresh water line and which automatically
pump the water remaining in the container on completion of
ice-making into the waste water line. The advantage of said ice
makers lies in their simplicity of use, in that crystal ice is
produced at the touch of a button, as it were. A prerequisite of
this type of embodiment, however, is that a main water supply and
waste water line are present at the site at which the refrigeration
appliance is to be installed.
[0004] An ice tray is generally provided in which the crystal ice
is collected. The ice tray can be emptied e.g. into a glass placed
thereunder.
[0005] The ice maker is fixed in terms of its size and is a
permanent component of the refrigeration appliance. Consequently, a
common feature of all refrigerating devices which include an ice
maker is that the ice maker takes up a not inconsiderable amount of
the useful volume. In particular in the case of refrigeration
appliances having a small useful volume, the usable amount of
interior space is greatly reduced by an ice maker. Even when the
ice maker is not in operation, there is no possibility of
increasing the useful volume.
[0006] The object underlying the invention is therefore to equip a
refrigeration appliance with an ice maker in such a way that when
the ice maker is not in use the useful volume of the refrigeration
appliance can be increased in size for the purpose of storing
refrigerated items. It is additionally desired to embody the
refrigeration appliance in such a way that no water connection has
to be provided.
[0007] The object is achieved according to the invention by means
of a refrigeration appliance having the features of claim 1. Toward
that end, a central module of the ice maker is permanently mounted
on an internal wall of the refrigeration appliance, with the ice
tray being removably connected to the central module. A fresh water
reservoir is also removably coupled to the central module in such a
way that fresh water from the fresh water reservoir can be
transferred into the central module. The fact that the ice tray is
coupled to the central module results in a smooth, easy-to-clean
refrigeration appliance front without openings for removing crystal
ice that has been produced. This is particularly advantageous in
the case of built-in refrigerators whose front face is covered by a
decor panel. Because the ice tray is located at the central module
in the refrigeration appliance, the ice tray can be removed through
the door opening without special apertures having to be created in
the front face of the door.
[0008] If the ice tray is located in the freezer compartment, the
crystal ice produced can be kept for a practically unlimited length
of time, since in this case temperatures below 0.degree. C.
prevail. If, on the other hand, the ice tray is located in the
refrigeration zone, the storage life of the ice is limited. That
notwithstanding, the melting process takes place only at a slow
rate, since in this case the temperature is only a few degrees
above zero. Here, too, the ice can be removed at a later time.
[0009] According to the invention the ice tray can be removed from
the refrigeration appliance. This enables the ice tray to be easily
cleaned at the sink or in the dishwasher. This is necessary in
order to remove from the ice tray any melt water present or any
deposits or contaminants that may be present.
[0010] Similarly, the fresh water reservoir is directly coupled in
a detachable manner to the central module and can be removed from
the refrigeration appliance. This enables the fresh water reservoir
to be easily filled under the faucet. In addition, the fresh water
reservoir can also be easily freed from dirt or deposits outside of
the refrigeration appliance. Because the fresh water reservoir is
coupled to the central module in the operationally ready state in
such a way that the water can be transferred directly into the
central module, there is no need for additional hoses, cables or
couplings in the interior space of the refrigeration appliance
which would otherwise be required for establishing the connection
between the fresh water reservoir and the central module.
Connections of said kind could be damaged as a result of
refrigerated items being put away or moved.
[0011] The ice tray and the fresh water reservoir are arranged in
such a way that by removing ice tray and/or fresh water reservoir
the usable interior space of the refrigeration appliance is
increased in size. As a result a larger useful volume is available
when the ice maker is not being used.
[0012] The central module, ice tray and fresh water reservoir are
advantageously arranged in a block shape. In an arrangement of said
kind, the ice tray is placed under the central module in such a way
that it terminates flush with a sidewall of the central module. In
a particularly advantageous manner, the removable fresh water
reservoir adjoins said sidewall. The removal of the fresh water
reservoir frees up useful volume which directly adjoins the
previously available interior space and together with the latter
forms a generally usable larger, contiguous space. If the ice tray
is also removed, said contiguous space can be enlarged even further
for storing refrigerated items.
[0013] The fresh water reservoir and the ice tray are
advantageously connected to the central module by way of guide
rails. In order to place the ice maker into an operationally ready
state once more after the fresh water reservoir and/or the ice tray
have/has been removed, the fresh water reservoir and the ice tray
must be brought into a defined position relative to the central
module. This is accomplished in a simple manner by means of guide
rails. Thus, after being removed, the ice tray and the fresh water
reservoir must simply be brought into engagement with the guide
rails and moved into their defined end position by a continuous
pushing action.
[0014] The guide rails are advantageously part of the central
module and manufactured with the latter as a single piece.
[0015] Furthermore, when guide rails are used, the useful volume
obtained in addition as a result of the removal of the fresh water
reservoir and/or the ice tray is not broken up by component parts
of the ice maker, such as frames or retaining elements.
Accordingly, the enlarged useful volume is available without
restriction for storing refrigerated items.
[0016] The central module is mounted on the internal wall by way of
an adapter plate. Using an adapter plate as a connecting element
between internal wall and central module standardizes the fixing
arrangement. It is particularly advantageous that the same central
module can be installed in different refrigeration appliance types.
The component commonality harbors an enormous savings potential,
since now the central module or the inner shell of the
refrigeration appliance does not have to be converted, but instead
only the adapter plate has to be adapted to the corresponding
refrigeration appliance type.
[0017] At least one sensor is provided for the purpose of detecting
the presence of the ice tray and/or the fresh water reservoir. In
order to minimize the energy consumption of refrigeration
appliances it makes sense to operate supplementary devices such as
ice makers only when they are able to deliver the performance
expected by the user. If a central module is operated without a
fresh water reservoir being present, no crystal ice can be
produced. The result of this is an unnecessary consumption of
energy and the costs associated therewith. Out of consideration for
the environment it is therefore beneficial to detect the presence
of the fresh water reservoir filled with fresh water. Sensors can
be, for example, weight sensors, optical sensors or
microswitches.
[0018] It is particularly advantageous if a further sensor is
provided for detecting the ice tray. This can prevent the
possibility that the crystal ice produced will be stored in an
undefined manner in the interior space of the refrigeration
appliance in the event that an ice tray is missing. Regardless of
whether the ice maker is located in the freezer compartment or in
the refrigeration zone, considerable inconvenience would be
attached thereto in either case. If the crystal ice were to be
stored in the freezer compartment, it will freeze on the internal
wall of the freezer compartment after a certain period of time. The
freezer compartment must then be cleared out and defrosted. If the
ice maker is located in the refrigeration zone of the refrigeration
appliance, the crystal ice produced by the central module and
stored there without an ice tray would melt and by forming puddles
would possibly damage refrigerated items. In this case, too, the
refrigerated items would have to be removed from the refrigeration
zone of the refrigeration appliance, possibly damaged refrigerated
items identified as such and disposed of, and the refrigeration
zone dried. By means of the sensor the ice maker can be prevented
from operating without the ice tray being installed.
[0019] Both in the case of the ice tray and in the case of the
fresh water reservoir it is possibly not sufficient merely to
detect their presence. If, for example, the ice tray is present but
not located in the right position, there is the possibility that
only part of the crystal ice produced will be deposited in the ice
tray. The part failing to be deposited therein will cause the
above-described disadvantages.
[0020] If the fresh water reservoir is not in the right position,
leakages can occur when fresh water is transferred into the central
module. That must also be avoided at all costs. In a particularly
advantageous embodiment a switching contact is therefore
interrogated to determine whether the ice tray and/or the fresh
water reservoir are/is located in the designated position.
[0021] Advantageously the ice maker will only be put into operation
when the ice tray and/or the fresh water reservoir are/is located
in the designated position.
[0022] Further details and advantages of the invention will emerge
from the dependent claims in conjunction with the description of an
exemplary embodiment which is explained in detail with reference to
the drawing, in which:
[0023] FIG. 1 schematically shows a refrigeration appliance with
refrigerator compartment and ice maker, and
[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded drawing of the components of the ice
maker.
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a refrigeration appliance 1 with open door 2
and an interior space 3. The interior space 3 is subdivided into a
refrigeration zone 4 and a freezer compartment 5. For clarity of
illustration reasons no cover flap is shown on the freezer
compartment 5. The refrigeration zone 4 is usually subdivided by
means of at least one height-adjustable shelf 6. An ice maker 7 is
located in the refrigeration zone 4.
[0026] The ice maker 7 is divided into a central module, which in
this case is embodied as a technical module 8 with switching
contact 11 (see also FIG. 2), an ice tray 9 and a fresh water
reservoir 10. A fixing plate (not visible here) of the technical
module 8 is fixedly connected to an adapter plate. Said adapter
plate is mounted on the left-hand or right-hand sidewall of the
refrigeration zone 4. A fixing eyelet 12 is part of the rear wall
of the technical module 8 and projects into the interior space 3 of
the refrigeration appliance 1 at the side which lies opposite the
fixing plate of the technical module 8. The technical module 8 is
fixedly connected to the rear wall of the refrigeration appliance 1
by means of said fixing eyelet 12.
[0027] In a process that does not require to be explained in
greater detail here, crystal ice is produced in the technical
module 8 of the ice maker 7 by means of a plurality of
refrigerating fingers and stored in the ice tray 9. The ice tray 9
is located underneath the technical module 8. On the side on which
its fixing plate is located, the technical module 8, embodied in
the form of a narrow cuboid 13 which forms a unit with the front of
the technical module 8, is longitudinally extended such that when
the ice tray 9 is inserted the underside of the cuboid 13
terminates flush with said ice tray 9. On the underside of the
technical module 8, in the region into which the ice tray 9 can be
inserted, there are disposed a left-hand 14 and a right-hand
L-shaped guide rail 15. In this arrangement one limb of the guide
rail 14, 15 is fixedly connected to the underside of the technical
module 8, while the other limb runs parallel to the underside of
the technical module 8. When the ice tray 9 is inserted into the
ice maker 7, one of its sidewalls runs flush with the sidewall of
the technical module 8 which lies opposite the fixing plate of the
technical module 8.
[0028] The ice tray 9 has the shape of a tray that is open toward
the top. The ice tray 9 is guided by means of the left-hand 14 and
right-hand guide rail 15 of the technical module 8 in a groove 16
in each case. This is part of the left or, as the case may be,
right sidewall of the ice tray 9 and is located at the edge of the
tray 17.
[0029] Located at the rear of the technical module 8 is the
switching contact 11. Said switching contact 11 is actuated only
when the ice tray 9 is correctly inserted. Only when the switching
contact 11 has been actuated, can the technical module 8 start
producing crystal ice.
[0030] In a further embodiment variant, the switching contact 11 is
replaced by a photoelectric relay or a proximity sensor. In this
case too, crystal ice production cannot start until the sensor has
been actuated.
[0031] The water required for producing the crystal ice is made
available in the fresh water reservoir 10. The fresh water
reservoir 10 is located next to the technical module 8 on the side
located opposite the fixing plate of the technical module 8. As
soon as the fresh water reservoir 10 has reached its end position
next to the technical module 8, the connection between the fresh
water reservoir 10 and the fresh water system of the technical
module 8 is established by way of a coupling (not visible here).
For that purpose the technical module 8 has an upper 18 and a lower
L-shaped guide rail 19 on the sidewall opposite the fixing plate.
One limb of the guide rail 18, 19 is fixedly connected to the
sidewall of the technical module 8, while the other limbs, which
run parallel to the sidewall of the technical module 8, point in
the opposite direction. To achieve the watertight coupling of the
fresh water reservoir 10 to the technical module 8, a pipe socket
offset by 90.degree. can be provided, for example, which projects
from the sidewall in the rear section of the technical module 8.
Provided as a matching part in the rear wall of the fresh water
reservoir 10 is an opening which is enclosed by an O-ring. When the
fresh water reservoir 10 is inserted, the pipe socket is pressed
into the opening and is sealed by means of the O-ring.
[0032] The grooves (not shown here) required for guiding the fresh
water reservoir 10 which engage in the upper 18 and lower guide
rail 19 are part of the fresh water reservoir 10. When the fresh
water reservoir 10 is inserted, it abuts against the technical
module in the upper part and the ice tray 9 in the lower part. The
fresh water reservoir 10 has a lid 20 which can be removed for
filling purposes. In the refrigeration zone it prevents soiling or
contamination of the fresh water.
[0033] Both the ice tray 9 and the fresh water reservoir 10 are
removed and introduced from the front.
[0034] With the ice tray 9 and the fresh water reservoir 10
inserted, the ice maker 7 constitutes a compact assembly. When the
ice maker 7 is not being used, the fresh water reservoir 10 can be
removed. Because the fresh water reservoir 10 is located on the
side disposed opposite the fixing plate of the technical module 8,
removal of the fresh water reservoir 10 results in an exceptionally
usable enlargement of the useful volume that is available for the
storage of refrigerated items. Said useful volume can be increased
in size still further if the ice tray 9 is removed in addition when
the ice maker 7 is not being used. The special feature lies in the
fact that with the ice tray 9 and fresh water reservoir 10 removed,
the resulting increase in size of the useful volume forms a space
that is contiguous with the refrigeration zone 4.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0035] 1 Refrigeration appliance [0036] 2 Door [0037] 3 Interior
space [0038] 4 Refrigeration zone [0039] 5 Freezer compartment
[0040] 6 Shelf [0041] 7 Ice maker [0042] 8 Technical module [0043]
9 Ice tray [0044] 10 Fresh water reservoir [0045] 11 Switching
contact [0046] 12 Fixing eyelet [0047] 13 Cuboid [0048] 14
Left-hand guide rail [0049] 15 Right-hand guide rail [0050] 16
Groove [0051] 17 Tray edge [0052] 18 Top guide rail [0053] 19
Bottom guide rail [0054] 20 Lid
* * * * *