U.S. patent application number 16/606358 was filed with the patent office on 2022-07-28 for refrigeration appliance with an evaporator mounted on an inner wall and method for the assembly thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is BSH HAUSGERAETE GMBH. Invention is credited to MARKUS ARBOGAST, MARCUS WEHLAUCH.
Application Number | 20220235995 16/606358 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-07-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220235995 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ARBOGAST; MARKUS ; et
al. |
July 28, 2022 |
REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH AN EVAPORATOR MOUNTED ON AN INNER WALL
AND METHOD FOR THE ASSEMBLY THEREOF
Abstract
A refrigeration appliance includes an inner space, an evaporator
assembly extending at a wall of the inner space, a retaining device
including a base plate extending between the wall and the
evaporator assembly, and protrusions protruding from the wall on a
first and a second edge of the base plate. At least the protrusion
protruding on the first edge includes an elastic clip that can be
deflected out of a position in which it engages with a first outer
section of the evaporator assembly into a position in which it
releases the outer section. A method for mounting an evaporator
assembly on a wall of an inner space of a refrigeration appliance
is also provided.
Inventors: |
ARBOGAST; MARKUS;
(HERBRECHTINGEN, DE) ; WEHLAUCH; MARCUS;
(NATTHEIM, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BSH HAUSGERAETE GMBH |
MUENCHEN |
|
DE |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
16/606358 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
March 28, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2018/057864 |
371 Date: |
October 18, 2019 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00; F25B 39/02 20060101 F25B039/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 18, 2017 |
DE |
10 2017 206 517.6 |
Claims
1-17. (canceled)
18. A refrigeration appliance, comprising: a wall delimiting an
inner space; an evaporator assembly extending along said wall, said
evaporator assembly having a first outer section; a retaining
device including a base plate extending between said wall and said
evaporator assembly, said base plate having first second edges; and
protrusions each protruding from said wall on a respective one of
said first and second edges; at least said protrusion protruding on
said first edge including an elastic clip configured to be
deflected from a position engaging around said first outer section
of said evaporator assembly into a position releasing said first
outer section of said evaporator assembly.
19. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said
protrusion protruding on said second edge has a recess facing said
first protrusion, and said evaporator assembly has a second outer
section configured to be plugged into said recess.
20. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said
evaporator assembly includes an evaporator and at least one bypass
blocker, and at least said first outer section of said evaporator
assembly is formed by said at least one bypass blocker.
21. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 20, wherein said
evaporator is a fin evaporator having laterally protruding tube
loops, said at least one bypass blocker has a flank facing said
evaporator and recesses in said flank, and said evaporator assembly
is held together by said tube loops frictionally or form-lockingly
engaging in said recesses.
22. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 21, wherein said
at least one bypass blocker includes a flank facing away from said
evaporator and a groove in said flank facing away from said
evaporator, and said elastic clip extends in said groove in said
position engaging around said first outer section.
23. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, which
further comprises an insertion slope formed on an end of said
groove facing said base plate.
24. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, wherein said
first protrusion includes at least one rigid wall plate lying
against said flank of said at least one bypass blocker facing away
from said evaporator.
25. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 24, wherein said
first protrusion includes a section extending as far as said base
plate, and said at least one rigid wall plate is separated from
said elastic clip by said section.
26. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 25, wherein said
first protrusion includes at least one connecting piece oriented
transversely relative to said first edge.
27. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 26, wherein said
at least one connecting piece is bent outward from an edge of said
at least one rigid wall plate.
28. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said
base plate adheres to said wall.
29. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 28, wherein said
base plate has a third edge, and an adhesive strip bridges said
third edge and adheres said base plate to said wall.
30. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said
base plate has a fourth edge, and a condensed water channel is
formed on said fourth edge.
31. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 30, which
further comprises a plug connector penetrating a drain opening in
said condensed water channel and engaging in a drain formed in said
wall.
32. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said
evaporator assembly includes an evaporator heater.
33. A method for mounting an evaporator assembly on a wall of an
inner space of a refrigeration appliance, the method comprising the
following steps: a) providing a retaining device including a base
plate having first and second edges, first and second protrusions
respectfully protruding from the wall on the first and second edges
and an elastic clip protruding from the first protrusion of the
first edge, and attaching the retaining device to the wall; b)
providing the evaporator assembly with a first outer section, and
placing the evaporator assembly on the second protrusion protruding
from the second edge; and c) pivoting the evaporator assembly about
an axis adjacent the second protrusion in a direction toward the
base plate until reaching a position of the evaporator assembly
causing the elastic clip to engage around the first outer section
of the evaporator assembly.
34. The method according to claim 33, which further comprises
carrying out steps b) and c) with the refrigeration appliance lying
in a horizontal orientation and the second protrusion supporting
the evaporator assembly in step b).
35. The method according to claim 33, which further comprises
extending the axis through a point at which the second protrusion
and the evaporator assembly make contact.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance,
in particular a household refrigeration appliance, having an inner
space and an evaporator that is mounted on a wall of the inner
space, and also to a method for mounting said evaporator.
[0002] During the assembly procedure of such a refrigeration
appliance, it is necessary to first attach the evaporator to the
intended installation site in the inner space in a reliable manner
so that the refrigerant circuit may be subsequently connected.
[0003] A refrigeration appliance is known from U.S. Pat. No.
8,047,017 B2 in which a fin evaporator is mounted on a rear wall of
the inner space with the aid of a retaining device that comprises a
base plate, which lies against the rear wall, and elastic
protrusions that protrude from the base plate. Bent outward from
individual fins of the evaporator are perforated brackets that are
pushed during the assembly procedure of the evaporator against the
protrusions in order to latch the protrusions into the holes. When
the evaporator is in the mounted state, it conceals the protrusions
with the result that it is difficult to bring the protrusions into
alignment with the holes in the brackets.
[0004] Elongated protrusions are formed on two edges of the base
plate, which limit the freedom of movement of the brackets with
respect to the protrusions by engaging around the outer fins of the
evaporator. Although this may facilitate the insertion of the
protrusions into the holes, it does at the same time create a path
along which air may flow past on the outer faces of the
evaporator.
[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a refrigeration
appliance in which it is possible to mount the evaporator in a
rapid and reliable manner, and to provide a corresponding method
for mounting said evaporator.
[0006] The object is achieved on the one hand in that in the case
of a refrigeration appliance that comprises an inner space, an
evaporator assembly, which extends on a wall of the inner space,
and a retaining device, which comprises a base plate that extends
between the wall and the evaporator assembly, and protrusions that
protrude on a first and a second edge of the base plate from the
wall, at least the protrusion that protrudes on the first edge
comprises an elastic clip that may be deflected from a position in
which said elastic clip engages around a first outer section of the
evaporator assembly into a position in which said elastic clip
releases the outer section. Although the clip is elastically
deformed in a similar manner to the protrusions disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 8,047,017 B2 so that the evaporator assembly may achieve
its installation position, it is however the case that since said
clip engages around the outside of the evaporator assembly, said
clip remains visible during the attachment procedure, in addition a
temporarily intense deflection of the clip may not prevent it
achieving the position in which in engages around said evaporator
assembly, whereas in the case of conventional protrusions an
excessive bending may prevent the protrusion latching into the hole
that is provided for said protrusion.
[0007] The protrusion that protrudes on the second edge may
comprise a recess that is facing the first protrusion. A second
outer section of the evaporator assembly may be plugged into this
recess. By virtue of plugging in a second outer section in this
manner, it is possible to determine a pivot axis around which the
evaporator assembly may pivot with respect to the base plate,
wherein the spacing between the first and the second protrusion
should be matched to the length of the evaporator assembly in such
a manner that during this pivot movement the clip impinges directly
on the first outer section that said clip is to engage around on
completion of the pivot movement. The recess may be formed in a
wall plate of the retaining device, on the edges of which
connecting pieces are bent outward in the direction of the first
protrusion; however other forms of recess are also conceivable such
as a hole in a wall plate of the retaining device into which a
protrusion of the evaporator assembly engages.
[0008] The evaporator assembly may comprise in addition to one
evaporator at least one, preferably two, bypass blockers, in other
words shaped parts that are attached to the flanks of the
evaporator and whose shape is tailored to suit the installation
space available for the evaporator assembly in order to fill up
intermediate spaces between the evaporator and the walls of the
installation space and thus to prevent air flowing past the
evaporator.
[0009] Since it is possible to adapt the shape of such a bypass
blocker more easily than to adapt the shape of the evaporator in
order to facilitate the spring engaging around said evaporator, at
least the first outer section of the evaporator assembly should be
formed by a bypass blocker.
[0010] It is preferred that the evaporator is a fin evaporator
having laterally protruding tube loops. The bypass blocker may
comprise recesses on a flank facing the evaporator, wherein the
tube loops engage into said recesses in a frictional or
form-locking manner in order to hold the evaporator assembly
together.
[0011] The bypass blocker is embodied preferably from an easily
deformable material, in particular a foamed material such as
expanded polystyrene. This ability to deform facilitates on the one
hand the procedure of densely filling the installation space
despite manufacturing tolerances, in that the bypass blocker is
deformed into contact with the walls of the installation space; on
the other hand said ability to deform facilitates the production of
an effective frictional connection with the tube loops of the
evaporator.
[0012] In order that the bypass blocker may on the one hand fill up
an installation space, which is provided for said bypass blocker,
and may prevent air flowing around the evaporator and at the same
time space remains for the clip to deflect, the bypass blocker may
comprise on an edge that is remote from the evaporator a groove in
which the elastic clip extends at least in its position in which
said elastic clip engages around the edge.
[0013] It is possible to form an insertion slope on an end of the
groove that is facing the base, in other words the depth of the
groove may increase towards the base plate, with the result that
the clip initially, without having to be deformed or by deforming
slightly, may latch into the groove and, if subsequently the
evaporator assembly is pushed against the base plate, is deflected
in a gradually increasing manner into contact with the base of the
groove. The width of the groove may also increase toward the base
plate in order to also then render it possible for the clip to
latch into the groove if the evaporator assembly is not positioned
precisely in the width direction of the groove, and to gradually
correct the position of the evaporator group in this direction by
means of latching the clip into the groove.
[0014] In order to fix the evaporator assembly in a reliable
manner, the first protrusion may moreover comprise at least one
rigid wall plate that lies against a flank of the bypass block that
is remote from the evaporator. Any wall plate may be considered as
rigid in this sense.
[0015] In the interest of a cost-efficient manufacturing process,
the entire retaining device is preferably formed as one piece from
a flat material in particular a metal sheet.
[0016] In order not to hinder the deflection movement of the clip,
the rigid wall is preferably separated from the elastic clip by
means of a section that extends as far as the base plate.
[0017] In order to prevent the evaporate assembly sliding out of
position in the direction of the first edge of the base plate, the
protrusion may comprise at least one connecting piece that is
oriented in a transverse manner with respect to the first edge.
[0018] In order to keep the structure of the retaining device
simple, this connecting piece is preferably bent outward at an
angle from an edge of the rigid wall plate.
[0019] Two such connecting pieces may fix the evaporator assembly
in a form-locking manner, in that they lie respectively against a
flank of the evaporator assembly, said flank being upstream or
downstream with regard to the flow direction of air through the
evaporator.
[0020] In order to attach the base plate to the wall, it is
desirable to perform the attachment without penetrating the wall
since such penetrations could lead to leakages and to insulating
material penetrating the inner space or to water from the inner
space passing into the insulation material. The base plate is
therefore preferably attached by means of adhesive to the wall; in
particular with the aid of an adhesive strip, that bridges a third
edge of the base plate in order to adhere in part to the base plate
and in part to the wall.
[0021] A condensed water channel may be formed on a fourth edge of
the base plate in order to collect and discharge condensed water
that is flowing out during the operation of the evaporator.
[0022] The condensed water channel may support the anchoring of the
retaining device in the inner space, in that said holding device
engages in a channel that is formed in the wall.
[0023] In order to drain off water that has collected in the
condensed water channel, a drain should be formed on the wall. This
drain may also be used to anchor the retaining device, in that a
plug connector penetrates a drain opening of the condensed water
channel and engages in the drain.
[0024] In order to facilitate the assembly procedure of the
refrigeration appliance, an evaporator heater may be a component of
the evaporator assembly with the result that said evaporator heater
is inserted into the inner space together with the evaporator.
[0025] The object is achieved on the one hand by means of a method
for mounting an evaporator assembly on a wall of an inner space of
a refrigeration appliance, said method comprising the steps: [0026]
a) attaching a retaining device to the wall; wherein the retaining
device comprises a base plate and protrusions that protrude on a
first and a second edge of the base plate from the wall; [0027] b)
placing the evaporator assembly on the second protrusion that
protrudes from the second edge; and [0028] c) pivoting the
evaporator assembly about an axis, which is adjacent to the second
protrusion, in the direction of the base plate until said
evaporator assembly is in a position in which an elastic clip of
the protrusion that protrudes on the first edge engages around a
first outer section of the evaporator assembly.
[0029] In order that the evaporator assembly may be placed on the
second protrusion in a reliable manner and pivoted, the steps b)
and c) should be performed with the refrigeration appliance in a
horizontal orientation, in which in step b) the second protrusion
supports the evaporator assembly.
[0030] The axis for the pivot movement of step c) may then be
defined in a simplest manner conceivable by means of a spot where
the second protrusion and the evaporator assembly make contact,
typically therefore a spot on a wall plate of the second protrusion
on which the evaporator assembly rests, said wall plate being
horizontal when the refrigeration appliance is lying in a
horizontal orientation.
[0031] Further features and advantages of the invention are
disclosed in the description of exemplary embodiments with
reference to the attached figures, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a retaining device for mounting an evaporator
assembly in the inner space of a refrigeration appliance;
[0033] FIG. 2 shows the retaining device having an evaporator
assembly inserted therein;
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a section through a bypass blocker of the
evaporator assembly;
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a schematic section through a housing of a
refrigeration appliance in accordance with the invention prior to
the installation of the evaporator assembly;
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a section through the wall of the refrigeration
appliance and a retaining device mounted thereon for the evaporator
assembly;
[0037] FIG. 6 shows a section similar to FIG. 4 during the
installation of the evaporator assembly;
[0038] FIG. 7 shows a further section similar to FIG. 4 during the
installation of the evaporator assembly; and
[0039] FIG. 8 shows a section similar to FIG. 4 after the
installation of the evaporator assembly.
[0040] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a retaining device
1 that is provided for mounting an evaporator assembly in the inner
space of a refrigeration appliance, in particular of a household
refrigeration appliance such as a refrigerator or a freezer. The
retaining device 1 is formed as one piece from a section of sheet
metal. Said retaining device has a rectangular base plate 2 that is
provided so as in the mounted state to lie against a wall, in
particular a rear wall, of the inner space. The section is bent
over on two edges 3, 4 of the base plate 2 in order to form
protrusions 5, 6, said edges being oriented in a vertical manner
when the refrigeration appliance is finished and set upright in the
position of use.
[0041] The protrusion 5 comprises a wall plate 7 that extends over
a major part of the edge 3 and protrudes at a right angle with
respect to the base plate 2. On an upper and lower edge and also on
an edge that is remote from the base plate 2, connecting pieces 8,
9, 10 are in turn bent outward away from the wall plate 7 in order
to form a flat recess 11 that is facing the other protrusion 6. In
order to make the connection between the wall plate 7 and the base
plate 2 as bend-resistant as possible, corrugations 12 are
distributed along the edge 3, said corrugations 12 extending in
each case into the base plate 2 and the wall plate 7.
[0042] The protrusion 6 is divided into three parts, two outer and
one middle part, along the edge 4 by means of sections 13 that
extend in each case as far as the base plate 2. The two outer parts
14, 15 comprise respectively as the protrusion 5 a wall plate 16 or
17, which protrudes at a right angle from the base plate 2, and a
connecting piece 18 or 19 that is bent outward on the outer edge of
the wall plate 16, 17 toward the protrusion 5. However, in contrast
to the protrusion 5, a connecting piece that is bent outward toward
the opposite-lying protrusion is not provided on the edge 20 of the
wall plates 16, 17, said edge being remote from the base plate 2.
The connection between the wall plates 16, 17 is reinforced by
means of corrugations 12 that extend across the edge 4.
[0043] The middle part of the protrusion 5 is formed as a clip 21
having an arm 22 that protrudes from the base plate and that in
order to be flexible is narrower than the plates 16, 17 and is
connected to the base plate 2 via a section of the edge 4 that is
not provided with corrugations and having a barbed hook 23 that
protrudes outward from the free end of the arm 22 beyond the base
plate 2. In order to realize a uniform curvature of the arm 22 in
the case of a sideward deflection of the barbed hook 23, the width
of the arm 22 continuously reduces from the edge 4 toward the
barbed hook 23.
[0044] A condensed water channel 24 is formed on a third edge of
the base plate 2, said third edge being the lower edge after the
retaining device 1 has been installed in the finished refrigeration
appliance. The condensed water channel 24 slopes toward the middle
from its two ends on the edges 3, 4 and comprises a through-going
passage 25 at its deepest point. The angle between the base plate 2
and the condensed water channel 24 is reinforced by means of
further corrugations 12.
[0045] FIG. 2 illustrates the retaining device 1 having an
evaporator assembly 26 mounted therein. A middle section of the
evaporator assembly 26 is formed by means of an evaporator 27, in
this case a fin evaporator. The evaporator 27 comprises in a manner
known per se a plurality of mutually parallel fins 28 and a
refrigerant tube 29 that extends in a meandering manner through
openings of the fins 28, wherein tube loops of the refrigerant tube
29 protrude beyond the outer fins 28. End pieces 58 of the
refrigerant tube 29 that are still unconnected and are to be
inserted into a refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration appliance
extend beyond the block of fins 28.
[0046] An evaporator heater 59, in this case in the form of a tube
that is bent in the shape of a hair pin and contains an electrical
heating resistor, extends below the evaporator 27. The tube is
pushed into openings in two fins 28 that protrude downward beyond
the block-shaped evaporator 27. The evaporator heater 59 is used in
a manner known per se for defrosting white frost that during the
operation precipitates on the evaporator 27 as a result of
radiation and rising warm air.
[0047] Two bypass blockers 30, 31 that form the outer sections of
the evaporator assembly 26 are attached to the outer fins 28 lying
on both sides on the evaporator 27. The protruding tube loops of
the evaporator engage in recesses of the bypass blocker 30, 31 and
therefore are not visible in FIG. 2. The bypass blockers 30, 31 are
shaped bodies embodied from a closed-pore synthetic material foam,
typically from expanded polystyrene.
[0048] The bypass blocker 30 engages in the recess 11 of the
protrusion 5 and by being in contact with the mutually opposite
connecting pieces 8, 10 or rather with the connecting piece 9 and
the base plate 2 is held so as not to move in the direction of the
edge 3 and also in the direction that is perpendicular to the base
plate 2. A part of the bypass blocker 30 extends upward beyond the
connecting piece 8 and forms a rib 32 that protrudes outward in the
lateral direction beyond the wall plate 7. A further rib 60
protrudes forward between the connecting piece 9 and the evaporator
27 in the direction of the observer.
[0049] The bypass blocker 31 has on its outer face that is remote
from the evaporator 27 a groove 33 that receives the clip 21. The
groove 33 is flanked on the upper and lower side by ribs 34 that
protrude to the side outward through the cut-outs 13 beyond the
wall plates 16, 17. The front edges 20 of the wall plates 16, 17
are bent behind ribs 61 of the bypass blocker 31, said ribs
protruding forward beyond the wall plates 16, 17.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section through the bypass
blocker 31 along a plane that extends through the groove 33 and
perpendicular to its flank 35 that is facing the evaporator 27. The
groove 33 extends along a flank 36, which is remote from the
evaporator 27, from a rear side 37, which lies against the base
plate 2, as far as a front side 38 of the bypass blocker 31, said
front side being remote from the base plate 2. The depth of the
groove 33 gradually reduces along an insertion slope 39, which is
open toward the rear side 37, starting from the rear side 37 to a
minimum 40. The minimum 40 extends in this case in a longitudinal
manner along the flank 35 and extends as far as just before the
front side 38.
[0051] The arm 22 of the clip 21 is just sufficiently long that
when the evaporator assembly 26 is pushed against the base plate 2,
the barbed hook 23 may pass the minimum 40 and as illustrated in
FIG. 3 may engage in a deeper section of the groove 33 between the
minimum 40 and the front side 38 with the result that the clip 21
engages around an edge of the evaporator assembly 26.
[0052] Recesses 41 somewhat in the shape of semi-circular discs are
formed on a flank 36 of the bypass blocker 31, said flank lying
opposite the flank 35 and facing the evaporator 27, said recesses
being provided in order to receive the above mentioned tube loops
of the refrigerant tube 29. Corresponding recesses are also
provided on the bypass blocker 30. The width of the recesses 41 is
somewhat less that the diameter of the refrigerant tube 29 in order
to ensure by means of a frictional or form-locking connection that
the bypass blocker 30, 31 sits firmly on the evaporator 27, that
the evaporator 27 and the bypass blocker 30, 31 may be joined
together to form the evaporator assembly 26 prior to being
installed in the inner space of the refrigeration appliance and
reliably holds together this evaporator assembly 26 as it is being
installed.
[0053] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic section through the rearward
part of a housing 42 of a still unfinished refrigeration appliance
along a plane that extends horizontally when the appliance is set
upright in the position of use. The figure illustrates a part of an
inner space 43 and part of side walls 44 and also a rear wall 45 of
the housing 42. The retaining device 1 is mounted in the inner
space 43 with the base plate 2 lying against the rear wall 45. The
width of the retaining device 1 is smaller than that of the inner
space 43 with the result that gaps 46 remain between the
protrusions 5, 6 and the side walls 44 respectively. The width of
the gap 46 varies depending upon the width of the housing 42.
[0054] FIG. 5 illustrates a section through the refrigeration
appliance along a plane that is perpendicular to the section plane
of FIG. 4 and vertical when the finished refrigeration appliance is
in the position of use. The plane is described in FIG. 4 by V-V and
extends through the through-going passage 25 of the condensed water
channel 24 and an upper edge 47 of the base plate 2. The rear wall
45 comprises a layer of insulating material 48 and an inner vessel
49 that separates the layer of insulating material 48 from the
inner space 43. A groove 50 is formed on a lower edge of the rear
wall 45 in the inner vessel 49 and the condensed water channel 24
of the retaining device 1 is inlaid in said inner vessel.
[0055] The retaining device 1 is fixed in the illustrated position
with the aid of an adhesive band 51, typically an aluminum adhesive
band, which bridges the upper edge 47 of the base plate 2, adhered
in part to the base plate 2 and in part to the inner vessel 49 and
also with the aid of a plug connector 52. The plug connector 52 has
a pin section 53 that penetrates the opening 25 and engages in a
drain 54 that is formed on the inner vessel 49 and extends through
the layer of insulating material 48 into the atmosphere, and a head
55, the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the
through-going passage 25. The condensed water channel 24 is also
fixed in the groove 50 by virtue of the pin section 53 being held
in the drain 54, for example by means of a frictional connection or
a latching arrangement.
[0056] In order not to block the outflow of the condensed water,
the plug connector 52 may not fill the cross-section of the drain
54. The pin section 53 therefore has in this case a U-shaped
cross-section having a groove 56 that extends over the entire
length of the pin section 53 and on its upper end becomes one or
multiple grooves 57 on the lower face of the head 55.
[0057] In order to install the evaporator assembly 26 in the
refrigeration appliance illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the housing
42 is placed on the side with the result that the protrusion 5 of
the retaining device 1 comes to lie at the very bottom.
Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the evaporator assembly 26
is inserted into the inner space 43 in an inclined position and its
bypass blocker 30 is placed in the recess 11 of the protrusion
5.
[0058] Subsequently the evaporator assembly 26 is pivoted against
the rear wall 45 about the axis that is determined by means of the
bypass blocker 30 engaging in the recess 11. As a consequence, the
barbed hook 23 of the clip 21 comes to lie against the entrance of
the groove 33 of the bypass blocker 31.
[0059] During a further pivot movement, the barbed hook 23 engages
into the groove 33 and by virtue of making contact with its base in
the region of the insertion slope 39 is deflected upward, in other
words toward the side wall 44 of the housing 42, said side wall
being the upper side wall in the horizontal position (FIG. 7),
until said barbed hook finally passes the minimum 40 and engages
between this and the front side 38 further deeper into the groove
33 and thus engages around the bypass blocker 31 as illustrated in
FIG. 8.
[0060] As the same time as the clip 21 moves into the groove 33,
the ribs 34 (not illustrated in FIGS. 6-8) also engage in the
sections 13. It is thus possible to dimension their lateral
overhang in such a manner that after the clip 21 has latched in the
groove 33 said ribs fill the gap 46 between the wall plates 16, 17
and the upper side wall 44.
[0061] Accordingly, the rib 32 of the bypass blocker 30 is
dimensioned in order to bridge the gap 46 between the wall plate 7
and the lower side wall 44. If the bypass blockers 30, 31 are
provided in different shapes having respectively a height of the
ribs 32, 34 that is tailored to suite the width of the housing 42,
it is possible to use an identical model of evaporator 27 and
retaining device 1 in the housings 42 of a different width.
Alternatively, it is possible to use a respective single model of
bypass blocker 30, 31 in which the height of the ribs 32, 34 may be
tailored to suit the width of the narrowest housing that is to be
used, and with supplementary shaped parts fill gaps that occur when
using these bypass blockers 30, 31 in a wider housing 42.
[0062] The evaporator assembly 26 is now held in a sufficiently
fixed manner in the housing 42 in order to solder the end pieces 58
of the refrigerant tube 29 to the already installed parts of the
refrigerant circuit and to connect the evaporator heater 59 to a
current supply. Once these tasks have been completed, a partition
wall 62 may be inserted that lies against the ribs 60, 61 of the
bypass blockers 30, 31 and subdivides the inner space 43 into a
storage compartment for chilled goods and an evaporator chamber
that receives the evaporator assembly 26.
REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0063] 1 Retaining device [0064] 2 Base plate [0065] 3 Edge [0066]
4 Edge [0067] 5 Protrusion [0068] 6 Protrusion [0069] 7 Wall plate
[0070] 8 Connecting piece [0071] 9 Connecting piece [0072] 10
Connecting piece [0073] 11 Recess [0074] 12 Corrugation [0075] 13
Section [0076] 14 Outer part [0077] 15 Outer part [0078] 16 Wall
plate [0079] 17 Wall plate [0080] 18 Connecting piece [0081] 19
Connecting piece [0082] 20 Edge [0083] 21 Clip [0084] 22 Arm [0085]
23 Barbed hook [0086] 24 Condensed water channel [0087] 25
Through-going passage [0088] 26 Evaporator assembly [0089] 27
Evaporator [0090] 28 Fin [0091] 29 Refrigerant tube [0092] 30
Bypass blocker [0093] 31 Bypass blocker [0094] 32 Rib [0095] 33
Groove [0096] 34 Rib [0097] 35 Flank [0098] 36 Flank [0099] 37 Rear
side [0100] 38 Front side [0101] 39 Insertion slope [0102] 40
Minimum [0103] 41 Recesses [0104] 42 Housing [0105] 43 Inner space
[0106] 44 Side wall [0107] 45 Rear wall [0108] 46 Gap [0109] 47
Edge [0110] 48 Layer of insulating material [0111] 49 Inner vessel
[0112] 50 Groove [0113] 51 Adhesive strip [0114] 52 Plug connector
[0115] 53 Pin section [0116] 54 Drain [0117] 55 Head [0118] 56
Groove [0119] 57 Groove [0120] 58 End piece [0121] 59 Evaporator
heater [0122] 60 Rib [0123] 61 Rib [0124] 62 Partition wall
* * * * *