Patent Application
20230184484
The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance comprising at least one refrigerator compartment and a container which can be accommodated in the refrigerator compartment and has a lower part for receiving products to be refrigerated and a lid that can cover the lower part, wherein the container has at least one air through-opening. The invention further relates to a method for ventilating a container which is accommodated in a refrigerator compartment of a household refrigeration appliance. The invention is advantageously applicable, in particular, to refrigerators comprising at least one refrigerator compartment, the temperature and/or air humidity of which can be adjusted.
WO 2018/227662 A1 discloses a humidity control device for a refrigerator and a method for humidity control for a refrigerator. The humidity control device comprises a storage space for receiving food; a humidity detection device for detecting humidity in the storage space; and a humidity mode control device for determining a humidity control mode from a plurality of humidity control modes and for controlling the humidity in the storage space by using the selected humidity control mode. In particular, the relative humidity in a storage space for vegetables and food to be stored dry (“vegetable compartment”) may be controlled by a fan in the ceiling. To this end, humidity sensors of the humidity detection device are required inside and outside the storage space. Since the circulating air is also used for cooling the refrigerator (at approximately 5 °C), however, it is not the temperature of the vegetable compartment which is regulated but only the air humidity thereof. When the fan is switched off, the relative humidity in the vegetable compartment is comparable with the surrounding refrigerator. By storing vegetables or other high moisture-containing foods, the relative humidity initially rises in the compartment but then drops again over time to the level of the refrigerator by the removal of the moisture via a “fan inlet and outlet opening”. When the fan is switched on, the relative humidity becomes lower by mixing the humid compartment air with the dry air outside the vegetable compartment. A drawback here is firstly the use of expensive humidity sensors and secondly the lack of temperature control in the storage space. The relative humidity is also linked to the “constant” refrigerator air and thereby very limited in its possibility for adjustment.
DE 10 2012 209 937 A1 discloses a cooling appliance, in particular a household cooling appliance, which has a storage space for products to be refrigerated, wherein at least one through-passage for the inflow and outflow of air to or from the storage space is formed in a wall defining the storage space. The through-passage is able to be closed by a movable closure element. A fan for driving an air flow is arranged in the storage space and is able to be operated when the through-passage is closed.
JP 2009 121803 A discloses a refrigerator/upright freezer which has a thermally insulating box body, a vegetable chamber which is arranged in the thermally insulating box body and receives food; a cold air circuit which is connected to the interior of the vegetable chamber; a vegetable chamber temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the vegetable chamber; a vegetable chamber humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the vegetable chamber; an external air introduction part for transmitting air from the thermally insulating box body into the interior of the vegetable chamber; and a control part. The control part is constructed so as to be controllable in order to control the drive of the external air introduction part on the basis of the humidity in the vegetable chamber, which is detected by the vegetable chamber humidity sensor, and to stop the drive of the external air introduction part when a temperature is reached in the vegetable chamber which is not less than the predetermined temperature.
It is the object of the present invention to remedy at least partially the drawbacks of the prior art and, in particular, to provide an improved option for storing products to be refrigerated, for example food, in a household refrigeration appliance.
This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments form the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.
This object is achieved by a household refrigeration appliance comprising at least one refrigerator compartment and a container which can be accommodated or stowed in the refrigerator compartment for receiving products to be refrigerated, wherein
Thus the advantage is achieved that an air flow which flows through the container may be generated independently of a climate (comprising a temperature and an air humidity) in the refrigerator compartment. In other words, the relative air humidity and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment, on the one hand, and the air speed over the products to be refrigerated which are stored in the container, on the other hand, may be decoupled from one another. This makes use of the fact that a strength of the air flow or a size of the volume flow rate of the air conducted through the container is adjustable or variable in a targeted manner by means of the air flow adjustment device.
This air flow may be advantageously used in order to adapt the temperature and the air humidity in the container to the — typically predetermined — temperature and air humidity of the refrigerator compartment. The adaptation of the climate is brought about, for example, by the generated air flow preventing a formation of noticeable temperature gradients. A formation of an air layer with greater humidity in the region of products to be refrigerated which evaporate water is also prevented.
Additionally, the advantage is achieved that by varying the air volume flow rate the dehumidification rates of the products to be refrigerated may be varied, even in the case of a predetermined air humidity and/or temperature in the refrigerator compartment, which may lead to improved storage of the products to be refrigerated. For example, products to be refrigerated which are accommodated in the container may be stored in at least two different ways, for example with different dehumidification levels.
A further advantage is that the container climate in the region of the products to be refrigerated may be adapted particularly rapidly to the climate in the refrigerator compartment.
Moreover, it is an advantage that the above functionalities may be implemented without dedicated or additional sensors in the container. This is because only the volume flow rate of the air drawn through the container is influenced by the air flow adjustment device. The dependency of the volume flow rate on the at least one adjustment parameter of the air flow adjustment device, however, may be determined in a simple manner experimentally and/or by flow calculations and stored, for example, in a control device, for example as a characteristic curve or a set of characteristic curves.
The air flow in the container is not an airflow circulating in the container but an air flow entering from the refrigerator compartment through the at least one air inlet opening, then flowing through the container and subsequently exiting from the at least one air outlet opening back into the refrigerator compartment. The volume flow rate of the air flow entering the container through the air inlet opening corresponds at least approximately (possibly except for small leakage losses, for example, through gaps between the lid and lower part) to the volume flow rate of the air flow which flows through the container and the volume flow rate of the air flow which exits from the at least one air outlet opening.
The household refrigeration appliance may be a refrigerator, an upright freezer or any combination thereof. The household refrigeration appliance may have one or more refrigerator compartments for which, in particular, one respective climate (comprising an associated temperature and/or relative air humidity) is able to be adjusted. The refrigeration appliance may also be denoted as a cooling appliance.
The associated containers may be provided for receiving different types of products to be refrigerated, for example different types of food such as vegetables, fruit, cheese, meat products, etc. In particular, a container has a — for example drawer-shaped — lower part for receiving the products to be refrigerated and a lid covering the lower part. The lower parts are also able to be denoted as “baskets”. At least the lower part of the container may be pulled out, in particular may be entirely removable, from the refrigerator compartment.
For generating an air flow which flows through the container in large volumes, one advantageous development is that the container is at least substantially sealed relative to the refrigerator compartment, except for the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one air outlet opening. In a variant, to this end the lid may simply rest on the lower part.
The air flow adjustment device is controllable, for example, by means of a control device of the household refrigeration appliance. The air flow adjustment device may be movable electrically, for example by means of an electric motor.
To permit an air flow which flows over the products to be refrigerated in a particularly effective manner inside the container, an advantageous development is that the at least one air inlet opening and the at least one air outlet opening may be present on opposing regions of the container, for example on a front region and a rear region of the container, in particular within a front third to a quarter, or a rear third to a quarter, of the container.
One development is that at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening are located in the lid of the container. One development is that at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening are located in the lower part of the container, for example in a front wall and in a rear wall of the lower part. However, mixed forms are also possible, in which for example at least one air inlet opening or at least one air outlet opening is located in the lower part and at least one air outlet opening or at least one air inlet opening is located in the lid, etc. The at least one air outlet opening may also comprise at least one air outlet opening present in the lower part and at least one air outlet opening present in the lid, etc.
The air flow adjustment device may be arranged, in particular, on the at least one air inlet opening, for example in the air inlet opening, or covering the at least one air inlet opening on the inside or outside.
One embodiment is that the air flow adjustment device is fastened to the container. As a result, a particularly compact construction may be achieved with low air flow losses. The air flow adjustment device may be arranged, for example, on the lid or on the lower part of the container.
One embodiment is that the air flow adjustment device is fastened to the lid and the lid is fastened in the refrigerator compartment. This provides the advantage that — for example when pulling out and pushing in the container — only the lower part thereof is moved, while the lid remains stationary in the refrigerator compartment. As a result, power may be supplied in turn to an air flow adjustment device arranged on the lid in a particularly simple and reliable manner by electrical cables. If the air flow adjustment device is moved with the container, however, the power thereof may be supplied, for example, via electrical cables, in particular coiled cables, electrical plug contacts, electrical surface contacts, inductive voltage transmission, etc.
One embodiment is that the air flow adjustment device is arranged outside the container such that, when the container is inserted into the refrigerator compartment, the air flow adjustment device is positioned opposite the at least one air inlet opening. A power supply of the air flow adjustment device may also be provided thereby in a particularly simple and reliable manner by electrical cables, and namely even when the at least one air inlet opening is located in a movable part of the container, for example the lower part. The air flow adjustment device in this case is arranged, in particular, in a stationary manner in the refrigerator compartment. When the container is inserted, the air flow adjustment device may be separated from the at least one air inlet opening by a gap. In order to avoid significant air losses when the container is inserted, in particular, the air flow adjustment device may be positioned on the container, for example on the edge side. To this end, the air flow adjustment device may be provided with a seal.
One embodiment is that the air flow adjustment device has a variable-speed fan (“container fan”) which is driven by motor. The speed thereof corresponds to the adjustment parameter. Thus the advantage is achieved that, on the basis of the known speed-dependent fan power, an accurately adjustable air volume flow rate may be generated through the container which additionally may be decoupled in a particularly simple manner from the climate in the refrigerator compartment. Moreover, a particularly strong airflow through the container may be advantageously generated in this manner. When using a container fan, the further advantage is achieved that the container fan may also be arranged on the at least one air outlet opening, when it faces the container interior with its suction side.
One embodiment is that an evaporator of a heat pump and a variable-speed fan (“evaporator fan”) for distributing air flowing over the evaporator in the refrigerator compartment are assigned to the refrigerator compartment. By such an arrangement, which is known in principle, the temperature and the air humidity in the refrigerator compartment may be adjusted in a targeted manner. If, for example, a low air humidity is desired (for example of 30% RH) for a refrigerator compartment temperature which is predetermined by a user or automatically, for example, this may be achieved on the appliance side by an evaporator temperature which prevails on the evaporator being adjusted to be significantly lower than the refrigerator compartment temperature, while the speed of the evaporator fan is adjusted to a low value. Thus the evaporator fan may even be operated in a clocked manner. If, however, a higher air humidity is desired (for example of 80% RH) this may be achieved on the appliance side by an evaporator temperature which prevails on the evaporator being adjusted to be only slightly lower than the refrigerator compartment temperature, but the speed of the evaporator fan being adjusted to a high value. With a predetermined temperature and air humidity in the refrigerator compartment, therefore, the air flow in the refrigerator compartment, which is generated by the evaporator fan and which flows around the container for the cooling thereof from the outside, is also predetermined. One development is that the refrigerator compartment temperature is predetermined (for example is fixed at 5° C.) while the relative humidity is adjustable by the user or in a program-controlled manner.
If a container fan is provided, the air flow in the container may be adjusted independently of the air flow in the refrigerator compartment generated by the evaporator fan. Moreover, there is the advantage that a position of the at least one air inlet opening, and also of the container fan, may be arranged in principle at any point of the container, in particular irrespective of whether the at least one air inlet opening is in an air flow region of the evaporator fan with a high air speed or not.
In the case of an arrangement with an evaporator fan, one advantageous embodiment is that the at least one air inlet opening is located in an air flow region with a high air speed generated by the evaporator fan, and the air flow adjustment device has a movable cover element, a volume flow rate of the air flowing in through the at least one air inlet opening being able to be adjusted thereby. This results in the advantage that a container fan may be dispensed with, since the air flow which flows through the container may be diverted by the refrigerator compartment air flow which is generated by means of the evaporator fan. The cover element is thus provided to vary the incoming volume flow rate by targeted adjustment of the effective flow cross section of the at least one air inlet opening. In other words, the cover element may be moved such that it may adjust the ratio of the air flow entering the container relative to the total air flow generated by the evaporator fan. If the volume flow rate generated by the evaporator fan is known, by adjusting the position of the cover element (and thus the flow cross section) the volume flow rate flowing into the container may also be sufficiently accurately adjusted. The cover element may be movable by electric motor, for example.
In order to permit a large volume flow rate through the container, one advantageous development is that the at least one air inlet opening is located on a side of the container on which the evaporator fan is also arranged. This may be, for example, a rear wall of the container lower part when the evaporator fan is arranged on a rear wall of the refrigerator compartment.
When using the movable cover element, the strength of the volume flow rate through the container is dependent on the speed of the evaporator fan, which in turn is dependent on the adjusted humidity of the refrigerator compartment. Since the dependency of the volume flow rate through the container on the adjusted humidity of the refrigerator compartment and/or directly on the speed of the evaporator fan is known — for example by tests or calculations — the volume flow rate through the container may be adapted to the adjusted humidity. To this end, a table or a set of characteristic curves may be referred to, wherein for example one of the characteristic curves for a specific humidity of the refrigerator compartment or speed of the evaporator fan indicates the volume flow rate plotted as a function of the position of the cover element. With a higher humidity/speed of the evaporator fan, a smaller cross section of the at least one air inlet opening tends to have to be opened up than with a lower humidity/speed, in order to adjust the same volume flow rate through the container.
One development is that the cover element is an element, for example in the form of a slide, which may be pivoted to the side over the at least one air inlet opening. The pivoting movement many be a rotational movement or a linear movement. One development is that the cover element is an element which is rotatable about a body axis, for example in the form of a flap. An adjustment parameter may comprise or be, for example, a position of a cover element or a position of the associated drive motor.
One development is that of the at least two different volume flow rates which may be adjusted by the air flow adjustment device at least one volume flow rate ranges from 1 to 3 m3/h. This rather low value is particularly suitable for adapting the climate in the container to the climate in the refrigerator compartment, while a dehumidification effect which is due to the air flowing through ranges from small to negligibly small. This development is particularly advantageous for storing products to be refrigerated which should not dry out, for example fruit and vegetables, in particular leafy vegetables.
One embodiment is that of the at least two different volume flow rates which may be adjusted by the air flow adjustment device at least one volume flow rate is at least 8 m3/h. Thus the advantage is achieved that a significant dehumidification of the products to be refrigerated may be brought about in addition to the adaptation to the climate of the refrigerator compartment. This development, also denoted as “active dehumidification”, is particularly advantageous for storing products to be refrigerated which should be stored dry in order to preserve their quality, for example tea leaves or baked goods. Moreover, if desired, products to be refrigerated may be dried, for example fruit. In particular, in these two applications it is advantageous if the humidity in the refrigerator compartment is adjusted to be low.
Moreover, the advantage may be achieved that the products to be refrigerated may be adapted particularly rapidly to the climate of the refrigerator compartment. As a result, warm products to be refrigerated (for example food which is still warm) may be cooled particularly rapidly to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment and/or frozen products may be brought up to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment particularly rapidly for defrosting.
The volume flow rate of at least 8 m3/h may correspond to a maximum adjustable volume flow rate.
One embodiment is that the household refrigeration appliance is designed to adjust values of the at least one adjustment parameter as a function of the program or mode. Thus the air flow adjustment device may be used for handling the products to be refrigerated, which are accommodated in the container, in a particularly user-friendly manner. The refrigerating mode, which may also be regarded as a refrigerating program, may be selected or activated, for example, by the user. Thus a user may establish — for example via a user interface of the household refrigeration appliance or remotely controlled via an application program (“app”) — the program or mode in which the refrigerator compartment is operated when the container is inserted therein. Two or more of the following modes may be available for selection, for example:
Moreover, in one development a fourth mode (“humidity mode”) may be adjusted, in which the air flow adjustment device is adjusted such that a volume flow rate which is as low as possible is generated through the container, advantageously a practically negligible volume flow rate. Thus the advantage is achieved that, due to the condensation of water by the products to be refrigerated, an even higher level of humidity may be reached in the container than in the refrigerating space, in particular in the vicinity of the products to be refrigerated. This development may be implemented by the container fan being switched off or the cover element covering the at least one air inlet opening as completely as possible.
One embodiment is that the household refrigeration appliance is designed to adjust the air flow adjustment device automatically after identifying a door opening process, such that a higher volume flow rate in the container is generated. This is based on the consideration that, typically after a door has been opened, moisture is input into the household refrigeration appliance (and thus also into the refrigerator compartment), which in the case of food having a low water content may already lead to a loss of quality (for example in the case of baked goods, such as biscuits). A higher power of the container fan may remove this moisture more rapidly and/or reverse a partial absorption of moisture which has already been carried out.
One development is that the household refrigeration appliance is designed such that the automatic increase in the volume flow rate (for example similar to the third mode) remains active for a specific time period (for example 5 or 10 min) until it is switched back automatically or in an event-controlled manner to the previously adjusted mode, for example into normal mode.
One development is that the household refrigeration appliance is designed to implement the automatic increase in the volume flow rate only when one or more specific modes have been previously activated. For example, in one development the automatic increase in the volume flow rate may be started or implemented when the first mode is active. Moreover, in one development the automatic increase in the volume flow rate may not be implemented when the fourth mode is active. Moreover, in one development the automatic increase of the volume flow rate does not need to be implemented when the third mode is active, since in the third mode a high volume flow rate of the air flowing through the container has already been generated.
The object is also achieved by a method for ventilating a container which is accommodated in a refrigerator compartment of a household refrigeration appliance and which has at least one air inlet opening and at least one air outlet opening that is at a distance from the air inlet opening, and wherein in the method a flow volume or volume flow rate of an air flow which flows from the refrigerator compartment through the at least one air inlet opening into the container is adjusted by varying an adjustment parameter of an air flow adjustment device assigned to the at least one air inlet opening. The method may also be configured in a similar manner to the household refrigeration appliance and has the same advantages.
The above-described properties, features and advantages of this invention and the manner in which they are achieved become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment which is described in more detail in connection with the drawings.
An evaporator 10 of a heat pump of the refrigerator 1 and a variable-speed evaporator fan 11 are present on a rear face of the refrigerator compartment. When the evaporator fan 11 is operated, this blows cooling compartment air FL (indicated in dashed lines) onto the evaporator 10, wherein the thus cooled compartment air FL is distributed in the refrigerator compartment 2 and at the same time passes around the container 2 on the outer face. Thus the walls of the container 2, and thus also the interior thereof, are cooled.
In the present case, by way of example it should be assumed that the compartment temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 is permanently adjusted, for example regulated, to 5° C. A temperature sensor which is optionally used therefor is not illustrated. However, the relative air humidity in the refrigerator compartment 2 may be adjusted, and namely after adjusting the temperature of the evaporator 10 and the speed of the evaporator fan 11. The lower the relative air humidity is intended to be, the cooler the evaporator 10 is adjusted and the lower the speed of the evaporator fan 11 is adjusted. The adjustment of the relative air humidity may be, for example, program-controlled or directly adjusted by a user.
As
The speed of the container fan 13 is able to be adjusted by means of a control device (not shown) of the refrigerator 1. When the container fan 13 is operated, it blows compartment air FL through the air inlet opening 12 into the container 3, said compartment air exiting through the air inlet opening 14 back into the refrigerator compartment 2. As a result, an airflow LS is generated in the container 3 (as indicated by the thick arrows), the flow volume or volume flow rate thereof being able to be adjusted via the speed of the container fan 13. The container fan 13 in the present case may be configured such that it may generate a volume flow rate of the air flow LS of up to 8 m3/h or even more.
The container fan 13 may be operated, for example, in at least two modes which may be selected, for example, by the user or in a program-controlled manner, for example from the group comprising a “normal mode” or “equilibrium mode”, a “dehumidification mode”, a “defrosting mode”, a “rapid cooling mode” and a “humidity mode”.
In normal mode, the volume flow rate is adjusted to a value of between 1 and 3 m3/h, whereby fruit and vegetables introduced into the container 3 maintain their moisture and thus are neither dehumidified nor humidified.
In dehumidification mode, the volume flow rate is adjusted to 8 m3/h or more, whereby fruit introduced into the container 3 is dehumidified or dried.
In defrosting mode, the volume flow rate is adjusted for a limited time period of 8 m3/h or more, wherein frozen products introduced into the container 3 are defrosted more rapidly. The defrosting mode may be activated by the user or may be automatically activated, for example when it is identified that a compartment temperature has significantly dropped.
In rapid cooling mode, the volume flow rate is adjusted for a limited time period to 8 m3/h or more, whereby warm products introduced into the container 3 are cooled more rapidly. The defrosting mode may be activated by the user or may be automatically activated, for example when it is identified that a compartment temperature has significantly risen.
The refrigerator 1 may also be designed to adjust automatically the air flow adjustment device after identifying a door opening process, such that a higher volume flow rate of the compartment air FL is generated for a limited time period in the container 2.
Here the evaporator fan 11 is designed such that it blows compartment air FL at a high volume flow rate or high air speed onto the air inlet opening 12. The air inlet opening 12 is able to be covered to different degrees by the cover element 23, such that an effective flow cross section for the compartment air FL may be adjusted by means of the cover element 23. As a result, the size of the volume flow rate which flows through the container 21 may be adjusted, in particular also by taking into consideration the speed of the evaporator fan 11.
The cover element 23 may be a slider or a flap, for example as indicated by the double arrow. The position thereof may be adjusted by means of an actuator (not shown). The cover element 23 may be attached to the lower part 22 of the container 20 or arranged in a stationary manner in the refrigerator compartment 20.
The container fan 13 may be attached to the lower part 28 of the container 20 or arranged in a stationary manner in the refrigerator compartment 20.
Generally, “one”, “a” etc. may be understood to mean a singular or a plurality thereof, in particular in the sense of “at least one” or “one or more”, etc. provided this is not explicitly excluded, for example, by the expression “exactly one”, etc.
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| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 205 749.4 | May 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/060949 | 4/27/2021 | WO |
