EP2042823A1 - Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2042823A1
EP2042823A1 EP07117393A EP07117393A EP2042823A1 EP 2042823 A1 EP2042823 A1 EP 2042823A1 EP 07117393 A EP07117393 A EP 07117393A EP 07117393 A EP07117393 A EP 07117393A EP 2042823 A1 EP2042823 A1 EP 2042823A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
closed container
supply pipe
water
beverage
refrigerator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP07117393A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Paolo Marega
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Original Assignee
Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Electrolux Home Products Corp NV filed Critical Electrolux Home Products Corp NV
Priority to EP07117393A priority Critical patent/EP2042823A1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2008/007402 priority patent/WO2009039956A1/fr
Publication of EP2042823A1 publication Critical patent/EP2042823A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/12—Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
    • F25D23/126—Water cooler

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a home refrigerator with a cooled-drink dispenser.
  • the present invention relates to a home refrigerator with a cooled-water dispenser, to which the following description refers purely by way of example.
  • cooled-drink dispenser built into the door to dispense, on command, cooled water at a temperature normally ranging between +5°C and +13°C.
  • the cooled-drink dispenser normally comprises a tank filled manually by the user with the water or other beverage to be dispensed; and a metering valve located at a recess formed in the outer surface of the refrigerator door.
  • the recess is designed to house a drinking glass or similar container, and the metering valve is connected to the bottom of the tank by a connecting pipe, and is designed to only permit controlled outflow of the water or other beverage from the tank into the beverage dispensing recess underneath, when the recess is engaged by a drinking glass or other container to receive the beverage.
  • the tank may be cooled by the cold air circulating inside the refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator, or by an auxiliary heat exchanger integrated into the heat-pump cooling circuit of the refrigerator.
  • the tank is housed inside the refrigeration compartment of the refrigerator, so that the cold air circulating inside the compartment flows over the walls of the tank.
  • the cooling circuit of the refrigerator has an auxiliary evaporator surrounding and/or extending through the tank, so that the refrigerant withdraws heat directly from the water or other beverage inside the tank.
  • the water tank may obviously also be surrounded by and/or fitted through with a portion of the main evaporator of the refrigerator cooling circuit.
  • the temperature of the water in the tank depends on the temperature maintained inside the refrigeration compartment by the cooling circuit of the refrigerator; whereas, in the second solution, the cooling circuit of the refrigerator is capable of maintaining the tank at a predetermined reference temperature, regardless and independently of the temperature maintained inside the refrigeration compartment/s of the refrigerator.
  • the inside of the tank is an ideal receptacle for uncontrolled formation of mould and bacteria, with all the drawbacks this entails in the event the cooled-drink dispenser is only used sporadically, and the water or other beverage is left standing inside the tank for a prolonged period of time.
  • cooled-drink dispensers have been designed, in which the water tank is replaced by a small-diameter water supply pipe extending through a container filled with glycol or salt water.
  • the water supply pipe is connected at one end to the metering valve, and at the other end to the water network supplying pressurized drinking water.
  • the airtight container is cooled by the refrigerator cooling circuit, so that heat is withdrawn directly from the glycol or salt water inside the container to maintain the glycol or salt water at a temperature below 0°C.
  • the drinking water flowing inside the water supply pipe releases heat to the glycol or salt water inside the airtight container.
  • the amount of cooled water immediately dispensable is much smaller than in the conventional tank solution, but the risk of contamination by mould and bacteria is greatly reduced, by the inside of the water supply pipe being rinsed each time cooled water is drawn off.
  • Patent Application WO-02/060806 describes a stand-alone cooled-drink dispenser, in which the water tank is connected directly to the water network supplying pressurized drinking water, and is maintained at a given temperature by the evaporator of a special heat-pump cooling circuit.
  • the water tank has means for carbonating the water inside, and is fitted through with a small-diameter water supply pipe, which is connected at one end to the metering valve, and at the other end to the water network supplying pressurized drinking water, and forms a coil inside the tank to maximize heat exchange with the carbonated water in the tank.
  • the metering valve is supplied with both cold carbonated water from the tank, and cold still water from the water supply pipe (i.e. from the water network), and is designed to dispense either one or a combination of both types of cooled water into the glass, as required by the user.
  • a home refrigerator as claimed in Claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the dependent Claims.
  • number 1 indicates as a whole a home refrigerator particularly suitable for both preserving and freezing perishable foodstuffs, and which comprises at least two independent refrigeration compartments, each maintained at a predetermined reference temperature preferably, though not necessarily, differing from that of the other compartment.
  • refrigerator 1 comprises a rigid, self-supporting, substantially parallelepiped-shaped casing 2 having two superimposed internal refrigeration compartments 3 and 4, each of which is lined with thermally insulating material and communicates with the outside through a respective access opening formed in the vertical front wall of casing 2.
  • Refrigerator 1 also comprises two doors 5 and 6 hinged, one over the other, to the vertical front wall of casing 2 to rotate, about a preferably, though not necessarily, common vertical axis, to and from a closed position, in which each of the two doors rests against the vertical front wall of casing 2 to close the access opening to, and hermetically seal from the outside, a respective refrigeration compartment 3, 4.
  • refrigerator 1 also comprises a heat-pump cooling circuit 7 (shown partly in Figure 1 ) which transfers heat from one fluid to another by exploiting the changes in state of an intermediate gas refrigerant subjected to a closed thermodynamic cycle, and which is designed to bring each refrigeration compartment 3, 4 to, and keep it at, a respective predetermined reference temperature normally lower than the outside temperature.
  • a heat-pump cooling circuit 7 shown partly in Figure 1 ) which transfers heat from one fluid to another by exploiting the changes in state of an intermediate gas refrigerant subjected to a closed thermodynamic cycle, and which is designed to bring each refrigeration compartment 3, 4 to, and keep it at, a respective predetermined reference temperature normally lower than the outside temperature.
  • the reference temperature may be user-selected from a predetermined range.
  • heat-pump cooling circuit 7 is designed to keep refrigeration compartment 3 (i.e. the top compartment of the refrigerator) at a reference temperature ranging between +1°C and +10°C and preferably, though not necessarily, between +2°C and +8°C, so refrigeration compartment 3 is suitable for preserving non-freezable perishable foodstuffs; and to keep refrigeration compartment 4 (i.e. the bottom compartment of the refrigerator) at a lower reference temperature than refrigeration compartment 3 (i.e. below 0°C) and preferably, though not necessary, ranging between -2°C and -20°C, so refrigeration compartment 4 is suitable for freezing perishable foodstuffs and/or producing ice.
  • top refrigeration compartment 3 constitutes the "fresh-food compartment”
  • bottom refrigeration compartment 4 the "frozen-food compartment” of refrigerator 1.
  • refrigerator 1 also comprises a cooled-drink dispenser 8 for controlled supply of cooled water or other beverage at a given temperature above 0°C and preferably, though not necessarily, ranging between +5°C and +13°C.
  • cooled-drink dispenser 8 is integrated in the upper door 5 of refrigerator 1.
  • cooled-drink dispenser 8 may also be located on the vertical front wall of casing 2, beside the upper 5 or lower door 6 of refrigerator 1.
  • Cooled-drink dispenser 8 substantially comprises a preferably, though not necessarily, parallelepiped-shaped closed container 9; a small-diameter water supply pipe 10 extending through closed container 9, and having a first end connected to the drinking water network to receive drinking water at higher than atmospheric pressure; and a draw valve 11 which is housed in a drink dispensing recess 5a formed in the outer surface of top door 5, is connected to the second end of water supply pipe 10, and is designed to only permit controlled outflow of water from water supply pipe 10 to recess 5a when recess 5a is engaged by a drinking glass or other container to receive the water.
  • closed container 9 is permanently filled with water, and is housed inside refrigeration compartment 3, i.e. the fresh-food compartment 3 of refrigerator 1, so that the cold air circulating in refrigeration compartment 3 flows over the outer surfaces of closed container 9 to cool and keep the stagnant water stored in closed container 9 at the reference temperature of fresh-food compartment 3 of refrigerator 1; whereas the central portion of water supply pipe 10 is coiled to form, in closed container 9, at least one pipe-coil 10a (two in the example shown) fully immersed in the stagnant water in closed container 9 so as to maximize heat exchange between the stagnant water stored in closed container 9 and the drinking water flowing in water supply pipe 10.
  • closed container 9 is a sealed container designed to rest on a grille or perforated shelf 9a fixed horizontally, inside fresh-food compartment 3 of refrigerator 1, next to the fan for circulating the air in fresh-food compartment 3 and blowing it to the evaporator of heat-pump cooling circuit 7.
  • closed container 9 comprises a substantially parallelepiped-, cup-shaped receptacle 12 closed by a substantially rectangular tray or panel 13 having a through hole 13a for water filling; and a sealing plug 14 fitted in easily removable manner inside through hole 13a to seal hole 13a, i.e. cup-shaped receptacle 12.
  • receptacle 12 and panel 13 are made of rigid plastic, whereas sealing plug 14 is made of cork, rubber, silicone or similar elastic materials.
  • Water supply pipe 10 comprises a flexible pipe 10 made of rubber, silicone or other elastically deformable plastic material, and of a nominal diameter preferably, though not necessarily, ranging between 6 and 15 millimetres.
  • water supply pipe 10 is preferably, though not necessarily, sized so that the internal volume of water supply pipe 10 - or at least of the coiled central portion of water supply pipe 10 housed in closed container 9, i.e. the two pipe-coils 10a - approximately equals a quarter of the internal volume of closed container 9.
  • volumetric ratio between the total internal volume or capacity of closed container 9 and the total internal volume or capacity of water supply pipe 10, or at least one pipe-coil 10a must range between 5 and 3.
  • closed container 9 should have a capacity of approximately 4 litres, and water supply pipe 10 a capacity of approximately 1 litre.
  • cooled-drink dispenser 8 preferably, though not necessarily, also comprises an on-off valve (not shown) located between water supply pipe 10 and the drinking water network, and which, on command, isolates water supply pipe 10 from the drinking water network to cut off drinking water supply.
  • an on-off valve located between water supply pipe 10 and the drinking water network, and which, on command, isolates water supply pipe 10 from the drinking water network to cut off drinking water supply.
  • the drinking water network is defined by the water mains of the building in which refrigerator 1 is located, and the on-off valve (not shown) is a conventional on-off solenoid valve preferably, though not necessarily, controlled by draw valve 11.
  • draw valve 11 is also a commonly known part in the industry, and therefore not described in detail.
  • insertion of a glass inside recess 5a in door 5 opens draw valve 11 to allow the cooled drinking water in water supply pipe 10 to fall into the glass.
  • Water supply pipe 10 being connected directly to the drinking water network, outflow of cooled drinking water from water supply pipe 10 is accompanied by simultaneous inflow into water supply pipe 10 of an equal amount of drinking water at ambient temperature from the drinking water network.
  • the drinking water at ambient temperature from the water network cools rapidly by releasing heat to the stagnant water stored in closed container 9, and reaches a desired temperature of +5°C to +13°C by the time it comes out of water supply pipe 10.
  • closed container 9 is permanently filled with the same quantity of stagnant water at the reference temperature of fresh-food compartment 3 ensures that the drinking water at ambient temperature flowing in water supply pipe 10 always releases the same amount of heat to the stagnant water stored in closed container 9, and therefore always undergoes the same temperature drop.
  • refrigerator 1 features a heat-pump cooling circuit 7 identical to that of a conventional refrigerator, thus greatly reducing manufacturing cost.
  • Housing the sealed container 9 inside fresh-food compartment 3 also prevents conversion of the stagnant water in sealed container 9 to ice, thus increasing in volume and irreparably damaging sealed container 9.
  • cooled-drink dispenser 8 involves practically no risk of contamination by mould or bacteria, with all the advantages this entails.
  • a chemical bactericide may be dissolved in the stagnant water in sealed container 9 to prevent the spread of mould or bacteria inside sealed container 9.
  • water supply pipe 10 may be connected to a pressurized-beverage source other than the water network, such as a pressurized-beverage tank or drum.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
EP07117393A 2007-09-27 2007-09-27 Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche Withdrawn EP2042823A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07117393A EP2042823A1 (fr) 2007-09-27 2007-09-27 Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche
PCT/EP2008/007402 WO2009039956A1 (fr) 2007-09-27 2008-09-10 Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson réfrigérée

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07117393A EP2042823A1 (fr) 2007-09-27 2007-09-27 Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2042823A1 true EP2042823A1 (fr) 2009-04-01

Family

ID=39246846

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07117393A Withdrawn EP2042823A1 (fr) 2007-09-27 2007-09-27 Réfrigérateur domestique doté d'un distributeur de boisson fraîche

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP2042823A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2009039956A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1994698A (en) * 1931-08-24 1935-03-19 Jr Adolph F Evers Water cooling device
DE652286C (de) * 1934-04-14 1937-10-28 Rudolf Brecht Bierausschank mit Kuehlschrank
FR1019999A (fr) * 1950-06-09 1953-01-30 Procédé et dispositif de refroidissement de liquides, notamment au moyen d'armoires frigorifiques
US3429140A (en) * 1968-02-09 1969-02-25 Gen Electric Household refrigerator including ice and water dispensing means
US3462970A (en) * 1968-03-18 1969-08-26 Howard Natter Portable soda fountain
FR2549586A1 (fr) * 1983-07-20 1985-01-25 Lanteri Guy Dispositif refrigerateur de boissons ou autres amovible et adaptable a toute armoire refrigerante
US20040183414A1 (en) * 2003-03-22 2004-09-23 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator door having dispenser

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1994698A (en) * 1931-08-24 1935-03-19 Jr Adolph F Evers Water cooling device
DE652286C (de) * 1934-04-14 1937-10-28 Rudolf Brecht Bierausschank mit Kuehlschrank
FR1019999A (fr) * 1950-06-09 1953-01-30 Procédé et dispositif de refroidissement de liquides, notamment au moyen d'armoires frigorifiques
US3429140A (en) * 1968-02-09 1969-02-25 Gen Electric Household refrigerator including ice and water dispensing means
US3462970A (en) * 1968-03-18 1969-08-26 Howard Natter Portable soda fountain
FR2549586A1 (fr) * 1983-07-20 1985-01-25 Lanteri Guy Dispositif refrigerateur de boissons ou autres amovible et adaptable a toute armoire refrigerante
US20040183414A1 (en) * 2003-03-22 2004-09-23 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator door having dispenser

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2009039956A1 (fr) 2009-04-02

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