ES2345351T3 - COOLING DEVICE THAT INCLUDES A TRAY FOR ICE CUBES. - Google Patents

Abstract

Refrigeration apparatus comprising an ice cube tray, said ice cube tray having an ice cube compartment (2) and a support (3) placed on a wall (4) of the refrigeration apparatus and said compartment ( 2) in thermal relation with an evaporator (10) integrated in said wall (4), said compartment (2) comprising a thermal insulator having a plastic coating (11) and an insulating layer (12), containing a cavity (13 ) an eutectic liquid and housings (8) to form ice cubes, characterized in that the ice cube tray has means for evacuating water (14) in contact with the wall (4) of the refrigeration apparatus having the evaporator (10 ) and the support (3) of the ice cube tray.

Description

Refrigeration apparatus comprising a ice cube tray.

The present invention relates to an apparatus of refrigeration comprising an ice cube tray.

It also refers to a device appliance, preferably a refrigerator, equipped with a ice cube tray according to the invention.

In general, the present invention relates to household refrigeration appliances where you are not planned a freezing zone.

We know on the one hand trays that have compartments for the formation of ice cubes and cavities They contain a eutectic liquid.

This type of trays is described by example, in document FR 2 619 896. These trays must be place, without water in the housings, in a freezing zone of a refrigerator so that the eutectic liquid is low temperature. Once the liquid has reached a temperature Low enough, the user can fill in the accommodations with water and get ice cubes. The operating mode for the formation of ice cubes from these trays is relatively uncomfortable

On the other hand, we know trays that contain a eutectic liquid to place in a cooling zone of a static refrigerator with an evaporator incorporated in the insulation and placed on at least one of the walls of said area of refrigeration. This type of trays can be removable from the wall.

This type of trays is described for example in EP 0 851 191.

However, these trays for cubes of ice have the disadvantage that they have a receptacle open. Such a tray needs a significant amount of eutectic liquid to form ice cubes and is relatively expensive to manufacture.

The temperature of the refrigerator wall is below 0 ° C so that ice cubes can form. In the walls of this type of refrigerator and preferably on the wall which has an evaporator condenses water. Therefore it is formed an insulating layer of ice water between the tray for cubes of ice and the refrigerator wall that prevents cubes from forming ice in the tray housings.

On the other hand, you cannot place this tray for ice cubes in a ventilated cooling device.

Also, this ice cube tray only It has a limited number of accommodations for ice cubes.

The present invention aims at propose closed ice cube trays, adapt to everything type of refrigeration appliances, minimize the amount of liquid eutectic to form and preserve ice cubes and simplify the existing ice cube trays.

For this, the present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus that has a tray for cubes ice, said ice cube tray having a compartment for ice cubes and a support placed on a wall of the cooling apparatus, said compartment being in relation thermal with an evaporator integrated in said wall, said Thermal insulation compartment with a plastic coating and an insulating layer, a cavity that contains a liquid eutectic and accommodation to form ice cubes.

According to the invention, the tray for cubes of ice comprises means for evacuating water in contact with the wall of the refrigeration device containing the evaporator and the tray support for ice cubes.

In this way, the ice cube tray according to the invention it has a closed compartment that includes housings to form ice cubes and is adapted to prevent a layer of water from forming between the wall of the appliance cooling and support. The means of water evacuation they allow to guide the water that runs through the wall of the device cooling out of the area where the compartment It is in thermal relationship with the evaporator.

Water can thus run along the support walls.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water evacuation means comprise a canalization.

The applicant has been able to verify that arranging a sufficiently large pipe, the tray for ice cubes it is suitable for collecting water and evacuating it outside of the area in which the compartment is thermally related to the evaporator, while preventing the formation of frost in the ice cube tray holder.

In practice, the compartment forms a box which has a bottom wall, a top wall, two walls side peripherals and a front peripheral wall intended for bear the ice cube housings.

This simplified compartment form allows to obtain a tray for cubes with a minimum cost ice that suits static refrigeration appliances and ventilated

Thanks to said at least one concavity so that water flow from the ice cube tray, everything is evacuated the water that runs to the ice cube tray in direction of peripheral walls and front wall.

This prevents water from stalling in the area in which the compartment is thermally related to the evaporator.

On the other hand, the pipeline is extended by a plane that forms an angle between 1º and 5º with said upper wall of the support.

Thanks to this particular provision of the channeling, when the compartment is placed horizontally,  with those vertical peripheral walls and upper walls and lower, so that it forms a box with a front opening which allows water to enter the housings, the inclination of the pipeline also facilitates the evacuation of water that runs through the ice cube tray.

In the description that follows you will see others advantages the invention.

In the attached drawings, given as non-limiting examples:

- Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view cross section of a refrigerator equipped with a tray for cubes of ice according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective view of a ice cube tray according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ice cube tray according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 4 is an exploded view of a ice cube tray according to an embodiment of the invention; Y

- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ice cube tray according to an embodiment of the invention.

It will be described first, with reference to Figure 1 a refrigerator equipped with a tray for cubes of ice according to an embodiment of the invention.

The refrigerator includes a bowl 9 of cooling defined by walls 4a, 4b and 4c that have a internal surface 23. This internal surface 23 is contained in an outer box 24. Between the inner surface 23 of the tank 9 and the outer box is provided with an insulation layer 25. This layer of insulation 25 can be made of foam or by air vacuum In said insulation layer 25 and in contact with the internal surface 23 of the tank 9 an evaporator 10 is placed. The evaporator 10 may be comprised in one of the walls 4a, 4b or 4c, either on all three walls, or on at least two of they. The evaporator 10 can be in thermal relationship with only a part of said walls 4a, 4b or 4c.

Figures 2 to 5 show, by way of example no limiting, conditioning a tray for cubes ice according to the invention in a refrigerator.

The refrigeration apparatus comprises a bowl 9 closed with a 4d door. Cuba 9 provided with a material of thermal insulation in which the evaporator 10 is incorporated It is part of the refrigeration circuit of the refrigeration. This evaporator 10 is placed against the wall external of the tank 9, which is the coldest wall of the tank 9.

The tank 9 of the apparatus has a circuit of refrigeration (not shown) that is suitable for preserving the temperature in a predetermined range of values. Regulation of the temperature of the tank 9 is guaranteed by means of control (not shown) of the refrigeration circuit and of temperature measurement.

The cooling circuit includes all classic elements that form this type of device and that already They are known to the person skilled in the art. These elements are not They have represented in the figures.

In the exemplary embodiment, the refrigerator It has a single tank for food refrigeration. This Fridge does not need a freezing tank. The temperature in the interior of the tank 9 is about + 4 ° C.

The ice cube tray object of the The present invention does not need the temperature of the tank 9 to be close to 0 ° C to form and preserve ice cubes.

It will now be described, with reference to Figures 2 to 5, an ice cube tray according to a mode of embodiment of the invention.

This ice cube tray is presented globally in the form of a box 1 defined by at least three peripheral walls, intended to be placed vertically while using the ice cube tray, a bottom and a top that allows to close the box 1.

The support 3 of the ice cube tray is in contact with the wall 4a of the tank 9 of the refrigeration.

The contact with the wall 4a of the tank 9 with the 3 support of the ice cube tray can be made with a peripheral wall or directly in contact with a surface of the cavity 13 containing the eutectic liquid.

According to the embodiment of the tray for ice cubes, box 1 has three or four walls peripherals

On the other hand, the support 3 may be perforated in the central part to favor the thermal ratio between compartment 2 and evaporator 10 to form cubes of ice. This opening 17 in the support 3 allows removing a wall insulation between compartment 2 and wall 4 of the tank 9.

The opening 17 of the support 3 may have a 180 mm height and 180 mm width.

In this embodiment, the support 3 can comprise a peripheral wall only in a portion of the surface of the box 1 in contact with the wall 4 of the tank 9.

Box 1 has a compartment 2 and a stand 3 placed parallel to a wall 4 of the tank 9 of an apparatus for refrigeration.

The compartment 2 has a bottom wall 5, a top wall 6, a front peripheral wall 7 and two side peripheral walls 20 and 21 intended to support the ice cube housings 8.

The front peripheral wall 7 of the compartment 2 is placed parallel to the wall 4a of the tank 9.

As shown in figure 2, this wall front peripheral 7 is intended to receive means of water storage in compartment 2.

These means of water storage in the compartment 2 are formed for example by housings for ice cubes 8 that are part of compartment 2 or are arranged on a detachable tray.

The ice cube housings 8 have cavities destined to contain water to transform it into cubes of ice.

The support 3 of the ice cube tray It is part of the wall 4a of the tank 9 or is secured by means already known to the person skilled in the art.

This support 3 can be made to be Detachable depending on the clamping means used.

According to one embodiment, the support 3 can be attached to a wall 4 of the tank 9 by welding, preferably by ultrasonic welding.

According to another embodiment, the support 3 may have magnetic clamping means that cooperate with others magnetic fastening means placed in a wall 4 of the tank 9. These fastening means are preferably magnets. The means of wall fastener 4 of the tank 9 can be housed in the insulation foam The support means of the support 3 can be positioned so that they protrude from the outer surface in contact with the wall 4 of the tank 9.

The support 3 allows the compartment 2 It can be placed on the tank 9 of the refrigeration apparatus. He support 3 and compartment 2 are preferably made of material thin plastic

This tray for ice cubes in a device of refrigeration comprises a compartment 2 for ice cubes and a support 3 placed on a wall 4 of the refrigeration apparatus and said compartment 2 is in thermal relationship with an evaporator 10 integrated in said wall 4, said compartment 2 counting with a thermal insulation with a plastic coating 11 and a insulating layer 12, a cavity 13 containing a liquid eutectic and 8 housings to form ice cubes.

The plastic coating 11 of the compartment 2 has a thickness of about 2 mm.

The insulating layer 12 of compartment 2 is preferably foam with a thickness between 5 and 15 mm, and preferably about 10 mm.

Preferably, said insulating layer 12 is of expanded polystyrene.

The ice cube tray includes water evacuation means 14 in contact with wall 4 of the refrigeration apparatus that has evaporator 10 and support 3 of the ice cube tray.

The means for the water to flow 14 of the ice cube tray are intended to prevent the water run between the ice cube tray and a wall 4 of Cuba 9, in particular when frost formed in The refrigeration device.

The refrigeration apparatus comprises at least a defrost medium to eliminate icing in a of said walls 4 of the tank 9. The device for removing the frost can be put into operation automatically with the control means of the refrigeration apparatus. Said at least a heating medium is generally performed by the cycle of compressor operation At the bottom of the device cooling are placed means to recover water, such as It can be a conduit.

The ice cube tray, which contains a eutectic liquid and thermal insulation, it has some suitable dimensions to withstand temperature rise generated by the defrost device to preserve the ice cubes.

The water evacuation means 14 allow evacuate water during frost removal out of the area in which compartment 2 is thermally related to the evaporator 10 to prevent ice from forming between them.

The water evacuation means 14 comprise a pipe 15. An upper wall of the support 3 has the channeling 15.

The pipe 15 extends in a plane that it forms an angle between 1º and 5º with said upper wall of support 3.

In order to evacuate the water, the canalization 15 It has at least one opening at one end.

In this embodiment, the opening is provided on a portion of one of the side peripheral walls 20, 21.

This opening has adequate dimensions to evacuate along the ice cube tray the water coming from the wall 4 of the tank 9.

In order to get a good evacuation of the water, the portion of the side peripheral wall 20, 21 that has an opening is placed near the wall 4 of the Cuba 9.

In another embodiment, the pipe 15 It has an opening at each end.

Water evacuation can also be carried out. by overflow of the water level above the upper edge of a peripheral wall of the support.

It should also be noted that in this mode of embodiment the box 1 has a concavity in its upper part of water flow extending in a plane. In this way, the water evacuation means 14 comprise at least one concavity of water flow 16.

This plane is inclined with respect to the wall 4 of the tank 9 and the front peripheral wall 7 of the compartment 2.

An upper wall of the support 3 comprises said at least one concavity of water flow 16.

Said at least one concavity of water flow 16 extends substantially from the wall 4 of the tank 9 to the front peripheral wall 7 of compartment 2.

As an example, the radius of the aforementioned less a water flow concavity 16 can be about 60 mm

By way of non-limiting examples, the internal dimensions of this compartment 2 are such that they allow obtain a useful volume of the compartment that allows placing 25 ice cube housings 8.

         \ newpage
      

Compartment 2 has rows of accommodations 8 ice cubes placed vertically. The number of rows of accommodations 8 for ice cubes is 4 in the mode of described embodiment.

As an example, the peripheral walls sides 20 and 21 have a width of 80 mm and the peripheral wall front 7 has a width of about 200 mm.

The height of compartment 2 can be about 200 mm

In addition, the corners of support 2 and the compartment 3 have a sufficient radius to favor the flow of water along the ice cube tray, for example a radius greater than 5 mm.

Thus, the present invention allows propose an ice cube tray suitable for all types of refrigeration appliances

When accommodations 8 are full of water, compartment 2 is placed in the refrigeration apparatus as shown in figure 2, assembling it on support 3.

During the evaporator operation phase which produces cold, the eutectic liquid stores energy and water It turns to ice.

When the evaporator stops, it is interrupted cold production and a thermal exchange between the liquid eutectic and ice cubes allows to preserve the cubes of Ice in that physical state.

The compartment 2 is separated from the support 3 for remove ice cubes from the housings 8. Ice cubes they are removed from the housings 8 either by deformation of said 8 housings or detachable platforms. To take out the ice cubes in compartment 2, you can put the 8 housings under a stream of hot water from a tap.

In a preferred embodiment, the compartment 2 is held so that it can be disassembled on the support 3, using elastic coupling means 18.

In figure 1, the support 3 of the tray for ice cubes are attached on a wall 4 of the vat 9 of the Fridge.

In order to hold compartment 2 on the support 3, the elastic coupling means 18 have a sheet deformable spring in a peripheral wall 20, 21 of the compartment 2.

In this embodiment, the spring leaf deformable is provided on a portion of the peripheral wall side of compartment 2.

The support 3 has a groove in a wall side peripheral 20, 21 suitable for receiving the leaf spring deformable

These elastic coupling means 18 have some dimensions suitable for holding compartment 2 in the support 3 and, in particular, to isolate the tray for cubes of Cuba ice 9.

In practice, the hooking effort should be important enough for the device to be transported of refrigeration.

In practice, the hooking effort is between 8 and 20N and, for example, in this mode of realization effort is equal to 10N.

In order to place compartment 2 on the support 3 in a simple way, the elastic coupling means 18 they comprise a positioning groove in a peripheral wall opposite 20 of compartment 2 to peripheral wall 21 having The deformable spring leaf.

The support 3 has a peripheral side wall Suitable to receive the slot.

The slot in compartment 2 is inserted in a first groove of the lateral peripheral wall of the support 3. Compartment 2 is moved in rotation until the leaf spring deformable hooks into a second groove of a wall opposite lateral peripheral of the support 3.

The elastic coupling means 18 are fastened with a rotation movement.

In another embodiment, the compartment 2 to support 3 with a translation movement. He support 3 and compartment 2 comprise at least two means of elastic hook 18. Preferably, the support 2 has two slots that allow the two spring leaves to be attached in compartment 2. This mounting principle allows the user take out compartment 2 of the refrigerator with a movement of tearing that requires little effort.

The support 3 is detachable.

On the outer face of compartment 2 is a handle 19 is placed to remove the compartment 2 from the holder 3. This handle 19 can be integrated in a plastic coating 11 of compartment 2. The handle 19 allows to comfortably grasp the compartment 2 to move it and fill the housings with water for ice cubes 8. The handle 19 also facilitates the setting in position of compartment 2 to hold support 3.

Of course, many can be provided modifications to the embodiment described above without leaving of the scope of the invention.

On the other hand, the support 3 of immovable way in a wall 4 of the tank 9 of the refrigerator.

You can also hold compartment 2 in a sliding guide that allows the user to remove only the 8 ice cube housings to fill them with water.

Of course, the shape of the box, the location and the shape of the compartment, as well as the arrangement of ice cube housings are given only as a non-limiting examples

Claims (12)

1. Refrigeration apparatus comprising an ice cube tray, said ice cube tray having a compartment (2) for ice cubes and a support (3) placed on a wall (4) of the refrigeration apparatus and said said compartment (2) in thermal relation with an evaporator (10) integrated in said wall (4), said compartment (2) comprising a thermal insulator having a plastic coating (11) and an insulating layer (12), containing a cavity (13) an eutectic liquid and housings (8) to form ice cubes, characterized in that the ice cube tray has means for evacuating water (14) in contact with the wall (4) of the evaporator cooling device (10) and the support (3) of the ice cube tray. 2. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the compartment (2) forms a box (1) having a lower wall (5), an upper wall (6), two side peripheral walls (20, 21) and a front peripheral wall (7) intended to support the ice cube housings (8). 3. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water evacuation means (14) have a pipe (15). 4. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that an upper wall of the support (3) has the pipe (15). 5. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the pipe (15) extends in a plane that forms an angle between 1 and 5 with said upper wall of the support (3). 6. Refrigeration apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the pipe (15) has at least one opening at one end. 7. Refrigeration apparatus according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the pipe (15) has an opening at each end. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for evacuating the water (14) have at least one water flow concavity (16). 9. Refrigeration apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that an upper wall of the support (3) has said at least one water flow concavity (16). 10. Refrigeration apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (3) is removable. 11. Refrigeration apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (3) of the ice cube tray is in contact with the wall (4) of the bowl (9) of the refrigeration apparatus. 12. Refrigeration apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartment (2) has rows of housings for ice cubes (8) placed vertically.