WO2017134219A1

WO2017134219A1 - A drawer comprising phase changing material and a refrigerator wherein the same is used

Info

Publication number: WO2017134219A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/052372
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Ercan KAYMAK; Erman ERTAS; Faik Emre Ozyuksel; Yaprak Deniz YURT
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-02-05
Filing date: 2017-02-03
Publication date: 2017-08-10

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2) having two opposite cabinet walls, at least two shelf supports (7) that are oppositely disposed on the cabinet walls of the body (2), and one or more than one drawer (8) that is disposed in the body (2) onto the shelf support (7), that moves over the said shelf supports (7) and wherein phase changing material (14) is disposed between the inner and the outer surfaces forming the walls (3, 4, 5) and the base (6) of the said drawer (8).

Description

A DRAWER COMPRISING PHASE CHANGING MATERIAL AND A REFRIGERATOR WHEREIN THE SAME IS USED

The present invention relates to a cooling device having a drawer comprising phase changing material at the walls thereof.

Freezer packs used in the refrigerators, produced in small sizes, enable the articles stored in the refrigerator to remain cold in cases the latter cannot fulfill the function of refrigeration due to causes such as blackouts, etc. The freezer packs are placed into a special storage area formed in the body or the door of the refrigerator. If there is no special storage area, the freezer packs occupy excessive space.

In the embodiments of the state of the art freezer packs, materials called phase changing material are used. The phase changing materials have eutectic properties - having a melting point lower than its components. The phase changing materials change phase at a certain temperature depending of their chemical properties. The phase change material freezes at a certain temperature according to its chemical properties while the refrigeration cycle is active, that is while the compressor is operated, and while the refrigeration cycle is passive, that is while the compressor is not operated, draws heat from the environment and enables the environment to be kept at a lower temperature than the case no phase change material is used. The most important feature of the phase changing materials is that they have perfect heat conductivity.

The state of the art United States Patent No. US4528439 discloses that the inner walls of a thermally-insulated case are produced from phase changing material. In this embodiment, a mixture of gelatin, sodium benzoate and biocide is used as a phase changing material.

Another state of the art embodiment is disclosed in the German Patent Application No. DE19907184 and the European Patent Application No. EP2258995. In these embodiments, a drawer is disclosed, that is disposed in the refrigerator and onto the base of which blocks containing phase changing material are disposed.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator wherein the articles stored therein are enabled to be kept cold for a longer time in cases the refrigeration function cannot be performed.

The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises one or more than one drawer that is disposed into the body on the shelf supports disposed on the cabinet walls and that moves over the said shelf supports, wherein phase changing material is disposed between the inner and the outer surfaces forming the walls of the said drawer. The sides and the base of the drawer is double-walled and the phase changing material is disposed between the inner and the outer surfaces.

The phase changing material is obtained from binding one or more than one material having perfect heat conductivity and eutectic properties.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer comprises a lid. In this embodiment, the lid is a lid between the inner and the outer surfaces of which the phase changing material is disposed. In another version of this embodiment, the lid has a foldable structure and comprises at least two segments that are folded one above the other when the lid is opened. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid comprises three segments. The said three segments are connected to each other at the adjacent edges and each is folded onto the adjacent segment by moving over the connected edge.

A refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a refrigerator when the drawer is in the body.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of the refrigerator when the drawer is pulled out.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the drawer.

Figure 4 – is the sideways view of the drawer.

Figure 5 – is the view of detail A in Figure 4.

Figure 6 – is the perspective view of the drawer when the lid is closed.

Figure 7 – is the sideways view of the drawer when the lid is closed.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the drawer when the lid is open.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Refrigerator
Body
Front wall
Side wall
Rear wall
Base
Shelf support
Drawer
Lid
Segment
Fixing means
Guide
Holder
Phase change material
Handle
Arm
Protrusion
Recess

The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2) having two opposite cabinet walls, at least two shelf supports (7) that are oppositely disposed on the cabinet walls of the body (2), and one or more than one double-walled drawer (8) that is disposed in the body (2) onto the shelf support (7), that moves over the said shelf supports (7) and wherein phase changing material (14) is disposed between the surfaces of the front, side and rear walls (3, 4, 5) and the base (6). The phase changing material (14), that is disposed in the front, side and rear walls (3, 4, 5) and the base (6) of the drawer (8), is obtained from binding one or more than one material having perfect heat conductivity and eutectic properties (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The drawer (8) is seated onto the shelf supports (7) in the body (2) and is moved forward and backward over the shelf supports (7). By means of the characteristics of the phase changing material (14) disposed in the walls (3, 4, 5) and the base (6) of the drawer (8), the articles stored in the drawer (8) are enabled to be kept cold for a longer time in case the refrigerator (1) does not operate or the drawer (8) is pulled out of the refrigerator (1). The phase change material (14) freezes at a certain temperature according to its chemical properties while the refrigeration cycle is active, that is while the compressor (not shown in the figures) is operated, and while the refrigeration cycle is passive, that is while the compressor is not operated, draws heat from the environment and enables the environment to be kept at a lower temperature than the case no phase change material (14) is used. Thus, in case the refrigerator (1) does not operate for any reason or the drawer (8) is used outside the refrigerator (1), more articles, especially foods are enabled to be kept cool and prevented from being spoiled for a longer time. Moreover, by means of the drawer (8), the user is enabled to load/unload more easily (Figure 3 and Figure 4).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least one handle (15) that is disposed on both of the side walls (4) of the drawer (8). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the handle (15) on the side walls (4) is a recess that is wide enough so that a hand can fit therein. Thus, using the said handles (15) disposed on both side walls (4) of the drawer (8), the user can take the drawer (8) out of the refrigerator (1) in a balanced manner.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises an arm (16) that is disposed on the front wall (3) of the drawer (8). By means of the said arm (16), the user can easily slide the drawer (8) forward and backward over the shelf supports (7).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises at least one protrusion (17) that is arranged on the side walls (4) of the drawer (8) and a recess (18) that is arranged on the front wall (3). The drawer (8) is formed by joining the front wall (3), the side walls (4) and the rear wall (5). The front wall (3) and the side walls (4) are joined in the following manner: The protrusions (18) on the front wall (3) are fitted over the protrusions (17) on the side walls (4) and by pushing the front wall (3) towards the side walls (4), the protrusions (17) on the side walls (4) are enabled to be completely seated into the recesses (18) on the front wall (3) (Figure 5).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a lid (9) covering the drawer (8). In this embodiment, the lid (9) is a lid (9) between the inner and the outer surfaces of which the phase changing material (14) is disposed. In another version of this embodiment, the lid (9) has a foldable structure and comprises at least two segments (10) that are folded one above the other when the lid (9) is opened. Thus, the lid (9) can be opened and closed in a stepped manner. By opening the lid (9) in a stepped manner, the thermal balance in the drawer (8) is prevented from being disrupted by unnecessarily opening the lid (9) completely during loading/unloading.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lid (9) comprises three segments (10). The said three segments (10) are connected to each other at the adjacent edges by means of fixing means and each is folded onto the adjacent segment (10) by rotating and sliding over the connected edge. In this embodiment, the lid (9) comprises a holder (13) on the free edge of the front segment (10), that serves as a handle. By pushing the holder (13), the segments (10) are enabled to be folded onto each other so as to open the drawer (8). In this embodiment, a guide (12) is provided, wherein the edge of the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) enters, the guide (12) enabling the said edge to slide and to change into an almost complete upright position when folded. The guide (12) also enables the lid (9) to be mounted to the drawer (8). In this embodiment, when the lid (9) is desired to be opened, the user pushes the holder (13). As a result of this force, the segment (10) adjacent to the front wall (3) moves and rotates around the edge connected to the other segment (10). Thus, the edge whereto the segment (10) adjacent to the front wall (3) and the segment (10) connected to the said segment (10) are connected is folded upwards while the edge whereto the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) and the segment (10) connected to the said segment (10) are connected is folded downwards. Thus, when the lid (9) is closed, the edge whereto the segment (10) adjacent to the front wall (3) and the segment (10) connected to the said segment (10) are connected remains at a level above the edge whereto the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) and the segment (10) connected to the said segment (10) are connected. Thus, when the holder (13) is pushed, the second segment (10) moves together with the segment (10) adjacent to the front wall (3), and while the edge connected to the first segment (10) moves downward, the edge connected to the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) moves upward together with the edge connected to the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5). The free edge of the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) slides over the guide (12) and the said segment (10) is enabled to change into an almost completely upright position together with the other segments (10) folded onto the said segment (10) (Figure 6, Figure 7 and Figure 8).

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2) having two opposite cabinet walls and at least two shelf supports (7) that are oppositely disposed on the cabinet walls of the body (2), characterized by and one or more than one double-walled drawer (8) that is disposed in the body (2) onto the shelf support (7), that moves over the said shelf supports (7) and wherein phase changing material (14) is disposed between the surfaces of the front, side and rear walls (3, 4, 5) and the base (6).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one handle (15) that is disposed on both of the side walls (4) of the drawer (8).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the handle (15) that is a hole that is wide enough so that a hand can fit therein.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by an arm (16) that is disposed on the front wall (3) of the drawer (8).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one protrusion (17) disposed on the side walls (4) and a recess (18) disposed on the front wall (3), the protrusion (17) and the recess (18) enabling the front wall (3) and the side walls (4) to be joined.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a lid (9) covering the drawer (8).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the lid (9) between the inner and the outer surfaces of which the phase changing material (14) is disposed.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 6 or 7, characterized by the lid (9) comprising at least two foldable segments (10) that can be folded onto each other when the lid (9) is opened.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 6 and 7, characterized by the lid (9) comprising three segments (10).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 6 to 9, characterized by the segments (10) connected to each other at the adjacent edges by means of fixing means (11).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 6 to 10, characterized by the lid (9) comprising a holder (13) on the free edge of the front segment (10), serving as a handle.
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the Claims 6 to 11, characterized by a guide (12) that enables the lid (9) to be mounted to the drawer (8) and wherein the segment (10) adjacent to the rear wall (5) enters.