A COOLING DEVICE HAVING A STORAGE DRAWER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cooling device having a storage drawer according to the preamble of claim 1.

State Of The Art

In cooling devices (i.e., refrigerators) having a cooling system, storage drawers are used for storing foodstuffs to be kept fresh. Freshness for the foodstuffs stored in the storage drawers, is supplied with high level humidity that is obtained by covering foodstuffs in the storage drawer and avoiding the fact that dry air that is coming from cooling system does not get contact with foodstuffs. On the other hand, very cold air that is being supplied from cooling system in order to keep the temperature of storage drawers cold, may create some cold spots on the walls of the storage drawer. If the temperature of any cold spots is below the dew point of the air inside of storage drawers, internal condensation can be observed inside said storage drawer.

The state of the art document numbered EP1936302A1 Bl discloses a device for controlling the refrigeration and humidity inside a drawer movable within a compartment of a refrigerator. Said drawer is being insertable into said forced-air compartment provided in a cabinet of the refrigerator. Said compartment receives cold air forced through a feed conduit provided in said cabinet. The conduit is divided into a plurality of channels, one opening into a side wall of the compartment, and at least one other opening at an upper wall of the compartment above the drawer. In the channels, an interceptor member is provided to allow control of the air flow passing through it and directed to the compartment for the drawer.

The invention provides an additional improvement, an additional advantage or an alternative to the prior art.

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling device having an improved cooling air path system for the storage drawer. In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the invention is a cooling device comprising a cabinet for forming a storage compartment, a rear panel forming a rear wall of the storage compartment, a cooling system comprising a fan for supplying the cooling air and an evaporator, a cooling air outlet hole provided on the rear panel for discharging cooling air toward the storage compartment, a storage drawer which includes a drawer body forming a storage space and which is movable in a prescribed direction from an inside of one of the sub-compartments. In the invention, a cooling air path system is provided in such a way that the cooling air discharged from the cooling air outlet hole is directing from a first outer side of the storage drawer to a second outer side of the storage drawer, wherein the first outer side and the second outer side are being oppositely oriented outer sides of the storage drawer. Such a cooling air path system eliminates the internal condensation observed inside the storage drawer. Thus, the foodstuffs positioned inside the storage drawer can be kept fresh for a longer period of time.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the cooling air path system is provided so as to surround at least three outer sides of the storage drawer. Thus, the cooling air does not crush directly to the walls of the storage drawer.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the cooling air path system comprises a first cooling air path which corresponds to the cooling air outlet hole, a second cooling air path provided substantially parallel to the first cooling air path, and a third cooling air path which fluidly connects with the first cooling air path and the second cooling air path. Thus, the cooling air does not crush directly to the rear wall of the drawer body of the storage drawer. The cooling air softly flows from the first cooling air path to the second cooling air path.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the first cooling air path is provided between a division wall which divides the storage compartment into two sub-compartments, and a movable lid provided above the drawer body. Thus, the cooling air flows toward inside the storage drawer, when the lid is at the open position.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the third cooling air path having an air path through which the cooling air can pass, is configured in such a way that the cooling air flows parallel to the rear panel. Thus, the cooling air flows softly from the first cooling air path to the second cooling air path via the third cooling air path. Such cooling air path arrangement eliminates the internal condensation observed inside the storage drawer. In this context, with the indications "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "upward", "downward", "inner", "outer", "inward", "outward" etc. the positions and orientations given for intended use and intended arrangement of the cooling device and for a user then standing in front of the cooling device in a closed position and viewing in the direction of the device are indicated.

Each possible embodiment disclosed in this text can be combined with the other possible embodiments disclosed in this text if there is no any technical constraint.

Explanation of Figures

The figures, whose brief explanations are herewith provided, are solely intended for providing a better understanding of the present invention and are as such not intended to define the scope of protection or the context in which said scope is to be interpreted in the absence of the description.

Fig. 1 is a representative perspective view of the exemplary cooling device

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device that shows the subject-matter cooling air path system

Fig. 3 is a zoomed cross-sectional view of the cooling device that shows the subject-matter cooling air path system

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cooling device that shows the subject-matter cooling air path system, fan and also evaporator

Detailed Description of the Figures

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

With reference to Fig.l, the cooling device (1) comprises a cabinet (2) for forming a storage compartment (3) and doors (not shown) which may shield an access opening (21) of the cabinet (2). The cooling device (1) extends in a width direction (w), depth direction (d) and height direction (h). The storage compartment (3) may include a refrigerator compartment which keep food refrigerated and a freezer compartment which may keep food frozen. The refrigerator compartment may be formed at an upper side of the freezer compartment. The access opening (21) is provided at a front side of the cooling device (1) for accessing the storage compartment (3), when at least one door (not shown) is at an open position. When the doors are at a closed position, said doors completely cover the access opening (21). There is a rear panel (5) forming a rear wall of the storage compartment (3), provided at an opposite side of the access opening (21). As can be seen in Fig.2, at least one cooling air outlet hole (13) is provided on the rear panel (5) for discharging cooling air (C) toward the storage compartment (3). The cooling device (1) further comprises one or more storage drawer (8) which is movable in the depth direction (d) of the cooling device (1). In other words, the storage drawers (8) are movable in a prescribed direction, e.g. depth direction (d) from an inside of the storage compartment (3). Each of the storage drawers (8) include a drawer body (9) forming a storage space

(10). Said drawer body (9) comprises a base, front wall, a rear wall and sidewalls so as to define a storage space (10). An upper opening is provided at an opposite side of the base for accessing the storage space (10) from outside. As can be seen in Fig.l, the exemplary cooling device (1) comprises two side-by-side storage drawers. At least one cooling air outlet hole (13) is provided on the rear panel (5) for each storage drawers for discharging cooling air (C) toward the respective storage drawers. Moreover, as can be seen in Fig.4, there is a cooling system comprising a fan (6) for supplying the cooling air (C) to the storage compartment (3), and an evaporator (7). The cooling air outlet hole (13) is provided for discharging cooling air (C) generated at the evaporator (7) to the storage compartment (3). The cooling system may include a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator. For example, the evaporator may include a first evaporator which may be provided at one side of the refrigerator compartment and a second evaporator which may be provided at one side of the freezer compartment. The cooling air (C) stored in the storage compartment (3), maybe cooled while passing through the respective evaporator (7) and the cooling air (C) maybe supplied again into the storage compartment (3). As can be seen in Fig.l and 2, there is a division wall (17) which divides the storage compartment (3) into sub-compartments. In one of the sub-compartments (4), at least one storage drawer (8) is provided.

With reference to Fig.2 and 3, a cooling air path system (14) is provided in such a way that the cooling air (C) discharged from the cooling air outlet hole (13) is directing from a first outer side (11) of the storage drawer (8) to a second outer side (12) of the storage drawer (8). The first outer side

(11) and the second outer side (12) are being oppositely oriented outer sides of the storage drawer (8). The cooling air path system (14) is provided so as to surround at least three outer sides of the storage drawer (8). The cooling air path system (14) mainly comprises three air paths: the first cooing air path (15), the second cooling air path (16) and the third cooling air path (20). In more details, the cooling air path system (14) comprises a first cooling air path (15) which corresponds to the cooling air outlet hole (13). The first cooling air path (15) extends in the depth direction (d) of the cooling device (1) at the upper side of the storage drawer (8). The cooling air path system (14) further comprises a second cooling air path (16) provided substantially parallel to the first cooling air path (15). The second cooling air path (16) extends in the depth direction (d) of the cooling device (1) at the lower side of the storage drawer (8). There is also a third cooling air path (20) which fluidly connects with the first cooling air path (15) and the second cooling air path (16). The third cooling air path (20) having an air path through which the cooling air (C) can pass, is configured in such a way that the cooling air (C) flows parallel to the rear panel (5). In other words, the third cooling air path (20) extends in the height direction (h) of the cooling device (1). The cooling air (C) passing through the cooling air outlet hole (13) flows in the first cooling air path (15) in the depth direction (d), and directs to the third cooling air path (20) and then it reaches to the second cooling air path (16). In the second cooling air path (16), the cooling air (C) flows also in the depth direction (d). Since the cooling air outlet hole (13) is provided at the upper side of the storage drawer (8) so as to correspond to the first cooling air path (15), the cooling air (C) does not directly crush to the rear wall of the drawer body (22) and softly follows the third cooling air path (20). Such cooling air path arrangement eliminates the internal condensation observed inside the storage drawer (8). Also three outer sides of the storage drawer (8) are surrounded with the cooling air (C).

On the other hand, there is a movable lid (18) provided above the drawer body (9). Said lid (18) is movable between a closed position in which the lid (18) completely cover the upper opening of the drawer body (9), and an open position in which at least a portion of the lid (18) moves away from the upper opening. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the first cooling air path (15) is provided between the division wall (17) and the lid (18). The lid (18) can be controlled manually and/or automatically by an external device. There is a movement mechanism (19) arranged to move the lid (18) between the closed position and open position. The lid (18) can move in the height direction (h) of the cooling device (1). When the lid (18) is at the closed position, the cooling air (C) does not flow towards the storage space (10) of the storage drawer (8), from the first cooling air path (15). When the lid (18) is at the open position, the cooling air (C) flows towards the storage space (10) of the storage drawer (8), from the first cooling air path (15). Reference List

1. Cooling device

2. Cabinet

3. Storage compartment

4. Sub-compartment

5. Rear panel

6. Fan

7. Evaporator

8. Storage drawer

9. Drawer body

10. Storage space

11. First outer side

12. Second outer side

13. Cooling air outlet hole

14. Cooling air path system

15. First cooling air path

16. Second cooling air path

17. Division wall

18. Lid

19. Movement mechanism

20. Third cooling air path

21. Access opening

22. Rear wall of the drawer body

C. Cooling air h. Height direction d. Depth direction w. Width direction