WO2014102362A1 - A cooling device comprising a defrost heater - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising at least one compartment wherein the products to be cooled are placed, an evaporator that provides the cooling of the compartment by evaporating a refrigerant fluid and a defrost heater (1) that enables the ice accumulated on the evaporator surface to be heated and melted during a defrost cycle and that has a metal tube (2), an electric cable (4) passing through the metal tube (2), electrically insulated from the metal tube (2) and enabling the metal tube (2) to be heated. The defrost heater (1) having a gasket (5) placed on each of the ends of the metal tube (2) and that prevents the electric cable (4) from contacting the end of the metal tube (2).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A DEFROST HEATER

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising at least one compartment wherein the products to be cooled are placed, an evaporator that provides the cooling of the compartment by evaporating the refrigerant fluid and a defrost heater which enables the ice accumulated on the evaporator surface to be heated and melted during a defrost cycle.

The users generally keep the door of the compartments open for a long time in order to place the products they bought into the refrigerator. During this time period, the moisture entering the compartment together with the hot air in the outer environment freezes and causes formation of ice on the cold surface of the evaporator that provides the cooling of the compartment. Furthermore, the moisture in the products also freezes on the cold surface of the evaporator and causes formation of ice. The ice forming on the surface of the evaporator leads to heat insulation effect and causes the evaporator not to cool the compartment sufficiently and the electricity consumption of the cooling device to increase in the following refrigeration cycles.

In order to solve this problem, the producers of white goods have designed defrost heaters that allow the ice formed on evaporators to be melted by means of a defrost cycle and the cooling devices comprising the said defrost heaters.

In the state of the art Chinese Utility Model Application No. CN20102222083U, a cooling device is explained which comprises a defrost heater that enables the ice formed on an evaporator to be melted by means of a special defrost cycle.

In this defrost heater, the heater electric cable placed around the evaporator tube passes through a metal tube. Thus, the risk of electric shock and fire increases.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a defrost heater that does not allow electric shock and fire.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention and explicated in the attached claims comprises a defrost heater having a metal tube, an electric cable passing through the metal tube, electrically insulated from the metal tube and enabling the metal tube to be heated, and one gasket placed on each of the ends of the metal tube and that prevents the electric cable from contacting the end of the metal tube. Thus, if the electric cable moves due to a mechanical force, the electric cable is prevented from rubbing against the end of the metal tube and being cut. Thus, the risk of electric leakage and fire is also prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the gasket has a body configured as a tube, through which the electric cable passes and a flange formed on one end of the body thereof and that is seated on the end of the metal tube. Thus, the gasket is enabled to entirely cover the end of the metal tube and to be safely seated on the end of the metal tube.

In an embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the metal tube are expanded. Thus, the gasket is enabled to be easily placed between the metal tube and the electric cable and to safely protect the electric cable.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of the tube-shaped body of the gasket is equal to the inner diameter of the metal tube. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the flange of the gasket is larger than the outer diameter of the metal tube. Thus, the ends of the flange are enabled to be easily grasped from the outside. Additionally, the electric cable is thus enabled to evenly pass through the metal tube and the gasket. Thus, the defrost heater is enabled to occupy less space.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the metal tube between the expanded end and the unexpanded end thereof is configured as an inclined step. Thus, only the end portions of the metal tube are enabled to be wider.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the tube-shaped body of the gasket placed inside the metal tube is seated on the portion of the metal tube configured as an inclined step from the inner side. Thus, the gasket is enabled to be safely placed on the expanded end of the metal tube.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible coating enabling the metal tube and the gasket to be pressed towards each other and the inner side of the metal tube to be insulated from the outer side thereof is placed around the portion of the metal tube configured as an inclined step so as to enclose both the gasket and the end of the metal tube. Thus, the coating is prevented from moving or sliding back and forth. Additionally, the gasket is thus prevented from dislodging.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device comprising a defrost heater that does not allow electric shock and fire is realized.

A model embodiment relating to the defrost heater realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:

Figure 1 – is a schematic view of the defrost heater in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figure are numbered as follows:

1. Defrost heater
2. Metal tube
3. Inclined step
4. Electric cable
5. Gasket
6. Body
7. Flange
8. Coating

In all the embodiments of the present invention, the cooling device comprises at least one compartment wherein the products to be cooled are placed, an evaporator that provides the cooling of the compartment by evaporating a refrigerant fluid and a defrost heater (1) which enables the ice accumulated on the evaporator surface to be heated and melted during a defrost cycle (Figure 1). The cooling device not shown in the figure is preferably a refrigerator or an air conditioner.

In all the embodiments of the present invention, the defrost heater (1) comprises a metal tube (2), an electric cable (4) passing through the metal tube (2), electrically insulated from the metal tube (2) and enabling the metal tube (2) to be heated, and a gasket (5) placed on each of the ends of the metal tube (2) and that prevents the electric cable (4) from contacting the end of the metal tube (2) (Figure 1). Thus, if the electric cable (4) moves due to a mechanical force, the electric cable (4) is prevented from rubbing against the end of the metal tube (2) and being cut. Thus, the risk of electric leakage and fire is prevented. The metal tube (2) is preferably produced from steel. Utilization of other metals such as aluminum or copper should be considered within the scope of the present invention. The exterior of the electric cable (4) is coated with a flexible material that provides electrical insulation. A heating wire or wires, which are not shown in the figure, pass through the electric cable (4). Furthermore, the interior of the electric cable (4) is preferred to be coated with a fiberglass netting, which is not shown in the figure. However, since the gasket (5) is used in the defrost heater (1), the fiberglass netting is not required to be used.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the gasket (5) has a body (6) configured as a tube, through which the electric cable (4) passes and a flange (7) formed on one end of the body (6) thereof and that is seated on the end of the metal tube (2) (Figure 1). Thus, the gasket (5) is enabled to entirely cover the end of the metal tube (2) and to be safely seated on the end of the metal tube (2). The inner diameter of the tube-shaped body (6) of the gasket (5) is preferred to be almost same as the diameter of the electric cable (4). The gasket (5) is produced from a material having high electrical insulation. Elastomeric or duroplastic material is suitable to be used in the production of the gasket (5). Furthermore, the gasket (5) is preferred to be flexible. For instance, elastomeric materials including silicon are more suitable to be used. The inner side of the flange (7) is preferred to be rounded as in the figure. In terms of safety, the gasket (5) is preferably configured as a single piece. However, in terms of ease of assembly, the gasket (5) is also preferred to be composed of two equal pieces.

In an embodiment of the present invention, both ends of the metal tube (2) are expanded (Figure 1). Thus, the gasket (5) is allowed to be placed between the metal tube (2) and the electric cable (4) easily and preferably under moderate pressure. The end of the metal tube (2) is preferably rounded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of the tube-shaped body (6) of the gasket (5) is equal to the inner diameter of the metal tube (2). Furthermore, the outer diameter of the flange (7) of the gasket (5) is greater than the outer diameter of the metal tube (2) (Figure 1). The flange (7) extends outwards from the expanded end of the metal tube (2). Thus, the ends of the flange (7) are enabled to be easily grasped from the outside. The inner surface of the tube-shaped body (6) of the gasket (5) and the inner surface of the metal tube (2) form a flat and cylindrical surface. Additionally, the electric cable (4) is thus enabled to evenly pass through the metal tube (2) and the gasket (5). The gasket (5) is thus enabled to be easily mounted. Thus, the defrost heater (1) is enabled to occupy less space.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the metal tube (2) between the expanded end and the unexpanded end thereof is configured as an inclined step (3) (Figure 1). Thus, only the end portions of the metal tube (2) are enabled to be wider. The inclined step (3) is preferred to be almost perpendicular.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the portion of the tube-shaped body (6) of the gasket (5) placed inside the metal tube (2) is seated on the portion of the metal tube (2) configured as an inclined step (3) (Figure 1). Thus, the gasket (5) is enabled to be safely placed on the expanded end of the metal tube (2). The end of the portion of the tube-shaped body (6) of the gasket (5) placed into the metal tube (2) is preferably configured as an inclined step (3) and has the same inclination as the inclined step (3) of the metal tube (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, a flexible coating (8) enabling the metal tube (2) and the gasket (5) to be pressed towards each other and the inner side of the metal tube (2) to be insulated from the outer side thereof is placed around the portion of the metal tube (2) configured as an inclined step (3) so as to enclose both the gasket (5) and the end of the metal tube (2) (Figure 1). The coating (8) grasps both the flange (7) and the inclined step (3). Thus, the coating (8) is prevented from moving or sliding back and forth. Additionally, the gasket (5) is thus prevented from dislodging. The portions of the coating (8) on the metal tube (2) and the electric cable (4) are preferred to have equal lengths. The coating (8) is preferred to be produced from a non-flammable material having high electrical insulation. Elastomeric or duroplastic material is preferred to be used in the production of the coating (8). Furthermore, the coating (8) is preferred to be flexible. For instance, elastomeric materials including silicon are more suitable to be used.

By means of the present invention, a cooling device is realized comprising a safe, low cost defrost heater (1) which does not allow electric shock and fire and occupies less space.

The defrost heater (1) structure of the present invention can be used also for different types of heaters such as flange heater used in cooling devices.

Utilization of the defrost heater (1) of the present invention in devices other than cooling devices such as refrigerator, for instance in an air conditioner, should also be considered within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

1. A cooling device (1)comprising

   - at least one compartment wherein the products to be cooled are placed,

   - an evaporator that provides the cooling of the compartment by evaporating a refrigerant fluid,

   - a defrost heater (1) that enables the ice accumulated on the evaporator surface to be heated and melted during a defrost cycle and that has a metal tube (2), an electric cable (4) passing through the metal tube (2), electrically insulated from the metal tube (2) and enabling the metal tube (2) to be heated,

   characterized by

   the defrost heater (1) having a gasket (5) placed on each of the ends of the metal tube (2) and that prevents the electric cable (4) from contacting the end of the metal tube (2).
2. A cooling device as in Claim 1,characterized by the gasket (5) that has a body (6) configured as a tube, through which the electric cable (4) passes and a flange (7) formed on one end of the body (6) thereof and that is seated on the end of the metal tube (2).
3. A cooling device as in Claim 2,characterized by the metal tube (2) both ends of which are expanded.
4. A cooling device as in Claim 3,characterized by the gasket (5) the inner diameter of the tube-shaped body (6) of which is equal to the inner diameter of the metal tube (2) and the outer diameter of the flange (7) of which is greater than the outer diameter of the metal tube (2).
5. A cooling device as in Claim 4,characterized by the metal tube (2) wherein the portion between the expanded end thereof and the unexpanded end thereof is configured as an inclined step (3).
6. A cooling device as in Claim 5,characterized by the gasket (5) wherein the portion of the tube-shaped body (6) thereof placed inside the metal tube (2) is seated on the portion of the metal tube (2) configured as an inclined step (3) from the inner side.
7. A cooling device as in Claim 5 or 6,characterized by a flexible coating (8) that is placed around the portion of the metal tube (2) configured as an inclined step (3) so as to enclose both the expanded end of the metal tube (2) and the gasket (5) and that enables the metal tube (2) and the gasket (5) to be pressed towards each other and the inner side of the metal tube (2) to be insulated from the outer side thereof.

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