WO2018160147A1

WO2018160147A1 - Drain apparatus for use in refrigerators

Info

Publication number: WO2018160147A1
Application number: PCT/TR2017/050081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mustafa SAHIN
Original assignee: Tekso Teknik Sogutma Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-03-01
Filing date: 2017-03-01
Publication date: 2018-09-07

Abstract

A drain apparatus (100) embedded between an upper wall (210) and a lower wall (220) of floor plates (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill in refrigeration appliances, characterized in that; it comprises an outer casing (110), at least one inner casing (120) coupled to the said outer casing (110) in such a way that it forms a chamber (122) in between, at least one drain opening (114) formed on the outer casing (110) and opening to the upper zone of the floor plate (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill, at least one conduit opening (121) formed on the inner casing (120) and through which accumulated water in a chamber (122) is drained, at least one drain plug (140) of circular form outstretching the outer casing (110) in a way to make an axial movement and forming a drain aperture (141 ) at a certain degree.

Description

Drain Apparatus for Use in Refrigerators Technical Field

The invention relates to drain apparatus for use in refrigeration appliances.

The invention particularly relates to drain apparatus for use in refrigeration appliances not occupying an extra space with its embedded structure in casing walls, trapping dirt and ensuring ease of cleaning.

State of the Art Drain systems are known in the art ensuring the evacuation of water condensed in the inner portions of refrigeration appliances or liquids spilled in the inner chamber. For example, there is a hole for draining water condensed on the lowermost portion of inner rear walls of refrigerators and water flowing through this hole is collected in a water reservoir present in the rear portion of the refrigerator by means of a hose. Diameters of the hole and the back hose used in the said application are small and cause congestion. Presence of the drain system in the rear portions of the refrigerator which are difficult to reach and disassembling all the hoses to eliminate congestion causes loss of time and leads an increase in service fees.

Another known application is the drain systems of industrial refrigeration appliances. Since there is a need for bigger quantities of drainage than needed for domestic type refrigeration appliances, drain holes and drain hoses utilized in industrial refrigeration appliances have bigger diameters. Additionally, due to the need for the drain system to be located in the lowermost portion of refrigeration appliances, it causes a dead space volume in the lower portion of the appliance. In order for possible congestions to be eliminated, it is necessary for these appliances in big sizes to be dislodged and drain hoses and traps to be disassembled. These procedures cause loss of time.

Another example to drain systems in refrigeration appliances is locating drain hoses on the outer part of the appliance. U.S. Patent document no US20160272050 and titled "Water Drain Hose" can be given as an example to these. Consequently, the need for drain apparatus for use in refrigerating appliances not occupying an extra space with its embedded structure in casing walls, trapping dirt and ensuring ease of cleaning and the insufficiency of present solutions entail an improvement in the related art. Object of the Invention

The present invention relates to drain apparatus meeting the abovementioned requirements, eliminating potential disadvantages and bringing some additional advantages. Main object of the drain apparatus subject to the invention is not to occupy an extra space by being embedded within the walls of refrigerators and ensure a simple and fast cleaning of conduit congestions. Dead spaces formed within refrigeration appliances within which drain systems such as traps and like are utilized do not form due to the use of the said drain apparatus. Due to the elimination of these unused spaces, the capacity of the appliance is increased. Additionally, easy and fast cleaning of congestions in drain elements prevents labor loss.

Another object of the invention is to prevent leakages by means of a filling material compressed in a way to surround the apparatus embedded between the lower and upper walls. Polyurethane foam, which is a water-proof filling material located between the walls and the drain apparatus fixated on the walls prevent other portions from being contaminated and affected by leakages by preventing leakages.

Another object of the invention is to let the drain apparatus be cleaned easily by means of a removable drain plug and to prevent the congestion of the drain hoses affixed after the drain apparatus. Thus, conduit congestions are prevented since congesting elements such as residues and like are not able to go into drain hoses.

Another object of the invention is to filter out at least big particles in drained water by means of a filter mounted on the drain opening.

Particularly, time is saved by means of fast and easy drainage of contamination due to the spillage of products in appliances found in refrigeration appliances for industrial use. For example, spillage of products in the appliance is a common situation since there is a continuous circulation in refrigeration appliances wherein products are kept in markets. Spilled products accumulate on the inner floor of the appliance. By means of a readily removable drain plug and a drain aperture, these leakages are cleaned by flowing though a filter. Deterioration of the hygienic environment and formation of stink in the appliance by undischarged liquids are prevented. Congestions occurring in drain conduits cause spilled products in the appliance to stay within the appliance for an extended period of time. Bacterial growth occurs in these liquids staying within the appliance and hygienic environment is deteriorated. Deteriorated hygienic environment leads formation of stink and spreading of this stink around the appliance. Said drain apparatus prevents deterioration of the hygienic environment and stink since it prevents congestions occurring in the conduit.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects in the most general sense, a drain apparatus not occupying an extra place with its embedded structure in casing walls and trapping dirt and ensuring ease of cleaning by means of functioning as a trap is developed for use in refrigeration appliances. The developed drain apparatus comprises an outer casing, at least one inner casing coupled to the outer casing in such a manner that it forms a chamber in between, at least one drain opening formed on the outer casing and opening to the upper zone of the floor plate whereon liquids accumulate/spill, at least one conduit opening formed on the inner casing and through which accumulated water in the chamber is drained, at least one drain plug of circular form outstretching the outer casing in a way to make an axial movement and forming a drain aperture at a certain degree. The structural and characteristic features and all the advantages of the invention will be clearly comprehensible by means of the following figures and the detailed description written by referring to those figures and thereby the assessment should be made by considering these figures and the detailed description. Figures that will Help Understanding of the Invention

In order to comprehend the advantages of the present invention along with its embodiment and additional components, it should be assessed with the figures explained below. Figure - 1 : An exploded view of the drain apparatus subject to the invention.

Figure - 2: An assembled view of the drain apparatus subject to the invention on a refrigeration appliance.

References to Parts

100 Drain apparatus 122 Chamber 1 10 Outer casing 130 Filter

1 1 1 Filter sealing member 131 Filter nozzles

1 12 Mounting hole 140 Drain plug

1 13 Plug sealing member 141 Drain aperture

1 14 Drain opening 142 Duct

1 15 Plug opening 200 Floor plate

1 16 Mounting flange 210 Upper wall

1 17 Flat surface 220 Lower wall

1 18 Inclined surface 230 Filling material

120 Inner casing X Turning right

120a Bed y Turning left

120b Inclined surface

121 Conduit opening

Detailed Description of the Invention

A drain apparatus (100) subject to the invention is developed in such a manner that it is embedded between an upper wall (210) and a lower wall (220) of floor plates (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill in refrigeration appliances. Thus, located on the drain apparatus (100) in the most general sense are an outer casing (1 10), at least one inner casing (120) coupled to the outer casing (1 10) in such a manner that it forms a chamber (122) in between, at least one drain opening (1 14) formed on the outer casing (1 10) and opening to the upper zone of the floor plate (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill, at least one conduit opening (121 ) formed on the inner casing (120) and through which accumulated water in the chamber (122) is drained, at least one drain plug (140) of circular form outstretching the outer casing (1 10) in a way to make an axial movement and forming a drain aperture (141 ) at a certain degree. On the said outer casing (1 10) are formed a flat surface (1 17) whereon a filter (130) is positioned and an inclined surface (1 18) whereon a drain plug (140) is positioned. These surfaces make an obtuse angle relative to each other.

An exploded view of the drain apparatus (100) is presented in Figure! In the state of the art, drain systems are designed in such a way that they form dead spaces. In order for it not to occupy an extra space, a drain apparatus (100) is developed in such a way that it is embedded between an upper wall (210) and a lower wall (220) of floor plates (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill on. In a preferred embodiment, after an outer casing (1 10) is intertangled with an inner casing (120), it is mounted as can be seen in Figure 2 by clinching or fixing the mounting flange (1 16) on the upper wall (210) via a mounting hole (1 12). Leakages are prevented by means of polyurethane filling material (230) compressed between the upper wall (210) and the lower wall (220). A filter (130) on a drain opening (1 14), a drain plug (140) on a plug opening (1 15) are located on an assembled drain apparatus (100). A filter sealing member (1 1 1 ) between the drain opening (1 14) and a filter (130) and a plug sealing member (1 13) between the plug opening (1 15) formed in the duct (142) extension and the drain plug (140) are placed in order to prevent leakages which may happen in these portions.

Liquids accumulated or spilled on the floor plate (200) of the refrigeration appliance is first filtered through filter nozzles (131 ). Thus, by leaving big particles on the filter (130), they are prevented from passing into the chamber (122) located between the outer casing (1 10) and the inner casing (120). The liquid which passes through the filter (130) is accumulated in a chamber (122) since the drain apparatus (100) comprises an inclined surface (120b) with an obtuse angle less than 180 degrees between the bed (120a) and itself. Liquid flowing through the drain opening (1 14) is trapped and first accumulated in the bed (120a). Accumulated liquid leads residue in the chamber (122) if there is one. When the drain plug (140) is opened by turning right (x), that is the drain aperture (141 ) comes to a lower position on the inclined surface (120b), the decanted liquid reaches the conduit through a conduit opening (121 ). When the draining process is finalized, the drain plug (140) is closed by turning left (y).

Claims

A drain apparatus (100) located between an upper wall (210) and a lower wall (220) of floor plates (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill in refrigeration appliances, characterized in that; it comprises: an outer casing (1 10),

at least one inner casing (120) coupled to the outer casing (1 10) in such a way to form a chamber (122) in between,

at least one drain opening (1 14) formed on the outer casing (1 10) and opening to the upper zone of the floor plate (200) whereon liquids accumulate/spill,

at least one drain opening (121 ) formed on the inner casing (120) and through which accumulated water in the chamber (122) is drained,

at least one drain plug (140) outstretching the outer casing (1 10) in a way to make an axial movement and with a drain aperture (141 ) formed on it.

A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises at least one filter (130) located on the said drain opening (1 14) and filtering out particles in liquids flowing through it by means of filtering nozzles (131 ) formed on it.

A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that; it comprises at least one filter sealing member (1 1 1 ) located between the said outer casing (1 10) and the filter (130).

A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises at least one plug aperture (1 15) formed on the outer casing (1 10) and formed in the duct (142) of the drain plug (140).

A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that; it comprises at least one plug sealing member (1 13) located between the said outer casing (1 10) and the plug opening (1 15).

A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises: a bed (120a) formed in the inner casing (120), where the liquid flowing through the said drain opening (1 14) is trapped and first accumulated, an inclined surface (120b) accommodating the said conduit opening (121 ) and having an obtuse angle between itself and the bed (120a).

7. A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises at least one mounting flange (1 16) having at least one mounting hole (1 12) and formed on the said outer casing (1 10) and/or inner casing (120) and mediating assembly on the floor plate (200).

8. A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises a filling material (230) compressed between the said upper wall (210) and the lower wall (220), increasing seal by fully surrounding the outer casing (1 10) and/or the inner casing (120).

9. A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that; said filling material (230) is polyurethane.

10. A drain apparatus (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that; it comprises on the said outer casing (1 10) a flat surface (1 17) whereon a filter (130) is located and an inclined surface (1 18) whereon a drain plug (140) is located.