Drive device for refrigerator doors

• US 8,347,553 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerã¤Te Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International SA)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Hausgerate Ochsenhausen GmbH (Liebherr-International AG), Suspa GmbH (Tyrol Equity AG)
• Inventors: Hecht, Josef, Blersch, Dietmar, Stephan, Florian, Kegel, Markus, Müller, Herbert, Pfister, Armin, Scharg, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, Katherine W
• Assistant Examiner(s): REPHANN, JUSTIN B
• Application Number:
  US12/508,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20100018122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 493/58, 493/59, 493/24, 493/39, 493/40, 493/45, 312/405, 312/319.5, 312/326, 312/327
• US Class Current: 49/358
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/619 using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/627 operated by flexible elongated pulling elements, e.g. belts, chains or cables using flexible elongated push-pull mechanisms E05F15/619
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/63 operated by swinging arms
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/3013 during manual wing operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1967 Rack and pinion

Abstract

An arrangement comprises a housing, in particular of a cooling and/or freezing device, a door which is articulated to the housing so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis of a hinge, and at least one drive device for pivoting the door relative to the housing, with the drive device comprising a drive unit by means of which a moment is exertable on the door relative to the hinge axis via at least one force transmission means.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising:

a housing (1);

b. a door (4) which is articulated to the housing (1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (2) of a hinge (3;

3c);

at least one drive device (5;

5c) for pivoting the door (4) relative to the housing (1);

wherein the drive device (5;

5c) comprises a motor-driven drive unit (60) by means of which a moment is exertable on the door (4) relative to the hinge axis (2) via at least one force transmission means (14;

51);

wherein the housing (1) belongs to at least one of the group consisting of a cooling device and a freezing device; and

wherein the drive device (5;

5c) is integrated in the door (4).

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in addition thereto, an opener (24) is provided for deflecting the door (4) from a closed position.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the opener (24) is actuable manually and by means of the drive device (5;

5c).

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission means (14;

51) is coupleable to the drive unit (60) via a coupling.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the drive device (5;

5c) is a linear drive.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one force transmission means (14) is articulated to the hinge (3).

7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the force transmission means (14) is a gear rack.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the gear rack is comprised of at least two components, with the at least first gear rack component (16) being displaceable relative to the at least second gear rack component (17).

9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a sensor (34) is provided.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the sensor (34) is an angle sensor which is coupled to the pivot axis (2) for detecting an open position of the door (4).

11. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a control unit (61), which is connected to the drive device (5;

5c) for data transmission, is provided for controlling the drive device (5;

5c).

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein at least one parameter of the pivotability of the door (4) is adjustable by means of the control unit (61).

13. An arrangement comprising

a housing (1);

a door (4) which is articulated to the housing (1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (2) of a hinge (3;

3c);

at least one drive device (5;

5c) for pivoting the door (4) relative to the housing (1); and

wherein the drive device (5;

5c) comprising a motor-driven drive unit (60) by means of which a moment is exertable on the door (4) relative to the hinge axis (2) via at least one force transmission means (14;

51);

wherein the force transmission means (51) belongs to at least one of the group consisting of a belt, a rope and a chain;

wherein the housing (1) belongs to at least one of the group consisting of a cooling device and a freezing device; and

wherein the hinge (3c) comprises a first leg (8c) which is articulated to the door (4) via a first joint (10), a second leg (9c) which is articulated to the housing (1) via a second joint (11) and which is articulated to the first leg (8c) via a third joint (12), and said hinge (3c) comprises a third leg (52) which is articulated to the first leg (8c) via a forth joint (13).

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the force transmission means (51) is a toothed belt.

15. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first transmission means (51) is an elastic belt.

16. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein a carriage (54) is provided that is pivotally connected via a fifth joint (53) to the third leg (52), wherein said carriage (54) is displaceable by means of the belt (51).

17. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the first leg (8c) is arcuate.

18. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the third leg (52) is arcuate.

19. An arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the hinge (3c) further comprises a forth leg (56) which is articulated to the third leg (52) via a sixth joint (57).

20. An arrangement according to claim 19, wherein a support pulley (58) is arranged on a free end of the fourth leg (56), wherein said support pulley (58) abuts the housing (1) when the door (4) is closed.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20 wherein in the region of the sixth joint (57) is provided a spring (59) which is pre-loaded when the door (4) is closed and which presses the fourth leg (56) together with the support pulley (58) against the housing (1).

22. An arrangement comprising:

a housing (1);

a door (4) which is articulated to the housing (1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (2) of a hinge (3;

3c);

at least one drive device (5;

5c) for pivoting the door (4) relative to the housing (1); and

wherein the drive device (5;

5c) comprising a motor-driven drive unit (60) by means of which a moment is exertable on the door (4) relative to the hinge axis (2) via at least one force transmission means (14;

51);

wherein the force transmission means (51) belongs to at least one of the group consisting of a belt, a rope and a chain; and

wherein the housing (1) belongs to at least one of the group consisting of a cooling device and a freezing device; and

wherein the force transmission means (51) runs across two pulleys (49, 50).

23. An arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the two pulleys (49, 50) are drivable for rotation.