Refrigeration – Automatic control – Refrigeration producer
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-24
2001-04-03
Tanner, Harry B. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Automatic control
Refrigeration producer
C062S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209332
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a circuit configuration for operating an electrically triggerable magnet valve having a valve-control element that can be put into at least two working positions and through the adjustment of which one fluid-flow path at a time that is acted upon by a fluid and that corresponds to the respective working position can be selected.
Circuit configurations as defined above are used, for instance, in refrigeration appliances that have a plurality of compartments at different temperatures, for triggering bistable magnet valves that are used there. On the basis of such valves a flow of refrigerant generated by a compressor in a refrigeration circuit is conducted to evaporators in the compartments having various temperatures in accordance with the need for refrigeration. To that end, the valve-control element of the bistable magnet valve is moved into one or the other of its working positions in accordance with the need for refrigeration in storage compartments of the refrigeration appliance. That is done through the use of the force exerted on the valve-control element by the electromagnets and as a consequence of that force the valve-control element is accelerated into its closing position. A clearly audible noise is generated by the closing process. In the past, that noise had been handled through the use of sound damping provisions made in the valve-control element, in the form of plastic parts that cause the closure of nozzle-like supply openings. In the case of such plastic parts, however, if they are not to wear prematurely at the nozzle-like supply openings, a relatively high Shore hardness must be chosen, which necessarily in turn causes not inconsiderable worsening of the acoustical insulation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a circuit configuration for operating an electrically triggerable magnet valve and a refrigeration appliance having the circuit configuration, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which enable low-noise operation of an electrically triggerable magnet valve in a simple way.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a circuit configuration for operating an electrically triggerable magnet valve having a valve-control element adjustable into at least two working positions for selecting one fluid-flow path at a time to be acted upon by a fluid and corresponding to a respective working position, the circuit configuration comprising a device for adjusting the valve-control element into a different working position in connection with an imposition of fluid, predominantly present in liquid components, on at least a portion of a fluid-flow path formed by the magnet valve.
Due to the structure according to the invention, speed damping and attendant noise damping for the moving valve-control element are generated, with the damping being constant over the service life of the electrically triggerable magnet valve and being generated by the liquid fluid, since the noise damping is independent of possible changing material properties of materials typically used for acoustical insulation, for example the process of aging in plastics. Moreover, the extent of damping for the valve-control element can be varied in a simple way through the use of the geometrical structure of the valve-control element.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the device for imposing the liquid fluid on the portion of the fluid-flow path formed by the magnet valve is attained by a time lag in the adjustment of the valve-control element with respect to an activation of a device for driving the fluid.
The use of such a structure assures that liquid fluid is imposed on the portion of the fluid-flow path formed by the magnet valve in an especially simple way, without additional expense for sensors.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the time lag can be generated especially simply if the device effecting the time lag is formed by an essentially electromechanically constructed timing element. Moreover, such a timing element is distinguished by its sturdy construction.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the device effecting the time lag is formed by a timing element composed of electronic components.
In such a structure, the order of magnitude of the time lag can also be varied retroactively in a simple way. Moreover, such a timing element can be made extremely economically.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the time lag is in a range between 30 seconds and 90 seconds.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a time lag that proves to be especially pertinent is 60 seconds.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the device serving to drive the fluid is constructed as a refrigerant compressor.
With the objects of the invention in view there is also provided a refrigeration appliance, in particular a refrigerator or freezer or a combination refrigerator-freezer which includes the circuit configuration.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a circuit configuration for operating an electrically triggerable magnet valve and a refrigeration appliance having the circuit configuration, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3001378 (1961-09-01), Stutrud
patent: 4439998 (1984-04-01), Horvay et al.
BSH Bosch und Siemens Haus-geraete GmbH
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Tanner Harry B.
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