EP3123088B1

EP3123088B1 - Check valve assembly with improved safety for use in a water dispenser and refrigeration appliance having the same

Info

Publication number: EP3123088B1
Application number: EP14713478.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serpil Kaymak; Hasan Yuksel; Hulusi Han Iyigun; Ibrahim Yilmaz Evren; Kubilay BORA
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2019-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-28
Also published as: PL3123088T3; EP3123088A1; TR201503610A2; WO2015144244A1

Description

The present invention relates to a water dispenser of a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigerator. The present invention more particularly relates to a check valve assembly of a water dispenser.
Domestic refrigerators have been endowed with various functionalities in order to improve their user convenience. For example, domestic refrigerators are commonly provided with a built-in water dispenser for supplying the user with cold drinking water. Such water dispensers are usually built into a recess formed on a front side of the refrigerator door. Thereby, the user can take cold drinking water without opening the refrigerator door. Such water dispensers have a refillable water tank which is detachably attachable on an inner side of the refrigerator door. The water tank has a check valve assembly and a lever which operates the check valve assembly. A discharge opening of the valve assembly and the lever are arranged into the recess which is exposed to a front side of the refrigerator door. The user can fill a cup with cold drinking water by simply activating the lever. When the water is completely consumed, the user must replenish the water tank. To replenish the water tank, the user removes the water tank together with the valve assembly, refills the water tank with drinking water from a tap or the like, and subsequently mounts the water tank to its place on the inner side of the refrigerator door.
US 2011/0067433 A1 discloses a refrigerator having a water dispenser which is installed on its front door.
A frequently encountered problem with the water dispensers is that they start leaking. However, it is an important requirement that a water dispenser is absolutely leak-tight. In general, a leakage may cause damages to the user's articles. In the above-mentioned check valve assembly usually a gasket which is arranged on a movable shaft is biased via a coil spring to an intake opening so as to attain a leak-tight assembly. To secure the leak-tightness of the assembly, the spring must have a sufficient stiffness. However under excessive load, the gasket becomes vulnerable to wear and dislocations. In particular, the check valve assembly is subjected to excessive mechanical stress when the user demounts and remounts the water tank for replenishment or cleaning. Therefore, there is a risk that the movable components fall apart and the water leaks out into the refrigeration compartment and/or the kitchen.
EP 2 641 865 A2 discloses a check valve assembly which comprises an elongated main body one end of which is tubular and connected to a water dispenser while the other end comprises a shaft, wherein water can flow through the tubular part to the outside of the shaft. Moreover, the main body with the shaft is surrounded by a movable tubular lower body and a flexible sleeve. A sealing ring is disposed at the end of the shaft such that it closes the passage through the lower body by being seated on an inner shoulder thereof. When the lower body is pushed upwards by a user, the passage is opened and water can flow from the dispenser tank through the tubular end of the main body, into the space between the shaft and the lower body with the sleeve, and leave through the open end of the lower body.
KR20120072763 A discloses a water dispenser with a check valve assembly.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a check valve assembly which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art and which is easy to install and has an improved safety.
This objective have been achieved by the water dispenser as defined in claim 1, and the refrigeration appliance as defined in claim 12. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.
In the check valve assembly of the present invention, a leading end of the shaft has a first groove and a second groove which respectively support an elastic sealing element and a snap-ring element. The sealing element leak-tightly closes the intake opening as the shaft is pushed rearward by a spring whereas the snap-ring element permanently abuts against the sealing element on a side which is immediately averted from the intake opening and blocks rearward movement of the shaft in a state where the sealing element firmly closes the inlet opening
In an embodiment, the shaft is provided with a radially extending protrusion which separates the first groove and the second groove. The protrusion restricts an axial movement of the sealing element and the snap-ring element. Thereby, the sealing element and the snap-ring element are securely retained at their respectively designated positions. In another embodiment, the snap-ring element has a sufficiently large size so as to abut against a whole rear surface of the sealing element.
Thereby, in a fully retracted state of the shaft, the sealing element is securely pressed against the entire inlet opening and a sealing performance increases.
By the present invention, a safety and a sealing performance of the check valve assembly have been improved. Any excessive forces generated during a removal of the water dispenser are counteracted in series by the sealing element and the snap-ring element. The snap-ring element prevents the movable parts of the check valve assembly, in particular the shaft and the sealing element from dislodging out of a valve body. Thus, a user can safely remove the water tank for cleaning or replenishment. Thereby a safety of the check valve assembly has been increased. The snap-ring element also prevents the sealing element from retreating as the latter is firmly pressed by the action of the spring onto the inlet opening. Thereby a sealing performance has been increased. The component parts of the check-vale assembly of the present invention can be easily disassembled and reassembled for cleaning even by a user with ordinary skill.
Additional advantages of the check valve assembly of the present invention and the water dispenser of the present invention will become apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective front view of a refrigeration appliance door having a water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective rear view of the door shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the water dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic enlarged side view of a check valve assembly of the water dispenser shown in Fig. 3;
Figure 5 is a schematic exploded view of the check valve assembly of the water dispenser shown in Fig. 4;
Figure 6 is a schematic cross sectional view of the check valve assembly shown in Fig. 4, taken along the line A-A;
Figure 7 is a schematic front view of the refrigeration appliance door having the water dispenser shown in Fig. 1;
Figure 8 is a schematic cross sectional view of the refrigeration appliance door having the water dispenser shown in Fig. 7, taken along the line B-B;
Figure 9 is a schematic enlarged view of the detail C shown in Fig. 8.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

1. Check valve assembly
2. Water dispenser
3. Body
4. First opening
5. Second opening
6. Passage
7. Shaft
8. Spring
9. Leading end
10. First seat
11. Second seat
12. First sealing element
13. First groove
14. Snap-ring element
15. Second groove
16. Protrusion
17. Channel
18. First abutment
19. Second abutment
20. Inner threaded portion
21. Outer threaded portion
22. Outlet
23. Water tank
24. Second sealing element
25. Guide element
26. Third sealing element
27. Mounting portion
28. Door
29. Lid
30. Recess
31. Lever

The check valve assembly (1) is suitable for use in a water dispenser (2) (Fig. 3).
The water dispenser (2) comprises a water tank (23) which includes an outlet (22); a mounting portion (27) for detachably mounting it to an inner side of a door (28) of a refrigeration appliance (not shown), a lid (29) for accessing an interior thereof. The water dispenser (2) also comprises a check valve assembly (1). The check valve assembly (1) is detachably engaged with the outlet (22) (Figs. 3, and 7 to 9).
The check valve assembly (1) comprises a body (3) which has a first opening (4), a second opening (5), and a passage (6) which is formed between the first opening (4) and the second opening (5), a shaft (7) which is loaded by a spring (8) and inserted through the second opening (5) into the passage (6) until a leading end (9) of the shaft (7) projects out of the first opening (4) and the spring (8) is compressed between a first seat (10) on the body (3) and a second seat (11) on the shaft (7) (Figs. 4 to 6).
The check valve assembly (1) of the present invention comprises an elastic first sealing element (12) which is detachably engaged with a first groove (13) which is circumferentially formed on a periphery of the leading end (9) of the shaft (7). The first sealing element (12) leak-tightly closes the first opening (4) as the shaft (7) is pushed rearward by the spring (8). The check valve assembly (1) of the present invention further comprises a snap-ring element (14) which is detachably engaged with a second groove (15) which is circumferentially formed on a periphery of the leading end (9) of the shaft (7). The second groove (15) is closer to a tip of the leading end (9) than the first groove (13). The snap-ring element (14) is arranged to permanently abut against the first sealing element (12) on a side which is immediately averted from the first opening (4). The snap-ring element (14) blocks rearward movement of the shaft (7) in a state where the first sealing element (12) firmly closes the first opening (4) (Figs. 4 to 6).
In an embodiment, the first groove (13) and the second groove (15) are separated by a radially extending protrusion (16) which restricts an axial movement of the first sealing element (12) and the snap-ring element (14) (Figs. 5 and 6). Thereby, a relative movement of the first sealing element (12) and the snap-ring element (14) is prevented and a stable arrangement is attained.
In another embodiment, the first sealing element (12) is an O-ring. In this embodiment, the snap-ring element (14) has an outer radius which is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the O-ring (Figs. 5 and 6). Thereby, the snap-ring element (14) effectively abuts against an entire rear surface of the first sealing element (12) and a sealing performance of the first sealing element (12) increases.
In another embodiment, the first groove (13) and the second groove (15) both have a rectangular-shaped second cross section (Figs. 5 and 6).
In another embodiment, the shaft (7) has a channel (17) which fluidly inter-connects the first opening (4) with the second opening (5) (Figs. 5 and 6). When the first opening (4) is in an open state the cold drinking water is conveyed under the action of gravity via the channel (17) through the second opening (5) to an outside.
In another embodiment, the shaft (7) has a first abutment (18) which cooperates with a second abutment (19) of the main body (3) so as to restrict an axial forward movement of the shaft (7) into the passage (6) (Figs. 5 and 6). Thereby, a restoring force of the spring (8) has been limited to a predetermined value and the first sealing element (12) is protected from excessive mechanical stress as the shaft (7) is pushed rearward to its rest position.
In another embodiment, the main body (3) has an inner threaded portion (20) which is formed around the first opening (4). In this embodiment, the inner threaded portion (20) is screwable onto a corresponding outer threaded portion (21) which is formed around an outlet (22) of the water tank (23) of the water dispenser (2) (Figs. 6 and 8 to 9).
In another embodiment, the check valve assembly (1) comprises a second sealing element (24) which is arranged to seal an interface between the inner threaded portion (20) and the outer threaded portion (21) (Figs. 5 and 6).
In another embodiment, the spring (8) is a coil compression spring (8) which is sleeved onto the shaft (7) and abutted against the second seat (11). In this embodiment, the second seat (11) is radially formed around the shaft (7) (Figs. 5 and 6).
In another embodiment, the check valve assembly (1) comprises an annular guide element (25) which is releasably and leak-tightly fitted into said passage (6). In this embodiment, the shaft (7) is inserted into the annular guide element (25).
In another embodiment, the check valve assembly (1) comprises a third sealing element (26) which is arranged to leak-tightly seal an interface between the annular guide element (25) and the main body (3) (Figs. 5 and 6). In this embodiment, the third sealing element (26) is arranged in a third groove formed on the annular guide element (25).
The present invention also provides a refrigeration appliance (not shown). The refrigeration appliance comprises a refrigeration compartment, a door (28) for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment, a water dispenser (2) and a lever (31) configured to push the shaft (7) of the check valve assembly (1) forward so as to dispense cold drinking water. The water dispenser (2) is detachably mounted to an inner side of the door (28). The second opening (5) of the check valve assembly (1) is arranged to open into a recess (30) formed on the front side of the door (28) (Figs. 1 to 9).
In another embodiment, the refrigeration appliance is provided as a domestic refrigerator (not shown).
By the present invention, a safety and sealing performance of the check valve assembly (1) have been improved. Thus, a user can safely remove the water tank (23) for cleaning or replenishment.

Claims

A water dispenser (2) comprising a water tank (23) which includes an outlet (22), a mounting portion (27) for detachably mounting it to an inner side of a door (28) of a refrigeration appliance, a lid (29) for accessing an interior thereof, and a check valve assembly (1) that is detachably engaged with the outlet (22),
the check valve assembly (1) comprising
- a body (3) which has a first opening (4), a second opening (5), and a passage (6) which is formed between the first opening (4) and the second opening (5), wherein the first opening (4) is engaged with the outlet (22),

- a shaft (7) which is loaded by a spring (8) and inserted through the second opening (5) into the passage (6) until a leading end (9) of the shaft (7) projects out of the first opening (4) and the spring (8) is compressed between a first seat (10) on the body (3) and a second seat (11) on the shaft (7),

- an elastic first sealing element (12) which is detachably engaged with a first groove (13) which is circumferentially formed on a periphery of the leading end (9) of the shaft (7), wherein the first sealing element (12) leak-tightly closes the first opening (4) as the shaft (7) is pushed rearward by the spring (8)
characterized by
- a snap-ring element (14) which is detachably engaged with a second groove (15) which is circumferentially formed on a periphery of the leading end (9) of the shaft (7),
wherein the second groove (15) is closer to a tip of the leading end (9) than the first groove (13), and wherein the snap-ring element (14) abuts against the first sealing element (12) and blocks rearward movement of the shaft (7) in a state where the first sealing element (12) firmly closes the first opening (4).
The water dispenser (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first groove (13) and the second groove (15) are separated by a radially extending protrusion (16) which restricts an axial movement of the first sealing element (12) and the snap-ring element (14).
The water dispenser (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first sealing element (12) is an O-ring and the snap-ring element (14) has an outer radius which is equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the O-ring.
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first groove (13) and the second groove (15) both have a rectangular-shaped second cross section.
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the shaft (7) has a channel (17) which fluidly inter-connects the first opening (4) with the second opening (5).
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shaft (7) has a first abutment (18) which cooperates with a second abutment (19) of the main body (3) so as to restrict an axial forward movement of the shaft (7) into the passage (6).
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the main body (3) has an inner threaded portion (20) which is formed around the first opening (4), wherein the inner threaded portion (20) is screwable onto a corresponding outer threaded portion (21) which is formed around an outlet (22) of a water tank (23) of the water dispenser (2).
The water dispenser (2) according to claim 7, characterized in that a second sealing element (24) arranged to seal an interface between the inner threaded portion (20) and the outer threaded portion (21).
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the spring (8) is a coil compression spring (8) which is sleeved onto the shaft (7) and abutted against the second seat (11), wherein the second seat (11) is radially formed around the shaft (7).
The water dispenser (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that an annular guide element (25) which is releasably and leak-tightly fitted into said passage (6), wherein the shaft (7) is inserted into the annular guide element (25).
The water dispenser (2) according to claim 10, characterized in that a third sealing element (26) which is arranged to leak-tightly seal an interface between the annular guide element (25) and the main body (3).
A refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigerator, comprising
- a refrigeration compartment,

- a door (28) for opening/closing the refrigeration compartment,

- a water dispenser (2) as defined in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the water dispenser (2) is detachably mounted to an inner side of the door (28), wherein the second opening (5) of the check valve assembly (1) is arranged to open into a recess (30) formed on the front side of the door (28) and

- a lever (31) configured to push the shaft (7) forward so as to dispense water.