Refrigerator with a pressure-compensation valve

Abstract

A refrigerator with a body and a door attached to the body wherein the body and the door delimit a thermally-insulated interior space, the refrigerator including a pressure-compensating valve for controlling an inflow of air from the outside of the refrigerator into the interior space and an outflow of air to the outside of the refrigerator out of the interior space to the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the pressure-compensating valve is disposed in thermal contact with a heat source and for heating the pressure-compensating valve to a temperature greater than the freezing point of water.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A refrigerator with a body and a door attached to the body wherein the body and the door delimit a thermally-insulated interior space, the refrigerator comprising a pressure-compensating valve for controlling an inflow of air from the outside of the refrigerator into the interior space and an outflow of air to the outside of the refrigerator out of the interior space to the outside of the refrigerator, wherein the pressure-compensating valve is disposed in thermal contact with a heat source and for heating the pressure-compensating valve to a temperature greater than the freezing point of water. 
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the heat source is configured as electrical resistance heating. 
   
   
       19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the heat source is configured as piping on an output side of a compressor of a compressed refrigerant circuit. 
   
   
       20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the heat source is configured as a frame heating apparatus for a front frame of the body facing the door, and that the pressure-compensating valve is in thermal contact with the frame heating apparatus for enabling the pressure-compensating valve to achieve a temperature greater than the freezing point of water. 
   
   
       21 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the pressure-compensating valve is mounted in an area of the door opposite the frame. 
   
   
       22 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21  wherein the frame includes a ferromagnetic strip disposed opposite a magnetic seal mounted to the door, and that the ferromagnetic strip has a locally widened section in an area opposite the pressure-compensating valve. 
   
   
       23 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the pressure-compensating valve is mounted in one corner of the door. 
   
   
       24 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the frame heating apparatus includes piping through which compressed refrigerant passes. 
   
   
       25 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17  wherein the pressure-compensating valve is inserted into one wall of at least one of the body and the door, each of which includes a solid outer wall, a solid inner wall and a layer of insulating material enclosed therebetween, wherein the pressure-compensating valve is disposed in operative association with a tube passing through the layer of insulation material and sealed at the outer wall and the inner wall, said tube having two interlocking sleeves, including a first sleeve that is attached to the outer wall and a second sleeve that is attached to the inner wall. 
   
   
       26 . The refrigerator according to  claim 25  wherein the outer sleeve is formed with a conical inlet section into which the inner sleeve is inserted and which opens into the layer of insulating material. 
   
   
       27 . The refrigerator according to  claim 25  wherein the outer sleeve encloses at least a portion of the length of the inner sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is enclosed by a first annular lip fitted to the outer sleeve. 
   
   
       28 . The refrigerator according to  claim 27  wherein the first annular lip is concave on one side facing the layer of insulating material. 
   
   
       29 . The refrigerator according to  claim 25  wherein at least one of the sleeves passes through an opening of at least one of the outer wall and the inner wall to which the respective sleeve is attached, wherein the respective sleeve supports projections located at one outer side of at least one of the outer wall and the inner wall, and a second annular lip is located at one inner side of at least one of the outer wall and the inner wall facing the insulation material layer. 
   
   
       30 . The refrigerator according to  claim 25  wherein the valve includes a bent flexible blade disposed in the inner sleeve and having edges in contact with the inside of the inner sleeve. 
   
   
       31 . The refrigerator according to  claim 30  and further comprising a bar extending diametrically through the inner sleeve wherein the blade sits astride the bar. 
   
   
       32 . The refrigerator according to  claim 30  wherein the blade is secured in the inner sleeve by a coupling part attached to one end of the sleeve wherein said coupling part limits the free cross-section of the sleeve.