Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a refrigerated area and a cabinet; a separation wall dividing the refrigerated area and the cabinet; a refrigeration system including an evaporator disposed in the refrigerated area, a condenser unit disposed in the cabinet and a conduit connecting the condenser unit with the evaporator, wherein the conduit extends through the separation wall; and a conduit support having an opening through which the conduit extends. The separation wall includes a recess shaped to receive the conduit support such that the conduit support can be separated from the separation wall for removal of the condenser unit from the cabinet.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerated area and a cabinet;   a separation wall dividing the refrigerated area and the cabinet;   a refrigeration system comprising an evaporator disposed in the refrigerated area, a condenser unit disposed in the cabinet and a conduit connecting the condenser unit with the evaporator, wherein the conduit extends through the separation wall; and   a conduit support having an opening through which the conduit extends,   wherein the separation wall comprises a recess shaped to receive the conduit support such that the conduit support can be separated from the separation wall for removal of the condenser unit from the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the condenser unit is removable from the cabinet in a removal direction, wherein the separation wall is parallel to the removal direction and the conduit extends perpendicularly to the separation wall. 
     
     
         3 . A refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the refrigerator has a front surface, wherein the refrigerated area has a door on the front surface, wherein the cabinet is located to a side of the refrigerated area and the condenser unit is removable from the front surface of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         4 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation wall comprises a first wall panel proximal the refrigerated area and a second wall panel proximal the cabinet. 
     
     
         5 . A refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the separation wall comprises insulation between the first wall panel and the second wall panel. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the recess is arranged between the first wall panel and the second wall panel. 
     
     
         7 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the conduit support comprises a ridge. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit support comprises a first support portion releasably attached to a second support portion. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the first support portion comprises a first portion of the ridge and the second support portion comprises a second portion of the ridge. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the recess comprises a groove sized and shaped to receive the ridge of the conduit support. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the groove and the ridge are configured to form a seal when the ridge is received in the groove. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support portion defines a first conduit engaging surface and the second support portion defines a second conduit engaging surface, the first and second conduit engaging surfaces together defining the opening. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit support is configured to seal against the recess and the conduit. 
     
     
         14 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the conduit support comprises a cavity for receiving a mounting plate for attaching the conduit support to the condenser unit. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the first support portion and the second support portion each define a portion of the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein a portion of the outer surface of the conduit support comprises a planar surface. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein the planar surface is arranged flush with the mounting plate when the mounting plate is received in the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the condenser unit comprises a condenser, a compressor and an expansion valve. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coupling configured for disconnecting the conduit from the evaporator within the refrigerated area. 
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling is arranged on the evaporator. 
     
     
         21 . A refrigerator according to  claim 19 , wherein the coupling is arranged between the evaporator and the conduit support. 
     
     
         22 . A conduit support for supporting a conduit that extends through a separation wall between a refrigerated area of a refrigerator and a condenser unit of the refrigerator, the conduit support comprising an opening for the conduit and the conduit support being shaped to engage a recess formed in the separation wall such that the conduit support can be separated from the separation wall for removal of the condenser unit from the refrigerator. 
     
     
         23 . A condenser unit for a refrigerator, the condenser unit comprising a condenser, a conduit, and a conduit support according to  claim 22 . 
     
     
         24 . A separation wall for a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising a refrigerated area and a cabinet for housing a condenser unit, wherein the separation wall divides the refrigerated area and the cabinet, and wherein the separation wall comprises a recess shaped to receive a conduit support of the condenser unit such that the conduit support can be separated from the separation wall for removal of the condenser unit from the refrigerator. 
     
     
         25 . A refrigerator comprising a refrigerated area and a cabinet and the separation wall according to  claim 24 .