Refrigerator with water collector

Abstract

Described is a water collector ( 26 ) for a refrigerator. The water collector has a water collector part ( 32 ) for collecting drain water from a lower cooled compartment, and a support ( 34 ) having an outlet for drain water configured to receive a drain water pipe. A common outlet is provided in the water collector for expelling water received both via the water collector part and via the support. Hereby drain water from multiple cooled compartments can be collected in a single water collector for disposal of the drain water from multiple cooled compartments. This saves components in the refrigerator and allows for a simpler assembly. The invention also extends to a refrigerator.

1 . A water collector ( 26 ) for a refrigerator comprising:
 a water collector part ( 32 ) for collecting drain water from a lower cooled compartment,   a support ( 34 ) having an outlet ( 38 ) for drain water configured to receive a drain water pipe, and   a common outlet ( 36 ) for expelling water received both via the water collector part ( 32 ) and via the support ( 34 ).   
     
     
         2 . The water collector ( 26 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the support ( 34 ) is laterally distanced from the water collector part ( 32 ). 
     
     
         3 . The water collector ( 26 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the support ( 34 ) is laterally distanced from the water collector part ( 32 ) by a few centimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The water collector ( 26 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a channel ( 39 ) is formed in the water collector ( 26 ) to provide a fluid connection between the outlet ( 38 ) of the support ( 34 ) and the common water drain outlet ( 36 ). 
     
     
         5 . The water collector ( 26 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a vacuum valve is housed inside the water collector ( 26 ). 
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator ( 10 ) comprising:
 an upper cooled compartment ( 12 ),   a lower cooled compartment ( 14 ),   a water drain arrangement ( 20 ) comprising the water collector according to  claim 1 , a water collector ( 22 ) for the upper cooled compartment ( 12 ), and a drain water pipe ( 24 ) interconnecting the water collector ( 22 ) with the support ( 34 ).   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the drain water pipe ( 24 ) is located distanced from the inner liner of the lower cooled compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , further comprising a water tray ( 28 ) located beneath the water collector ( 26 ). 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , further comprising a compressor ( 18 ) wherein the water tray ( 28 ) is located above the compressor ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator ( 10 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the upper cooled compartment ( 12 ) is configured to have a temperature above the freezing point and the lower cooled compartment ( 14 ) is configured to have a temperature below the freezing point.