Refrigerating appliance
View Patent ↗A refrigerating appliance comprising a storage compartment, a refrigerant circuit which serves to cool the storage compartment and contains a compressor, and comprising a collecting receptacle for condensed water flowing out of the storage compartment. The collecting receptacle can be heated by a heating device that can be independently operated by the operation of the compressor.
1. A refrigerating appliance comprising:
a storage compartment;
a door of the refrigerating appliance for opening and closing the storage compartment;
a refrigerant circuit cooling the storage compartment and including a compressor;
a collecting receptacle collecting condensed water from the storage compartment; and
a heating device heating the collecting receptacle and being operated independently from the operation of the compressor;
a door opening sensor disposed adjacent the door and detecting the opening of the door; and
a control circuit connected to the door opening sensor and structured to control the average power of the heating device in response to the frequency of the door openings detected.
2. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device comprises an ohmic resistance.
3. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device includes an electrically operated heating rod.
4. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is arranged on a wall of the collecting receptacle.
5. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the heating device is arranged so that it is immersed in the condensed water within the collecting receptacle.
6. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the door includes a magnetic seal and the door opening sensor includes a magnetic field sensor.
7. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a water level sensor disposed on the collecting receptacle
wherein the control circuit is further structured to control the heating device when the water level detected by the water level sensor exceeds a limit value.
8. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 7 , wherein the water level sensor includes a float switch.
9. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a time measuring device
wherein the control circuit is further structured to control the heating device when a predetermined time is reached.
10. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor disposed on the collecting receptacle
wherein the control circuit is further structured to control the heating device in response to a temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
11. The refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor includes a housing forming at least a portion of the collecting receptacle, condensed water within the collecting receptacle contacting the housing and absorbing waste heat from the compressor.