Household refrigerator and refrigeration apparatus for a household refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigeration apparatus includes a self-contained refrigeration module having an at least largely complete refrigeration circuit for cooling a refrigeration chamber of a household refrigerator and having a separate housing. At least one evaporator is arranged in the refrigeration circuit, wherein the housing is provided with apertures for passage of air cooled by the evaporator and air to be cooled by the evaporator. The refrigeration apparatus can be used for a household refrigerator which includes a refrigerating chamber housing having at least one refrigerating chamber. A door leaf is arranged on the refrigerating chamber housing for closing the refrigerating chamber. The refrigerating chamber housing has apertures in communication with the apertures of the housing of the refrigeration module for passage of air cooled by the evaporator into the refrigerating chamber and for passage of air from the refrigerating chamber to the evaporator.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A refrigeration apparatus, comprising:
 a self-contained refrigeration module having an at least largely complete refrigeration circuit for cooling a refrigeration chamber of a household refrigerator and including a separate housing; and   at least one evaporator arranged in the refrigeration circuit,   wherein the housing comprises apertures for passage of air cooled by the evaporator and air to be cooled by the evaporator.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , constructed in the form of a refrigeration circuit module for a household refrigerator, 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the housing of the refrigeration module has a base, said apertures being provided in the base. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator is oriented substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator is arranged in a channel which extends to the apertures of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigeration module has a condensation water collecting tray assigned to the evaporator for collecting condensation water. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigeration module has a ventilator assigned to the evaporator to blow cooled air through one of the apertures of the housing and to draw in air through one of the apertures of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the housing has a first chamber in which the evaporator is arranged and in which the apertures end. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first chamber is heat-insulated. 
     
     
         25 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a condenser arranged in the refrigeration circuit, said housing having a second chamber in which the condenser is arranged. 
     
     
         26 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the second chamber comprises a further aperture for passage of air heated by the condenser to the environment outside the housing. 
     
     
         27 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 25 , further comprising a heat-insulating separating wall for separating the first and second chambers, and a compressor arranged in the refrigeration circuit in the second chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a ventilator arranged in the second chamber, said ventilator blowing air heated by the condenser through the further aperture to the environment outside the housing. 
     
     
         29 . The refrigeration apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the refrigeration module has a complete control device for controlling the refrigeration circuit. 
     
     
         30 . A household refrigerator, comprising
 a refrigerating chamber housing having at least one refrigerating chamber;   a door leaf arranged on the refrigerating chamber housing for closing the refrigerating chamber; and   a refrigeration apparatus comprising a self-contained refrigeration module having an at least largely complete refrigeration circuit for cooling a refrigeration chamber of a household refrigerator and including a separate housing, and at least one evaporator arranged in the refrigeration circuit, wherein the housing comprises apertures for passage of air cooled by the evaporator and air to be cooled by the evaporator,   wherein the refrigerating chamber housing has apertures in communication with the apertures of the housing of the refrigeration module for passage of air cooled by the evaporator into the refrigerating chamber and for passage of air from the refrigerating chamber to the evaporator.   
     
     
         31 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigerating chamber housing has a cover, said apertures of the refrigerating chamber housing being provided in the cover. 
     
     
         32 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the apertures of the housing of the refrigeration module are aligned with the apertures of the refrigerating chamber housing. 
     
     
         33 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigeration module is arranged on the refrigerating chamber housing of the household refrigerator. 
     
     
         34 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigeration module is detachably fastened on the refrigerating chamber housing. 
     
     
         35 . The household refrigerator of  claim 34 , wherein the refrigeration module is detachably fastened on the refrigerating chamber housing by at least one of a screw connection and snap-fit connection. 
     
     
         36 . The household refrigerator of  claim 31 , wherein the refrigeration module is arranged on the outside of the cover of the refrigerating chamber housing. 
     
     
         37 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the housing of the refrigeration module has a base, said apertures of the housing being provided in the base. 
     
     
         38 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the evaporator is oriented substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         39 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the evaporator is arranged in a channel which extends to the apertures of the housing. 
     
     
         40 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigeration module has a condensation water collecting tray assigned to the evaporator for collecting condensation water. 
     
     
         41 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigeration module has a ventilator assigned to the evaporator to blow cooled air through one of the apertures of the housing and to draw in air through one of the apertures of the housing. 
     
     
         42 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the housing has a first chamber in which the evaporator is arranged and in which the apertures of the housing end. 
     
     
         43 . The household refrigerator of  claim 42 , wherein the first chamber is heat-insulated. 
     
     
         44 . The household refrigerator of  claim 42 , further comprising a condenser arranged in the refrigeration circuit, said housing having a second chamber in which the condenser is arranged. 
     
     
         45 . The household refrigerator of  claim 44 , wherein the second chamber comprises a further aperture for passage of air heated by the condenser to the environment outside the housing. 
     
     
         46 . The household refrigerator of  claim 44 , further comprising a heat-insulating separating wall for separating the first and second chambers, and a compressor arranged in the refrigeration circuit in the second chamber. 
     
     
         47 . The household refrigerator of  claim 45 , further comprising a ventilator arranged in the second chamber, said ventilator blowing air heated by the condenser through the further aperture to the environment outside the housing. 
     
     
         48 . The household refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the refrigeration module has a complete control device for controlling the refrigeration circuit.