JP2012112578A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator with good usability and improved cooling efficiency thanks to cold air energy loss suppression.SOLUTION: The refrigerator includes a storage chamber 22 provided within a heat insulation box 11, a duct 60 provided at a back face of the storage chamber 22, a cooler 52 for cooling air in the storage chamber 22, and a fan 53 for circulating the air in the storage chamber 22 through a duct 60, wherein the cooler 52 is arranged in an upper part of the back face of the storage chamber 22 and at a downstream side of the duct 60 from the fan 53.

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

  A refrigerator room with high use frequency is arranged at the top of the heat insulation box, a storage room such as a vegetable room and a freezer room is arranged below it, a cooler and a fan are provided in a duct provided on the back of the refrigerator room, A refrigerator that cools a refrigerator room or a vegetable room to a refrigerator temperature is conventionally known by supplying cold air generated in a cooler by operation of a fan to a refrigerator room or a vegetable room via a duct (for example, See Patent Documents 1 and 2 below).

JP 2009-168364 A JP 2009-19850 A

  In the refrigerator as described above, a food storage volume in the refrigerator compartment is reduced by forming a protrusion in which the rear wall of the refrigerator compartment protrudes forward by a cooler or fan provided on the back of the refrigerator compartment, Alternatively, the user may feel a sense of pressure. In addition, depending on the arrangement of the cooler and fan provided in the duct, the distance that the cool air generated in the cooler flows through the duct becomes longer, and the cool air tends to lose energy while circulating in the duct, There is a problem that efficiency decreases.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide refrigeration that is easy to use and can improve cooling efficiency by suppressing energy loss of cold air.

  According to this embodiment, the storage chamber provided inside the heat insulation box, the duct provided on the back of the storage chamber, the cooler for cooling the air in the storage chamber, and the air in the storage chamber And a fan that circulates through the duct, wherein the cooler is disposed on an upper rear surface of the storage chamber and on a downstream side of the duct from the fan.

It is sectional drawing of the refrigerator concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which expands and shows the principal part of FIG. It is the front view which abbreviate | omitted the door of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the refrigerator concerning the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the refrigerator concerning the modification of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the refrigerator concerning the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment includes a refrigerator main body 11 including a heat insulating box body filled with a foam heat insulating material between an outer box forming an outer shell and an inner box forming a storage space. The storage space is partitioned into an upper refrigeration space 20 and a lower refrigeration space 40 by a heat insulating partition 12.

  The refrigerated space 20 is a space cooled to a refrigerated temperature (for example, 2 to 3 ° C.), and the interior is further divided vertically by a partition plate 21, and the upper space has a plurality of levels (in the present embodiment). In the lower space, a refrigerator compartment 22 is provided, and a vegetable compartment 24 in which a drawer-type storage container 26 is provided is provided in the lower space.

  A freezing space 40 disposed below the vegetable room 24 is a space cooled to a freezing temperature (for example, −18 ° C. or lower), and an ice making room (not shown) provided with a relatively small-volume automatic ice making machine. A first freezer compartment 44 is provided on the left and right, and a second freezer compartment 47 is provided below the first freezer compartment 44.

  The opening of the refrigerating room 22 is closed by a refrigerating room door 23 pivotally supported by hinges provided above and below one side of the refrigerator body 11.

  Openings of the vegetable room 24, the ice making room, the first freezing room 44 and the second freezing room 47 are closed by pull-out doors 25, 45 and 48. The pair of left and right support frames fixed to the back surfaces of the pull-out doors 25, 45, and 48 hold the storage containers 26, 46, and 49. The storage containers 26, 46, and 49 are configured to be pulled out of the cabinet when the door is opened. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a rear duct 60 is provided on the back surface of the refrigerator compartment 22 from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the refrigerator compartment 22. A refrigerating cooler 52 that cools the air in the refrigerating space 20 is provided at the upper back of the refrigerating chamber 22, and the air in the refrigerating space 20 passes through the back duct 60 at the lower back of the refrigerating chamber 22. A refrigeration fan 53 for circulation is provided.

  The back duct 60 is provided in a space sandwiched between a flat duct plate 62 provided at the rear part of the refrigerator compartment 22 and the back wall 11a of the refrigerator body 11, and as shown in FIG. The first duct 64 disposed at the center in the refrigerator width direction, the second duct 66 provided on the left and right sides of the first duct 64, and the expansion connected to the upper ends of the first duct 64 and the second duct 66 The outlet portion 68 and a fan case portion 70 that houses the refrigeration fan 53 are provided.

  The fan duct 70 is connected to the lower end of the first duct 64, and guides the air blown from the refrigeration fan 53 in the fan casing 70 to the bulging portion 68 provided above. Between the 1st duct 64 and the bulging part 68, the enlarged part 73 which a flow path spreads in a refrigerator width direction is provided so that it goes upwards. Thereby, the bulging portion 68 has a length in the refrigerator width direction equal to the upper end of the enlarged portion 73 and is provided larger than the length of the first duct 64 in the refrigerator width direction.

  The bulging portion 68 protrudes forward (in the refrigeration room) as compared to the first duct 64, and the refrigeration cooler 52 is accommodated therein with a predetermined interval from the back wall 11a of the refrigerator body 11. The duct plate 62 constituting the front surface of the bulging portion 68 is provided with an air outlet 71 communicating with the refrigerating chamber 22, and the air flowing through the bulging portion 68 blows out from the air outlet 71 into the refrigerating chamber 22. Further, at least a part of the bulging part 68 is disposed above the uppermost mounting shelf 13a, and at least a part of the refrigeration cooler 52 housed in the bulging part 68 is mounted on the uppermost stage. It is located above the shelf 13a.

  The rear wall 11a of the refrigerator body 11 has a portion 11a1 located behind the refrigeration cooler 52 housed in the bulging portion 68, as compared to a portion 11a2 located behind the first duct 64 and the second duct 66. It is provided with thickness. In addition, a vacuum heat insulation panel 15 is embedded in a foam heat insulating material filled between the outer box and the inner box of the refrigerator main body 11 on the back wall 11 a of the refrigerator main body 11. In addition to the back wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11, the vacuum heat insulation panel 15 may be embedded in the foam heat insulating material in the side wall or ceiling wall of the refrigerator main body 11, for example.

  The refrigerating cooler 52 provided in the bulging portion 68 is a finned tube type in which a large number of heat transfer fins are arranged at a predetermined pitch on the refrigerant circulation pipe, and is longer in the refrigerator width direction than in the vertical direction. It is long and is provided over almost the entire width of the bulging portion 68.

  Below the refrigeration cooler 52, a drainage basin 63 that opens to the upper surface is provided. The drainage basin 63 receives defrost water generated from the refrigeration cooler 52 during the defrosting operation and penetrates the refrigerator main body 11. It drains to the evaporating dish 43 provided in the machine room 57 provided in the back lower part of the refrigerator main body 11 through the drainage path not shown.

  A partition wall 65 is provided along the front surface of the refrigeration cooler 52 between the refrigeration cooler 52 and the duct plate 62 disposed in front thereof. The partition wall 65 is provided so as to cover almost the entire front surface of the refrigeration cooler 52, and its lower end portion 65 a extends downward from the refrigeration cooler 52 and bends backward to open the upper surface of the drainage basin 63. Terminates above the part. As a result, the defrost water generated from the refrigeration cooler 52 during the defrosting operation flows downward using the partition wall 65 as a guide, and can be dropped from the lower end portion 65a to the upper surface opening of the drainage basin 63. Can be reliably received by the drainage basin 63.

  The second duct 66 is connected to the bulging portion 68 via a communication passage 69 provided in the front end portion of the bulging portion 68 and extending in the refrigerator width direction. In the present embodiment, for example, below the refrigerator compartment 22 It extends downward to the back of the vegetable compartment 24 arranged at the bottom. A portion of the duct plate 62 that constitutes the front surface of the second duct 66 is provided with an air outlet 72 that communicates the second duct 66 and the refrigerator compartment 22, and the air in the second duct 66 is refrigerated from the air outlet 72. Blow out into chamber 22.

  The fan case portion 70 is disposed behind the drawer-type storage case 14 placed on the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 22. The duct plate 62 is provided with a suction port 74 that allows the refrigerator compartment 22 and the fan case portion 70 to communicate with each other at a position facing the storage case 14, and air in the refrigerator compartment 22 is supplied from the suction port 74 to the fan case portion 70. It is designed to inhale inside.

  In the present embodiment, the duct plate 62 defines not only the first duct 64 and the second duct 66 but also the bulging portion 68 and the fan case portion 70 between the back wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11. For example, the bulging portion 68 and the fan case portion 70 may be partitioned between the rear wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11 by a member different from the duct plate 62.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the rear part of the freezing space 40, a freezing cooler 54 that cools the air in the freezing space 40, and the cold air cooled by the freezing cooler 54 is provided in the ice making chamber and the first freezing space A freezing fan 55 that blows air to the chamber 44 and the second freezing chamber is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigeration cooler 52 and the refrigeration cooler 54 are provided with a compressor 51 that is disposed in the machine chamber 57 and compresses the refrigerant, and high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 51. The refrigeration cycle 50 is configured together with the condenser 56 that receives and liquefies the refrigerant, the refrigeration decompression device 58 that decompresses the refrigerant discharged from the condenser 56, the refrigeration decompression device 59, and the like. It is cooled by circulating the cycle 50.

  In the refrigerator 10 having such a configuration, when the refrigeration fan 53 is operated in a state where the refrigeration cooler 52 is cooled by the operation of the refrigeration cycle 50, the air in the refrigeration chamber 22 is blown by the blowing action of the refrigeration fan 53. The air is sucked into the fan case portion 70 from the suction port 74 and blown to the bulging portion 68 through the first duct 64.

  The air blown to the bulging portion 68 passes through the fins of the refrigeration cooler 52 provided in the bulging portion 68 and is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigeration cooler 52 and then cooled. Part of the air is blown into the refrigerator compartment 22 from the air outlet 71 provided in the bulging portion 68, and the rest flows into the second duct 66 through the communication path 69. And the air which flowed into the 2nd duct 66 blows off in the refrigerator compartment 22 and the vegetable compartment 24 from the blower outlet 72, flowing through the inside of the 2nd duct 66 below.

  As described above, in the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment, since the refrigeration cooler 52 is disposed at the upper back of the refrigeration room 22 that is difficult for the user to effectively use in the refrigerator, the refrigeration room 22 is not impaired in usability. The substantial food storage capacity can be expanded. Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, the machine room 57 in which the compressor 51 is disposed is provided in the lower rear part of the refrigerator main body 11, so that the compressor 51 having a large volume at a location that is difficult for the user to effectively utilize. Can be disposed, and the substantial storage volume in the refrigerator can be further expanded without impairing the usability.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, the air heat-exchanged with the refrigerator 50 for refrigeration flows toward the downward direction along the back wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11 from the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 22, and follows the back wall 11a. It does not flow upward. Therefore, the distance that the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigeration cooler 52 flows along the back wall 11a of the refrigerator body 11 can be shortened, and heat loss from the back wall 11a can be suppressed. Moreover, since the upper part of the refrigerating chamber 22 can be positioned upstream of the air flow immediately after heat exchange with the refrigerating cooler 52, it is difficult to cool in the refrigerating chamber 22 compared to the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 22. A large amount of air immediately after heat exchange with the refrigerating cooler 52 can be supplied to the upper part of the refrigerating chamber 22 to efficiently cool it.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, since the air immediately after heat exchange with the refrigeration cooler 52 blows out into the refrigerator compartment 22 from the blower outlet 71 provided in the upper back part of the refrigerator compartment 22, upper part of the refrigerator compartment 22 is formed. Effective cooling can be achieved, and thermal loss can be suppressed and efficient cooling can be realized. Furthermore, since the air blown from the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 22 flows downward by natural convection and flows along the air circulation in the refrigerator compartment 22, the refrigeration fan 53 for circulating the air in the refrigerator compartment 22 is used. Therefore, the power consumption can be reduced, the increase in the heat transfer coefficient of the refrigerator body 11 can be suppressed, and the heat intrusion from the outside of the refrigerator can be suppressed. Get higher.

  Further, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, since at least a part of the refrigeration cooler 52 is located above the uppermost mounting shelf 13a, the bulging portion 68 that houses the refrigeration cooler 52 is used. It is placed at a position where it is difficult for the user to see and the feeling of pressure given to the user is reduced. In addition, since the refrigeration fan 53 is disposed behind the storage case 14 provided in the refrigeration chamber 22, even if the fan case portion 70 that stores the refrigeration fan 53 protrudes forward, it does not stand out and is not noticeable to the user. The feeling of pressure is reduced.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, since the refrigeration cooler 52 is provided in the downstream of the expansion part 73 which spreads in the refrigerator width direction so that it goes upwards, the refrigeration cooler 52 is made long up and down in the refrigerator width direction. The refrigeration cooler 52 does not erode the space at the center in the vertical direction of the refrigerating chamber 22 that is easy to use. Moreover, since the refrigeration cooler 52 can have a wide shape along the direction perpendicular to the air flow direction in the rear duct 60, it can be aligned along the air flow direction without reducing the heat exchange efficiency. The length of the refrigeration cooler 52 can be shortened to suppress pressure loss when air exchanges heat with the refrigeration cooler 52.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, the 1st duct 64 which flows the air which blown off from the refrigeration fan 53 to the refrigeration cooler 52, and the 2nd duct 66 which flows the air which heat-exchanged with the refrigeration cooler 52 are provided. Since it is provided in the back of the refrigerator compartment 22 side by side in the refrigerator width direction, it is possible to suppress the protrusion on the back of the refrigerator compartment 22 by the first duct 64 and the second duct 66 as much as possible, reducing the feeling of pressure given to the user. In addition, the substantial food storage volume in the refrigerator compartment 22 can be increased.

  The temperature difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerating chamber 22 is the largest at the heat insulating wall near the refrigerating cooler 52 and the smallest at the heat insulating wall near the first duct 64. The amount of heat leakage to the outside air through the back wall 11 a of the refrigerator body 11 is proportional to the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the refrigerator compartment 22. Therefore, the back wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11 has a portion 11a1 located behind the refrigeration cooler 52 housed in the bulging portion 68 replaced with a portion 11a2 located behind the first duct 64 and the second duct 66. Compared to the wall thickness. Thereby, the amount of cold heat leaking out of the refrigerator can be suppressed while suppressing a substantial decrease in the food storage volume in the refrigerator compartment 22 by the first duct 64.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, since the vacuum heat insulation panel 15 is arrange | positioned at the back wall 11a of the refrigerator main body 11, the thickness of the back wall 11a can be set small, and the refrigerator compartment 22 is further improved. The substantial food storage volume can be increased.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the refrigeration cooler 52 is provided in the bulging portion 68 in a state of being inclined forward as it goes upward. A partition wall 65 provided in front of the refrigeration cooler 52 so as to be substantially parallel to the refrigeration cooler 52 is provided so as to cover almost the entire area of the refrigeration cooler 52. A lower end portion 65 a of the partition wall 65 extends downward from the refrigeration cooler 52 and bends backward to terminate above the upper surface opening of the drainage basin 63.

  In the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment, since the refrigeration cooler 52 is inclined forward as it goes upward, the space in the central portion in the vertical direction of the refrigeration chamber 22 that is easy to use is eroded by the refrigeration cooler 52. Therefore, the food storage volume in the refrigerator compartment 22 can be increased.

  In addition, except the above-mentioned structure and effect, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the refrigeration cooler 52 is provided so as to be inclined forward as it goes upward has been described. For example, as shown in FIG. The thickness may be increased. Even in such a case, the same effect as the present embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the refrigeration cooler 52 provided in the bulging portion 68 is spaced from the back wall 11 a of the refrigerator body 11 by a predetermined distance, and the ceiling of the refrigerator body 11. It arrange | positions along the wall 11b. Below the refrigeration cooler 52, a drainage basin 63 that receives defrost water generated from the refrigeration cooler 52 during the defrosting operation is provided. A rib 75 is provided at the rear end portion of the drainage basin 63 so as to protrude toward the lower end of the rear end of the refrigeration cooler 52 disposed above the drainage basin 63.

  In the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, a flow path 76 in which the refrigeration cooler 52 is disposed is formed between the drainage basin 63 and the ceiling wall 11 b of the refrigerator body 11, and the air rising in the first duct 64 flows. Then, it flows into the flow path 76 from the rear of the refrigeration cooler 52. At that time, the rib 75 provided at the rear end portion of the drainage basin 63 can guide the air from the first duct 64 to the rear end portion of the refrigerating cooler 52, and the air flowing into the flow path 76 is It is possible to circulate between the fins of the refrigeration cooler 52. The cold air flowing from the rear of the flow path 76 passes through the fins of the refrigeration cooler 52 and exchanges heat to flow forward while being cooled, and then a part of the air outlet provided in the bulging portion 68 71 is blown out into the refrigerator compartment 22, and the remainder flows into the second duct 66 through the communication path 69.

  In the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment as described above, the refrigeration cooler 52 and the drainage basin 63 can be accommodated in the upper rear portion of the refrigeration chamber 22, and the food storage volume at the center in the vertical direction of the refrigeration chamber 22 can be increased. Can improve usability.

  In addition, except the above-mentioned structure and effect, it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator 11 ... Refrigerator main body 13 ... Mounting shelf 14 ... Storage case 15 ... Vacuum insulation panel 20 ... Refrigerated space 22 ... Refrigerated room 24 ... Vegetable room 43 ... Evaporating dish 44 ... 1st freezer room 47 ... 2nd freezer room 50 Refrigeration cycle 51 Compressor 52 Refrigeration cooler 53 Refrigeration fan 56 Condenser 57 Machine room 60 Back duct 62 Duct plate 63 Drain 64 64 First duct 65 Partition wall 66 First 2 duct 68 ... bulging part 69 ... communication path 70 ... fan case part 71 ... blower outlet 72 ... blower outlet 73 ... enlarged part 74 ... suction inlet

Claims (14)

A storage room provided inside the heat insulation box,
A duct provided at the back of the storage room;
A cooler for cooling the air in the storage chamber;
A fan for circulating the air in the storage chamber through the duct;
The refrigerator, characterized in that the cooler is arranged on the upper rear side of the storage chamber and downstream of the duct from the fan.   2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of stages of mounting shelves are provided above and below in the storage chamber, and at least a part of the cooler is located above the uppermost preceding shelf.   A bulging portion that bulges forward in the upper portion of the duct and accommodates the cooler is provided, and an air outlet that blows out air in the duct to the storage chamber is provided in the bulging portion. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fan is provided at a lower back portion of the storage chamber, and a storage case is provided in front of the fan.   The said duct is provided with the enlarged part which spreads in a refrigerator width direction so that it goes upwards, The said cooler is provided in the said enlarged part or its upper direction, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. refrigerator.   The duct is provided in a central part in the refrigerator width direction, and the first duct that flows the air blown from the fan to the cooler, and the air that is provided in at least one of the left and right of the first duct and exchanges heat with the cooler. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a second duct that flows.   The back wall of the heat insulation box is provided with a portion located behind the cooler thicker than a portion located behind the duct. The refrigerator according to item.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a vacuum heat insulation panel is disposed on a back wall of the heat insulation box.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cooler is inclined forward as it goes upward.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cooler is thicker as it goes upward. A drainage trough that receives defrost water below the cooler, and a partition wall disposed along the front surface of the cooler,
The refrigerator according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a lower end portion of the partition wall is inclined rearward as it goes downward and is located above the upper surface opening of the drainage basin.   The cooler is disposed along the ceiling wall of the heat insulation box with a gap from the back wall of the heat insulation box, and a drainage basin for receiving defrost water is provided below the cooler. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11.   The refrigerator according to claim 12, further comprising a rib protruding from a rear end portion of the drainage basin toward a lower rear end portion of the cooler.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the heat insulation box includes a machine room in which a compressor is disposed in a lower rear part.

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