JP2002022344A - Drain pan for defrosting - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drain pan which is excellent in the drainability of defrosted water and the circulatability of chill. SOLUTION: For a drain pan 40, a recess 46 is made right below a cooler 24, and for this recess 46, inclines 47A-47C, which form downward gradients toward the center from the right and left edges and the edge on this side in the direction of circulation of in-refrigerator air, are made, and the deepest section becomes a band-shaped trough 48 and reaches a back face. A drain pipe 52 is provided at the back face. The defrosted water from the cooler 24 flows down toward the trough 48 along the inclines 47A-47C in the recess 46, and is drained from the drain pipe 52. Since the inclines 47A-47C can be made steep even if the depth of the recess 46 is the same, the defrosted water can be drained efficiently, being let flow down certainly. In case that a part of air in the refrigerator passes, it circulates without being accompanied with the sudden change of the passage along the inclines 47a and 47B, and it passes smoothly, avoiding the occurrence of turbulence in the inflow section or outflow section into the recess 46.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in the shape of a defrosting drain pan provided in a refrigerator or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a prefabricated refrigerator, as shown in FIG. 9, a cooler room 2 is formed on the upper surface of a refrigerator body 1 and a cooler 3 and a cooling fan 4 connected to a refrigeration unit are formed therein. When the refrigerating device and the cooling fan 4 are driven, the air in the refrigerator is drawn into the cooler room 2 from the suction port 5 and passes through the cooler 3 as shown by the arrow in FIG. During this operation, a circulating flow is generated in which cold air generated during this process is blown out from the outlet 6 into the interior of the refrigerator, and the interior of the refrigerator is cooled. On the other hand, the defrost is appropriately performed in the cooler 3, and a drain pan 7 is provided on a lower surface side of the cooler 3 to receive defrost water. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, the drain pan 7 has a bottom surface formed in an inclined shape having a downward slope from one edge in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the in-compartment air flows to the other edge. And the drain pipe 8 is provided on the lower side.

[0003]

However, the conventional drain pan 7 is inclined over the entire length in a direction intersecting with the direction in which the air in the refrigerator flows, and it is unlikely that the inclination is too gentle. Then, for example, when a lump of frost falls, it remains on the drain pan 7 without slipping, and it is easy for the remaining frost to hinder the drainage, and when the cooling operation is resumed,
The remaining defrost water may freeze and clog the drain pipe 8, or the freezing may grow as it reaches the cooler 3 to lower the cooling capacity. However, if the bottom of the drain pan 7 is steeply inclined, drainage and the like can be easily performed, but the entire depth of the drain pan 7 becomes large, and the whole refrigerator becomes large, so that it cannot be easily dealt with.

Further, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 9, a part of the air in the refrigerator sucked into the cooler room 2 is partially drained by the drain pan 7.
In particular, on the deep bottom side, the flow path changes abruptly between the inflow portion and the outflow portion with respect to the drain pan 7, so that there is a problem that turbulence is generated and smooth flow of cool air is hindered. Was. The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drain pan excellent in drainage of defrost water and circulation of cool air.

[0005]

As means for achieving the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a method of circulating and supplying cold air generated by heat exchange to a cooling storage while passing air in the storage in one direction. The bottom surface of the drain pan main body is disposed on the lower surface side of the cooler to receive and defrost water from the cooler and the like. It is characterized in that the inclined surface is inclined downward toward the center in the same direction, and a drain port is provided at one end in the length direction of the valley between both inclined surfaces.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a mounting hole is opened just above a bottom of the valley in a side wall on one end side in the length direction of the valley. One end of the drain pipe is penetrated, and an adhesive is applied and fixed to the penetrating portion, and at the bottom of the valley on the end side where the drain pipe protrudes, a pool portion for storing the adhesive is provided. It has a characteristic in that it is formed as a recess.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the bottom surface of the edge on the side opposite to the side on which the drainage port is provided also has an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the valley. It has features where it is formed.

[0007]

<Operation and effect of the present invention><Invention of claim 1> Defrosted water dropped from a cooler or the like flows down toward the valley along the inclined surfaces on both sides of the drain pan body, and is drained from a drain port at one end. You. Since the slope is formed with a downward slope from the front and rear edges in the direction of passage of air in the refrigerator toward the center in the same direction, the slope is the same even if it is the same depth compared to the case where the slope is formed over the entire length. Can be abrupt. As a result, defrost water and the like can be efficiently drained. In addition, when a part of the air in the refrigerator passes through the drain pan, the air first flows in along the downward slope, and then flows out along the upward slope, so that the flow path changes rapidly. There is no. Therefore, turbulence is prevented from being generated at the inflow portion and the outflow portion to the drain pan, and the cool air can be smoothly circulated.

<Invention of Claim 2> In forming the drain outlet, a mounting hole is opened just above the valley bottom in the side wall on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the valley, and one end of the drain pipe is penetrated therethrough and adhered. It is fixed by the agent. At this time, the excess adhesive flows down to the bottom of the valley, but accumulates in a recess formed in the bottom of the valley, and is solidified substantially flush with the bottom of the valley. Excessive adhesive does not block a part of the drainage pipe, so that good drainage property is ensured, and cool air is smoothly circulated. <Invention of Claim 3> The drainage of the defrost water can be promoted more smoothly over the entire area of the drain pan.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a prefabricated refrigerator is illustrated, as shown in FIG. 1, provided with a refrigerator main body 10 having a box shape with a front opening and having an interior as a storage room 11, and a leg 12 arranged on the bottom surface. A pair of left and right doors (not shown) is supported in a double-opening manner at the entrance 13 of the front opening while being supported.

A cooler room 20 is formed on the upper surface of the refrigerator main body 10. Hereinafter, the structure of the cooler room 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. The ceiling panel 15 constituting the refrigerator main body 10 has a rectangular opening 16 formed at a position on the right side as viewed from the front.
The base frame 21 made of a heat insulating material made of a foamed resin or the like
A dome-shaped cover 22 made of a heat insulating material also made of a foamed resin or the like is placed over the base frame 21, and a cooler chamber 20 is formed therein.

In the cooler room 20, a cooler (evaporator) 24 is installed at a substantially central portion in the left-right direction above a drain pan 40 described later in detail. This cooler 2
4 is a condenser 26 installed at a position on the left side of the ceiling panel 15, a refrigeration device 25 including a compressor and the like, and a refrigerant pipe 2.
7 are circulated and constitute a well-known refrigeration cycle. A suction port 29 is formed in the base frame 21 on the right side of the installation position of the cooler 24. On the other hand, a mounting port 30 is formed in the base frame 21 on the left side of the installation position of the cooler 24, and two front and rear cooling fans 31 are installed in the mounting port 30 in a state of being housed in a frame 32. ing. The lead wire 33 connected to the motor of the cooling fan 31 is drawn out of the cooler room 20 and connected to a control unit (not shown). On the lower surface side of the cooling fan 31, the storage room 11 passes through the opening 16 of the ceiling panel 15.
Outlet duct 35 that reaches the ceiling of
Is equipped.

Therefore, during the cooling operation, when the refrigerating device 25 and the cooling fan 31 are driven, as shown by the arrow in FIG.
During the passage through the cooler 24 from right to left in the figure, cold air is generated by heat exchange. The cool air is blown out toward the left side surface of the storage room 11 through the blow-off duct 35, and then a circulating flow is generated toward the suction port 29, so that the inside of the storage room 11 is cooled. .
On the other hand, a defrosting operation is appropriately performed to sufficiently exhibit the refrigerating capacity of the cooler 24. Therefore, a heater 37 for defrosting and a thermostat 38 for estimating the completion of defrosting are mounted on the cooler 24.

A drain pan 40 for receiving defrost water is provided on the lower surface side of the cooler 24. This drain pan 40 is formed of an ABS resin containing polycarbonate, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
The cooler room 20 has an elongated main body 41 in the depth direction, and the front and rear ends thereof are horizontal surfaces 42 having a predetermined width. On each horizontal surface 42, two left and right receiving projections 43 are formed, and the above-described cooler 24 is placed on the receiving projections 43. In addition, before and after the frame 32 in which the cooling fan 31 is housed, the above-mentioned horizontal surface 42 is provided.
Are formed, and the groove 44 is formed
It functions to receive water or the like dropped from the refrigerant pipe 27 drawn out of the cooler 24 and flow down to the main body 41 side. The drain pan 40 may be formed by pressing a stainless steel plate.

A recess 46 is formed at a position between the front and rear horizontal surfaces 42 of the main body 41 of the drain pan 40. More specifically, inclined surfaces 47A to 47C are formed from the left and right edges and the front edge toward the central portion, and are inclined downward toward the center.
/ 3 from the entered position to the edge on the far side
8 are formed. The edge on the back side is a vertical surface 49. A drain pipe 52 made of synthetic resin is attached to the vertical surface 49. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a circular mounting hole 50 is opened in the vertical surface 49 immediately above the valley portion 48, and
A deeper pool portion 51 is formed at an end of the valley portion 48 on the inner edge side.

That is, one end of a drain pipe 52 arranged in a horizontal position penetrates and fits into the mounting hole 50 described above, and more specifically, the inner bottom surface of the drain pipe 52 is flush with the valley 48. In this state, it protrudes directly above the pool portion 51. Then, hot melt H is applied and bonded to the inner edge of the mounting hole 50. At this time, the surplus hot melt H inevitably flows down to the valley portion 48 side, but accumulates in the pool portion 51 and is solidified in a state of being substantially flush with the valley portion 48 and the inner bottom surface of the drain pipe 52. The outer end of the drain pipe 52 penetrates through the base frame 21 and protrudes outside. In addition,
A heat insulating material 54 is provided on the lower surface side of the drain pan 40 so as to prevent the influence of the heat generated by the heater 37 for defrost from reaching the storage room 11 side.

The present embodiment has the above-described structure. When the heater 37 provided in the cooler 24 is energized to generate heat by performing a defrosting operation, the frost attached to the cooler 24 and the like is melted and the drain pan 40 is melted. Fall towards. The dropped defrost water flows down toward the valley portion 48 along the inclined surfaces 47A to 47C in the concave portion 46, and goes to the drain pipe 52 disposed at the end on the back side. Here, if the pool portion 51 is not provided in a portion where the drain pipe 52 is bonded to the mounting hole 50, excess hot melt H accumulates before the opening of the drain pipe 52, and a part of the opening is formed. It may be blocked. In this regard, in this embodiment, the excess hot melt H accumulates in the accumulation portion 51 and is solidified in a state substantially flush with the valley portion 48 and the inner bottom surface of the drain pipe 52. The frost water smoothly flows into the drain pipe 52 and is drained to the outside. When the temperature in the vicinity of the cooler 24 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the thermostat 38 is turned off, and the energization of the heater 37 is stopped, thereby completing the defrosting operation.

When the cooling operation is resumed, as described above, the air in the refrigerator is drawn into the cooler room 20 from the suction port 29, and the cool air generated by heat exchange while passing through the cooler 24 is discharged. Is blown out from the blow-out duct 35. A part of the drawn inside air passes through the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 below the cooler 24, in which case, as shown by the arrow in FIG. Flows in a downward gradient along the inclined surface 47A, and then the left inclined surface 47B
Flows along an upward gradient along with the cool air passing through the cooler 24, and is blown out to the storage room 11 side.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 extends from the left, right, and near three edges to the central valley 4.
8, the inclined surfaces 47A to 47C having a downward slope are formed. For example, as compared with a case where the inclined surfaces are formed over the entire length or the entire width of the concave portion 46, the inclined surfaces 47A to 47C are formed even at the same depth. 47C can be made steep. As a result, the defrost water or the like can be flowed down reliably and drained efficiently. This prevents the remaining moisture from freezing and clogging the drain pipe 52, and prevents the freezing from growing to such an extent as to reach the cooler 24 and lowering the cooling capacity. Further, when a part of the air in the refrigerator passes through the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 during the cooling operation, it flows along the flow path without abrupt change. Is prevented from occurring, and the air in the refrigerator flows smoothly. Therefore, the heat exchange efficiency is improved, and the cooling capacity is improved.

<Second Embodiment> FIGS. 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the valley portion 48A of the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 is formed linearly in contrast to the band shape in the first embodiment. In addition, a pool portion 51 is similarly formed at the end of the valley portion 48A on the inner edge side, and excess hot melt H when the drain pipe 52 is adhered collects here, and the valley portion 48A and the inner bottom surface of the drain pipe 52 are formed. It is to be solidified in a state where it is almost flush. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and portions having the same function are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. With the drain pan 40 of the second embodiment, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the valley portion 48B of the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 is formed so as to have a gradually narrowing width and a downward slope toward the pool portion 51 side. The other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the trough 48B itself is formed with a downward slope, so that the defrost water and the like flow down to the drain pipe 52 more smoothly. Further, when the unit having the drain pan 40 is attached, the end on the front side may be slightly attached, but even in such a case, the defrost water or the like is drained along the valley 48B. 52 can flow down.

<Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the valley portion 48C of the concave portion 46 of the drain pan 40 has a band shape of the same width, but the tip thereof is formed with a gradually decreasing slope so as to reach the bottom surface of the pool portion 51. Other structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the defrost water and the like can flow down to the drain pipe 52 more smoothly as in the third embodiment. In addition, even when the front side of the unit is slightly lowered, the defrosting water or the like is supplied to the valley 4.
It can flow down to the drain pipe 52 along 8C.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) When both the drain pan and the drain pipe are made of metal, a brazing material may be used as the adhesive. (2) Even in a structure in which a slope is formed with a downward slope from only the left and right edges in the concave portion of the drain pan toward the center, a certain effect can be obtained with respect to the improvement of the drainage of defrost water and the circulation of cool air. And the like are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. (3) The present invention is not limited to the prefabricated refrigerator described in the above embodiment, but can be applied to all defrost drain pans arranged on the lower surface of a cooler in another cooling storage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention with a door removed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a structure of a bottom portion of the cooler room.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a cooler room.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a bonded portion of a drain pipe.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a structure of a bottom part of a cooler room according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a cooler room.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a structure of a bottom portion of a cooler room according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a structure of a bottom portion of a cooler room according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional cooler room.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an inclined structure of the drain pan.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Refrigerator body 11: Storage room 20: Cooler room 2
4 ... Cooler 31 ... Cooling fan 37 ... Heater 40 ...
Drain pan 41 ... Main body 46 ... Recess 47A-47
C: Inclined surface 48 ... Valley 49: Vertical surface 50: Mounting hole 51: Pool 52: Drain pipe H: Hot melt
48A-48C ... Tanibe

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cooling device for circulating cold air generated by heat exchange into a cooling storage while allowing air in the refrigerator to pass in one direction, disposed on a lower surface side of the cooler, and receiving defrost water from the cooler or the like. In the drain pan for defrosting for draining, the bottom surface of the drain pan main body is formed as an inclined surface having a downward slope from both front and rear edges in the direction of passage of the in-compartment air toward the center in the same direction. A drain pan for defrosting, characterized in that a drain port is provided at one end side in the length direction of the valley between the valleys. 2. A mounting hole is opened directly above the bottom of the valley on a side wall of the valley at one end in the length direction, and one end of a drainage pipe penetrates the mounting hole, and an adhesive is formed on the penetrating portion. 2. An adhesive layer is applied and fixed, and a reservoir portion for accumulating the adhesive is formed in a recess in a bottom of the valley on an end portion side from which the drain pipe protrudes. Drain pan for defrosting. 3. The bottom surface of the edge portion on the side opposite to the side where the drain port is provided is also formed as an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the valley. 2. The drain pan for defrost according to 2.