JP2014142079A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of suppressing freezing of water in the shutter and the operation unit without obstructing the movement of the operation unit of the shutter for controlling the supply amount of cold air and without deteriorating the appearance. .
A bell mouth to which a blower is attached and a bell mouth which is installed so as to cover the bell mouth and guides the cold air blown from the blower to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment when the bell mouth is fitted. The fan grille 21 formed between the two and the storage chamber communication connecting the inside of the air passage 22 formed between the fan grille 21 and the bell mouth and the storage chamber as the operation unit 25 slides. A sliding shutter 26 that adjusts the opening area of the mouth and a bell mouth that protrudes into an air passage 22 formed between the fan grille 21 and the bell mouth, and drops of water in the air passage 22 downward. And a first rib 40 for guiding.
[Selection] Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, refrigerators that control the amount of cold air supplied to a storage room such as a refrigerator room or a freezer room to adjust the temperature in the storage room are known. As such, there has been proposed a refrigerator that opens and closes a vent of a cool air passage through which a cool air supplied to the refrigerating room passes with a damper plate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, an operation member for controlling a damper device having a damper plate is provided on the inner side of a cover provided in the refrigerator compartment so as to be slidable in the left-right direction. A rectangular opening that is elongated in the lateral direction is formed on the front surface of the cover, and the operating portion of the operating member projects forward through the opening. A rib is provided on the front surface of the cover so as to cover the opening from above in order to prevent water droplets of condensation generated on the front surface of the cover from entering the cover from the opening.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-273032 (Page 2, FIGS. 7 and 8)

  However, the rib which protrudes in the front side of the opening part of the cover conventionally proposed became a hindrance when a user operates an operation member, and there was a subject that a user was difficult to operate. Further, the front surface of the cover on which the ribs are formed is a design surface, and there is a problem that the appearance is poor.

  On the other hand, for example, when water permeates into the cover from the opening of the cover and freezes, the movement of the operation member is hindered. Therefore, it is desired to prevent the operation member from freezing.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above problems, and does not obstruct the movement of the operation unit of the shutter that controls the supply amount of cold air, and does not impair the appearance and operation of the shutter. The refrigerator which can suppress freezing of the water in a section is provided.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main body having a plurality of storage chambers formed therein, a cooler provided inside the main body, a blower that sends cold air cooled by the cooler to the storage chamber, A bell mouth to which a blower is attached is installed so as to cover the bell mouth. When the bell mouth is fitted, an air passage is formed between the bell mouth and the cool air blown from the blower to the storage chamber. A fan grill, an operation portion that projects from the opening formed in the fan grill to the front side of the fan grill, and slides and moves in the opening, and the fan grill and the bell mouth as the operation portion slides A sliding shutter that adjusts an opening area of a storage chamber communication port that connects between the inside of the air passage and any of the storage chambers, and a bell mouth. Is, projecting the fan grill and the air passage is formed between the bell mouth, in which a first rib for guiding the water droplets of the air path downwards.

  According to the present invention, freezing of water at the shutter and the operation unit can be suppressed without hindering movement of the operation unit and without deteriorating the appearance.

It is a front view of the state which removed the freezer compartment of the refrigerator concerning Embodiment 1, and the door of a refrigerator compartment. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 2. It is a disassembled perspective view of the bell mouth which concerns on Embodiment 1, a fan grill, and a cooler. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rear side of the fan grill and the shutter member according to the first embodiment. 3 is a rear perspective view of the fan grill and the shutter member according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the shutter member according to the first embodiment. 3 is a front view of the bell mouth of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the front view which saw through a part of fan grill and bellmouth of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a front view of a bell mouth according to Embodiment 2. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the form of drawing shown below.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 with the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment door removed. The refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator main body 1 having a plurality of storage rooms therein and having an open front surface. The refrigerator main body 1 has a steel plate outer box 2 and a resinous inner box 3 provided inside the outer box 2, and a heat insulating material 4 (see FIG. 5) between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. 2) is foam-filled. The refrigerator main body 1 is provided with a partition that partitions the interior of the refrigerator main body 1 up and down to partition the storage chamber. In the first embodiment, two storage chambers are partitioned. Of the storage chambers formed in the refrigerator main body 1, the one disposed on the upper side is the freezer compartment 5, and the one disposed below the freezer compartment 5 is the refrigerator compartment 6. The front opening of the freezer compartment 5 is covered with a freezer compartment door (not shown) so that it can be opened and closed, and the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 6 is covered with a refrigerating compartment door (not shown) so that it can be opened and closed.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. In FIG. 3, the flow of cold air is conceptually indicated by arrows. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the bell mouth, the fan grill, and the cooler according to the first embodiment.
A compressor 7 that compresses the refrigerant is installed in the lower part of the back surface of the refrigerator body 1, and a cooler 8 is installed in the back of the freezer compartment 5. The compressor 7 and the cooler 8 constitute a refrigeration cycle together with a condenser and a decompression device (not shown).

  On the far side of the freezer compartment 5 and above the front side of the cooler 8, a blower 9 that blows air cooled by the cooler 8 (simply referred to as cold air) to the storage compartment and frost adhering to the cooler 8 A bell mouth 20 having a glass tube heater 10 that is unwound by the heat of the heater wire is provided. The bell mouth 20 is installed so as to cover the front side of the cooler 8.

  A fan grille 21 is provided on the front surface of the bell mouth 20 so as to cover the bell mouth 20. When the fan grill 21 is aligned with the bell mouth 20, an air path 22 through which cool air sent from the blower 9 passes is formed between the fan grill 21 and the bell mouth 20. A part of the cold air sent out from the blower 9 passes through the air passage 22 and is supplied to the freezer compartment 5 as indicated by an arrow 200 in FIG. As shown in Fig. 5, the air flows in a direction different from the route to the freezer compartment 5, and is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 6 through an air passage (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, a freezer compartment outlet 23 for supplying cool air in the air passage 22 to the freezer compartment 5 is opened at the front surface of the fan grille 21. In this Embodiment 1, the freezer compartment outlet 23 is provided in two places. Similarly, an opening 24 is formed in the front surface of the fan grill 21. A shutter member operation unit 25 (described later) for adjusting the amount of cool air supplied from the air passage 22 to the refrigerator compartment 6 is attached to the opening 24. The bell mouth 20 is provided with a first rib 40 that protrudes into the air passage 22 and receives the water in the air passage 22 downward, and a cold air guide member 30 that guides the cold air flowing in the air passage 22. .

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rear side of the fan grill and the shutter member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the fan grill and the shutter member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the fan grill 21 is combined with a shutter member including the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26.
On the rear surface of the fan grill 21, that is, the surface facing the bell mouth 20, a partition portion 28 is provided that divides the air passage 22 in the vertical direction when the bell mouth 20 is combined. The partition portion 28 is plate-shaped in the first embodiment, and protrudes rearward from the back surface of the fan grille 21. The partition portion 28 is formed with a storage chamber communication port 29 through which cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 6 passes from top to bottom.

  The shutter member including the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 is a member that adjusts the opening degree of the storage chamber communication port 29. The shutter 26 is a plate-like member that covers a part of the storage chamber communication port 29 formed in the partition 28 from above or below, and adjusts the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29. An operation unit 25 is provided integrally with the shutter 26. The operation unit 25 is inserted into an opening 24 formed in the fan grille 21 and protrudes from the opening 24 toward the front surface. The opening 24 has a long hole shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the operation unit 25 slides in the left-right direction within the opening 24 when receiving an operation from the user. When the operation unit 25 moves in the horizontal direction in response to the user's operation, the shutter 26 also moves as the operation unit 25 moves, and the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 changes according to the position of the shutter 26. In the first embodiment, the plate-like shutter 26 is provided with a shutter opening 27 having an opening area smaller than that of the storage chamber communication port 29, and the plate-like portion of the shutter 26 and the shutter opening 27, The opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 changes according to the positional relationship with the storage chamber communication port 29. The specific configuration of the shutter 26 is not limited to that shown in the drawing, and it is sufficient that the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 can be adjusted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the shutter member according to the first embodiment. 7A is a front view of the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21, and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 7A. In FIG. 7, the operation unit 25 is located at the left and right center of the opening 24. At this time, a part of the storage chamber communication port 29 is covered with the shutter 26, and the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 is the size indicated by the oblique lines in FIG.

  If the operation part 25 moves to the right end of the opening part 24, the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 will become smaller than FIG. 7 (B). Moreover, when the operation part 25 moves to the left end of the opening part 24, the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 will become larger than FIG. 7 (B). The flow rate of the cold air passing from the top to the bottom through the storage chamber communication port 29 changes according to the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29, and the cold air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 6 connected to the downstream side of the storage chamber communication port 29 is changed. The amount changes.

  FIG. 8 is a front view of the bell mouth of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a front view of a part of the fan grill and bell mouth of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, the flow of cold air is conceptually indicated by arrows 200 and 201, and the flow of water is conceptually indicated by arrows 210.

  The first rib 40 formed on the front surface of the bell mouth 20 (the surface facing the fan grille 21) is a member that receives water in the air passage 22 and flows it downward. In the first embodiment, the first rib 40 has a substantially flat plate shape and is inclined obliquely downward from one of the left and right sides toward the other. The lower end of the first rib 40 is disposed at a position that avoids the shutter 26, the operation unit 25, and the opening 24 into which the operation unit 25 is inserted. Further, in the first embodiment, the lower end of the first rib 40 is disposed at a position that overlaps with a part of the freezer outlet 23 when viewed from the front when the fan grill 21 is combined with the bell mouth 20.

  The bell mouth 20 is provided with a cold air guide member 30 protruding from the front surface of the bell mouth 20 into the air passage 22, and a cold room connecting portion 31 communicating with the cold room 6 is opened at the lower part of the bell mouth 20. ing. The cool air guide member 30 is located below the partition portion 28 in a state where the fan grill 21 is aligned with the bell mouth 20. The cold air guide member 30 is inclined downward from the vicinity of the partition portion 28 toward the refrigerator compartment connection portion 31, and guides the cold air that has passed through the storage chamber communication port 29 from top to bottom to the refrigerator compartment connection portion 31.

The operation and action of the refrigerator 100 of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
The refrigerant gas that has been compressed by the compressor 7 and has become a high temperature and a high pressure radiates heat in a condenser (not shown) installed in a portion where the heat insulating material 4 of the refrigerator body 1 is foam-filled, and becomes a liquid refrigerant. This liquid refrigerant passes through a drier (not shown) installed at the lower back of the refrigerator body 1, is reduced in pressure by a capillary (not shown) as a decompression device, is sent to the cooler 8 and is vaporized. When the refrigerant evaporates in the cooler 8, the refrigerant absorbs the surrounding heat, so that the gas around the cooler 8 is cooled.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the cold air cooled by the cooler 8 is sucked by the blower 9 attached to the bell mouth 20 and is formed between the bell mouth 20 and the fan grill 21. Flow into. A part of the cool air flowing into the air passage 22 flows into the freezer compartment 5 through the freezer compartment outlet 23 provided in the fan grille 21 through the freezer compartment 5 (see arrow 200 in FIGS. 3 and 9). Further, another part of the cold air that has flowed into the air passage 22 passes through a storage chamber communication port 29 (see FIG. 7 and the like) formed between the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21, and is below the partition portion 28. Flow, guided by the cold air guide member 30, flows downward, and flows into the refrigerator compartment 6 through the refrigerator compartment connecting portion 31 (see arrow 201 in FIGS. 3 and 9).

  The refrigerator 100 according to the first embodiment operates the compressor 7 based on a temperature detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) that is provided in the refrigerator compartment 6 and detects the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6. Specifically, when the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 6 detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) exceeds the set temperature, the compressor 7 is operated to supply cold air to the refrigerator compartment 6 to store the refrigerator. The internal temperature of the chamber 6 is lowered. On the other hand, if the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6 detected by the temperature sensor (not shown) is equal to or lower than the set temperature, the compressor 7 is stopped. Further, as described above, the amount of cool air sent to the refrigerator compartment 6 is adjusted by the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 (see FIG. 7) that changes according to the position of the shutter 26 provided in the fan grill 21. .

Therefore, when the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 is small and the amount of cool air sent to the refrigerating room 6 is relatively small, the time for lowering the internal temperature of the refrigerating room 6 below the set temperature (that is, compression) The operating time of the machine 7 is relatively long, while the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 5 is relatively increased, so that the internal temperature of the freezer compartment 5 tends to decrease.
On the other hand, when the opening area of the storage chamber communication port 29 is large and the amount of cool air sent to the refrigerator compartment 6 is relatively large, the time for lowering the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 6 to a set temperature or less (that is, The operating time of the compressor 7 is relatively short, while the amount of cold air supplied to the freezer compartment 5 is relatively reduced, so that the internal temperature of the freezer compartment 5 tends to increase.
As described above, the temperature adjustment in the freezer compartment 5 of the first embodiment is performed by adjusting the amount of cold air sent to the refrigerator compartment 6.

  Since frost can adhere to the cooler 8 along with the cooling operation of the refrigerator 100 as described above, the refrigerator 100 performs a defrosting operation to remove the frost attached to the cooler 8. Specifically, the heater 10 installed under the bell mouth 20 is energized regularly (for example, once or twice a day). By doing in this way, the frost adhering to the cooler 8 with the heat | fever of the heater 10 is melt | dissolved, and the frost of the cooler 8 can be removed.

  During the defrosting operation, the temperature around the cooler 8 is increased by the heat of the heater 10 (for example, 10 ° C. to 20 ° C.), and the temperature in the air passage 22 formed between the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21 is increased. Rises to over 0 ° C. At this time, for example, when a large amount of moisture is stored in the freezer compartment 5 or when the door of the freezer compartment 5 is forgotten to be tightened, the freezer compartment 5 Inside, condensation is likely to occur. If it does so, the inside of the air path 22 comprised by the bellmouth 20 and the fan grille 21 provided in the back of the freezer compartment 5 will also be in the state which is easy to generate | occur | produce condensation.

  When condensation occurs in the bell mouth 20 and the cooling operation of the cooler 8 and the blower 9 is performed, the generated condensation is cooled and frozen. The frozen water melts and flows downward during the defrosting operation of the cooler 8 that is periodically performed. As shown by an arrow 210 in FIG. 9, the water that has flowed downward flows downward while being guided by the first rib 40 provided on the bell mouth 20, and the shutter 26 and the operation unit 25 are disposed. It is guided in a direction away from the opening 24.

  For this reason, according to the first embodiment, even when water is generated in the air passage 22 formed between the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21, the water enters the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26. Hateful. Therefore, when the cooling operation is performed, it is possible to prevent water from being frozen in the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 and hindering the movement of the shutter 26.

  In addition, the first rib 40 that receives the water in the air passage 22 is provided in the bell mouth 20 in the air passage 22 constituted by the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21, so that the sliding shutter 26 is provided. This does not hinder the operation of the operation unit 25 for moving the. Therefore, freezing of the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 can be suppressed without impairing the operability of the user.

  Further, the first rib 40 that flows the water in the air passage 22 is provided in the bell mouth 20 covered with the fan grill 21. Therefore, since the first rib 40 does not affect the design surface of the fan grille 21 exposed in the freezer compartment 5, freezing of the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 can be suppressed without deteriorating the appearance.

  Further, the lower end of the first rib 40 is disposed at a position overlapping with at least a part of the freezer compartment outlet 23 as viewed from the front. That is, the water that has been guided by the first rib 40 and has flowed downward accumulates in the vicinity of the lower end of the first rib 40 indicated by reference numeral 211 in FIG. positioned. Therefore, even when the water accumulated in the portion indicated by reference numeral 211 is frozen, the ice sublimes by the action of the cold air flowing into the freezer outlet 23, so that the ice generated in the reference numeral 211 melts and the operation unit 25 or Intrusion into the shutter 26 can be suppressed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment is characterized in that a second rib 41 is provided in addition to the first rib 40 in the bell mouth 20, and other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 10 is a front view of the bell mouth according to the second embodiment. A second rib 41 is provided below the first rib 40. Similar to the first rib 40, the second rib 41 is provided on the front surface of the bell mouth 20 (the surface facing the fan grille 21) and protrudes toward the air passage 22. The second rib 41 is inclined so as to descend from one of the left and right sides toward the other. In the example of FIG. 10, the first rib 40 and the second rib 41 are parallel.

  The protruding height of the second rib 41 from the bell mouth 20 is higher than that of the first rib 40. For this reason, for example, water that cannot be held by the first rib 40 flows on the first rib 40 and protrudes higher than the first rib 40 even if the water flows below the first rib 40. The second rib 41 can hold water. The difference in height between the second rib 41 and the first rib 40 can be determined in consideration of the amount of water that can adhere to the bell mouth 20 and the air path resistance in the air path 22, for example, 2 mm. It can be. When the second rib 41 is higher than the first rib 40 by about 2 mm, the second rib 41 disposed in the air passage 22 is unlikely to have air passage resistance, and thus the cooling performance is hardly affected. Can also be held.

  Although the space | interval of the 2nd rib 41 and the 1st rib 40 can be determined in consideration of shaping | molding of the bellmouth 20 comprised with a synthetic resin etc., it can be 5 mm, for example.

The operations of the cooling operation and the defrosting operation of the refrigerator 100 of the second embodiment configured as described above are the same as those of the first embodiment.
In the second embodiment, since the first rib 40 is provided on the bell mouth 20 as in the first embodiment, water is generated in the air passage 22 formed between the bell mouth 20 and the fan grill 21. Even in this case, the water hardly enters the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26. Therefore, when the cooling operation is performed, it is possible to prevent water from being frozen in the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 and hindering the movement of the shutter 26.

  Furthermore, since the second rib 41 that protrudes higher than the first rib 40 is provided on the lower side of the first rib 40, even when a large amount of water flows over the first rib 40, The two ribs 41 can receive the water and flow to a position where the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 are avoided. Therefore, it is possible to further enhance the effect of suppressing water intrusion and water freezing into the shutter 26 and the operation unit 25.

  In addition, the first rib 40 and the second rib 41 that flow the water in the air passage 22 are provided in the bell mouth 20 in the air passage 22 constituted by the bell mouth 20 and the fan grille 21. There is no hindrance to the operation of the operation unit 25 for moving the sliding shutter 26. Therefore, freezing of the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 can be suppressed without impairing the operability of the user.

  Further, the first rib 40 and the second rib 41 that receive the water in the air passage 22 are provided on the bell mouth 20 covered with the fan grill 21. Therefore, since the first rib 40 does not affect the design surface of the fan grille 21 exposed in the freezer compartment 5, freezing of the operation unit 25 and the shutter 26 can be suppressed without deteriorating the appearance.

  1 Refrigerator body, 2 outer box, 3 inner box, 4 heat insulating material, 5 freezer room, 6 refrigerator room, 7 compressor, 8 cooler, 9 blower, 10 heater, 20 bell mouth, 21 fan grill, 22 air channel, 23 Freezer compartment outlet, 24 opening part, 25 operation part, 26 shutter, 27 shutter opening part, 28 partition part, 29 storage room communication port, 30 cold air guide member, 31 refrigerator compartment connection part, 40 first rib, 41 first Two ribs, 100 refrigerator.

Claims (6)

A main body having a plurality of storage chambers formed therein;
A cooler provided inside the body;
A blower for sending cold air cooled by the cooler to the storage room;
A bell mouth to which the blower is attached;
A fan grill that is installed so as to cover the bell mouth and, when combined with the bell mouth, forms an air passage between the bell mouth and the cool air blown from the blower to the storage chamber;
An operation unit that projects from the opening formed in the fan grill to the front side of the fan grill and slides in the opening;
A sliding type that adjusts an opening area of a storage chamber communication port that connects either the inside of the air passage formed between the fan grille and the bell mouth and the storage chamber as the operating portion slides. Shutters,
A first rib provided on the bell mouth, projecting into the air passage formed between the fan grille and the bell mouth, and guiding water droplets in the air passage downward; Refrigerator. A second rib provided in the bell mouth and projecting into the air passage formed between the fan grille and the bell mouth;
The second rib is formed below the first rib,
The refrigerator height according to claim 1, wherein the protruding height of the second rib is higher than the protruding height of the first rib. The first rib is provided above the opening formed in the fan grille, and the lower end of the first rib is disposed at a position avoiding the opening formed in the fan grille. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerator is provided. A refrigerator room and a freezer room are provided as the storage room,
The said storage room communication port connects the inside of the said air path formed between the said fan grille and the said bellmouth, and the said refrigerator compartment. The Claim 1-Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The refrigerator as described in any one. In the air passage formed between the fan grill and the bell mouth, a freezer compartment outlet for communicating cold air to the freezer compartment is formed in communication with the freezer compartment,
The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein a lower end of the first rib is provided at a position overlapping with at least a part of the freezer outlet as viewed from the front. The refrigerator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the freezer compartment is arranged above the refrigerator compartment in the main body.

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