JPH063015A - Combination refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To alleviate the restrictions on the installation location of a combination refrigerator consisting of multiple refrigerators, reduce the startup current and startup noise, and simplify the operation. [Composition] The refrigerator 1 has a commercial power cord 3, a commercial power outlet (not shown), and operation panels 6 of the refrigerators 1 and 2, and the refrigerator 2 has a commercial power cord 4 and a commercial power outlet (not shown). No) is provided for each. An input / output data line 5 is connected between the refrigerators 1 and 2. Further, the refrigerators 1 and 2 have a built-in cooling operation control device (not shown). The commercial power cord 4 is plugged into the commercial power outlet of the refrigerator 1, and the commercial power cord 3 is plugged into the indoor outlet 7. As a result, the refrigerators 1 and 2 are connected to the commercial power source in parallel. The cooling operation control device monitors the operating states of the refrigerators 1 and 2 based on the data via the input / output data line 5, and prohibits simultaneous activation of these.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combination refrigerator in which a cooling operation control device and a plurality of refrigerators each having a function to be operated by a customer operating a switch or the like are used together.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the size of refrigerators has been increasing. An example of a large-sized refrigerator is described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-32313.
This is a refrigerator that can be divided into two upper and lower insulated boxes. When used, these insulated boxes are stacked into one refrigerator, and when transported, the refrigerator is divided into these two insulated boxes. I am trying to divide it. This makes it easier to carry and install even if the refrigerator becomes large.

However, due to housing conditions, there are restrictions on the size of the housing. A combination refrigerator can be considered as a method of solving this restriction. This is, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-1
As described in Japanese Patent No. 10369, at least two refrigerators are used together. In such a combined refrigerator, as shown in FIG. 4, refrigerators 1 and 2 are provided with commercial power cords 3 and 4 and operation panels 6 and 6, respectively, and a cooling operation control device is also provided for each. ing. In these refrigerators 1 and 2, an additional function operation (temperature control, forced cooling operation, thawing operation, etc.) that operates independently of each other by a cooling operation or a customer operation is performed.

[0004]

However, such a combination refrigerator has the following problems. (1) Multiple refrigerators are lined up in one room (eg kitchen)
In the case of operating with, the refrigerator requires a plug-in outlet for each power source, but the plug-in outlet is often insufficient.

(2) In the cooling operation of the refrigerator, the compressor in the refrigeration cycle is turned on and off to cool it to a certain constant temperature. However, when the compressor is a single-phase induction motor, it is excessive at start-up. Starting current flows. Therefore, when operating multiple refrigerators with the same power supply, when the start timing of these compressors overlaps, the breaker will fall if the current capacity in the home is small, and if this breaker is left for a long time. , Food in the refrigerator will rot. Further, when the start timings overlap each other in this way, the start noises of the compressors overlap and the noise becomes very loud.

(3) When the additional function operation is performed in each refrigerator, the customer needs to perform the operation for the additional function operation for each refrigerator, which is very troublesome for the customer.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate such problems and
It is to provide a combination refrigerator that can be used only with individual plug-in outlets.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combined refrigerator capable of preventing a plurality of refrigerators from being activated at the same time.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a combination refrigerator which can be easily operated.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a commercial power source cord and a commercial power source outlet for each main body of a refrigerator, and uses the commercial power source cord for other purposes. It should be connected to the commercial power outlet of the refrigerator.

Further, the present invention is provided with a connection terminal for connecting an input / output data line for monitoring the operating state of each refrigerator, and the cooling operation control device of each refrigerator operates the operation of each refrigerator. Based on the monitoring result of the state, the refrigerators are controlled so that the starting timing of the compressors of the refrigerators is shifted.

Further, according to the present invention, the operation switch for the additional function operation is installed in one of the plurality of refrigerators so that the plurality of refrigerators can be centrally operated.

[0013]

By inserting the commercial power cord into the commercial power outlet of another refrigerator, all the refrigerators are connected in parallel with each other, and one refrigerator can be used with one plug outlet. become able to.

The cooling operation control device monitors the operation state of each refrigerator based on the data via the input / output data line, so that the customer operates the refrigerators to start the cooling operation at the same time. Also, these operation start timings are staggered in time.

An operation panel is provided in one of the plurality of refrigerators, and switches and the like for the customer to operate each of the refrigerators are concentrated on this, so that operation of each refrigerator can be performed with one refrigerator. It is possible and easy to operate.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of a combination refrigerator according to the present invention. 1, 2 are refrigerators, 3, 4 are commercial power cords, 5 are input / output data lines, 6 is an operation panel, and 7 is a plug. It is an outlet.

In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, two refrigerators are installed in parallel, but three or more refrigerators may be installed in parallel.

In FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a power outlet and an input / output data connection terminal (not shown) in a part of its main body, and a commercial power cord 3 is attached. There is. Here, the description of the installation structure of the power outlet and the input / output data connection terminal is omitted. Similar to the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 2 also has a power outlet and an input / output data connection terminal, and a commercial power cord 4 attached thereto. Here, the power outlet installed in a part of the main body of the refrigerator 1 is for inserting the commercial power cord 4 and is directly connected to the commercial power cord 3 inside the refrigerator 1. It is connected.

When the commercial power cord 3 of the refrigerator 1 is plugged into the outlet 7 at the place where the refrigerator is installed, and the commercial power cord 4 is plugged into the power outlet of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerators 1 and 2 are plugged into the outlet 7. Are connected in parallel with respect to, and commercial power supply voltage is supplied to them.

Input / output data lines for grasping the operating states of the refrigerators 1 and 2 are connected between the input / output data connection terminals provided in the refrigerators 1 and 2 respectively. Further, either one of the refrigerators 1 and 2, here,
In the freezer door of the refrigerator 1, an operation panel 6 in which a switch operated by a customer is stored is installed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the operation panel 6, where 8 and 9 are indicators, 10 is a selection switch, and 1 is a selection switch.
1 is an "on / off" switch, and 12 and 13 are slide switches for adjusting the freezer temperature.

In the figure, the selection switch 10, "ON / OFF"
The switch 11 and the freezer temperature adjusting slide switches 12 and 13 are operated by the customer.
When the "ON / OFF" switch 11 is operated, the selected switch 1
Either or both of the refrigerators 1 and 2 selected by 0 start the forced cooling operation. And refrigerator 1
When the refrigerator 2 starts the forced cooling operation, and when the refrigerator 2 starts the forced cooling operation, the display 9
Lights up respectively. By operating the selection switch 10 by the customer, the refrigerators that perform the forced cooling operation are changed to the refrigerators 1 and 2.
Either one or both can be selected.
Further, when at least one of the refrigerators 1 and 2 operates the "ON / OFF" switch 11 during the forced cooling operation, the forced cooling operation is stopped. Further, the freezer temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be adjusted by operating the freezer temperature adjusting slide switch 12, and the refrigerator 2 can be operated by operating the freezer temperature adjusting slide switch 13.
The freezer temperature of can be adjusted.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a specific example of the cooling operation control device for the refrigerators 1 and 2, 14 is a commercial power source, and 15 is a commercial power source.
Is a compressor, 16 is a relay contact, 17 is a connecting portion, 1
8 is a control circuit, 19 is a power transformer, 20 is a detector, 2
1 is the input / output data connection terminal, 22 is a compressor, 23 is a relay contact, 24 is a connection part, 25 is a control circuit, 26 is a power transformer, 27 is a detector, and 28 is the input / output data connection terminal. , Parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, a compressor 15, a contact 16 of a relay for operating and stopping the compressor 15, a connecting portion 17 of the above power outlet of the refrigerator 1, a microcomputer, a temperature control analog circuit, a control including a relay and the like. The circuit 18, the power transformer 19 for receiving the commercial power supply voltage from the commercial power supply 14 and supplying the power supply voltage to the control circuit 18, the detector 20 installed in the freezer for detecting the freezer temperature, and the input / output data line 5 are connected. All the connecting terminals 21 are stored in the refrigerator 1. The input / output line of the operation panel 6 is connected to the control circuit 18.

Further, the compressor 22, contacts 23 of a relay for operating and stopping the compressor 22, a connecting portion 24 of the above-mentioned power outlet of the refrigerator 2, a control circuit 25 including a microcomputer, an analog circuit for temperature control, a relay, etc. A power supply transformer 26 for supplying the power supply voltage of the control circuit 25, a detector 27 installed in the freezer for detecting the freezer temperature, and a connecting terminal 28 to which the input / output data line 5 is connected are all housed in the refrigerator 2. There is.

When the power cord 3 of the refrigerator 1 is inserted into the outlet 7 (FIG. 1) at the installation location, the power supply voltage is supplied to the control circuits 18 and 25 through the power transformers 19 and 26. At the same time, data communication between the control circuits 18 and 25 becomes possible via the input / output data line 5. This data includes input / output data from the operation panel 6, temperature data from the freezer temperature detectors 20 and 27, and the compressor 1
5 and 22 are data showing the operating states. When the temperature detected by the freezer temperature detectors 20, 27 is higher than the temperature set by the freezer temperature adjusting slide switches 12, 13 (FIG. 2) in the operation panel 6, the control circuits 18, 25 cause the relay contacts 16, 23 to operate. The cooling operation is performed by turning on the compressors 15 and 22 to start the operation.

At this time, the control circuits 18 and 25 also exchange data relating to the activation operation of the operation panel 6 via the input / output data line 5, and based on such data, the relay contacts 16 and 23 are turned on at the same time. In such a case, the relay contact 16 is preferentially turned on, and the relay contact 23 is controlled to be turned on after a certain delay time. As a result, the start timings of the compressors 15 and 22 are deviated.

Further, when the relay contact 16 or 23 is turned on first and the other relay contact is turned on immediately after that, the contact of the relay to be turned on later is set to the same value as in the case of simultaneously turning on at the same time. Turn on after a certain delay time.

After that, when the detected temperature data from the freezer temperature detectors 20 and 27 becomes lower than the temperature set by the freezer temperature adjusting slide switches 12 and 13 in the operation panel 6, the relay contacts 16 and 23 are turned off. The compressors 15 and 22 are stopped, and the cooling operation is stopped. The freezer temperature is kept constant by repeating the above operation.

When the customer wants to perform the forced cooling operation only for the refrigerator 2, first, the selection switch 10 (FIG. 2) of the operation panel 6 in the refrigerator 1 is set to the refrigerator 2 side, and "ON / OFF" is selected.
The “off” switch 11 (FIG. 2) is operated. At this time, the display 9 (FIG. 2) on the refrigerator 2 side lights up. Then, in FIG. 3, the relay contact 23 is turned on irrespective of the temperature data of the freezer temperature detector 27 to start the forced operation of the compressor 22. Further, the timer in the control circuit 25 is activated, and after a certain period of time has elapsed, the forced cooling operation is reset and the normal cooling operation is resumed.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Commercial power can be supplied to multiple refrigerators from a single outlet, and these multiple refrigerators can be used even in locations where only one outlet is installed, increasing the degree of freedom in installing the combination refrigerator. To do.

Further, according to the present invention, since the compressors of a plurality of refrigerators do not start at the same time, the starting current can be kept small, and the food can be surely cooled and stored without the risk of the breaker etc. dropping. In addition, the noise at the time of starting is only one unit, and the noise can be reduced.

Further, since the respective refrigerators can be operated only by operating the switches on the operation panel provided in one refrigerator, the operation becomes very simple.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a combination refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific example of an operation panel in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a specific example of the cooling operation control device of the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional combination refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Refrigerator 3, 4 Commercial power cord 5 Input / output data line 6 Operation panel 7 Plug outlet 8, 9 Forced cooling operation indicator 10 Selection switch 11 “On / off” switch 12, 13 Freezer temperature adjustment slide switch 14 Commercial Power supply 15 Compressor 16 Relay contact 17 Outlet connection part 18 Control circuit 19 Power supply transformer 20 Freezer temperature detector 21 Input / output data connection terminal 22 Compressor 23 Relay contact 24 Outlet connection part 25 Control circuit 26 Power supply transformer 27 Freezer temperature detector 28 Input / output Data connection terminal

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A combined refrigerator in which a cooling operation control device and a plurality of refrigerators having a function to be operated by a customer operating a switch or the like are used in combination, a commercial power cord is provided for each main body of the refrigerator. A combined refrigerator in which refrigerators are connected in parallel with each other by providing a commercial power outlet and connecting the commercial power cord to the commercial power outlet of another refrigerator. 2. The connection terminal for connecting an input / output data line for monitoring an operating state of each of the refrigerators according to claim 1, wherein the cooling operation control device of each of the refrigerators includes: A combined refrigerator characterized in that the respective refrigerators are controlled so as to shift the start timing of the compressors of the respective refrigerators based on the monitoring results of the respective operating states. 3. The combination refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the operation switch for additional function operation is installed in one of the plurality of refrigerators so that the plurality of refrigerators can be centrally operated. .