JPH11118326A - Air filter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To dispense with exchange or cleaning of a first filter member by fitting the first filter member to a suction side of a condenser, covering an inexpensive second filter member which is finer in mesh size than the first filter member over the first filter member in an attachable/detachable manner, collecting the dust, etc., mainly by the second filter member, and exchanging only the inexpensive second filter member when the function of the second filter member is degraded. SOLUTION: In an air filter, a second filter member 15 which is finer in mesh size than a first filter member 17 is fitted to a filter body 14 in which the first filter member 17 is stretched over a frame member 16 by an operation piece 19, a slit 21, a fitting pin 20 and a fitting hole 22 so as to cover the whole frame. Most of the dust, oil mist, oil dew, etc., in the air from a suction port is collected by the second filter member 15, the first member 15 is semi- permanently used only by exchanging the second filter member, and the second filter member 15 is disposable and the cost is reduced because the second filter member is formed of inexpensive non-woven fabric.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to dust present in air taken in from a suction port of a front panel of a machine room when air cooling a condenser disposed in the machine room of a refrigerator or the like. The present invention relates to an air filter attached to the intake side of a condenser in order to collect dust, oil dew, etc., and to prevent a decrease in the heat exchange capacity of the condenser due to the collected dust and oil dew. A first filter member is attached to the
The second filter member, which is finer and cheaper than the filter member, is easily attached to and detached from the first filter member, and the dust and the like contained in the intake air are mainly collected through the second filter member to form the second filter member. When the filter function of the filter member is deteriorated, the first filter member can be replaced simply by replacing the inexpensive second filter member.
The present invention relates to a low-cost air filter which makes it possible to use a filter member semipermanently and does not require replacement or cleaning of a first filter member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, a machine room provided with a condenser and the like constituting a refrigeration cycle has been conventionally provided, and air has been taken from an air inlet formed in a front panel of the machine room to cool the condenser and the like. A refrigerator configured to exhaust air to the outside of a rear machine room has been proposed. In such a refrigerator or the like, in order to prevent dust sucked into the machine room together with air from the air inlet of the front panel, dust such as dust, oil mist, etc., from adhering to the condenser and lowering its cooling ability, generally, An air filter is arranged inside the front panel corresponding to the condenser and the like.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-1900072 discloses a mounting member comprising a net which can be cut into an arbitrary size, and a mounting member which is mounted on two opposite sides of the net and both ends of the net overlap on the back surface. Describes a dustproof net provided with engaging projections penetrating the net and inserted between the fins of the plate fin type heat exchanger. Such a dustproof net is attached to the air inlet surface of the plate-fin heat exchanger. Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-229329 discloses a disposable filter for a refrigerator-freezer having a rectangular filter and a crimping portion provided on a side opposite to the rectangular filter. Such a filter can be easily attached to and detached from the air inlet of the refrigerator, and even if it gets dirty, there is no need to clean it.
It can be disposable.

[0004]

However, in the dustproof net described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-1900072, the net is simply attached to the attachment member via the engaging projection. Here, in a net for the purpose of dust prevention of the air sucked into the heat exchanger, the mesh is generally coarse, so that fine dust, oil dew, etc. pass through the mesh of the net. . Dust, oil dew, and the like that have passed through the mesh of the net as described above adhere to the heat exchanger and reduce the heat exchange capability of the heat exchanger. Also,
Dust that has passed through the net absorbs oil fog and the like, and thereby adheres strongly to the net. Such dust cannot be easily removed even if the net is washed. Further, the net itself is relatively expensive, and it is difficult in terms of cost to dispose it even when dust or the like is attached and the filter function is deteriorated.

The filter described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-229329 is relatively inexpensive because it is formed from a material such as a nonwoven fabric, and has a finer mesh than a normal dustproof net or the like. For this reason, fine dust and the like that cannot be collected by the dustproof net or the like can be collected, and therefore, can be disposable. However, in this filter, one side and the opposite side, or four sides around it,
A pressure-bonded portion made thinner than the center of the filter is formed by thermocompression bonding or pressing. Forming such a crimping portion requires a special mold and the like, which leads to an increase in cost. Further, this filter can be applied only to a refrigerator or the like having a structure in which the filter is locked to the front surface of a condenser or the like via the crimping portion, and is still insufficient in versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. A first filter member is mounted on the intake side of a condenser, and the second filter is finer and cheaper than the first filter member. When the member is easily attached to and detached from the first filter member, dust and the like contained in the intake air are mainly collected through the second filter member and the filter function of the second filter member is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost air filter that makes it possible to use a first filter member semipermanently only by replacing only an inexpensive second filter member and that does not require replacement or cleaning of the first filter member. I do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air filter having a machine room in which a condenser or the like constituting a refrigeration cycle is disposed and formed on a front panel of the machine room. In a refrigeration / cooling device that takes in air from a suction port and performs air cooling of a condenser or the like and then exhausts the outside of the machine room, attached to the suction side of the condenser,
An air filter main body in which a mesh-shaped first filter member is stretched over the frame member, and a second filter member covered with the frame member on a side facing the front panel and having a finer mesh than the first filter member. It is characterized by having.

In the air filter according to the first aspect, air is taken in from the air inlet of the front panel when the condenser is air-cooled when the refrigeration / cooling device is driven. At this time, since the second filter member is covered by the frame member of the air filter body on which the first filter member is stretched on the side facing the front panel, the second filter member is sucked in from the air inlet of the front panel. The air first passes through the second filter member.
Since the second filter member has finer eyes than the first filter member, most of dust, oil dew, oil fog, and the like existing in the sucked air are collected via the second filter member. Is done. As described above, dust and the like contained in the inhaled air are mainly collected through the second filter member, and when the filter function of the second filter member is reduced, an inexpensive second filter is used. It is possible to use the first filter member semi-permanently only by replacing only the member. In addition, no special processing is required for manufacturing the second filter member, so there is a general-purpose example, and since it is inexpensive, it can be disposable. Further, it is not necessary to replace or clean the first filter member, so that the cost can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the air filter of the first aspect, a plurality of mounting pins are formed on the frame member, and the second filter member is connected to each other through the mounting pins. The frame member is attached so as to cover the frame member. In the air filter according to claim 2,
Since the second filter is attached to the frame member via each mounting pin, it can be easily attached to and detached from the frame member. Here, the mounting pin may be protruded from the surface of the frame member toward the front panel, as described in claim 3 or claim 4, or from the outer peripheral end surface of the frame member. It may be projected outward.

Further, the air filter according to claim 5 is the air filter according to claims 1 to 4, wherein
The filter member is formed to be larger than the entire area of the frame member. As described above, when the second filter member is formed larger than the entire area of the frame member, it is possible to prevent the frame member from being contaminated by dust and the like.

The air filter according to claim 6 is the air filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The filter member is formed of a nonwoven fabric. When the second filter member is formed of a nonwoven fabric in this way, the second filter member can be manufactured at low cost, and there is no problem with a disposable method.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An air filter according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as an air filter used in a refrigerator. First, a schematic configuration of a refrigerator to which the air filter according to the present embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the refrigerator.

In FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 is basically composed of a refrigerator main body 4 divided into a refrigeration section 2 and a machine room 3.
Having. A known refrigeration mechanism (not shown) is provided in the refrigeration unit 2.
Is provided, and a double door opening / closing door 5 is provided on the front surface of the refrigeration unit 2. Leg members 6 are arranged at four corners on the bottom surface of the refrigerator main body 4, and a top plate 7 of the refrigerator main body 4 is commonly used for both the refrigeration unit 2 and the machine room 3. A front panel 8 is disposed in front of the machine room 3, and a condenser 12 that constitutes a part of a refrigeration cycle together with a so-called refrigeration mechanism is provided inside the machine room 3 on the inner wall surface side of the front panel 8. , A fan motor FM and the like (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, the front panel 8 has a large number of intake ports 9 for taking in outside air, and the inner wall surface and the condenser 12 correspond to the intake ports 9 of the front panel 8. Between
An air filter 10 described below is arranged.

Next, the condenser 12 arranged in the machine room 3
The configuration of the air filter 10 attached to the intake side (the inner wall surface side of the front panel 8) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a relationship between the condenser 12 and the air filter 10.

In FIG. 2, a machine room 3 in the refrigerator 1 is shown.
A condenser 12 constituting a part of a refrigeration cycle is disposed on the bottom plate 11 of the refrigeration cycle. The condenser 12 is provided with a large number of fins 13 at predetermined intervals as is well known. A fan motor FM having an intake fan (not shown) is installed behind the condenser 12 (to the right in FIG. 2), and the intake port 9 of the front panel 8 is provided via the fan motor FM. The outside air is sucked in from above, and the condenser 12 is air-cooled.

Front panel 8 (not shown in FIG. 2)
The air filter 10 disposed inside the air filter 10 includes an air filter body 14 attached to the intake side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the condenser 12 and a filter member 15 that covers the entire air filter 14.

Here, the air filter main body 14 has a grid-like frame member 16 and a net-like filter member 17 stretched thereon. Inserting pieces 18 are provided at two upper and lower positions on the central vertical frame 14A inside the frame member 16 (right side in FIG. 2). Each insertion piece 18 is inserted between each fin 13 provided on the condenser 12, whereby the air filter main body 14 is attached to the condenser 12. An operation piece 19 is protruded from the outer side of the upper horizontal frame 16B of the air filter body 14 (the left side in FIG. 2). Air filter body 14 when replacing
Used to manipulate. Further, outside the left and right vertical frames 16 </ b> C of the frame member 16, mounting pins 20 protrude toward the front panel 8 at three locations in the vertical direction. Each of the mounting pins 20 is attached to the filter member 1 so as to cover the frame member 16 of the air filter body 14 as described later.
5 is a pin for attaching 5.

The filter member 15 is formed of a material having finer eyes than the filter member 17 of the air filter body 14, and is formed of, for example, a nonwoven fabric. Here, the nonwoven fabric used as the filter member 15 is formed of a material such as polyethylene phthalate (PET), and has the same structure as that used as a disposable filter by covering a range hood, a ventilation fan, and the like. Having. If such a nonwoven fabric is used as the air filter 15, it is possible to reliably collect fine dust, oily mist, and the like because the eyes are relatively fine. Incidentally, polyethylene terephthalate as a material of the nonwoven fabric is a so-called,
Since many materials are obtained by recycling PET bottles, and thus can be obtained relatively inexpensively, the filter member 15 can be used as a disposable filter.

The filter member 15 is connected to the frame member 16.
The filter member 15 is formed with slits 21 corresponding to the operation pieces 19 and each of the mounting pins 20.
A mounting hole 22 is formed corresponding to each of. Then, the filter member 15 moves the operation piece 19 to the slit 21.
The frame member 16 is attached to the air filter main body 14 so as to cover the entire frame member 16 by inserting the mounting pins into the mounting holes 22. After the filter member 15 is attached to the air filter body 14 in this way, the insertion piece 18 is inserted between the fins 13 of the condenser 12 so that the entire air filter 10 is attached to the intake side of the condenser 12.

In the above configuration, when the condenser 12 is air-cooled when the refrigerator 1 is driven, air is taken in from the air inlet 12 of the front panel 8. At this time, the filter member 1
5 is a frame member 16 of the air filter body 14 on which a filter member 17 is stretched on a side facing the front panel 8.
Therefore, the air sucked from the air inlet 12 of the front panel 8 first passes through the filter member 15. Since the filter member 15 is formed of a nonwoven fabric and has a finer size than the filter member 17, most of dust, oil dew, oil fog, and the like existing in the inhaled air pass through the filter member 15. Collected. As described above, dust and the like contained in the inhaled air are mainly collected through the filter member 15, and when the filter function of the filter member 15 is reduced, only the inexpensive filter member 15 is used. Be exchanged.

As described above in detail, in the air filter 10 according to the present embodiment, the filter member 17 is attached to the frame member 16.
The filter member 15, which is finer than the filter member 17, covers the entire frame member 16 by the operation piece 19, the slit 21, and each of the mounting pins 20 and the mounting holes 22 on the air filter main body 14 in which is stretched. Most of the dust, oil dew, oil fog and the like existing in the air sucked from the air inlet 9 of the front panel 8 are collected via the filter member 15, and the filter member The filter member 17 of the frame member 16 can be used semipermanently only by replacing the filter member 15. Further, the filter member 15 does not need to be specially processed, and is therefore versatile.
Moreover, since it is formed from an inexpensive nonwoven fabric, it can be disposable. Further, it is not necessary to replace or clean the filter member 17, and the cost can be reduced.

A plurality of (six) mounting pins 20 are formed on each vertical frame 16C of the frame member 16 so as to protrude from the surface of the vertical frame 16C toward the front panel 8, and the filter member 15 is mounted on each vertical frame 16C. Since the filter member 15 is attached to the frame member 16 by inserting the pin 20 into the attachment hole 21, the filter member 15 can be easily attached to and detached from the frame member 16.

Further, since the filter member 15 is formed to be larger than the entire area of the frame member 16, it is possible to prevent the frame member 16 from being soiled by dust or the like.
Further, since the filter member 15 is formed of a nonwoven fabric, the filter member 15 can be manufactured at low cost, and therefore, there is no problem even if the filter member 15 is used in a disposable manner.

Next, an air filter according to another embodiment will be described. Here, an air filter according to another embodiment has basically the same configuration as the air filter 10 shown in FIG. 2 although not particularly shown, and the air filter 10 shown in FIG. A slit 21 and a mounting hole 22 are formed in the formed filter member 15, and each mounting pin 20 and operation piece 19 of the air filter body 14 are inserted into the mounting hole 22 and the slit 21, respectively.
Is attached to the air filter 14, but in another embodiment, the filter member 15 is provided with the attachment hole 2.
2. The filter member 15 is attached to the air filter 14 by piercing the respective attachment pins 20 of the air filter body 14 into the filter member 15 without forming the slit 21. At this time, the upper end edge of the filter member 15 is disposed on the lower end surface of the operation piece 19 of the air filter body 14.

In the air filter 10 according to another embodiment having the above-described configuration, it is not necessary to form the slit 21 and the mounting hole 22 in the filter member 15, so that the filter member 15 does not need to be specially processed. The air filter 10 can be used as it is, and the cost of the air filter 10 can be further reduced. Note that the remaining configuration of the air filter 10 according to the other embodiment has the same configuration as the air filter 10 of the embodiment shown in FIG. Of course you can.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, each mounting pin 20 is formed so as to protrude toward the front panel 8 from each vertical frame 16C of the frame member 16 in the air filter body 14, and each mounting pin 20 is attached to the filter member 15. The filter member 15 is attached to the air filter main body 14 by inserting the filter member 15 into the hole 22. However, as shown in FIG. And a slit 21 is formed on the upper edge of the filter 15 and mounting holes 22 are formed on the left and right side edges. Further, as shown in FIG. Operation piece 19 in slit 21 and each mounting pin 20 so as to cover
May be inserted into the mounting hole 22.

In the above embodiment, the air filter 1
0, the filter member 15 is disposed and used so as to face the front panel 8 side. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
Of course, it may be used in a state facing the two sides.

[0028]

As described above, in the air filter according to the first aspect, when air is cooled in the condenser during operation of the refrigeration / cooling device, air is taken in from the air inlet of the front panel. Since the member is covered on the frame member of the air filter body on which the first filter member is stretched on the side facing the front panel, the air sucked from the air inlet of the front panel is first 2 pass through the filter member. Since the second filter member has finer eyes than the first filter member, most of dust, oil dew, oil fog, and the like existing in the sucked air are collected via the second filter member. Is done.

As described above, dust and the like contained in the inhaled air are mainly collected through the second filter member, and when the filter function of the second filter member is reduced, inexpensive. It is possible to use the first filter member semi-permanently only by replacing the second filter member alone. In addition, no special processing is required for manufacturing the second filter member, so that the second filter member is versatile and inexpensive and can be disposable. Furthermore,
This eliminates the need for replacement and cleaning of the first filter member, thereby reducing costs.

In the air filter according to the second aspect,
Since the second filter member is attached to the frame member via each mounting pin, it can be easily attached to and detached from the frame member. Here, the mounting pin may protrude from the surface of the frame member toward the front panel, as described in claim 3 or 4.
Further, the frame member may protrude outward from an outer peripheral end surface.

Further, in the air filter according to claim 5,
Since the second filter member is formed larger than the entire area of the frame member, it is possible to prevent the frame member from being soiled by dust or the like.

Further, in the air filter according to claim 6,
Since the second filter member is formed from a non-woven fabric, the second filter member can be manufactured at low cost, and there is no problem with a disposable system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a relationship between a condenser and an air filter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an air filter body according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where a filter member is attached to an air filter according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... refrigerator, 2 ... refrigeration unit, 3 ... machine room, 8
... front panel, 9 ... intake port, 10 ... air filter, 12 ... condenser, 13 ... fin, 1
4 ・ ・ ・ Air filter body, 15 ・ ・ ・ Filter member,
16 ... frame member, 17 ... filter member, 18 ...
・ Insertion piece, 19 ・ ・ ・ Operation piece, 20 ・ ・ ・ Mounting pin, 2
1 ... slit, 22 ... mounting hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yu Hirosawa 3-16 Hoshizaki Electric Co., Ltd., Sakaemachi Minamikan, Toyoake-shi, Aichi Prefecture (72) Inventor Shinya Suzuki 3-16 16 Sakamachicho Minamikan, Toyoake-shi, Aichi Hoshizaki Electric Co., Ltd. Inside

Claims (6)

[Claims] The present invention has a machine room in which a condenser or the like constituting a refrigeration cycle is disposed, and also performs air cooling of the condenser or the like by taking in air from an intake port formed in a front panel of the machine room, and then performs cooling in the machine room. In a refrigeration / cooling device that exhausts to the outside, an air filter body attached to the intake side of the condenser and having a frame-shaped first filter member stretched over a frame member; and a frame member at a side facing the front panel. An air filter comprising: a second filter member that is covered and has a finer size than the first filter member. 2. The frame member according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of mounting pins are formed on the frame member, and the second filter member is mounted so as to cover the frame member via each mounting pin. The air filter according to the above. 3. The air filter according to claim 2, wherein each of the mounting pins protrudes from a surface of the frame member toward the front panel. 4. The air filter according to claim 2, wherein each of the mounting pins protrudes outward from an outer peripheral end surface of the frame member. 5. The air filter according to claim 1, wherein the second filter member is formed larger than an entire area of the frame member. 6. The air filter according to claim 1, wherein the second filter member is formed of a non-woven fabric.