AU2021455539A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2021455539A1 AU2021455539A1 AU2021455539A AU2021455539A AU2021455539A1 AU 2021455539 A1 AU2021455539 A1 AU 2021455539A1 AU 2021455539 A AU2021455539 A AU 2021455539A AU 2021455539 A AU2021455539 A AU 2021455539A AU 2021455539 A1 AU2021455539 A1 AU 2021455539A1
- Authority
- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- compartment
- chilled
- refrigerator
- cooler
- cool air
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 claims description 50
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 claims description 46
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 31
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 21
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 20
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 18
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 15
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 12
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 11
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 9
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 5
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 5
- 235000019645 odor Nutrition 0.000 description 5
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 1
- JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethyl urethane Chemical compound CCOC(N)=O JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000013459 approach Methods 0.000 description 1
- 210000002421 cell wall Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013611 frozen food Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
- F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
- F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
- F25D17/08—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation using ducts
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
This refrigerator has: a chilling chamber in which the temperature can be set in a range between a first upper limit value and a first lower limit value; a switching chamber in which the temperature can be set in a range between a second upper limit value that is larger than the first upper limit value and a second lower limit value that is smaller than the first lower limit value; a cooler which generates cold air; a cooler chamber in which the cooler is provided; and a switching chamber airflow path which connects the cooler chamber and the switching chamber and through which cold air generated by the cooler flows, wherein the chilling chamber and the switching chamber are aligned in the horizontal direction, and the chilling chamber and the switching chamber are closed by a single door that can be opened and closed.
Description
U1 I U JU
P01571 DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention REFRIGERATOR
Technical Field
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator including a chilled compartment
and a versatile compartment.
Background Art
[0002]
An example of a known refrigerator includes a chilled compartment and a
versatile compartment. The chilled compartment is set to a temperature in a
temperature zone higher than a temperature zone of a freezer compartment and lower
than a temperature zone of a refrigerator compartment, and the versatile compartment
can be set to various temperature zones by a user (see, for example, Patent Literature
1). In general, food can be stored for a longer period of time as the temperature
decreases. However, when food is stored in a temperature zone of the freezer
compartment, moisture in the food freezes and causes breakage of cell walls in the
food, often resulting in deterioration of the taste of the food. The chilled compartment
may be provided to increase the food storage period and reduce deterioration of the
food. Patent Literature 1, for example, describes a chilled compartment set to about -3
degrees C. Various temperature zones have been proposed as temperature zones to
which the versatile compartment can be set. According to Patent Literature 1, for
example, a user can select from freezer (-15 degrees C), partial (-8 degrees C), chilled
(-3 degrees C), refrigerator (3 degrees C), and vegetable (8 degrees C) temperature
zones.
Citation List
Patent Literature
[0003]
U1 I U JU
P01571 Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2007-327709
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0004]
It is known that when frozen food, such as meat or fish, is thawed in the chilled
compartment, the food can be thawed without greatly damaging its taste because the
frozen moisture in the food is thawed gradually. The chilled compartment may also be
used with the temperature therein set to around 0 degrees C so that the moisture in
food does not freeze and that the food can be stored for a longer period of time
compared to when the food is stored in a general refrigerator compartment. The
versatile compartment has been proposed to be used for soft freezing in which the
temperature is set to about -7 degrees C. To utilize the characteristics of the
temperature zones to which the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment can
be set, stored food may be moved between the chilled compartment and the versatile
compartment. For example, food stored in the chilled compartment may be moved to
the versatile compartment to store the food for a longer period of time, or food stored in
the versatile compartment may be thawed in the chilled compartment.
[0005] In the refrigerator described in Patent Literature 1, the chilled compartment is
disposed in the refrigerator compartment. The versatile compartment is disposed
below the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator compartment and the versatile
compartment have different doors that can be opened and closed. Therefore, when a
stored item is to be moved between the chilled compartment and the versatile
compartment, each of the doors of the refrigerator compartment and the versatile
compartment needs to be opened and closed, and the stored item needs to be moved
in an up-down direction. Thus, the user cannot easily move the stored item between
the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment.
[0006]
U1 I U JU
P01571 The present disclosure has been made in light of the above-described
circumstances, and provides a refrigerator in which a stored item can be easily moved
between a chilled compartment and a versatile compartment.
Solution to Problem
[0007]
A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a
chilled compartment whose temperature is capable of being set in a range from a first
upper limit to a first lower limit; a versatile compartment whose temperature is capable
of being set in a range from a second upper limit to a second lower limit, the second
upper limit being higher than the first upper limit, the second lower limit being lower than
the first lower limit; a cooler configured to generate cool air; a cooler compartment
accommodating the cooler; and a versatile-compartment flow passage connecting the
cooler compartment and the versatile compartment to each other and allowing the cool
air generated by the cooler to flow therethrough. The chilled compartment and the
versatile compartment are arranged next to each other in a horizontal direction. The
chilled compartment and the versatile compartment are covered by one door capable of
being opened and closed.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0008]
In the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the
chilled compartment and the versatile compartment are arranged next to each other in
the horizontal direction. In addition, the chilled compartment and the versatile
compartment are covered by one door capable of being opened and closed.
Therefore, a stored item can be moved between the chilled compartment and the
versatile compartment simply by opening the one door and moving the stored item in
the horizontal direction. Thus, the stored item can be easily moved between the chilled
compartment and the versatile compartment.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0009]
P01571
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the appearance of a
refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 when doors are closed.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the interior of the
refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 when the doors are open.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken at part A in Fig. 2.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in the
refrigerator according to Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air toward a cooler
compartment in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a heater disposed in a chilled
compartment of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating doors of a refrigerator according
to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating drawer panels of a refrigerator
according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in a refrigerator
according to Embodiment 2.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an example of an operation of a chilled
compartment damper in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first-ventilation-opening
damper and a second-ventilation-opening damper in a chilled compartment of a
refrigerator according to Embodiment 3.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in a
refrigerator according to Embodiment 4.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air toward a
cooler compartment in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4.
[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of an automatic ice maker and a water
tank of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 5.
Description of Embodiments
[0010]
U1 I U JU
P01571 Refrigerators according to the present disclosure will now be described with
reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to embodiments described below, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit
of the present disclosure. In addition, the present disclosure includes all possible
combinations of the structures in the embodiments described below. The refrigerators
illustrated in the drawings are examples, and the illustrated refrigerators are not
intended to limit the refrigerators according to the present disclosure.
[0011]
In the following description, terms representing directions (for example "up",
"down", "right", "left", "front", "rear", etc.) are used as appropriate to facilitate
understanding. However, these terms are used for the purpose of description, and are
not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the drawings, elements denoted by the
same reference signs are the same or corresponding elements, and this applies
throughout this specification.
[0012]
In the drawings, the relative dimensional relationships, shapes, etc., of the
components may differ from the actual ones. In addition, in the drawings, the X
direction is the left-right direction of the refrigerator, and extends leftward as shown by
the arrow thereof. The Y direction is the front-rear direction of the refrigerator, and
extends rearward as shown by the arrow thereof. The Z direction is the up-down
direction of the refrigerator, and extends upward as shown by the arrow thereof.
[0013] Embodiment 1
(Configuration of Refrigerator 100)
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the appearance of a refrigerator
100 according to Embodiment 1 when doors 2a, 2b, and 2c are closed. Fig. 2 is a
schematic perspective view illustrating the interior of the refrigerator 100 according to
Embodiment 1 when the doors 2a, 2b, and 2c are open. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the
refrigerator 100 includes a box-shaped housing 1. The housing 1 has doors 2a, 2b, and 2c on the front. In the following description, the doors 2a, 2b, and 2c will be
U1 I U JU
P01571 referred to simply as "doors 2" when it is not necessary to distinguish between them. The term "doors 2" is to be interpreted as one or more doors 2.
[0014]
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the doors 2 are swing doors. The housing 1 is provided
with hinges 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, and 5e that support the doors 2 and allow the doors 2 to
swing about a vertical axis. The hinges 5a to 5e may be provided at either the left or
right end of the housing 1. The doors 2 of the refrigerator 100 are not limited to swing
doors, and may be drawer panels. Alternatively, the doors 2 may include one or more
swing doors and one or more drawer panels.
[0015] As illustrated in Fig. 2, the inner space of the housing 1 is partitioned into a
refrigerator compartment 31, a chilled compartment 32, a versatile compartment 33, and
a freezer compartment 34. The door 2a covers the refrigerator compartment 31 such
that the door 2a can be opened and closed. The door 2b covers the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 such that the door 2b can be opened
and closed. The door 2c covers the freezer compartment 34 such that the door 2c can
be opened and closed. In this specification, the spaces into which the inner space of
the housing 1 is partitioned are referred to as storage compartments. The storage
compartments include the refrigerator compartment 31, the chilled compartment 32, the
versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34. The term "storage
compartments" is to be interpreted as one or more storage compartments.
[0016]
A refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 extending in a horizontal direction is
provided at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 31. The refrigerator
compartment 31 includes shelves 11 and a refrigerator-compartment case 12, which is
a drawer case. Although Fig. 3 shows a plurality of shelves 11, the shelves 11 may be
omitted. The number of shelves 11 is not limited.
[0017]
The chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 are disposed
below the refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 and arranged next to each other in a
P01571 horizontal direction. As described above, the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile
compartment 33 are covered by one door 2b that can be opened and closed. The chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 are separated from each
other by a first partition wall 8 extending in the up-down direction. The first partition
wall 8 has a first ventilation opening 8a. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the first ventilation
opening 8a is disposed in a lower front portion of the first partition wall 8. The chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 communicate with each other
through the first ventilation opening 8a.
[0018]
The chilled compartment 32 can be set to a chilled temperature zone, which is a
range from a first lower limit to a first upper limit. The first lower limit and the first upper
limit of the chilled temperature zone are, for example, about -3 degrees C and about 3
degrees C, respectively. The versatile compartment 33 can be set to a temperature in
the range from a freezer temperature zone, which is a second lower limit, to a
refrigerator temperature zone, which is a second upper limit. The freezer temperature
zone is, for example, a temperature zone of -17 degrees C or less. The refrigerator
temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of 3 degrees C to 10 degrees C.
Therefore, the versatile compartment 33 can be set to a temperature lower than the
temperature in the chilled compartment 32. The versatile compartment 33 can also be
set to a temperature higher than the temperature in the chilled compartment 32.
[0019]
The chilled compartment 32 includes a chilled-compartment case 13, which is a
drawer case. The versatile compartment 33 includes a versatile-compartment case 14, which is also a drawer case. By opening the door 2b and pulling the chilled
compartment case 13 and the versatile-compartment case 14 outward, stored items can
be easily accessed, and therefore can be easily moved between the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33.
[0020]
A second partition wall 9 extending in a horizontal direction is provided at the
bottom of the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33. The freezer
U1 I U JU
P01571 compartment 34 is disposed below the second partition wall 9. A portion of the second partition wall 9 that separates the chilled compartment 32 and the freezer compartment
34 from each other has a second ventilation opening 9a. The chilled compartment 32
and the freezer compartment 34 communicate with each other through the second
ventilation opening 9a. The freezer compartment 34 includes a first freezer
compartment case 15, which is a drawer case, and a second freezer-compartment case
16, which is also a drawer case. An item can be easily stored and removed by pulling
the first freezer-compartment case 15 and the second freezer-compartment case 16
outward.
[0021]
In the following description, the refrigerator-compartment case 12, the chilled
compartment case 13, the versatile-compartment case 14, the first freezer-compartment
case 15, and the second freezer-compartment case 16 will be referred to simply as
"drawer cases" when it is not necessary to distinguish between them. The term
"drawer cases" is to be interpreted as one or more drawer cases. The shelves 11 and
the drawer cases are provided to partition the inner spaces of the storage
compartments. The shelves 11 and the drawer cases also serve to facilitate
movement, storage, and removal of items. Items stored in deepest regions of the
drawer cases can be checked by pulling the drawer cases outward. Therefore, the
possibility that the items stored in deep regions will be left unused can be reduced.
The number of drawer cases included in each storage compartment is not limited.
Storage compartments having no drawer cases may be provided. Storage
compartments other than the refrigerator compartment 31 may include the shelves 11.
[0022]
Fig. 3 is a schematic sectional view taken at part A in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 illustrates a
cross section of the refrigerator 100 in the up-down direction taken along a plane
passing through the versatile compartment 33. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a refrigerator
compartment outlet panel 24 is provided at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 31.
A versatile-compartment outlet panel 25 is provided at the rear of the versatile
compartment33. A fan grille 26 is provided at the rear of the freezer compartment 34.
U1 I U JU
P01571
[0023]
In the following description, the refrigerator-compartment outlet panel 24, the
versatile-compartment outlet panel 25, and the fan grille 26 are referred to simply as "rear panels" when it is not necessary to distinguish between them. The term "rear
panels" is to be interpreted as one or more rear panels.
[0024]
A cooler compartment 21 accommodating a cooler 21a and a fan 22 is provided
between the fan grille 26 and a rear surface of the housing 1. The fan 22 is disposed
above the cooler 21a. A damper 27 is provided above the cooler compartment 21 and
between the second partition wall 9 and the rear surface of the housing 1. The damper
27 may be either a twin damper or a single damper. Cool air generated by the cooler
21a is accelerated by the fan 22, passes through the damper 27 in an open state, and is
supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31 and the versatile compartment 33. The
freezer compartment 34 receives the cool air that does not pass through the damper 27.
[0025]
The refrigerator 100 includes a machine compartment 52 in a lower rear region
thereof. The machine compartment 52 accommodates a compressor 23, an air-cooled
condenser, a drier, and a pressure reducing device. The compressor 23, the air-cooled
condenser, the drier, and the pressure reducing device are connected to a refrigerant
circuit together with a heat radiation pipe to constitute a refrigeration cycle. The heat
radiation pipe is disposed in an urethane portion of the housing 1 and around the
storage compartments. The air-cooled condenser, the heat radiation pipe, the drier, and the pressure reducing device are not illustrated.
[0026]
Refrigerant discharged from the compressor 23 rejects heat and condenses in
the air-cooled condenser and the heat radiation pipe. The refrigerant that has passed
through the air-cooled condenser and the heat radiation pipe flows through the drier and
the pressure reducing device, and is supplied to the cooler 21a. The refrigerant is
evaporated in the cooler 21a, exchanges heat with air circulated in the refrigerator 100
by the fan 22, and then flows out of the cooler 21a. Then, the refrigerant flows through
U1 I U JU
P01571 a suction pipe, is increased in temperature while exchanging heat with the pressure
reducing device, and returns to the compressor 23. The air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the cooler 21a is cooled and supplied to the storage
compartments by the fan 22. Thus, air circulation paths are formed in the refrigerator
100.
[0027]
A controller 51 that controls the refrigerator 100 is provided at an upper rear
corner of the housing 1. The controller 51 is composed of, for example, dedicated
hardware or a CPU that executes programs stored in a memory. The CPU is also
referred to as a central processing unit, a central processing device, a processing
device, a computing device, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a processor.
[0028]
(Flows of Cool Air in Refrigerator 100)
Flows of cool air in the refrigerator 100 will now be described with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in the
refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1. In Fig. 4, the arrows in the refrigerator
100 show the flows of cool air. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool
air toward the cooler compartment 21 in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment
1.
[0029]
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the cooler compartment 21 and the refrigerator
compartment 31 are connected to each other by a refrigerator-compartment flow
passage 500. The refrigerator-compartment outlet panel 24 has refrigerator
compartment air outlets 40a. The refrigerator compartment 31 communicates with the
refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 through the refrigerator-compartment air
outlets 40a in the refrigerator-compartment outlet panel 24. Although more than one
refrigerator-compartment air outlets 40a are provided in Fig. 4, there may be only one
refrigerator-compartment air outlet 40a.
[0030]
in
U1 I U JU
P01571 The cooler compartment 21 and the versatile compartment 33 are connected to
each other by a versatile-compartment flow passage 510. The versatile-compartment
outlet panel 25 has a versatile-compartment air outlet 40c. The versatile compartment
33 communicates with the versatile-compartment flow passage 510 through the
versatile-compartment air outlet 40c in the versatile-compartment outlet panel 25.
[0031]
The cooler compartment 21 and the freezer compartment 34 are connected to
each other by a freezer-compartment flow passage 520. The fan grille 26 has a
freezer-compartment air outlet 40d. The freezer compartment 34 communicates with
the freezer-compartment flow passage 520 through the freezer-compartment air outlet
d in the fan grille 26.
[0032]
As described above, the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is accelerated by
the fan 22 and supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31, the versatile compartment
33, and the freezer compartment 34. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the cool air that has
passed through the damper 27 is divided into refrigerator-compartment supply cool air
61 that flows through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 and versatile
compartment supply cool air 63 that flows through the versatile-compartment flow
passage 510. The refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61 flows through the
refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 and is supplied to the refrigerator
compartment 31 through the refrigerator-compartment air outlets 40a. Items stored in
the refrigerator compartment 31 are cooled by the refrigerator-compartment supply cool
air 61 supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31 through the refrigerator-compartment
air outlets 40a.
[0033]
The versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 flows through the versatile
compartment flow passage 510 and is supplied to the versatile compartment 33 through
the versatile-compartment air outlet 40c. Items stored in the versatile compartment 33
are cooled by the versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 supplied to the versatile
compartment 33 through the versatile-compartment air outlet 40c.
U1 I U JU
P01571
[0034] The cool air generated by the cooler 21a is supplied to the freezer compartment
34 without passing through the damper 27. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the cool air generated by the cooler 21a flows through the freezer-compartment flow passage 520
as freezer-compartment supply cool air 64, and is supplied to the freezer compartment
34 through the freezer-compartment air outlet 40d. Items stored in the freezer
compartment 34 are cooled by the freezer-compartment supply cool air 64 supplied to
the freezer compartment 34 through the freezer-compartment air outlet 40d.
[0035]
Flows of cool air that enters the chilled compartment 32 will now be described.
As illustrated in Fig. 5, the cooler compartment 21 and the chilled compartment 32 are
connected to each other by a chilled-compartment return flow passage 530. The
chilled compartment 32 has a chilled-compartment return port 42b. The chilled
compartment 32 and the chilled-compartment return flow passage 530 communicate
with each other through the chilled-compartment return port 42b. The chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 communicate with each other
through the first ventilation opening 8a in the first partition wall 8. Therefore, the
versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 supplied to the versatile compartment 33 is
sucked by the negative pressure in the chilled-compartment return flow passage 530
and supplied to the chilled compartment 32 as chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a.
[0036]
The chilled compartment 32 and the freezer compartment 34 communicate with
each other through the second ventilation opening 9a in the second partition wall 9.
Therefore, the freezer-compartment supply cool air 64 supplied to the freezer
compartment 34 is sucked by the negative pressure in the chilled-compartment return
flow passage 530 and supplied to the chilled compartment 32 as chilled-compartment
supply cool air 62b. Thus, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a is supplied to
the chilled compartment 32 from the versatile compartment 33, and the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62b is supplied to the chilled compartment 32 from the
freezer compartment 34.
U1 I U JU
P01571
[0037]
As illustrated in Fig. 5, the chilled-compartment return port 42b is disposed at a
position diagonal to the first ventilation opening 8a and the second ventilation opening 9a. Therefore, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62b supplied to the chilled compartment 32 are sucked by
the negative pressure in the chilled-compartment return flow passage 530 and enter the
chilled-compartment return flow passage 530 through the chilled-compartment return
port 42b. Items stored in the chilled compartment 32 are cooled by the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62a flowing from the first ventilation opening 8a toward the
chilled-compartment return port 42b and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b
flowing from the second ventilation opening 9a toward the chilled-compartment return
port 42b. Since the chilled-compartment return port 42b is disposed at a position
diagonal to the first ventilation opening 8a and the second ventilation opening 9a, a flow
of cool air that travels substantially along a diagonal line of the chilled compartment 32
is generated, and the uniformity of the temperature distribution in the chilled
compartment 32 is improved. The chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b that have flowed into the chilled-compartment
return flow passage 530 return to the cooler compartment 21 through the chilled
compartment return flow passage 530 as chilled-compartment return cool air 202.
[0038]
As illustrated in Fig. 5, the refrigerator compartment 31 and the cooler
compartment 21 are connected to each other by a refrigerator-compartment return flow
passage 540. The refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61 supplied to the
refrigerator compartment 31 flows into the refrigerator-compartment return flow passage
540 through a refrigerator-compartment return port (not illustrated). The refrigerator
compartment supply cool air 61 that has flowed into the refrigerator-compartment return
flow passage 540 returns to the cooler compartment 21 through the refrigerator
compartment return flow passage 540 as refrigerator-compartment return cool air 201.
[0039]
U1 I U JU
P01571 As described above, the versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 generated by
the cooler 21a and supplied to the versatile compartment 33 and the freezer
compartment supply cool air 64 generated by the cooler 21a and supplied to the freezer
compartment 34 are supplied to the chilled compartment 32 as the chilled-compartment
supply cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b, respectively, and
then return to the cooler compartment 21 through the chilled-compartment return flow
passage 530 as the chilled-compartment return cool air 202. The refrigerator
compartment supply cool air 61 generated by the cooler 21a and supplied to the
refrigerator compartment 31 returns to the cooler compartment 21 through the
refrigerator-compartment return flow passage 540 as the refrigerator-compartment
return cool air 201. Thus, the passage of the cool air supplied to the refrigerator
compartment 31 and the passage of the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment 32
are separated from each other. The refrigerator compartment 31 is set to a relatively
high temperature zone, and items stored therein generally emit strong odors. Since
the passage of the cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31 and the passage
of the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment 32 are separated from each other,
transfer of odors of the stored items between the refrigerator compartment 31 and the
chilled compartment 32 can be reduced.
[0040]
In the description in this specification, the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is
referred to by different names with different reference signs, that is, as the refrigerator
compartment supply cool air 61, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a, the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b, the versatile-compartment supply cool air 63,
the freezer-compartment supply cool air 64, the refrigerator-compartment return cool air
201, and the chilled-compartment return cool air 202 to distinguish them from each
other for convenience. Each of the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61, the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b,
the versatile-compartment supply cool air 63, the freezer-compartment supply cool air
64, the refrigerator-compartment return cool air 201, and the chilled-compartment return
cool air 202 may be referred to simply as "cool air". The term "cool air" may also refer
1A
U1 I U JU
P01571 to all of the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61, the chilled-compartment supply
cool air 62a, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b, the versatile-compartment
supply cool air 63, the freezer-compartment supply cool air 64, the refrigerator
compartment return cool air 201, and the chilled-compartment return cool air 202.
[0041]
As described above, in Embodiment 1, the chilled compartment 32 receives the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a that has passed through the versatile
compartment 33 and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b that has passed
through the freezer compartment 34. Since each of the chilled-compartment supply
cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b is the cool air that has
cooled the items stored in the versatile compartment 33 or the items stored in the
freezer compartment 34, the temperature thereof is higher than the temperature of the
cool air generated by the cooler 21a. In other words, the temperatures of the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b are
close to a target temperature for maintaining the chilled compartment 32 at a set
temperature. Therefore, when comparing the case where the chilled-compartment
supply cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b are supplied to the
chilled compartment 32 and the case where the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is
directly supplied to the chilled compartment 32, the chilled compartment 32 is more
slowly cooled in the case where the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b are supplied. Therefore, temperature hunting
in the chilled compartment 32 is reduced, and adverse effects of temperature variations
on the items stored in the chilled compartment 32 are reduced accordingly.
[0042]
In Embodiment 1, the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is not directly supplied
to the chilled compartment 32. Therefore, the cool air is not strongly blown into the
chilled compartment 32 by the fan 22. Since the cool air is not directly supplied from
the cooler compartment 21, the chilled compartment 32 does not have an air outlet
through which the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is supplied. Therefore, the
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P01571 chilled compartment 32 does not receive cool air that is excessively cool relative to the
set temperature, and the items stored in the chilled compartment 32 do not freeze.
[0043]
The flow rate and the temperature of the cool air supplied to the chilled
compartment 32 are not greatly influenced by the rotation speed of the fan 22 and the
open/closed state of the damper 27. Therefore, the chilled compartment 32 does not receive excessively cool air generated by the cooler 21a, and the occurrence of
significant temperature hunting in the chilled compartment 32 can be reduced. When
significant temperature hunting occurs while the set temperature of the chilled
compartment 32 is around 0 degrees C, the temperature in the chilled compartment 32
fluctuates between the temperature zones above and below 0 degrees C, and the
stored items are adversely affected. In the chilled compartment 32 according to
Embodiment 1, the occurrence of such temperature hunting is reduced, so that adverse
effects of temperature variations on the stored items are reduced. Therefore, damage
to the stored items can be prevented and, when the stored items are food, loss of flavor
in the food can be prevented.
[0044]
(Damper 27)
The operation of the damper 27 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, the refrigerator compartment 31, the chilled compartment 32, the
versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34 are respectively provided
with a refrigerator-compartment temperature sensor 41a, a chilled-compartment
temperature sensor 41b, a versatile-compartment temperature sensor 41c, and a
freezer-compartment temperature sensor 41d. In the following description, the
refrigerator-compartment temperature sensor 41a, the chilled-compartment temperature
sensor 41b, the versatile-compartment temperature sensor 41c, and the freezer
compartment temperature sensor 41d will be referred to simply as "temperature sensors
41" when it is not necessary to distinguish between them. The term "temperature
sensors 41" is to be interpreted as one or more temperature sensors 41.
[0045]
U1 I U JU
P01571 The temperatures in the storage compartments are sensed by the temperature
sensors 41. The controller 51 receives the temperatures sensed by the temperature sensors 41, and transmits a signal to the damper 27 to control the open/closed state of
the damper 27. When the open/closed state of the damper 27 changes, the flow rate
of the cool air that passes through the damper 27 changes accordingly. Since the cool
air can be delivered to the storage compartments at appropriate flow rates, the storage
compartments can be maintained at set temperatures. The temperature sensors 41
are, for example, thermistors.
[0046]
When the refrigerator includes a plurality of dampers, manufacturing costs may
be increased, and the flow passage structure may become complex. In Embodiment
1, the chilled compartment 32 is not required to have a dedicated damper. Therefore, manufacturing costs are not increased, and the flow passage structure does not
become complex.
[0047]
(Heater 50)
A heater 50 will now be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a schematic
diagram illustrating the heater 50 for the chilled compartment 32 of the refrigerator 100
according to Embodiment 1. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the floor surfaces of the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 are defined by the second partition
wall 9. The heater 50 is provided inside a portion of the second partition wall 9
corresponding to the floor surface of the chilled compartment 32. The heater 50
generates heat when energized. The controller 51 controls the energization of the
heater 50.
[0048]
When the versatile compartment 33 is set to a low temperature, for example, -10
degrees C, the chilled compartment 32 may be excessively cooled relative to the set
temperature of the chilled compartment 32. Also when the freezer compartment 34 is
set to a low temperature, for example, -20 degrees C, the chilled compartment may be
excessively cooled relative to the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32. Also
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P01571 when the versatile compartment 33 stores only a small amount of items, the flow rate of
the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a supplied from the versatile compartment 33
to the chilled compartment 32 is increased, and accordingly the chilled compartment 32
may be excessively cooled relative to the set temperature thereof. Also when the
freezer compartment 34 stores only a small amount of items, the flow rate of the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62b supplied from the freezer compartment 34 to the
chilled compartment 32 is increased, and accordingly the chilled compartment 32 may
be excessively cooled relative to the set temperature thereof.
[0049]
When the chilled compartment 32 is excessively cooled relative to the set
temperature of the chilled compartment 32, the temperature in the chilled compartment
32 is lower than the set temperature. As described above, the controller 51 receives
the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 sensed by the chilled-compartment
temperature sensor 41b. When the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 sensed
by the chilled-compartment temperature sensor 41b is lower than the set temperature,
the controller 51 energizes the heater 50 so that the heater 50 generates heat. The
heater 50 generates heat so that the temperature of the air in the chilled compartment
32 is increased to the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
[0050] In the above description, the refrigerator 100 is a bottom freezer refrigerator in
which the refrigerator compartment 31 is disposed above the chilled compartment 32
and the versatile compartment 33 with the refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7
disposed therebetween and in which the freezer compartment 34 is disposed below the
chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 with the second partition wall
9 disposed therebetween. However, the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 is not
limited to a bottom freezer refrigerator, and the freezer compartment 34 may be
disposed above the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33. The
refrigerator may be any refrigerator in which the chilled compartment 32 and the
versatile compartment 33 are arranged in a horizontal direction and are covered by one
door 2b that can be opened and closed. The storage compartments are not limited to
1IA
P01571 the refrigerator compartment 31, the chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment
33, and the freezer compartment 34. Other storage compartments, such as an ice making compartment and a vegetable compartment, may be provided.
[0051] The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the chilled compartment
32, the versatile compartment 33, the cooler 21a, the cooler compartment 21, and the
versatile-compartment flow passage 510. The temperature of the chilled compartment
32 can be set in the range from the first upper limit to the first lower limit. The
temperature of the versatile compartment 33 can be set in the range from the second
upper limit to the second lower limit. The second upper limit is higher than the first
upper limit, and the second lower limit is lower than the first lower limit. The cooler 21a
generates cool air. The cooler compartment 21 accommodates the cooler 21a. The
versatile-compartment flow passage 510 connects the cooler compartment 21 and the
versatile compartment 33 to each other and allows the cool air generated by the cooler
21a to flow therethrough. The chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment
33 are arranged next to each other in a horizontal direction. The chilled compartment
32 and the versatile compartment 33 are covered by one door 2b capable of being
opened and closed.
[0052] According to the above-described configuration, the chilled compartment 32 and
the versatile compartment 33 are covered by one door 2b that can be opened and
closed. The chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 can be used by opening and closing the door 2b once. Therefore, the stored items can be easily
moved between the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33. Thus, the usability of the refrigerator 100 is improved.
[0053] The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the first partition wall 8
and the chilled-compartment return flow passage 530. The first partition wall 8
separates the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 from each
other. The chilled-compartment return flow passage 530 connects the cooler
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P01571 compartment 21 and the chilled compartment 32 to each other and allows the chilled
compartment return cool air 202 flowing out of the chilled compartment 32 to flow
therethrough. The first partition wall 8 has the first ventilation opening 8a providing
communication between the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33.
The cool air flows into the versatile compartment 33 through the versatile-compartment
flowpassage510. The cool air flows into the chilled compartment 32 from the versatile
compartment 33 through the first ventilation opening 8a. The cool air in the chilled
compartment 32 flows into the cooler compartment 21 through the chilled-compartment
return flow passage 530.
[0054] According to the above-described configuration, the chilled compartment 32
adjoins the versatile compartment 33 with the first partition wall 8 disposed
therebetween. Therefore, the effect of cooling the chilled compartment 32 is
influenced by heat conduction from the versatile compartment 33 through the first
partition wall 8. As a result, compared to a configuration in which the chilled
compartment 32 is disposed in the refrigerator compartment 31 at the bottom of the
refrigerator compartment 31, the cooling effect due to heat conduction from the versatile
compartment 33 is increased. Thus, the inner space of the chilled compartment 32
according to the above-described configuration can be more efficiently cooled than the
inner space of the chilled compartment 32 disposed at the bottom of the refrigerator
compartment 31. Because the inner space of the chilled compartment 32 can be
efficiently cooled, the chilled compartment 32 can be cooled by the cool air that has
passed through the versatile compartment 33. In other words, the chilled compartment
32 can be efficiently cooled by reusing the cool air used to cool the versatile
compartment 33.
[0055] Since the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a that has passed through the
versatile compartment 33 is supplied to the chilled compartment 32, the chilled
compartment 32 is slowly cooled. Therefore, temperature hunting in the chilled
gn
P01571 compartment 32 is reduced, so that adverse effects on the items stored in the chilled compartment 32 can be reduced.
[0056]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes the freezer compartment 34, the first partition wall 8, the second partition wall 9, the chilled
compartment return flow passage 530, and the freezer-compartment flow passage 520.
The first partition wall 8 separates the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile
compartment 33 from each other. The second partition wall 9 separates the chilled
compartment 32 and the freezer compartment 34 from each other. The chilled
compartment return flow passage 530 connects the cooler compartment 21 and the
chilled compartment 32 to each other and allows the cool air flowing out of the chilled
compartment 32 to flow therethrough. The freezer-compartment flow passage 520
connects the cooler compartment 21 and the freezer compartment 34 to each other and
allows the cool air generated by the cooler 21a to flow therethrough. The temperature
in the freezer compartment 34 can be set to a temperature lower than the second lower
limit for the versatile compartment 33. The first partition wall 8 has the first ventilation
opening 8a providing communication between the chilled compartment 32 and the
versatile compartment 33. The second partition wall 9 has the second ventilation
opening 9a providing communication between the chilled compartment 32 and the
freezer compartment 34. The cool air flows into the versatile compartment 33 through
the versatile-compartment flow passage 510. The cool air flows into the freezer
compartment 34 through the freezer-compartment flow passage 520. The cool air
flows into the chilled compartment 32 from the versatile compartment 33 through the
first ventilation opening 8a and from the freezer compartment 34 through the second
ventilation opening 9a. The cool air in the chilled compartment 32 flows into the cooler
compartment 21 through the chilled-compartment return flow passage 530.
[0057] According to the above-described configuration, the chilled compartment 32
adjoins the versatile compartment 33 with the first partition wall 8 disposed
therebetween. The chilled compartment 32 also adjoins the freezer compartment 34
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P01571 with the second partition wall 9 disposed therebetween. Therefore, the effect of cooling the chilled compartment 32 is influenced by heat conduction from the versatile
compartment 33 through the first partition wall 8 and heat conduction from the freezer
compartment 34 through the second partition wall 9. As a result, compared to a
configuration in which the chilled compartment 32 is disposed in the refrigerator
compartment 31 at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 31, the cooling effect due
to heat conduction from the versatile compartment 33 and the freezer compartment 34
is increased. Thus, the inner space of the chilled compartment 32 according to the
above-described configuration can be more efficiently cooled than the inner space of
the chilled compartment 32 disposed at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 31.
According to the above-described configuration, because the inner space of the chilled
compartment 32 can be efficiently cooled, the chilled compartment 32 can be cooled by
the cool air that has passed through the versatile compartment 33 and the cool air that
has passed through the freezer compartment 34. In other words, the chilled
compartment 32 can be efficiently cooled by reusing the cool air used to cool the
versatile compartment 33 and the cool air used to cool the freezer compartment 34.
[0058] A flow passage configuration is formed to enable the chilled-compartment supply
cool air 62a that has passed through the versatile compartment 33 and the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62b that has passed through the freezer compartment 34
to be supplied to the chilled compartment 32, so that the chilled compartment 32 is
slowly cooled. Therefore, temperature hunting in the chilled compartment 32 is
reduced, so that adverse effects of temperature variations on the items stored in the
chilled compartment 32 can be reduced.
[0059] (Modification 1 of Doors 2)
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating doors 2 of a refrigerator 100 according
to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the housing 1 has a door 2a
and a door 2b on the front. The chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34 are covered by the door 2b that can be opened and
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P01571 closed. According to this configuration, the chilled compartment 32, the versatile
compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34 can be used by opening and closing the door 2b once. Therefore, the stored items can be easily moved between the
chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34.
[0060] (Modification 2 of Doors 2)
Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating drawer panels of a refrigerator 100
according to Modification 2 of Embodiment 1. In Modification 2, a door 2b and a door
2c are drawer panels. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the door 2b is a drawer panel that can be
moved in the front-rear direction along rails provided on wall surfaces of the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33. Although not illustrated, the door
2c is a drawer panel that can be moved in the front-rear direction along rails provided on
wall surfaces of the freezer compartment 34.
[0061] (Drawer Panels 2b and 2c)
Although not illustrated in detail, a left wall surface of the chilled compartment 32
and a right wall surface of the versatile compartment 33 are provided with first rails
extending along the depth. First frames supported by the first rails are attached to a
surface of the door 2b facing the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment
33. Left and right side surfaces of the first partition wall 8 that separates the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 from each other are provided with
second rails extending along the depth. Second frames supported by the second rails
are attached to the surface of the door 2b facing the chilled compartment 32 and the
versatile compartment 33 in a central region of the surface. The first frames and the
second frames slide along the corresponding ones of the first rails and the second rails
to move in the front-rear direction. The chilled-compartment case 13 and the versatile
compartment case 14 are fitted to corresponding ones of the frames, and are therefore
capable of being pulled out of the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile
compartment 33 as the door 2b, which is a drawer panel, slides in the front-rear
direction.
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P01571
[0062]
According to the above-described configuration, the door 2b of the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33, the chilled-compartment case 13,
and the versatile-compartment case 14 are integrated together. Therefore, all of the
items stored in the chilled-compartment case 13 and the versatile-compartment case 14
can be checked by opening the door 2b. In addition, the stored items can be moved
between the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 simply by
opening the door 2b. Therefore, the stored items can be moved between the chilled
compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 while checking all of the items stored
in the chilled compartment 32 and the versatile compartment 33 simply by opening the
door 2b. Thus, the usability of the refrigerator 100 is improved.
[0063]
Embodiment 2
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in a refrigerator 100
according to Embodiment 2. The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2
described herein differs from the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 in that the
chilled compartment 32 communicates with the refrigerator-compartment flow passage
500. In the following description, elements that are the same as those in Embodiment
1 described above are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof
will be omitted.
[0064] As illustrated in Fig. 9, the chilled compartment 32 has a chilled-compartment air
outlet 40b that communicates with the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500.
The chilled-compartment air outlet 40b is provided with a chilled-compartment damper
401 capable of opening and closing the chilled-compartment air outlet 40b. When the
chilled-compartment damper 401 is in an open state, the refrigerator-compartment flow
passage 500 and the chilled compartment 32 communicate with each other.
Accordingly, the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61 flowing through the
refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 flows into the chilled compartment 32
through the chilled-compartment air outlet 40b as chilled-compartment supply cool air
9A
P01571 62c. The controller 51 controls the open/closed state of the chilled-compartment
damper 401. The opening degree of the chilled-compartment damper 401 may be
adjustable, and the flow rate of the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62c may be
adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the chilled-compartment damper 401.
[0065]
The chilled-compartment supply cool air 62c supplied to the chilled compartment
32 returns to the cooler compartment 21 through the chilled-compartment return flow
passage 530 together with the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the chilled
compartment supply cool air 62b as the chilled-compartment return cool air 202. The
chilled-compartment return cool air 202 is described in Embodiment 1, and description
thereof is thus omitted herein. A portion of the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air
61 flowing through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 that has not been
supplied to the chilled compartment 32 as the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62c is
supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31. The refrigerator-compartment supply cool
air 61 supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31 is described in Embodiment 1, and
description thereof is thus omitted herein.
[0066]
(Chilled-Compartment Damper 401)
When the set temperature of the versatile compartment 33 is in the refrigerator temperature zone or close to the refrigerator temperature zone, the temperature of the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a supplied from the versatile compartment 33 to
the chilled compartment 32 may be equal to the set temperature of the chilled
compartment 32 or higher than the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
The controller 51 receives the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 sensed by the
chilled-compartment temperature sensor 41b. When the controller 51 determines that
the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is higher than the set temperature, the
controller 51 sets the chilled-compartment damper 401 to an open state. When the
controller 51 determines that the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is lower
than or equal to the set temperature, the controller 51 sets the chilled-compartment
damper 401 to a closed state.
P01571
[0067]
Fig. 10 is a flowchart of an example of an operation of the chilled-compartment
damper 401 in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2. The controller 51
receives the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 sensed by the chilled
compartment temperature sensor 41b (step ST1). Next, the controller 51 compares
the received temperature in the chilled compartment 32 and the set temperature, and
determines whether or not the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is lower than
or equal to the set temperature (step ST2). When the temperature in the chilled
compartment 32 is lower than or equal to the set temperature (YES in step ST2), the
controller 51 sets the chilled-compartment damper 401 to the closed state (step ST3),
and ends the process. When the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is higher
than the set temperature in step ST2 (NO in step ST2), the controller 51 sets the chilled
compartment damper 401 to the open state (step ST4). After that, the controller 51
returns to step ST1.
[0068]
According to Embodiment 2, when the chilled-compartment damper 401 is in the
open state, the chilled compartment 32 receives the chilled-compartment supply cool air
62c supplied from the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 in addition to the
chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a supplied from the versatile compartment 33
and the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b supplied from the freezer compartment
34. Therefore, the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment 32 can
be increased while temperature hunting in the chilled compartment 32 is reduced
compared to when the cool air generated by the cooler 21a is supplied directly to the
chilled compartment 32. Therefore, the chilled compartment 32 can be maintained at
the set temperature while adverse effects on the items stored in the chilled
compartment 32 are reduced.
[0069]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2 includes the refrigerator
compartment 31, the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500, the chilled
compartment air outlet 40b, and the temperature sensor 41b. The refrigerator
9';
U1 I U JU
P01571 compartment flow passage 500 connects the cooler compartment 21 and the refrigerator compartment 31 to each other and allows the cool air generated by the
cooler 21a to flow therethrough. The chilled-compartment air outlet 40b is provided in the chilled compartment 32 and provides communication between the refrigerator
compartment flow passage 500 and the chilled compartment 32. The temperature
sensor 41b is provided in the chilled compartment 32. The chilled-compartment air
outlet 40b is provided with the chilled-compartment damper 401 capable of opening and
closing the chilled-compartment air outlet 40b. The chilled-compartment damper 401
opens and closes based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 41b and
the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
[0070]
According to the above-described configuration, the refrigerator-compartment
supply cool air 61 at a relatively low temperature that flows through the refrigerator
compartment flow passage 500 can be supplied to the chilled compartment 32 through
the chilled-compartment air outlet 40b as the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62c.
When the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is higher than the set temperature,
the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62c can be supplied to the chilled compartment
32. Therefore, the versatile compartment 33 can be set to a temperature in the
refrigerator temperature zone or a temperature zone close to the refrigerator
temperature zone without considering the influence on the temperature in the chilled
compartment 32. In other words, the temperature to which the versatile compartment
33 can be set can be selected from a wider range, and accordingly the usability of the
refrigerator 100 is increased.
[0071]
In the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 2, the chilled-compartment
damper 401 is set to the open state when the temperature sensed by the temperature
sensor 41b is higher than the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32, and the
cool air flowing through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 flows into the
chilled compartment 32 through the chilled-compartment air outlet 40b.
[0072]
U1 I U JU
P01571 According to the above-described configuration, when the temperature in the
chilled compartment 32 is higher than the set temperature, the chilled-compartment
damper 401 is set to the open state so that the cool air at a relatively low temperature
flowing through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 is supplied to the chilled
compartment 32. Therefore, the inner space of the chilled compartment 32 can be
rapidly cooled so that the temperature therein approaches the set temperature.
Therefore, even when the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is temporarily
higher than the set temperature, adverse effects on the items stored in the chilled
compartment 32 can be reduced.
[0073]
Embodiment 3
Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a first-ventilation-opening damper 8b
and a second-ventilation-opening damper 9b in a chilled compartment 32 of a
refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 3. The refrigerator 100 according to
Embodiment 3 described herein differs from the refrigerators 100 according to
Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 in that the first ventilation opening 8a is provided with
the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b and that the second ventilation opening 9a is
provided with the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b. In the following description, elements that are the same as those in Embodiments 1 and 2 described above are
denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof will be omitted.
[0074]
(First-Ventilation-Opening Damper 8b and Second-Ventilation-Opening Damper 9b)
The first-ventilation-opening damper 8b is capable of opening and closing the first
ventilation opening 8a. When the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b is in an open
state, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a flows into the chilled compartment
32. The opening degree of the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b may be adjustable
in multiple steps, and the flow rate of the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a may
be adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b.
[0075]
U1 I U JU
P01571 The second-ventilation-opening damper 9b is capable of opening and closing the
second ventilation opening 9a. When the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b is in an open state, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b flows into the chilled
compartment 32. The opening degree of the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b
may be adjustable in multiple steps, and the flow rate of the chilled-compartment supply
cool air 62b may be adjusted by adjusting the opening degree of the second-ventilation
opening damper 9b.
[0076]
The controller 51 controls the open/closed state of the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b and the open/closed state of the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b.
As described in Embodiment 1, the chilled compartment 32 may be excessively cooled
relative to the set temperature. The controller 51 receives the temperature sensed by
the chilled-compartment temperature sensor 41b. When the controller 51 determines
that the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is lower than or equal to the set
temperature, the controller 51 sets at least one of the first-ventilation-opening damper
8b and the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b to a closed state. When the
controller 51 determines that the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 is higher
than the set temperature, the controller 51 sets each of the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b and the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b to the open state.
[0077]
The flow rate of the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a that flows into the
chilled compartment 32 can be reduced by setting the first-ventilation-opening damper
8b to the closed state. The flow rate of the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b
that flows into the chilled compartment 32 can be reduced by setting the second
ventilation-opening damper 9b to the closed state. Therefore, cooling of the chilled
compartment 32 to a temperature below the set temperature can be suppressed, and
adverse effects of temperature reduction on the items stored in the chilled compartment
32 can be reduced. It is not necessary that both the first-ventilation-opening damper
8b and the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b be provided. The configuration may
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P01571 be such that only one of the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b and the second
ventilation-opening damper 9b is provided.
[0078]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 3 includes the temperature sensor
41b provided in the chilled compartment 32. The first ventilation opening 8a is
provided with the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b capable of opening and closing the
first ventilation opening 8a. The first-ventilation-opening damper 8b opens and closes
based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 41b and the set
temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
[0079]
According to the above-described configuration, the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b opens and closes based on the temperature in the chilled compartment 32
and the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32, so that the temperature in the
chilled compartment 32 can be easily maintained at the set temperature. Therefore, items can be stored in the chilled compartment 32 at a more appropriate temperature,
and adverse effects on the stored items can be reduced.
[0080]
In the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 3, the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b is set to the closed state when the temperature sensed by the temperature
sensor 41b is lower than the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
[0081]
According to the above-described configuration, when the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b is set to the closed state, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a is not
supplied to the chilled compartment 32. In other words, the chilled compartment 32 is
not cooled by the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a. Therefore, temperature
reduction in the chilled compartment 32 can be suppressed, so that the occurrence of
freezing of the items stored in the chilled compartment 32 can be reduced.
[0082]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 3 includes the temperature sensor
41b provided in the chilled compartment 32. The first ventilation opening 8a is
U1 I U JU
P01571 provided with the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b capable of opening and closing the
first ventilation opening 8a, and the second ventilation opening 9a is provided with the
second-ventilation-opening damper 9b capable of opening and closing the second
ventilation opening 9a. At least one of the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b and the
second-ventilation-opening damper 9b opens and closes based on the temperature
sensed by the temperature sensor 41b and the set temperature of the chilled
compartment 32.
[0083] According to the above-described configuration, the open/closed state of the first
ventilation-opening damper 8b and the open/closed state of the second-ventilation
opening damper 9b can be controlled based on the temperature in the chilled
compartment 32. Therefore, the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the chilled
compartment 32 can be adjusted by the combination of the open/closed states of the
first-ventilation-opening damper 8b and the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b.
Since the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment 32 can be easily
adjusted, the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 can be easily maintained at the
set temperature. In addition, temperature hunting in the chilled compartment 32 can
be reduced. Therefore, items can be stored in the chilled compartment 32 at a more
appropriate temperature, and adverse effects on the stored items can be reduced.
[0084] In the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 3, at least one of the first
ventilation-opening damper 8b and the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b is set to
the closed state when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 41b is lower
than the set temperature of the chilled compartment 32.
[0085] According to the above-described configuration, when the first-ventilation-opening
damper 8b is set to the closed state, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a is not
supplied to the chilled compartment 32. When the second-ventilation-opening damper
9b is set to the closed state, the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62b is not supplied
to the chilled compartment 32. In other words, the chilled compartment 32 is not
q1
U1 I U JU
P01571 cooled by the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment
supply cool air 62b. Therefore, temperature reduction in the chilled compartment 32
can be suppressed, so that the occurrence of freezing of the items stored in the chilled
compartment 32 can be reduced. It can be determined whether to set the first
ventilation-opening damper 8b to the closed state, to set the second-ventilation-opening
damper 9b to the closed state, or to set both the first-ventilation-opening damper 8b and
the second-ventilation-opening damper 9b to the closed state based on the temperature
in the chilled compartment 32. Since the way to adjust the flow rate of the cool air
supplied to the chilled compartment 32 can be selected from a wider range of options,
the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 can be more easily brought closer to the
set temperature. Since the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment
32 can be easily adjusted, the temperature in the chilled compartment 32 can be easily
maintained at the set temperature. In addition, temperature hunting in the chilled
compartment 32 can be reduced. Therefore, items can be stored in the chilled
compartment 32 at a more appropriate temperature, and adverse effects on the stored
items can be reduced.
[0086]
Embodiment 4
Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air in a refrigerator 100
according to Embodiment 4. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating flows of cool air
toward a cooler compartment 21 in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 4.
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 4 described herein differs from the
refrigerators 100 according to Embodiments 1 to 3 in that the cooler 21a includes a first
cooler 21aL and a second cooler 21aR and that the cooler compartment 21 is provided
with a dividing wall 28.
[0087]
(Cooler 21a)
As illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, the cooler 21a includes the first cooler 21aL and
the second cooler 21aR. Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate an example in which the cooler
compartment 21 is provided with the dividing wall 28 that divides the cooler 21a into the
U1 I U JU
P01571 first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR. The position at which the dividing wall 28 divides the cooler 21a into the first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR is
determined by the ratio between the amount of cool air required in storage
compartments to which cool air generated by the first cooler 21aL is supplied and the
amount of cool air required in storage compartments to which cool air generated by the
second cooler 21aR is supplied. The first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR may have separate structures through which the refrigerant flows in parallel.
Alternatively, the cooler 21a may be sectioned into the first cooler 21aL and the second
cooler 21aR by the dividing wall 28. The first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR
may have any structure as long as the cool air generated by the first cooler 21aL and
the cool air generated by the second cooler 21aR are independently supplied.
[0088]
The dividing wall 28 extends from a rear surface of the fan grille 26 to the housing
1 in the cooler compartment 21. The dividing wall 28 passes through a gap between
refrigerant pipes of the cooler 21a to divide the cooler 21a into the first cooler 21aL and
the second cooler 21aR. Thus, the dividing wall 28 is disposed in the space between
the fan grille 26 and the housing 1 to partition the cooler compartment 21 into a left
space in which the first cooler 21aL is positioned and a right space in which the second
cooler 21aR is positioned. In the cooler compartment 21, the cool air is impeded from
flowing between the right space and the left space divided from each other by the
dividing wall 28.
[0089]
As illustrated in Fig. 12, the cool air generated by the first cooler 21aL is supplied
to the refrigerator compartment 31 as the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61.
The cool air generated by the second cooler 21aR is supplied to the versatile
compartment 33 and the freezer compartment 34 as the versatile-compartment supply
cool air 63 and the freezer-compartment supply cool air 64. The refrigerator
compartment supply cool air 61, the versatile-compartment supply cool air 63, and the
freezer-compartment supply cool air 64 are supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31,
the chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment
U1 I U JU
P01571 34. Flows of the cool air to the refrigerator compartment 31, the chilled compartment
32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34 are similar to those
in Embodiment 1, and description thereof is thus omitted herein.
[0090] As illustrated in Fig. 13, the refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61 supplied
to the refrigerator compartment 31 flows into the refrigerator-compartment return flow
passage 540 through a refrigerator-compartment return port (not illustrated). The
refrigerator-compartment supply cool air 61 that has flowed into the refrigerator
compartment return flow passage 540 returns to the left space of the cooler
compartment 21, in which the first cooler 21aL is disposed, through the refrigerator
compartment return flow passage 540 as the refrigerator-compartment return cool air
201.
[0091]
As described above in Embodiment 1, the versatile-compartment supply cool air
63 supplied to the versatile compartment 33 and the freezer-compartment supply cool
air 64 supplied to the freezer compartment 34 are supplied to the chilled compartment
32 as the chilled-compartment supply cool air 62a and the chilled-compartment supply
cool air 62b, respectively, and then return to the right space of the cooler compartment
21, in which the second cooler 21aR is disposed, through the chilled-compartment
return flow passage 530 as the chilled-compartment return cool air 202.
[0092]
In Embodiment 4, the cool air generated by the first cooler 21aL cools the items
stored in the refrigerator compartment 31 as the refrigerator-compartment supply cool
air 61, and then returns to the first cooler 21aL as the refrigerator-compartment return
cool air 201. The cool air generated by the second cooler 21aR cools the versatile
compartment 33, the freezer compartment 34, and the chilled compartment 32, and
returns to the second cooler 21aR as the chilled-compartment return cool air 202.
Thus, the cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 31 is separated from the cool
air supplied to the chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the
freezer compartment 34. Therefore, the cool air supplied to the refrigerator
P01571 compartment 31 is not mixed with the cool air supplied to the chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34. Therefore, transfer of
odors from the items stored in the refrigerator compartment 31 to the items stored in the
chilled compartment 32, the versatile compartment 33, and the freezer compartment 34
can be suppressed. Although not illustrated, a pipe route for the refrigerant in the first
cooler 21aL and a pipe route for the refrigerant in the second cooler 21aR may be
divided from each other. By dividing the pipe routes for the refrigerant and controlling
the first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR individually, energy efficiency can be
improved.
[0093]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 4 includes the refrigerator
compartment 31 and the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 connecting the
cooler compartment 21 and the refrigerator compartment 31 to each other. The cooler
21a includes the first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR. Thecooler
compartment 21 is provided with the dividing wall 28 separating the first cooler 21aL
and the second cooler 21aR from each other. Cool air generated by the first cooler
21aL flows into the refrigerator compartment 31 through the refrigerator-compartment
flowpassage500. Cool air generated by the second cooler 21aR flows into the
versatile compartment 33 through the versatile-compartment flow passage 510.
[0094]
According to the above-described configuration, the cool air supplied to the
refrigerator compartment 31 does not mix with the cool air supplied to the versatile
compartment 33. Therefore, transfer of odors between the items stored in the
refrigerator compartment 31 and the items stored in the versatile compartment 33 can
be suppressed.
[0095] The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 4 includes the refrigerator
compartment 31 and the refrigerator-compartment flow passage 500 connecting the
cooler compartment 21 and the refrigerator compartment 31 to each other. The cooler
21a includes the first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR. Thecooler
U1 I U JU
P01571 compartment 21 is provided with the dividing wall 28 separating the first cooler 21aL and the second cooler 21aR from each other. Cool air generated by the first cooler
21aL flows into the refrigerator compartment 31 through the refrigerator-compartment
flowpassage500. Cool air generated by the second cooler 21aR is divided into the
versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 and the freezer-compartment supply cool air
64. The versatile-compartment supply cool air 63 flows through the versatile
compartment flow passage 510 and into the versatile compartment 33. The freezer
compartment supply cool air 64 flows through the freezer-compartment flow passage
520 and into the freezer compartment 34.
[0096]
According to the above-described configuration, the cool air supplied to the
refrigerator compartment 31 does not mix with the cool air supplied to the versatile
compartment 33 and the freezer compartment 34. Therefore, transfer of odors
between the items stored in the refrigerator compartment 31 and the items stored in the
versatile compartment 33 and the freezer compartment 34 can be suppressed.
[0097]
Embodiment 5
(Automatic Ice Maker 601)
Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an automatic ice maker 601 and a
water tank 602 included in a refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 5. The
refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 5 described herein differs from the
refrigerators 100 according to Embodiments 1 to 4 in having an ice-making function. In
the following description, elements that are the same as those in Embodiments 1 to 4
described above are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof will
be omitted.
[0098]
As illustrated in Fig. 14, the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 5 includes
the automatic ice maker 601 and the water tank 602 storing water to be supplied to the
automatic ice maker 601. The automatic ice maker 601 is disposed in the freezer
compartment 34. After completion of ice-making is confirmed, ice chips made by the
P01571 automatic ice maker 601 are released and stored in an ice storage space (not illustrated) provided in the first freezer-compartment case 15.
[0099] A portion of the refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 corresponding to the
ceiling surface of the chilled compartment 32 has a recess 602a facing the refrigerator
compartment 31. The water tank 602 is placed in the recess 602a in the refrigerator
compartment partition wall 7. The chilled compartment 32 is set to a temperature
higher than the temperature of the freezer compartment 34. Therefore, compared to a
configuration in which the water tank 602 is placed on a ceiling surface of the freezer
compartment 34, the water tank 602 and water in the water tank 602 are less likely to
freeze. Since the water tank 602 and water in the water tank 602 are not likely to
freeze, it is not necessary to provide means for preventing the water tank 602 and water
in the water tank 602 from freezing. Means for preventing the water tank 602 and
water in the water tank 602 from freezing is, for example, a heater for the water tank
602.
[0100]
The refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 5 includes the refrigerator
compartment 31, the refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7, the automatic ice maker
601, and the water tank 602. The refrigerator compartment 31 is provided above the
chilled compartment 32. The refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 is provided
between the refrigerator compartment 31 and the chilled compartment 32. The water
tank 602 is configured to store water to be used in the automatic ice maker 601. The
refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 has a recess 602a facing in a direction from
the chilled compartment 32 toward the refrigerator compartment 31, and the water tank
602 is placed in the recess 602a.
[0101]
According to the above-described configuration, the water tank 602 is disposed in
the refrigerator-compartment partition wall 7 positioned between the refrigerator
compartment 31 and the chilled compartment 32. The refrigerator compartment 31
and the chilled compartment 32 are storage compartments having relatively high set
U1 I U JU
P01571 temperatures. Therefore, the possibility that the water tank 602 and water stored in the
water tank 602 will freeze can be reduced.
[0102]
Although Embodiments 1 to 5 have been described, the refrigerator 100 is not
limited to Embodiments 1 to 5 described above, and various modifications and
applications are possible without departing from the gist. For example, the refrigerator 100 may be configured such that the chilled compartment 32 is disposed in a right
region and the versatile compartment 33 is disposed in a left region. In addition, Embodiments 1 to 5 may be combined with each other without adversely affecting the
functions or structures of Embodiments 1 to 5.
Reference Signs List
[0103] 1: housing, 2: door, 2a: door, 2b: door, 2c: door, 5a: hinge, 5b: hinge, 5c: hinge,
d: hinge, 5e: hinge, 7: refrigerator-compartment partition wall, 8: first partition wall, 8a:
first ventilation opening, 8b: first-ventilation-opening damper, 9: second partition wall,
9a: second ventilation opening, 9b: second-ventilation-opening damper, 11: shelf, 12:
refrigerator-compartment case, 13: chilled-compartment case, 14: versatile
compartment case, 15: first freezer-compartment case, 16: second freezer
compartment case, 21: cooler compartment, 21a: cooler, 21aL: first cooler, 21aR:
second cooler, 22: fan, 23: compressor, 24: refrigerator-compartment outlet panel, 25:
versatile-compartment outlet panel, 26: fan grille, 27: damper, 28: dividing wall, 31:
refrigerator compartment, 32: chilled compartment, 33: versatile compartment, 34:
freezer compartment, 40a: refrigerator-compartment air outlet, 40b: chilled-compartment
air outlet, 40c: versatile-compartment air outlet, 40d: freezer-compartment air outlet, 41:
temperature sensor, 41a: refrigerator-compartment temperature sensor, 41b: chilled
compartment temperature sensor, 41c: versatile-compartment temperature sensor, 41d:
freezer-compartment temperature sensor, 42b: chilled-compartment return port, 50:
heater, 51: controller, 52: machine compartment, 61: refrigerator-compartment supply
cool air, 62a: chilled-compartment supply cool air, 62b: chilled-compartment supply cool
air, 62c: chilled-compartment supply cool air, 63: versatile-compartment supply cool air,
P01571 64: freezer-compartment supply cool air, 100: refrigerator, 201: refrigerator
compartment return cool air, 202: chilled-compartment return cool air, 401: chilled
compartment damper, 500: refrigerator-compartment flow passage, 510: versatile
compartment flow passage, 520: freezer-compartment flow passage, 530: chilled
compartment return flow passage, 540: refrigerator-compartment return flow passage,
601: automatic ice maker, 602: water tank, 602a: recess.
Claims (14)
- U1 I U JUP01571 CLAIMS[Claim 1] A refrigerator comprising:a chilled compartment whose temperature is capable of being set in a range froma first upper limit to a first lower limit;a versatile compartment whose temperature is capable of being set in a rangefrom a second upper limit to a second lower limit, the second upper limit being higherthan the first upper limit, the second lower limit being lower than the first lower limit;a cooler configured to generate cool air;a cooler compartment accommodating the cooler; anda versatile-compartment flow passage connecting the cooler compartment andthe versatile compartment to each other and allowing the cool air generated by thecooler to flow therethrough,wherein the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment are arrangednext to each other in a horizontal direction, andwherein the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment are covered byone door capable of being opened and closed.
- [Claim 2]The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:a first partition wall separating the chilled compartment and the versatilecompartment from each other; anda chilled-compartment return flow passage connecting the cooler compartmentand the chilled compartment to each other and allowing the cool air flowing out of thechilled compartment to flow therethrough,wherein the first partition wall has a first ventilation opening providingcommunication between the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment,wherein the cool air flows into the versatile compartment through the versatilecompartment flow passage,wherein the cool air flows into the chilled compartment from the versatilecompartment through the first ventilation opening, andAnUI I U JUP01571 wherein the cool air in the chilled compartment flows into the cooler compartmentthrough the chilled-compartment return flow passage.
- [Claim 3]The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising:a temperature sensor provided in the chilled compartment,wherein the first ventilation opening is provided with a first-ventilation-openingdamper capable of opening and closing the first ventilation opening, andwherein the first-ventilation-opening damper opens and closes based on atemperature sensed by the temperature sensor and a set temperature of the chilledcompartment.
- [Claim 4]The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first-ventilation-opening damper is set to aclosed state when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is lower than theset temperature of the chilled compartment.
- [Claim 5]The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising:a refrigerator compartment; anda refrigerator-compartment flow passage connecting the cooler compartment andthe refrigerator compartment to each other,wherein the cooler includes a first cooler and a second cooler,wherein the cooler compartment is provided with a dividing wall separating thefirst cooler and the second cooler from each other,wherein cool air generated by the first cooler flows into the refrigeratorcompartment through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage, andwherein cool air generated by the second cooler flows into the versatilecompartment through the versatile-compartment flow passage.
- [Claim 6]The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:a freezer compartment;AlUI I U JUP01571 a first partition wall separating the chilled compartment and the versatilecompartment from each other;a second partition wall separating the chilled compartment and the freezercompartment from each other;a chilled-compartment return flow passage connecting the cooler compartmentand the chilled compartment to each other and allowing the cool air flowing out of thechilled compartment to flow therethrough; anda freezer-compartment flow passage connecting the cooler compartment and thefreezer compartment to each other and allowing the cool air generated by the cooler toflow therethrough,wherein a temperature in the freezer compartment is capable of being set to atemperature lower than the second lower limit for the versatile compartment,wherein the first partition wall has a first ventilation opening providingcommunication between the chilled compartment and the versatile compartment,wherein the second partition wall has a second ventilation opening providingcommunication between the chilled compartment and the freezer compartment,wherein the cool air flows into the versatile compartment through the versatilecompartment flow passage,wherein the cool air flows into the freezer compartment through the freezercompartment flow passage,wherein the cool air flows into the chilled compartment from the versatilecompartment through the first ventilation opening and from the freezer compartmentthrough the second ventilation opening, andwherein the cool air in the chilled compartment flows into the cooler compartmentthrough the chilled-compartment return flow passage.
- [Claim 7]The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the freezer compartment is covered by theone door.
- [Claim 8]The refrigerator of claim 6 or 7, further comprising:A9UI I U JUP01571 a temperature sensor provided in the chilled compartment,wherein the first ventilation opening is provided with a first-ventilation-openingdamper capable of opening and closing the first ventilation opening, wherein the second ventilation opening is provided with a second-ventilationopening damper capable of opening and closing the second ventilation opening, andwherein at least one of the first-ventilation-opening damper and the secondventilation-opening damper opens and closes based on a temperature sensed by thetemperature sensor and a set temperature of the chilled compartment.
- [Claim 9]The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first-ventilation-openingdamper and the second-ventilation-opening damper is set to a closed state when thetemperature sensed by the temperature sensor is lower than the set temperature of thechilled compartment.
- [Claim 10]The refrigerator of any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising;a refrigerator compartment; anda refrigerator-compartment flow passage connecting the cooler compartment andthe refrigerator compartment to each other,wherein the cooler includes a first cooler and a second cooler,wherein the cooler compartment is provided with a dividing wall separating thefirst cooler and the second cooler from each other,wherein cool air generated by the first cooler flows into the refrigeratorcompartment through the refrigerator-compartment flow passage, andwherein cool air generated by the second cooler is divided into versatilecompartment supply cool air and freezer-compartment supply cool air, the versatilecompartment supply cool air flowing through the versatile-compartment flow passageand into the versatile compartment, the freezer-compartment supply cool air flowingthrough the freezer-compartment flow passage and into the freezer compartment.
- [Claim 11]The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 9, further comprising:AqSUI I U JUP01571 a refrigerator compartment;a refrigerator-compartment flow passage connecting the cooler compartment and the refrigerator compartment to each other and allowing the cool air generated by thecooler to flow therethrough;a chilled-compartment air outlet provided in the chilled compartment andproviding communication between the refrigerator-compartment flow passage and thechilled compartment; anda temperature sensor provided in the chilled compartment,wherein the chilled-compartment air outlet is provided with a chilled-compartmentdamper capable of opening and closing the chilled-compartment air outlet, andwherein the chilled-compartment damper opens and closes based on atemperature sensed by the temperature sensor and a set temperature of the chilledcompartment.
- [Claim 12]The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the chilled-compartment damper is set to anopen state when the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is higher than theset temperature of the chilled compartment, andwherein the cool air flowing through the refrigerator-compartment flow passageflows into the chilled compartment through the chilled-compartment air outlet.
- [Claim 13]The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising:a refrigerator compartment provided above the chilled compartment;a refrigerator-compartment partition wall provided between the refrigeratorcompartment and the chilled compartment;an automatic ice maker; anda water tank configured to store water to be used in the automatic ice maker,wherein the refrigerator-compartment partition wall has a recess facing in adirection from the chilled compartment toward the refrigerator compartment, andwherein the water tank is placed in the recess.
- [Claim 14]AAlUI I U JUP01571 The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the one door is a swingdoor or a drawer panel.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2021/026118 WO2023286121A1 (en) | 2021-07-12 | 2021-07-12 | Refrigerator |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2021455539A1 true AU2021455539A1 (en) | 2023-12-14 |
Family
ID=84919156
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2021455539A Pending AU2021455539A1 (en) | 2021-07-12 | 2021-07-12 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP7483144B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2021455539A1 (en) |
| TW (1) | TWI822165B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2023286121A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH11304333A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 1999-11-05 | Toshiba Corp | Control method for refrigerator |
| JP3066010B2 (en) | 1998-09-25 | 2000-07-17 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Freezer refrigerator |
| JP3930206B2 (en) * | 1999-08-06 | 2007-06-13 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigerated refrigerator, cold air circulation method of refrigerator |
| JP2005291682A (en) | 2004-04-06 | 2005-10-20 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Freezer/refrigerator, freezing chamber door and automatic ice making machine |
| JP4671914B2 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2011-04-20 | シャープ株式会社 | refrigerator |
| JP4595972B2 (en) * | 2007-07-30 | 2010-12-08 | 三菱電機株式会社 | refrigerator |
| JP7390178B2 (en) * | 2019-12-13 | 2023-12-01 | 東芝ライフスタイル株式会社 | refrigerator |
-
2021
- 2021-07-12 JP JP2023534445A patent/JP7483144B2/en active Active
- 2021-07-12 WO PCT/JP2021/026118 patent/WO2023286121A1/en active Application Filing
- 2021-07-12 AU AU2021455539A patent/AU2021455539A1/en active Pending
-
2022
- 2022-07-05 TW TW111125112A patent/TWI822165B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| TW202303058A (en) | 2023-01-16 |
| JP7483144B2 (en) | 2024-05-14 |
| WO2023286121A1 (en) | 2023-01-19 |
| TWI822165B (en) | 2023-11-11 |
| JPWO2023286121A1 (en) | 2023-01-19 |
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