CN103162493B - Refrigeration device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance comprises a shell (2) and at least one section of refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) which is fixed on the shell (2) and is distributed along the outer side of the shell (2). According to the invention, the refrigeration device comprises at least one pressure element (60, 80, 90) for pressing the tube (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) against the housing (2).

Description

Refrigeration device

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator.

[ background art ]

It is known in the prior art to extend part of the piping of the refrigeration circuit into the machine compartment housing the compressor and to connect (for example weld) the piping located inside the compressor. The pipeline is directly placed in the mechanical chamber after being connected. During the welding operation, the tube is typically broken from its original position and welded, which results in deformation of the tube.

When the pipes are located outside the machine room, for example, the outer surface of the housing of the refrigeration appliance, the pipes deformed to protrude outward may be damaged by collision, and the refrigerant may leak.

[ summary of the invention ]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigeration appliance that can reliably maintain a refrigerant-carrying line in a predetermined position.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention pertains to a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance comprises a shell and at least one section of refrigerant pipe which is fixed on the shell and distributed along the outer side of the shell; characterized by comprising at least one pressing element for pressing the tube towards the housing.

The refrigerant pipe can be pressed toward the housing by the pressing member, thereby being reliably held at a predetermined position, thereby preventing damage due to interference with other components of the refrigeration appliance or external objects.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention, individually or in combination with other features, are set forth in the following appended claims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the housing has a recessed area, the tube being located within the recessed area. This is particularly advantageous for preventing the refrigerant pipe arranged outside the housing from being knocked and damaged. Furthermore, in the case of providing the recessed area with a cover, it is also possible to make the area of the housing where the above-described tube is arranged and other areas flat, safe and aesthetically pleasing.

Although a snug fit of the outer surfaces of the tube and the housing is also possible, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention there is a spacing between the tube and the outer surface of the housing, which is particularly advantageous in situations where it is necessary to connect different sections of the tube using a tube connection.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one end of the tube is fixed within the thermally insulating layer of the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is arranged along the rear wall of the housing and extends from the side walls of the housing to the rear wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube comprises at least two connecting sections which are connected together.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is serpentine to form a plurality of spaced apart sections, and at least one press member presses against at least two of the sections. The press member can press the tube toward the housing side efficiently and firmly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube is serpentine to form at least one U-shaped portion, at least one of the pressing elements being secured between a pair of arm portions of the respective U-shaped portion. This is particularly advantageous for increasing the pressing action of the pressing member on the tube and for maintaining the tube in a predetermined shape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pressure portion is located in the root area of the U-shaped portion. This is particularly advantageous for maintaining the tube in a pre-set shape.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the press comprises at least one substantially plate-shaped press, the tube being located between the press and the housing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the press member includes at least one pair of press plates extending in opposite directions. This facilitates the positioning of the tube with a smaller number of press elements.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member includes a fixing portion to be fixed to the housing, the housing has a fixing hole to insert the fixing portion, and the handle portion is rotated by a predetermined angle after the fixing portion is inserted into the fixing hole, and is pressed against the tube. The pressing piece of the embodiment has the advantages of simple structure, simplicity and convenience in installation, particular suitability for a small space and wide application range.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the press element may be screwed into the housing. This is convenient to operate and easy to implement.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said pipe is connected between the compressor and the expansion device. For example, the tube forms part of a condenser.

The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein the content of the first and second substances,

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a structure of a refrigeration appliance and a refrigeration system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the press element according to fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view of a refrigeration appliance according to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a press element according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another view of the press element shown in FIG. 7.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

Referring to the drawings, reference is first made to fig. 1 and 2 in particular. The refrigeration appliance comprises an insulated housing 2. The housing 2 includes a case 25 defining a plurality of storage chambers 26 having openings, and doors (not shown) connected to the case 25 to selectively open or close the respective storage chambers 26.

The cabinet 25 includes an inner container 3 defining a storage chamber 26, an outer case 4 spaced apart from the inner container 3, and a thermal insulation layer 11 between the inner container 3 and the outer case 4. The thermal insulation layer 11 may be formed in a foaming process.

The box body 25 includes a pair of first and second side walls 201 and 202 disposed opposite to each other, a rear wall 21 connecting the two side walls 201 and 202, a top wall 22, a bottom wall 23, and a plurality of partition walls 24 between the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 23. These insulated walls 201, 21, 22, 23, 24 enclose a plurality of storage compartments 26 having front openings. The bottom wall 23 is substantially zigzag-shaped, so that a machine room 10 is formed below the bottom wall 23.

It should be understood that the above is only one embodiment of the invention, which should not be limited to the specific configuration of the refrigeration appliance 1 (e.g. number and distribution of storage compartments).

The refrigerator 1 has a refrigeration system for cooling the individual storage compartments 26. In this embodiment the refrigeration system is a compression refrigeration system comprising a compressor 18, a condenser 5, an expansion device 14 and at least one evaporator 17. In the present embodiment, the refrigeration system includes a plurality of evaporators 17 each corresponding to one of the storage chambers 26. The expansion device 14 is connected before the inlet of a corresponding one of the evaporators 17.

The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 18, and then enters the condenser 5 to be condensed and radiated. The refrigerant from the condenser 5 can be selectively introduced into different branches to be evaporated in the corresponding evaporators 17 to cool the corresponding storage chambers. The flow direction of the refrigerant to which evaporator is to be directed is determined by the valves 12, 13.

The refrigeration system may further comprise a dryer 16 located between the condenser 5 and the first valve 12. An accumulator 15 may be provided on the inlet side of the compressor 18.

A respective fan 27 may also be provided within each storage compartment 26 to create forced air circulation within the respective storage compartment 26 and/or to agitate the air within the storage compartment to provide a uniform temperature distribution.

The compressor 18 is housed in the machine room 10. The first valve 12, the second valve 13, and the dryer 16 are also housed in the machine chamber 10.

In the present embodiment, the condenser 5 includes a first condenser portion 51 and a second condenser portion 52 connected in series. The first and second condenser portions 51 and 52 are respectively serpentine on the first and second side walls 201 and 202 of the tank 25.

The first condenser portion 51 and the second condenser portion 52 are buried in the thermal insulation layer 11 of the first sidewall 201 and the second sidewall 202. To reduce heat transfer to the storage chamber 26, the refrigerant tubes of the first and second condenser portions 51, 52 extend against the inner surface of the outer shell 4 of the first and second side walls 201, 202, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the first condenser portion 51 and/or the second condenser portion 52 are fixed to the outside of the housing 4 of the respective side wall 201, 202.

The refrigerating system further includes door dewing prevention pipes 53 distributed inside the front surface of the cabinet 25. In this embodiment, the door dewing prevention pipe 53 is provided around only one storage compartment, such as a freezing compartment, which is located at a lower portion of the cabinet 25.

By condensing the refrigerant flowing through the door dew-preventing tube 53 to dissipate heat, the front end surface of the box 25 and the inside of the door are heated, thereby preventing dew from occurring at these places or removing dew that has occurred.

In the present embodiment, the door dewing prevention pipe 53 is located between the outlet end of the compressor 18 and the first condenser part 51. However, the present invention should not be limited thereto, and it should be understood that the refrigerant tube portions between the compressor 18 and the expansion device 14, which cause the refrigerant to undergo a condensing phase change, may each serve as a door dew condensation preventing tube 53, such as may be possible between the first condenser portion 51 and the second condenser portion 52 or after the second condenser portion 52. Strictly speaking, the door dewing prevention pipe 53 is also a part of the condenser 5.

The first condenser portion 51, the second condenser portion 52 and the door dewing prevention pipe 53 each include refrigerant pipe sections for carrying refrigerant, which are connected by welding and/or other connection means (e.g., quick coupling) to form a continuous passage after being fixed to the cabinet 25 (e.g., before the cabinet 25 is subjected to a foaming process, the pipe sections are fixed to the outer shell 4 or between the outer shell 4 and the inner container 3 in a predetermined shape/form, the pipe sections are buried in the cabinet 25 after the foaming process, or the pipe sections are fixed to the cabinet 25 after the cabinet 25 is subjected to the foaming process). How these pipe sections are connected to each other is described in detail below.

The first condenser portion 51 includes a first connection section 511 and a second connection section 512 extending from the rear end of the first side wall 201 and bent to extend along the rear wall 21. The first and second connection sections 511 and 512 are located outside the case 25.

The second condenser portion 52 includes a third connection section 521 extended from the rear side of the second sidewall 202 and bent to extend along the rear wall 21 to be located outside the tank 25, and a fourth connection section 522 extended into the machine room 10 to be connected to a component located in the machine room 10.

One end (hereinafter, referred to as "fifth connecting section 531") of the door anti-dew tube 53 is exposed in the machine room 10, and the other end (hereinafter, referred to as "sixth connecting section 532") extends from the rear side of the second sidewall 202, is bent vertically, extends along the rear wall 21, and is located outside the cabinet 25.

As described above, the first connection section 511, the second connection section 512, the third connection section 521, and the sixth connection section 532 all extend along the outer surface of the housing 4 of the rear wall 21. The connection segments 511, 512, 521, 532 may be in contact with the outer surface of the housing 4. In an alternative embodiment, the connecting segments 511, 512, 521, 532 extend along the outer surface of the housing 4 with a distance between them, which is particularly advantageous when it is desired to connect these connecting segments by means of quick connectors.

These connecting sections 511, 512, 521, 532 are located above the machine room 10 at the bottom of the cabinet 25.

The first connection section 511 and the sixth connection section 532 are connected at C1 along the outer surface of the outer case 4, thereby connecting the door dewing preventive pipe 53 and the first condenser portion 51; the second connection section 512 and the third connection section 521 are connected at C2 along the outer surface of the casing 4 of the rear wall 21, thereby connecting the first condenser portion 51 and the second condenser portion 52.

Referring to fig. 3 in conjunction with fig. 2, the outer surface of the rear wall 21 is provided with a recessed region 7. The first connection segment 511, the second connection segment 512, the third connection segment 521 and the sixth connection segment 532 extend into the recessed area 7 and are connected in the recessed area 7. The refrigeration device 1 may be provided with a cover (not shown) attached to the housing 2 to cover the recessed area 7.

During connection, the connecting sections 511, 512, 521 and 532 need to be broken off and welded, and the pipeline is pushed back to the original position after welding. During this process, the tubing deforms and cannot return to its original position, for example, protruding back out of the recessed area 7.

The refrigerator 1 is provided with a plurality of pressing elements 60 for pressing the connecting sections 511, 512, 521, 532 exposed outside the housing 4 toward the outer surface 40 of the housing 4.

Preferably, each presser 60 presses against at least one of the connecting segments 511, 512, 521, 532 close to the connection point C1 or C2, which is particularly advantageous for the connecting segment whose end is fixed to the casing 2, in order to effectively press the pipe exposed outside the casing 4 back into position.

Each press 60 may press against at least one connecting segment 511, 512, 521, 532. In the embodiment shown in fig. 3, one of the pressing elements 60 presses against both connecting segments 512, 511.

Fig. 4 is a schematic partially exploded view of a refrigeration appliance according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pressing element 80 shown in fig. 4.

As shown in fig. 4, the recessed area 7 extends almost over the entire width of the box body 25, and the connecting sections 511, 512, 521, and 532 protrude from the side walls 201 and 202, respectively, and are bent to enter the recessed area 7 through the corresponding guide grooves 70 of the side walls of the recessed area 7.

The recessed area 7 is formed by a box 9, which box 9 is a part of the housing 4, connected to the back plate 251 and the side plate 252 of the housing 4. The casing 9 may be made of plastic. In an alternative embodiment, the recessed area 7 may also be formed directly by providing (e.g. by stamping) a recess in the back plate of the housing 4. In these cases, the walls defining the recessed area 7 are tightly bonded to the thermal insulation layer 11 after the foaming process.

In an alternative embodiment, the recessed area 7 may also be defined by another part attached to the outside of the outer shell 4, in which case this part may be attached to the outer shell 4 after the foaming process of the cabinet has been completed.

The tube formed by connecting segments 511, 512, 521, 532 located in the recessed area 7 makes a serpentine turn, forming a plurality of U-shaped portions 50. Each U-shaped portion 50 includes a pair of opposed arm portions 54 and a connecting portion 55 connecting the pair of arm portions 54. Each presser 80 presses against at least two arms 54, that is to say one presser 80 presses against the casing 2 at least different areas of the tube joined by the connecting sections 511, 512, 521, 532, so as to position the tube in a predetermined position.

As shown in fig. 5, the pressing member 80 includes a base 83 and a pair of pressing plates 81, 82 connected to the base 83 and extending in opposite directions. The inner surfaces of the pressure plates 81, 82 facing the housing 2 lie in the same plane.

The pressing member 80 is fixed to the housing 2 by a base 83. The base portion 83 is provided with a through hole (not shown) through which a screw is passed to be connected to a self-tapping screw hole provided in the housing 2 to fix the pressing member 80.

The base 83 may have at least one positioning post 84 at its front end, and the pressing member 80 may be easily and accurately fixed to the housing 2 after the positioning post 84 is inserted into a positioning hole (not shown) formed in the housing 2.

Preferably, the base 83 of each/at least one presser element 80 is located in the root region inside the U-shaped portion 50, as shown in fig. 4, and by the spacing of the base 83, the arms 54 are kept at the correct distance from each other and contribute to the preset profile of the tube exposed outside the casing 4.

The length of the base portion 83 in the direction perpendicular to the outer surface 40 is larger than the outer diameter of the tube pressed by the pressing plates 81, 82, so that a space can be maintained between the tube and the outer surface 40.

The two pressure plates 81, 82 have different lengths, which may form a fool-proof structure of the pressing member 80, facilitating the mounting of the pressing member 80 to the housing 2 in the correct orientation. It should be understood that the fool-proofing structure may be formed in other ways, such as by providing an indicator mark on at least one of the pressure plates 81, 82 or elsewhere.

Fig. 6 to 8 are schematic views of a refrigeration appliance and a pressing member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 6, the refrigeration appliance 1 includes two lengths of tubing 100, 200 secured to the housing 2. The tubes 100, 200 are exposed outside the housing 2, but are immovably fixed at both ends to the housing 2 (specifically, fixed within the thermal insulation layer of the housing 2), respectively.

In this embodiment, the tubes 100, 200 are formed by different connecting segments, respectively. Specifically, the tube 100 is formed by welding at C1 a first connection segment 511 fixed at one end to the first sidewall 201 and a sixth connection segment 532 fixed at one end to the second sidewall 202. Tube 200 is formed by welding at C2 a second connector segment 512 secured at one end to first sidewall 201 and a third connector segment 521 secured at one end to second sidewall 202. The first connection section 511 and the second connection section 512 are both ends of the first condenser portion 51 embedded in the first sidewall 201 extending outside the first sidewall 201. The third connection section 521 is an end of the second condenser portion 52 embedded in the second sidewall 202 extending out of the second sidewall 202. The sixth connecting section 532 extends from one end of the door anti-exposure tube 53 outside the thermal insulation layer.

In an alternative embodiment, the tubes 100, 200 may each be of one-piece construction.

The housing 2 has a plurality of fixing holes 95 arranged adjacent to the tubes 100, 200. The fixing hole 95 has a length in the horizontal direction greater than a length in the longitudinal direction thereof.

The pressing member 90 has a fixing portion 91 having the same head and fixing hole 95 shape and an angled handle portion 92 connected to the fixing portion 91. An umbrella-shaped bubble leakage preventing portion 93 is provided between the fixing portion 91 and the grip portion 92.

In the present embodiment, the pressing member 90 is assembled on the housing 2 before the foaming process of the housing 2. In assembly, the head of the pressing member 90 is inserted into the fixing hole 95, and the handle 92 is held and slightly rotated to allow the pressing member 90 to be caught at the edge of the fixing hole 95. The leakage preventing bubble portion 93 is pressed against the housing 2 to be deformed to thereby prevent the blowing agent from leaking during the foaming process.

After the foaming process is finished, the respective connecting segments are broken off to weld form the tubes 100, 200. After welding is completed, the pipes 100, 200 are pushed back to the original positions, and the pressing member 90 is continuously rotated to press the inner sides of the grip portions 92 against the pipes 100, 200 to prevent them from protruding outward.

In the above embodiments, the pressing members 60, 80, 90 are used to press the pipes formed by joining different parts. It will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to pressing an integral tube at a predetermined location in the housing 2.

Claims (13)

1. A refrigeration appliance comprising:

a housing (2), the housing (2) comprising a box (25) defining a plurality of storage chambers (26) having openings; the box body (25) comprises an inner container (3) for limiting the storage chamber (26), an outer shell (4) which is spaced from the inner container (3) by a certain distance, and a thermal insulation layer (11) which is positioned between the inner container (3) and the outer shell (4);

and at least one section of refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) fixed to the casing (4) and distributed along the outside of the casing (4);

characterized by comprising at least one pressing member (60, 80, 90) for pressing the refrigerant tube (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) toward the housing (4); the outer surface of the shell (4) has a recessed area (7), and the refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is positioned in the recessed area (7); the pressing member (60, 80, 90) includes a fixing portion (91) to be fixed to the housing (4) and a handle portion (92), the housing (4) has a fixing hole (95) to be inserted into the fixing portion (91), and is rotated by a predetermined angle after the fixing portion (91) is inserted into the fixing hole (95), the handle portion (92) is pressed against the refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200).

2. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a spacing between the refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) and the outer surface (40) of the housing (4).

3. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end of the refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is fixed in the thermally insulating layer (11) of the housing (2).

4. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is arranged along a rear wall (21) of said casing (4) and extends from a side wall (201, 202) of said casing (4) to said rear wall (21).

5. Refrigeration appliance according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the refrigerant pipe (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) comprises at least two connecting sections (511, 512, 521, 532) which are connected together.

6. The refrigeration appliance according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the refrigerant tube (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is meandering forming a plurality of spaced apart portions (54), at least one pressing element (60, 80, 90) pressing at least two portions (54).

7. The refrigeration appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said refrigerant tube (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is serpentine to form at least one U-shaped portion (50), and at least one of said pressing members (60, 80, 90) is fixed between a pair of arm portions (54) of the respective U-shaped portion (50).

8. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressing element (60, 80, 90) is located in the root region of the U-shaped portion (50).

9. The refrigeration appliance according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pressing element (60, 80, 90) comprises at least one substantially plate-shaped pressing portion (81, 82, 92), the refrigerant tube (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) being located between the pressing portion (81, 82, 92) and the housing (4).

10. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 9, wherein said pressure applicator (60, 80, 90) includes at least one pair of pressure plates (81, 82) extending in opposite directions.

11. The refrigeration appliance according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the press (60, 80, 90) is fixed to the housing (4) by means of screws.

12. Refrigeration appliance according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said refrigerant line (511, 512, 521, 532, 100, 200) is connected between the compressor (18) and the expansion device (14).

13. A refrigerator appliance according to claim 12, characterized in that the refrigerant tube forms part of a condenser (5).

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