CN106679268B

CN106679268B - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN106679268B
Application number: CN201610539380.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石桥郁夫; 佐伯友康; 吉田隆明; 及川诚
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2012-06-27
Filing date: 2013-01-22
Publication date: 2019-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-22
Also published as: EP2869006A4; CN106679268A; TWI528006B; JP2014006040A; CN104272045A; TW201400777A; EP2869006A1; EP2869006B1; WO2014002515A1; CN104272045B; JP6125163B2

Abstract

The embodiment relates to a refrigerator, which is provided with: a heat insulation box body having an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulation material disposed between the inner box and the outer box to form a heat insulation wall, the heat insulation box body having a storage chamber therein; an air supply duct provided inside the storage chamber of the heat insulating box body, and having an air supply fan disposed therein; a receiving recess formed in the inner case, protruding inward, and filled with the heat insulating material; and a pipe embedded in a portion of the heat insulating material having an increased thickness and filled in the housing recess.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

The application is a divisional application with the application number of 201380022483.9, the application date of 2013, 01, month and 22 and the invention name of 'refrigerator'.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background

In general, an insulation box used in a household refrigerator is formed by filling a foamed insulation material made of foamed polyurethane into a space portion formed between an outer box made of a steel plate and an inner box made of a synthetic resin while foaming. The outer box is provided with a left side plate, a right side plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and a back plate. The inner box is provided with a left side plate, a right side plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and a back plate which respectively correspond to the left side plate, the right side plate, the top plate, the bottom plate and the back plate of the outer box. Such an insulated cabinet has a storage compartment with an open front inside an inner box. The periphery of the storage chamber is surrounded by heat insulating walls of the respective portions. An air supply duct is provided in the interior of the storage chamber. A cooler and a blower fan constituting a refrigeration cycle for supplying cold air to the storage compartment are disposed in the blower duct.

The refrigeration cycle includes a capillary tube and a suction tube as pipes connected to a refrigerant inlet side and a refrigerant outlet side of the cooler. The capillary tube and the suction tube exchange heat, and the vaporization of the refrigerant in the suction tube is promoted by the heat of the capillary tube. This improves the operating efficiency and reduces the amount of power used. In the refrigerator, the capillary tube and the suction tube penetrate through the back plate of the inner box and are led out to the outside of the inner box. The capillary tube and the suction tube are integrated by brazing so as to be capable of heat exchange, thereby forming a tube body. The pipe is disposed along the back plate, for example, in a U-shape, so as to secure a sufficient length for heat exchange. The drain hose, which is a pipe for discharging defrosting water of the cooler, is also led out to the outside of the inner box through the back plate of the inner box, and is disposed along the back plate so as to be directed to the defrosting water evaporating dish provided at the lower portion of the heat insulating box body.

On the other hand, in the refrigerator, a foamed heat insulating material as a heat insulating material is filled between the back panel of the outer box and the back panel of the inner box, thereby constituting a back heat insulating wall. In order to reduce the amount of use of the thermal insulating foamed material, attempts have been made to reduce the thickness of the back thermal insulating wall. However, when the pipe is present outside the back plate of the inner box as described above, it is necessary to secure a thickness dimension of the thermal foam insulator so that the pipe is completely embedded in the thermal foam insulator. Therefore, there is a limit to thinning of the thermal insulation material of the back thermal insulation wall.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-78264

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Therefore, a refrigerator is provided, which can realize thinning of the heat insulating material forming the back heat insulating wall without being influenced by the pipe.

Means for solving the problems

The refrigerator of the present embodiment includes: a heat insulation box body having an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulation material disposed between the inner box and the outer box to form a heat insulation wall, the heat insulation box body having a storage chamber therein; an air supply duct provided inside the storage chamber of the heat insulating box body, and having an air supply fan disposed therein; a receiving recess formed in the inner case, protruding inward, and filled with the heat insulating material; and a pipe embedded in a portion of the heat insulating material having an increased thickness and filled in the housing recess.

In the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, the storage recess is formed in the rear plate of the inner box at a position behind the air blowing duct or at a position near the rear side of the air blowing duct, and the pipe is disposed in the storage recess.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment, and is an enlarged sectional view of a refrigerator along the line F1-F1 in fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing the entire structure of the refrigerator.

Fig. 3 is a structural diagram of a refrigeration cycle.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the outer case in an exploded manner.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the inner box viewed from the rear.

Fig. 6 corresponds to fig. 1 and shows a second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a state where an adhesive is applied to a vacuum insulation panel.

Fig. 8 corresponds to fig. 5, and shows a third embodiment.

Fig. 9 corresponds to fig. 1 and shows a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to fig. 5.

Fig. 11 corresponds to fig. 2 and shows a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to fig. 5.

Fig. 13 corresponds to fig. 5 and shows a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment, and is a configuration diagram showing an arrangement mode of a pipe body.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

(first embodiment)

Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 5. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the heat insulation box body 1 is configured to have a heat insulation material in a space portion between an outer box 2 made of a steel plate and an inner box 3 made of a synthetic resin, and details thereof will be described later. A plurality of storage chambers are provided inside the heat insulation box 1. Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, a refrigerating chamber 4 and a vegetable chamber 5 are provided in the heat insulating box 1 in this order from the upper stage, an ice making chamber 6 and a small freezing chamber not shown are provided below the refrigerator in parallel, and a freezing chamber 7 is provided below the ice making chamber 6 and the small freezing chamber. An automatic ice making device 8 is provided inside the ice making chamber 6.

Both the refrigerating chamber 4 and the vegetable chamber 5 are storage chambers having a refrigerating temperature zone (for example, a positive temperature zone of 1 to 4 ℃). The refrigerating chamber 4 and the vegetable chamber 5 are vertically partitioned by a partition wall 9 made of synthetic resin. A hinge-openable heat-insulating door 4a is provided at a front opening of the refrigerating compartment 4. A drawer-type heat insulating door 5a is provided at a front opening of the vegetable compartment 5. A lower box 10 constituting a storage container is connected to the rear surface of the heat insulating door 5 a. An upper case 11 having a smaller shape than the lower case 10 is provided on the upper portion of the lower case 10. A cooling chamber 12 is provided in the lowermost portion of the refrigerating chamber 4, i.e., in the upper portion of the partition wall 9. A cooling box 13 is provided in the cooling chamber 12 so as to be removable.

Ice making compartment 6, small freezing compartment, and freezing compartment 7 are storage compartments having a freezing temperature zone (e.g., a negative temperature zone of-10 to-20 ℃). The vegetable compartment 5 is vertically partitioned from the ice making compartment 6 and the small freezing compartment by a heat-insulating partition wall 14. A drawer-type heat insulating door 6a is provided at a front opening of the ice making chamber 6. An ice storage container 15 is connected to the rear surface of the heat insulating door 6 a. A drawer-type heat insulating door connected to the storage container is also provided in the front opening of the small freezing room, but this is not illustrated. A drawer-type heat insulating door 7a connected to the lower storage container 7b and the upper storage container 7c is also provided at the front opening of the freezing chamber 7.

A refrigerating cycle 16 (see fig. 3) for cooling each storage chamber is incorporated in the heat insulating box 1. The freezing cycle 16 includes a cooler 17 for refrigerating to cool the storage compartments (refrigerating compartment 4, vegetable compartment 5) in the refrigerating temperature range, and a cooler 18 for freezing to cool the storage compartments (ice making compartment 6, small freezing compartment, freezing compartment 7) in the freezing temperature range, which will be described in detail later. As shown in fig. 2, a machine chamber 19 is provided on the rear side of the lower end portion of the heat insulation box 1. A compressor 20 and a condenser 21 (see fig. 3) constituting the refrigeration cycle 16, a cooling fan (not shown) for cooling them, a defrosting water evaporating dish 35 described later, and the like are disposed in the machine chamber 19.

A cold storage cooler 17, a cold air supply duct 30 for supplying cold air generated by the cold storage cooler 17 to the interiors of the cold storage chamber 4 and the vegetable compartment 5, a cold storage side air blowing fan 31 for circulating cold air, and the like are disposed in the interior of the storage chambers (the cold storage chamber 4 and the vegetable compartment 5) of the cold storage temperature zone of the heat insulating box 1 in the following manner. That is, a refrigerating side cooler chamber 32 serving also as a blast duct is provided on the rear heat insulating wall of the heat insulating box 1, behind the lowest cooling chamber 12 of the refrigerating chamber 4. A suction port 37 is provided in a lower portion of the front side of the cold storage side cooler room 32 so as to face the inside of the vegetable room 5 from above. The cooler 17 for cooling is disposed inside the cooling-side cooler chamber 32.

A refrigerating side water receiving portion 33 for receiving the defrosting water from the refrigerating cooler 17 is provided at a lower portion of the rear side of the refrigerating side cooler chamber 32. The refrigerating-side water-discharging unit 33 is in communication with a defrosting water evaporating dish 35 provided in the machine room 19 via a refrigerating-side water-discharging hose 34, which is a water-discharging pipe disposed as described later. Thereby, the defrosting water received by the refrigerating side water drain portion 33 is guided to the defrosting water evaporating dish 35 through the refrigerating side water drain hose 34. And, the defrost water is evaporated in the defrost water evaporation tray 35.

A refrigerating-side air blowing fan 31 is disposed behind the cooling chamber 12, and an air blowing duct 36 is provided. The lower end of the air supply duct 36 communicates with the rear upper portion of the refrigerating side cooler compartment 32, and the upper end communicates with the lower end of the cold air supply duct 30. The cold air supply duct 30 is provided to extend upward along the rear heat insulating wall of the refrigerating compartment 4 with a certain width. The cold air supply duct 30 is provided with a plurality of cold air supply ports 30a that open into the interior of the refrigerator compartment 4. Communication ports are formed in both right and left corner portions of the rear portion of partition wall 9 constituting the bottom plate of refrigerating room 4, but these are not particularly shown. One of the communication ports communicates the refrigerating compartment 4 with the vegetable compartment 5 below the refrigerating compartment 4. The other communication port communicates the refrigerating chamber 4 with the front side of the refrigerating side cooler chamber 32.

In this configuration, when the refrigerating side blower fan 31 is driven, air in the vegetable compartment 5 is sucked into the refrigerating side cooler compartment 32 through the suction port 37 as indicated by an arrow in fig. 2. The sucked air is blown out toward the blow duct 36. The air blown toward the blower duct 36 passes through the cold air supply duct 30 and is blown out into the refrigerator compartment 4 from the plurality of cold air supply ports 30 a. A part of the air blown out into the refrigerating chamber 4 is also supplied into the vegetable chamber 5 through the communication port, and is finally sucked into the air duct 36 through the refrigerating side cooler chamber 32 by the refrigerating side air blower fan 31. This air circulation is performed by driving the cooling blower fan 31. In this process, the air passing through the refrigerating side cooler room 32 is cooled by the refrigerating cooler 17 to become cold air. By supplying this cold air to refrigerating room 4 and vegetable room 5, refrigerating room 4 and vegetable room 5 are cooled to the temperature of the refrigerating temperature zone.

A freezing side cooler chamber 38, which also serves as an air supply duct, is provided inside the storage compartments (ice making chamber 6, small freezing chamber, freezing chamber 7) in the freezing temperature range of heat insulating box 1. A refrigeration cooler 18, a defrosting heater not shown, and the like are disposed below the refrigeration cooler chamber 38. A freezing side blower fan 39 is disposed above the freezing side cooler chamber 38. A cold air outlet 38a is provided at an intermediate portion of the front surface of the freezing-side cooler room 38, and a return port 38b is provided at a lower end portion.

A freezing-side water-receiving part 40 is provided below the freezing cooler 18. The freezing-side water-receiving portion 40 receives defrost water generated during defrosting of the freezing cooler 18. The freezing-side water-discharging unit 40 is connected to the defrosting water evaporating dish 35 provided in the machine room 19 via a freezing-side water-discharging hose 41 penetrating through the bottom heat-insulating wall of the heat-insulating box 1. Thereby, the defrosting water received by the freezing-side water discharging unit 40 is guided to the defrosting water evaporating dish 35 through the freezing-side water discharging hose 41. Then, the defrost water is evaporated in the defrost-water evaporation pan 35.

In this configuration, when the freezing-side air blowing fan 39 is driven, the cold air generated by the freezing cooler 18 is supplied from the cold air outlet 38a into the ice making compartment 6, the small freezing compartment, and the freezing compartment 7, and then returned from the return port 38b into the freezing-side cooler compartment 38. This circulation of cold air is performed by driving the freezing-side air blowing fan 39. Thereby, the ice making compartment 6, the small freezing compartment, and the freezing compartment 7 are cooled.

Next, the structure of the refrigeration cycle 16 will be described in detail. As shown in fig. 3, the refrigeration cycle 16 is configured by connecting a compressor 20, a condenser 21, a dryer 22, a three-way valve 23, a capillary tube 24 and a capillary tube 25, a cooler 17 and a cooler 18 in an annular shape in this order along the direction in which the refrigerant flows. A condenser 21 and a dryer 22 are connected in this order to a high-pressure discharge port of the compressor 20 via a connection pipe 26. A three-way valve 23 is connected to the discharge side of the dryer 22. The three-way valve 23 has one inlet connected to the dryer 22 and two outlets. A refrigerating-side capillary tube 24 serving as a connecting pipe and the refrigerating cooler 17 are connected in this order to one of the two outlets of the three-way valve 23. The cooler 17 for cold storage is connected to the compressor 20 via a cold storage side suction pipe 27 which is a pipe for connection.

The freezing side capillary tube 25, which is a pipe for connection, and the freezing cooler 18 are connected in this order to the other of the two outlets of the three-way valve 23. The refrigeration chiller 18 is connected to the compressor 20 via a refrigeration-side suction pipe 28, which is a pipe for connection. A check valve 29 for preventing the refrigerant from the refrigerating cooler 17 from flowing backward toward the refrigerating cooler 18 is provided between the refrigerating cooler 18 and the compressor 20.

Next, a specific configuration of the heat insulation box 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1, 3, 4, and 5.

The steel-plate outer box 2 has a left side plate 50, a right side plate 51, a top plate 52, a bottom plate 53, and a back plate 54, and has an open front. The left side plate 50, the right side plate 51, and the top plate 52 are each formed by bending an end portion of one long steel plate into a substantially U shape. A step portion 53a for forming the machine chamber 19 is formed in the bottom plate 53. As shown in fig. 1, a flange portion 50a protruding inward is formed at the front end of the left side plate 50, and a flange portion 50b pointing forward is formed at the rear end. Further, an inwardly projecting flange 51a is formed at the front end of the right side plate 51, and a forwardly directed flange 51b is formed at the rear end. Further, at both left and right end portions of the back plate 54, flange portions 54a inserted into the flange portion 50b of the left side plate 50 and flange portions 54b inserted into the flange portion 51b of the right side plate 51 are formed. As shown in fig. 4, injection holes 55 are formed in the center of the left and right sides of the back plate 54.

The inner case 3 made of synthetic resin is integrally molded by a vacuum molding machine not shown. The inner box 3 includes a left side plate 56 corresponding to the left side plate 50 of the outer box 2, a right side plate 57 corresponding to the right side plate 51 of the outer box 2, a top plate 58 corresponding to the top plate 52 of the outer box 2, a bottom plate 59 corresponding to the bottom plate 53 of the outer box 2, and a back plate 60 corresponding to the back plate 54 of the outer box 2. The front of the inner case 3 is open. A step portion 59a for forming the machine chamber 19 is formed in the bottom plate 59 so as to correspond to the step portion 53a of the bottom plate 53 of the outer box 2. A flange portion 56a inserted into the flange portion 50a of the left side plate 50 of the outer box 2 is formed at the front end portion of the left side plate 56. A flange portion 57a inserted into the flange portion 51a of the right side plate 51 of the outer box 2 is formed at the front end portion of the right side plate 57. As shown in fig. 1, 2, and 4, chamfered portions 61, 62, and 63 are formed as accommodating recessed portions protruding toward the inside of the inner box 3 than corner portions formed at corner portions formed by the back plate 60 and the left side plate 56, the right side plate 57, and the top plate 58, which are other plates connected to the back plate 60. A plurality of concave portions 64 are formed on both left and right sides of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. These recesses 64 protrude toward the inside of the inner box 3, and have base ends positioned at the chamfered portions 61 and connected between the left side plates 50 and 56, or have base ends positioned at the chamfered portions 62 and connected between the right side plates 51 and 57. Further, as shown in fig. 1, a vent hole 64a is formed at the tip end of each recess 64.

The refrigerating side capillary tube 24 and the refrigerating side suction pipe 27 of the freezing cycle 16 are guided from the back plate 60 side to the chamfered portion 62 side in the inner box 3, and are led out to the outside of the chamfered portion 62. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the refrigerating side capillary tube 24 and the refrigerating side suction tube 27 are brazed to each other, for example, and are integrated so as to be heat-exchangeable to form a tube body 65. As shown in fig. 5, the pipe body 65 rises along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62 of the inner box 3, and further, is directed toward the left side plate 56 along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 63. The pipe 65 is arranged to be U-folded back toward the right side plate 57 on the side of the left side plate 56, and further to descend along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62.

The reason why the refrigerating side capillary tube 24 and the refrigerating side suction tube 27 of the freezing cycle 16 are integrated so as to be heat-exchangeable is that the heat of the refrigerating side capillary tube 24 promotes vaporization of the refrigerant in the refrigerating side suction tube 27 to improve the operation efficiency of the freezing cycle 16, thereby reducing the amount of electric power used. In the present embodiment, the same arrangement is also adopted for the freezing side capillary tube 25 and the freezing side suction tube 28, but the illustration thereof is omitted. As shown in fig. 5, the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 connected to the refrigerating-side water-receiving portion 33 extends from the back plate 60 side in the inner box 3 toward the chamfered portion 62 side, and is led out to the outside of the chamfered portion 62. The cooling-side drain hose 34 is disposed so as to descend along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, the back surfaces of the vacuum insulation panel 66 and the vacuum insulation panel 67, which are heat insulating materials, are bonded to the inner surfaces of the left side plate 50 and the right side plate 51 of the outer box 2 with an adhesive such as a double-sided tape or a hot melt. The surfaces of a vacuum insulation panel 68 and a vacuum insulation panel 69, which are heat insulating materials, are respectively bonded to the outer surfaces of the top plate 58 and the bottom plate 59 of the inner box 3 with an adhesive such as a double-sided tape or a hot melt. The back surface of the vacuum insulation panel 70, which is a heat insulating material, is bonded to the inner surface of the back plate 54 of the outer box 2 with an adhesive such as a double-sided tape or a hot melt. As shown in fig. 1, the inner box 3 is disposed in the outer box 2, and the flange portion 56a of the left side plate 56 of the inner box 3 is engaged with the flange portion 50a of the left side plate 50 of the outer box 2, and the flange portion 57a of the right side plate 57 of the inner box 3 is engaged with the flange portion 51a of the right side plate 51 of the outer box 2. Then, the bottom plate 53 is attached to the left side plate 50 and the right side plate 51 of the outer box 2. Further, the back plate 54 is attached to the left side plate 50, the right side plate 51, the top plate 52, and the bottom plate 53 of the outer box 2, and the surface of the vacuum insulation panel 70 is pressed against the outer surface of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3.

Then, as shown in fig. 4, the front openings of the outer box 2 and the inner box 3 are directed downward. Then, a foaming jig, not shown, is fitted into the inner box 3, and a stock solution of a thermal insulating foamed material made of foamed polyurethane is injected from an injection hole 55 of the back plate 54 of the outer box 2. The raw liquid of the thermal insulating foamed material injected from the injection hole 55 between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3 is received by the flange portions 50a, 51a and the flange portions 56a, 57a of the front opening portions of the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. Thereafter, the stock solution expands while foaming, and rises and fills between the left side plates 50 and 56, between the right side plates 51 and 57, and between the top plates 52 and 58 of the outer tank 2 and the inner tank 3. This forms the thermal insulating foamed material 71 as a thermal insulating material.

As shown in fig. 1, the heat insulation box 1 in which the vacuum heat insulation panels 66, 67, 68, 69, 70 and the foamed heat insulation material 71 are used together as a heat insulation material has a left side heat insulation wall constituted by the left side plates 50, 56, the vacuum heat insulation panel 66 and the foamed heat insulation material 71 a. The heat insulation box 1 has a right side heat insulation wall formed by the right side plates 51 and 57, the vacuum heat insulation panel 67, and the foamed heat insulation material 71 b. As shown in fig. 2, the heat insulation box 1 has a ceiling heat insulation wall formed by the top plates 52 and 58, the vacuum insulation panel 68, and the foam insulation 71 c. The heat insulating box 1 also has bottom heat insulating walls formed by the bottom plates 53 and 59, the vacuum heat insulating panel 69, and the foam heat insulating material 71 d. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the heat insulation box 1 has a back heat insulation wall formed by back plates 54 and 60 and a vacuum heat insulation plate 70. In this case, the vacuum insulation panels 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70 constituting the insulation box 1 are set to have substantially the same thickness. The thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d are set to have substantially the same thickness. However, the thickness of the thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, and 71d is set to be equal to or less than the thickness of the vacuum insulation panels 66, 67, 68, 69, and 70, for example, substantially equal to each other.

As shown in fig. 1, the heat insulating box 1 is filled with a thermal insulating foamed material 71e in a space formed by a corner portion formed by the left side plate 50 and the back plate 54 of the outer box 2, a rear surface portion of the vacuum heat insulating panel 66, a left side surface portion of the vacuum heat insulating panel 70, and the chamfered portion 61 of the inner box 3. The thickness of the thermal insulating foamed material 71e is larger than the thickness of the thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, 71 d. The heat insulation box 1 is filled with a thermal insulating foamed material 71f in a space formed by a corner portion formed by the right side plate 51 and the back plate 54, a rear surface portion of the vacuum heat insulation panel 67, a right side surface portion of the vacuum heat insulation panel 70, and the chamfered portion 62 of the inner box 3. The thermal insulating foamed material 71f has a thickness dimension larger than that of the thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, 71 d. As shown in fig. 2, the heat insulation box 1 is filled with a foam insulation 71g in a space formed by a corner portion formed by the top plate 52 and the back plate 54 of the outer box 2, a rear surface portion of the vacuum heat insulation panel 68, an upper surface portion of the vacuum heat insulation panel 70, and the chamfered portion 63 of the inner box 3. The thickness of the thermal insulating foamed material 71g is larger than the thickness of the thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, 71 d. The heat insulating box 1 is filled with a thermal insulating foamed material 71h in a space formed by a corner portion formed by the bottom plate 53 and the back plate 54, the lower surface of the vacuum heat insulating panel 70, the step portion 53a, and the step portion 59 a. The thickness of the thermal insulating foamed material 71h is larger than the thickness of the thermal insulating foamed materials 71a, 71b, 71c, 71 d.

As shown in fig. 1, the heat insulation box 1 is filled with a foam heat insulating material 71i between a vacuum heat insulation panel 70 having a back surface bonded to an inner surface of the back plate 54 of the outer box 2 and the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 pressed against the vacuum heat insulation panel 70. The thermal insulation foam 71i is formed by the thermal insulation foam rising between the left side plates 50 and 56 or between the right side plates 51 and 57 flowing into the plurality of concave portions 64. The front surface of the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the rear surface, which is the outer surface of the back panel 60 of the inner box 3, by the thermal insulating foamed material 71 i.

In the heat insulation box 1, the left side heat insulation wall, the right side heat insulation wall, the top heat insulation wall, and the bottom heat insulation wall constitute side heat insulation walls. Here, the left side heat insulating wall is composed of the left side plates 50 and 56, the vacuum heat insulating panel 66, and the foamed heat insulating material 71 a. The right side heat insulating wall is composed of the right side plates 51 and 57, the vacuum heat insulating panel 67, and the foamed heat insulating material 71 b. The ceiling heat insulating wall is composed of the ceiling plates 52, 58, the vacuum heat insulating panel 68, and the foam heat insulating material 71 c. The bottom heat insulating wall is composed of the bottom plates 53 and 59, the vacuum heat insulating panel 69, and the foamed heat insulating material 71 d. The back insulation wall is composed of backing plates 54, 60 and a vacuum insulation panel 70. The left side heat insulating wall, the right side heat insulating wall, the top heat insulating wall, and the bottom heat insulating wall constitute side heat insulating walls other than the back heat insulating wall.

The left side heat insulating wall has a thermal insulating foamed material 71a between the inner box 3 and the surface of the vacuum heat insulating panel 66 corresponding to the inner box 3. The right side heat insulating wall has a thermal insulating foamed material 71b between the inner box 3 and the surface of the vacuum insulation panel 67 corresponding to the inner box 3. The top heat insulating wall has a thermal insulating foamed material 71c between the outer box 2 and the back surface of the vacuum insulation panel 68 corresponding to the outer box 2. The bottom heat insulating wall has a thermal insulating foamed material 71d between the outer box 2 and the back surface of the vacuum insulation panel 69 corresponding to the outer box 2. However, in the rear heat insulating wall, the inner box 3 abuts against the surface of the vacuum heat insulating panel 70 corresponding to the inner box 3. In the back heat insulating wall, a foam heat insulating material 71i for adhesion is locally present only between the inner box 3 and the vacuum heat insulating panel 70. Therefore, the area of the portion of the back heat-insulating wall where the vacuum heat-insulating panel 70 does not contact the foamed heat-insulating material (in this case, the sum of the area of the front surface of the vacuum heat-insulating panel 70 corresponding to the inner box 3 and the area of the back surface of the vacuum heat-insulating panel 70 corresponding to the outer box 2) is larger than the area of the portion of the other side heat-insulating walls (in this case, the left side heat-insulating wall, the right side heat-insulating wall, the top heat-insulating wall, and the bottom heat-insulating wall) where the vacuum heat-insulating panel does not contact the foamed heat-insulating material. In other words, the amount of the thermal insulating foamed material used in the back thermal insulation wall is significantly less than the amount of the thermal insulating foamed material used in the other side thermal insulation walls (the left side thermal insulation wall, the right side thermal insulation wall, the top thermal insulation wall, and the bottom thermal insulation wall).

In the heat insulation box 1, a chamfered portion 62 is formed at a corner portion of the right side plate 57 and the back plate 60 in the inner box 3, and a chamfered portion 63 is formed at a corner portion of the top plate 58 and the back plate 60. The chamfered portions 62 and the chamfered portions 63 protrude toward the inside of the inner box 3, and thus a space is formed outside the chamfered portions 62 and the chamfered portions 63. The space serves as a housing recess. The foam insulation 71f and the foam insulation 71g are also filled in the space, and the thicknesses of the foam insulation 71f and the foam insulation 71g are increased. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the pipe 65 is embedded in the portions of the foamed heat insulating material 71f and the foamed heat insulating material 71g having increased thicknesses. As shown in fig. 1, a refrigerating side drain hose 34 is embedded in a portion of the foamed heat insulating material 71 f.

According to the present embodiment, chamfered portions 61, 62, 63 are formed as accommodating recessed portions protruding inward of the inner box 3 from corner portions formed by the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 and the left side plate 56, the right side plate 57, and the top plate 58 connected to the back plate 60. In at least one of these chamfered portions, in this case, the thermal insulating foam material 71f and the thermal insulating foam material 71g are filled outside the chamfered portion 62 and the chamfered portion 63. This increases the thickness of the thermal insulating foamed material. The pipe body 65, which is a pipe for connection, is embedded in the portions of the foamed heat insulating material 71f and the foamed heat insulating material 71g having increased thicknesses. Further, a refrigerating side drain hose 34, which is a drain pipe, is embedded in a portion of the foamed heat insulating material 71 f. This eliminates the need to dispose the pipe body 65 and the cooling side drain hose 34 between the back plate 54 of the outer box 2 and the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. Therefore, the vacuum insulation panel 70 having a small thickness can be easily disposed between the back panel 54 of the outer box 2 and the back panel 60 of the inner box 3. That is, in the portion of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 close to the vacuum insulation panel 70, the pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 as the piping do not exist on the outer surface side of the back plate 60.

Further, a vacuum insulation panel 70 is disposed between the back panel 54 of the outer box 2 and the back panel 60 of the inner box 3. Therefore, when the raw liquid of the thermal insulating foamed material is injected between the outer casing 2 and the inner casing 3 and foamed, the thermal insulating foamed material hardly flows between the back plate 54 of the outer casing 2 and the back plate 60 of the inner casing 3, and further between the vacuum insulation panel 70 and the back plate 60 of the inner casing 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the foaming pressure of the stock solution of the thermal insulating foamed material to the expansion ratio or more so that the thermal insulating foamed material flows between the back sheet 54 and the back sheet 60, and the amount of the thermal insulating foamed material used can be reduced.

Further, a plurality of recesses 64 protruding inward are formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. Then, the thermal insulating foamed material stock solution is poured into these recesses 64 and filled with the thermal insulating foamed material 71 i. This enables the vacuum insulation panel 70 to be bonded to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3 by using the thermal insulating foamed material 71i as an adhesive. Therefore, it is not necessary to bond the heat insulating plate 70 to the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 before filling the thermal insulating foamed material, and the assembly work is simplified. In this case, a vent hole 64a is formed at the front end of the recess 64. Therefore, even if the width of the recess 64 (the width of the groove through which the thermal insulation foam flows) is small, the thermal insulation foam 71i can sufficiently flow in.

(second embodiment)

Fig. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 6, in the present embodiment, the plurality of recesses 64 are not formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. That is, the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3 before the foam insulation material is filled.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 7, the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the inner surface of the back plate 54 of the outer box 2 by an adhesive such as a double-sided tape or a hot melt. The back plate 54 is disposed so that the surface side of the vacuum insulation panel 70 faces upward. Then, a hot melt as an adhesive is applied to the surface (upper surface in fig. 7) of the vacuum insulation panel 70 by a glue roll 72.

The glue application roller 72 includes: an application roller 73 that contacts the surface of the vacuum insulation panel 70 to apply a hot melt; a back-up roller 74 that is in contact with the outer surface (lower surface in fig. 7) of the back plate 54; and a pickup roller 75 for feeding the hot melt toward the coating roller 73. The coating roller 73, the backup roller 74, and the pickup roller 75 are rotatably supported by support bodies, not shown. Then, the back plate 54 is moved to the right in fig. 7, whereby the surface of the vacuum insulation panel 70 is coated with the hot melt. In this case, the height Lb (projection) of the flange portions 54a and 54b of the back plate 54 is smaller than the height La of the vacuum insulation panel 70 (the sum of the thickness of the vacuum insulation panel 70 and the thickness of the back plate 54). Namely, Lb < La is set in a magnitude relation. This prevents the flange portions 54a and 54b from contacting and damaging the application roller 73 when the backing plate 54 moves.

The back plate 54 is attached to the outer box 2 by inserting the flange portion 54a of the back plate 54 having the vacuum insulation panel 70 coated with hot melt on the surface thereof into the flange portion 50b of the left side plate 50 and inserting the flange portion 54b into the flange portion 51b of the right side plate 51. At this time, the front surface side of the vacuum insulation panel 70 is pressed against the back surface (outer surface) of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 and bonded by heat fusion.

Then, a stock solution of a thermal insulating foamed material is injected between the outer casing 2 and the inner casing 3 to foam the same. However, the state of attachment in which the flange portion 56a of the front opening of the inner box 3 is inserted into the flange portion 50a and the flange portion 57a is inserted into the flange portion 51a before the stock solution of the thermal insulating foamed material is injected is unstable with respect to the outer box 2. Therefore, the inner case 3 may be deformed due to its weak mechanical strength. According to the present embodiment, the back plate 54 of the outer box 2 and the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 are integrated by the vacuum insulation panel 70 bonded to both. Thereby, the strength of the inner case 3 is increased. Therefore, the deformation of the inner box 3 can be avoided before the foam insulation material is filled. Further, even when time is required before the foam insulation material is filled, for example, deformation of the inner box 3 can be avoided.

As described above, before the foam insulation material is filled, the mounting state of the inner box 3 to the outer box 2 is unstable. Therefore, when the back plate 54 is attached to the outer box 2 and the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back plate 60 of the inner box 3, the vacuum insulation panel 70 may not be bonded to the standard position (predetermined position) of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. If the inner box 3 is supposed to be displaced from the standard position, the vacuum insulation panel 70 may be adhered to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3 at a position displaced from the standard position. When a foaming jig (a tool for injecting and foaming a stock solution of a thermal insulating material between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3) is fitted into the inner box 3 in this state, the inner box 3 is forcibly moved to the standard position. Therefore, stress acts on the outer box 2 and the inner box 3 via the vacuum insulation panel 70, and as a result, deformation (wrinkles, strain, and the like) may occur in the inner box 3 having a weak mechanical strength.

According to the present embodiment, chamfered portions 61, 62, 63 are formed at corner portions formed by the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 and the left side plate 56, the right side plate 57, and the top plate 58 connected to the back plate 60. Therefore, stress due to the displacement of the bonding position of the vacuum insulation panel 70 can be absorbed by the chamfered portions 61, 62, 63, and deformation of the inner box 3 can be prevented. The chamfered portions 61, 62, 63 of the inner box 3 are preferably formed linearly. However, the chamfered portion may be formed in a slightly arcuate shape.

(third embodiment)

Fig. 8 shows a third embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, reference is also made to fig. 2.

In the present embodiment, the plurality of recesses 64 are not formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. Instead, a housing recess 76 protruding toward the inside of the inner box 3 is formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. The housing recess 76 is located on the back side of the cooler side chamber 32 functioning as a blowing duct. The housing recess 76 extends horizontally from the center of the back plate 60 in the vertical direction to the chamfered portion 62. In addition, a housing recess 77 protruding toward the inside of the inner box 3 is formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3. The storage recess 77 is located near the refrigerating side cooler chamber 32, i.e., on the rear side of the lower portion of the refrigerating side cooler chamber 32. The housing recess 77 also extends horizontally from the center position in the vertical direction of the back plate 60 to the position of the chamfered portion 62.

The pipe 65 is led out from the center of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 into the housing recess 76. The pipe 65 is guided to the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62 along the housing recess 76 in the housing recess 76. The pipe 65 is guided upward along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62, further guided in the direction of the left side plate 56 along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 63, and further guided downward along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 61. That is, the pipe 65 is disposed in a gate shape along the periphery of the back plate 60. The refrigerating-side drain hose 34 is led out from the center position of the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 into the storage recess 77. The refrigerating-side drain hose 34 is guided to the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62 along the storage recess 77 in the storage recess 77. The refrigerating-side drain hose 34 is guided downward along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62.

A vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3. In this case, the pipe body 65 as a pipe is housed in the housing recess 76. Further, the refrigerating side drain hose 34 as a pipe is housed in the housing recess 77. Therefore, the vacuum insulation panel 70 can be prevented from being pressed against the pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 and floating. After the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded, a raw liquid of a thermal insulating foamed material is injected between the outer casing 2 and the inner casing 3 to foam the same. When the thermal insulating foamed material is filled, the thermal insulating foamed material flows into the housing recess 76 and the housing recess 77 from the chamfered portion 62. Therefore, the pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 are embedded in the foamed heat insulating material.

According to the present embodiment, the housing recess 76 and the housing recess 77 are formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 so as to protrude inward. The pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 are guided and stored in the storage recess 76 and the storage recess 77. Therefore, even if there is a structural or technical reason that the pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 have to be led out from the center portion of the back panel 60 of the inner box 3 to the outside of the inner box 3, it is possible to prevent deformation such as the vacuum insulation panel 70 being pressed against the pipe body 65 and the refrigerating-side drain hose 34 and floating when the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back panel of the inner box 3. Therefore, the insulation performance of the vacuum insulation panel 70 is not adversely affected. The pipe 65 is disposed in all of the chamfered portions 61, 62, and 63 of the inner box 3, and is formed in a gate shape. Therefore, the length (distance) of the pipe 65 can be sufficiently ensured.

(fourth embodiment)

Fig. 9 and 10 show a fourth embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the first embodiment. In this embodiment, for convenience of explanation, reference is also made to fig. 2. In the present embodiment, the plurality of recesses 64 are not formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3.

As shown in fig. 2, a freezing-side cooler chamber 38 also serving as a blowing duct is provided inside the freezing chamber 7. The freezing side cooler chamber 38 is provided with a freezing cooler 18 and a freezing side blower fan 39. As shown in fig. 9, the left and right end portions of the freezer side cooler chamber 38 are dead spaces (dead spaces) in which food cannot be stored. In the present embodiment, in order to utilize one of the dead spaces on both the right and left end sides of the freezer-side cooler chamber 38, in this case, a housing recess 78 protruding toward the inside of the inner box 3 is formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 in order to utilize the dead space on the right side.

The freezing side capillary tube 25 and the freezing side suction pipe 28 connected to the freezing cooler 18 are led out from the inside of the inner box 3 into the storage recess 78. The freezing side capillary tube 25 and the freezing side suction tube 28 are integrated by brazing, for example, so as to be heat-exchangeable, thereby constituting a tube body 79 as a pipe for connection. As shown in fig. 10, the pipe 79 is disposed so that its tip end is directed downward after being bent twice in a U-shape in the housing recess 78.

Then, the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3, and then a stock solution of a thermal insulating foamed material is injected between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3 to foam the same. Thus, as shown in fig. 9, the thermal insulating foam 71f is also filled in the housing recess 78, and the pipe 79 is embedded in the thermal insulating foam 71 f.

According to the present embodiment, the housing recess 78 is formed so as to protrude toward one of the dead spaces generated at both left and right end portions of the freezer-side cooler chamber 38 in the freezing chamber 7. The tube 79 is accommodated in the accommodation recess 78. This makes it possible to dispose tube 79 in an unused space in freezer compartment 7.

Further, a housing recess may be formed so as to protrude toward the other of the dead spaces generated at the left and right end portions of the freezer-side cooler chamber 38 in the freezing chamber 7, and the tube 65 of the cooler 17 for cold storage may be housed in the housing recess (see fig. 1).

(fifth embodiment)

Fig. 11 and 12 show a fifth embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the plurality of recesses 64 are not formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3.

That is, as shown in fig. 11, the step 53a is not formed on the bottom plate 53 of the outer case 2, and the step 59a is not formed on the bottom plate 59 of the inner case 3. Instead, a step 52a for forming the machine chamber 19 is formed on the top plate 52 of the outer box 2, and a step 58a for forming the machine chamber 19 is formed on the top plate 58 of the inner box 3. The step 58a is a housing recess projecting toward the inside of the inner box 3 corresponding to the step 52a of the top plate 52. As shown in fig. 12, the pipe 65 arranged to rise along the outer surface of the chamfered portion 62 of the inner box 3 is arranged to be guided in the direction of the left side plate 56 at the horizontal portion of the outer surface of the step portion 58 a. Further, the pipe body 65 is U-folded to be guided in the direction of the right side plate 57, and is U-folded again to be guided in the direction of the left side plate 56. The pipe 65 is disposed so that its end is directed upward in the vicinity of the left side plate 56. That is, the pipe body 65 is arranged to be folded back twice in a U shape at the horizontal portion of the step portion 58 a.

Then, the vacuum insulation panel 70 is bonded to the back panel 60 of the inner box 3, and then a stock solution of a thermal insulating foamed material is injected between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3 to foam the same. Accordingly, as shown in fig. 11, the thermal insulating foam 71g is also filled between the stepped portion 52a of the top plate 52 and the stepped portion 58a of the top plate 58, and the pipe body 65 is embedded in the thermal insulating foam 71 g.

In the machine chamber 19, a compressor 20, a condenser 21 (see fig. 3), a cooling fan (not shown) for cooling the compressor 20 and the condenser 21, and the like are disposed. Further, since the top plate 58 of the inner box 3 has the step portion 58a, the cold air supply duct 30 includes the extension duct portion 30b along the step portion 58 a. A cold air supply port 30a is provided at an upper end of the extension duct portion 30 b.

The refrigerator of the present embodiment is a type in which a compressor 20 and the like are disposed at an upper portion of a heat insulation box body 1. In the refrigerator of this embodiment, a step 52a is formed in a top plate 52 of an outer box 2 and a step 58a is formed in a top plate 58 of an inner box 3 in order to form a machine chamber 19 in which a compressor 20 and the like are disposed. The pipe 65 is housed in a space formed inevitably between the step portions 52a and 58 a.

(sixth embodiment)

Fig. 13 shows a sixth embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the pipe body 65 is arranged to be folded back twice in a U shape at a horizontal portion of the step portion 58a formed in the top plate 58 of the inner box 3. In the sixth embodiment, the pipe member 65 is arranged to be folded back once in a U shape at the horizontal portion of the step portion 58 a. Further, the pipe body 65 is disposed so as to be turned back twice in a U shape by being shifted to the vertical portion of the step portion 58 a. The pipe 65 is disposed so that an end thereof is directed upward.

According to the present embodiment, the length (distance) of the tube body 65 in which the refrigerating side capillary tube 24 and the refrigerating side suction tube 27 (see fig. 3) are integrated so as to be heat-exchangeable can be made longer than that of the fifth embodiment. This enables sufficient heat exchange between the refrigerating capillary tube 24 and the refrigerating suction tube 27, thereby achieving further power saving.

(seventh embodiment)

Fig. 14 shows a seventh embodiment. Hereinafter, a description will be given of a portion different from the fifth embodiment. In the fifth embodiment, the pipe body 65 is arranged so as to be folded back twice in a U shape at a horizontal portion of the step portion 58a formed in the top plate 58 (both see fig. 12) of the inner box 3. In the seventh embodiment, the pipe member 65 is disposed spirally at the horizontal portion of the step portion 58 a. The end of the pipe 65 is led out from the center portion and directed upward. Further, the pipe body 65 may have a structure in which a plurality of spiral portions are arranged in a horizontal portion of the step portion 58 a. Alternatively, the pipe body 65 may be provided on the vertical portion of the step portion 58 a.

(other embodiments)

In the first to third embodiments, the pipe body, which is a pipe in which the freezing side capillary tube 25 and the freezing side suction tube 28 are integrated so as to be heat-exchangeable, may be housed on the outer surface side of the step portion 59a, which is a housing recess formed in the bottom plate 59 of the inner box 3.

In the first embodiment, a housing recess portion that protrudes inward may be formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 between the upper end portion of the air blowing duct 36 and the top plate 58. Further, a pipe 65 may be disposed in the housing recess.

In the fifth embodiment, a housing recess portion that protrudes inward may be formed in the back plate 60 of the inner box 3 between the bottom end of the freezing-side cooler chamber 38, which is a blast duct, and the bottom plate 59. Further, a pipe 79 (see fig. 9) may be disposed in the housing recess.

The fourth embodiment may be combined with at least any one of the first to third embodiments and implemented. Further, the above embodiments may be combined as appropriate and implemented.

The heat insulating walls of the respective portions of the heat insulating box 1 may not be formed of vacuum heat insulating panels, and may be formed of only foam heat insulating materials.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes the heat insulating box, the air blowing duct, the storage recess, and the piping. The heat insulation box body is provided with an outer box, an inner box and a heat insulation material, and is provided with a storage chamber inside. The outer box is provided with a left side plate, a right side plate, a top plate, a bottom plate and a back plate. The inner box is disposed in the outer box and has a left side plate corresponding to the left side plate of the outer box, a right side plate corresponding to the right side plate of the outer box, a top plate corresponding to the top plate of the outer box, a bottom plate corresponding to the bottom plate of the outer box, and a back plate corresponding to the back plate of the outer box. The heat insulating material is disposed between the inner box and the outer box to constitute heat insulating walls of the respective parts. The air supply duct is provided inside the storage chamber of the heat insulating box, and a cooler and an air supply fan constituting a refrigeration cycle for supplying cold air to the storage chamber are disposed inside the air supply duct. The housing recess is formed in the inner case and protrudes inward. The pipe is disposed in the housing recess. The pipe is not present in a portion of the back plate of the inner box near the heat insulating material. Thus, the heat insulating material constituting the back heat insulating wall can be thinned without being affected by the piping.

The above embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the scope equivalent thereto.

Claims

1. A refrigerator is provided with:

a heat insulation box body having an outer box, an inner box, and a heat insulation material disposed between the inner box and the outer box to form a heat insulation wall, the heat insulation box body having a storage chamber therein;

an air supply duct provided inside the storage chamber of the heat insulating box body, and having an air supply fan disposed therein;

a receiving recess formed at a corner portion formed by a back plate of the inner box and a side plate connected to the back plate, protruding inward, and filled with the heat insulating material; and

and a plurality of pipes buried in the portion of the heat insulating material having an increased thickness and filled in the housing recess.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein,

the housing recess is formed at a rear side of the air blowing duct or a portion near the rear side of the air blowing duct on the back plate of the inner box,

the plurality of pipes are disposed in the housing recess.