CN113068787A

CN113068787A - Thawing device and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN113068787A
Application number: CN202010004632.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 仲伟; 刘玉花; 杜莉
Original assignee: BSH Home Appliances Co Ltd; Bo Xihua Electric Jiangsu Co Ltd
Current assignee: BSH Electrical Appliances Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Home Appliances Co Ltd; Bo Xihua Electric Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2020-01-03
Filing date: 2020-01-03
Publication date: 2021-07-06

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a thawing apparatus and a refrigerator. This thawing apparatus includes: a housing; a treatment chamber located within the housing; a first partition wall defining a part of a boundary of the process chamber; an rf antenna disposed along the first partition wall and adapted to apply rf energy to the process chamber; and an antenna cover disposed along the first partition wall, the antenna cover and the first partition wall defining an at least partially enclosed receiving space, the radio frequency antenna being located within the receiving space. Compared with the prior art, in the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application, the radio frequency antenna can be at least partially sealed by the antenna cover and the first partition wall, so that the contact probability/frequency of the radio frequency antenna and high-humidity air can be reduced, the probability of condensation/icing of the radio frequency antenna is favorably reduced, the stability of the unfreezing performance of the unfreezing device can be favorably maintained, and the service life of the unfreezing device is prolonged.

Description

Thawing device and refrigerator

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to a thawing device and a refrigerator.

Background

The freezer compartment of a domestic refrigerator can be used to store food that is not consumed for a short period of time and to maintain the quality of the food. The frozen food may also need to be thawed before being cooked or consumed. In general, the related art may thaw food by providing a thawing apparatus in a refrigerator.

At present, the radio frequency thawing technology has the characteristics of short thawing time, good temperature uniformity of thawed food, difficult loss of nutrient components and the like, and has a good application prospect.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention aims to provide an improved unfreezing device and a refrigerator.

The thawing apparatus provided by the embodiment of the invention comprises: a housing; a treatment chamber located within the housing; a first partition wall defining a part of a boundary of the process chamber; an rf antenna disposed along the first partition wall and adapted to apply rf energy to the process chamber; and an antenna cover disposed along the first partition wall, the antenna cover and the first partition wall defining an at least partially enclosed receiving space, the radio frequency antenna being located within the receiving space.

Optionally, a first installation cavity is included in the housing and is spaced from the process cavity, and the receiving space is located in the first installation cavity.

Optionally, the antenna cover and the first partition wall are seamlessly connected.

Optionally, the antenna cover is electrically insulating.

Optionally, a sealing strip is disposed between the antenna cover and the first partition wall.

Optionally, at least a portion of the rf antenna is sandwiched between the antenna cover and the first partition.

Optionally, the radio frequency antenna is entirely enclosed within the containment space.

Optionally, an inductor is included within the housing and coupled to the rf antenna, an end of the rf antenna proximate the inductor being exposed.

Optionally, a second mounting cavity is included, the inductor is located in the second mounting cavity, and one end of the radio frequency antenna extending into the second mounting cavity is exposed.

Optionally, comprising:

a first mounting chamber located within the housing and spaced from the process chamber; and

and the second partition wall separates the second mounting cavity from the first mounting cavity, is provided with a through hole suitable for the radio-frequency antenna to pass through, and the radio-frequency antenna passes through the second partition wall through the through hole to enter the second mounting cavity.

Optionally, the first partition and/or the antenna cover extends into the through hole.

Optionally, the fan is arranged in the second mounting cavity, and the heat dissipation hole is arranged on the second partition wall and/or the shell; the fan is suitable for diffusing the heat generated by the inductor to the outside of the second mounting cavity through the heat dissipation holes.

Optionally, a smart tuning module is included in the second mounting cavity and coupled to the inductor.

Optionally, the second installation cavity is disposed behind the process cavity.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a refrigerator comprising any one of the unfreezing devices.

Compared with the prior art, the technical scheme of the embodiment of the invention has the beneficial effect. For example, the rf antenna is at least partially enclosed by the antenna cover and the first partition wall, which may reduce the probability/frequency of contact between the rf antenna and the high humidity air, thereby facilitating a reduction in the probability of condensation/icing of the rf antenna, which may in turn facilitate a maintenance of a stable thawing performance of the thawing apparatus, and may improve the operating life of the thawing apparatus.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a thawing apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the front-rear direction;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the thawing apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the connection of the defrosting device and the RF power module according to the embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the thawing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention, taken along the front-rear direction;

fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the right and left direction in the embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The embodiment of the invention provides an improved thawing device. This thawing apparatus includes: a housing; a treatment chamber located within the housing; a first partition wall defining a part of a boundary of the process chamber; an rf antenna disposed along the first partition wall and adapted to apply rf energy to the process chamber; and an antenna cover disposed along the first partition wall, the antenna cover and the first partition wall defining an at least partially enclosed receiving space, the radio frequency antenna being located within the receiving space.

Compared with the prior art, in the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention, the radio-frequency antenna can be at least partially sealed by the antenna cover and the first partition wall, so that the contact probability/frequency of the radio-frequency antenna and high-humidity air can be reduced, the probability of condensation/icing of the radio-frequency antenna is favorably reduced, the stability of the thawing performance of the thawing device can be favorably maintained, and the service life of the thawing device is prolonged.

The thawing device provided by the embodiment of the invention can be applied to refrigerators, freezers and other refrigeration appliances needing to be frozen and thawed, and is particularly applied to the freezing chamber of the refrigeration appliance. Because the freezer compartment is cooler, the rf antenna disposed in the freezer compartment is more likely to produce condensation.

For convenience of description of the thawing apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present invention, six directions, i.e., up, down, left, right, front, and rear, are illustrated in the drawings provided in the embodiment of the present invention, and are determined based on a view from a door of the thawing apparatus facing a user in a normal use state. Here, "front" represents a direction in which the door of the thawing apparatus is close to the user side, "rear" represents a direction in which the door of the thawing apparatus is away from the user side, and "up", "down", "left", and "right" are determined based on the foregoing "front" and "rear" directions divided in natural orientations. It will be appreciated that from other perspectives of the thawing apparatus, there will be up, down, left, right, front and rear directions corresponding to the respective perspectives; the upper, lower, left, right, front and rear directions shown in the drawings are provided for convenience of describing technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and do not constitute a limiting explanation of the solutions.

In order to make the objects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, specific embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a thawing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention, taken along the front-rear direction.

As shown in fig. 1, an embodiment of the present invention provides a thawing apparatus 10. The thawing apparatus 10 includes a case 100, a processing chamber 130, a first partition wall 310, an antenna cover 410, and an rf antenna 200.

In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the housing 100 may be made of metal; or plastic materials can be adopted, and metal coatings can be coated on the surfaces of the plastic materials.

Referring to fig. 1, a treatment chamber 130 is located within the housing 100 and is adapted to receive the object 20 to be treated.

In one or more specific examples, the process chamber 130 may be centrally located in the front of the housing 100 and have a forwardly open access opening.

Referring to fig. 1, the thawing apparatus 10 may further include a door 140 coupled to the front end of the casing 100, the door 140 being adapted to open and close the access opening of the processing chamber 130.

In one or more specific examples, the door 140 may be pivotally connected to the left or right side of the housing 100.

In other specific examples, the door 140 may have the same height as the housing 100, and the upper and lower ends of the door 140 may be flush with the upper and lower ends of the housing 100, respectively. The door 140 may also have the same width as the housing 100, and left and right ends of the door 140 are flush with left and right ends of the housing 100, respectively. In this manner, a more consistent, comfortable appearance of the thawing apparatus 10 may be provided.

In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the first partition wall 310 and the antenna cover 410 are both made of an electrically insulating material. For example, the first partition wall 310 and the antenna cover 410 may be made of plastic.

Referring to fig. 1, the first partition wall 310 is adapted to define a portion of the boundary of the process chamber 130.

The thawing apparatus 10 may further include a first installation chamber 110 which is located inside the case 100 and is separated from the processing chamber 130 by a first partition wall 310.

Specifically, two first installation cavities 110 may be provided in the thawing apparatus 10. The two first installation chambers 110 are respectively located at upper and lower sides of the process chamber 130. Each of the first installation chambers 110 is partitioned from the process chamber 130 by a first partition wall 310.

In the solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, the antenna cover 410 may be disposed along the first partition wall 310 and connected with the first partition wall 310, and both of them jointly define the at least partially closed accommodating space 111.

Referring to fig. 1, the thawing apparatus 10 includes two receiving spaces 111. The two accommodating spaces 111 are respectively located in the first installation cavities 110 at the upper and lower sides of the process chamber 130.

One rf antenna 200 is disposed in each receiving space 111. Each rf antenna 200 is disposed along the corresponding first partition wall 310 and adapted to apply rf energy to the process chamber 130 to thaw the object 20 to be processed within the process chamber 130.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the thawing apparatus of fig. 1 taken along the line a-a.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, in some preferred embodiments, a sealing strip 420 may be further disposed between the antenna cover 410 and the first partition wall 310. The sealing strip 420 is adapted to improve and secure the sealing effect of the accommodating space 111.

Referring to fig. 1, the housing 100 further has a second mounting chamber 120 therein independent of the first mounting chamber 110 and the process chamber 130. The second chamber 120 is partitioned from the first chamber 110 and the process chamber 130 by a second partition wall 320 made of a metal material. The second installation cavity 120 may be located behind the process cavity 130 and the two first installation cavities 110, i.e., at the rear of the housing 100.

Referring to fig. 1, the thawing apparatus 10 further includes two inductors 600 located in the second installation cavity 120. Each inductor 600 is connected to one of the rf antennas 200.

In one or more specific examples, one end of rf antenna 200 extends into second mounting cavity 120 and connects to inductor 600. As such, the rf antenna 200 may be exposed to the outside of the accommodating space 111 at an end thereof protruding into the second mounting cavity 120.

Specifically, the second partition wall 120 may be provided at a portion thereof adapted to partition the accommodation space 111 and the second mounting cavity 120 with a through hole (not shown in the drawings) adapted to pass one end of the rf antenna 200 therethrough.

In other specific examples, the through hole may also be adapted to pass through at least one of the antenna cover 410 and the first partition wall 310.

Referring to fig. 1, at least a portion of rf antenna 200 may be sandwiched between antenna cover 410 and first partition 310.

In particular, the rf antenna 200 may employ a plate-like structure. One of the upper and lower end surfaces of at least a part of rf antenna 200 may be closely attached to antenna cover 410, and the other of the upper and lower end surfaces of at least a part of rf antenna 200 may be closely attached to first partition wall 310. As such, at least a portion of rf antenna 200 may be sandwiched between antenna cover 410 and first bulkhead 310.

Referring to fig. 1, the antenna cover 410 and the first partition wall 310 may pass through the through hole together with the rf antenna 200 at a portion where they collectively hold the rf antenna 200 and are adjacent to the second mounting chamber 120.

It should be noted that the through hole has a shape matched with the through portions of the antenna cover 410, the rf antenna 200, and the first partition wall 310, so that the antenna cover 410, the rf antenna 200, and the first partition wall 310 can be closely fitted to the through hole at the through portions thereof, and there is no gap.

In other specific examples, the antenna cover 410 may also be seamlessly connected with the first partition wall 310. As such, the rf antenna 200 may be entirely enclosed within the accommodating space 111. The inductor 600 is connected to the rf antenna 200 entirely enclosed in the accommodation space 111 by a wire. Accordingly, a wire hole adapted to pass a wire is provided on the second partition wall 320.

Referring to fig. 1, the thawing apparatus 10 further includes an intelligent tuning module 500 located in the second installation cavity 120. The smart tuning module 500 is connected to two inductors 600, respectively.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the connection between the thawing apparatus and the rf power module according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 3, the smart tuning module 500 is also connected to the rf power module 30 located outside the housing 100. The smart tuning module 500 may be connected to the rf power module 30 through an rf cable.

When 220V ac power is input to the RF power module 30, the RF power module 30 generates RF signals with a power of 200W-300W and a frequency of about 40MHz, and the RF signals are transmitted to the intelligent tuning module 500 (STU) through the RF cable and then to the upper and lower RF antennas 200 through the two inductors 600, respectively.

Thus, a high-frequency electromagnetic field is formed between the upper and lower two RF antennas 200. The high-frequency electromagnetic field is adapted to thaw the frozen object to be treated 20 located in the treatment chamber 130. The frozen object 20 to be treated is in the high-frequency electromagnetic field, and the temperature of the frozen object is uniformly and rapidly increased, so that the purpose of rapid thawing is achieved.

In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the intelligent tuning module 500 is arranged to automatically adjust the load according to the rf reflected power, so as to improve the rf utilization efficiency and ensure that the rf energy can be better absorbed by the object 20 to be processed.

In the technical solution provided in the embodiment of the present invention, the inductor 600 is provided to protect the intelligent tuning module 500 and the radio frequency power supply module 30. After the rf energy generated from the rf power module 30 reaches the rf antenna 200, if the rf energy is not completely absorbed by the food, the excess rf energy may return to the inductor 300 to dissipate the heat. If the inductor 600 is not provided, the smart tuning module 500 and the rf power module 30 are easily damaged.

Referring to fig. 1, in one or more specific examples, the thawing apparatus 10 further includes a fan 700 disposed in the second installation chamber 120, and a first heat dissipation hole 321 disposed on the second partition wall 320.

The fan 700 may be located between the two inductors 600, and the first heat dissipation hole 321 may be disposed at a position where the second partition wall 320 separates the process chamber 130 from the second mounting chamber 120. The fan 700 is adapted to diffuse heat generated from the inductor 600 into the process chamber 130 through the first heat dissipation hole 321.

Fig. 4 is another cross-sectional view of the thawing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention, taken along the front-rear direction.

In other specific examples, as shown in fig. 4, two fans 700 may be provided. One fan 700 is disposed adjacent each inductor 600. A second heat dissipation hole 101 is formed in the case 100 corresponding to the position of each fan 700. The fan 700 is adapted to diffuse heat generated from the inductor 600 to the outside of the case 100 through the second heat dissipation hole 101.

The thawing apparatus 10 may further comprise inductive switches connected to the door 140 and the rf power module 30, respectively, and adapted to monitor whether the door 140 is opened during the thawing process and to trigger the rf power module 30 to stop operating after the door 140 is opened. In this way, it is avoided that the electromagnetic wave generated by the rf antenna 200 may harm the health of the user after the door 140 is opened during the thawing process.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a refrigerator.

As shown in fig. 5, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and any one of the thawing apparatuses 10 described above. The thawing device 10 may be provided to one of a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment.

The refrigerator 1 may further include a compressor bin 40 and a radio frequency power module 30 located in the compressor bin 40.

While specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, even where only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. The characteristic examples provided in the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative, not limiting, unless differently stated. In particular implementations, the features of one or more dependent claims may be combined with those of the independent claims as technically feasible according to the actual requirements, and the features from the respective independent claims may be combined in any appropriate manner and not merely by the specific combinations enumerated in the claims.

Although the present invention is disclosed above, the present invention is not limited thereto. Various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. Thawing apparatus (10), characterized in that it comprises:

a housing (100);

a process chamber (130) located within the housing (100);

a first partition wall (310) defining a portion of a boundary of the process chamber (130);

a radio frequency antenna (200) disposed along the first partition wall (310) adapted to apply radio frequency energy to the process chamber (130); and

an antenna cover (410) disposed along the first partition wall (310) and defining an at least partially enclosed accommodation space (111) with the first partition wall (310), the radio frequency antenna (200) being located within the accommodation space (111).

2. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a first installation cavity (110) located inside said casing (100) and separated from said treatment cavity (130), said containment space (111) being located inside said first installation cavity (110).

3. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said antenna cover (410) and said first partition (310) are seamlessly connected.

4. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said antenna cover (410) is electrically insulating.

5. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein a sealing strip (420) is provided between the antenna cover (410) and the first partition (310).

6. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of said radiofrequency antenna (200) is clamped between said antenna cover (410) and said first partition (310).

7. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said radiofrequency antenna (200) is entirely enclosed within said containment space (111).

8. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an inductor (600) located inside said casing (100) and connected to said radiofrequency antenna (200), said radiofrequency antenna (200) being exposed close to one end of said inductor (600).

9. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 8, comprising a second housing (120), said inductor (120) being located inside said second housing (120), one end of said radio frequency antenna (200) protruding into said second housing (120) being exposed.

10. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 9, characterized by comprising:

a first mounting chamber (110) located within the housing (100) and spaced apart from the process chamber (130); and

a second partition wall (320) separating the second mounting chamber (120) from the first mounting chamber (110), the second partition wall (320) having a through hole adapted for the radio frequency antenna (200) to pass therethrough, the radio frequency antenna (200) passing through the second partition wall (320) into the second mounting chamber (120) through the through hole.

11. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 10, wherein said first partition (310) and/or said antenna cover (410) protrudes into said through hole.

12. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 10, comprising a fan (700) arranged inside said second mounting chamber (120), and heat dissipation vents (321, 101) arranged on said second partition (320) and/or said casing (100); the fan (700) is suitable for diffusing the heat generated by the inductor (600) to the outside of the second mounting cavity (120) through the heat dissipation holes (321, 101).

13. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 9, characterized by comprising a smart tuning module (500) located inside said second installation cavity (120) and connected to said inductor (600).

14. Thawing apparatus (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that said second installation cavity (120) is provided behind said treatment cavity (130).

15. A refrigerator (1) comprising a thawing apparatus (10) as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 14.