CN116678158A

CN116678158A - Refrigerator and storage device thereof

Info

Publication number: CN116678158A
Application number: CN202210167250.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王睿龙; 崔展鹏; 刘浩泉; 孙皓
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Refrigerator Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-02-23
Filing date: 2022-02-23
Publication date: 2023-09-01
Also published as: WO2023160380A1

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator and a storage device thereof. Wherein, storing device is used for setting up in the refrigeration room of air-cooled refrigerator, and the indoor wall of refrigeration room has the cold wind export that is used for blowing out cold wind, and storing device includes: the storage box is limited with a storage space and provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; the flow guide part is arranged on the outer surface of the storage box; the storage device is configured to: when cold air flow at the cold air outlet flows through the outer surface of the storage box, a negative pressure environment is formed at the air outlet so that air flow in the storage box flows out; and the flow direction of the cold air flow is changed by the flow guide part so that the circulation path of the cold air flow avoids the air inlet, thereby allowing cold air in the refrigerating room to enter the storage box through the air inlet. The refrigerator and the storage device thereof can prevent cold air from directly blowing food materials, and improve the air flow exchange strength of the inner space and the outer space of the storage device.

Description

Refrigerator and storage device thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to a refrigeration and freezing device, in particular to a refrigerator and a storage device thereof.

Background

With the progress of technology, air-cooled refrigerators replace direct-cooled refrigerators as main stream products in the market. The air-cooled refrigerator needs to convey cold air by using an air duct, so that the cold air is blown into the refrigerating compartment through a cold air outlet formed in the inner wall of the refrigerating compartment.

However, when the air-cooled refrigerator is used for refrigerating, cold air directly blows food materials in the refrigerating room, and when the temperature is severe, the moisture loss of the food materials is caused, even the food materials are blown by air, so that the fresh-keeping effect is seriously affected.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, and to provide a refrigerator and a storage device thereof, so as to avoid direct blowing of cold air to food materials.

It is a further object of the present invention to improve the airflow exchange forces between the interior and exterior of the storage device.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a storage device for a refrigerator, for being disposed in a cooling compartment of an air-cooled refrigerator, the cooling compartment having a cool air outlet for blowing cool air at an inner wall thereof, the storage device comprising:

the storage box is limited with a storage space and provided with an air inlet and an air outlet; and

the flow guiding part is arranged on the outer surface of the storage box;

the storage device is configured to: when the cold air flow of the cold air outlet flows through the outer surface of the storage box, a negative pressure environment is formed at the air outlet so that the air flow in the storage box flows out; and the flow direction of the cold air flow is changed by the flow guiding part so that the circulation path of the cold air flow avoids the air inlet, thereby allowing cold air in the refrigerating room to enter the storage box through the air inlet.

Optionally, the air outlets are arranged at the rear of the air inlets and are all positioned on the top surface of the storage box; the guide part is positioned between the air outlet and the air inlet at the front-back direction.

Optionally, the guiding part includes two upper guiding ribs, the first ends of the two upper guiding ribs are connected, and each upper guiding rib starts forward from the first end in the length direction and gradually extends obliquely towards the lateral edge of the storage box.

Optionally, each upper guide rib is curved with a convex side facing forward.

Optionally, the second ends of the two upper guide ribs in the length direction extend to two lateral edges of the storage box respectively.

Optionally, the flow guiding part further includes: the two vertical guide ribs are connected to the two transverse outer walls of the storage box and extend downwards from the second ends of the two upper guide ribs in the length direction respectively.

Optionally, the storage device further includes:

the first air door is used for opening and closing the air outlet and adjusting the opening degree of the air outlet;

the second air door is used for opening and closing the air inlet and adjusting the opening degree of the air inlet; and

and the driving device is used for driving the first air door and the second air door in a controlled way so as to synchronously open, close or adjust the opening degrees of the air outlet and the air inlet.

Optionally, the driving device includes:

the motor is arranged on the storage box and is positioned between the first air door and the second air door;

the gear is driven by the motor to rotate; and

and the two racks are respectively connected with the first air door and the second air door, are meshed with the gears and enable the gears to be positioned between the two air doors, so that when the gears rotate forward or reversely, the two racks drive the first air door and the second air door to translate oppositely or reversely, and the opening degrees of the air outlet and the air inlet are synchronously opened, closed or adjusted.

Optionally, the storage box comprises a box body with an open upper side and a cover body positioned on the upper side of the box body, and the air inlet and the air outlet are formed in the cover body; and is also provided with

The storage box can be arranged in the refrigerating compartment in a front-back push-pull manner.

In another aspect, the present invention also provides a refrigerator, including;

a case defining a refrigeration compartment therein; and

a storage device as claimed in any preceding claim, disposed within the refrigeration compartment.

In the refrigerator and the storage device thereof, the storage box is provided with the air inlet and the air outlet. And the outer surface of the storage box is provided with a flow guiding part. When cold air flow blown out from a cold air outlet on the inner wall of the refrigeration compartment flows through the outer surface of the storage box, the air outlet forms a negative pressure environment to enable air flow in the storage box to flow out due to the fact that the flow speed is high, and then air in the refrigeration compartment is enabled to flow back into the storage box through the air inlet, air circulation inside and outside the storage box is completed, and therefore refrigeration of food materials in the storage device is completed. Since the internal food is not directly blown by the cool air of the cool air outlet, the air drying effect is very small. And because the diversion part is additionally arranged, the diversion part changes the flow direction of cold air flow, and the circulation path of the diversion part avoids the air inlet of the storage box, so that cold air in the refrigeration compartment can smoothly enter the storage box. That is, the cold air flow at the cold air outlet is prevented from forming negative pressure at the air inlet, so that the air inlet cannot be supplied with air.

Further, in the refrigerator and the storage device thereof, the air inlet and the air outlet are arranged on the top surface of the storage box, so that the flow guiding part comprises two upper flow guiding ribs and two vertical flow guiding ribs, thereby guiding cold air flow to the bottom of the refrigeration compartment, and then returning upwards to enter the air inlet of the space above the cold air flow guiding part. Therefore, the air flow circulation of the storage device is smoother.

Further, the refrigerator and the storage device thereof are provided with the driving device which can drive the first air door and the second air door to synchronously act, can simultaneously open the air inlet and the air outlet, simultaneously close the air inlet and the air outlet, and synchronously adjust the opening of the air inlet and the air outlet. The control is very simple. Moreover, the refrigerator can open and close the air inlet and the air outlet and change the opening degree according to the temperature and the humidity in the storage device, so that the temperature and the humidity in the storage device can be kept in a reasonable range, and the fresh-keeping of food materials is facilitated.

The above, as well as additional objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Some specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts or portions. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings:

fig. 1 is a schematic view of a structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the storage device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic left side view of the storage device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the storage device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a driving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention when driving a first damper and a second damper to move toward each other;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of the driving apparatus of fig. 6 when driving the first damper and the second damper to move in opposite directions.

Detailed Description

A refrigerator and a storage device thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 7. Where the terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "transverse", etc., refer to an orientation or positional relationship based on that shown in the drawings, this is merely for convenience in describing the invention and to simplify the description, and does not indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the invention.

The terms "first," "second," and the like are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first", "a second", etc. may include at least one, i.e. one or more, of the feature, either explicitly or implicitly. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless specifically defined otherwise. When a feature "comprises or includes" a feature or some of its coverage, this indicates that other features are not excluded and may further include other features, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Unless specifically stated or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," "coupled," and the like should be construed broadly, as they may be fixed, removable, or integral, for example; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly, through intermediaries, or both, may be in communication with each other or in interaction with each other, unless expressly defined otherwise. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand the specific meaning of the terms described above in the present invention as the case may be.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a storage device 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention; fig. 3 is a schematic top view of the storage device 20 of fig. 2.

The embodiment of the invention provides a refrigerator and a storage device 20 thereof. As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the storage device 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to be disposed in a cooling compartment 101 of an air-cooled refrigerator. Specifically, the storage device 20 is of a drawer structure so as to be drawably installed inside the refrigerating compartment 101. The refrigerating compartment 101 may be specifically a refrigerating compartment, a temperature-changing compartment, a freezing compartment, or the like according to the difference in the refrigerating target temperature. The inner wall of the refrigerating compartment 101 has a cool air outlet 15 for blowing cool air flow produced by the refrigerator to the outside.

Specifically, the refrigerator may have an evaporator chamber and an air duct, and the evaporator in the evaporator chamber produces cool air, delivers cool air through the air duct, and communicates with the cool air outlets 15 of the respective refrigerating compartments 101 so as to distribute cool air flow to the respective refrigerating compartments 101, thereby completing the refrigeration of the respective refrigerating compartments 101. The air flow in each refrigeration compartment 101 returns to the evaporator chamber through the return air channel at the same time, and is cooled by the evaporator again, so that an air path circulation is formed.

As shown in fig. 2, the storage device 20 may generally include a storage box 21 and a deflector 300. The storage box 21 defines a storage space for storing food materials. The storage box 21 is also provided with an air inlet 220 and an air outlet 210. The air inlet 220 is used for allowing external cool air to enter the storage box 21 so as to cool food materials therein. After the cold air cools the food, the temperature rises, and the cold air flows out of the air outlet 210 to the outside of the storage box 21, and continuously receives cooling.

The guide 300 is disposed on the outer surface of the storage box 21, and mainly serves to guide the air flow direction. The guide part 300 and the storage box 21 may be integrally formed, or the guide part 300 may be an independent component, so that it is connected to the outer surface of the storage box 21 by fastening means, such as adhesion or screws.

The storage device 20 is configured to: when the cold air flow from the cold air outlet 15 flows through the outer surface of the storage box 21, a negative pressure environment is formed at the air outlet 210 so that the air flow in the storage box 21 flows out. And, the flow direction of the cold air flow is changed by the flow guiding part 300 so that the flow path of the cold air flow avoids the air inlet 220, thereby allowing the cold air in the refrigeration compartment 101 to enter the storage box 21 through the air inlet 220, and the flow direction is schematically shown by an arrow in fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, when the cold air flow blown out from the cold air outlet 15 on the inner wall of the refrigeration compartment 101 flows through the outer surface of the storage box 21, the air outlet 210 forms a negative pressure environment to make the air flow in the storage box 21 flow out due to the faster flow speed, so that the air in the refrigeration compartment 101 is immediately caused to flow back into the storage box 21 through the air inlet 220, and the air flow circulation inside and outside the storage box 21 is completed, thereby completing the refrigeration of the food materials in the storage device 20. Since the internal food is not directly blown by the cool air of the cool air outlet 15, the air drying effect thereof is not obvious. In addition, the flow guiding part 300 is additionally arranged, so that the flow guiding part 300 changes the flow direction of the cold air flow, and the flow path of the cold air is enabled to avoid the air inlet 220 of the storage box 21, thereby facilitating the cold air in the refrigeration compartment 101 to enter the storage box 21 more smoothly. That is, the cold air flow from the cold air outlet 15 is prevented from forming negative pressure at the air inlet 220, so that the air inlet 220 cannot be supplied with air.

In some embodiments of the present invention, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the air outlet 210 is disposed behind the air inlet 220 and is located on the top surface of the storage box 21. The top surface of the storage box 21 is spaced apart from the top wall of the refrigerating compartment 101 to allow the cold air flow blown out from the cold air outlet 15 to flow forward. The air outlet 210 may be disposed at a position of the top surface of the storage box 21 adjacent to the rear edge, and the air inlet 220 may be disposed at a position of the top surface of the storage box 21 adjacent to the front edge. The guide portion 300 is located between the air outlet 210 and the air inlet 220 in the front-rear direction. For the solution that the cool air outlet of the refrigerating compartment 101 is provided at the rear wall thereof, the present embodiment enables the air outlet 210 to be provided at the rear side, and to be blown by the cool air flow of the cool air outlet 15 at the first time, thereby enabling the flow rate thereof to be greater and the negative pressure to be greater. In addition, it is preferable that the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 are elongated holes extending along the transverse direction of the storage box 21, so that the spanning range in the transverse direction is larger, and the contact range of the cold air flow with the cold air outlet 15 is increased, so as to facilitate enhancing the air circulation force of the storage box 21. The refrigerating speed of the storage box 21 is increased.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 2 and 3, the flow guiding portion 300 includes two upper flow guiding ribs 310, and first ends a of the two upper flow guiding ribs 310 are connected. Each upper deflector rib 310 extends from a first end in the length direction thereof forward and gradually obliquely toward the lateral edge of the magazine 21 to a second end b in the length direction. That is, the two upper guide ribs 310 are formed in a triangular shape, so that the connection parts of the first ends of the two similar guide ribs form a tip, and the cold air flow blown from the rear can be split into two flows which respectively flow along the two guide ribs to the two lateral sides, so as to thoroughly avoid the air inlets 220 in front of the two guide ribs.

Further, each upper deflector 310 may be curved with a convex side facing forward, as shown in fig. 3. That is, the two upper beads 310 are formed like a "herringbone". The provision of the upper deflector rib 310 having such a shape can guide the air flow guided by the second end b of the upper deflector rib 310 in the lateral direction, without a forward flow component or with a smaller component, so as to better avoid the two cold air flows from directly blowing the air inlet 220.

Fig. 4 is a schematic left side view of the storage device 20 of fig. 2.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 2 to 4, the second ends of the two upper guide ribs 310 in the length direction may be extended to two lateral edges of the storage box 21, respectively, so as to guide two cold air streams thoroughly away from the top surface of the storage box 21.

Further, the guiding portion 300 may further include two vertical guiding ribs 320, where the two vertical guiding ribs 320 are connected to two lateral outer walls of the storage box 21 and extend downward from the second ends of the two upper guiding ribs 310 in the length direction. The lateral sides of the storage box 21 are spaced apart from the side walls of the refrigerating compartment 101 to allow the cold air flow blown out from the cold air outlet 15 to flow therein.

Specifically, the two vertical guide ribs 320 and the storage box 21 may be formed as an integral part, or may be separate parts, and are connected and fastened by fastening means. By providing two vertical ribs 320, the cold air flow can be directed to the bottom of the refrigeration compartment 101 and then back up to enter the air inlet 220 in the space above it, as shown in fig. 2. This makes the airflow circulation of the storage device 20 more powerful.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the storage device 20 of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the driving device 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention when driving the first damper 610 and the second damper 620 to move toward each other;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of the driving apparatus 500 of fig. 6 when driving the first damper 610 and the second damper 620 to move in opposite directions.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the storage device 20 may further include a first damper 610, a second damper 620, and a drive device 500. The first damper 610 is used for opening and closing the air outlet 210 and adjusting the opening degree of the air outlet 210. The second damper 620 is used for opening and closing the air inlet 220 and adjusting the opening degree of the air inlet 220. The driving device 500 is used for controllably driving the first air door 610 and the second air door 620 so as to synchronously open, close or adjust the opening degrees of the air outlet 210 and the air inlet 220.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the driving apparatus 500 includes a motor 510, a gear 520, and two racks 530.

Wherein, the motor 510 is installed at the storage box 21 and is located between the first air door 610 and the second air door 620. The motor 510 can controllably rotate in forward and reverse directions. The gear 520 is driven to rotate by the motor 510. The two racks 530 are respectively connected with the first air door 610 and the second air door 620, and are engaged with the gear 520, and the gear 520 is positioned between the two, so that when the gear 520 rotates forward or backward, the two racks 530 drive the first air door 610 and the second air door 620 to translate in opposite directions or backward, so as to synchronously open, close or adjust the opening degrees of the air outlet 210 and the air inlet 220.

For example, in the state shown in fig. 5, both the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 are in an open state. At this time, the motor 510 is controlled to rotate forward, as shown in fig. 6, so that the first air door 610 and the second air door 620 move in opposite directions, that is, the first air door 610 is moved forward, and the second air door 620 is moved backward, so that the opening degrees of the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 can be enlarged. Otherwise, the motor 510 is controlled to rotate reversely, as shown in fig. 7, to translate the first air door 610 and the second air door 620 reversely, that is, to move the first air door 610 backward, to move the second air door 620 forward, so that the opening degrees of the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 can be reduced, and the opening degrees can be reduced to 0, that is, the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 can be closed.

The opening degree of the air inlet 220 and the opening degree of the air outlet 210 can be synchronously adjusted. The control is very simple. And can open and close the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 and change the opening according to the temperature and the humidity in the storage device 20, thereby keeping the temperature and the humidity in the storage device 20 in a reasonable range and being more beneficial to the preservation of food materials. Specifically, when the humidity and/or the temperature in the storage box 21 is higher, the opening of the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 is increased, so that the external cold air flow is introduced into the storage box 21 more, the humidity is reduced, and the temperature is lowered. When the humidity and/or temperature in the storage box 21 is lower, the opening degree of the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 is reduced, and the amount of external cold air flow entering the storage box 21 is reduced.

In some embodiments, as shown in fig. 2, the storage box 21 may include a box body 100 with an open upper side and a cover body 200 located on the upper side of the box body 100, where the air inlet 220 and the air outlet 210 are opened on the cover body 200. The storage box 21 can be arranged in the refrigerating compartment 101 in a front-back push-pull manner to form a drawer structure.

In other embodiments, the storage box 21 may be fixedly mounted inside the refrigeration compartment 101.

In another aspect, the invention provides a refrigerator. As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator includes a cabinet 10 and a storage apparatus 20 as described in any one of the above. The inside of the case 10 defines a refrigerating compartment 101, and the storage device 20 is disposed in the refrigerating compartment 101.

By now it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a number of exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein in detail, many other variations or modifications of the invention consistent with the principles of the invention may be directly ascertained or inferred from the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be understood and deemed to cover all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A storage device for a refrigerator, for being disposed in a cooling compartment of an air-cooled refrigerator, the interior wall of the cooling compartment having a cool air outlet for blowing cool air, the storage device comprising:

the flow guiding part is arranged on the outer surface of the storage box;

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the storage device comprises a housing,

the air outlets are arranged at the rear of the air inlets and are all positioned on the top surface of the storage box;

the guide part is positioned between the air outlet and the air inlet at the front-back direction.

3. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the storage device comprises a housing,

the guide part comprises two upper guide ribs, the first ends of the two upper guide ribs are connected, and each upper guide rib starts forward from the first end in the length direction and gradually inclines and extends towards the transverse edge of the storage box.

4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein the storage device comprises a housing,

each upper flow guide rib is in a curved shape with a convex side facing forward.

5. The storage device of claim 3, wherein the storage device comprises a housing,

the second ends of the two upper guide ribs in the length direction extend to two transverse edges of the storage box respectively.

6. The storage device of claim 4, wherein the deflector further comprises:

the two vertical guide ribs are connected to the two transverse outer walls of the storage box and extend downwards from the second ends of the two upper guide ribs in the length direction respectively.

7. The storage device of claim 2, further comprising:

8. The storage device of claim 7, wherein the drive device comprises:

the gear is driven by the motor to rotate; and

9. The storage device of claim 2, wherein the storage device comprises a housing,

the storage box comprises a box body with an open upper side and a cover body positioned on the upper side of the box body, and the air inlet and the air outlet are formed in the cover body; and is also provided with

10. A refrigerator, characterized by comprising;

a case defining a refrigeration compartment therein; and

the storage device of any one of claims 1 to 9, disposed within the refrigerated compartment.