EP2778577B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Refrigerator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2778577B1
EP2778577B1 EP12848550.5A EP12848550A EP2778577B1 EP 2778577 B1 EP2778577 B1 EP 2778577B1 EP 12848550 A EP12848550 A EP 12848550A EP 2778577 B1 EP2778577 B1 EP 2778577B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartment
cooling fan
cool air
flow straightener
refrigerator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP12848550.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2778577A1 (en
EP2778577A4 (en
Inventor
Kouichi Nishimura
Shin'ichi Horii
Yoshimasa Horio
Ayuko MIYASAKA
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Panasonic Corp
Original Assignee
Panasonic Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2011246056A external-priority patent/JP5838300B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2011246055A external-priority patent/JP2013100973A/ja
Priority claimed from JP2012023601A external-priority patent/JP5895145B2/ja
Application filed by Panasonic Corp filed Critical Panasonic Corp
Publication of EP2778577A1 publication Critical patent/EP2778577A1/en
Publication of EP2778577A4 publication Critical patent/EP2778577A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2778577B1 publication Critical patent/EP2778577B1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
    • F04D29/40—Casings; Connections of working fluid
    • F04D29/52—Casings; Connections of working fluid for axial pumps
    • F04D29/54—Fluid-guiding means, e.g. diffusers
    • F04D29/541—Specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/063—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation with air guides
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
    • F25D2317/0681—Details thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25D2500/02—Geometry problems

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator as defined in claim 1, and more particularly to a structure of effectively circulating cool air of a cooling fan to the inside of a refrigerator, in the refrigerator in which an inside fan circulates cool air generated by a cooler to the inside of the refrigerator.
  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator as defined in claim 1 that forcibly circulates cool air generated by a cooler to cool a storage compartment.
  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator as defined in claim 1, and more particularly to a structure of effectively circulating cool air discharged from a cooling fan to the inside of a refrigerator, in the refrigerator in which the cooling fan circulates cool air generated by a cooler to the inside of the refrigerator.
  • FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the periphery of a cooling fan of a conventional refrigerator.
  • FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional view of the periphery of a flow straightener of the conventional refrigerator.
  • refrigerator body 101 is configured by heat insulating walls, and includes at least one storage compartment 103 that is opened forward, and is closed by heat insulating door 102.
  • cooler 104 is stored that is connected in series with a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), and a decompressor (not shown), and configures a refrigerant circuit.
  • Axial flow or diagonal flow cooling fan 105 that circulates cool air generated by cooler 104 into storage compartment 103 is provided on the upper part of cooler 104.
  • duct 107 is provided at such a position as to face cooling fan 105.
  • Duct 107 is provided with flow straightener 106 that protrudes toward cooling fan 105 so as to have a substantially truncated conical shape. This duct 107 separates storage compartment 103 and cooling compartment 108 that includes cooler 104 and cooling fan 105.
  • Slits 109 that communicate storage compartment 103 with cooling compartment 108 are provided in the plane part of duct 107. Slits 109 guide cool air discharged from cooling fan 105 into storage compartment 103.
  • cooling fan 105 is operated such that the cool air generated by cooler 104 is guided to storage compartment 103.
  • a flow in a direction opposite to a mainstream is generated at a central part near the cool air discharge side of the fan by reduction in the pressure of an inner side than blades near the fan, thereby generating a swirl. Consequently, there is a problem that a pressure loss is increased, and the noise of the fan becomes large, air volume reduces, or the like (e.g., see PTL 1).
  • conically protruding flow straightener 6 is provided on a part facing cooling fan 105 of duct 107.
  • the rotary axis of cooling fan 105 is sometimes disposed to be inclined from a horizontal direction such that a suction direction of cooling fan 105 is directed to the cooler side in order to increase a space on the suction side of cooling fan 105.
  • the lower part of cooling fan 105 comes close to the plane part of the duct 107 as compared to the upper part thereof. Therefore, a lower clearance between flow straightener 106 and cooling fan 105 is small, and an upper clearance is large. As a result, there is a possibility that pressure loss reduction effect by flow straightener 106 reduces, and air volume reduces, or noise becomes large.
  • the present invention provides a refrigerator as defined in claim 1 that allows increase in the air volume of a cooling fan by effective arrangement of the cooling fan and a flow straightener in a cooling compartment, and has high cooling efficiency, and low noise.
  • a configuration in which a flow straightener is provided on the discharge side of the cooling fan is heretofore used (e.g., see PTL 1).
  • FIG. 18 is a sectional plan view of the conventional refrigerator.
  • cooling compartment 112 that generates cool air is disposed on the back surface of storage compartment 111, and cooling compartment 112 and other space are separated by cooling compartment cover 113.
  • Cooler 114 is disposed in cooling compartment 112, and cooling fan 115 is connected to cooling fan motor 116 in the upper part of cooling compartment 112.
  • partition plate 117 separates an air trunk through which cool air discharged from cooling fan 115 passes, and storage compartment 111.
  • straightened flow guide plate 118 that has a conical shape at such a position as to face cooling fan 115, and discharge port 119 in the plane part are integrally formed.
  • cooling fan 115 discharges the cool air to straightened flow guide plate 118
  • the cool air radically flows out along the conical surface of straightened flow guide plate 118. Then, after radically diffusing, the cool air is sent to storage compartment 111 through discharge port 119.
  • straightened flow guide plate 118 is integrally provided on partition plate 117 in front of cooling fan 115, so that the discharged cool air flows only radically. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a backward flow toward the center of cooling fan 115, and to simultaneously send straightened cool air to storage compartment 111 directly from discharge port 119. Furthermore, at the same time, it is possible to provide a refrigerator, in which the loss of cool air can be minimized, and a storage compartment can be effectively cooled.
  • the outwardly discharged cool air flows along the inner walls of storage compartment 111, and therefore there is a possibility of promoting heat exchange with outside air that passes through the wall of a refrigerator body, to increase power consumption.
  • FIG. 19 is a sectional view of the periphery of a cooling fan of a conventional refrigerator.
  • FIG. 20 is a front view of the periphery of the cooling fan of the conventional refrigerator.
  • refrigerator 121 is configured by heat insulating walls, and includes freezing compartment 123 that is opened forward and closed by freezing compartment door 122, and refrigerating compartment 125 closed by refrigerating compartment door 124.
  • cooler 126 is stored that is connected in series with a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), and a decompressor (not shown), and configures a refrigerant circuit.
  • Axial flow or diagonal flow cooling fan 127 that circulates cool air generated by cooler 126 is provided on the upper part of cooler 126.
  • duct 129 is provided at such a position as to face cooling fan 127.
  • Duct 129 is formed with flow straightener 128 that protrudes toward cooling fan 127 so as to have a substantially conical shape. Then, duct 129 separates freezing compartment 123 and cooling compartment 130 that includes cooler 126 and cooling fan 127.
  • Slits 131 that communicate freezing compartment 123 with cooling compartment 130 are provided in the plane part of duct 129. Cool air discharged from cooling fan 127 is guided into freezing compartment 123 through slits 131.
  • refrigerating compartment air trunk 132 is provided on the heat insulating wall on the back surface of freezing compartment 123 such that freezing compartment 123 is communicated with refrigerating compartment 125, and cool air discharged from cooling fan 127 is guided into refrigerating compartment 125 through refrigerating compartment air trunk 132.
  • cooling fan 127 is operated such that the cool air generated by cooler 124 is guided to freezing compartment 123 and refrigerating compartment 125.
  • a flow in a direction opposite to a mainstream is generated at a central part near the cool air discharge side of the fan by reduction in the pressure of an inner side than blades near the fan, thereby generating a swirl. Consequently, there is a problem that a pressure loss increases, the noise of the fan becomes large, air volume reduces, or the like.
  • a refrigerator comprising a cooler cooling air, a duct guiding cool air from the cooler to a storage chamber, wherein an axial flow fan moves the cool air from the cooler to the storage chamber.
  • An inlet expanding in a direction approximately perpendicular to a rotating shaft of the fan has a centre axis approximately matching that of the rotating shaft wherein the bore is smaller than the outer diameter of the fan.
  • substantially conically protruding flow straightener 128 is provided on a part facing cooling fan 127 of duct 129.
  • cool air discharged from cooling fan 127 is radially blown from cooling fan 127, and cool air that passes through slits 131 also radially flows.
  • the cool air blown from slits 131 located above cooling fan 127 directly hits the heat insulating wall that separates freezing compartment 123 and refrigerating compartment 125, and the temperature of the heat insulating wall reduces. Consequently, there is a possibility that refrigerating compartment 125 is cooled by cool air which cools freezing compartment 123, and freezing compartment 123 cannot be effectively cooled due to heat conduction.
  • refrigerating compartment air trunk 132 is opened at a position opposite to the blowing direction of cooling fan 127, and therefore there is a possibility that a flow direction is changed by 180 degrees, so that the pressure loss of the air trunk increases, and the air volume of cool air that flows to refrigerating compartment 125 reduces.
  • a refrigerator of the present invention is defined in claim 1.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the periphery of a cooling fan according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the periphery of a flow straightener according to the first exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram showing a relationship between a distance between the cooling fan and the flow straightener, and the air volume of the cooling fan, according to the first exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 5 is a correlation diagram showing a relationship between an angle of an inclined part of the flow straightener and the air volume of the cooling fan, according to the first exemplary embodiment.
  • duct 7 separates cooling compartment 6 and storage compartment 3, and has flow straightener 8 at such a position as to face cooling fan 5.
  • Cooling fan 5 is a rectangular axial flow fan, and includes motor 5a and blades 5b.
  • a rotary axis of cooling fan 5 is disposed to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction such that a lower end of cooling fan 5 is closer to heat insulating door 2, and an upper end thereof is far from heat insulating door 2.
  • Flow straightener 8 is formed in a substantially truncated conical shape, flow straightener 8 having inclined part 9 and plane part 10, and is smoothly connected to duct 7 by connection part 11.
  • flow straightener 8 A detailed configuration of flow straightener 8 is now described.
  • Flow straightener 8 and cooling fan 5 are installed so as to have such a positional relationship that a distance between plane part 10 and a central part on the blowing side of cooling fan 5 is 20 mm or less, and preferably from about 10 mm to about 15mm.
  • An angle formed by the surface of inclined part 9 and the surface of plane part 10 is 20 degrees or less, and preferably from about 10 degrees to about 15 degrees.
  • the central part of plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 and the rotary axis of cooling fan 5 are disposed substantially on the same line.
  • the maximum dimension of plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 is equal to or smaller than the dimension of motor 5a of cooling fan 5. Specifically, the diameter of plane part 10 is equal to or smaller than the diameter of motor 5a of cooling fan 5.
  • cooling fan 5 operates to guide cool air generated by cooler 4 to storage compartment 3.
  • flow straightener 8 is provided at such a position as to face cooling fan 5 in order to suppress a swirl that is generated in the vicinity of the discharge side of the cool air of cooling fan 5. Consequently, it is possible to reduce a pressure loss, to increase the air volume of cooling fan 5, and to reduce noise.
  • the rotary axis of cooling fan 5 is installed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, so that the lower end of cooling fan 5 is located on the front side, and therefore a space on the suction side of cooling fan 5 can be ensured. Consequently, in a refrigerator having a small depth, for example, a refrigerator that cannot ensure a large space on the suction side of cooling fan 5, it is possible to reduce the pressure loss on the discharge side of cooling fan 5 while reducing the pressure loss on the suction side of cooling fan 5, and further it is possible to increase the air volume of cooling fan 5.
  • flow straightener 8 can be configured while the basic plane of duct 7 is disposed in the vertical direction, and therefore it is possible to reduce a pressure loss on the discharge side of cooling fan 5 without increase in a pressure loss of the inside of duct 7, and further it is possible to increase the air volume of cooling fan 5.
  • flow straightener 8 of duct 7 is formed in a substantially truncated conical shape, flow straightener 8 having plane part 10, and therefore the depth dimension of duct 7 can be reduced, thereby enabling the effective utilization of a space in storage compartment 3.
  • a distance between plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 and cooling fan 5 is set to 20 mm or less.
  • the result indicates that as to the specification of a representative cooling fan used in a refrigerator, when the distance between the plane part of the flow straightener and the cooling fan is too large, the effect of straightening cannot be obtained, and the effect of the increase of air volume appears from around 20 mm.
  • the distance between plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 and cooling fan 5 is set to 20 mm or less, so that it is possible to reduce a pressure loss, to further increase the air volume of cooling fan 5, and to reduce noise. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a refrigerator having higher cooling efficiency and low noise.
  • an angle formed by inclined part 9 and plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 is set to 20 degrees or less. According to study by the inventors of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 , the result indicates that as to the specification of a representative cooling fan used in a refrigerator, when the angle formed by the inclined part and the plane part of the flow straightener is too large, the effect of straightening cannot be obtained, and the effect of the increase of air volume appears from around 20 degrees.
  • an angle formed by inclined part 9 and plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 is set to 20 degrees or less, so that it is possible to reduce a pressure loss, to further increase the air volume of cooling fan 5, and to reduce noise. Therefore, it is possible to attain a refrigerator having higher cooling efficiency and low noise.
  • a swirl generated on the discharge side is generated on a blade side rather than motor 5a.
  • the diameter of plane part 10 is larger than that of motor 5a, the pressure loss rather increases, and the air volume of cooling fan 5 is reduced.
  • the diameter of plane part 10 of flow straightener 8 is equal to or smaller than the diameter of motor 5a of cooling fan 5, and therefore it is possible to reduce the pressure loss, to further increase the air volume of cooling fan 5, and to reduce noise. Therefore, it is possible to attain the refrigerator having higher cooling efficiency and low noise.
  • connection part 11 and duct 7 are smoothly joined by a curved line having a radius as large as possible, so that it is possible to further enhance a pressure loss reduction effect that is capable of minimizing the pressure loss due to rapid expansion or rapid reduction.
  • flow straightener 8 and duct 7 are integrally configured. However, also when flow straightener 8 is configured as another component, and thereafter is mounted on duct 7, a similar effect is obtained.
  • a depression by flow straightener 8 of duct 7 is covered by a decorative plate or the like, so that the uneven part on the inner back surface of storage compartment 3 disappears, and a refrigerator that is excellent in design can be attained.
  • cooling efficiency is enhanced by increase in the air volume of cooling fan 5.
  • the number of revolutions of cooling fan 5 is reduced by the increase amount of air volume, and equal air volume is secured, so that it is possible to reduce the input of cooling fan 5, and further it is possible to attain a refrigerator having low power consumption.
  • the diameter of plane part 10 is not more than the diameter of motor 5a of cooling fan 5.
  • the diameter of plane part 10 is set to be not more than the diameter of the safety guard, thereby obtaining a similar effect.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6
  • FIG. 8 is a front view of an essential part according to the second exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of an essential part in FIG. 7
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional plan view of an essential part according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a storage compartment side partition member.
  • heat insulating box 21 that is a refrigerator body of refrigerator 20 has outer box 22 that mainly uses a steel plate, and inner box 23 molded by a resin such as ABS. Furthermore, heat insulating box 21 has a foamed heat insulating material such as hard foamed urethane that is foamed and filled in a space between outer box 22 and inner box 23, is thermally insulated from the surroundings, and is divided into a plurality of storage compartments.
  • Refrigerating compartment 24 as a first storage compartment is provided on the uppermost part of heat insulating box 21, and second freezing compartment 25 as a fourth storage compartment, and ice-making compartment 26 as a fifth storage compartment are provided side by side below refrigerating compartment 24.
  • First freezing compartment 27 as a second storage compartment is disposed below second freezing compartment 25 and ice-making compartment 26, and vegetable compartment 28 as a third storage compartment is disposed on the lowermost part of heat insulating box 21.
  • Refrigerating compartment 24 includes refrigerating compartment right door 24a and refrigerating compartment left door 24b that are revolving doors. Additionally, refrigerating compartment shelves 24c and refrigerating compartment case 24d are suitably disposed inside refrigerating compartment 24, so that storage spaces are configured to allow easy arrangement. On the other hand, other storage compartments have drawing type doors, and second freezing compartment door 25a and ice-making compartment door 26a store second freezing compartment case 25c and an ice-making compartment case (not shown), respectively. Upper freezing compartment case 27b and lower freezing compartment case 27c are placed on a frame (not shown) mounted on first freezing compartment door 27a. Additionally, upper vegetable compartment case 28b and lower vegetable compartment case 28c are placed on a frame (not shown) mounted on vegetable compartment door 28a.
  • the temperature of refrigerating compartment 24 is set in a refrigerating temperature zone that is such a temperature not as to be frozen for cold storage, and generally set to 1°C to 5°C.
  • the temperature of vegetable compartment 28 is set in a refrigerating temperature zone that is equal to the set temperature of refrigerating compartment 24, or in a vegetable temperature zone that is set to a slightly higher temperature, namely, set to 2°C to 7°C.
  • the temperature of first freezing compartment 27 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and generally set to -22°C to -15°C for freezing storage, but is sometimes set to a low temperature, for example, -30°C or -25°C in order to improve the state of freezing storage.
  • Second freezing compartment 25 is a first storage section whose set temperature is in the freezing temperature zone equal to the set temperature of first freezing compartment 27, or a slightly higher set temperature of -20°C to -12°C.
  • an automatic ice maker (not shown) provided in the upper part of the compartment makes ice with water sent from a water storage tank (not shown) in refrigerating compartment 24, and the ice is stored in ice-making compartment case 26b.
  • the top surface part of heat insulating box 21 is formed in a shape in which a recess is provided stepwise toward the back surface direction of the refrigerator, and machine compartment 21a is formed in this stepped recessed portion.
  • Machine compartment 21a accommodates high pressure side components of a freezing cycle such as compressor 29 and a dryer (not shown) that removes moisture. That is, machine compartment 21a, in which compressor 29 is disposed, is formed to encroach on a rear area of the uppermost part of the inside of refrigerating compartment 24.
  • machine compartment 21a is provided in the storage compartment rear area on the uppermost part, which a hand hardly reach and which is a dead space, of heat insulating box 21, and compressor 29 is disposed in machine compartment 21a, so that a space of a machine compartment which a user easily uses, and which is on the lowermost part of heat insulating box 21, in a conventional refrigerator can be effectively utilized as storage compartment capacity, and storage performance or usability can be greatly improved.
  • the freezing cycle is formed from a series of a refrigerant passage that sequentially includes compressor 29, a condenser, a capillary that is a decompressor, and cooler 32, and a hydrocarbon refrigerant, for example, isobutene is sealed as a refrigerant.
  • a refrigerant passage that sequentially includes compressor 29, a condenser, a capillary that is a decompressor, and cooler 32, and a hydrocarbon refrigerant, for example, isobutene is sealed as a refrigerant.
  • Compressor 29 is a reciprocating compressor that compresses a refrigerant by reciprocation of a piston in a cylinder. In the case of a freezing cycle using a three-way valve or a selector valve in heat insulating box 21, these functional components are sometimes disposed in machine compartment 21a.
  • a capillary is used as the decompressor that configures the freezing cycle.
  • an electronic expansion valve may be used that is capable of freely controlling the flow rate of a refrigerant by driving with a pulse motor.
  • Matters as to an essential part of the present invention, described below, in the second exemplary embodiment may be applied to a conventionally general refrigerator, in which a machine compartment is provided in a storage compartment rear area on the lowermost part of heat insulating box 21, and compressor 29 is disposed in the machine compartment.
  • Cooling compartment 30 that generates cool air is provided on the back surface of first freezing compartment 27.
  • Partition member 31 is configured to separate the storage compartments including second freezing compartment 25, ice-making compartment 26, and first freezing compartment 27, and cooling compartment 30.
  • Cooler 32 is disposed in cooling compartment 30, and cool air is generated by heat exchange with air that is warmed by heat exchange with storage compartment.
  • Partition member 31 is configured by storage compartment side partition member 31a and cooling compartment side partition member 31b.
  • Cooling compartment side partition member 31b includes cooling fan 33.
  • a space between storage compartment side partition member 31a and cooling compartment side partition member 31b is air supply duct 31c. Air supply duct 31c guides cool air forcibly sent out by cooling fan 33, to refrigerating compartment 24, second freezing compartment 25, ice-making compartment 26, first freezing compartment 27, and vegetable compartment 28.
  • cooling fan 33 is an axial flow fan that rotates clockwise as viewed from a discharge surface.
  • the rotation direction of cooling fan 33 is disposed in a reference. In a case where a cooling fan whose rotation direction is a counterclockwise direction is used, the right and the left are reversed, so that a similar effect can be obtained.
  • the discharge surface of cooling fan 33 is mounted to have an angle with respect to the front surface of refrigerator 20, and is disposed such that cool air blows obliquely upward.
  • the center of cooling fan 33 is located on the left side with respect to a central perpendicular line in the lateral direction of first freezing compartment 27, and is located above the upper end of the back surface of upper freezing compartment case 27b, as viewed from the front of first freezing compartment 27.
  • Cool air flow straightener 31d A part, facing cooling fan 33, of storage compartment side partition member 31a configures cool air flow straightener 31d that protrudes toward cooling fan 33.
  • Cool air flow straightener 31d is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape whose center is the rotary axis of cooling fan 33.
  • the leading end of cool air flow straightener 31d is configured by a plane parallel to the discharge surface of cooling fan 33, and the diameter thereof is substantially the same as the boss diameter of cooling fan 33.
  • cool air flow straightener 31d of storage compartment side partition member 31a Apart except cool air flow straightener 31d of storage compartment side partition member 31a is configured by the substantial plane.
  • storage compartment side partition member 31a includes discharge ports 31e that sends cool air to first freezing compartment 27.
  • Discharge ports 31e are located below the center of cool air flow straightener 31d, above the upper end of the back surface of upper freezing compartment case 27b, below the lower surface of upper freezing compartment case 27b and above the upper end of the back surface of lower freezing compartment case 27c, at two locations. Additionally, at each location, oblong holes in a plurality of rows are provided in a single or a plurality of stages. At least a part of discharge ports 31e is formed to extend over cool air flow straightener 31d.
  • the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e passes the center of first freezing compartment 27 as viewed from the front, and has a wind direction raised portion 39 toward the storage compartments vertically to a side far from cool air flow straightener 31d.
  • An effective air trunk that matches the performance or the position of cooling fan 33, or the structure or the preset temperature of the storage compartment, or the like can be attained by change in the position, the number, and the shape of discharge ports 31e. Additionally, a cool air guide part such as the wind direction raised portion is provided on not only the central hole, but also any hole, so that the wind direction can be more accurately controlled.
  • Upper discharge port 40 is interposed between partition wall 38 that separates between refrigerating compartment 24 and other storage compartments, and storage compartment side partition member 31a, so that cool air is sent to second freezing compartment 25 and ice-making compartment 26.
  • Damper 41 is disposed on partition wall 38, and the cool air that passes damper 41 is further divided and flows to refrigerating compartment duct 42 and vegetable compartment duct (not shown), to be sent from the respective discharge ports to refrigerating compartment 24 and vegetable compartment 28.
  • Matters as to an essential part of the present invention, described below, in the second exemplary embodiment may be applied to a refrigerator that has a structure in which any storage compartment has a revolving door, and a storage case is placed in inner box 23.
  • refrigerator 20 of the second exemplary embodiment which is configured as described above.
  • the freezing cycle is operated by a signal from a controller (not shown) in accordance with the preset temperature of the inside of the refrigerator, thereby performing cooling operation.
  • a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of compressor 29 is condensed and liquefied to a certain extent by a condenser (not shown).
  • the refrigerant is condensed and liquefied while preventing the condensation of heat insulating box 21, to reach a capillary tube (not shown) via a refrigerant pipe (not shown) disposed on the side surface or the back surface of heat insulating box 21 that is a refrigerator body, or the front surface of heat insulating box 21.
  • the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant that is reduced in pressure while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to compressor 29, to reach cooler 32.
  • cooling compartment 30 air inside each storage compartment collected by the operation of cooling fan 33 exchanges heat with the liquid refrigerant by cooler 32, and the refrigerant inside cooler 32 is evaporated. At this time, the air returned from each storage compartment becomes cool air for cooling each storage compartment, in cooling compartment 30 again.
  • the cool air having a low temperature passes air supply duct 31c from cooling fan 33, and is divided by using the air trunk or the damper, to cool refrigerating compartment 24, second freezing compartment 25, ice-making compartment 26, first freezing compartment 27, and vegetable compartment 28 to respective target temperature zones.
  • cooling fan 33 is an axial flow fan that rotates clockwise, the discharged cool air conically flows so as to radially expand while turning clockwise. Accordingly, cool air flow straightener 31d is formed in such a shape as to match the flow of the discharged cool air, so that the cool air can be smoothly sent out into air supply duct 31c without the occurrence of a swirl. In the discharge side of the axial flow fan, airflow that returns toward the center is generated.
  • the diameter of the upper surface of the truncated cone of cool air flow straightener 31d is set to be substantially the same as the boss diameter of the fan, thereby enabling the suppression of this return airflow. Therefore, energy given to the cool air by cooling fan 33 can be utilized for the blowing of air without any waste.
  • An angle formed by a conical surface produced by the discharged cool air and the rotary axis of cooling fan 33 varies depending on a flow rate sent by cooling fan 33 or the number of revolutions, and therefore the angle of the conical surface of cool air flow straightener 31d is changed, so that it is possible to perform optimum design according to a designed flow rate.
  • the angle formed by the rotary axis and the conical surface of cool air flow straightener 31d is desirably in a range from 50° to 85° according to an experiment.
  • a distance between cooling fan 33 and cool air flow straightener 31d is increased as gradually radially expands, so that motion energy that discharged cool air has can be effectively retrieved as pressure energy, and therefore discharge pressure can be increased without increase of work of cooling fan 33.
  • Cool air that expands along cool air flow straightener 31d is partially discharged in first freezing compartment 27 from discharge ports 31e provided in cool air flow straightener 31d. At this time, force along cool air flow straightener 31d acts on cool air by Coanda effect. Accordingly, the cool air discharged from the discharge ports provided in cool air flow straightener 31d is smoothly discharged toward the front direction of cooling fan 33. Therefore, it is possible to send cool air also to the front of cooling fan 33, to which cool air is heretofore difficult to be sent directly.
  • Discharge ports 31e have oblong shapes, and therefore cool air is strongly influenced by cool air flow straightener 31d, and continuously changes from cool air that flows toward the front of cooling fan 33 to cool air that flows along the plane part of storage compartment side partition member 31a, and has a centrifugal component with large velocity. Therefore, it is possible to obtain wide zonal cool air that expands from the front of cooling fan 33 to the inner wall of storage compartments, and to minimize temperature irregularity in the storage compartment.
  • discharge ports 31e are provided also at a position close to the side surface of inner box 23, or a position far from cooling fan 33 such as a position just above lower freezing compartment case 27c, so that cool air can be delivered in a wider range.
  • discharge ports 31e are provided below cool air flow straightener 31d. Cool air discharged from cooling fan 33 is radially discharged along cool air flow straightener 31d. Accordingly, cool air having downward velocity is discharged from discharge ports 31e provided below cool air flow straightener 31d.
  • the upper holes of discharge ports 31e are disposed above upper freezing compartment case 27b, and lower holes are disposed above lower freezing compartment case 27c, and therefore cool air discharged from discharge ports 31e is sent so as to blow down to the inside of each case. Accordingly, it is possible to directly cool the inside of each case, and therefore it is possible to rapidly cool stored goods.
  • cooling fan 33 is an axial flow fan that rotates clockwise, and therefore cool air radially expands while turning clockwise.
  • cooling fan 33 is located on the left side with respect to the center of first freezing compartment 27 as viewed from the front of refrigerator 20, and therefore cool air has large downward velocity in the vicinity of the center in the lateral direction of first freezing compartment 27, which is the right side of cooling fan 33. Accordingly, cool air that is blown from the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e located at the center of first freezing compartment 27, to upper freezing compartment case 27b is discharged so as to blow down toward the center of the case, so that stored goods can be effectively cooled.
  • cooling fan 33 and the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e remains unchanged, a position with respect to first freezing compartment 27 is changed, so that an arbitrary location can be intensively cooled.
  • the cool air discharged from the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e obtains an effect of discharging toward the front of cooling fan 33, and therefore the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e does not always need to pass the center of first freezing compartment 27, and can be disposed on the right side to such a degree not as to be completely out of a cool air straightening plate.
  • the upper central hole of discharge ports 31e has wind direction raised portion 39 toward the storage compartment vertically to the side far from cool air flow straightener 31d, and therefore a component that radially expands, in the velocity of the cool air can be directed toward the inside of storage compartment. Therefore, it is possible to increase cool air that flows toward the inside of upper freezing compartment case 27b, and to more rapidly cool the stored goods.
  • Wind direction raised portion 39 can be molded integrally with storage compartment side partition member 31a without increase in the number of components, and therefore a structure, in which variation in the wind direction due to solid matters can be reduced, can be produced at a low cost.
  • Wind direction raised portion 39 is provided only vertically to the side far from cool air flow straightener 31d, and therefore even when condensation is generated in discharge ports 31e due to a difference in temperature, there is no possibility of accumulating the condensation to grow as ice. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator having a good quality. If, wind direction raised portion 39 is configured horizontally, condensation does not flow and drop, and there is a possibility of repeating a phenomenon that condensation is cooled by the discharged cool air to become ice, and closing discharge ports 31e.
  • Wind direction raised portion 39 is provided on the side of the storage compartment in the second exemplary embodiment, but may be provided on the side of cooling compartment. Additionally, the shape of the cool air guide part is not limited to a raised portion. Also when discharge port 31e is configured to protrude toward the storage compartments with respect to the plane part of partition member 31, or the air trunk shape to discharge ports 31e is formed in a streamline shape, a similar effect can be obtained. At this time, the cool air guide part is configured so as not to have a horizontal plane, or a partially low part, so that the growth of ice can be prevented.
  • At least a part of discharge ports 31e is disposed to extend over cool air flow straightener 31d, so that the cool air discharged from cooling fan 33 is radially straightened by cool air flow straightener 31d, and discharged to the storage compartment with no change and no loss.
  • force along cool air flow straightener 31d acts on the cool air by the Coanda effect, and therefore cool air to be discharged is discharged toward the front of cooling fan 33, so that the cool air is guided to the middle of the storage compartment in front of cooling fan 33, to which the cool air cannot be directly sent heretofore, and therefore it is possible to effectively cool the stored goods.
  • Discharge port 31e has the cool air guide part configured by wind direction raised portion 39, so that the cool air can be reliably sent to the center of upper freezing compartment case 27b.
  • the cool air guide part can be molded integrally with discharge ports 31e, and the number of components does not need to be increased, and therefore a structure, in which variation in the wind direction due to solid matters can be reduced, can be provided at a low cost. Furthermore, it is possible to attain a structure in which condensation likely to be adhered to discharge ports 31e of refrigerator 20 is not accumulated, and therefore it is possible to provide a refrigerator having good quality.
  • First freezing compartment 27 includes upper freezing compartment case 27b and lower freezing compartment case 27c that store stored goods, and cooling fan 33 is disposed above the upper ends of the back surfaces of upper freezing compartment case 27b and lower freezing compartment case 27c. Furthermore, discharge ports 31e are provided lower the center of cool air flow straightener 31d, so that cool air discharged downward with respect to cooling fan 33 can be guided to first freezing compartment 27. Therefore, cool air can be blown in freezing compartment case from above the freezing compartment case, and therefore it is possible to effectively cool stored goods.
  • Discharge ports 31e is disposed at a position where the center of first freezing compartment 27 passes, and cooling fan 33 that is an axial flow fan which rotates clockwise is disposed on the left side with respect to the center of first freezing compartment 27, so that the cool air discharged from cooling fan 33 radially expands while turning clockwise. Therefore, discharge ports 31e are provided at a place where a turning component of the velocity which cool air has is downward, so that cool air can be more effectively blown downward to the inside of upper freezing compartment case 27b.
  • FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator not according to the present invention. Description of parts to which a configuration and a technical idea similar to those of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention are applied is omitted. As long as there is no failure, a configuration obtained by combination of the configuration with a configuration of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be applied.
  • refrigerating compartment duct 51 for conveying cool air generated in cooling compartment 30, to refrigerating compartment 24 is provided on the back surface of refrigerating compartment 24, and refrigerating compartment partition member 52 separates refrigerating compartment 24 and refrigerating compartment duct 51.
  • Refrigerating compartment partition member 52 is configured by front partition member 52a and back partition member 52b, and refrigerating compartment duct 51 separates front duct 51a and back duct 51b.
  • Front partition member 52a is often configured by a resin molded article such as polypropylene
  • back partition member 52b is often configured by a foam resin molded article having high heat insulating properties.
  • Refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 is disposed in back partition member 52b, assists the action of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 33 provided in cooling compartment 30, and circulates cool air in the whole of refrigerating compartment 24.
  • refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 is an axial flow fan that rotates clockwise as viewed from a discharge surface.
  • Refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape whose center is a rotary axis of cooling fan 53.
  • the leading end of refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is configured by a surface parallel to the discharge surface of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53, and the diameter thereof is substantially the same as the boss diameter of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53.
  • the upper part of inner box 23 that configures refrigerating compartment 24 has a projected portion on the inner side so as to match the shape of machine compartment 21a provided on the upper part of refrigerator 20. Accordingly, the upper end of front partition member 52a is curved so as to match the shape of inner box 23.
  • Front partition member 52a includes refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d for sending cool air to refrigerating compartment 24.
  • Refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d are disposed at two of upper and lower locations in refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c.
  • Refrigerating compartment shelves 24c are disposed so as to interpose two refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d at suitable intervals therebetween.
  • An effective air trunk that matches the performance or the position of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53, or the structure or the preset temperature of refrigerating compartment 24, or the like can be attained by change in the position, the number, and the shape of refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d.
  • Cool air that is generated by heat exchange with heat cooler 32 is discharged to air supply duct 31c by cooling fan 33.
  • the cool air is partially blown up, and passes damper 41, to flow in back duct 51b.
  • the cool air that flows in back duct 51b is discharged to front duct 51a by the action of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53.
  • refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 is an axial flow fan that rotates clockwise, the discharged cool air conically flows so as to radially expand while turning clockwise.
  • refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is formed in such a shape as to match the flow of the discharged cool air, so that the cool air can be smoothly sent out into front duct 51a without the occurrence of a swirl.
  • the diameter of the upper surface of the truncated cone of refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is set to be substantially the same as the boss diameter of the fan. This enables the suppression of this return airflow, and therefore energy given to the cool air by refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 can be utilized for the blowing of air without any waste.
  • Cool air that expands along refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is partially discharged into refrigerating compartment 24 from refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d provided in refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c. At this time, force along cool air flow straightener 52c acts on cool air by Coanda effect. Accordingly, the cool air discharged from the discharge ports provided in refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c is smoothly discharged toward the front direction of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53. Therefore, it is possible to send cool air also to the front of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53, to which cool air is heretofore difficult to be sent directly.
  • refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d are disposed above and below refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53, and cool air that is radially discharged has a vertical velocity component in the vicinity of each discharge port.
  • refrigerating compartment shelves 24c are disposed above and below each refrigerating compartment discharge port 52d, and therefore refrigerating compartment shelves 24c each can play a role of a cool air guide, and guide vertically discharged cool air in a front direction, to cool stored goods.
  • Refrigerating compartment shelves 24c are generally configured such that a user can arbitrarily change the height. Also in this case, cool air is guided to a place where stored goods are placed in accordance with a usage state, and therefore a similar effect can be achieved in any state.
  • each refrigerating compartment discharge port 52d is vertically elongated from the inner part of refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c to the outer part, so that a vertical velocity distribution of cool air discharged from one discharge port becomes large. This is because cool air discharged from a part close to refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c flows toward the front of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 as described above, whereas a velocity component of cool air discharged from a part far from refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c becomes large in a radially expanding direction, namely in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the shape of each refrigerating compartment discharge port 52d is vertically elongated, so that a vertical discharge angle of the cool air can be expanded, and it is possible to uniformly cool the inside of the refrigerating compartment.
  • refrigerating compartment discharge ports 52d is disposed inside refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c, so that cool air discharged by refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53 is radially straightened by refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c, and is discharged to refrigerating compartment 24 with no change and no loss.
  • force along refrigerating compartment cool air flow straightener 52c acts on cool air by Coanda effect, and therefore cool air to be discharged is discharged toward the front of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53. Consequently, the cool air is guided to the middle of the storage compartment in front of refrigerating compartment cooling fan 53, to which the cool air cannot be directly sent heretofore, and therefore it is possible to effectively cool stored goods.
  • Refrigerating compartment shelves 24c each can play a role of a cool air guide, and reliably send cool air forward.
  • FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the vicinity of a refrigerating compartment side discharge port of the refrigerator according to the third exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the vicinity of an ice-making compartment side discharge port of the refrigerator according to the third exemplary embodiment. Configurations identical to those of the embodiments that have been described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.
  • refrigerator 61 includes freezing compartment 63 that is closed by drawer type freezing compartment door 62, includes freezing case 73, and is cooled at around minus 20 degrees.
  • Refrigerating compartment 65 and ice-making compartment 76 are provided above freezing compartment 63.
  • Refrigerating compartment 65 is closed by rotary refrigerating compartment door 64, and is cooled at around 5 degrees.
  • Ice-making compartment 76 is closed by drawer type ice-making compartment door 74 between freezing compartment 63 and refrigerating compartment 65, and includes ice-making case 75.
  • ice-making compartment 76 stores ice whose melting point is 0 degrees
  • the temperature of the inside of in ice-making compartment 76 is set to a relatively high temperature, around minus 15 degrees, as compared to a freezing compartment that stores stored goods such as ice cream whose melting point is minus 10 degrees or less.
  • cooling compartment 70 is configured that is separated from freezing compartment 63 by duct 77, and stores cooler 66 and cooling fan 67.
  • Duct 77 includes flow straightener 68 that protrudes in a substantially truncated conical shape at such a position as to face cooling fan 67. Additionally, in duct 77, freezing compartment side discharge port 78 that communicates cooling compartment 70 with freezing compartment 63 is provided below the center of cooling fan 67, and ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 that communicates cooling compartment 70 with ice-making compartment 76 is provided above the center of cooling fan 67.
  • Partition wall 80 that separates ice-making compartment 76 and refrigerating compartment 65 is provided between both these compartments, and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 that communicates cooling compartment 70 with refrigerating compartment 65 is provided in cooling compartment 70 on partition wall 80.
  • Damper 82 that selectively closes and opens refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 is provided inside refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81.
  • ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 are opened at positions shifted horizontally, as viewed from the front of the refrigerator.
  • ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 is provided on the front surface side of refrigerator 61 with respect to the basic plane of duct 77, and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 is provided on the back surface side.
  • Duct 77 is inclined from flow straightener 68 to ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81, thereby allowing smooth connection.
  • wind-direction adjustment raised portion 83 is provided on the upper side of the opening at such an angle that cool air flows horizontally or downward.
  • cooling fan 67 is operated to guide cool air generated by cooler 66 to each compartment.
  • flow straightener 68 is provided at such a position as to face cooling fan 67 to suppress a swirl that is generated in the vicinity of the discharge side of cooling fan 67. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the swirl that is generated on the discharge side of cooling fan 67, and to reduce a pressure loss. This allows increase in the air volume of cooling fan 67, and uniformly radial discharge of cool air by cooling fan 67.
  • refrigerator 61 In refrigerator 61 according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, all the cool air below cooling fan 67 flows from freezing compartment side discharge port 78 to freezing compartment 63, and the cool air above cooling fan 67 flows from ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 to ice-making compartment 76, and flows from refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 to refrigerating compartment 65.
  • the cool air blown to freezing compartment 63 becomes a downward flow, and flows into freezing case 73, so that the cool air cools stored goods in freezing case 73 and does not directly cool partition wall 80.
  • the cool air blown to refrigerating compartment 65 is an upward flow, and therefore smoothly flows to refrigerating compartment 65, so that it is possible to reduce the loss of an air trunk.
  • the cool air blown to ice-making compartment 76 becomes an upward flow, and therefore there is a possibility that the cool air cools partition wall 80 and a heat loss is generated.
  • ice-making compartment 76 is simply cooled at a higher temperature than freezing compartment 63.
  • the area of ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 is made smaller than that of freezing compartment side discharge port 78, thereby reducing the air volume of cool air. Accordingly, the temperature in the ice-making compartment is high, and a heat loss can be reduced as compared to a case where cool air hits inside freezing compartment 63, even when cool air directly hits partition wall 80.
  • the flow of cool air is directed downward with respect to a horizontal line by wind-direction adjustment raised portion 83, so that the cool air is guided into ice-making case 75, and does not directly cool partition wall 80.
  • refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 includes damper 82 that closes and opens refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 in order to selectively flow cool air to refrigerating compartment 65.
  • damper 82 When damper 82 is closed, cool air discharged above cooling fan 67 flows only to ice-making compartment side discharge port 79.
  • damper 82 When damper 82 is opened, cool air discharged above cooling fan 67 is divided toward ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81.
  • ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 are shifted in a lateral direction as viewed from the front surface of refrigerator 61, and shifted in a front and back direction as viewed from the side surface. Furthermore, duct 77 is inclined toward ice-making compartment side discharge port 79 and refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81, thereby allowing smooth connection.
  • ice-making compartment 76 is interposed between freezing compartment 63 and refrigerating compartment 65.
  • a chiller compartment whose temperature is around 0 degree is provided, so that a larger effect can be obtained.
  • ice-making compartment 76 is interposed between freezing compartment 63 and refrigerating compartment 65.
  • a chiller compartment or the like is provided side by side with ice-making compartment 76, and discharge ports that respectively cool the compartments on the right and left of refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81 are provided, thereby enabling application to a multi-door refrigerator.
  • damper 82 is provided only in refrigerating compartment side discharge port 81.
  • a damper is provided also in ice-making compartment side discharge port 79, so that it is possible to perform more accurate temperature control.
  • the numbers of revolutions of cooling fan 67 and a compressor is controlled in accordance with the opening and closing of the damper, so that it is possible to eliminate the waste of cooling, and to attain a refrigerator having higher efficiency.
  • the present invention is useful as refrigerators of various types and sizes for domestic use and commercial use, and the like.
EP12848550.5A 2011-11-10 2012-11-06 Refrigerator Active EP2778577B1 (en)

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JP2012023601A JP5895145B2 (ja) 2012-02-07 2012-02-07 冷蔵庫
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CN104019598A (zh) * 2014-06-11 2014-09-03 合肥美的电冰箱有限公司 风冷电冰箱
CN105736477B (zh) * 2014-12-08 2020-09-18 博西华电器（江苏）有限公司 制冷器具以及用于制冷器具的风扇组件
JP2017096546A (ja) * 2015-11-24 2017-06-01 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 冷蔵庫
JP6896529B2 (ja) * 2017-06-30 2021-06-30 シャープ株式会社 冷蔵庫
CN108955042B (zh) * 2018-05-23 2024-04-30 长虹美菱股份有限公司 一种冰箱风道装置及控制方法
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CN103930740B (zh) 2016-08-24

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