EP2902734A1

EP2902734A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2902734A1
Application number: EP13841378.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shin'ichi Horii
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2013-09-20
Publication date: 2015-08-05
Also published as: CN104685309B; EP2902734A4; CN104685309A; WO2014050052A1; JP6089223B2; JP2014070769A

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator including a plurality of storage compartments sectioned as upper and lower parts of an interior of a heat insulating box by partitioning walls (118a, 118b), each of the storage compartments having a different temperature zone, and doors (105a) disposed on individual front surfaces of the storage compartments. Further provided are door gaskets (133) provided on the doors (105a) and brought into tight contact with corresponding front surfaces around opening of the heat insulating box, and door frames (135) that openably support the doors (105a). Each of the doors (105a) includes an outer plate, an inner plate (132), a foamed insulator (134) that fills a space between the outer plate and the inner plate (132), and a frame fixing member (136) embedded in the foamed insulator (134). Frame protection members (140) are provided on the storage compartment side of the doors (105a). Heat exchange caused by cooling of the door frames (135) is prevented for reduction of power consumption.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a structure of a refrigerator which increases energy saving effect.

BACKGROUND ART

With increasing demands for energy saving, in a refrigerator which forcibly circulates cool air generated by a cooler to cool storage compartments, energy saving achieved by a structure of openings of the storage compartments has been regarded as important in addition to energy saving by improvement of freezing efficiency of the cooler (for example, see PTL 1).
A conventional refrigerator is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional refrigerator, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a freezing temperature compartment of the conventional refrigerator.
Refrigerator body 30 illustrated in Fig. 7 includes cold storage compartment 36, freezing temperature compartment 31, and vegetable compartment 37 in order from the top. In an upper part of freezing temperature compartment 31, there are disposed second freezing compartment 32 equipped with container 42, and ice-making compartment 33 positioned in parallel with second freezing compartment 32. There is further disposed first freezing compartment 34 equipped with container 43 below second freezing compartment 32 and ice-making compartment 33 of freezing temperature compartment 31. Cooler compartment 62 equipped with cooler 61 and located behind first freezing compartment 34 is sectioned by partitioning member 50. Partitioning member 50 has cool air path 50a. There are further provided double-stacking upper container 43 and lower container 44 within first freezing compartment 34. Cool air delivery ducts 52, 53, and 54 formed integrally with or separately from partitioning member 50 communicate with cool air path 50a, and introduce cool air from delivery ports 52a, 53a, and 54a into containers 42, 43, and 44.
Blower 63 is provided in cooler compartment 62 and forcibly circulates cool air produced in cooler compartment 62 toward freezing temperature compartment 31, cold storage compartment 36, and vegetable compartment 37.
In freezing temperature compartment 31, cool air produced by cooler 61 disposed in the rear part of the body is delivered by blower 63 from delivery ports 52a, 53a, and 54a of partitioning member 50 provided on the rear side of freezing temperature compartment 31 into freezing temperature compartment 31 to cool foods stored in freezing temperature compartment 31. The cool air having cooled the foods flows toward the front, and returns to cooler 61 for circulation as indicated by arrows illustrated in Fig. 8.
An inner surface of door 71 is constituted by inner plate 72. Door gasket 73 provided throughout the circumference of the end of inner plate 72 is in tight contact with inner plate 72 to prevent leakage of cool air to the outside. The interior of inner plate 72 is filled with foamed insulator 74 to secure heat insulation of the refrigerator.
Door frame 75 and door 71 are joined with each other by fixation via screws 77 between door frame 75 supporting container 41, and frame fixing member 76 made of metal material and embedded in foamed insulator 74 within door 71. Door 71 joined with door frame 75 is attached to refrigerator body 30 in a condition movable back and forth.
In recent years, there is a tendency that door frame 75 is attached to the bottom side or a lower part of container 41 for the purpose of maximizing the storage volume of container 41. Therefore, the fixing unit between door frame 75 and inner plate 72 of door 71 is disposed in a lower portion of door 71.
Projection 78 of inner plate 72 protrudes toward the storage compartment side to secure a creepage distance from metal contact member 79 in tight contact with door gasket 73, thereby preventing entrance of heat from metal contact member 79 which also contacts the outside air.
Cool air guiding member 80 is further provided at the tip of projection 78 to further extend the creepage distance between metal contact member 79 and the space inside the storage compartment, and to guide the flow direction of circulating cool air for prevention of entrance of heat.
According to the conventional configuration, however, the whole area of door frame 75 made of metal material is cooled by the cool air delivered from delivery port 52a and circulating within the compartment. In this case, frame fixing member 76 made of a metal material and fixed to door frame 75 via screws 77 is simultaneously cooled. Cooled frame fixing member 76 is made of a metal material and thus has high heat conductivity, wherefore tip 76a of frame fixing member 76 is also cooled.
In addition, the fixing unit between door frame 75 and inner plate 72 is disposed in the lower part for maximization of the storage volume of container 41. In this case, a sufficient thickness of foamed insulator 74 covering tip 76a of frame fixing member 76 is difficult to secure.
Under these circumstances, heat exchange is promoted with metal contact member 79 having a relatively higher temperature under the influence of the outside air or the like, and with the air surrounding door gasket 73. As a result, there arises a problem that projection 78 of inner plate 72 and cool air guiding member 80 are difficult to sufficiently exert the energy saving effects.

Citation List

Patent Literature

PTL 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-080732

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a refrigerator of the present invention, at least one of doors includes a foamed insulator that fills a space between an outer plate and an inner plate, and a frame fixing member embedded in the foamed insulator, and a frame protection member is disposed on the storage compartment side of a door for preventing direct contact between cool air and an inner plate fixing unit of a door frame.
This configuration prevents cooling of the fixing unit between the door frame and the inner plate to reduce heat exchange with a metal contact member, a gasket or the like at an opening of a storage compartment. Accordingly, a refrigerator capable of decreasing power consumption can be provided according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged main part of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the refrigerator including a frame protection member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the main part of the refrigerator including the frame protection member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged main part of the conventional refrigerator.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

A refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings. It is intended that the invention should not be limited in any way to the exemplary embodiment described herein.

(Exemplary Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged main part of the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a main part of the refrigerator including a door frame protection member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the main part of the refrigerator including the door frame protection member according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
Refrigerator 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes heat insulating box 101 constituting a refrigerator body. Heat insulating box 101 includes outer box 102 mainly constituted by steel plates, inner box 103 molded from resin such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) resin, and a foamed insulator such as rigid polyurethane foam which foamily fills a space between outer box 102 and inner box 103. Heat insulating box 101 is thermally insulated from the surroundings. Heat insulating box 101 is sectioned into a plurality of storage compartments. Cold storage compartment 104 corresponding to a first storage compartment is disposed in the uppermost part. Second freezing compartment 105 corresponding to a fourth storage compartment and ice-making compartment 106 corresponding to a fifth storage compartment are disposed side by side below cold storage compartment 104. First freezing compartment 107 corresponding to a second storage compartment is disposed below second freezing compartment 105 and ice-making compartment 106. Vegetable compartment 108 corresponding to a third storage compartment is disposed in the lowermost part.
Cold storage compartment 104 has cold storage compartment right door 104a and cold storage compartment left door 104b both as revolving doors, and includes cold storage compartment shelves 104c and cold storage compartment case 104d disposed at appropriate positions inside cold storage compartment 104 for easy arrangement in the storage space. On the other hand, the other storage compartments have drawer type doors. Second freezing compartment case 105b is placed on a door frame attached to second freezing compartment door 105a, and ice-making compartment case 106b is placed on a door frame attached to ice-making compartment door 106a. Upper freezing compartment case 107b and lower freezing compartment case 107c are placed on a door frame attached to first freezing compartment door 107a. Upper vegetable compartment case 108b and lower freezing compartment case 108c are placed on a door frame attached to vegetable compartment door 108a.
The temperature of cold storage compartment 104 is set within a cold temperature zone for cold storage without freezing, normally in a range from 1°C to 5°C. The temperature of vegetable compartment 108 is set within a range equivalent to the cold temperature zone of cold storage compartment 104, or within a range of a vegetable temperature zone slightly higher than the cold temperature zone, i.e., from 2°C to 7°C. The temperature of first freezing compartment 107 is set within a freezer temperature zone, normally from -22°C to -15°C for frozen storage. However, the temperature of first freezing compartment 107 is set to a lower temperature in a range from -30°C to -25°C in some cases, for example, for improvement of frozen storage conditions.
The temperature of second freezing compartment 105 is set within a range equivalent to the freezer temperature zone of first freezing compartment 107, or within a range slightly higher than the freezer temperature zone, i.e., from -20°C to -12°C. Ice-making compartment 106 produces ice from water supplied from a water storage tank (not shown) within cold storage compartment 104 using an automatic ice maker (not shown) provided in an upper part of the compartment, and stores the produced ice in ice-making compartment case 106b.
A top surface of heat insulating box 101 has a shape recessed stepwise toward the rear direction of the refrigerator, and machine compartment 101a is formed within the stepwise recessed portion. Machine compartment 101a accommodates high-pressure side constituent components of a freezer cycle, such as compressor 109, a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture. That is, machine compartment 101a including compressor 109 is formed so as to intrude into a rear area of the uppermost part inside cold storage compartment 104.
Accordingly, machine compartment 101a is disposed in the area behind the storage compartment in the uppermost part of heat insulating box 101 to accommodate compressor 109, i.e., in an area difficult for user's hand to reach and therefore regarded as a dead space. This arrangement offers the following advantages. That is, the space in the lowermost part of heat insulating box 101, which is easily utilized by the user but has been occupied by the machine compartment of the conventional refrigerator, is effectively utilized as a storage compartment volume. Accordingly, the storage capability and usability can be greatly improved.
The freezer cycle is constituted by a series of refrigerant channels sequentially including compressor 109, a capillary tube as both a condenser and a decompressor, and cooler 112. Refrigerant such as isobutane corresponding to hydrocarbon system refrigerant is sealed into the freezer cycle.
Compressor 109 is a reciprocating type compressor which compresses refrigerant by utilizing the reciprocating motion of a piston within a cylinder. When a three-way valve or a selector valve are provided for the freezer cycle of heat insulating box 101, machine compartment 101a may further include these function components.
According to this exemplary embodiment, the decompressor constituting the freezer cycle is a capillary tube. However, the decompressor may be an electronic expansion valve driven by a pulse motor and capable of freely controlling the flow amount of refrigerant.
The matters concerning the main point of the invention to be described hereinbelow according to this exemplary embodiment are applicable to a refrigerator of a typical conventional type which forms a machine compartment in an area behind a storage compartment in the lowermost part of heat insulating box 101, and disposes compressor 109 in the machine compartment.
Cooling compartment 110 for producing cool air is provided behind first freezing compartment 107. Cooling compartment 110 is separated from storage compartments constituted by second freezing compartment 105, ice-making compartment 106, and first freezing compartment 107 via partitioning member 111. Cooler 112 disposed within cooling compartment 110 exchanges heat with air heated by heat exchange with the individual storage compartments so as to produce cool air. Partitioning member 111 is constituted by storage compartment side partitioning member 111a and cooling compartment side partitioning member 111b. Cooling compartment side partitioning member 111b is equipped with blower 113. The space between storage compartment side partitioning member 111a and cooling compartment side partitioning member 111b corresponds to flow duct 111c which introduces cool air forcibly supplied by blower 113 to cold storage compartment 104, ice-making compartment 106, first freezing compartment 107, and vegetable compartment 108.
Radiant heating means 114 formed by a glass tube is disposed in a space below cooler 112 to remove frost and ice adhering to cooler 112 and the surroundings of cooler 112 during cooling. There are further provided below radiant heating means 114 drain pan 115 for receiving defrost water produced during defrosting, and drain tube 116 penetrating from the deepest part of drain pan 115 to the outside of the refrigerator. Evaporating pan 117 is disposed outside heat insulating box 101 on the downstream side of drain tube 116.
Upper delivery port 120 is provided in the vicinity of a lower surface of upper partitioning wall 118a which separates cold storage compartment 104 from second freezing compartment 105 and ice-making compartment 106. Cool air having flowed through flow duct 111c is supplied from upper delivery port 120 to second freezing compartment 105, ice-making compartment 106, and first freezing compartment 107. Cool air delivered from upper delivery port 120 circulates through second freezing compartment case 105b, ice-making compartment case 106b, upper freezing compartment case 107b, and lower freezing compartment case 107c. Cool air after circulation passes through returning inlet port 125 formed below storage compartment side partitioning member 111a, and returns to cooler 112 for further circulation.
Damper 121 is disposed on upper partitioning wall 118a. Cool air having passed through damper 121 is branched into flow toward cold storage compartment duct 122 and flow toward vegetable compartment duct (not shown), and supplied toward cold storage compartment 104 and vegetable compartment 108.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, cool air blowing from upper delivery port 120 into the compartment cools stored foods, and circulates in such a manner as to flow toward the front and return toward cooler 112 as indicated by arrows.
Second freezing compartment door 105a is supported on heat insulating box 101 corresponding to the refrigerator body via door frame 135. The interior of second freezing compartment door 105a is filled with foamed insulator 134. Door frame 135 supporting second freezing compartment case 105b is fixed via screws 137 to frame fixing member 136 embedded in foamed insulator 134 of door 71. Door 71 joined with door frame 135 is attached in a condition movable back and forth within second freezing compartment 105.
Door frame 135 is positioned on the bottom side of second freezing compartment case 105b so as to increase the food storage volume of second freezing compartment case 105b. Accordingly, the fixing unit between door frame 135 and inner plate 132 of door 71 is disposed in the lower part of second freezer door 105a.
The inner surface of second freezing compartment door 105a on the storage compartment side is constituted by inner plate 132. In addition, projection 138 is formed on inner plate 132 so as to increase a creepage distance from second freezing compartment 105 to the outside of second freezing compartment 105 in the closed state of door 71. Gasket 133 is provided throughout the circumference of the end of inner plate 132. Gasket 133 is brought into tight contact with outer box 102, and metal contact members 139 provided on upper partitioning wall 118a and lower partitioning wall 118b.
Frame protection member 140 is provided so as to cover a fixing surface of door frame 135 to inner plate 132. Heat insulating material 141 is further provided between frame protection member 140 and the fixing surface of door frame 135 to inner plate 132.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, cool air guiding portion 150 is formed at a lower end of frame protection member 140. Engagement fixing portions 151 are further provided on frame protection member 140 for attachment of frame protection member 140 to door frame 135. Screw fixing portion 152 is further formed in frame protection member 140 as a screw hole through which a screw is threaded to fix frame protection member 140 to inner plate 132.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, projected area C of a profile of frame protection member 140 is larger than area A of fixing surface 135a of door frame 135 to inner plate 132, and than area B of contact surface 136a of frame fixing member 136 with inner plate 132.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, protrusion dimension D of frame protection member 140 on the downstream side of flow of cool air in the vicinity of lower partitioning wall 118b is larger than protrusion dimension E of an upper end of frame protection member 140 on the upstream side of flow of cool air.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the specification of frame protection member 140 is designed such that identical frame protection members 140 are attachable to both second freezing compartment door 105a and ice-making compartment door 106a.
An action and an operation of the refrigerator thus constructed are hereinafter described.
Initially, flow of cool air within second freezing compartment 105 is described. Cool air cooled by cooler 112 is forcibly delivered by blower 113 from upper delivery port 120 into second freezing compartment case 105b to cool stored foods. In addition, cool air forcibly delivered by blower 113 is supplied to each of upper freezing compartment case 107b and lower freezing compartment case 107c within first freezing compartment 107. Cool air having cooled the foods passes through a clearance between second freezing compartment 105 and upper partitioning wall 118a in an upper section, and passes through a clearance between second freezing compartment case 105b and upper freezing compartment case 107b in an intermediate section. The cool air having flowed through the clearance in the upper section and the cool air having flowed through the clearance in the interruption are joined. Then, the cool air after being joined flows through a clearance below lower freezing compartment case 107c, and is sucked through returning inlet port 125 to return to cooler 112.
Cool air forcibly supplied by blower 113 from upper delivery port 120 into second freezing compartment case 105b passes through second freezing compartment case 105b, and flows toward second freezing compartment door 105a.
Frame protection member 140 is provided to cover the whole area of fixing surface 135a of door frame 135 so as to avoid direct contact between cool air having passed through second freezing compartment case 105b toward second freezing compartment door 105a, and the fixing surface between door frame 135 and inner plate 132. Cool air after collision with frame protection member 140 passes along a surface of frame protection member 140, and subsequently flows toward the cases within first freezing compartment 107.
Projected area C of the profile of frame protection member 140 is configured so as to meet conditions C > A and C > B as relationships with area A of fixing surface 135a of door frame 135 and with area B of contact surface 136a of frame fixing member 136 with inner plate 132. This configuration effectively prevents cooling of door frame 135 and frame protection member 140.
Projection 138 of inner plate 132 protrudes toward the storage compartment side to secure a sufficient creepage distance from metal contact members 139 in tight contact with gasket 133 of door 71, thereby preventing entrance of heat from metal contact members 139 also in contact with the outside air.
Frame protection member 140 has cool air guiding portion 150 on the tip side of projection 138 of inner plate 132, wherefore the creepage distance between metal contact members 139 and the space within second freezing compartment 105 further increases. In addition, the flow direction of circulating cool air is guided toward a direction away from metal contact members 139 to prevent entrance of heat.
Protrusion dimension D of frame protection member 140 in the vicinity of lower partitioning wall 118b and protrusion dimension E of the upper end of frame protection member 140 are configured so as to satisfy the relationship D > E. This configuration allows the flow direction of cool air to be guided toward a direction away from metal contact members 139. In addition, the direction of inclination thus produced becomes equivalent to the direction of inclination of draft of a metal mold of second freezing compartment case 105b, and therefore a flow path of cool air is easily secured between frame protection member 140 and second freezing compartment case 105b.
Heat insulating material 141 is provided between frame protection member 140 and fixing surface 135a of door frame 135 to inner plate 132. This configuration prevents indirect cooling of fixing surface 135a of door frame 135 resulting from cooling of frame protection member 140 by cool air. Accordingly, the power consumption further decreases.
The method for attaching frame protection member 140 to door frame 135 via engagement fixing portions 151 is a simplified attachment method, wherefore the number of production steps does not increase. When the supporting strength of engagement fixing portions 151 is insufficient, screw fixing portion 152 may be more rigidly fixed by screw fixation. In this case, since the screw hole of door frame 135 communicates with the screw hole of frame protection member 140, reduction of the number of parts can be achieved by utilizing screw 137 for fixing door frame 135.
When sufficient supporting force is secured only by engagement fixing portions 151, screw fixing portion 152 may be eliminated.
Identical frame protection members 140 are adopted for both second freezing compartment door 105a and ice-making compartment door 106a. Accordingly, reduction of the metal mold cost, and reduction of overall cost are achievable.
As described above, the present invention includes a heat insulating box that includes an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating material that fills a space between the inner box and the outer box, and a plurality of storage compartments sectioned as upper and lower parts of the interior of the heat insulating box by a partitioning wall, each of the storage compartments having a different temperature zone. Further the present invention includes doors disposed on individual front surfaces of the plurality of storage compartments, door gaskets provided on the doors and brought into tight contact with corresponding front surfaces around opening of the heat insulating box, and door frames that openably support the doors. At least one of the doors includes an outer plate, an inner plate, a foamed insulator that fills a space between the outer plate and the inner plate, and a frame fixing member embedded in the foamed insulator. Frame protection members are provided on storage compartment sides of the doors. This configuration prevents heat exchange caused by cooling of the door frames, thereby decreasing power consumption.
According to the present invention, cool air guiding members may be provided on the storage compartment side of the doors. This configuration allows cool air circulating within the storage compartments to be guided toward a position away from the front surfaces around the opening of the heat insulating box which has a relatively higher temperature. Accordingly, this configuration prevents heat exchange between the circulating cool air and the front surfaces around the opening of the heat insulating box, thereby decreasing power consumption.
According to the present invention, the frame protection members may be formed integrally with the cool air guiding members. This configuration eliminates junctions between components and allows cool air to flow smoothly, thereby reducing pressure losses, and decreasing power consumption accordingly. In addition, the cost decreases as a result of reduction of the number of parts.
According to the present invention, a projected area of each profile of the frame protection members may be larger than at least one of an area of a fixing surface of the door frame to the inner plate, or an area of a contact surface of the frame fixing member with the inner plate. This configuration prevents cooling of the fixing surface of the door frame to the inner plate by cool air, and cooling of the contact surface of the frame fixing member with the inner plate by cool air via the inner plate. Accordingly, this configuration effectively reduces heat exchange, thereby decreasing power consumption.
According to the present invention, a heat insulating material may be disposed between the frame protection member and the fixing surface of the door frame to the inner plate. This configuration prevents direct contact between cool air and the door frame by the frame protection member and in addition, to increases heat insulation inside the frame protection member by the heat insulating material. Accordingly, this configuration prevents heat exchange between cool air and the door frame or the frame fixing member via the door frame, thereby decreasing power consumption.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention is applicable to both household and business-use refrigerators.

REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS

30: refrigerator body
31: freezing temperature compartment
32: second freezing compartment
33: ice-making compartment
34: first freezing compartment
36: cold storage compartment
37: vegetable compartment
41,42,43,44: container
50: partitioning member
50a: cool air path
52,53,54: cool air delivery duct
52a,53a,54a: delivery port
61: cooler
62: cooler compartment
63: blower
71: door
72: inner plate
73: door gasket
74: foamed insulator
75: door frame
76: frame fixing member
76a: tip
77: screw
78: projection
79: metal contact member
80: cool air guiding member
100: refrigerator
101: heat insulating box
101a: machine compartment
102: outer box
103: inner box
104: cold storage compartment
104a: cold storage compartment right door
104b: cold storage compartment left door
104c: cold storage compartment shelf
104d: cold storage compartment case
105: second freezing compartment
105a: second freezing compartment door
105b: second freezing compartment case
106: ice-making compartment
106a: ice-making compartment door
106b: ice-making compartment case
107: first freezing compartment
107a: first freezing compartment door
107b: upper freezing compartment case
107c: lower freezing compartment case
108: vegetable compartment
108a: vegetable compartment door
108b: upper vegetable compartment case
108c: lower freezing compartment case
109: compressor
110: cooling compartment
111: partitioning member
111a: storage compartment side partitioning member
111b: cooling compartment side partitioning member
111c: flow duct
112: cooler
113: blower
114: radiant heating means
115: drain pan
116: drain tube
117: evaporating pan
118a: upper partitioning wall
118b: lower partitioning wall
120: upper delivery port
121: damper
122: cold storage compartment duct
125: returning inlet port
132: inner plate
133: gasket
134: foamed insulator
135: door frame
135a: fixing surface
136: frame fixing member
136a: contact surface
137: screw
138: projection
139: metal contact member
140: frame protection member
141: heat insulating material
150: cool air guiding portion
151: engagement fixing portion
152: screw fixing portion

Claims

A refrigerator comprising:
a heat insulating box that includes an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating material that fills a space between the inner box and the outer box;

a plurality of storage compartments sectioned as upper and lower parts of an interior of the heat insulating box by a partitioning wall, each of the storage compartments having a different temperature zone;

doors disposed on individual front surfaces of the plurality of storage compartments;

door gaskets provided on the doors and brought into tight contact with corresponding front surfaces around opening of the heat insulating box; and

door frames that openably support the doors,
wherein

at least one of the doors includes an outer plate, an inner plate, a foamed insulator that fills a space between the outer plate and the inner plate, and a frame fixing member embedded in the foamed insulator, and

frame protection members are provided on storage compartment sides of the doors.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein cool air guiding members are provided on storage compartment sides of the doors.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the frame protection members are formed integrally with the cool air guiding members.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a projected area of each profile of the frame protection members is larger than at least one of an area of a fixing surface of the door frame to the inner plate and an area of a contact surface of the frame fixing member with the inner plate.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a heat insulating material is disposed between the frame protection member and a fixing surface of the door frame to the inner plate.