EP4293304A1 - Réfrigérateur - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4293304A1
EP4293304A1 EP21925742.5A EP21925742A EP4293304A1 EP 4293304 A1 EP4293304 A1 EP 4293304A1 EP 21925742 A EP21925742 A EP 21925742A EP 4293304 A1 EP4293304 A1 EP 4293304A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
insulating material
heat
area
foam
box
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21925742.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Masakazu Kano
Masayasu Tsubuku
Hirotoshi Watanabe
Takashi Uchiyama
Hiroaki Ando
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Original Assignee
Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
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 JP2021021704A external-priority patent/JP7460563B2/ja
Priority claimed from JP2021024799A external-priority patent/JP7456958B2/ja
Application filed by Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc filed Critical Hitachi Global Life Solutions Inc
Publication of EP4293304A1 publication Critical patent/EP4293304A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls
    • F25D23/062—Walls defining a cabinet
    • F25D23/064—Walls defining a cabinet formed by moulding, e.g. moulding in situ
    • 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
    • F25D2201/00—Insulation
    • F25D2201/10—Insulation with respect to heat
    • F25D2201/12—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material
    • F25D2201/126—Insulation with respect to heat using an insulating packing material of cellular type

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator.
  • the energy saving performance of a refrigerator is realized by using mainly two heat-insulating materials which are a vacuum heat-insulating material and a foam heat-insulating material in combination.
  • a refrigerator proposed to enhance the coverage or thickness of a vacuum heat-insulating material with excellent heat insulation performance, and reduce the thickness of a foam heat-insulating material.
  • PTL 1 discloses a refrigerator in which the area size of portions where there is not a foam heat-insulating material on a rear heat insulating wall is made greater than the area size of portions where there is not a foam heat-insulating material on a side heat insulating wall (claim 1, etc.) .
  • a refrigerator includes a box that forms a storage compartment having an opening front, includes an area between an inner box and an outer box which area is foam-filled with a foam heat-insulating material, and has an up-down dimension which is greater than a left-right dimension, in which a left surface and/or a right surface of the box have or has a front end(s) including a front-end heat-insulating material foam-filled with the foam heat-insulating material continuously in an up-down direction; have or has an area(s) where an area(s) having a flow-permitting thickness for a foam heat-insulating material which is smaller than those of surrounding areas; and include(s) another heat-insulating material that provides heat insulation performance higher than that of the foam heat-insulating material.
  • the drawer-type doors are each provided with a housing container, and door-side rails extending in the front-back direction, and can slide on rails on the side of an inner box 8 of the refrigerator 1, for example.
  • the cold compartment 2 is a refrigeration storage compartment whose average inner temperature is kept at a temperature in the refrigeration temperature range which is approximately 4°C for example.
  • the ice compartment 3, the upper freezer compartment 4, and the lower freezer compartment 5 are frozen storage compartments whose average inner temperatures are kept at temperatures in the freezing temperature range which are approximately -18°C, for example.
  • the vegetable compartment 6 is a refrigeration storage compartment whose average inner temperature is kept at a temperature in the refrigeration temperature range which is approximately 6°C, for example, and is configured to cool foods indirectly to avoid dehydration of foods.
  • the rails are connected to the door-side rails connected to the drawer-type doors, and support the doors.
  • Containers that can house foods are mounted on the doors or the door-side rails, and move along with the doors.
  • the outer box 7 includes a top board and left and right side boards that are formed by bending a thin steel strip into a gate-like shape, a rear board formed of a separate member and a bottom board formed of a separate member, and is formed into a box shape.
  • the inner box 8 is formed into a box shape by shaping a synthetic resin board.
  • the top board, and the left and right side boards may be separate bodies.
  • the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is pasted onto the inner wall surface of the outer box 7, that is, the inner wall surface of each of the top board, the side boards, the rear board, and the bottom board by using an adhesive such as a double-sided tape or a hot-melt adhesive at part of or over the whole of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12.
  • the foam heat-insulating material 9 applied by foam-in-place is inferior to the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 in terms of thermal conductivity, but is useful in enhancing the strength of the heat insulation box since its bonding force can integrate the inner box 8 and the outer box 7.
  • the refrigerator 1 is placed such that its front plane faces vertically downward, and its rear surface faces vertically upward, and the urethane heat-insulating material is injected in the space between the inner box 8 and the outer box 7 of the refrigerator 1 via, for example, four injection ports provided through the rear surface of the outer box 7.
  • the space between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the inner box 8 is basically filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 by injection-foaming, and is adhered with the inner box 8 to maintain the strength of the refrigerator.
  • portions that influence the strength less are not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 or is filled with a smaller amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9 (partially urethane-less).
  • the urethane flow thickness (the gap between the inner box 8 and the vacuum heat-insulating material 12) of the entire area or entire circumference of the partially urethane-less portions is reduced to a thickness smaller than 6 mm, for example.
  • the inner box 8 is formed in a taper shape to approach the outer box 7, and thereby the flow thickness changes continuously. Thereby, concentration of stress due to weight, generated by a rapid change of the rigidity can be avoided. In addition, pressure loss of an air path can be reduced at locations where cold air flows.
  • the inner box 8 is connected stepwise, the inner volumes of the storage compartments can be maximized, and the flow thickness can be increased. Accordingly, the risk of failure to fill the connection portion with urethane can be reduced.
  • a member to be embedded between the outer box 7 and the inner box 8 along with the foam heat-insulating material 9 is not limited to the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, but may be anything with thermal conductivity ⁇ which is lower than the thermal conductivity of the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 described in each example may be replaced with a heat insulation structure 30 like the one depicted in Figure 25 .
  • the heat insulation structure 30 is one that is formed by placing, one on another, a first board 31a and a second board 31b formed of a stainless steel strip, a PCM steel strip, a glass board or the like with board thicknesses of 0.5 to 2.0 mm such that an inner space 32 is created between the first board 31a and the second board 31b.
  • the heat insulation structure 30 has joints 33 formed by joining the outer circumferences of the first board 31a and the second board 31b by welding, bonding or the like, a plurality of spherical spacer members 34 made of glass, ceramic, or the like are arranged in the inner space 32, and the height of the inner space 32 is made approximately 2 to 5 mm.
  • the inner space 32 is evacuated through a discharge port 35 provided through either of the first board 31a and the second board 31b, and is sealed by a cap 36. By creating vacuum atmosphere in the inner space 32 of the heat insulation structure 30 in this manner, the thermal conductivity ⁇ can be made lower than the thermal conductivity of the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • Figure 3 is a figure depicting results of analysis of filled portions that are necessary in terms of strength.
  • the foam heat-insulating material 9 fills heat insulation spaces formed by the inner box 8 and the outer box 7, or the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and the like, and is solidified to maintain the strength of the refrigerator, but does not make a contribution as a structure to all the spaces equally.
  • Results of determination, by an optimization technique by a density method, of urethane portions that make a contribution to the rigidity required for the refrigerator are depicted in Figure 3 . Since rigidity is a premise for the refrigerator to function as a refrigerator, the results were obtained under a condition that weight is applied to shelves placed across the shelf ribs 13, and rails 21 supporting drawer-type storage compartment containers.
  • the filled portion spreads backward from portions near the opening on the front side, and connects to the middles of the side surfaces, but does not spread to spaces on the rear sides of the side surfaces, the bottom surface, the top surface, and the rear side unless the filling amount is increased, and this represents that urethane in the heat insulation space at these portions makes a small contribution to the rigidity. It is observed that, regarding the middles of the side surfaces, the spaces above the uppermost shelf ribs 13, and the spaces below the lowermost rails 21 also make a relatively smaller contribution.
  • the side-surface front ends are important because, since the refrigerator 1 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an opening on its front plane, it is necessary to maintain the rigidity particularly at longer-side portions in sides forming the opening plane.
  • the necessity for rigidity on the shorter-side sides is relatively low.
  • portions near the hinge portions 22 also need to be filled with urethane to increase the rigidity.
  • the side-surface front ends are preferably filled with urethane over their entire up-down areas.
  • urethane makes a great contribution also at portions where the shelf ribs 13 and the rails 21 are provided on the middle sides of the side surfaces in the front-back direction.
  • the results representing that these portions are important in terms of strength are because the rigidity of portions near the shelf ribs 13 and the rails 21 that are disposed on the side surfaces, and receive the weight of foods placed on or in the shelves or the containers is necessary for supporting the food weight.
  • the amount of urethane at these portions can be reduced.
  • the portions to support the shelves on the rear surface instead of the side surfaces, can be filled with a greater amount of urethane alternatively.
  • the flow thickness for the foam heat-insulating material 9 at the front ends of the heat insulation box, the shelf ribs 13 and the rails 21 is increased.
  • the side-surface front ends have an increased flow thickness over the entire up-down area of the refrigerator 1, and the foam heat-insulating material 9 (a front-end heat-insulating material 91) is provided to fill the side-surface front ends.
  • positional images of the front-end heat-insulating material are given a reference character 91'.
  • a partial area 81 above the uppermost shelf rib 13, and a partial area 84 below the lowermost rail 21 have a reduced flow thickness, and is not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 or is filled with a smaller amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9 in the refrigerator 1 according to the present example.
  • an area 82 defined by an up-down range from the uppermost shelf rib 13 to the lowermost rail 21, and a front-back range from the front-end heat-insulating material 91 to the shelf ribs 13 or the rails 21, and an area 83 sandwiched in the up-down direction by shelf ribs 13 or by rails 21 also can have a reduced flow thickness, and be not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 or are filled with a smaller amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • the front end of the area 83 is drawn as being located behind the middle of the shelf ribs 13 or the rails 21 in the front-back direction in Figure 2
  • the area 83 may be expanded to the front end of the shelf ribs 13 or the rails 21.
  • the boundaries between the front-end sides and the rear-end sides can be considered in the following manner in a case that the shelf ribs 13/rails 21 are provided in the refrigerator 1 as in the present example.
  • the boundaries can be at positions before the front ends of the shelf ribs 13/rails 21 or at the middles of the front-back dimensions of the shelf ribs 13/rails 21.
  • the flow thickness of portions that influence the strength less can be reduced; however, in a foam-in-place method in which a urethane undiluted solution is injected from an injection ports on the rear surface of the refrigerator 1, a foaming path from the side-surface front ends to the shelf ribs 13/rails 21 is likely to be blocked, and voids are likely to be generated at the shelf ribs 13/rails 21.
  • the flow thickness of the area 82 is made greater to approximately the same degree as the front-end heat-insulating material.
  • the urethane filling amount cannot be reduced at positions on the front side of those positions, but it is relatively easier to fill portions at the shelf ribs 13/rails 21 that influence the strength significantly with the foam heat-insulating material 9. Because of this, for example, the flow thickness of the area 83 may be reduced.
  • the boundaries can be at positions at or behind the rear end of the front-end heat-insulating material mentioned above.
  • the area 81 with a reduced flow thickness is provided from the rear end of the front-end heat-insulating material 91 to the approximately rear end of the side surface.
  • the position of the rear end of the area 81 is not restricted particularly.
  • the rectangular area 84 with a reduce flow thickness is provided near the rear end of the front-end heat-insulating material. The rear end of the area 84 may be located behind its position depicted in Figure 2 .
  • the areas 81 to 84 can overlap the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 in the front view of the side surface, and additionally are located inward of the edge of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 preferably.
  • the boundary between the front-end side and the rear-end side can be at a position which is at a distance from the front end, the distance being 1/3 or 1/2 of the front-back dimension from the front end to the rear surface of the inner box, for example.
  • each of the areas 81 to 84 can be given a reduced flow thickness, and the remaining area is given an increased flow thickness.
  • the areas 81 and 84 are given reduced flow thicknesses, and the remaining area is given an increased flow thickness.
  • the right surface can be configured similarly to the left surface.
  • the entire area over the range from the uppermost shelf rib 13 to the lowermost rail 21 can be filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 with an increased urethane flow thickness, or an area like the area 83 sandwiched in the up-down direction between shelf ribs 13 and rails 21 may not be filled with the foam heat-insulating material or may be filled with a smaller amount of the foam heat-insulating material by reducing the flow thickness.
  • the present example adopts the former. In the latter case, the food-support heat-insulating material is in a so-called full-of-holes state.
  • the foam heat-insulating material 9 may fill the area between the front-end heat-insulating material mentioned above and the food-support heat-insulating material such that the foam heat-insulating material 9 links the front-end heat-insulating material and the food-support heat-insulating material, or the area may not be filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 or may be filled with a smaller amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9 by reducing the flow thickness (e.g. by reducing the flow thickness of part of or the entire area 82). If the area (e.g.
  • the distance between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the outer box 7 as the flow thickness can be made equal to or shorter than 6 mm, preferably equal to or shorter than 3 mm, for example.
  • the distance between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the inner box 8 can certainly be made similar.
  • some separate component may be disposed between the inner box 8 and the outer box 7 to realize the reduction.
  • some separate component may be disposed between the inner box 8 and the outer box 7 to realize the reduction.
  • the filling amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9 is reduced taking supporting and protection of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 into consideration. This is mentioned later.
  • the middle area an area 85
  • the injection volume of the urethane heat-insulating material can be reduced.
  • the foam heat-insulating material 9 around (front, rear, left, and right side surfaces) of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 of the ceiling portion.
  • the foam heat-insulating material 9 is supporting the end of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 like it wraps the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 from the lower surface to the side surfaces. Accordingly, falling or heat bridge of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is prevented.
  • the fixation strength of components related to the inside light 14 can also be maintained.
  • the partially urethane-less area (the area 85) of the ceiling portion can be provided in the projection plane of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and on the inner side of the edge of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, for example, as in the present example.
  • the width dimension of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 disposed on the top surface of the inner box 8 is smaller than the width dimension of the top surface of the inner box 8. Accordingly, in each of areas 9a between left and right corners 8a on the top surface of the inner box 8 and the left end and right end of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, the foam heat-insulating material 9 fills the area between the outer box 7 and the inner box 8.
  • the thickness of the foam heat-insulating material 9 in these ranges is equivalent to the thickness of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12. Since the heat transfer coefficient of the foam heat-insulating material 9 is higher than the heat transfer coefficient of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, these portions provide lower heat insulation performance. If heat insulation performance is insufficient, the outer box 7 is cooled by the inside of the refrigerator, condensation occurs to the outer box 7 due to the temperature difference of the refrigerator outside air, and this is not preferrable. In the refrigerator according to the present example, heat of a hot gas pipe (not depicted) installed between the outer box 7 and the foam heat-insulating material 9 prevents the outer box 7 from being cooled, and this reduces the temperature difference between the outer box 7 and the refrigerator outside air, and prevents occurrence of condensation.
  • a hot gas pipe not depicted
  • the refrigerator 1 is placed in a state that its rear surface faces upward, and the urethane heat-insulating material is injected toward the front plane, which is facing vertically downward, of the refrigerator 1 through, for example, four injection ports provided through the rear surface.
  • the opening of the refrigerator 1 (the heat insulation box) can be filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 continuously over the entire circumference. In this manner, filling with the front-end heat-insulating material can be performed.
  • Foam-in-place of the urethane heat-insulating material injected through the injection ports on the rear surface of the refrigerator 1 is performed in a state that the rear surface of the refrigerator 1 faces vertically upward as mentioned above.
  • Figure 10 is a figure of the ceiling portion of the cold compartment 2 as seen from the front side
  • Figure 11 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view depicting portions near the inside light 14 at the ceiling portion of the cold compartment 2.
  • the inside light 14 is covered with a light-transmitting cover member.
  • the quality of the material of the cover member is not limited particularly, but is desirably a transparent synthetic resin.
  • the inside light 14 is mounted on the inner box 8 at the front side of the ceiling portion as depicted in Figure 11 , the area between the inner box 8 and the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9, and the support strength for the inside light 14 is enhanced.
  • the gap between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the inner box 8 is small (e.g., smaller than 1 mm) on the rear side of the ceiling portion, and the inner box 8 is located at a high position, the food housing space for the uppermost shelf is increased. It should be noted that it is better not to make the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 contact the inner box 8 but to form at least a small gap as a buffer for a case that a user hits the ceiling portion with a can or the like.
  • the inner box 8 Since the area with a small gap between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the inner box 8 is not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 in this manner, the inner box 8 is not adhered to the outer box 7 or the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 via the foam heat-insulating material 9. As a result, the inner box 8 droops undesirably due to its own weight, and this is not preferrable in terms of external appearance.
  • injection foaming of the urethane heat-insulating material is performed in a state that a ceiling panel 16 made of synthetic resin is mounted below the inner box 8 of the urethane-less portion in the present example, and the ceiling panel 16 forms part of the ceiling surface of the cold compartment 2.
  • the ceiling panel 16 Since the left and right ends of the ceiling panel 16 are simply placed on ribs (not depicted) extending in the front-back direction from the side walls of the inner box 8, the ceiling panel 16 is not constrained in the horizontal direction. In addition, the rear end of the ceiling panel 16 also is simply constrained in the up-down direction by the claw 16b. Because of this, thermal deformation of the ceiling panel 16 due to an environment temperature change, warping of the ceiling panel 16 due to foaming pressure of the foam heat-insulating material 9 received via the inner box 8, and the like can be inhibited. Note that as long as either the left and right ends or the front and rear ends of the ceiling panel 16 are unconstrained in the horizontal direction, the ceiling panel 16 may be supported by another method.
  • first rib 16c extending in the front-back direction at the middle in the left-right direction
  • second rib 16d extending in the left-right direction at the middle in the front-back direction
  • first ribs 16c or second ribs 16d may be formed.
  • reinforcement pieces 16e extending in the left-right direction are formed side by side in the front-back direction at the left and right ends of the ceiling panel 16, deformation of the ceiling panel 16 due to foaming pressure of the foam heat-insulating material 9 that fills the area between the inner box 8 and the outer box 7 forming the left and right side surfaces can be inhibited.
  • Figure 14 is a plan view of the ceiling portion of the cold compartment 2 as seen from above, in which the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, the inside light 14, and a wire (cord 15) for the inside light 14 can be seen through.
  • the cord 15 led out from the inside light 14 passes by the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, reaches the rear side, further goes down on the rear side, and is connected to a control substrate which is not depicted.
  • the area between the lower surface of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 of the ceiling portion and the inner box 8 is not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 except for the front area and the rear area as depicted in Figure 6 .
  • the cord 15 is arranged at a portion not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9, there is a possibility that the inner box 8 is pressed by the cord 15, and marks, the cord 15 damages the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and so on, when a jig is used to press from the side of the inner box 8 at a time of foaming of the urethane heat-insulating material. Accordingly, in the present example, the cord 15 is arranged at a portion filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • the wire arranged in the area corresponding to the vertically downward projection plane of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is arranged only in the front area and the rear area which are portions where there is the foam heat-insulating material 9, and, in areas therebetween, the wire is arranged at portions outside the vertical projection plane of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 where there is the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • the upper case 111 faces the lower freezer compartment 5, as depicted in Figure 15 , the upper case 111 has two upper-surface recesses 111a on the left and right, so it becomes possible to increase the inner volume of the lower freezer compartment 5.
  • the front sides of the upper-surface recesses 111a have shallow bottom surfaces as compared with the rear sides.
  • a bridge portion 111b which has the same height as the peripheries of the upper-surface recesses 111a is formed at a portion sandwiched by the left and right upper-surface recesses 111a.
  • Figure 16 is a plan view of the heat insulation partition 11 as seen from above (the side of the lower freezer compartment 5).
  • Figure 17 is an arrow view of a cross section taken along A-A in Figure 16
  • Figure 18 is an arrow view of a cross section taken along B-B in Figure 16
  • Figure 19 is an arrow view of a cross section taken along C-C in Figure 16
  • Figure 20 is an arrow view of a cross section taken along D-D in Figure 16 .
  • the foam heat-insulating material fills the lower portion of the bridge portion 111b of the upper case 111 in the front-back direction near the middle of the heat insulation partition 11 in this manner, the rigidity of the heat insulation partition 11 is increased as exhibited by reduction of warping of the upper case 111 or the like, and damage to the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the like are inhibited.
  • the urethane heat-insulating material having flowed in through the urethane inflow ports 11a branches into a plurality of directions due to the upper-surface recesses 111a. Since the urethane heat-insulating material the flow of which has branched hits any portion (final filled portion) in the heat insulation partition 11, there is the risk of voids.
  • the bridge portion 111b it is possible to form a flow of the urethane heat-insulating material that flows to the front end and rear end of the lower portion of the bridge portion 111b. Since urethane that has flowed from the front end and rear end of the lower portion of the bridge portion 111b hits, voids, if generated, can be kept within the area of the bridge portion 111b. Furthermore, there is the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 in the area corresponding to the vertically downward projection plane of the bridge portion 111b. That is, even if voids are generated, generation positions of the voids can be kept within the area of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, so influence of the voids on the heat insulation performance of the heat insulation partition wall can be minimized.
  • the present example adopts configuration in which the upper-surface recesses 111a are arranged side by side on the left and right, and the bridge portion 111b is formed in the front-back direction, configuration in which the upper-surface recesses 111a are arranged side by side in the up-down direction, and the bridge portion 111b is formed in the left-right direction may be adopted.
  • the height of the bridge portion 111b is at least taller than the lower surfaces of the upper-surface recesses 111a in order to make sure that there is an inflow of urethane, the present example is not limited in this respect.
  • the front side and rear side of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 are filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 as depicted in Figure 17 and Figure 18
  • the left side and right side of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 are also filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9 as depicted in Figure 19 and Figure 20
  • a double-sided tape (not depicted) is applied onto part of the lower-surface side of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and the part is bonded with the lower case 112. Because of this, the area between the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the lower case 112 also is basically not filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9.
  • the upper-surface side and lower-surface side of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 in the heat insulation partition 11 is partially urethane-less in the present example in this manner, this provides a merit that the filling amount of the foam heat-insulating material 9 in the refrigerator 1 as a whole can be reduced. Since, in addition to this, portions in front of, behind, and to the left and right of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 are filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9, the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is stably supported in the heat insulation partition 11, and the strength as the heat insulation partition 11 is maintained.
  • FIG 21 is a perspective view of the heat insulation partition 11 as seen from below (the side of the vegetable compartment 6). As indicated by broken lines and dotted lines in Figure 21 , there is the heater 113 above the lower case 112, and there is the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 above the heater 113.
  • the refrigerator 1 has a structure in which a vegetable compartment cover that can open and close the upper plane of the container of the vegetable compartment 6 can be installed. This vegetable compartment cover is for inhibiting dehydration of vegetables in the container by increasing the degree of sealing of the container, and is supported by a vegetable-compartment cover mounting portion 112b provided to the lower case 112 of the heat insulation partition 11.
  • the front side of the lower case 112 has the vegetable-compartment cover mounting portion 112b, and the lower-surface recesses 112a that are provided side by side to the left and right of the vegetable-compartment cover mounting portion 112b.
  • the lower-surface recesses 112a have a shape protruding upward on the rear side of the vegetable-compartment cover mounting portion 112b, and can restrict the position of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12. Because of this, it is possible to prevent the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 from abutting on the vegetable-compartment cover mounting portion 112b, and being damaged.
  • the heater 113 is for heating the vegetable compartment 6 that the heat insulation partition 11 (lower case 112) faces, and keeping the temperature of the inside of the vegetable compartment 6 in a predetermined temperature range, and, although not depicted, includes a heat transfer wire, an aluminum sheet covering the heat transfer wire, and a lead connected with the heat transfer wire. Since the planar heater 113 used in the present example cannot form the bent portion 12a unlike the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 can, it is difficult to be extended forward up to the inclined surfaces 112c of the lower-surface recesses 112a. However, since the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is positioned also above the area on the front side where the heater 113 cannot reach, occurrence of condensation can be prevented.
  • the heat insulation partition 11 there are the upper-surface recesses 111a of the upper case 111, and the lower-surface recesses 112a of the lower case 112.
  • the temperature range of the lower freezer compartment 5 faced by the upper case 111 is lower than the temperature range of the vegetable compartment 6 faced by the lower case 112
  • the volume of the overall recesses of the upper-surface recesses 111a greater than the volume of the overall recesses of the lower-surface recesses 112a, it is possible to preferentially increase the air path dimension of cold air flowing through the bottom of the lower freezer compartment 5.
  • a cord temporary housing portion 11b is formed at a front-side portion of the lower case 112 as a recessed space for temporarily housing the cords.
  • the cords that are housed primarily are taken out from the cord temporary housing portion 11b when the installation of the heat insulation partition 11 is ended, and are linked at predetermined positions, and injection foaming of the urethane heat-insulating material is performed.
  • the cord temporary housing portion 11b is defined by inner walls 11b1 that prevent the cords from contacting the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and being damaged, and an outer wall 11b2 that prevents the cords from coming out.
  • inner walls 11b1 that prevent the cords from contacting the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, and being damaged
  • outer wall 11b2 that prevents the cords from coming out.
  • the urethane heat-insulating material can flow in through the inner openings 11b3.
  • a first outer opening 11b4 is formed behind the outer wall 11b2, and it becomes possible to draw the cords into the cord temporary housing portion 11b.
  • the urethane heat-insulating material injected through the urethane inflow ports 11a to the heat insulation partition 11 can easily pass through the cord temporary housing portion 11b.
  • the urethane inflow ports 11a are formed not only at a position facing the second outer opening 11b5 but also at a position facing the first outer opening 11b4, the urethane heat-insulating material flows in also through the first outer opening 11b4. Since the cord temporary housing portion 11b is formed at a position facing the urethane inflow ports 11a to the heat insulation partition 11 in this manner, the recessed space is filled with the foam heat-insulating material 9, and the heat insulation properties is maintained.
  • the refrigerator 1 according to Example 2 is explained by using Figure 24 .
  • the ceiling panel 16 like the one according to Example 1 is not provided, but an adhesive 18 fixes the inner box 8 and the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 together.
  • the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 and the inner box 8 are fixed together by the adhesive 18 such as a hot-melt adhesive, and thereby drooping of the inner box 8 is inhibited.
  • the adhesive 18 to be used is desirably a material that can elastically deform such that it can be deformed along with warping of the inner box 8.
  • the spacers 19 are intervening members having a certain degree of thickness, and additionally have a functionality of bonding the outer box 7 and the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 together.
  • a double-sided tape or the like obtained by forming polyethylene or the like into a sheet is used as the spacers 19.
  • an adhesive such as a hot-melt adhesive may be used as the spacers 19.
  • the inner box 8, the foam heat-insulating material 9 and the like are deformed easily depending on temperature as compared with the vacuum heat-insulating material 12, the front, rear, left, and right portions of the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 may be covered with, and protected by an elastic member, and damage to the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 due to deformation of the inner box 8 or the like may be prevented.
  • the spacers 19 function as cushions, and damage to the vacuum heat-insulating material 12 is prevented while the gap between the outer box 7 and the inner box 8 is filled thereby.
  • the present invention is not limited to each example mentioned before, but various modifications are possible.
  • the ceiling panel 16 is provided below the inner box 8 of the ceiling portion in Example 1, instead of providing the ceiling panel 16, the inside light cover may be expanded backward, and cover the portion below the inner box 8, in another possible configuration.
  • the examples mentioned before are illustrated as examples in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those including all the constituent elements explained.
  • some of the constituent elements of an example can be replaced with constituent elements of another example, and constituent elements of an example can be added to the constituent elements of another example.
  • some of the constituent elements of each example can additionally have other constituent elements, can be eliminated or replaced with other constituent elements.
  • a refrigerator including a box that forms a storage compartment having an opening front, includes an area between an inner box and an outer box which area is foam-filled with a foam heat-insulating material, and has an up-down dimension which is greater than a left-right dimension, in which a left surface and/or a right surface of the box
  • each of the shelf ribs or the rails is reinforced.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 1-2 in which the area(s) having the smaller flow-permitting thickness is or are formed in an area(s) that is or are on a projection plane of the other heat-insulating material, and inside an edge of the other heat-insulating material.
  • a front end(s) of a top surface and/or a bottom surface of the box is or are filled with a foam heat-insulating material continuously from the front-end heat-insulating material.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 1-12 or additional note 1-14 in which, at the top surface of the box, the foam heat-insulating material is positioned on front, rear, left, and right side surfaces of the other heat-insulating material.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 1-16 in which, in the area having the smaller flow-permitting thickness, at least a surface of the heat insulation partition on which the heat insulation partition faces the other storage compartment is provided with a recess.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 2-1 in which the foam heat-insulating material is positioned in a front area and a rear area of the lower surface of the vacuum heat-insulating material.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 2-1 comprising an inside light at the top surface, in which a wire of the inside light is provided in an area that is at the lower surface of the vacuum heat-insulating material, and is foam-filled with the foam heat-insulating material.
  • the refrigerator according to additional note 2-1 in which the inner box is fixed to a lower-surface side of the vacuum heat-insulating material by using an adhesive different from the foam heat-insulating material.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
EP21925742.5A 2021-02-15 2021-08-26 Réfrigérateur Pending EP4293304A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021021704A JP7460563B2 (ja) 2021-02-15 2021-02-15 冷蔵庫
JP2021024799A JP7456958B2 (ja) 2021-02-19 2021-02-19 冷蔵庫
PCT/JP2021/031317 WO2022172494A1 (fr) 2021-02-15 2021-08-26 Réfrigérateur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4293304A1 true EP4293304A1 (fr) 2023-12-20

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21925742.5A Pending EP4293304A1 (fr) 2021-02-15 2021-08-26 Réfrigérateur

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EP (1) EP4293304A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN116235012A (fr)
WO (1) WO2022172494A1 (fr)

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6078276A (ja) * 1983-10-03 1985-05-02 松下冷機株式会社 断熱箱体の製造方法
JP3876551B2 (ja) * 1998-09-29 2007-01-31 三菱電機株式会社 断熱体および冷蔵庫
JP2010276308A (ja) * 2009-05-29 2010-12-09 Hitachi Appliances Inc 真空断熱材を備えた冷蔵庫
JP6023941B2 (ja) 2012-06-27 2016-11-09 東芝ライフスタイル株式会社 断熱箱体
CN106196860A (zh) * 2013-06-07 2016-12-07 三菱电机株式会社 冰箱
KR102442069B1 (ko) * 2015-10-19 2022-09-13 삼성전자주식회사 냉장고 및 그 제조 방법

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CN116235012A (zh) 2023-06-06

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