GB2129112A

GB2129112A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: GB2129112A
Application number: GB08326816A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Seiichi Abe; Zenzaburo Fujinuma; Susumu Yamazaki
Original assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Current assignee: Hitachi Ltd
Priority date: 1982-10-08
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1984-05-10
Also published as: PH22460A; KR840006404A; GB2129112B; GB8326816D0; JPH0522148B2; JPS5966678A

Abstract

A refrigerator comprises an inner box (3) and an outer box (2) with intermediate foamed insulating material 4 to form a compartment (3a') and a cold storage chamber (3b') in unison with each other. An evaporation pipe (9) for cooling the compartment (3a') is mounted in a groove formed on a back side surface of upper, rear and both sides of the inner box (3). An evaporation pipe (8) for cooling the cold storage chamber (3b') is mounted in a groove formed on a backside of the rear of the inner box (3). Each of the pipes is retained in the respective groove by an aluminium adhesive tape (13). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Refrigerator Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, it relates to a refrigerator having an inner box and an outer box to form a compartment in unison with a cold storage chamber.

2. Description of the PriorArt Conventionally, there has generaily provided a so-called two-temperature type refrigerator in which an intermediate partitioning wall which is formed independently of inner and outer boxes is built in to partition the inner box into a refrigerating chamber and a cold storage chamber.

However, in such a refrigerator, it is necessary to form the intermediate partitioning wall independently of other components and to assemble it therein. Therefore, such a refrigerator is inferior in its productability.

To improve this, there has also provided a refrigerator of such a type that an inner box of a compartment is formed integrally with that of a cold storage chamber and a foamed insulating material is filled between the inner box and the outer box.

However, in the refrigerator of this type, a serious problem would be raised in mounting a refrigerating unit for cooling the compartment and the cold storage chamber.

The reason for this is as follows. In a refrigerator utilizing the intermediate partitioning walls, its cooling unit is arranged in the intermediate partitioning wall and a fan means is provided for forcibly feeding a cold air to the compartment and the cold storage chamber to thereby cool them. However, in the inner box integrally incorporating the compartment and the cold storage chamber, a foamed insulating material must be filled in the intermediate partitioning wall in which the cooling unit is conventionally incorporated. It is therefore impossible to arrange the cooling unit therein.

In view of this, in such a refrigerator, cooling units which are independent of each other having been widely provided for the compartment and the cold storage chamber.

However, the refrigerator of this type would encounter the following disadvantages.

(1) For mounting the compartment and the cold storage chamber, it is required to form holes, for mounting the cooling units, in the inner box forming the compartment and the cold storage chamber. Accordingly, when the foamed insulating material is filled therein at a working site, a rather troublesome work is required for preventing the foamed insulating material from leaking through these holes. (A similar problem would be encountered also in such a refrigerator that the cooling unit is built in after the filling work of the foamed insulating material.) (2) In a refrigerator in which the cooling unit is disposed in the compartment or the cold storage chamber, it is of course apparent that an effective volume of the compartment or the cold storage chamber is reduced by the space occupied by the cooling unit. In addition, a space around the cooling unit would become a dead space.

Accordingly, in comparison with the refrigerator without the cooling unit in the compartment or the cold storage chamber, the effective space of such a refrigerator is unduly reduced.

Summary of the Invention In view of the above-noted defects, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively utilize volumes of the compartment and the cold storage chamber, which is superior in its productability and effectively attain a heat exchange.

In order to attain this and other objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator in which groove for mounting coolant evaporation pipes are provided on a backside of an inner box forming the compartment and the cold storage chamber so as to surround rearsides of the compartment and the cold storage chamber, the coolant evaporation pipes are retained in the grooves and a foamed insulating material is filled between the inner box and the outer box.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a primary part of the refrigerator according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Il-Il of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The present invention will now be described in accordance with one embodiment shown in Fig. 1, in which reference character 1 generally designates a body of the refrigerator, reference character 2 denotes an outer box forming the body 1 and reference character 3 denotes an inner box consisting of a part for a compartment 3a and the other part for a cold storage chamber 3b. A foamed insulating material 4 is filled between the inner box 3 and the outer box 2. Reference numeral 5 denotes a compressor; 6, a condenser; 7, a capillary tube; 8, an evaporation pipe for cooling the cold storage chamber; 9, an evaporation pipe for cooling the compartment; 10, a header; and 11, a suction pipe. These components designated by reference numerals 5 to 11 are connected in series and in an endless manner to form the refrigerating cycle.

Then, a part of coolant passed through the capillary tube 7 is evaporated in the evaporation pipe 8, and the remainder thereof is evaporated in the evaporation pipe 9. Thus, the compartment 3a' and the cold storage chamber 3b' are kept at predetermined temperatures, respectively.

With such a construction, explanation will be made with reference to Fig. 3 (which is a crosssectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2) showing a mounting state of the evaporation pipes 8 and 9 according to the present invention. Reference numeral 12 denotes a groove surrounding or incorporating therein the evaporation pipe attached on the inner box 3. As shown in Fig. 3, a substantial portion of an outer circumference of the evaporation pipe 8 (9) (above-two-thirds thereof) is surrounded by the groove 12 (namely, the evaporation pipe is embedded). In other words, the groove 12 is so constructed that in the mounting state of the evaporation pipe, an aluminum adhesive tape 1 3 may be cemented on a flat surface without any adverse effect of the pipe 8 (9).

The thus specifically configurated surfaces of the inner box on which the evaporation pipe 8 (9) is to be mounted are formed on the rearside of the cold storage chamber 3b' and on the upper, both side and rearside of the compartment 3a'. Further, in accordance with the invention, to mount the evaporation pipe 8, the groove 12 to be formed in the inner box 3 is directed back and forth in the compartment 3a' and is directed up and down in the cold storage chamber 3b' so that a frost water to be removed may readily be removed and means for removing the frost may readily be manufactured.

The invention is not limited to the application in which the evaporation pipe 8 is provided on the rearside on the backside of the inner box in the cold storage chamber 3b'. To increase the cooling capacity of the cold storage chamber 3b', it is apparent that the evaporation pipe 8 may be arranged on both sides of the inner box. In this case, like grooves are formed on both sides of the inner box.

As has been described above, according to the present invention, in a refrigerator in which a foamed insulating material is filled between the inner and outer boxes which provide a compartment and a cold storage chamber in unison with each other, an evaporation pipe for cooling the compartment is arranged on the upper, both side and backside surfaces of the inner box having therein grooves each of which covers two-thirds of the circumference of the pipe, and an evaporation pipe for cooling the cold storage chamber is arranged on the backside of the rear surface of the inner box having therein similar grooves, whereupon the evaporation pipes are retained and a foamed insulating material is filled between the inner and outer boxes. Accordingly, any dead space is not increased and a cooling operation at a predetermined temperature may be achieved.In addition, a formation of an independent intermediate partitioning wall may be dispensed with. Furthermore, since it is unnecessary to form holes for mounting the cooling units in the inner box, a productability is enhanced and the evaporation pipes and the inner boxes are in effective contact with each other with the groove construction. The convex and concave surfaces formed by the grooves may keep a cooling area broader about three times than that of the flat surfaces. Accordingly, thermal exchange can be effectively attained. in addition, a frost water generated upon frost-removal on the cooling wall surfaces of the evaporation pipes of the cold storage chamber may be guided by the grooves in which the evaporation pipes are embedded, so that there is no fear that such water is leaked into the cold storage chamber.

According to another aspect of the invention, an aluminum adhesive tape is used in mounting the evaporation pipes on the inner box and is attached on the flat or flush surfaces. Accordingly, a sufficient adhering force may be obtained and the evaporation pipe may be positively attached onto the inner box. It is working property is excellent.

Claims

1. A refrigerator having an inner box and an outer box to form a compartment and a cold storage chamber in unison with each other, and a foamed insulating material filled between said inner and outer boxes, comprising: a first groove formed on upper, rear and both side surfaces on a backside surface of said inner box; a second groove formed on a rear surface on a backside of said inner box; and tape means for retaining an evaporation pipe for cooling said compartment and an evaporation pipe for cooling said cold storage chamber, said evaporation pipes being mounted in said first and second grooves, respectively.

2. The refrigerator as recited in claim 1, wherein said first groove is arranged back and forth and said second groove is arranged up and down.

3. The refrigerator as recited in claim 1, wherein said tape means includes an aluminum adhesive tape, and said first and second grooves are formed to surround substantial parts of circumferences of said evaporation pipes so that said aluminum adhesive tape may be attached to flat surfaces.

4. The refrigerator as recited in claim 1, wherein said second groove is formed on both side surfaces on the backside of said inner surface.

5. A refrigerator constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.