JP2000105071A - Mounting structure of temperature sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable prevention of damage to a temperature sensor while achieving a reduction in cost by reducing the number of part items in a mounting structure of the temperature sensor. SOLUTION: A clearance 19 is formed 2 mm or less between a temperature sensor 13 and a pipe 11 in a state where the temperature sensor 13 for detecting the end of defrosting of a cooler is mounted on a pipe 11 of the cooler through a sensor mounting fitting 14. During the defrosting of the cooler, frost on the part of the pipe 11 is also melted into water. When a part of the water enters the clearance 19, it works to fill the clearance for linking. The temperature sensor 13 detects the temperature of the pipe 11 through the water in the clearance 19 to detect the end of the defrosting based on the results.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a temperature sensor mounting structure for detecting the completion of defrosting of a cooler.

[0002]

Conventionally, in a refrigerator, a temperature sensor for detecting the completion of defrosting of the cooler is attached to, for example, an accumulator connected near the refrigerant outlet side of the cooler. During the defrosting, the temperature of the accumulator is detected by the temperature sensor to detect the end of the defrosting.

Conventionally, however, the temperature sensor is
They were attached to the accumulator by tightening with a band. However, in such a mounting method, the temperature sensor is pressed against the accumulator, so that there is a disadvantage that the temperature sensor is easily damaged.

On the other hand, in order to cope with such a problem, for example, a temperature sensor is held by a heat transfer plate having good thermal conductivity, and the heat transfer plate is held by a sensor mount, and the sensor mount is attached to an accumulator. By attaching the contact piece of the heat transfer plate to the accumulator,
A configuration in which the temperature of an accumulator is detected via a heat transfer plate has been proposed (JP-A-8-261).
No. 610).

In the above configuration, since the temperature sensor detects the temperature of the accumulator via the heat transfer plate, there is no need to press the temperature sensor against the accumulator. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature sensor from being damaged. However, in this case, since a heat transfer plate is required in addition to the temperature sensor and the sensor fixture, there is a disadvantage that the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased accordingly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a temperature sensor mounting structure capable of preventing the temperature sensor from being damaged, reducing the number of parts and reducing the cost. To be.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a temperature sensor for detecting the completion of defrosting of a cooler, and the cooler which holds the temperature sensor. And a sensor fitting attached to a pipe in the vicinity of a cooler, and in a state where the sensor fitting is attached to the pipe, a gap of 2 mm or less is formed between the temperature sensor and the pipe. It is characterized by having done.

In the above configuration, when the cooler is defrosted, the frost adhering to the pipe portion to which the temperature sensor is attached is melted to become water. When a part of the thawing water enters the gap between the temperature sensor and the pipe, water connects between them. The temperature sensor detects the temperature of the pipe through the water in the gap, and detects the end of the defrost based on the temperature.

According to the experimental results of the inventors, even when the temperature of the pipe is detected via water, the end of defrosting can be detected with approximately the same accuracy as when a heat transfer plate is used. Was able to do.

In the first aspect of the present invention, since a gap is formed between the temperature sensor and the pipe, the temperature sensor is damaged unlike the case where the temperature sensor is pressed against the pipe. Can be prevented. Also,
Since the temperature of the pipe is detected using the heat conduction of the thawing water, the end of defrosting can be reliably detected without using a heat transfer plate, and the number of parts is reduced because the heat transfer plate is not used. And the cost can be reduced.

The invention according to a second aspect is characterized in that the sensor mounting member is provided with a detent part which is detented with respect to the pipe. According to this, the temperature sensor can be attached in a stable state, and stable temperature detection can be achieved.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 5 schematically shows the configuration of the lower portion of the refrigerator. In FIG. 5, a freezer compartment 2 is formed in the lower portion of the refrigerator main body 1, and a cooler compartment is provided at the back of the freezer compartment 2. 3 is formed, and a machine room 4 is formed at the rear of the bottom.

In the cooler room 3, a cooler 5 is provided, and the cooler 5 is located below the cooler 5.
A defrost heater 6 for heating the defrost when the defrost is performed, and a drain gutter 7 for receiving defrost water are provided. A drain pipe 8 is connected to the drain gutter 7, and the lower end of the drain pipe 8 faces the machine room 4. An evaporating dish 9 and a compressor 10 for receiving and storing the defrost water discharged from the drain pipe 8 are disposed in the machine room 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cooler 5 is composed of a pipe 11 bent in a meandering shape and a plurality of fins 12 provided outside the pipe 11. . The pipe 11 of the cooler 5 is arranged such that the inlet-side pipe portion 11a and the outlet-side pipe portion 11b of the refrigerant are located in the upper part in the cooler room 3. Although not shown, the inlet side pipe portion 11a is connected to a capillary tube, and the outlet side pipe portion 11b is connected to an accumulator.

Thus, the temperature sensor 13 for detecting the end of the defrosting of the cooler 5 is provided by the synthetic resin sensor fixture 1.
4 is attached to the inlet-side pipe portion 11 a of the pipe 11 of the cooler 5. The temperature sensor 13 has a substantially columnar shape, and is held by a sensor holding portion 15 of a sensor mounting member 14 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The lead wire 13 a of the temperature sensor 13 is led out of the sensor mounting 14. The sensor mounting member 14 is provided with a total of four elastic engaging claws 16 facing each other, a pipe contact portion 17, and two detent portions at one end in the longitudinal direction. 18 are formed facing each other. The both rotation preventing portions 18 are formed longer than the elastic engagement claws 16.

Here, the sensor attachment 14 is attached to the pipe 11 of the cooler 5 as follows. That is, first, in a state where the temperature sensor 13 is held in the sensor holding unit 15, the inlet side pipe portion 11 a of the pipe 11 is relatively inserted between the two detent portions 18,
The sensor attachment 14 is moved toward the pipe 11. And 2
The tip portions of the two detent portions 18 are inserted between the adjacent fins 12 of the cooler 5, and the tip portions of the two detent portions 18 sandwich the pipe portion 11c where the fin 12 is provided. (See FIGS. 3 and 4)
The sensor attachment 14 is attached to the pipe 11 by engaging the plurality of elastic engagement claws 16 with the inlet side pipe portion 11a.

In this mounting state, as shown in FIG. 1, the pipe contact portion 17 of the sensor mounting member 14 is in contact with the outer surface of the pipe 11, and a distance of 1 mm between the temperature sensor 13 and the pipe 11 in this case. A gap 19 is formed. The gap 19 is set to 2 mm or less so that when the water enters the gap 19, the water connects the temperature sensor 13 and the pipe 11 by the surface tension of the water.

Now, in the above configuration, when cooling by the cooler 5, frost adheres to the pipes 11 and the fins 12 of the cooler 5. At this time, the inlet side pipe section 1
Frost also adheres around 1a. Then, for example, when the accumulated operation time of the compressor 10 reaches a preset time, the defrost heater 6 is energized and the cooler 5 is heated by the defrost heater 6, so that the defrost of the cooler 5 is performed. Will be The thawing water at this time is received by the drain gutter 7 and then stored in the evaporating dish 9 through the drain pipe 8. The water stored in the evaporating dish 9 evaporates due to heat of the compressor 10 or the like.

Here, when the cooler 5 is defrosted, the frost on the inlet side pipe portion 11a to which the temperature sensor 13 is attached is also melted and becomes water. When a part of the thawing water enters the gap 19 between the temperature sensor 13 and the pipe 11, the water connects between them. The temperature sensor 13 detects the temperature of the pipe 11 through the water in the gap 19 and outputs a detection signal to a control device (not shown) of the refrigerator.
When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 13 reaches a preset defrost end temperature (for example, 13 ° C.), the defrost heater 6 is turned off, and the defrost ends.

At this time, the temperature sensor 13 is located at an upper part of the pipe 11 of the cooler 5 which is far from the defrost heater 6 and at which the melting of frost is slowest, and at which the temperature of the refrigerant is low. Since it is attached to 11a, the end of defrosting can be reliably detected. Further, according to the experimental results of the inventors, even when the temperature of the pipe 11 is detected via water in this way, the detection of the end of defrosting is performed with approximately the same accuracy as when the heat transfer plate is used. Was able to do.

According to the above-described embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. First, since the gap 19 is formed between the temperature sensor 13 and the pipe 11 in a state where the temperature sensor 13 is attached to the pipe 11 of the cooler 5, the temperature sensor 13 can be prevented from being damaged. Further, since the temperature of the pipe 11 is detected by utilizing the heat conduction of the thawing water, the completion of the defrosting can be detected without using the heat transfer plate. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since the rotation preventing portion 18 for preventing rotation of the pipe 11 is provided on the sensor mounting member 14 for holding the temperature sensor 13, the temperature sensor 13 can be mounted in a stable state. Stable temperature detection is possible.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. The temperature sensor 13 is not limited to a columnar one, but may be a square one or a triangular one.

The location where the temperature sensor 13 is attached is not limited to the pipe 11 of the cooler 5 but may be a pipe to which frost adheres, or a pipe near the cooler 5 connected to the pipe 11 of the cooler 5. It may be an accumulator.

[0025]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. Claim 1
According to the temperature sensor mounting structure described above, since a gap is formed between the temperature sensor and the pipe, it is possible to prevent the temperature sensor from being damaged. In addition, since the temperature of the pipe is detected by using the heat conduction of the thawing water, the completion of the defrost detection can be reliably performed without using the heat transfer plate. The number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

According to the temperature sensor mounting structure of the second aspect, the temperature sensor can be mounted in a stable state, and stable temperature detection can be achieved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of a main part showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part in a state before a temperature sensor is attached to a pipe.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state where a temperature sensor is attached to a pipe of a cooler.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the same state.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the lower part of the refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 is a cooler room, 5 is a cooler, 6 is a defrost heater, 11 is a pipe, 12 is a fin, 13 is a temperature sensor, 14 is a sensor fixture, 18 is a detent part, and 19 is a gap.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Shinichi Kawamura 1-6 Ota Toshiba-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Inside the Toshiba Osaka Plant Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Makoto Oikawa 1-6 Ota-Toshiba-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Toshiba Abu E Co., Ltd. Osaka office F-term (reference) 3L045 AA04 AA07 BA01 CA02 DA02 EA01 GA04 HA01 PA04 3L046 AA04 AA07 BA05 CA07 GA03 GB01 MA04

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A temperature sensor for detecting the end of defrosting of a cooler, and a sensor fixture holding the temperature sensor and being attached to a pipe of the cooler or a pipe near the cooler, A mounting structure for a temperature sensor, wherein a gap of 2 mm or less is formed between the temperature sensor and the pipe in a state where a mounting tool is mounted on the pipe. 2. The sensor mounting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a detent portion for preventing rotation of the pipe.
Mounting structure of the described temperature sensor.