JP2001133096A - Electric refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric refrigerator wherein a sprayer for spraying liquid is provided in a freezing chamber to rapidly cool foodstuffs. SOLUTION: A feed water tank is provided in a refrigeration chamber to feed a predetermined quantity of water at a time while a storage section 9 having a spray hole 8 facing the interior of a freezing chamber 4 is provided on a partition wall 2 in the upper zone of the freezing chamber 4. A spray device A comprising an work means consisting of a sprayer 10 which sprays liquid from the hole 8 downward, a water conduit 11 for feeding water to the sprayer 10 from the feed water tank, a connection rod 13 for actuating the sprayer, etc., is provided in the section 9. When an open/closure door 6 in front of the chamber 4 is closed, the sprayer 10 is actuated by the work means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure in which a spray device for spraying liquid droplets into a freezer compartment is provided so that food products can be rapidly frozen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional electric refrigerator, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the interior of a main body 1 is vertically divided by a partition wall 2, a refrigerating room 3, an evaporator a for producing cool air on the back side, and a blowing fan. b, a freezer compartment 4 provided with a b, and a vegetable compartment 5 are provided, and the refrigerator compartment 3, the freezer compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 5 are each provided with an opening / closing door 6 at the front opening.

However, there has been a demand for a refrigerator capable of further rapidly freezing foodstuffs stored in the freezing room 4, for example.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric refrigerator which is provided with a spraying device for spraying liquid droplets into a freezing compartment so that food products can be rapidly frozen. With the goal.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention comprises a refrigerator compartment in which the inside of a main body is vertically divided by a partition wall, and an evaporator and a blower fan for producing cool air on the back side. A water supply tank for supplying a predetermined amount of water to the refrigerator compartment at a time in an electric refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment and a vegetable compartment, and provided with an opening / closing door at the front openings of the refrigerator compartment, the freezer compartment and the vegetable compartment, respectively. On the other hand, a storage section having a spray port facing the freezing chamber is provided on a partition wall above the freezing chamber, and a sprayer capable of spraying downward from the spray port in the receiving section; A spraying device comprising a water guide pipe for guiding water from the water supply tank and an operating means for operating the sprayer is accommodated, and when the opening / closing door on the front of the freezing compartment is closed, the operating means activates the sprayer. Configuration Going on.

[0006] Further, the spray port is provided near the rear of the freezing chamber substantially at the center of the upper surface thereof.

[0007] Further, a heater for preventing freezing is provided in the water pipe and / or the spray port.

The sprayer is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the operating means connects a base end to the head of the sprayer and a distal end to the refrigeration unit. It comprises a connecting rod protruding a little forward of the front of the partition wall opposite to the opening / closing door on the front of the compartment, and when the opening / closing door on the front of the freezer compartment is closed, the front end of the connecting rod is pressed and moved by the opening / closing door. At the same time, the structure is such that the head of the sprayer is pressed and lowered to operate the sprayer.

The sprayer is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the operating means is constituted by a plunger connected to the head of the sprayer. When the door is closed, the plunger presses the head of the sprayer to sink it to operate the sprayer.

[0010] Further, when the sprayer comprises a spray hole operable by conducting water, the actuating means comprises an opening / closing valve provided in the water pipe, and when the opening / closing door on the front of the freezer compartment is closed. The opening and closing valve is opened to operate the sprayer.

Further, the on-off valve is constituted by an electromagnetic valve.

Further, a cylindrical flange is formed continuously below the peripheral edge of the spray port.

Further, the flange has a configuration in which a lower end portion is expanded to be tapered.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below as examples based on the attached drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an electric refrigerator according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the electric refrigerator according to the present invention, (A) is a sectional view showing a first example and a second example, and (B). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a third example, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of an electric refrigerator according to the present invention, and FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing a state of cooling by latent heat of solidification when water droplets adhere to food or food packaging paper and then freeze.
(B) is a diagram showing a state of cooling by ice droplets formed by an enlarged heat transfer surface having an increased heat conductivity and an increased surface area, and (C).
FIG. 3D is a diagram illustrating a cooling state due to the occurrence of a turbulent flow due to a decrease in the temperature boundary layer with respect to the wind direction, and FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating a cooling state due to sublimation heat when an ice droplet eventually sublimates.

In the drawing, 1 is a main body of the electric refrigerator according to the present invention, 2 is a partition wall dividing the inside of the main body 1 up and down,
3 is a refrigeration room partitioned by the partition wall 2, 4 is a freezing room provided with an evaporator a and a blower fan b for generating cool air on the back side, 5 is a vegetable room, 6 is a refrigeration room 3, a freezing room 4 and An opening / closing door 7 provided at the front opening of the vegetable compartment 5 is, for example, a water supply tank for spraying which is provided in the refrigerator compartment 3 and supplies a predetermined amount of water at a time. 7 'is a water supply tank for ice making provided in the refrigeration room 3 as another example, and an ice tray 4' provided in the ice making room 4 'adjacent to the ice making water supply tank 7' and the freezing room 4. An ice making device is constituted by a, and the sprayer described later has the same operation performance regardless of which of the water supply tanks 7 and 7 'is used.

Next, a detailed description will be given of a structure in which a spraying device A for spraying liquid droplets in the freezing chamber 4 is provided so that food products can be rapidly frozen. The refrigerating compartment 3 is provided with the water supply tank 7 or 7 ′ for supplying a predetermined amount of water at a time, while the partition wall 2 above the freezing compartment 4 has a spray port 8 facing the inside of the freezing compartment 4. A housing 9 is provided.
A sprayer 10 capable of spraying downward from the spray port 8
And the water spray pipe A for guiding water from the water supply tank 7 or 7 ′ to the sprayer 10, and the spraying device A including an operating means for operating the sprayer 10, which will be described later. When the opening / closing door 6 is closed, the spraying device 10 is operated by an operating means described later, so that when the opening / closing door 6 is once opened and then closed, the freezing chamber 4 is closed. Then, water is guided from the water supply tank 7 or 7 'by the water pipe 11 and sprayed by the sprayer 10, whereby water droplets C shown in FIG. 4A adhere to the food B or the food wrapping paper B, and eventually. Cooling can be promoted by the latent heat of solidification during freezing. Next, the ice droplet C shown in FIG. 4B, which has an enlarged heat transfer surface having a higher thermal conductivity than the water droplet C and an increased surface area, is obtained. 'Can help cool, As shown in FIG. 4 (C), the
The temperature boundary layer c becomes smaller with respect to the wind direction a ′, and the cooling can be promoted by the generation of the turbulence b.
As shown in FIG. 4 (D), the structure is such that cooling can be promoted by the sublimation heat d when the ice droplet C ′ is sublimated soon.

Further, since the spray port 8 is provided substantially at the center of the upper surface of the freezer compartment 4 near the rear, a spray by the sprayer 10 is dispersed toward the front by the blower fan b. Food B in the freezer 4
Are attached almost uniformly.

Further, by providing a heater 12 for preventing freezing in the water pipe 11 and / or the spray port 8,
The structure is such that the water is not frozen in the water pipe 11 for guiding water from the water supply tank 7 or 7 '.

The sprayer 10 is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the operating means for operating the sprayer 10 is shown in FIG. 2A as a first example. A connecting rod 13 having a base end connected to the head of the sprayer 10 and a front end protruding slightly forward of the front surface of the partition wall 2 so as to face the opening / closing door 6 on the front surface of the freezer compartment 4; When the opening / closing door 6 on the front of the freezing compartment 4 is closed, the tip of the connecting rod 13 is moved by the opening / closing door 6 and the head of the sprayer 10 is pressed down to operate the sprayer 10. With this configuration, the sprayer 10 can be operated by the connecting rod 13 at the same time when the opening / closing door 6 on the front of the freezing compartment 4 is closed. 4 (D), the food B Cooling the structure to be effectively promoted.

The sprayer 10 is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the operating means for operating the sprayer 10 is a second example shown by a broken line in FIG. The plunger 13 'is connected to the head of the sprayer 10, and when the opening / closing door 6 on the front of the freezer 4 is closed, the plunger 13' presses the head of the sprayer 10 to sink. The sprayer 10 is actuated by operating the sprayer 10 by closing the opening / closing door 6 on the front of the freezer compartment 4.
Can be actuated by the plunger 13 ',
As described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4D,
The structure is such that the cooling of the food B can be effectively promoted.

Further, while the sprayer 10 comprises a spray hole which can be operated by conducting water, the operating means for operating the sprayer 10 comprises a third example as shown in FIG. It consists of an on-off valve 14 provided on the water pipe 11,
When the open / close door 6 on the front of the freezer compartment 4 is closed, the open / close valve 14
Is opened to operate the sprayer 10, whereby the opening / closing door 6 on the front of the freezer compartment 4 is opened.
At the same time, the water guided by opening the on-off valve 14 can be sprayed by the sprayer 10, and as described with reference to FIGS. 4 (A) to 4 (D), The structure is such that cooling of B can be effectively promoted. In order to open and close the on-off valve 14,
ON when opening / closing door 6 on the front of freezer compartment 4 is opened / closed
A switch that performs an ON-OFF operation may be used, or ON / OFF control may be performed by a microcomputer to open and close.

Further, the opening / closing valve 14 is constituted by an electromagnetic valve, so that the water pipe 11 can be opened and closed accurately.

Further, the cylindrical flange 8a is formed continuously below the peripheral edge of the spray port 8, so that the spray by the sprayer 10 can be effectively guided downward so that the spray can be dripped onto the food B efficiently. The configuration is as follows.

Further, since the flange 8a is formed in a tapered shape by expanding the lower end portion, the spray by the sprayer 10 can be effectively guided downward, and can be appropriately dispersed in all directions. It is configured so that it can be dropped on the food B more efficiently.

With the above structure, FIG. 1, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, FIG. 3, FIG. 4A to FIG.
When the opening and closing door 6 is once opened and then closed, water is introduced into the freezing chamber 4 from the water supply tank 7 or 7 ′ by the water guide pipe 11 and sprayed by the sprayer 10. As described above, the latent heat of solidification when the water droplet C freezes, the ice droplet C ′ having an expanded heat transfer surface having a higher thermal conductivity than the water droplet C and an increased surface area, and the wind direction a ′. Reduced temperature boundary layer c and generated turbulence b
In addition, the electric refrigerator is configured such that the cooling of the food B can be promoted by the sublimation heat d when the ice droplets C 'eventually sublime.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an electric refrigerator capable of uniformly and efficiently cooling food items in a case provided in a storage room.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the electric refrigerator according to the present invention,
(A) is a sectional view showing a first example and a second example, (B)
FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a third example.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the electric refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part of the electric refrigerator according to the present invention,
(A) is a diagram showing the state of cooling by latent heat of solidification when water droplets adhere to food or food packaging paper and then freeze, and (B) is an expanded heat transfer in which the thermal conductivity increases and the surface area increases. It is a diagram showing a state of cooling by ice droplets on the surface,
(C) is a diagram showing a state of cooling due to generation of turbulence as the temperature boundary layer becomes smaller with respect to the wind direction, and (D) is a diagram showing a state of cooling by sublimation heat when the ice droplets eventually sublime. .

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional electric refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric refrigerator main body 2 Partition wall 3 Refrigerator room 4 Freezer room 4 'Ice making room 4'a Ice making tray 5 Vegetable room 6 Opening door 7, 7' Water tank for spraying 8 Spray port 8a Duct 9 Storage section 10 Sprayer 11 Induction Water pipe 12 Heater 13 Connecting rod 13 'Plunger 14 Opening / closing valve (solenoid valve) A Sprayer B Foodstuff C Water drop C' Ice drop a Evaporator a 'Wind direction b Ventilation fan c Temperature boundary layer d Sublimation heat

Claims (9)

[Claims] An interior of a main body is vertically divided by a partition wall, a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment provided with an evaporator and a blower fan for generating cool air on the back side, and a vegetable compartment are provided. An electric refrigerator comprising an opening / closing door provided at the front opening of the compartment and the vegetable compartment, wherein the refrigerator compartment is provided with a water supply tank for supplying a predetermined amount of water at a time, and the refrigeration compartment has An accommodating portion having a spray port facing the room is provided, and a sprayer capable of spraying downward from the spray port, a water pipe for guiding water to the sprayer from the water supply tank, and the sprayer are operated in the housing portion. An electric refrigerator, comprising: a spraying device comprising operating means for operating the sprayer, wherein when the opening / closing door on the front surface of the freezer compartment is closed, the operating means operates the sprayer. 2. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the spray port is provided substantially at the center of the upper surface of the freezer near the rear end. 3. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a heater for preventing freezing is provided in the water pipe and / or the spray port. 4. The sprayer is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the actuating means connects a base end to the head of the sprayer and a distal end to the refrigeration unit. It comprises a connecting rod protruding a little forward of the front of the partition wall opposite to the opening / closing door on the front of the compartment, and when the opening / closing door on the front of the freezer compartment is closed, the front end of the connecting rod is pressed and moved by the opening / closing door. 2. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sprayer is operated by pressing and lowering the head of the sprayer. 5. The sprayer is configured to be operable by pressing and lowering its head, while the actuating means comprises a plunger connected to the head of the sprayer, and opening and closing the front of the freezer compartment. 2. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, when the door is closed, the plunger presses the head of the sprayer to sink the head to operate the sprayer. 6. The sprayer according to claim 1, wherein the sprayer comprises a spray hole operable by conducting water, while the actuating means comprises an opening / closing valve provided in the water pipe, and when the opening / closing door on the front of the freezer compartment is closed. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the on-off valve is opened to operate the sprayer. 7. The electric refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the on-off valve comprises a solenoid valve. 8. The electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a cylindrical flange is formed continuously below a peripheral edge of the spray port. 9. The electric refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the flange is formed in a tapered shape by expanding a lower end portion.