JP2001349660A - Glass pipe heater for defrosting and refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator to prevent entrance of water into a glass pipe heater for defrosting, improve reliability of the glass pipe heater for defrosting, and be high in reliability on defrosting. SOLUTION: A lead-out pile 25 for a lead wire 22 is provided in a rubber cap 17 to cover a connection part 27 to the lead wire 22 connected to the two ends of a heater wire 21. In mounting orientation of a glass pipe heater body for defrosting, a lead-out hole 24 to lead out the lead wire 22 through the lead- out pile 25 to the outside is formed in the side wall surface of the rubber cap 17. By providing a drip 33 formed integrally with the rubber cap 17 below the lead-out hole 24, even when defrost water flows along the lead wire 22, the defrost water is dripped through the drip 33, and entrance of it in the lead- out pile 25 and the glass pipe heater 15 for defrosting is prevented from occurring.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a glass tube heater for defrosting a cooler and a refrigerator having the glass tube heater for defrosting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a glass tube heater for defrosting used in refrigerators has been developed in order to prevent breakage of the heater line and breakage of the glass tube due to intrusion of moisture into the glass tube due to defrosting of the cooler. There is a need for a structure that protects the defrost heater from these external factors.

A conventional refrigerator of this kind is disclosed in
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 83788/93.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator having the above-mentioned conventional glass tube heater for defrosting will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a cooler, and an upper cover 2 is provided below the cooler 1, and a glass tube heater 3 for defrosting is provided below the cooler 1, and a gutter 4 is further provided below. Reference numeral 5 denotes an insulating member provided at an end of the glass tube heater 3 for defrosting, and reference numeral 6 denotes a lead wire of the glass tube heater 3 for defrosting. The lead wire 6 is drawn out of the glass tube heater 3 for defrost as shown in FIG.

[0006] Regarding the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below.

The frost adhering to the cooler 1 is melted by the heat generated by the glass tube heater 3 for defrost, and the defrost water drops from the cooler 1 and flows down the gutter 4.

An upper cover 2 is provided so that the defrosted water does not drop onto the glass tube heater 3 for defrosting, and has a structure for preventing breakage of the glass tube and disconnection of the heater.

[0009] As shown in FIG.
From the side wall surface, and arranged directly above.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the lead wire 6 does not have a drain portion, and defrost water easily enters the defrost glass tube heater 3 from the lead-out portion and damages such as breakage of the heater. There was a drawback that this could cause the refrigerator to be unable to defrost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the conventional problems and prevents the intrusion of water into a glass tube heater for defrosting to improve the reliability of the glass tube heater for defrosting. The purpose is to provide a refrigerator with high performance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which the structure of a glass tube heater for defrosting and the holding portion thereof are simplified, mounting efficiency is improved, and workability is improved.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which can be mounted and fixed at a more accurate position and direction with respect to the arrangement of the lead wires of the glass tube heater for defrosting.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lead wire connected to both ends of a heater wire covered with a glass tube, and a connecting portion between the heater wire and the lead wire are provided. An insulating member to be covered, and a lead-out hole for guiding the lead wire to the outside in the insulating member, wherein the lead wire is insulated through the lead-out hole in a mounting position of the defrosting glass tube heater main body. A lead-out hole led out from the member is provided on the side wall surface of the insulating member, and a drain portion integrally formed with the insulating member is provided below the lead-out hole, and the defrost water forms a lead wire. Even if it is transmitted, it is drained at the drain part and does not enter the outlet shaft and the glass tube heater for defrosting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, a draining portion is formed by providing a lead wire engaging portion on the lower surface of the insulating member. The drain portion is formed compactly without using.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion is provided on a projecting portion projecting from the lower surface of the insulating member to secure a height for draining. Then, the water that travels along the insulating member is drained by the protrusion itself.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a second engagement member for engaging a lead wire raised from an engagement portion above the lead-out hole. The joint is formed integrally with the insulating member.After the lead wire is once arranged downward and then routed upward, a draining part is configured, and the defrost water transmitted through the lead wire passes through the outlet hole. Do not fit. Further, a separate member for fixing the lead wire becomes unnecessary.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, an eaves portion for covering the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member above the lead-out hole. Prevents water from entering the outlet and the glass tube heater for defrosting.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an eave portion for covering the outlet hole is provided above the outlet hole, and the second engaging portion is formed using the eave portion. The composite function is achieved without providing a separate engaging portion.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the outlet shaft is inclined downward toward the outlet hole, and even if defrost water falls around the outlet hole, Do not enter inside through the lead wire from there.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fourth or seventh aspects of the invention, the insulating member is a rubber cap. Flexible in the formation of locking and outgoing shafts.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a cooler provided in a refrigerator main body; and a dew tray located below the cooler and receiving defrost water from the cooler. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 1 is disposed between the cooler and the dew receiving tray, and the defrost water generated in the cooler and around the cooler generated at the time of defrosting. Even if dew condensation due to water vapor propagates through the lead wire, it is drained at the drain section, does not enter the outlet and the defrost glass tube heater, preventing damage to the defrost glass tube heater and ensuring defrosting .

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a defrost glass tube heater and a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the glass tube heater for defrost according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of the glass tube heater for defrost according to the embodiment.

1 to 4, reference numeral 10 denotes a refrigerator main body. Numeral 11 denotes a heat insulating wall which partitions the inside of the refrigerator main body 10 into upper and lower parts, and forms a refrigerator compartment (not shown) in the upper part, a vegetable compartment 12 provided in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment, and a freezer compartment 13 in the lower part.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a cooler of the refrigeration cycle, which is arranged behind the freezer 13. Reference numeral 15 denotes a defrosting glass tube heater positioned below the cooler 14 to melt frost attached to the cooler 14. 16 is a glass tube heater 15 for defrosting
Is a dew tray that is placed below the chiller and receives defrost water from the cooler 14.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an insulating member (hereinafter, referred to as a rubber cap 17) that covers both ends of the glass tube heater 15 for defrosting and electrically insulates.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an upper cover that covers the upper surface of the glass tube heater 15 for defrosting. The top cover 18 is arranged so that the defrost water of the cooler 14 does not fall on the glass tube heater 15 for defrost. Here, the top cover 18 prevents the defrosting water dropped from the cooler 14 from contacting with the high-temperature defrosting glass tube heater 15 at the time of defrosting, thereby preventing the generation of evaporation noise.
Alternatively, the glass tube is prevented from being damaged by thermal shock.

The upper cover 18 should not rotate.
Attachment legs 19 formed on both sides of the top cover 18 are inserted into mounting holes 20 formed in the rubber cap 17 and sandwiched. As a result, the top cover 18 does not shift, so that the desired purpose can be achieved.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a heater wire made of an electric heating element such as a coiled nichrome wire covered in the glass tube of the defrosting glass tube heater 15, and 22 denotes lead wires connected to both ends of the heater wire 21. , And supplies power to the heater wire 21.
Reference numeral 23 denotes a holding portion for sandwiching and holding the rubber cap 17 in the vertical direction, and is formed of a resin material (for example, polypropylene resin) and is formed integrally with the dew receiving tray 16. A notch (not shown) is formed at the base of the holding portion 23 to prevent the holding portion 23 from being cracked or damaged by whitening by providing elasticity when the defrosting glass tube heater 15 is inserted.

As a result, the defrosting glass tube heater 15 held by the holding member 23 is attached or detached in the horizontal direction, and the cooler 14 can be kept fixed at a predetermined position. Good nature.

On the other hand, reference numeral 24 denotes a rubber cap 17 when the defrosting glass tube heater 15 is mounted on the holding portion 23.
It is a lead-out hole of the lead wire 22 opened on the side wall surface of the lead wire. Reference numeral 25 denotes an outlet shaft formed to penetrate through the rubber cap 17 from the heater wire 21 toward the outlet hole 24.

Here, the opening 26 on the heater wire 21 side of the outlet shaft 25 is located above the outlet hole 24, and the outlet shaft 25 is formed so as to be inclined downward in the rubber cap 17 toward the outlet hole 24. Have been.

In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the outlet 25 is led out from the opening 26 a little in the horizontal direction to arrange the connection terminal 27, and then a path inclined downward toward the outlet hole 24 is formed. May be taken.

Also, 28 is below the outlet hole 24.
The protrusion is formed integrally with the lower surface of the rubber cap 17 so as to protrude therefrom. The protrusion 28 is provided with an engaging portion 29 for engaging the lead wire 22. The engaging portion 29 is located at the outlet hole 24
The groove is located at a lower position and has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lead wire 22.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a rubber cap 1 above the outlet hole 24.
7 is an eaves part integrally formed with 7. The eaves portion 30 is formed in a substantially L-shape and is formed so as to cover the lead-out hole 24 so that defrost water does not drop directly.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a second engaging portion formed by using the upper surface of the eave portion 30, and is located above the outlet hole 24.

The lead wire 22 electrically connected to the heater wire 21 at the connection terminal 27 is led out from the outlet hole 24 through the outlet shaft 25 and hangs downward.
After being engaged at the second position, the wire is turned up
The engagement is fixed by the engagement portion 31. Then, lead wire 22
Is disposed at a predetermined position of the inner box 32 forming the inner wall of the refrigerator body 10.

At this time, a draining portion 33 of the lead wire 22 having the engaging portion 29 as a lower end is formed.

The rubber cap 17 and the lead wire 22 have the same left-right symmetrical structure on both sides of the glass tube heater 15 for defrosting.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below.

First, the frost adhering to the cooler 14 is melted by the radiant heat of the glass tube heater 15 for defrost, becomes defrost water, and falls or leads the lead wire 22 disposed beside the cooler 14. Then, it drops on the dew tray 16.

At this time, since the defrosting glass tube heater 15 has the upper cover 18, water does not fall on the glass tube, so that evaporation noise can be prevented, and damage to the glass tube due to thermal shock can be prevented. In addition, defrost water transmitted through the lead wire 22 or water droplets due to dew condensation of water vapor around the cooler 14 during defrost are drained because the drain portion 33 is at the lowest position, and travel further than this. Absent.

Therefore, the water may enter the glass tube of the defrosting glass tube heater 15 from the outlet hole 24 through the outlet 25 and reach the heater wire 21 to cause damage such as disconnection. Can be prevented. In addition, since the glass tube heater 15 for defrost is not damaged, a defrosting function is reliably performed, and a highly reliable refrigerator that cannot be defrosted and cannot be cooled can be provided.

Here, as in this embodiment, the engaging portion 29
Is formed on the projecting portion 28 projecting from the lower surface of the rubber cap 17, the distance from the outlet hole 24 to the draining portion 33 can be further increased, and the draining effect on the outlet hole 24 can be further enhanced.

Also, even if defrost water reaches the outlet hole 24 for some reason, the opening 25 on the glass tube side of the outlet shaft 25 will be described.
Is located above the outlet hole 24 and is inclined downward toward the outlet hole 24, so that water does not enter the heater wire 21 through the outlet 25 and reach the heater wire 21.

Further, since the eaves portion 30 is formed so as to cover the outlet hole 24, defrost water falling from above does not directly fall on the outlet hole 24. It is possible to reduce the number of factors, and to further enhance the reliability of the glass tube heater 15 for defrost.

Further, after the lead wire 22 is clamped and fixed to the engaging portion 29, the lead wire 22 is disposed upward, and is further clamped and fixed by the second engaging portion 31. No stress is applied, and the lead-out hole 24 is not deformed or widened, so that the intrusion of defrost water is not induced. If the second engaging portion 31 is formed using a part (upper surface) of the eave portion 30 provided for a separate purpose for preventing water from splashing into the outlet hole 24 as in the present embodiment, rubber The configuration of the cap 17 can be made simpler and more compact.

Further, since the insulating member is constituted by the flexible rubber cap 17, the winding of the lead wire 22 can be performed.
It is flexible in engagement, has good workability, and can perform compact cord processing. Further, even if the outlet shaft 25 is inclined, the insulating member is made of rubber, so that it is possible to forcibly remove the molding, and there is an advantage that the cost of the molding die can be reduced.

Further, since the cord processing of the lead wire 22 is engaged by integral molding of the rubber cap 17 and no separate component is used, the space around the cooler can be designed more compact, and the ineffective volume can be reduced. it can. At the same time, man-hours and costs for assembling the refrigerator can be reduced.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a lead hole for guiding a lead wire to the outside is provided in an insulating member covering a connection portion between a heater wire and a lead wire covered with a glass tube. In the mounting position of the defrosting glass tube heater body, a lead-out hole through which a lead wire is led out through a lead-out pit is provided on a side wall surface of the insulating member, and is integrated with the insulating member below the lead-out hole. The dewatering part is formed in the drain, so even if the defrost water is transmitted through the lead wire, the water is drained at the water drain part, preventing damage to the heater wire, such as disconnection of the heater wire, without entering the outlet and the defrosting glass tube heater. it can.

Further, the invention described in claim 2 is the same as the invention described in claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), a draining portion is formed by providing an engagement portion of a lead wire on the lower surface of the insulating member. Therefore, the draining portion can be formed economically and compactly without using a separate member.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as the invention described in claim 2
In the invention described in (1), since the engaging portion is provided on the protruding portion projecting from the lower surface of the insulating member, a sufficient height for draining can be obtained, and the draining effect can be enhanced. In addition, since the water that travels along the insulating member can be drained by the protruding portion itself, the drainage effect is synergistically improved.

Further, the invention described in claim 4 is the first invention.
Alternatively, in addition to the second aspect, the second engaging portion for engaging the lead wire raised from the engaging portion above the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member. A portion is configured to prevent defrosting water transmitted through the lead wire from entering the defrosting glass tube heater. Further, a separate member for fixing the lead wire is not required, so that it is economical.

The invention described in claim 5 is the first invention.
In the invention described in the above, further, since an eaves portion covering the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member above the lead-out hole, water is not directly applied to the lead-out hole, so that the draw-out pit and the inside of the glass tube heater for defrosting are formed. Intrusion can be prevented.

The invention described in claim 6 is the same as the invention in claim 4.
In the invention described in (1), since the second engaging portion is formed by providing an eaves portion covering the outlet hole above the outlet hole, a combined function can be obtained without providing an additional engaging portion.

The invention described in claim 7 is the first invention.
In the invention described in (1), the outlet shaft is inclined downward toward the outlet hole, so that the outlet shaft does not enter the inside through the lead wire.

Further, the invention described in claim 8 is the first invention.
In the invention according to claim 4 or claim 7, since the insulating member is a rubber cap, the workability of winding and locking the lead wire is improved due to the flexibility, and the metal mold is used for forming the lead-out pit. A simplified effect on the mold can be obtained.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator provided with a dew tray located below the cooler and receiving defrost water from the cooler, wherein the first dew tray is provided between the cooler and the dew tray. Since the defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 8 is arranged, even if the defrosting water is transmitted through the lead wire, the defrosting water is drained at the draining portion, and the heater wire does not enter the outlet shaft and the defrosting glass tube heater. Thus, it is possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator that can prevent damage such as disconnection of the wire and does not lead to inability to defrost and to prevent cooling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of a refrigerator in which a glass tube heater for defrost according to a first embodiment of the present invention is disposed between a cooler and a dew tray.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of the glass tube heater for defrost according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of the glass tube heater for defrost according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Refrigerator main body 14 Cooler 15 Defrosting glass tube heater 16 Dew receiving tray 17 Rubber cap (insulating member) 21 Heater wire 22 Lead wire 24 Lead-out hole 25 Lead-out pit 28 Projection part 29 Engaging part 30 Eave part 31 Second member Joint part 33 Drain part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Kishinaka 4-5-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka Inside Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Kazumasa Miyake 4 Takadadamoto, Higashiosaka-shi, Osaka Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd., Chome No. 2-5 (72) Koji Maeda, Inventor Koji Maeda 4-5-2-5 Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd., Higashi Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 4-5-2, Matsushita Refrigeration Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3K092 PP20 QA02 QB02 QB25 QB27 QC37 QC44 RA03 RC06 RC16 RD10 TT06 VV09 3L046 AA05 BA01 CA07 MA04

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A lead wire connected to both ends of a heater wire covered with a glass tube, an insulating member covering a connecting portion between the heater wire and the lead wire, and an outside of the lead wire inside the insulating member. And a lead hole through which the lead wire is led out of the insulating member through the lead hole in a mounting position of the defrosting glass tube heater main body. A dewatering portion formed integrally with the insulating member below the outlet hole. 2. The glass tube heater for defrost according to claim 1, wherein a draining portion is formed by providing an engagement portion of a lead wire on a lower surface of the insulating member. 3. The glass tube heater for defrost according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is provided on a projecting portion projecting from a lower surface of the insulating member. 4. The insulating member according to claim 1, wherein a second engaging portion for engaging a lead wire raised from the engaging portion above the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member. 2. The glass tube heater for defrost according to 1. 5. The glass tube heater for defrost according to claim 1, wherein an eave portion covering the outlet hole is formed integrally with the insulating member above the outlet hole. 6. The defrosting glass tube according to claim 4, wherein an eave portion covering the outlet hole is provided above the outlet hole, and the second engaging portion is formed using the eave portion. heater. 7. The glass tube heater for defrost according to claim 1, wherein the outlet shaft is inclined downward toward the outlet hole. 8. The glass tube heater for defrost according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is a rubber cap. 9. A refrigerator comprising: a cooler provided in a refrigerator main body; and a dew tray located below the cooler and receiving defrost water from the cooler, wherein the cooler and the dew tray are provided. A refrigerator comprising the glass tube heater for defrost according to any one of claims 1 to 8 disposed therebetween.