JP2002090042A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a refrigerator, in which a great amount of odorous components can be deodorized from cool air in circularity in the refrigerating chamber by a deodorizer of a simple construction and inexpensive price. SOLUTION: A chemically adsorptive deodorizing sheet 12 is provided in a suction path 11 in the downstream part of a return path of a cooler 8. Streams of cool air on the way back from refrigerating spaces merge into the path 11. The sheet 12 is formed by mixing hygroscopic fibers, which adsorbs and retains moisture, and deodorizing fibers, which decompose and deodorize odorous components. Deodorizing equipment 12 is installed in a place free from frosting or condensation in the refrigerator. Thus, an efficient deodorization can be attained by the equipment 12 in a simple and inexpensive structure, without being covered with frost.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator provided with a deodorizing device suitable for removing odor components contained in air in a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional refrigerator having a deodorizing function, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-206457, a deodorizing adsorbent is provided around a heater below a cooler, and the inside of the refrigerator is provided. There is a method of absorbing odor components when circulating air passes through the heater section.

At the time of defrosting in which the frost attached to the cooler is melted, the heater is heated to perform the defrosting of the cooler, and the heat of the defrosting heater is used to generate heat and adsorb to the adsorbent. Releases the odor component, further decomposes the odor component by the catalyst heated by the defrost heater, and deodorizes and regenerates the adsorption-type pyrolysis catalyst by the calorie of the defrost heater of the cooler and the cutoff operation. It is like that.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, since the regeneration of the deodorizing adsorbent is performed by the cut-off power of the defrost heater, the mounting structure around the defrost heater portion of the deodorizer is complicated. Become. Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the unit price of the assembly of the defrost heater part is increased.

Further, if a deodorizing device is installed in the cooler room, the entire deodorizing device is in a cool temperature range (for example, about -20 ° C.) in a normal operation state. There is a drawback that moisture adheres to the water, and the adhered moisture freezes to cover the entire periphery of the deodorizing device with frost, thereby making it impossible to perform the deodorizing action.

Further, since the space of the mounting portion of the deodorizing device is limited, the size of the deodorizing device mounted on the defrosting heater portion is also limited, so that there is a drawback that the effect is not so much obtained.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional disadvantages, and by installing the apparatus in a position where frost or dew does not adhere, the deodorizing apparatus is not covered with frost, and has a simple and inexpensive structure. It is to perform efficient deodorization.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention employs the following means. That is, the deodorizing device was installed in the cool air return passage outside the cooler room and in the cool air passage after the return cool air from the plurality of refrigerated spaces merged.

The deodorizing device is composed of a moisture absorbing / releasing fiber and a deodorizing fiber, wherein the deodorizing fiber is an acrylate fiber having an alkali metal salt type carboxyl group and a crosslinked structure, and silver oxide fine particles. In particular, a chemisorption-type deodorizing device formed in a sheet shape is preferable.

Further, the chemical adsorption type deodorizing device is installed at a position closest to the cooler in the cool air return passage, and is arranged with a width substantially equal to the width of the cool air suction passage from the refrigerated space.
It is effective to dispose it so as to face the cold air inlet from the refrigerated space.

According to the present invention, a large amount of odor components can be adsorbed from the cool air returning to the cooler without the deodorizing device being covered with frost. Further, the cold air suction passage has substantially the same dimension as the width of the cooler, or a deodorizing device is arranged over the entire width of the wide cold air suction passage, so that the contact area between the return cold air flowing through the suction passage and the deodorizing device is increased. By doing so, a large amount of odor can be efficiently adsorbed from the cold air returned from the various refrigerated spaces.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, the refrigerator main body 1 has a refrigerator compartment 2, a refrigerator compartment door 3, a vegetable compartment 4, a vegetable compartment door 5, and the like.

The vegetable compartment 4 comprises a vegetable container 4a and a lid 4b. A veneer 16 is provided on the back of the vegetable compartment 4.
The partition wall 14 is further provided with a refrigerator compartment cooler 8 and a refrigerator compartment fan 9 behind them.

A return suction port 13 to the lower cooler is opened at the lower part of the decorative board 16 behind the vegetable compartment 4. A suction passage 11 is provided on the back side corresponding to the back of the suction port 13.

The suction passage 11 has a partition wall 14 covering the front surface of the refrigerator compartment cooler 8 and having a heat insulator, and a suction port 1.
3 is formed. And in this embodiment,
In the suction passage 11, a deodorizing sheet 12, which is a chemical adsorption type deodorizing device, is installed.

The deodorizing sheet 12 is disposed on the partition wall 14a in the suction passage 11 so as to have a width substantially equal to the width of the cooler, and the returned cold air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 2, the vegetable compartment 4, etc. When passing through the surface of the deodorizing sheet 12, it is configured to adsorb odor components.

The refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 4 are connected to the suction passage 1.
1. It communicates with each space having a refrigerator compartment fan motor 9 and a refrigerator compartment cooler 8 via a refrigerator compartment rear duct (not shown) or the like. The refrigerating compartment cooler 8 and the compressor 10 are connected by a pipe through which a refrigerant flows to form a refrigeration cycle.

By driving the refrigerator compartment fan motor 9, the cool air circulating in each space, the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 4 is sucked into the suction port 13 to the refrigerator compartment cooler 8,
Then, after passing through the cooler room suction port 15 from the suction passage 11, it is cooled again by the refrigerator room cooler 8.

Thereafter, the inside of each of the refrigerating spaces 2, 4 is cooled again. Therefore, all the air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 4 is configured to pass through the suction passage 11 provided with the deodorizing sheet 12 from the cool air return suction port 13 behind the vegetable compartment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator main body 1 has an upper freezing compartment 19, a lower freezing compartment 6, a freezing compartment door 7, a freezing compartment cooler 20, a freezing compartment fan 18, and the like. By driving the freezer compartment fan 18, the first
9, the cold air circulated under the freezer compartment 6 and the like is supplied to the freezer compartment cooler 20.
Sucked into

Then, after being cooled again by the freezer compartment cooler 20, it is returned to each space 19, 6 and the inside of each space 19, 6 is cooled. Therefore, it is a cooling air circulation path independent of the above-mentioned refrigerator compartment 2 and vegetable compartment 4.

Here, the vegetable room 4 will be described. The vegetable room 4 is provided with a vegetable container 4a and a lid 4b on the upper surface so as to increase the airtightness and indirectly cool the inside, so that the inside of the vegetable room 4 can be humidified.

In the vegetable compartment 4, the cool air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment 2 flows in from the upper front portion, and the inflowed cool air is branched to the upper surface of the lid 4 b and the lower side of the vegetable container 4 a so as to surround the vegetable container 4. Then, it is configured to be sucked into the return cool air suction port 13 behind the vegetable compartment 4.

Next, the peripheral structure of the suction passage 11 behind the vegetable compartment 4 of the refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. The suction passage 11 is connected to the vegetable compartment 4 of the refrigerator compartment cooler 8.
On the side, it is formed between a partition wall 14 that covers the front surface of the refrigerator compartment cooler 8 and a return cold air inlet 13 that is opened at the bottom of the decorative plate 16.

The lower part of the suction passage 13 is connected to a suction port 15 of a cooler room, and further to a cooler room 17 for accommodating the cooler 8 and a defrost heater. The deodorizing sheet 12 is attached to a partition wall 14a in the cold air suction passage 11. Here, the cool air suction port 13 is opened at a lower portion of the decorative plate 16 so that return cool air after cooling circulating through the refrigerator compartment 2, the vegetable compartment 4, and the like is sucked.

The width of the cooler chamber suction port 15 below the suction passage 11 and the width of the return cold air suction port 13 are substantially the same as the width of the refrigerator compartment cooler 8, and return from the suction port 13. The cool air flows smoothly from the cooler room suction port 15 to the refrigerator compartment cooler 8 via the suction passage 11.

The partition wall 14 is made of a heat-insulating material having a certain thickness in order to prevent frost or dew from forming on the wall on the suction passage 11 side depending on the temperature from the refrigerator cooler 8. The heat insulator has a thickness of, for example, about 15 mm to 20 mm.

Therefore, the temperature of the partition wall in the suction passage 11 is the same as the temperature range of the refrigerator compartment 2 or the vegetable compartment 4 (for example, 3 to 5 ° C.) or higher.
Even if the returning cold air passing through the suction passage 11 comes into contact with the deodorizing sheet 12 provided on the partition wall 14a, the partition wall 14a
In addition, the surface of the deodorizing sheet 12 is configured such that frost, dew, and the like do not adhere.

The partition wall surface 14a is provided with a partition wall surface 14a for allowing return cold air from the suction port 13 to be sucked into the lower cooler chamber suction port 15 along the wall surface.
a The whole is flat.

As described above, the deodorizing sheet 12 attached to the flat partition wall 14a is not covered with frost or dew due to the heat insulating effect of the partition wall 14.

Here, the size of the deodorizing sheet 12 is the size corresponding to the return cold air suction port 13, that is, the same size as the width of the cooler, and is attached over the entire width of the suction passage. The cool air sucked from the full width opening has a positional relationship such that it contacts the entire surface of the deodorizing sheet 12 in the suction passage 11. Therefore, the deodorizing sheet 1
The size of 2 is almost the size of the projection surface of the suction port 13.

The returned cold air after cooling the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 4 is all sucked into the suction port 13. Then, a circulation path is formed through the suction passage 11 via the suction port, and then returns from the cooler chamber suction port 15 to the cooler 8.

Therefore, as described above, the deodorizing sheet 12
By disposing, when the return cold air passes through the suction passage 11, almost all the cold air comes in contact with the entire surface of the deodorizing sheet 12, so that the deodorizing sheet 12 also adsorbs the odor component or the water containing the odor component, The odor component is decomposed by the chemical action, so that the circulating air can be efficiently deodorized.

In this embodiment, the deodorizing sheet 12 in the suction passage has a horizontally long sheet shape. As a method of installing such a shape in the suction passage, for example, a simple mounting structure such as a double-sided tape can be employed on one side of the sheet-like deodorizing sheet 12.

Therefore, the deodorizing performance of the deodorizing sheet 12 can be ensured. By doing so, the deodorizing sheet 12 can be provided in the suction passage 11 without the need for a fixed support member, so that a structurally simple and inexpensive deodorizing device can be provided.

As described above, the chemical adsorption type deodorizing device (the deodorizing sheet 12 in this example) decomposes odor components by chemical action, so that no odor components are accumulated in the deodorizing device, and deodorization in the refrigerator is ensured. In addition, since it can be used for a long time, the user can use it with confidence.

Further, when the deodorizing sheet 12 is replaced, the parts can be easily replaced by removing the decorative plate 16. With this structure, the partition wall 14
It is not necessary to remove it, which is advantageous for maintenance.

Next, a more specific configuration and functions of the deodorizing sheet 12 will be described with reference to FIG. Deodorizing sheet 12
As shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4, the moisture absorbing / releasing fiber 27, the deodorant fiber 21, the heat fusible fiber 28, and other fibers 29 are mixed and integrated.

The deodorizing fibers 21 of the deodorizing sheet 12 are as follows:
As shown in a schematic enlarged view of one of them, an acrylate fiber having a cross-linking bond 26 contains a Na salt type carboxyl group 22 and fine particles 23 of silver oxide inside the fiber.

It is considered that the odor components in the air, such as methyl mercaptan 24, in contact with the deodorizing sheet 12 are oxidized and decomposed by the silver oxide fine particles 23 to be deodorized. The reaction formula is shown below.

Ag ₂ O + CH ₃ SH + 3 / 2O ₂ → A
g ₂ S + CO ₂ + 2H ₂ O

The water 25 produced here can be adsorbed to the alkali metal salt type carboxyl groups in the moisture absorbing / desorbing fiber or to the alkali metal salt type carboxyl groups 22 inside the deodorant fiber partially remaining.

The deodorizing sheet 12 is made of the moisture absorbing / releasing fiber 2
7 retains moisture, and the deodorant fiber 21 chemically decomposes or decomposes the odor components collected by the moisture to exhibit a deodorizing effect. Therefore, the moisture absorbing / desorbing fiber 27 and the deodorant fiber 21 need to be arranged close to each other.

In the refrigerator of the present embodiment, moisture is absorbed and held from the returned cold air in the refrigerator compartment, and the moisture absorbing / releasing fiber 27 for releasing the retained moisture and the odor component of the circulating air in the refrigerator compartment are removed. Since the deodorizing sheet 12 is formed integrally by mixing the deodorizing fibers 21 that are adsorbed or decomposed and deodorized, the configuration is compact and inexpensive.

Further, since the moisture of the circulating air in the refrigerator compartment is adsorbed and held by the moisture absorbing and releasing fibers 27, the odor components in the circulating air are collected together, and the odor components are held by the moisture and deodorized. Since the odor components are kept in the apparatus, the odor components can be efficiently and deodorized in a large amount.

Further, since the retained moisture is released and the new moisture is adsorbed and retained thereafter, the odor component is collected together with the newly adsorbed moisture and the above-mentioned effective moisture is collected. Deodorization is performed, and by repeating this operation, a larger amount of odor can be deodorized.

Further, since the deodorizing fiber 21 having the crosslinked structure and containing the fine particles 23 of the metal salt is used for the deodorizing member, a more excellent deodorizing effect can be obtained. Furthermore, the odor-absorbing and desorbing fiber 27, the alkali metal salt-type carboxyl group 22, and the deodorizing fiber 21 containing fine particles of silver oxide 23 in a fiber having a crosslinked structure are used for the deodorizing sheet 12. Therefore, a more excellent deodorizing effect can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the chemisorption-type deodorizing device is provided downstream of the cooler return passage.
Since it is installed in the suction passage where the cool air after cooling the plurality of refrigerated spaces collects, and in the suction passage where there is no frost or dew, the deodorizing device is not covered with frost or dew, and Odor components can be efficiently adsorbed.

Also, since it is a chemical adsorption type deodorizing system,
Since the odor components in the deodorizing device are decomposed by the chemical action, the odor components do not accumulate in the deodorizing device, so that reliable and highly reliable deodorizing is performed, and the device can be used for a long period of time.

In addition, since the deodorizing device is attached using a flat portion in the suction passage, a fixing member for attaching the deodorizing device is not particularly required. Therefore, an inexpensive deodorizing device having a simple structure can be provided.

Further, the deodorizing device has a size substantially equal to the width of the cooler, and is disposed over the entire width of the suction passage, and furthermore, a contact area between the return cool air flowing through the suction passage and the deodorizing device is secured. Is what you can do. In addition, even if the installation position of a deodorizing device is not necessarily after a cold air merging, a deodorizing effect can be exhibited if it is a cold air passage from a cold air outlet (return port) to a cooler room entrance.

Further, according to the present embodiment, in the inexpensive structure, the moisture of the returned cool air is absorbed and held by the moisture absorbing and releasing fibers,
In addition, the odor component of the returning cold air is collected together with the moisture, and the odor component is retained together with the retained moisture, so that the odor component is retained in the deodorizing device, thereby effectively decomposing by the deodorizing fiber. Then, the refrigerator is able to deodorize a large amount of odor.

In addition, with the inexpensive structure, the moisture of the returned cool air is adsorbed and held by the moisture absorbing / releasing fibers, so that the odor component of the returned cool air is collected together with the moisture, and the odor component is retained by the moisture. Since the odor components are kept in the deodorizing device, the odor components can be effectively deodorized by the deodorizing fibers.

Further, the retained moisture is released, and then collected together with new moisture to carry out the above-mentioned effective deodorization. By repeating this operation, a large amount of odor can be deodorized. A refrigerator that can be obtained.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, by installing the deodorizing device in the refrigerator at a position where frost or dew does not adhere, the deodorizing device is not covered with frost, and is simple and inexpensive. With a simple structure, efficient deodorization can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a portion where the deodorizing device of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 is attached.

3 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of a deodorizing device mounting portion of the refrigerator in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically illustrating a deodorizing device used in the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 2 Refrigerator room 3 Refrigerator compartment door 8 Refrigerator compartment cooler 11 Suction passage 12 Deodorizing device 13 Suction port 14 Partition wall 14a Partition wall 15 Cooler room suction port 16 Facade board 17 Cooler room 20 Freezer compartment cooler 21 Disappearance Odorable fiber 22 Na salt type carboxyl group 23 Silver oxide fine particles 24 Odor component 25 Moisture 26 Cross-linking 27 Hygroscopic fiber (hygroscopic fiber) 28 Heat-fusible fiber 29 Other fibers.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Hideyuki Nakamura, Inventor 800 Futami, Tomita, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture F-term (Ref.)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator comprising a deodorizing device installed in a cool air return passage outside a cooler room and in a cool air passage after return cool air from a plurality of refrigerated spaces is merged. 2. The deodorizing device comprises a moisture absorbing / releasing fiber and a deodorizing fiber, wherein the deodorizing fiber is an acrylate fiber having a cross-linked structure with an alkali metal salt-type carboxyl group, and fine particles of silver oxide. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the deodorizing device is formed in a sheet shape. 4. The deodorizing device is installed at a position closest to a cooler in a cool air return passage.
A refrigerator according to claim 1. 5. The deodorizing device according to claim 1, wherein said deodorizing device has a width substantially equal to a width of a cool air suction passage from the refrigerated space.
A refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the deodorizing device is disposed so as to face a cold air inlet from a refrigerated space.