JP2002195721A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator suitable for use being accommodated in furniture. SOLUTION: The refrigerator 10 has an exhaust heat fin 22 of a cooling device 20 projecting from one sidewall 15a of an outer box 14. Since it is assumed that the refrigerator is accommodated in accommodation space 5 of the furniture 1, the exhaust heat fin 22 is covered by the furniture 1, so that there is no problem in terms of appearance, even if the exhaust heat fin 22 is provided at the sidewall 15a, a rear wall 17 of the outer box 14 is allowed to adhere closely to the accommodation space 5, and the length in the depth direction of the accommodation space 5 can be utilized effectively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator suitable for being installed in a hotel room or office.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When installing a refrigerator in a guest room or office of a hotel, a door is provided at the front in order to harmonize with the furniture installed around the refrigerator. Refrigerators are often stored.

[0003]

When the refrigerator is stored in furniture, the appearance of the refrigerator does not appear outside, so that harmony with other furniture can be achieved. However, it is necessary to open the furniture and the door of the refrigerator in order to access the refrigerator, which is not convenient. In addition, a space between the furniture and the refrigerator is required to put the refrigerator in the furniture, which is inefficient as a storage space. Further, considering the exhaust from the refrigerator, it is necessary to provide a sufficient gap between the furniture and the furniture, and in this respect, the space efficiency is not good. In addition, it is not preferable for the user that when the door of the furniture in which the refrigerator is stored is opened, hot air is emitted by the exhaust air from the refrigerator.

[0004] On the other hand, it is possible to manufacture a furniture-like refrigerator, but it is not economical to design and manufacture a refrigerator designed in consideration of harmony with other furniture.

Therefore, in the present invention, at low cost,
The purpose is to provide a refrigerator that is easy to use and has a refrigerated space that always matches the surrounding furniture. And it aims at providing the system furniture provided with the easy-to-use refrigeration space.

[0006]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a furniture wall forming a storage space for storing a refrigerator is designed to be an outer wall of the refrigerator, so that when the refrigerator is stored in furniture. We offer space efficient refrigerators. That is, the refrigerator of the present invention is a refrigerator that can be installed in a storage space with an open front, and includes an outer box having a heat-insulating rear wall, both side walls, an upper wall and a lower wall, and the inside of the outer box. A cooling device capable of cooling, and a heat exhausting portion of the cooling device protrudes from an outer surface of one of the side walls. Even if a conventional refrigerator has a heat-dissipating portion that is exposed or protrudes, it is provided on the rear wall of the refrigerator so that when the refrigerator is installed, it cannot be seen or hardly seen from the outside. Therefore, storing such a refrigerator in furniture requires an exhaust space behind the refrigerator,
The front of the refrigerator protrudes from the furniture and can no longer be stored, or the depth is not enough, resulting in a refrigerator with low storage capacity. On the other hand, in the refrigerator of the present invention, it is assumed that the refrigerator is housed in furniture. For this reason, the heat-dissipating unit is arranged such that the heat-dissipating unit is exposed to one of the side walls or is provided with a simple cover, and is protruded. It is covered by the furniture storage space. Therefore, the refrigerator does not jump out of the furniture and has a sufficient depth. For this reason, a refrigerator having sufficient storage capacity and easy to store in furniture can be provided.

[0007] Further, since the heat-dissipating portion is protruded on the premise that the heat-dissipating portion is stored in furniture, the space and cost occupied by the decorative wall for covering and covering the heat-dissipating portion can be reduced, and the space efficiency is improved. An economic refrigerator can be provided. Furthermore, by designing the heat dissipation part to be exposed on the side wall or covered only with a simple cover,
It becomes clear that the refrigerator is presumed to be stored in furniture, and it is possible to eliminate costs related to appearance such as covering the outer surface of the outer box with a decorative board. For this reason,
Manufacturing costs can be minimized.

In the refrigerator of the present invention, since the heat-dissipating portion protrudes from one side wall, it is desirable to install a fan so that air flows in either the upper or lower direction of the heat-dissipating portion in the vertical direction. Assuming that it is stored in furniture, it is better to forcibly cool using a fan than to expect a cooling effect by natural convection, so that the heat removal efficiency is better. In addition, determining the direction in which the warm air is exhausted by the fan can prevent the exhaust from hitting the user. In order to provide the exhaust space, the outer shape of the outer box may be designed so that an exhaust space capable of accommodating the heat-dissipating portion and the fan is formed outside one of the side walls when housed in the furniture storage space. . If the exhaust space is formed only on one side wall side, it is desirable to take in air from above and exhaust it downward.

Furthermore, the outer shape of the outer box can be designed so that when it is stored in the storage space for furniture, an exhaust space is formed not only on one side wall but also on the outside of the upper wall and the other side wall. It is. When such an exhaust space is provided, air can be taken in from below and exhausted downward through the exhaust space above the upper wall. Therefore, even when the furniture itself is housed in the closet and the front surface is designed to be covered by the door, the air can be sucked and exhausted below the door, and high-temperature exhaust can be prevented from accumulating in the furniture or the closet. .

The cooling device may use a refrigerant circuit. However, considering that the cooling device is installed in a guest room or an office of a hotel, it is preferable to use a compact Peltier unit having low noise.

Further, in the refrigerator of the present invention, an openable / closable door may be provided in front of the outer box, and the door may be adapted to furniture. However, it is troublesome to install the door according to the furniture, and it is troublesome to replace the door when the furniture changes. On the other hand, if the drawer-type inner box can be stored, such as by providing a rail that slides and supports the drawer in the outer box, harmony with furniture simply by installing a drawer-type inner box that matches the furniture Can be achieved. The inner box is desirably a drawer type with a heat-insulating front wall for the refrigerator, but the design may be the same as other drawers of the system furniture, only storing such an inner box Can form a refrigerated space that matches other furniture.

In consideration of the cooling efficiency, it is desirable that the inner box is designed so that a space for circulating cool air is provided between the inner box and the outer box. Furthermore, in the case of a drawer-type inner box, the inside of each inner box can be efficiently cooled because the cool air does not easily escape downward. In addition, if a cover is provided on the upper part of the inner box, it is possible to prevent cool air from circulating inside the inner box and prevent the stored items from drying out.

[0013] As described above, the refrigerator of the present invention is designed on the premise that it is stored in furniture. By storing it in system furniture having a storage space with an open front, the refrigerator has a uniform design throughout. It is possible to provide system furniture having an efficient refrigeration space. In addition, since the exhaust space can be designed so that the exhaust air does not accumulate in the furniture, it is possible to prevent a problem that when the door is opened, hot air comes out when the door is opened.

Further, the refrigerator of the present invention can be easily incorporated in a system kitchen or the like. In addition to a conventional refrigerator for refrigerated or frozen storage, root vegetables,
It can also be used to provide a space in the system kitchen as a cool and dark place for storing dry matter or grains. In recent years, in condominiums and apartments, the space conventionally used as a cool and dark place such as under the floor is disappearing, but by using the refrigerator of the present invention, the interior of furniture is suitable for a cool and dark place of about 5 ° C to 15 ° C. Space can be provided.

[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 shows a system furniture 1 containing a refrigerator according to the present invention. The system furniture 1 is divided into two sections 2 and 3 on the left and right. The section 3 on the right side has shelves arranged at the top and drawers arranged at the bottom. In the left section 2, the upper part is a clothes rack 4, the lower part is a storage space 5, and three drawers are lined up and down. Further, these compartments 2 and 3 are provided with a door 9 for opening and closing the front 6a. In the system furniture 1 of the present example, the refrigerator 10 is stored in the storage space 5 of the left section 2, and the drawers 1 arranged above and below the storage space 5 are arranged.
1 can be stored refrigerated.

FIG. 2 shows how the drawer 11 of the refrigerator 10 is pulled out. To these drawers 11, a decorative panel 12 having the same design as the system furniture 1 is attached to the front 6a. Therefore, drawer 11
Is stored as a part of the system furniture 1, the storage space is integrated with the other parts of the furniture 1, and the refrigerator 10 is not seemingly arranged at first glance. . The refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment is capable of storing three drawers 11a, 11b and 11c, and can refrigerate by putting drinks and foods into these drawers. In addition, by setting the refrigeration temperature to about 5 ° C. to 15 ° C., it is possible to have a function as a conventional cool and dark place. For example, a dry matter can be put in the upper drawer 11a, a seasoning or rice can be put in the lower drawer 11b, and root vegetables and other vegetables can be put in the lower drawer 11c.

FIG. 3 shows an outline of the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment. The refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment includes an outer box 14 having a size that can be stored in the storage space 5 and having an open front 6a. The outer box 14 includes side walls 15a and 15b including a heat insulating material, and an upper wall. 16a, a lower wall 16b, and a rear wall 17 are provided. For this reason, drawer 11 can be taken in and out of outer box 14 from front 6a, and the inner surface of outer box 14
As will be described later, a support rail for supporting the slide rail 13 attached to the side surface of the drawer 11 is arranged. Further, a transparent or translucent cover 18 that covers the upper surface of the drawer 11 can be attached to the drawer 11, so that when vegetables or the like are stored in the drawer 11, they can be refrigerated without drying.

One side wall 15a of the outer box 14 of the refrigerator 10
A heat-dissipating fin 22 of a cooling device and a heat-dissipating fan 23 for introducing outside air to cool the heat-dissipating fins 22 are arranged vertically above and below the cooling device. A control box 25 in which the device is stored is arranged. In the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, a duct 24 that integrally covers the exhaust heat fins 22 from the exhaust fan 23 is attached, and the air that has been sucked in from below by the exhaust fan 23 and exhausted upward is efficiently exhausted by the duct 24. The heat fins 22 are led to the heat fins 22. When the refrigerator 10 is installed in the storage space 5, the exhaust fan 23 and the exhaust fins 22 hit the wall of the furniture covering the storage space 5, and the duct 24, the fin 22 or the fan 2.
3 also serves as a protective cover to prevent damage to each.

FIG. 4 shows the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment as viewed from the front 6a. FIG. 5 shows the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment.
Is shown using a cross section when viewed from above. As described above, the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment has the front 6a.
Is provided with an open heat-insulating outer box 14, and a cooling device 20 is attached to one side wall 15a. The cooling device 10 of the present embodiment employs a Peltier unit, and sandwiches a cooling board 29 provided with a Peltier element with a side wall 15a interposed therebetween.
The exhaust fins 22 protrude to the outside, and the cooling fins 21 protrude to the inside. Therefore, the space 50 between the side wall 15a of the refrigerator 10 and the storage space 5 becomes an exhaust space, and the heated air 45 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust space 50. The cooling device 20 using the Peltier unit is compact, does not require a refrigerant,
Therefore, a driving device such as a compressor is not required. Therefore, maintenance is almost unnecessary, and furthermore, there is almost no noise or vibration. Therefore, it is suitable as a refrigerator for a refrigerator installed in a living room, bedroom, hotel guest room, office or the like as a part of system furniture.

First, the exhaust path will be described. The refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment has a size that can be stored in the storage space 5 with the front 6a opened, and further has a size in which a gap as an exhaust space is formed on the left, right, and above. Has become.
That is, when the refrigerator 10 is stored in the storage space 5,
An exhaust space 50 is created between the right side wall 51a of the storage space 5 and the right side wall 15a of the outer box 14, and the exhaust heat fin 22 and the exhaust fan 2 are provided in the exhaust space 50.
3 fits. An exhaust space 59 is also formed between the upper wall 52a of the storage space 5 and the upper wall 16a of the outer box 14, and further between the left side wall 51b of the storage space 5 and the left side wall 15b of the outer wall 14. Also, an exhaust space 58 is formed.

A space 54 below the bottom plate 52b of the storage space 5 is divided into right and left by a partition plate 53, a right side section 55a is on the intake side, and a gallery 56 for intake is mounted on the front. On the other hand, the left section 55b is on the exhaust side, and the gallery 57 for exhaust is attached. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the refrigerator 10 of this example is installed in the storage space 5, air is sucked from the lower right gallery 56, and the compartment 55a below the bottom plate, the outer box 14
Exhaust space 50 on the right side, upper exhaust space 59,
An exhaust path is formed through the left exhaust space 58 and the partition 55b below the bottom plate to exhaust air from the lower left gallery 57. For this reason, the air for exhaust 45 first enters from the gallery 56 located immediately above the floor, and the exhaust space 5 on the right-hand side.
0, the control box 25 is cooled, and
3 to cool the exhaust heat fins 22.
Then, the heated exhaust air 45 is discharged forward from the lower left gallery 61 located immediately above the floor.

When the air is sucked from the lower gallery 56 and exhausted to the lower gallery 57, the air supply and the exhaust can be moved away from the position where the user can feel the airflow. It can be processed so as not to become. Furthermore, in the system furniture 1 of this example,
A door 9 covering the front of the sections 2 and 3 is provided,
Even when the door 9 is closed, it is possible to take in and exhaust air from the outside of the furniture 1, and it is possible to prevent the exhaust air from being stored inside the furniture. Therefore, it is possible to provide the refrigerator 10 having a good cooling efficiency, while the air supply and exhaust are performed smoothly and the refrigerator is housed in the furniture 1. Since the exhaust gas can be prevented from being stored inside the furniture 1, it is possible to prevent a situation in which hot air comes out when the door 9 of the furniture is opened.

Further, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, an exhaust path is provided which rotates in the vertical direction around the outer box 14 while being stored in the storage space 5. Therefore, in the refrigerator 10 of the present example, the rear wall 17 of the outer box 14 can be brought into close contact with the rear wall 57 of the storage space 5, and the storage space 5
Can be effectively used in the depth direction. Further, the depth of the outer box 14 can be sufficiently secured, and a refrigerator having a large storage capacity can be provided. That is, it is possible to dispose the heat-dissipating fins 22 at the rear, but in this case, the outer box 14 has a shape that is long in the lateral direction, and has a shape that has a small capacity with respect to the outer peripheral area. Also,
Although the area occupied by the exhaust heat fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 is not so large, it is not easy to arrange them in a narrow and thin space. Therefore, when the exhaust heat fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 are arranged at the rear, the exhaust space becomes too large and the storage space 5 cannot be used efficiently. On the other hand, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, since the exhaust heat fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 are arranged on the side, there is no waste in the exhaust space 50, and the depth in the depth direction with respect to the length in the lateral direction. Since the length can be sufficiently secured, it is possible to provide the refrigerator 10 including the outer box 14 having a large capacity with respect to the outer peripheral area.

Further, since the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment is premised on being stored in the storage space 5 of the furniture 1, even if the heat exhaust fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 are arranged so as to protrude from the side wall 15a. , They are covered by the furniture 1 and cannot be seen from the outside. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the exhaust heat fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 at the rear from the viewpoint of the external appearance, and it is possible to adopt a design in which these are arranged at the side. In this example,
Considering the situation when the refrigerator 10 is installed in the storage space 5, the decorative plate 60 covering the front surface 6 a of the right exhaust space 50 where the exhaust fins 22 and the exhaust fan 23 are installed is a plate of the same design as the furniture 1. It can be attached and detached. On the other hand, the decorative plate 61 covering the front of the upper exhaust space 59 and the left exhaust space 58 is attached as a part of the furniture 1 in advance. An exhaust path that goes around 14 is formed.

On the other hand, both side walls 15a and 15
b, a rail 3 for supporting the drawer 11
1 and the drawer 11 has a gap 42 sufficient for the cool air 41 to circulate inside the outer box 14 to the side walls 15a and 15b, the upper wall 16a, the lower wall 16b and the rear wall 17.
Is held open. Therefore, the cool air 41 cooled by the cooling fins 21 is
Is fed out in a substantially horizontal direction by a circulation fan 28 provided at the rear of the drawer 11 and cools the drawer 11 and the inside thereof around the inside of the heat-insulating outer box 14.

At the front 6a of each drawer 11, a heat insulating wall 32 is provided inside the decorative panel 12, and when the drawer 11 is stored, the heat insulating wall 32 is formed by the side walls 15a and 15b of the outer box 14 and the upper wall. The outer box 14 is blocked from the outside by hitting the lower wall 16a and the lower wall 16b. Further, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, a heat insulating packing 33 is attached to a portion where the drawer 11 is in contact with the wall of the outer box 14 to prevent the leakage of the cool air 41 to increase the cooling efficiency and to reduce the outside air. Intrusion is prevented as much as possible so that condensation does not easily occur. Further, since the drawer 11 is employed as an inner box for storing uncooled materials inside the refrigerator 10,
Cold air 41 circulating inside is stored in each drawer and does not escape downward. For this reason, the inside of each drawer 11 can be efficiently cooled, and when each drawer 11, especially the lower drawer 11, is opened, the cool air 4
One is trying not to escape outside at once. Further, as described above, the upper part of each drawer 11 is covered with the cover 18.
Instead of directly cooling the interior of drawer 11 with cold air, it is indirectly cooled through the wall of the drawer 11 and the cover 18 so that vegetables and other non-cooled items are too dry. Can not be.

As described above, the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment
Is designed on the premise that it is stored in the storage space 5 of the furniture 1. Therefore, when the heat release fins 22 and the like are protruded outward from the side wall 15 a, It is a space-efficient refrigerator. Exhaust heat fin 22 and exhaust fan 23
May be arranged in an exposed state, but by providing a duct 24 covering them as in this example, it is possible to efficiently guide the external air pressurized by the exhaust fan 23 to the exhaust heat fins 22. Yes, the cooling efficiency can be increased.
It is also preferable in that the fins 22 and the fan 23 can be protected when the refrigerator 10 is attached to the furniture 1 or when the refrigerator 10 is stored or transported. Thus, the refrigerator 10 of the present example
Since each of the walls 15a, 15b, 16a, 16b, and 17 constituting the outer box 14 is stored in the furniture 1,
What is necessary is to provide sufficient protection in transportation and the like, and furthermore, to have sufficient strength and heat insulation function, and a decorative board is not required. Therefore, each wall 1 constituting the outer box 14
5a, 15b, 16a, 16b and 17 can be reduced in thickness and weight as long as the above performance is satisfied. In this respect, the storage efficiency of the outer box 14 can be improved and the refrigerator can be manufactured at low cost. be able to.

Further, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, when the refrigerator 10 is stored in the storage space 5, an exhaust path is formed for sucking air from above the floor and exhausting the air to the floor. Therefore, the refrigerator 10 can be brought into close contact with the rear wall of the storage space, and the storage space 5
Can be used effectively as described above. Further, even if the furniture is such that the front of the refrigerator 10 is further closed by the door 9, an exhaust path can be secured. On the other hand, if the furniture is not blocked by the door, the exhaust path can be provided only on one side wall of the refrigerator 10. For example, in the case of the refrigerator 10 of this example, the exhaust space 5 on the right side
It is also possible to use only 0 as the exhaust path. In this case, it is desirable to take in air from above and exhaust from below so that the heated exhaust 45 does not hit the user. Of course, it is also possible to adopt a design in which the exhaust fins and the exhaust fan are arranged on the left side of the refrigerator.

Further, in the refrigerator 10 of the present embodiment, the drawer 11 is employed for storing the object to be refrigerated, but a refrigerator in which the front 6a of the outer box 14 is opened and closed by a door may be used.
In such a refrigerator, it is necessary to match the decorative plate of the door with the furniture 1 to be stored. Therefore, if the furniture to be stored is different, it is desirable to replace the door accordingly. Alternatively, it is conceivable that a decorative panel attached to the door is supplied from a furniture maker and only the decorative panel is replaced.
On the other hand, if it is a drawer type like the refrigerator 10 of the present example, it is only necessary to attach a drawer 11 designed or manufactured in accordance with the furniture 1, and the attachment to the furniture is simplified. In the case of drawer 11, decorative board 12
It is also possible that only the furniture manufacturer supplies. In addition, if the drawer type is used, it is easy to cope with a case where the refrigerator 10 needs to be replaced. Further, advantages such as the ability to maintain cool air are as described above.

As described above, the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment is designed on the assumption that it is stored in furniture.
A refrigerated space that is in harmony with furniture can easily be provided in bedrooms, offices, and between customers. And there is no need for troublesome operations such as double opening the doors of both the furniture and the refrigerator, and you can open the drawer like other storage parts of the furniture,
The refrigerator can be used simply by opening the door, and is integrated with the furniture, providing a convenient refrigerator. Furthermore, as one of the system furniture, it is easy to incorporate it into the system kitchen installed in the kitchen, and apart from the conventional refrigerator that keeps food refrigerated or frozen, root vegetables,
It is also possible to provide a space in the system kitchen as a cool and dark place for storing dry matter or grains.

[0031]

As described above, in the present invention, a refrigerator having a heat-dissipating portion protruding from the side is provided on the premise that the refrigerator is stored in furniture. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use refrigerator that has a large storage volume, such as used and furniture.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of system furniture containing a drawer-type refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state where a drawer of the refrigerator is drawn out.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the refrigerator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the refrigerator of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the refrigerator of the present example as viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an exhaust path when the refrigerator of the present example is installed in a storage space.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 System furniture 5 Storage space, 9 door 10 Refrigerator 11 drawer, 12 decorative board 13 Slide rail 14 Outer box 15a, 15b Side wall 16a, 16b Upper and lower walls 17 Rear wall 18 Drawer cover 20 Cooling device 21 Cooling fin, 22 Exhaust heat Fin, 23 Exhaust fan 24 Duct, 25 Control box 28 Cooling fan, 29 Cooling board (Peltier element) 31 Support rail 41 Cool air, 45 Exhaust 50, 58, 59 Exhaust space 56, 57

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Oki 1000 Toyoshina, Toyoshina-cho, Minamiazumi-gun, Nagano F-term in GC Corporation (reference) 3L045 AA01 BA01 CA02 DA04 PA04

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator which can be installed in a storage space with an open front, comprising an outer box having heat-insulating rear walls, both side walls, an upper wall and a lower wall, and capable of cooling the inside of the outer box. A refrigerator having a cooling device, wherein a heat exhausting portion of the cooling device protrudes from an outer surface of one of the side walls. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a fan is provided so as to allow air to flow in any one of the upper and lower directions of the heat discharging unit. 3. The outer box according to claim 2, wherein an outer shape of the outer box is
A refrigerator designed such that an exhaust space capable of storing the heat-dissipating portion and the fan is formed outside the one side wall when stored in the storage space. 4. The outer box according to claim 3, wherein an outer shape of the outer box is
A refrigerator designed such that an exhaust space is formed outside the upper wall and the other side wall when stored in the storage space. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device includes a Peltier unit. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the outer box is capable of storing a drawer-type inner box. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a drawer-type inner box having a heat-insulating front wall is stored in the outer box. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the inner box is designed such that a space for circulating cool air is formed between the inner box and the outer box. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein a cover is provided above the inner box. 10. A system furniture having a storage space with an open front, wherein the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is stored in the storage space.