JP2004309003A - Refrigerating storage chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To equalize pressures in and outside a chamber in a refrigerating storage chamber having a means for avoiding that the inside of a storage chamber body is brought into a negative pressure state. <P>SOLUTION: A drain pan 30 receiving defrosting water is disposed on the underside of a cooler 36, a drain pipe 38 is buried in a bottom wall 10A as an insulation wall of a refrigerator body 10, and the drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 is inserted onto the lateral tube 44 of a T-tube 42 connected to the upper end thereof. The lower end of an outside air inlet tube 40 is connected to the upper connection port 50 of the T-tube 42, the outside air inlet tube is raised in the bottom wall 10A, and the upper end thereof is projected into a recessed part 56 in the upper surface of the bottom wall 10A to communicate with the outside air. The diameter ϕC of the lateral tube 44 of the T-tube 42 is set larger than the diameter ϕB of the reduced diameter part 51 of the upper connection port 50. When the inside of the chamber is brought into a negative pressure state according to the opening and closing of a door, the outside air is led from the outside air inlet tube 40 into the storage chamber 15 through the lateral tube 44 of the T-tube 42 to equalize the pressures in and outside the chamber. When the outside air reaches the lateral tube 44, its flow velocity is lowered and, even if the defrosting water is drained, it does not flow reversely. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cooling storage provided with a means for preventing the inside of the storage main body from leaning to a negative pressure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a cooling storage such as a refrigerator, the following phenomena are exhibited when a door is opened and closed in order to take in and out a storage object. That is, when the door is opened, outside air flows into the inside of the refrigerator, and when the door is subsequently closed, the air in the refrigerator is rapidly cooled, so that the volume contracts and the pressure in the refrigerator becomes negative. Then, the door is in a state of being sucked into the storage, and it becomes difficult to open the door. Such a problem is remarkable especially when a large-sized door is provided like a commercial refrigerator.
Conventionally, as a countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 4, an external air intake 3 is opened in a ceiling wall 2 of a storage main body 1 so as to balance the pressure inside and outside the storage. 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2002-267345
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of the above, since a large amount of high-temperature and high-humidity outside air tends to be taken in around the cooler 4, the cooler 4 tends to be frosted, and there is a dislike for lowering the cooling performance.
Apart from the above, it is also known that an outside air intake pipe is protrudingly provided in the middle of the defrosting water drain pipe 5 provided in the main body 1 so as to reach the outside of the machine. Since the defrost water flows backward due to the outside air and is scattered in the storage, and may fall on a storage or the like, further improvement has been desired.
The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cool air generated by the cooler is circulated and supplied into the storage main body composed of the heat insulating box to be in a cooling state, and the storage is stored in the storage while the door provided at the entrance is opened and closed. In the cooling storage to be taken in and out, a drain pan for receiving defrost water is provided on a lower surface side of the cooler, and a drain port of the drain pan is connected to a vertical drain pipe through a connection pipe. The pipe is connected to an outside air intake pipe whose upper end communicates with the outside air, and the diameter of the connection pipe of the connection pipe to the drain port of the drain pan is larger than the diameter of the connection pipe to the outside air intake pipe. The feature is that the configuration is set as the setting.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, a side of the cooler facing the opening of the outside air intake pipe into the storage is a cold air blowing side, and an opposite side is a room air suction side. It has a characteristic where it is.
[0007]
Function and effect of the present invention
<Invention of claim 1>
When the inside of the storage body tilts to a negative pressure, the outside air is sucked into the outside air intake pipe, introduced into the storage pipe from the connection pipe side of the connection pipe with the drain port of the drain pan, and the pressure is balanced inside and outside the storage chamber. As a result, the door opening operation can be performed smoothly.
Since outside air is introduced into the storage from the connection pipe side of the connection pipe to the drain pan drain, the outside air is suppressed from being taken in around the cooler, and frost is suppressed and cooling performance is reduced. Is prevented. Also, since the diameter of the connection pipe with the drain port of the drain pan in the connection pipe was made larger than that of the connection pipe with the outside air intake port, the flow rate of the outside air was reduced when reaching the connection pipe with the drain port. Even if the defrost water is drained, there is no danger of backflow, and it is possible to prevent the defrost water from being scattered in the storage.
[0008]
<Invention of Claim 2>
During the cooling operation, high pressure is applied to the side of the cooler facing the opening of the outside air intake pipe into the refrigerator, so that the intake of outside air is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the refrigerator from unnecessarily increasing.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a refrigerator main body, which is composed of a vertically long heat-insulating box having a front opening filled with a heat-insulating material 13 made of a foamed resin or the like between an inner box 11 and an outer box 12. It is supported by four legs 14 and the inside is a storage room 15. In the storage room 15, a shelf network 17 can be installed in multiple stages via a shelf receiving member 16. The upper part of the storage room 15 is partitioned by a partition frame 19 to form two upper and lower openings 20, and a heat insulating door 21 is swingably opened and closed in each of the openings 20.
[0010]
On the upper surface of the refrigerator main body 10, a machine room 23 having an open upper surface is provided, and a refrigerating device 25 is installed therein. The refrigerating device 25 includes a compressor 26, a condenser 27, a condenser fan 27A, and the like, and is mounted on a heat-insulating base 28 to form a unit. It is attached so as to close the opening 15A.
A drain pan 30 also serving as an air duct is stretched below the opening 15 </ b> A in the ceiling portion of the storage room 15, and a cooler room 32 is formed above the drain pan 30. The drain pan 30 is formed in a flat rectangular shallow dish shape that can be attached by closing the lower edge of the opening 15A. The bottom surface of the drain pan 30 is formed so as to have a downward slope toward the rear edge (the left side in FIG. 1), and the suction port 33 is opened in a region on the near side, and the outlet 34 is provided on the rear edge side. Are notched.
[0011]
In the cooler room 32, a cooler 36 (evaporator) and an in-compartment fan 37 facing the suction port 33 are provided. The cooler 36 is circulated and connected to the above-described refrigerating device 25 by a refrigerant pipe, and forms a well-known refrigerating cycle. Then, when the in-compartment fan 37 is driven while operating the refrigerating device 25, the room air in the storage room 15 is sucked into the cooler room 32 from the suction port 33 by the in-compartment fan 37, and the air flows through the cooler 36. During this time, cool air is generated by heat exchange, and the cool air is blown out from the outlet port 34 along the inner surface of the storage room 15, and cool air is circulated and supplied into the storage room 15. Further, the internal temperature is detected by an internal sensor (not shown), and the operation and stop of the refrigeration device 25 are controlled according to the internal temperature, so that the internal temperature is maintained at a substantially constant cooling temperature. ing.
[0012]
Further, in order to perform defrosting of the cooler 36 and the like, the cooler 36 is provided with a heater (not shown) for defrosting, and functions so that the drain pan 30 receives defrost water. . From the deepest part of the drain pan 30, a drain port 31 is provided so as to protrude slightly downward toward the back.
On the other hand, a drain pipe 38 is buried in the inner wall 10A of the refrigerator body 10, and the upper end of the drain pipe 38 is connected to the drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 via a T-shaped pipe 42 described later in detail. I have. The lower end of the drainage pipe 38 is, for example, piped directly downward in the inner wall 10A, and then piped in the inner wall 10A in an oblique posture, and further, through the inner wall to the drain port provided on the bottom surface. The drain hose connected to the drain port is guided to a drainage point such as a drainage ditch.
Therefore, when the defrosting operation is performed, the defrost water is received by the drain pan 30, flows into the upper end of the drain pipe 38 from the drain port 31, and is discharged from the drain pipe 38 to the external drain point through the drain hose. It has become.
[0013]
Now, in this embodiment, measures are taken to balance the pressure inside and outside the refrigerator. Therefore, an outside air intake pipe 40 is provided, and is connected to the upper end of the drain pipe 38 by the T-shaped pipe 42 described above.
As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the T-shaped tube 42 has a shape in which a horizontal tube 44 is protruded from a substantially central height position on the peripheral surface of the vertical tube 43 in an upwardly inclined posture. The lower connection port 46 (lower connection port) on the lower side of the vertical pipe 43 is connected to the upper end of the drainage pipe 38. The outer wall 47 is provided peripherally to form a mounting groove 48 in which the upper end of the drain pipe 38 is fitted tightly.
[0014]
On the other hand, the upper connection port 50 (upper connection port) of the vertical pipe 43 is connected to the lower end of the outside air intake pipe 40. The lower side of the upper connection port 50 has a stepped shape with an inner diameter reduced. The lower end of the outside air intake pipe 40 is tightly inserted into the upper connection port 50 and is brought into contact with the step surface 52. At this time, the inner peripheral surface of the reduced diameter portion 51 and the inner peripheral surface of the outside air intake pipe 40 Become flush. In other words, the diameter φB of the reduced diameter portion 51 is the same as that of the outside air intake pipe 40 and is set to be larger than the diameter φA of the lower connection port 46 described above.
[0015]
As described above, the horizontal pipe 44 is formed in a slanting position with a leading end, and the drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 can be fitted with a clearance. The diameter of the diameter portion 51 is set to be larger than the diameter φB. In other words, the relationship among the diameter φA of the lower connection port 46, the diameter φB of the reduced diameter portion 51 of the upper connection port 50 (the outside air intake pipe 40), and the diameter φC of the horizontal pipe 44 is φA <φB <φC. .
Note that a flange 54 is formed at the protruding end of the horizontal pipe 44.
[0016]
A state in which the upper end of the drain pipe 38 is connected by being fitted into the mounting groove 48 of the T-tube 42, and the lower connection port 46 of the T-tube 42 is tightly fitted in the upper end of the drain pipe 38. Become. The lower end of the outside air intake pipe 40 is tightly fitted and connected to the upper connection port 50 of the T-shaped pipe 42.
As shown in FIG. 2, the outside air intake pipe 40, the T-shaped pipe 42, and the drain pipe 38 connected to each other are vertically piped to a position near the outer box 12 in the space forming the inner wall 10 </ b> A of the refrigerator body 10. At the same time, the flange 54 of the horizontal pipe 44 of the T-shaped pipe 42 is applied to the rim of the opening 11A formed in the inner box 11, and in this state, a heat insulating material is provided between the inner box 11 and the outer box 12. By filling the space 13, the outside air intake pipe 40, the T-shaped pipe 42, and the drain pipe 38 are buried in the back wall 10A.
[0017]
The drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 is inserted into the horizontal pipe 44 of the T-shaped pipe 42 buried as described above with clearance.
At the end on the outer box 12 side of the upper surface of the back wall 10A of the refrigerator main body 10, a concave portion 56 that opens into the machine room 23 is formed, into which the upper end of the outside air intake pipe 40 projects from below. ing. A cap 58 on which a mesh 59 is stretched is attached to a protruding end of the outside air intake pipe 40.
Although not shown, dew condensation prevention heaters are attached to the surfaces of the drain pipe 38 and the T-shaped pipe 42.
[0018]
The operation and effect of this embodiment are as follows.
When the heat-insulating door 21 is opened for taking in and out of the stored goods, outside air flows into the inside of the refrigerator, and when the heat-insulating door 21 is subsequently closed, the volume of the inside of the refrigerator shrinks due to the rapid cooling of the air in the refrigerator and the negative pressure in the refrigerator. Lean on. Then, outside air is sucked from the upper end of the outside air intake pipe 40 and introduced into the storage chamber 15 through the horizontal pipe 44 of the T-shaped pipe 42. Thereby, the pressure is balanced inside and outside the refrigerator, and when the opening operation of the heat insulating door 21 is performed next time, the heat insulating door 21 can be opened smoothly.
[0019]
Since outside air is introduced into the storage room 15 from the horizontal pipe 44 of the T-shaped pipe 42 in which the drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 is inserted, the outside air is prevented from being taken in around the cooler 36, and frost is formed. Suppression is suppressed, and a decrease in cooling performance is prevented. In the T-tube 42, the diameter φB of the reduced diameter portion 51 of the upper connection port 50 connected to the outside air intake pipe 40 is larger than the diameter φA of the lower connection port 46 connected to the drain pipe 38. Because there is, it is easy to take in outside air.
Also, since the diameter φC of the horizontal pipe 44 in the T-shaped pipe 42 in which the drain port 31 of the drain pan 30 is inserted is larger than the diameter φB of the reduced diameter portion 51 of the upper connection port 50 connected to the outside air intake pipe 40, When reaching the horizontal pipe 44, the flow rate of the outside air is reduced, and even if the defrost water is drained, there is no danger that the defrost water will flow backward, and the defrost water is prevented from being scattered in the storage room 15 before it is discharged.
[0020]
During the cooling operation, the cool air is circulated and supplied in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and the side of the cooler 36 facing the horizontal tube 44 of the T-shaped tube 42 becomes the blow-out side and has a high pressure. Is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature in the refrigerator from unnecessarily increasing.
Since a cap 58 with a mesh 59 is attached to the protruding end of the outside air intake pipe 40, dust and cockroaches and the like in the outside air enter the storage chamber 15 through the outside air intake pipe 40. Is prevented.
[0021]
The outside air intake pipe 40 and the drain pipe 38 are buried in the heat insulating material 13 of the back wall 10A and are insulated from cold air in the refrigerator, and a condensation prevention heater is attached to the surfaces of the drain pipe 38 and the T-shaped pipe 42. As a result, dew condensation and icing in the outside air intake pipe 40 and the drain pipe 38 are prevented, and dew condensation on the back of the refrigerator body 10 is also prevented.
Since the lower connection port 46 of the T pipe 42 is fitted inside the upper end of the drain pipe 38 at the connection portion between the drain pipe 38 and the T pipe 42, the defrost water from the drain pan 30 is formed. Can flow into the drain pipe 38 without leaking at the connection portion.
[0022]
<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention, and furthermore, besides the following, within the scope not departing from the gist. Can be implemented with various modifications.
(1) The place where the outside air intake pipe is buried is not limited to the inner wall, but may be, for example, a side wall in accordance with a piping location of a drain pipe for defrost water.
(2) The present invention can be widely applied to refrigerators, refrigerators, and other cooling storages in which doors may be difficult to open due to an imbalance in pressure inside and outside the refrigerator.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged side sectional view thereof. FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of a connecting portion of each tube. FIG. Side view [Description of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator main body (storage main body) 10A ... Back wall (of the refrigerator main body 10) 13 ... Insulation material 15 ... Storage room 20 ... Opening 21 ... Insulation door 30 ... Drain pan 31 ... Drain outlet 33 ... Suction port 34 ... Outlet 36 ... cooler 38 ... drain pipe 40 ... outside air intake pipe 42 ... T-shaped pipe (connection pipe) 44 ... horizontal pipe 46 ... lower connection port 50 ... upper connection port 51 ... reduced diameter section 56 ... concave section 58 ... cap 59 ... mesh φB ... diameter (of reduced diameter part 51) φC ... diameter (of horizontal pipe 44)

Claims (2)

Cooling in which cooling air generated by the cooler is circulated and supplied into the storage body consisting of insulated boxes to be in a cooling state, so that storage items can be taken in and out of the storage while the doors at the entrances are opened and closed. In the storage,
A drain pan for receiving defrost water is provided on a lower surface side of the cooler, and a drain port thereof is connected to a vertical drain pipe via a connection pipe, and an upper end of the connection pipe communicates with outside air. The outside air intake pipe is connected, and the connection pipe of the connection pipe to the drain port of the drain pan is set to have a larger diameter than the connection pipe to the outside air intake pipe. Cold storage. 2. The cooling storage according to claim 1, wherein a side of the cooler facing the opening of the outside air intake pipe into the storage is a cold air blowing side, and an opposite side is a suction side of room air. 3.

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