JP2006200782A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To keep a freezing compartment at a proper temperature even when an ambient temperature is low, with respect to a refrigerator where the operation of a compressor is controlled on the basis of temperature change of a refrigerating compartment. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator comprises the refrigerating compartment 1 and the freezing compartment 2, the operation and stop of the compressor 7 and a fan motor 6 are implemented on the basis of a temperature detected by a temperature sensor 3 mounted in the refrigerating compartment 1, and rotational frequency of the fan motor 6 is switched to rotational frequency lower than normal one, when an operation factor of the compressor calculated from lapse times of an operation timer 11 starting totalization at every start of the compressor 7 and a stop timer 12 starting totalization at every stop of the compressor 7, becomes less than a prescribed ratio. As cold air volume to the refrigerating compartment 1 is reduced, an operating time of the compressor 7 is elongated, and the operation factor can be kept high, when the ambient temperature is low in winter or the like, thus the proper freezing compartment temperature can be surely and inexpensively secured. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that performs operation control of a compressor and a fan motor based on a temperature change in a refrigerator compartment.

Conventionally, this type of refrigerator has a temperature detector only in the refrigerator compartment, and does not use an automatic air volume control device such as a damper thermostat, that is, the distribution ratio of the cold air volume between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is fixed. The temperature of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is controlled as it is. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
5 and 6 are a cross-sectional view and a timing chart of the conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerator compartment 1 is arrange | positioned by the inner lower part of the refrigerator main body, and the freezer compartment 2 is arrange | positioned by inner upper part. The refrigerating room 1 is provided with a temperature sensor 3 and a refrigerating room heater 4, and the freezing room 2 is provided with a cooler 5 for a refrigerating cycle and a fan motor 6 for sending cold air. In addition, a compressor 7 for the refrigeration cycle, an outside air temperature sensor 8, and a rotation speed switching means 9 for the fan motor 6 are disposed outside the refrigerator main body.

  The operation of the above configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation start temperature, the compressor 7 and the fan motor 6 are started to operate. Thereby, the cold air | gas generated in the cooler 5 is sent to the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2, and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 falls.

  Next, when the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation stop temperature, the operation of the compressor 7 and the fan motor 6 is stopped. Thereby, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 rises until the next cooling operation restarts (T2).

  By repeating the above operation, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 is maintained within a certain temperature range (for example, the refrigerator compartment is 3 ° C to 5 ° C, and the refrigerator compartment is -16 ° C to -20 ° C). Yes.

  However, in the above temperature control, since the cooling operation is started / stopped centering on the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1, when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the temperature increase of the refrigerator compartment 1 becomes dull. The phenomenon that the stop time (T4) of the compressor 7 becomes longer appears. In this case, although the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1 has no problem, the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 may be higher than the allowable range (for example, −15 ° C. or more).

  Therefore, in order to avoid this, the compressor 7 stops, and at the same time, the refrigerator compartment heater 4 starts to generate heat, and the temperature rise of the refrigerator compartment 1 is accelerated, so that the stop time (T4) of the compressor 7 is shortened. It is trying to become.

  Further, when the outside air temperature sensor 8 detects a predetermined temperature (for example, 10 ° C.) or less, the rotation speed switching means 9 switches the rotation speed of the fan motor 6 to a rotation speed lower than usual, and the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment 2 By reducing this, the operation time (T3) of the compressor 7 is made longer.

As described above, due to the action of the refrigerator compartment heater 4 and the rotation speed switching means 9, the stop time (T4) of the compressor 7 is shortened and the operation time (T3) of the compressor 7 is lengthened. That is, the operation rate (T3 / [T3 + T4]) of the compressor 7 can be maintained high. Therefore, even if the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 falls within an allowable range.
JP-A-9-324974

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when a heater is used in winter, only the air temperature near the outside air temperature sensor is raised, and the fan motor rotation speed switching means does not always work as intended. There was a case. In addition, since the outside temperature sensor and its peripheral parts are added, the manufacturing cost is high. That is, the fan motor rotation speed switching control by the outside air temperature sensor has a problem that the effect is not sufficiently exhibited for an increase in manufacturing cost.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator that can ensure an appropriate freezer compartment temperature even when the ambient temperature is low and can be manufactured at low cost.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention reduces the rotation speed of the fan motor when the compressor operation rate calculated from the elapsed time of the operation timer and the stop timer becomes a predetermined ratio or less. It is characterized by switching to a lower rotational speed than usual.

  As a result, when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the amount of cool air supplied to the refrigerating room is reduced, so that the operation time of the compressor becomes longer. That is, the operating rate can be maintained high.

  The refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that when the compressor stop time detected by the stop timer becomes longer than a predetermined time, the fan motor speed is switched to a lower speed than usual. To do.

  As a result, when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the amount of cool air supplied to the refrigerating room is reduced, so that the operation time of the compressor becomes longer. That is, the operating rate can be maintained high.

  The refrigerator of the present invention is characterized in that the refrigerator compartment is disposed above the refrigerator compartment, and the cool air sent from the fan motor to the refrigerator compartment is blown upward.

  As a result, when the number of rotations of the fan motor is switched to a lower one, the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment is drastically reduced, so that the operation time of the compressor becomes longer and the operation rate can be maintained at a higher level. .

  In the refrigerator of the present invention, when the ambient temperature becomes low and the compressor operation rate becomes a predetermined ratio or less, the fan motor is switched to low speed rotation, so that an appropriate freezer temperature is ensured reliably and inexpensively. Can do.

  Further, the refrigerator of the present invention switches the fan motor to low speed rotation when the ambient temperature becomes low and the compressor stop time becomes longer than a predetermined time, so that the proper freezer temperature can be ensured and inexpensively. Can be secured.

  Moreover, since the refrigerator of this invention has the refrigerator compartment arrange | positioned above the freezer compartment, an operating rate can be raised further and a more suitable freezer compartment temperature can be ensured.

  The invention described in claim 1 includes a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a temperature sensor provided in the refrigerator compartment, a compressor of a refrigeration cycle, a fan motor for cooling air blowing, and a rotation speed switching means of the fan motor; , An operation timer that starts integration every time the compressor is started, and a stop timer that starts integration every time the compressor stops, and the operation of the compressor and the fan motor based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor When the compressor operation rate calculated from the operation timer and the elapsed time of the stop timer falls below a predetermined ratio, the rotation speed of the fan motor is switched to a lower rotation speed than usual. As a result, when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the amount of cool air flowing into the refrigerator compartment decreases, the compressor operating time increases, and the operating rate can be maintained high. Since manner made it possible to ensure proper freezing compartment temperature reliably and inexpensively.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a temperature sensor provided in the refrigerator compartment, a compressor of a refrigeration cycle, a fan motor for cooling air blowing, and a rotation speed switching means of the fan motor, A stop timer that starts integration every time the compressor stops, and operates and stops the compressor and the fan motor based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and the compression detected by the stop timer. When the machine stop time is longer than a predetermined time, the rotation speed of the fan motor is switched to a lower rotation speed than usual, so that when the ambient temperature is low such as in winter, the refrigerator compartment Since the amount of cool air flow to the compressor is reduced, the operation time of the compressor is increased, and the operation rate can be maintained high, an appropriate freezer compartment temperature can be ensured reliably and inexpensively.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerator compartment is disposed above the freezer compartment, and when the rotational speed of the fan motor is switched to a lower one, Since the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment is drastically reduced and the operation time of the compressor is further increased, a more appropriate freezer compartment temperature can be ensured.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a timing chart of the same embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, the refrigerator main body is partitioned into a refrigerator compartment 1 and a freezer compartment 2, a temperature sensor 3 and a refrigerator compartment heater 4 are disposed inside the refrigerator compartment 1, and a refrigerator cycle is cooled in the back of the refrigerator compartment 2. A container 5 and a fan motor 6 are accommodated. In addition, a temperature control device 10 including a compressor 7 of a refrigeration cycle and a microcomputer is disposed at the lower part of the main body. Further, the temperature control device 10 incorporates the function of the rotation speed switching means 9 of the fan motor 6 and the functions of the operation timer 11 and the stop timer 12.

  The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation start temperature, the operation of the compressor 7 is started by the output signal from the temperature control device 10, and the operation timer 11 starts integration. At the same time, the fan motor 6 also starts operation, and the cool air generated by the cooler 5 is blown to the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2.

  Next, when the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled and the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation stop temperature, the operation of the compressor 7 and the fan motor 6 is stopped and the stop timer 12 starts integration. At this time, energization to the refrigerator compartment heater 4 is also started.

  By repeating the above operation, the refrigerator compartment 1 is maintained in a certain temperature range (for example, 3 ° C. to 5 ° C.). With regard to the temperature of the freezer compartment 2, the rotational speed of the fan motor 6 is set to the following: It is designed to keep in an allowable temperature range (for example, −16 ° C. to −20 ° C.) by switching in two ways.

  From the compressor operation time (T1) detected by the temperature control device 10 with the operation timer 11 and the compressor stop time (T2) detected with the stop timer 12, the compressor operation rate (T1) in the section AB. / [T1 + T2]). When the operation rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined ratio (R), it is determined that the ambient temperature is high, and the fan motor 6 is operated at a normal rotation speed in the next section B to C. About the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 at this time, since the optimal distribution ratio of the amount of cold air sent to the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 is determined at the design stage, a predetermined temperature (usually about −18 ° C.) is set. It has come to be obtained.

  Conversely, if the compressor operating rate (T3 / [T3 + T4]) in the period D to E is equal to or less than the predetermined ratio (R), it is determined that the ambient temperature is low, and in the next period E to F, The fan motor 6 is operated at a lower rotational speed than usual. Thereby, since the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment 1 decreases, the operation time (T3) of the compressor 7 becomes longer, and an extreme decrease in the operation rate can be suppressed. Therefore, it can prevent that the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 becomes higher than an allowable range (for example, -15 degreeC or more).

  By repeating the above-described rotation speed switching determination of the fan motor 6 every time the compressor 7 is started, the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 can be kept within a certain temperature range.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, the temperature sensor provided in the refrigerator compartment, the compressor of the refrigeration cycle, the fan motor for cooling air blowing, and the rotational speed of the fan motor And a switching timer, an operation timer that starts integration every time the compressor is started, and a stop timer that starts integration every time the compressor stops, and the compressor and the fan motor based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor When the compressor operation rate calculated from the operation timer and the elapsed time of the stop timer falls below a predetermined ratio, the rotation speed of the fan motor is set to be lower than normal. By switching to the number, when the ambient temperature is low, such as in winter, the amount of cool air flowing into the refrigerator compartment decreases, the compressor operation time increases, and the operating rate is reduced. Since it becomes possible to maintain in order, it is possible to ensure proper freezing compartment temperature reliably and inexpensively.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a timing chart of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that there is no operation timer 11, the ambient temperature is estimated only by the stop timer 12, and the rotation speed switching control of the fan motor 6 is performed.

  The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  First, when the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation start temperature, the operation of the compressor 7 is started by an output signal from the temperature control device 10. At the same time, the fan motor 6 also starts operation, and the cool air generated by the cooler 5 is blown to the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2.

  Next, when the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled and the temperature sensor 3 detects the cooling operation stop temperature, the operation of the compressor 7 and the fan motor 6 is stopped and the stop timer 12 starts integration. At this time, energization to the refrigerator compartment heater 4 is also started.

  By repeating the above operation, the refrigerator compartment 1 is maintained in a certain temperature range (for example, 3 ° C. to 5 ° C.). With regard to the temperature of the freezer compartment 2, the rotational speed of the fan motor 6 is set to the following: It is designed to keep in an allowable temperature range (for example, −16 ° C. to −20 ° C.) by switching in two ways.

  Immediately after the GH period, the compressor stop time (T5) detected by the stop timer 12 is input to the temperature control device 10. When the stop time (T5) is shorter than the predetermined time (Tm), it is determined that the ambient temperature is high, and the fan motor 6 is operated at a normal rotational speed in the next HI section. About the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 at this time, since the optimal distribution ratio of the amount of cold air sent to the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 is determined at the design stage, a predetermined temperature (usually about −18 ° C.) is set. It has come to be obtained.

  Conversely, when the compressor stop time (T6) in the J to K section is longer than the predetermined time (Tm), it is determined that the ambient temperature is low, and the fan motor 6 is used in the next E to F section. Is operated at a lower rotational speed than usual. Thereby, since the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment 1 decreases, the operation time (T7) of the compressor 7 becomes longer, and an extreme decrease in the operation rate can be suppressed. Therefore, it can prevent that the temperature of the freezer compartment 2 becomes higher than an allowable range (for example, -15 degreeC or more).

  By repeating the above-described rotation speed switching determination of the fan motor 6 every time the compressor 7 is started, the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 can be kept within a certain temperature range.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, the temperature sensor provided in the refrigerator compartment, the compressor of the refrigeration cycle, the fan motor for cooling air blowing, and the rotational speed of the fan motor A switching unit and a stop timer that starts integration every time the compressor stops, and operates and stops the compressor and the fan motor based on a temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and is detected by the stop timer. When the compressor stop time is longer than a predetermined time, the rotation speed of the fan motor is switched to a lower rotation speed than usual, so that when the ambient temperature is low such as in winter Because the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment is reduced, the compressor operation time is extended, and the operating rate can be maintained at a high level, ensuring an appropriate freezer temperature reliably and inexpensively Door can be.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, in the refrigerator in the first or second embodiment, the refrigerator compartment is disposed above the freezer compartment. Therefore, the cool air sent from the fan motor to the refrigerator compartment is blown upward.

  The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

  Based on the operation rate or stop time of the compressor 7, the temperature control device 10 estimates the ambient temperature. When it is determined that the ambient temperature is low, the rotational speed of the fan motor 6 is switched to a rotational speed lower than normal.

  At this time, the amount of cool air flow to the refrigerator compartment decreases rapidly. In a refrigerator of the type in which the refrigerating room is located above, which has become the mainstream in recent years, the amount of cool air flowing into the refrigerating room 1 is drastically reduced when the number of rotations of the fan motor 6 is reduced due to, for example, a voltage drop of the power supply. It is known that it has the characteristic. This is probably because the cold air generated in the cooler 5 has a higher specific gravity than the air present in the refrigerator compartment 1 and therefore blows up against the resistance of gravity in order to blow upward. ing. In the present embodiment, this characteristic can be utilized well, and the operation time of the compressor 7 can be further increased.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment is arranged above the freezer compartment, so that when the rotational speed of the fan motor is switched to a lower one, Since the amount of cool air is drastically reduced and the operation time of the compressor is further increased, a more appropriate freezer compartment temperature (for example, −18 ° C. to −20 ° C.) can be secured.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can reliably and inexpensively provide appropriate freezer compartment temperature control when the ambient temperature is lowered, and can be widely applied to all forced-air cooling devices having a freezing and refrigeration area. .

Sectional drawing of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention Timing chart of refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention Timing chart of refrigerator in embodiment 2 of the present invention Sectional drawing of the refrigerator in Embodiment 3 of this invention Cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator Conventional refrigerator timing chart

Explanation of symbols

1 refrigerator compartment 2 freezer compartment 3 temperature sensor 6 fan motor 7 compressor 9 rotation speed switching means 11 operation timer 12 stop timer

Claims (3)

Refrigerating room and freezing room, temperature sensor provided in the refrigerating room, compressor for refrigeration cycle, fan motor for cooling air blowing, rotation speed switching means for the fan motor, and integration for each start of the compressor An operation timer to be started, and a stop timer to start integration every time the compressor is stopped, and the operation and stop of the compressor and the fan motor are performed based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and the operation timer and The refrigerator characterized by switching the rotation speed of the fan motor to a rotation speed lower than normal when the compressor operation rate calculated from the elapsed time of the stop timer becomes a predetermined ratio or less. Refrigerating room and freezing room, temperature sensor provided in the refrigerating room, compressor for refrigeration cycle, fan motor for cooling air blowing, rotation speed switching means for the fan motor, and integration for each stop of the compressor A stop timer that starts, and operates and stops the compressor and the fan motor based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and the compressor stop time detected by the stop timer is longer than a predetermined time. When it becomes longer, the refrigerator is characterized in that the rotation speed of the fan motor is switched to a rotation speed lower than normal. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator compartment is disposed above the freezer compartment.

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