JP2006317079A - Freezer-refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a freezer-refrigerator capable of making ice (preferably transparent ice) in a short time besides being compact. <P>SOLUTION: The freezer-refrigerator 59 is provided with a refrigerating cycle unit 19 for circulating a refrigerant by connecting a compressor 11 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser 13 for condensing and liquefying the compressed refrigerant, and a main evaporator 15 for vaporizing the liquefied refrigerant, wherein air is cooled with heat of vaporization of the main evaporator 15, and an auxiliary evaporator 1 performing a function of an ice making container 1 to which water sticks is integrated in series to the main evaporator 15 in the refrigerating cycle unit 19. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator-freezer, for example, a household refrigerator-freezer used at home.

  Conventionally, various refrigerators called indirect cooling (indirect cooling system) have been developed as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Such an indirect cooling type refrigerator-freezer includes a refrigeration cycle unit that generates cold air.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a general refrigeration cycle unit 119 includes a compressor 111, an auxiliary condenser 112, a condenser (fin tube evaporator) 113, a capillary tube 114, and an evaporator 115 through a refrigerant pipe 116. The refrigeration cycle is connected in a ring shape. And the refrigerator-freezer performs refrigeration and freezing by circulating the cold air (about -25 degreeC) by the evaporator 115 of this refrigeration cycle unit 119 in the store | warehouse | chamber by the ventilation fan 133. FIG.

  By the way, when water freezes and becomes ice, impurities dissolved in water are discharged at the boundary between ice and water (ice-water interface) in the process of freezing, and this ice-water interface (freeze interface). Is oversaturated. When the supersaturated impurity diffusion rate (diffusion rate) is slower than the ice growth rate (freezing rate), the ice grows while taking in impurities. As a result, cloudy ice is generated.

  Then, in order to generate ice with high transparency, it is only necessary to maintain the state that “the freezing rate is slower than the diffusion rate” or “the diffusion rate is faster than the freezing rate”. .

  However, an indirect cooling type refrigerator-freezer usually blows cold air of about −25 ° C. onto a stationary (immobilized) ice making container. Then, since the ice container does not move, the diffusion speed does not increase. For this reason, the diffusion rate becomes slower than the freezing rate, and the ice in the ice making container often becomes cloudy.

  Then, in order to avoid such a situation, there exists an idea of incorporating the ice making apparatus like patent document 2 * 3 in a refrigerator-freezer. FIG. 9 shows an ice making device 169 of Patent Document 2. In the ice making device 169 of Patent Document 2, a heating plate 161 is provided above the ice making container 101. Then, the heating plate 161 warms the water in the upper part of the ice making container 101, so that the freezing rate is slower than the diffusion rate (that is, the dissolved gas does not freeze part of the water so that the impurities as dissolved gas are in the water). Can diffuse). Therefore, this ice making device 169 can generate ice with high transparency.

On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows an ice making device 169 of Patent Document 3. The ice making device 169 of Patent Document 3 causes the water stored in the ice making water storage tank 141 to flow down on the ice making plate 162, thereby diffusing impurities in the ice making water, and the diffusion speed is higher than the freezing speed. It is Therefore, the ice making device 169 can generate highly transparent ice on the ice making plate 162.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 64-23081 (see FIG. 1 etc.) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-123968 (refer to claim 1, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-142033 (see FIG. 3)

  However, the ice making device 169 of Patent Document 2 raises the water temperature of the water in the ice making container 101. For this reason, the freezing rate is extremely reduced (for example, the freezing rate is about a fraction of that of a freezing rate not accompanied by an increase in water temperature). Then, when such an ice making device 169 tries to produce about 100 g of ice produced in a general-purpose refrigerator-freezer, it takes about 8 hours. Therefore, when such an ice making device 169 is incorporated in a refrigerator-freezer, the time required for ice making is about four times the normal ice making time (about 2 hours), and transparent ice cannot be obtained in a short time. Arise.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, an ice making device 169 that flows (sprays) ice making water on an ice making plate 162 is transparent in a shorter time (about 1 hour) than the ice making device 169 disclosed in Patent Document 2. Ice can be made. However, a dedicated refrigeration cycle for ice making is required. In other words, when such an ice making device 169 is incorporated in a refrigerator-freezer, two refrigeration cycles, that is, a refrigeration cycle for cooling inside the cabinet and a refrigeration cycle for ice making are required. Then, compared with the conventional refrigerator-freezer, the volume (space) which provides a 2 times refrigeration cycle unit is needed, and the problem that the volumetric efficiency in a refrigerator-freezer will deteriorate arises.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator-freezer that is compact and can produce ice (preferably transparent ice) in a short time.

  The present invention relates to a compressor that compresses refrigerant gas, a condenser that condenses and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas, a first type decompressor that depressurizes the condensed and liquefied refrigerant liquid, and an evaporator that evaporates the decompressed refrigerant liquid. Are connected to the refrigeration cycle unit so that an ice making evaporator dedicated to ice making is in series with the evaporator. It is characterized by being incorporated.

  When ice (cooled air) cooled by the evaporator is blown onto the water to generate ice (in the case of indirect cooling), the cold air with air interposed cools the water. However, the thermal conductivity of air is relatively low. Therefore, when ice is generated by such cooling, the heat (cold heat) of cold air is not efficiently transmitted to water.

  In the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, an ice-making evaporator capable of vaporizing the refrigerant is incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit. Therefore, the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle unit is transmitted to water via the ice making evaporator. That is, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention cools water without interposing air having a relatively low thermal conductivity. Therefore, it can be said that this invention is a refrigerator-freezer which can cool water efficiently compared with indirect cooling.

  Moreover, the refrigerator-freezer of this invention has produced | generated ice using the refrigeration cycle unit used for indirect cooling. Therefore, a separate refrigeration cycle unit or the like is not necessary. Therefore, enlargement of the refrigerator-freezer itself is suppressed.

  In addition, as an example of a refrigerator-freezer in which an evaporator for ice making and an evaporator are arranged in series, the evaporator is located upstream of the evaporator and branches from the downstream position of the condenser. The refrigerator pipe | tube provided with the evaporator for ice making is mentioned to the refrigerant | coolant pipe | tube which joins the upstream position of this.

  Thus, if the ice making evaporator and the evaporator are arranged in series, even if the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle unit flows to the ice making evaporator, it always flows to the evaporator. . Therefore, even if the refrigerant flows into the ice making evaporator, a situation where the cooling of the evaporator stops cannot occur. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention can generate ice with the ice making evaporator and cool the refrigerator compartment or the like with the evaporator. That is, the present invention provides a refrigerator-freezer that can simultaneously perform ice making and refrigeration.

  The material for the ice making evaporator and the cooling unit described later is not particularly limited, but a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity is preferable. For example, metals, such as copper and aluminum, are mentioned.

  Further, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention is provided with a water supply unit including a water storage container, a water supply pump, and a water supply pipe, and this water supply unit sucks water stored in the water storage container with a pump and through the water supply pipe, Water is supplied (for example, sprayed or flowed) to a cooling unit provided in the ice making evaporator. In addition, the shape of the cooling unit may be a plate shape (flat plate shape) or a container shape (box shape body).

  In general, when ice is generated, it is first frozen from the pure water portion, and the impurities in the water are expelled to the unfrozen portion. Therefore, by utilizing this property, the water supply unit sprays ice-making water onto the cooling unit fixed to the ice-making evaporator (or causes ice-making water to flow over the cooling unit). Solidify (freeze) pure water preferentially. On the other hand, the water supply unit is configured to include impurities in water that could not adhere to the cooling unit. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer of this invention can produce | generate the transparent ice (transparent ice) resulting from a pure water in a cooling part.

  Further, as described above, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, for example, the ice making evaporator branches from the upstream position of the evaporator and from the downstream position of the condenser, and downstream from the branched position and of the evaporator. It is provided in the refrigerant pipe that joins the upstream position. And in the refrigerator-freezer of such a structure, the 1st refrigerant | coolant adjustment valve which adjusts the refrigerant | coolant amount may be further provided in the branch location in a refrigerant pipe.

  If the refrigerant pipe branched in this way is provided with a refrigerant adjustment valve (first refrigerant adjustment valve), both the ice making evaporator and the evaporator are used according to the degree of opening / closing (adjustment degree) of the refrigerant adjustment valve. The amount of refrigerant flowing and the amount of refrigerant flowing only in the evaporator are different. Then, according to the amount of refrigerant | coolant, it becomes a refrigerator-freezer which can change ice-making capability and refrigeration capability suitably.

  By the way, generally, the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) condensed and liquefied by the condenser is reduced in temperature by being decompressed. Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, for example, a first-type decompressor for refrigeration or a second-type decompressor for ice making is provided in the refrigerant pipe from the condenser to the evaporator. This is because the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator and the refrigerant flowing through the ice making evaporator can be lowered. In addition, it is preferable that the 2nd type decompressor used for ice making is provided in the upstream position just before the ice making evaporator.

  In addition, at least one or more second-type decompressors are provided in the refrigerant pipe at a position downstream of the first refrigerant regulating valve and at an upstream position of the ice making evaporator, and at least one of the second type pressure reducers. The type 1 decompressor may be provided in the refrigerant pipe at a position downstream of the first refrigerant regulating valve and upstream of the evaporator.

  This is because both the refrigerant flowing through the ice making evaporator and the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator are lowered in temperature by decompression.

  In the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, it is preferable that the number of the second type reducers is larger than the number of the first type decompressors.

  The ice making evaporator is intended to produce ice. For this reason, it is preferable that a further low-temperature refrigerant flows. Then, the refrigerator-freezer of this invention makes the refrigerant | coolant which flows into the evaporator for ice making lower temperature than the refrigerant | coolant which flows into an evaporator by setting it as the above structures.

  In addition, the adjustment degree in said 1st refrigerant | coolant adjustment valve is controlled by the control part provided in the refrigerator-freezer. Therefore, a refrigerator-freezer in which the degree of adjustment can be set precisely has been realized.

  By the way, even if the refrigerant supplied to the ice making evaporator continues to flow into the evaporator, the refrigerant is the refrigerant after being evaporated once by the ice making evaporator. The cooling performance may be reduced. This is because the refrigerant liquid that has been partially heat-exchanged by vaporization by the ice making evaporator can exhibit only a reduced cooling performance compared to the refrigerant liquid that is not subjected to any heat exchange.

  Then, if the amount of energy required to cool the air in the refrigeration cycle unit (evaporator) is relatively increased due to the comparatively high temperature of the outside air or the temperature inside the cabinet, the refrigerant once evaporated in the evaporator When flowing, the cooling performance of the evaporator may be significantly reduced.

  Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, the control unit controls the degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant adjustment valve based on the outside air temperature or the internal temperature, and adjusts the refrigerant amount as appropriate.

  Specifically, the control unit defines the threshold temperature (threshold outside air temperature / threshold chamber temperature), and the threshold temperature and the measurement result of the temperature measuring unit (outside temperature measuring unit / inside chamber temperature measuring unit). In comparison, if the measurement result is higher than the threshold temperature, the degree of adjustment of the first refrigerant regulating valve is controlled so that the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the evaporator is greater than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the evaporator via the ice making evaporator. There are many.

  If it controls in this way, the fall of the cooling function of an evaporator (refrigeration refrigerator) will be prevented. Therefore, even if the outside air temperature or the inside temperature is relatively high, the inside temperature of the refrigerator-freezer is maintained below a certain temperature.

  Incidentally, as described above, the first refrigerant regulating valve is controlled by the control unit. And the control part is controlling the adjustment degree of a 1st refrigerant | coolant adjustment valve, for example according to outside temperature or internal temperature. However, there are limited cases where ice or the like is required by the user.

  Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, an input unit for inputting a command to the control unit is provided, and when the command is given by the input unit, the control unit controls the degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant regulating valve. It is supposed to be. Specifically, the control unit uses the first refrigerant regulating valve to increase the amount of refrigerant that flows only to the evaporator than the amount of refrigerant that flows to the evaporator via the ice making evaporator. Therefore, if such an input unit is provided, a refrigerator-freezer capable of making ice by an ice making evaporator can be realized as desired by a user or the like.

  Moreover, the air-cooling refrigerator of this invention is provided with the ventilation part which sends out the air (cold air) cooled with the evaporator inside the refrigerator-freezer. And by adjusting the air volume in this ventilation part, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment or the ice making room in a refrigerator-freezer can be changed, for example.

  Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, the control unit may blow the air cooled by the ice making evaporator by controlling the air blowing unit, and set the ambient temperature of the ice making evaporator to the refrigeration temperature zone.

  Thus, when the ambient temperature (container ambient temperature) of the ice making evaporator is in the refrigeration temperature zone (approximately 0 to 5 ° C.), for example, the side wall portion of the cooling unit located away from the refrigerant pipe is refrigerated. Difficult to drop below freezing point due to temperature range. On the other hand, the bottom of the cooling part near the refrigerant pipe becomes below the freezing point due to the influence of the refrigerant. Therefore, the water adhering to the cooling unit is solidified so as to be stacked from the bottom or the like that is most cooled by the cooling unit.

  In particular, since it has the property of being easily frozen from pure water, the pure water portion of water is preferentially laminated and solidified. As a result, a refrigerator-freezer capable of reliably producing transparent ice is realized.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator-freezer of this invention, a control part may ventilate the air cooled by the evaporator by controlling a ventilation part, and may set the ambient temperature of a water supply unit to a refrigerator temperature zone.

  According to this, it is impossible for ice making water stored in the water storage container or ice making water flowing through the water supply pipe to freeze. Therefore, the circulation of ice making ice in the water supply unit is reliably maintained. Therefore, the present invention can be said to be a refrigerator-freezer that can reliably supply ice making ice to the cooling unit.

  Further, in the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, a second branch that is branched from the upstream position of the condenser at the downstream position of the compressor and that adjusts the refrigerant amount to the refrigerant pipe connected to the upstream position immediately before the ice making evaporator. It is preferable that a refrigerant adjustment valve is provided.

  In such a case, since it is branched from the downstream position of the compressor, the refrigerant pipe through which the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (hot gas) immediately after being discharged from the compressor flows is connected to the upstream position of the ice making evaporator. . Then, the ice in contact with the bottom of the cooling part will melt. Therefore, the ice can be easily removed from the cooling unit. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention can suppress labor required for deicing.

  In the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, an ice-making evaporator that has a vaporizing function and is capable of adhering water is incorporated into a refrigeration cycle unit provided for indirect cooling. Therefore, it is a refrigerator-freezer that can generate ice (especially transparent ice) in a short time while being compact.

[Embodiment 1]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[About the structure of the refrigerator / freezer]
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of this invention is comprised so that the refrigerator compartment 21, the ice making room 22, the vegetable compartment 23, the freezer compartment 24 grade | etc., May be included. Each of these chambers (21 to 24) is cooled by receiving cold air from the refrigeration cycle unit 19 (indirect cooling system). Specifically, cold air from the refrigeration cycle unit 19 flows through an opening op provided in each chamber (for convenience, member symbols op are partially shown in the drawings).

  Each of these chambers is formed by partitioning an inner box 26 disposed inside the outer box 25 constituting the exterior body of the refrigerator-freezer 59 with a heat insulating partition plate 27. In addition, a heat insulating material is filled between the outer box 25 and the inner box 26 so that the temperature of each chamber is not affected by the outside air.

<Various temperature sensors>
Each chamber (21 to 24) is provided with a chamber temperature sensor 30 (30a to 30e) for measuring each room temperature (chamber temperature). That is, the refrigerator compartment 21 has a temperature sensor 30a in the refrigerator compartment, an ice making chamber 22 (specifically, an ice making storage chamber 22b to be described later), an ice making compartment temperature sensor 30b, and the vegetable compartment 23 has an inside of the vegetable compartment. The temperature sensor 30c and the freezer compartment 24 are provided with a freezer compartment temperature sensor 30d. The ice making chamber 22 is also provided with an ice making ice chamber temperature sensor 30e for measuring the inside of an ice making and freezing chamber 22a described later.

  Furthermore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 is provided with an outside air temperature sensor 31 for measuring outside air (outside the warehouse). And the result of the measurement temperature (temperature in a measurement cabinet / measured outside air temperature) of these various temperature sensors (30, 31) is output to the control unit 32 provided in the refrigerator-freezer 59.

  Note that the control unit 32 is a central part that performs operation control and the like of the entire refrigerating refrigerator 59, and organically controls the driving of each member of the refrigeration cycle unit 19 and the like, and performs overall control of the operation. .

<Refrigeration cycle unit>
Here, the refrigeration cycle unit 19 serving as a cooling device in the refrigerator 59 will be described in detail.

  The refrigeration cycle unit 19 is a unit constituting a refrigeration cycle, and includes a compressor 11, an auxiliary condenser 12, a condenser 13, a cold gas capillary tube (C capillary tube; decompressor) 14, a main evaporator (evaporator). ) 15 and a refrigerant pipe (refrigerant pipe) 16.

  The compressor 11 compresses and vaporizes a refrigerant (for example, chlorofluorocarbon, butane, and isobutane) that is a working medium of the refrigeration cycle at a high temperature and a high pressure. That is, the compressor 11 is a device having a compression function. The compressor 11 is accommodated in a highly sealed space in order to generate operating heat.

  The auxiliary condenser 12 evaporates water (defrost water) generated when the main evaporator 15 defrosts (defrosts). The auxiliary condenser 12 also has a function of cooling and condensing a part of the refrigerant vaporized at a high temperature from the compressor 11 with defrost water.

  The condenser 13 further condenses and liquefies the refrigerant cooled and condensed by the auxiliary condenser 12. That is, the condenser 13 is a device having a liquefaction function. Such a condenser 13 condenses and liquefies the refrigerant by releasing heat to the outside air using natural convection.

  The C capillary tube (first C capillary tube; first type decompressor) 14 is a decompressor that reduces the pressure of the refrigerant (specifically, the liquefied refrigerant) that flows into the main evaporator 15 and the like. .

  The main evaporator 15 evaporates the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) liquefied at low temperature and low pressure through the auxiliary condenser 12, the condenser 13 and the capillary tube 14 for C. That is, the main evaporator 15 is a device having a vaporization function. The main evaporator 15 takes heat inside the refrigerator / freezer 59 to evaporate (gasify) the refrigerant liquid. For example, a fin tube type heat exchanger is mentioned as an example.

  A blower fan 33 is provided in the vicinity of the main evaporator 15. The blower fan 33 sends out the air (air cooled by heat exchange) cooled by the main evaporator 15 to each room (the room such as the refrigerator room 21).

  The refrigerant pipe 16 is a pipe (tube) for connecting the compressor 11, auxiliary condenser 12, condenser 13, C capillary tube 14, and main evaporator 15. That is, the refrigerant pipe 16 is connected to each member (the compressor 11, the auxiliary condenser 12, the condenser 13, the C capillary tube 14, and the main evaporator 15) so as to circulate the refrigerant.

  A cycle in which the refrigerant flows from the compressor 11 to the auxiliary condenser 12 to the condenser 13 to the C capillary tube 14 to the main evaporator 15 to the compressor 11 is expressed as a cold gas cycle.

<Sub-evaporator incorporated in refrigeration cycle unit>
In the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, a sub-evaporator (ice-making evaporator) 1 is incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit 19. Specifically, the sub-evaporator unit 9 including the sub-evaporator 1, the connecting refrigerant pipe 16 a, and the three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve (refrigerant adjustment valve) 2 is incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit 19. It has become.

  The sub-evaporator 1 evaporates the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) liquefied at low temperature and low pressure by passing through the auxiliary condenser 12, the condenser 13 and the capillary tube 14 for C similarly to the main evaporator 15. Yes, it is provided in the connecting refrigerant pipe 16a.

  The sub-evaporator 1 is made of a metal having high thermal conductivity (for example, copper or aluminum), and its shape is a box-like body having an open surface so that ice can be generated. Yes. Specifically, it is a box-like body partitioned so as to have a plurality of four-sided depressions (ice making blocks) inside. Thus, from the point provided with an ice making block, the sub-evaporator 1 can be said to be a heat exchanger that functions as an ice making container. Therefore, for convenience of explanation, the ice making container may be assigned the same member number as the sub-evaporator 1 in some cases.

  Further, the shape of the sub-evaporator 1 may be a flat cooling plate (plate type ice making plate). In the case of such a shape, ice is made by flowing water down the cooling plate. That is, the shape of the sub-evaporator 1 itself of the present invention may be a box or a flat plate.

  In addition, the sub-evaporator 1 may be configured such that a cooling unit (a cooling container or a cooling plate) made of a box-like body or a flat plate-like material (copper or aluminum) is attached. In the present invention, the sub-evaporator 1 itself may have a shape capable of making ice, or the sub-evaporator 1 may be provided with a cooling unit having a shape capable of making ice. Therefore, the sub-evaporator 1 itself may serve as a cooling unit. Then, the sub-evaporator 1 and the cooling unit may be understood as synonymous.

  The connecting refrigerant pipe 16 a guides the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) flowing from the C capillary tube 14 of the refrigeration cycle unit 19 to the sub-evaporator 1, and the refrigerant (refrigerant gas) vaporized in the sub-evaporator 1. This pipe leads to the main evaporator 15. That is, the connection refrigerant pipe 16a can be said to be a branch pipe for diverting the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration cycle unit 19.

  Therefore, one end of the connecting refrigerant pipe 16 a is connected to the refrigerant pipe 16 disposed between the C capillary tube 14 and the main evaporator 15. On the other hand, the other end of the connection refrigerant pipe 16a is connected to a downstream position from a place where one end of the connection refrigerant pipe 16a is connected. That is, the sub-evaporator 1 provided in the connection refrigerant pipe 16a acquires and vaporizes the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) diverted from one end of the connection refrigerant pipe 16a, while vaporizing (gasified) refrigerant. (Refrigerant gas) is continuously sent to the main evaporator 15.

  The connection refrigerant pipe 16 a that guides the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) to the sub-evaporator 1 may be expressed as an input connection refrigerant pipe 16 aa, and the connection that guides the refrigerant evaporated in the sub-evaporator 1 to the main evaporator 15. The refrigerant pipe 16a may be expressed as an output connection refrigerant pipe 16ab. Further, since the connecting refrigerant pipe 16a circulates the refrigerant similarly to the refrigerant pipe 16, it may be expressed as a refrigerant pipe.

  This is because the connecting refrigerant pipe 16a is at the upstream position of the main evaporator 15 and branches from the downstream position of the condenser 13 (specifically, the capillary tube for C 14). This is because it can be said that the refrigerant pipe is connected to the downstream position and connected to the upstream position of the main evaporator 15 (combined).

  The three-way refrigerant diverting solenoid valve (first refrigerant diverting solenoid valve) 2 is a valve that adjusts the amount of refrigerant flowing through the main evaporator 15 and the sub-evaporator 1 after passing through the C capillary tube 14 (1). This is a valve that diverts the refrigerant flowing from one direction in two directions). Therefore, the refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2 is provided at the above branch point, that is, at a place where the input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa is connected to the refrigeration cycle unit 19.

  The three-way refrigerant shunt solenoid valve 2 can supply the refrigerant only to the main evaporator 15 by energization or non-energization, or can be supplied to the main evaporator 15 via the sub-evaporator 1. it can. Further, the three-way refrigerant diverter solenoid valve 2 can simultaneously supply the refrigerant to the sub-evaporator 1 and the main evaporator 15.

  And adjustment of this valve opening degree (adjustment degree) is performed based on the command (instruction) of the control part 32 provided in the refrigerator-freezer 59. FIG. Specifically, a valve drive motor (not shown) is attached, and the control unit 32 issues a command to the valve drive motor, so that the valve opening degree of the refrigerant shunt electromagnetic valve 2 is variously adjusted. ing.

  Further, the three-way refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2 is not limited to a solenoid valve, and may be an electric valve. In short, any valve that can adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant to the main evaporator 15 and the main evaporator 15 and the sub-evaporator 1 may be used.

[Examples of various features of the present invention]
As described above, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention includes the refrigerant pipe 16 that includes the compressor 11 that compresses the refrigerant, the condenser 13 that condenses and liquefies the compressed refrigerant, and the main evaporator 15 that vaporizes the liquefied refrigerant. By connecting them with each other, a refrigeration cycle unit 19 for circulating the refrigerant is provided, and the air is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the main evaporator 15.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, the sub-evaporator 1 that functions as the ice-making container 1 to which water is attached is incorporated in the upstream position of the main evaporator 15 in the refrigeration cycle unit 19. .

  As described above, the sub-evaporator 1 is an ice making container 1 made of a metal having high thermal conductivity. Therefore, the water (ice making water) stored in the ice making container 1 is frozen by the evaporation of the refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) in the refrigeration cycle unit 19.

  Thus, when ice-making water is cooled and solidified by heat exchange when the refrigerant liquid is vaporized (when cooled and solidified at about −20 ° C. to −30 ° C.), conventional cooled air (cold air) ) Is better than the case where ice is produced by spraying, the heat conduction efficiency (cooling efficiency) for ice-making water is better. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention can generate ice in a short time.

  In addition, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention does not require a separate refrigeration cycle unit because it can generate ice by using the refrigeration cycle unit 19 used in the indirect cooling system. Therefore, enlargement of the refrigerator-freezer 59 itself is suppressed. For this reason, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention can expand a space in the cabinet (for example, an indoor space such as the refrigerator compartment 21), and thus can be said to be a refrigerator-freezer having a wide indoor space, although it is compact.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention connects the input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa to the refrigerant pipe 16 disposed between the C capillary tube 14 and the main evaporator 15, and A three-way refrigerant diverter solenoid valve 2 is provided at a connection location (that is, a branch point). Furthermore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 connects the output connection refrigerant pipe 16ab to the refrigerant pipe 16 disposed between the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 and the main evaporator 15.

  That is, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, it is a position upstream of the main evaporator 15 and branches from the downstream position of the condenser 13 (specifically, the capillary tube for C 14), and further downstream from the branched position. In addition, the sub-evaporator 1 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 16 (that is, the connecting refrigerant pipe 16 a) that joins the upstream position of the main evaporator 15. In addition, a three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve 2 that adjusts the amount of refrigerant is provided at a branching point in the refrigerant pipe 16 (that is, upstream of two places where the connection refrigerant pipe 16a is provided).

  If such arrangement | positioning is performed, when a refrigerant | coolant flows into the sub-evaporator 1 provided in the connection refrigerant | coolant pipe 16a, the refrigerant | coolant after passing through the sub-evaporator 1 will also flow into the main evaporator 15. FIG. Therefore, it can be said that in the refrigeration refrigerator 59 of the present invention, the main evaporator 15 and the sub-evaporator 1 are arranged in series in the refrigeration cycle unit 19.

  When the sub-evaporator 1 and the main evaporator 15 are thus arranged in series in the refrigeration cycle unit 19 (refrigeration cycle), the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 flows from the C capillary tube 14. Even if the coming refrigerant (refrigerant liquid) is diverted, the refrigerant always flows to the main evaporator 15.

  That is, it can be said that the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention can always supply the refrigerant to the main evaporator 15. Therefore, the cooling of the air by the main evaporator 15 does not stop. Therefore, even if the ice making sub-evaporator 1 is provided, the present invention provides the refrigerator-freezer 59 in which the cooling capacity due to the main evaporator 15 does not decrease.

  In addition, according to the instruction | indication of the control part 32 of the refrigerator-freezer 59 of this invention, for example, only when ice is required, a refrigerant | coolant is divided into the sub-evaporator 1 and the main evaporator 15 with the refrigerant | coolant shunt solenoid valve 2. be able to. On the other hand, when ice is not required, the refrigerant can be passed only to the main evaporator 15. Therefore, it can be said that the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention includes the refrigeration cycle unit 19 that enables diversion of various refrigerants.

[Embodiment 2]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member used in Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment, the point that the sub-evaporator 1 (sub-evaporator unit 9) serving as the ice making container 1 is incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit 19 has been described mainly. Next, an example of the water supply unit 49 that can spray water on the ice making container 1 including the sub-evaporator 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[About the structure of the water supply unit]
As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply unit 49 includes an ice making water storage tank (water storage container) 41, an ice making water supply pipe (water supply pipe) 42, and a circulation pump (water supply pump) 43. 2 is a detailed view of the vicinity of the ice making container (sub-evaporator) 1 in FIG.

  The ice making water storage tank 41 stores water (ice making water) that is a source of ice. In the ice making water storage tank 41, it is necessary to maintain a liquid state, that is, a water state. Therefore, even if a heat insulating partition is provided so as to cover the ice making water storage tank 41 so that the surroundings including the ice making water storage tank 41 can be maintained at a temperature exceeding the freezing point (0 ° C.). Good.

  The ice making water supply pipe 42 is a pipe for supplying ice making water stored in the ice making water storage tank 41 to the ice making container 1. Specifically, one end of the ice making water supply pipe 42 is disposed so as to pierce from the outside to the inside of the ice making water storage tank 41, and the other end of the ice making water supply pipe 42 is partitioned of the ice making container 1. It is arranged in the vicinity of the open surface (open surface of the ice making block). The ice making water supply pipe 42 in the vicinity of the ice making container 1 is provided with an ejection hole 42a for blowing ice making water.

  A plurality of ice making blocks are two-dimensionally arranged on the open surface of the ice making container 1. Therefore, the ejection holes 42a are preferably provided in the ice making water supply pipe 42 so as to correspond to the respective ice making blocks. For this reason, the ice making water supply pipe 42 facing the open surface of the ice making container 1 may be branched into a plurality and arranged two-dimensionally. This is because if the two-dimensional ice-making water supply pipe 42 is arranged in such a manner as to be branched, the ejection holes 42a are easily provided so as to correspond to the respective ice-making blocks.

  The circulation pump 43 is a pump for blowing the ice making water in the ice making water storage tank 41 to the ice making container 1 through the ice making water supply pipe 42. That is, the discharge force of the circulation pump 43 causes the ice making water to blow out from the ejection hole 42 a via the ice making water storage tank 41 and the ice making water supply pipe 42. Therefore, the circulation pump 43 is arranged between one end and the other end of the ice making water supply pipe 42 arranged inside the ice making water storage tank 41. The circulation pump 43 is appropriately controlled by the control unit 32.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the ice making container 1 is a box-shaped body having an open surface, and is partitioned so as to have a plurality of depressions (ice-making blocks) in a quadrilateral shape inside the box-shaped body. Is. The ice making container 1 is disposed with the open surface facing the open surface of the ice making water storage tank 41 via the hinge portion 44, and the non-open surface (that is, the bottom portion of the ice making container 1) is a refrigerant. It is arranged so as to be in close contact with the pipe 16. Therefore, the ice making container 1 is directly cooled by the refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle unit 19.

  Therefore, the ice making water blown to the ice making container 1 by the circulation pump 43 is solidified (stacked and solidified) so as to be laminated from the bottom of the ice making container 1 toward the open surface. In particular, since water has a property of being easily frozen from pure water, transparent pure water is sequentially laminated and solidified (freezing). On the other hand, ice-making water containing impurities falls in the ice-making container 1 without freezing (unfreezing water and moves away from the ice-making container 1). Then, the unfrozen water that has fallen down further falls into the ice-making water storage tank 41 through, for example, a gap between the ice-making water supply pipes 42 that are arranged in a branched manner (two-dimensionally arranged).

  Then, the unfrozen water that falls into the ice-making water storage tank 41 is blown again to the ice-making container 1 by the circulation pump 43. That is, it can be said that the water supply unit 49 in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention circulates ice making water.

[Examples of various features of the present invention]
As described above, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention includes the water supply unit 49 that can spray ice-making water onto the ice-making container 1. The water supply unit sucks the ice making water stored in the ice making water storage tank 41 by using the circulation pump 43 and blows the sucked ice making water onto the ice making container 1 through the ice making water supply pipe 42. It has become.

  In general, when ice is generated, it is first frozen from the pure water portion, and the impurities in the water are expelled to the unfrozen portion. Therefore, by utilizing this property, the water supply unit 49 preferentially solidifies (freezes) pure water in the ice making water by blowing the ice making water to the ice making container 1, while impurities are not frozen (free ice making). The water is dropped so as to be included in the water that could not adhere to the container. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention can generate transparent ice (transparent ice) caused by pure water in the ice making container.

  The water supply unit 49 is not limited to the type in which the ice making water is ejected and attached to the ice making container 1 as described above. For example, a water supply unit of a type that obtains ice by flowing ice-making water down into a plate-shaped ice-making container may be used. The point is that impurities including dissolved gas etc. are not trapped in ice making water [the rate of diffusion of impurities into the water (diffusion rate) is faster than the rate of ice growth (freezing rate) It is sufficient that the state can be maintained.

[Embodiment 3]
Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member used in Embodiment 1 * 2, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The refrigerator-freezer 59 described above includes a C capillary tube 14. The C capillary tube 14 is positioned downstream of the condenser 13 and upstream of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 in the refrigeration cycle unit 19. However, in the present invention, the position and number of C capillary tubes 14 are not limited to those shown in FIG. Therefore, some examples are listed and described below.

[Example 1]
FIG. 3 shows a refrigeration according to the present invention in which the refrigerant tube 16 from the condenser 13 to the main evaporator 15 is provided with, for example, a plurality of C capillary tubes (for example, two C capillary tubes 14 and 52). A refrigerator 59 is shown. That is, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention is provided with a second C capillary tube (second type decompressor) 52 in addition to the first C capillary tube (first C capillary tube) 14. ing.

  Specifically, the second C capillary tube (second C capillary tube) 52 is located upstream of the sub-evaporator 1 and downstream of the three-way refrigerant shunt solenoid valve 2 (ie, output connection refrigerant pipe). 16aa).

  When such a second C capillary tube 52 is provided, the refrigerant is subjected to two-stage depressurization (subject to a two-stage throttle action) by the first C capillary tube 14 and the second C capillary tube 52. Then, the temperature of the refrigerant, which has been reduced to about −25 ° C. due to the pressure reduction by the first C capillary tube 14, is lowered to about −50 ° C. by the pressure reduction by the second C capillary tube 52.

  Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention having such a 2C capillary tube 52 has a higher speed in the ice making container 1 than in the case where ice is made by reducing the pressure of the refrigerant only by the 1C capillary tube 14. The ice making water can be cooled. For example, about 100 g of ice can be generated in a few minutes. (This kind of rapid cooling is expressed as “ultra-rapid ice-making mode”).

[Example 2]
In the example 2 refrigerator-freezer 59 shown in FIG. 4, the C capillary tube is not provided at the upstream position of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2, and the C capillary tube is provided at the downstream position of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2. I have to.

  Specifically, at least one C capillary tube (for example, 4C capillary tube 54; second type decompressor) is located downstream of the three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve 2 and upstream of the sub-evaporator 1. The refrigerant pipe 16 at the position (input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa) and at least one C capillary tube (for example, the third C capillary tube 53; first type pressure reducer) is provided with a three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic wave. The refrigerant pipe 16 is provided downstream of the valve 2 and upstream of the main evaporator 15.

  The third and fourth C capillary tubes (3C capillary tube and 4C capillary tube) 53 and 54 are both provided at the downstream position of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2. Yes. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing from the condenser 13 to the three-way refrigerant diverting electromagnetic valve 2 is a refrigerant liquid condensed and liquefied by the condenser 13, and the liquid temperature is approximately 30 to 50 ° C.

  Then, the three-way refrigerant diverting electromagnetic valve 2 diverts this relatively high-temperature refrigerant liquid. Therefore, the three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve 2 itself does not need to be covered with a heat insulating material (for example, a heat insulating foam) (for example, it is not necessary to embed the three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve 2 in the heat insulating foam). This is because it is not necessary to remove the influence of outside air.

  Thus, if it is the refrigerator-freezer 59 which does not need to cover the three-way type refrigerant | coolant shunt electromagnetic valve 2 with a heat insulation member etc., the three-way type refrigerant | coolant shunt electromagnetic valve 2 will be replaced easily. That is, when a failure or the like occurs in the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2, maintenance can be easily performed. Then, the refrigerator-freezer 59 provided with such a refrigeration cycle unit 19 can be said to be a refrigerator-freezer with excellent maintainability.

  In addition, the third C capillary tube 53 lowers the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the main evaporator 15, while the fourth C capillary tube 54 lowers the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the sub-evaporator 1. Therefore, the present invention can be said to be a refrigerator-freezer 59 that can lower the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into each evaporator (the main evaporator 15 and the sub-evaporator 1).

[Example 3]
In the refrigerator-freezer 59 of Example 3 shown in FIG. 5, the 3C capillary tube 53 is provided at the upstream position of the main evaporator 1 and at the downstream position of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2, as in FIG. 4. On the other hand, the 4C capillary tube 54 is provided at the upstream position of the sub-evaporator 1 and at the downstream position of the three-way refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2 (that is, the input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa). ing. Furthermore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of Example 3 has a fifth C capillary tube (second-type decompressor) located upstream of the 4C capillary tube 54 and downstream of the three-way refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2. 55 is provided.

  In other words, the number of C capillary tubes (for example, the fourth and fifth C capillary tubes) provided in the refrigerant pipe 16 (input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa) between the three-way refrigerant diverter solenoid valve 2 and the sub-evaporator 1. 54 and 55) is larger than the number of C capillary tubes (for example, the third C capillary tube 53) provided in the refrigerant tube 16 between the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 and the main evaporator 15. It will be.

  When such a fifth C capillary tube (fifth C capillary tube) 55 is provided, the refrigerant reaching the sub-evaporator 1 is supplied by the fifth C capillary tube 55 and the fourth C capillary tube 2 to 2 You will be subject to staged decompression. Then, the temperature of the refrigerant, which has been reduced to about −25 ° C. due to the decompression by the 5C capillary tube 14, is lowered to about −50 ° C. by the decompression by the 4C capillary tube 52.

  In other words, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of Example 3 in which the 5C capillary tube 55 is added to the refrigerator-freezer 59 provided with the 3C capillary tube 53 and the 4C capillary tube 54, the refrigerant is decompressed only by the 4C capillary tube 54. The ice making water in the ice making container 1 can be rapidly cooled as compared with the refrigerator-freezer 59 of Example 2 in which ice making is performed.

[Embodiment 4]
Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member used in Embodiment 1-3, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The refrigerator-freezer 59 in the first to third embodiments is provided with the three-way refrigerant branching electromagnetic valve 2. The opening degree of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 is controlled by the control unit 32. Therefore, the control of the valve opening degree of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 by the control unit 32 will be described below.

<Control of the valve opening of the refrigerant shunt solenoid valve based on the outside air temperature>
The valve opening degree of the three-way refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 by the control unit 32 is controlled so as not to place an excessive burden on the performance of the refrigeration cycle unit 19. Specifically, the cooling performance of the air by the main evaporator 15 is prevented from deteriorating due to the ice making by the sub-evaporator 1.

  Normally, when the outside air temperature is high (approximately 30 ° C. or higher), the amount of energy required for cooling the air in the refrigeration cycle unit 19 is relatively increased. Then, even if the refrigerant once vaporized continues to flow into the main evaporator 15, the cooling function of the main evaporator 15 may be lowered. This is because the refrigerant liquid that has been partially heat-exchanged by vaporization by the sub-evaporator 1 can exhibit only a reduced cooling performance compared to the refrigerant liquid that is not subjected to any heat exchange.

  Therefore, the control unit 32 is based on the temperature of the outside air (specifically, based on the temperature measured by the outside air temperature sensor 31 provided in the refrigerator-freezer 59 (measured outside air temperature)), and a three-way refrigerant flow solenoid valve. 2, the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the main evaporator 15 is made larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the main evaporator 15 via the sub-evaporator 1.

  If controlled in this way, the internal temperature of the refrigerator-freezer 59 (for example, the internal temperature of the refrigerator compartment 21) caused by the main evaporator 1 is maintained below a certain temperature even when the outside air temperature is relatively high. it can. Therefore, the freezer refrigerator 59 that prevents the cooling performance of the main evaporator 15 (and thus the refrigeration cycle unit 19) from being lowered is realized.

  In addition, as an example of adjustment of the refrigerant quantity based on the outside air temperature, the control unit 32 prescribes an outside air temperature (threshold outside air temperature) that is a threshold value in advance, and when the measured outside air temperature is higher than the threshold outside air temperature, In some cases, the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the main evaporator 15 is controlled to be larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the main evaporator 15 via the sub-evaporator 1 by controlling the valve opening of the three-way refrigerant diverting electromagnetic valve 2. is there.

<Control of opening degree of refrigerant shunt solenoid valve based on internal temperature>
Moreover, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of this invention, the control part 32 may control the valve opening degree in the three-way-type refrigerant | coolant shunt electromagnetic valve 2 based on the internal temperature.

  For example, the freezer compartment 24 is set by the control unit 32 so as to maintain a temperature within a predetermined range (for example, −18 ° C. to −20 ° C.). Therefore, when the measurement temperature (temperature in the measurement chamber) of the freezer compartment temperature sensor 30d exceeds the upper limit value (for example, −18 ° C.) of the temperature within a predetermined range, the control unit 32 uses the refrigeration cycle unit 19. Control to cool the air further. On the other hand, when the measured temperature of the temperature sensor 30d in the freezer compartment exceeds the lower limit value (for example, −20 ° C.) of the temperature within the predetermined range, the control unit 32 temporarily stops the operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 19 and excessively increases. Control to prevent cool air.

  In the case of such control, in particular, the control unit 32 uses the refrigeration cycle unit 19 to further cool the air in order to exceed the upper limit value of the temperature within a certain range within the freezer compartment 24 and the like. When controlling, it is necessary to supply a relatively large amount of refrigerant to the main evaporator 15. Then, in spite of such a necessity, when the refrigerant having passed through the sub-evaporator 1 is mainly supplied to the main evaporator 15, the cooling performance of the main evaporator 15 (and thus the refrigeration cycle unit 19) is improved. Will be reduced.

  Then, the control part 32 is based on the temperature (measurement chamber temperature) measured by the chamber temperature sensor 30 provided in each chamber (21-24) of the refrigerator-freezer 59 based on the temperature in the chamber. Based on] the valve opening degree in the three-way refrigerant shunt solenoid valve 2 is controlled, and the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the main evaporator 15 is made larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the main evaporator 15 via the sub-evaporator 1. Yes.

  By controlling in this way, even if the internal temperature is relatively high, the internal temperature of the freezer refrigerator 59 (for example, the internal temperature of the freezer compartment 24) can be maintained below a certain temperature. Therefore, the refrigerating refrigerator 59 that prevents the cooling performance of the refrigerating cycle unit 19 (and thus the refrigerating refrigerator 59) from being lowered is realized.

  In addition, as an example of adjustment of the refrigerant | coolant amount based on chamber temperature, the control part 32 prescribes | regulates the chamber temperature (threshold chamber temperature) used as a threshold value beforehand, and this chamber interior is measured from this threshold chamber temperature. When the temperature is high, the valve opening degree of the first refrigerant diverting solenoid valve 2 or the second refrigerant diverting solenoid valve 5 is controlled, and the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the main evaporator 15 is passed through the sub-evaporator 1 to the main evaporator 15. In some cases, the amount of refrigerant flowing in

[Embodiment 5]
Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described. In addition, about the member which has the same function as the member used in Embodiment 1-4, the same code | symbol is attached and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the refrigeration refrigerator 59 in the first to fourth embodiments, the sub-evaporator 1 has a serial relationship with the main evaporator 15 in the refrigeration cycle unit 19. The ice making chamber 22 in which the sub-evaporator (ice making container) 1 is disposed will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the ice making chamber 22 is divided by a heat insulating partition plate 27. Specifically, the ice making chamber 22 is divided into an ice making and freezing chamber 22a and an ice making storage chamber 22b.

  The ice making and freezing chamber 22 a is a space for accommodating the sub-evaporator (ice making container) 1 and the water supply unit 49. The ice making and freezing chamber 22a is maintained at a temperature of approximately 0 ° C. to 5 ° C. (0 ° C. or more and 5 ° C. or less; refrigeration temperature zone) by adjusting the air volume by the blower fan 33.

  On the other hand, the ice making storage chamber 22b is a space for storing ice generated in the ice making container 1. Therefore, the ice making storage chamber 22b accommodates the ice storage BOX 34 for storing ice, and is maintained at a temperature below about 0 ° C. (below the freezing point; for example, about −20 ° C.) by adjusting the air volume by the blower fan 33. ing. That is, in order to maintain the ice in a solidified state, the ice making storage chamber 22b is maintained at a temperature (freezing temperature range) below the freezing point.

  As described above, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, the control unit 32 controls the blower fan 33 so that the room temperatures of the ice making and freezing chamber 22a and the ice making storage chamber 22b are made different. In particular, the internal temperature (indoor temperature) of the ice making and freezing chamber 22a is in the refrigeration temperature zone (chilled zone). Therefore, the ambient temperature of the ice making container 1 is also in the refrigeration temperature zone.

  Thus, when the ambient temperature (container ambient temperature) of the ice making container 1 is in the refrigeration temperature zone, the side wall portion in the ice making block is less likely to be below the freezing point due to the influence of the refrigeration temperature zone. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the bottom of the ice making container 1 (ice making block) directly attached to the refrigerant pipe 26 is below the freezing point due to the influence of the refrigerant.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the ice making water adhering to the ice making container 1 is solidified so as to be surely stacked from the bottom part that is most cooled in the ice making block toward the open surface. In particular, the pure water portion of the ice making water is preferentially laminated and solidified due to the property of being easily frozen from pure water. As a result, a refrigerator-freezer 59 that can reliably generate transparent ice is realized.

  Further, as described above, since it is easy to freeze from pure water, transparent pure water is sequentially laminated and solidified (freezing), while ice-making water containing impurities falls from the ice-making vessel 1. However, not all of the ice-making water containing impurities may fall, and some ice-making water may adhere to the side wall of the ice-making container 1 (ice-making block).

  However, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, the side wall portion of the ice making block is difficult to be below the freezing point due to the refrigeration temperature zone. Therefore, a situation in which some ice-making water containing impurities freezes on the side wall portion cannot occur. Therefore, the present invention can be said to be a refrigerator-freezer 59 that can generate transparent ice more reliably.

  Further, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, a water supply unit 49 for supplying ice making water to the ice making container 1 is also accommodated in the ice making and ice forming chamber 22a. That is, the ambient temperature of the water supply unit 49 (water supply unit ambient temperature) is also in the refrigeration temperature zone. For this reason, the ice making water stored in the ice making water storage tank 41 in the water supply unit 49 and the ice making water flowing through the ice making water supply pipe 42 cannot freeze. Therefore, the circulation of ice making ice in the water supply unit 49 is reliably maintained. Therefore, the present invention can be said to be a freezer refrigerator 59 that can reliably supply ice making ice to the ice making container 1.

  Even if the ice making container 1 and the water supply unit 49 are disposed in the refrigerator compartment 21, the ambient temperature of both (the ice making container 1 and the water supply unit 49) is in the refrigerator temperature zone. Therefore, even if such arrangement is performed, it can be said that the refrigerator / freezer 59 can reliably supply ice making ice to the ice making container 1 as described above.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[About refrigerator-freezers using hot gas]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, from the ice making container 1 using hot gas in the refrigeration cycle unit 19 (refrigerant sent from the compressor 11 immediately before flowing into the auxiliary condenser 12; refrigerant gas at approximately 60 to 80 ° C.). It may be a refrigerator-freezer 59 that makes it easy to de-ice ice. For example, a hot gas capillary tube 35 which is a decompression device for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant from the compressor 11 may be provided.

  For example, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention connects one end of a hot gas capillary tube (H capillary tube) 35 to a refrigerant pipe 16 disposed between the compressor 11 and the auxiliary condenser 12. On the other hand, the other end of the H capillary tube 35 is connected to a refrigerant pipe 16 (input connection refrigerant pipe 16aa) disposed between the sub-evaporator (ice-making container) 1 and the first refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2. It has become.

  Further, the refrigerator-freezer 59 has a second refrigerant branch solenoid valve 36 (second refrigerant branch solenoid) that allows the refrigerant from the compressor 11 to be supplied to the H capillary tube 35 on one end side of the H capillary tube 35. A valve 36) is provided.

  That is, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention, it branches from the downstream position of the compressor 11 and from the upstream position of the condenser 13 (specifically, the auxiliary condenser 12) and leads to the upstream position immediately before the ice making container 1. A second refrigerant adjustment valve 36 for adjusting the amount of refrigerant is provided in the hot gas channel thus formed (for example, the C capillary tube 35 as shown in FIG. 6 or a refrigerant tube). The valve opening degree of the second refrigerant branching solenoid valve 36 is variously adjusted by the control unit 32 as in the above-described three-way refrigerant branching solenoid valve 2.

  In this way, if the H capillary tube 35 is configured to be incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit 19, a part of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (refrigerant gas) immediately after being discharged from the compressor 11 is part of the second refrigerant diversion. It flows to the capillary tube for H 35 through the electromagnetic valve 36 and further flows to the ice making container 1.

  With such a configuration, for example, the control unit 32 completely generates ice in the ice making container 1 based on a detection result of an ice making detection sensor (not shown) (a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the ice making container 1). If it is determined that the first refrigerant branch solenoid valve 2 is closed, the second refrigerant branch solenoid valve 36 is opened. Then, a part of the high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant (hot gas) from the compressor 11 flows into the H capillary tube 35 via the second refrigerant branching solenoid valve 36 and further flows into the ice making container 1. .

  However, due to the resistance of the H capillary tube 35, only a small amount of hot gas (partial hot gas) reaches the ice making container 1. However, the ice making container 1 is heated even under the influence of a small amount of hot gas. Then, after several minutes, the temperature of the ice making container 1 becomes about 10 ° C. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the ice in contact with the bottom of the ice making container 1 starts to melt and further falls (ice-off) due to gravity.

  In particular, when such ice falls, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention rotates the hinge portion 44 with a drive motor (not shown) to separate the water supply unit from the ice making container 1 as shown in FIG. I am doing so. When the water supply unit 49 is separated from the ice making container 1 in this way, the falling ice passes through the ice making water supply pipe 42 (two-dimensional partition) arranged in a two-dimensional manner (as a guide), and stores ice. This is because it is guided to the BOX 34 (see FIG. 1 and the like).

  The reason why only a part of the hot gas flows into the H capillary tube 35 is to prevent an excessive increase in the temperature of the ice making container 1. Further, even when the refrigerant is supplied to the H capillary tube 35, the refrigerant can be supplied (cold gas cycle) to the auxiliary condenser 12, the condenser 13, the C capillary tube 14, and the main evaporator 15. In order to prevent deterioration of the cooling function.

[About refrigerators and refrigerators with an input unit]
Further, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention is provided with various cooling types [types that are cooled only by the main evaporator (main evaporator cooling type), types that are cooled by the main evaporator and the sub-evaporator ( Main evaporator / sub-evaporator cooling type)]. Therefore, the refrigerator-freezer 59 of the present invention may include an input unit (not shown) that can specify a cooling type for the control unit 32. This is because, if such an input unit (switch) is provided, various cooling types can be arbitrarily designated. Further, only when ice is required, a user or the like can turn on the input unit and cause the sub-evaporator 1 to make ice.

  In particular, in the refrigerator-freezer 59 that realizes two-stage decompression of the refrigerant as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a mode capable of generating ice rapidly (ultra-rapid ice making mode) is provided. Therefore, if there is an input unit, the super quick ice making mode can be executed when the user needs ice quickly. However, such a super rapid ice making mode reduces the cooling function of the main evaporator 15. Therefore, when the outside air temperature or the inside temperature is relatively high, a control program that prevents execution of the super rapid ice making mode may be incorporated in the control unit 32.

[Another expression of the present invention]
In addition, the refrigerator-freezer of this invention mentioned above can also be expressed as follows.

  The present invention is a refrigerating refrigerator provided with a compression refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor, and an evaporator are connected in an annular shape, and includes an indirect cooling main evaporator and an ice-making sub-evaporator ( And a main evaporator connected in series after a sub-evaporator dedicated to ice making for a specific period.

  Further, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention has a mode in which the refrigerant flows to both the ice evaporator-dedicated sub-evaporator and the indirect cooling main evaporator, and a mode in which the refrigerant flows only to the indirect refrigerant main evaporator. These modes are switched by a refrigerant adjustment valve.

  In addition, the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention has a decompressor that uses a decompressor more than the other mode in which the refrigerant flows only to the main evaporator when the mode in which the refrigerant flows in series to both evaporators is selected by the refrigerant regulating valve. The level may be increased.

  Moreover, the refrigerator-freezer of this invention may control mode switching by a refrigerant | coolant adjustment valve based on the necessity of ice making, or the temperature in the refrigerator in a refrigerator.

  In the refrigerator-freezer of the present invention, the ice making sub-evaporator may be provided in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator-freezer or in the refrigerator adjusted to the temperature zone (refrigeration temperature zone) of the refrigerator compartment.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention is useful to the refrigerator-freezer provided with the refrigerating cycle unit which circulates a refrigerant | coolant by connecting a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator with a refrigerant pipe.

It is a schematic block diagram of the refrigerator-freezer of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the ice making container and the water supply unit provided in the refrigerator-freezer of this invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerator-freezer provided with first and second C capillary tubes, showing another example of the refrigerator-freezer of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows another example of the refrigerator-freezer of FIGS. 1 and 3 and is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigerator-freezer provided with third and fourth C capillary tubes. FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerator-freezer provided with third, fourth, and fifth C capillary tubes, showing another example of the refrigerator-freezer of FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. 6 shows another example of the refrigerator-freezer of FIGS. 1 to 3 and is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerator-freezer provided with a capillary tube for H. FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state which the ice is deicing from the ice making container. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional refrigeration cycle. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional ice making apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional ice making apparatus which is another example.

Explanation of symbols

1 Sub-evaporator (ice container)
2 1st refrigerant | coolant shunt solenoid valve (1st refrigerant | coolant adjustment valve)
9 Sub-evaporator unit 11 Compressor 12 Auxiliary condenser (condenser)
13 Condenser 14 First cold capillary tube (first type decompressor)
15 Main evaporator (evaporator)
16 Refrigerant pipe (refrigerant pipe)
16a Connection refrigerant pipe (refrigerant pipe)
19 Refrigeration cycle unit 21 Refrigeration room 22 Ice making room 22a Ice making room (ice making room)
22b Ice making room (ice making room)
30 Internal temperature sensor (Internal temperature measurement part)
31 Outside temperature sensor (outside temperature measuring unit)
32 Control unit 33 Blower fan (Blower unit)
35 Hot capillary tube 36 Second refrigerant branch solenoid valve (second refrigerant regulating valve)
41 Ice making water storage tank (water storage container)
42 Ice making water supply pipe (water supply pipe)
43 Circulation pump (water supply pump)
49 Water supply unit 52 Second cold capillary tube (second type pressure reducer)
53 3rd cold capillary tube (first type pressure reducer)
54 Fourth cold capillary tube (second-type decompressor)
55 Fifth cold capillary tube (second-type decompressor)
59 Refrigerator

Claims (17)

A compressor that compresses the refrigerant gas, a condenser that condenses and liquefies the compressed refrigerant gas, a first type decompressor that depressurizes the condensed and liquefied refrigerant liquid, and an evaporator that evaporates the depressurized refrigerant liquid. In the refrigerator-freezer provided with the refrigeration cycle unit that is connected in a ring by a tube
A freezer refrigerator characterized in that an ice making evaporator dedicated to ice making is incorporated in the refrigeration cycle unit so as to be in series with the evaporator. The ice making evaporator is
The refrigerant pipe which is located upstream of the evaporator and which branches from a downstream position of the condenser and which joins the downstream position of the branch and upstream of the evaporator is provided. 1. The refrigerator-freezer according to 1. A cooling unit is provided in the ice making evaporator,
A water supply unit including a water storage container, a water supply pump, and a water supply pipe is provided,
3. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1, wherein the water supply unit sucks water stored in the water storage container with a water supply pump and supplies the water to the cooling unit through a water supply pipe.   4. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 3, wherein the supply of water to the cooling unit is performed by blowing water to the cooling unit or flowing water to the cooling unit.   5. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 2, wherein a first refrigerant adjustment valve for adjusting an amount of refrigerant is provided at a branching location in the refrigerant pipe.   The refrigerator-freezer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a second-type decompressor is provided in a refrigerant pipe from the condenser to the evaporator.   The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the second type decompressor is provided at an upstream position immediately before the ice making evaporator. At least one or more second-type pressure reducers are provided in a refrigerant pipe at a position downstream of the first refrigerant regulating valve and at an upstream position of the ice making evaporator,
The at least one or more first-type pressure reducers are provided in a refrigerant pipe at a position downstream of the first refrigerant regulating valve and at an upstream position of the evaporator. Freezer refrigerator.   The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 8, wherein the number of the second type reducers is larger than the number of the first type decompressors. A control unit is provided,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the control unit controls an adjustment degree in the first refrigerant adjustment valve. An outside temperature measuring unit for measuring outside temperature is provided,
11. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 10, wherein the control unit controls a degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant regulating valve based on an outside air temperature measured by the outside air temperature measuring unit. The control unit
When a predetermined threshold outside temperature is specified and the measured outside temperature is higher than the threshold outside temperature,
The degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant regulating valve is controlled so that the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the evaporator is larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the evaporator via the ice making evaporator. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 11. An internal temperature measuring unit for measuring the internal temperature in the freezer is provided,
11. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 10, wherein the control unit controls an adjustment degree in the first refrigerant adjustment valve based on a temperature in the measurement chamber by the temperature measurement unit in the chamber. The control unit
If the threshold temperature is set in advance, and the temperature in the measurement chamber is higher than the threshold temperature,
The degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant regulating valve is controlled so that the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the evaporator is larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the evaporator via the ice making evaporator. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 13. An input unit for inputting a command to the control unit is provided,
When commanded by this input,
The control unit controls the degree of adjustment in the first refrigerant regulating valve so that the amount of refrigerant flowing only to the evaporator is larger than the amount of refrigerant flowing to the evaporator via the ice making evaporator. The refrigerator-freezer of any one of Claims 10-14 characterized by the above-mentioned. A blower unit for sending out the air cooled by the evaporator is provided,
The said control part blows the air cooled by the said ice making evaporator by controlling this ventilation part, The ambient temperature of the ice making evaporator is made into the refrigeration temperature range, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. The refrigerator-freezer of any one of -15.   The refrigeration according to claim 16, wherein the control unit controls the air blowing unit to blow the air cooled by the evaporator so that the ambient temperature of the water supply unit is in a refrigeration temperature zone. refrigerator.

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