JP2007046831A - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance the cooling efficiency of a radiating part in a cooling storage having a dustproof filter. <P>SOLUTION: A Stirling cooling storage 1 comprises a cooling storage body 1A; a high temperature side condenser 7 mounted to the cooling storage body 1A; a duct 1B through which a cooling air in the high temperature side condenser 7 flows; an upper filter 31 and a lower filter 32 provided at both ends of the duct 1B respectively; a fan 8 provided in the duct 1B to generate an air current in the duct 1B; and a controller reversing an air current direction in the duct 1B by the fan 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a dustproof filter.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a refrigerator provided with an air passage for cooling a radiator and provided with a blower fan that generates an air flow in the air passage.

Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-126091 (Patent Document 1), by rotating the sending fan in reverse for a certain period of time, the dust collected in the filter provided on the upstream side of the fan is blown off and the filter eyes are removed. It describes preventing clogging.
JP-A-5-126091

  When the air flow is generated toward the heat radiating portion as described above, dust floating in the air adheres to the heat radiating portion, and the heat exchange efficiency of the heat radiating portion is lowered. As a result of the heat exchange efficiency of the heat radiating portion being reduced, the power consumption of the refrigerator is increased.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a dustproof filter at the suction port of the air passage. However, since dust is collected in the dustproof filter, the air suction efficiency is lowered, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the heat radiating portion is lowered.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 describes that dust collected on the filter is blown away by rotating the blower fan in the reverse direction. However, when the blower fan is rotated in the reverse direction, the amount of air sucked in is reduced. Insufficient heat exchange efficiency of the heat radiating section may be reduced.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above problems, and the objective of this invention is to provide the refrigerator with the high cooling efficiency of a thermal radiation part.

  The cooler according to the present invention includes a cooler body, a radiator attached to the cooler body, a ventilation path through which cooling air of the radiator flows, and first and second provided at both ends of the ventilation path, respectively. A dustproof filter, an air blower that is provided in the air passage and generates an air flow in the air passage, and a control unit that reverses the direction of the air flow from the air blower.

  According to the above configuration, the dust collected on the second dust filter can be scattered by generating an air flow from the first dust filter to the second dust filter. The dust collected on the first dustproof filter can be scattered by generating an air flow toward the first dustproof filter. On the other hand, when airflow is generated in any direction, air is supplied to the air passage through the dust filter on the upstream side, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the radiator is not lowered. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the radiator is improved.

  Preferably, the cooler further includes a reversing mechanism capable of reversing the direction of the blower device by 180 °, and the control unit reverses the direction of the airflow by operating the reversing mechanism.

  Thereby, it is possible to reverse the airflow direction without changing the air entry angle with respect to the blower.

The refrigerator further includes a drain pan for storing drain water on the air passage.
Thereby, it is possible to guide the relatively high temperature airflow that has passed over the radiator onto the drain water stored in the drain pan. As a result, evaporation of drain water is promoted. On the other hand, it is also possible to guide the airflow that has passed over the drain water onto the radiator. In this case, humid air with relatively high humidity is supplied onto the radiator. Since humid air has a higher heat transport potential than dry air, the cooling efficiency of the radiator is increased.

  Preferably, the cooler further includes a Stirling engine having a high temperature part and a low temperature part, an evaporator provided in the high temperature part, for evaporating the refrigerant inside, and a condenser for condensing the evaporated refrigerant, This condenser is used as a radiator.

  Thereby, the Stirling cooler with high cooling efficiency of the condenser as a heat radiating part is obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, clogging of a dustproof filter can be suppressed and the cooling efficiency of a thermal radiation part can be improved.

  Below, the embodiment of the refrigerator based on this invention is described. Note that the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may not be repeated.

  In the specification of the present application, the “refrigerator” is a concept including all of “refrigerator”, “freezer”, and “refrigerator”.

  FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of a Stirling cooler as an example of a cooler according to one embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the Stirling refrigerator 1 includes a Stirling refrigerator 4 (Stirling engine) having a high temperature part 2 and a low temperature part 3, a high temperature side evaporator 5 attached to the high temperature part 2, and a high temperature side condenser. 7 and the first high temperature side circulation circuit (first circulation circuit) including the pipes 2A and 2B, and the second high temperature side circulation circuit including the high temperature side evaporator 5, the circulation pump 6, the dew prevention pipe 9 and the pipes 2C to 2E ( 2nd circulation circuit) and the low temperature side circulation circuit containing the low temperature side condenser 10 attached to the low temperature part 3, the low temperature side evaporator 11, and the pipes 3A and 3B. The first high temperature side circulation circuit cools the high temperature part 2 of the Stirling refrigerator 4, and the second high temperature side circulation circuit supplies heat to the dew condensation prevention pipe 9. The low temperature side circulation circuit exchanges heat between the air in the refrigerator and the low temperature part 3 of the Stirling refrigerator 4 via the low temperature side evaporator 11.

Water (H ₂ O) or the like is sealed as a refrigerant in the first and second high temperature side circulation circuits. The refrigerant evaporated in the high temperature side evaporator 5 reaches the high temperature side condenser 7 via the pipe 2A (high temperature side conduit) (broken line arrow in FIG. 1). The refrigerant is condensed and liquefied by heat exchange with the outside air in the high temperature side condenser 7. In order to promote this heat exchange, a fan 8 that generates an air flow in the vicinity of the high-temperature side condenser 7 is provided. The liquefied refrigerant returns to the high temperature side evaporator 5 through the pipe 2B (high temperature side return pipe). In the first high temperature side circulation circuit, the heat generated in the high temperature part 2 can be transferred to the high temperature side condenser 7 by utilizing the natural circulation caused by the evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant. The side condenser 7 is disposed above the high temperature side evaporator 5. Further, in order to adjust the boiling point of the refrigerant, the pressure in the circulation circuit system is adjusted (reduced pressure from atmospheric pressure).

  On the other hand, a pipe 2 </ b> C is connected to the lower part of the high temperature side evaporator 5. Liquid phase refrigerant flows from the high temperature side evaporator 5 into the pipe 2C. The refrigerant flowing into the pipe 2 </ b> C reaches the circulation pump 6 provided below the Stirling refrigerator 4. The refrigerant discharged from the circulation pump 6 is sent to the dew prevention pipe 9 via the pipe 2D. Here, the refrigerant flowing in the dew condensation prevention pipe 9 is kept at a relatively high temperature by the heat given from the high temperature part 2 of the Stirling refrigerator 4. Therefore, the dew condensation prevention pipe 9 can be arranged in the front opening of the refrigerator to suppress the dew condensation at the door portion or the like. The refrigerant that has flowed through the dew condensation prevention pipe 9 returns to the high temperature side evaporator 5 through the pipe 2E. Thus, forced circulation by the circulation pump 6 is performed in the second high temperature side circulation circuit.

  Further, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and the like are sealed as a refrigerant in the low temperature side circulation circuit. The refrigerant liquefied in the low temperature side condenser 10 reaches the low temperature side evaporator 11 through the pipe 3A (low temperature side conduit). Heat exchange is performed by evaporating the refrigerant in the low temperature side evaporator 11. In order to promote this heat exchange, a fan 12 that generates an air current in the vicinity of the low-temperature evaporator 11 is provided. After heat exchange, the vaporized refrigerant returns to the low temperature side condenser 10 via the pipe 3B (low temperature side return pipe). In the low-temperature side circulation circuit, the low-temperature side evaporation is performed so that the cold heat generated in the low-temperature part 3 can be transmitted to the low-temperature side evaporator 11 using the natural circulation caused by the evaporation and condensation of the refrigerant. The vessel 11 is disposed below the low temperature side condenser 10. Further, the pressure in the circulation circuit system is adjusted in order to adjust the boiling point of the refrigerant.

  When the Stirling refrigerator 4 is operated, heat generated in the high temperature part 2 of the refrigerator 4 is exchanged with the outside air via the high temperature side condenser 7. On the other hand, the cold generated in the low temperature part 3 of the Stirling refrigerator 4 is heat exchanged with the air in the refrigerator through the low temperature side evaporator 11. The warmed airflow from the inside of the refrigerator is sent again to the vicinity of the low-temperature side evaporator 11 and repeatedly cooled.

  With the implementation of the cooling cycle described above, frost forms on the low temperature side evaporator 11. Since a well-known technique can be used for the defrosting method for this frost formation, detailed description will not be given.

  By performing the defrosting described above, defrosted water is generated. The defrost water is guided to the drain pan 12B (evaporating dish) installed at the lower part of the bottom surface of the refrigerator main body through the drain pipe 12A. A fan 12C is provided on the top of the drain pan 12B, and an air flow is formed near the surface of the defrost water accumulated in the drain pan 12B by the fan 12C, and relatively dry air is supplied onto the defrost water. Evaporation of defrost water is promoted.

  Next, an example of the structure of the Stirling refrigerator 4 and its operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the Stirling refrigerator 4 of the present embodiment is a free piston type Stirling engine, and includes a casing 30, a cylinder 13 assembled to the casing 30, and a reciprocating motion in the cylinder 13. Piston 14 and displacer 15, regenerator 16, working space 17 including a compression space 17 </ b> A and an expansion space 17 </ b> B, a high temperature portion 2, a low temperature portion 3, a linear motor 23 as a piston driving means, and a piston spring 24, a displacer spring 25, a displacer rod 26, and a back pressure space 27.

  In the example of FIG. 2, the outer shell (outer wall) of the Stirling refrigerator 4 is not constituted by a single container, but is positioned on the back pressure space 27 side and the casing 30 (vessel portion) and on the working space 17 side. The high-temperature part 2, the tube 18A, and the low-temperature part 3 are mainly configured. The casing 30 defines a back pressure space 27. Various parts including the cylinder 13, the linear motor 23, the piston spring 24, and the displacer spring 25 are assembled to the casing 30. The outer shell is filled with a working medium such as helium gas, hydrogen gas, or nitrogen gas.

  The cylinder 13 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and receives therein a piston 14 and a displacer 15 as a free piston so as to be capable of reciprocating. In the cylinder 13, the piston 14 and the displacer 15 are coaxially spaced apart, and the piston 14 and the displacer 15 divide the working space 17 in the cylinder 13 into a compression space 17 </ b> A and an expansion space 17 </ b> B. More specifically, the working space 17 is a space located closer to the displacer 15 than the end face of the piston 14 on the displacer 15 side, and a compression space 17A is formed between the piston 14 and the displacer 15, and the displacer 15 and the low temperature portion 3, an expansion space 17 </ b> B is formed. The compression space 17A is mainly surrounded by the high temperature part 2, and the expansion space 17B is mainly surrounded by the low temperature part 3.

  Between the compression space 17 </ b> A and the expansion space 17 </ b> B, a regenerator 16 in which a film is wound on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 13 with a predetermined gap is disposed. Thus, the compression space 17A and the expansion space 17B communicate with each other. Thereby, a closed circuit is formed in the Stirling refrigerator 4. The working medium sealed in the closed circuit flows in accordance with the operations of the piston 14 and the displacer 15, thereby realizing a reverse Stirling cycle described later.

  A linear motor 23 is disposed in the back pressure space 27 located outside the cylinder 13. The linear motor 23 includes an inner yoke 20, a movable magnet portion 21, an outer yoke 22 and a coil, and the piston 14 is driven in the axial direction of the cylinder 13 by the linear motor 23.

  One end of the piston 14 is connected to a piston spring 24 constituted by a leaf spring or the like. The piston spring 24 functions as an elastic force applying means for applying an elastic force to the piston 14. By applying an elastic force by the piston spring 24, the piston 14 can be reciprocated in the cylinder 13 more stably and periodically. One end of the displacer 15 is connected to a displacer spring 25 via a displacer rod 26. The displacer rod 26 is disposed through the piston 14, and the displacer spring 25 is constituted by a leaf spring or the like. The peripheral edge of the displacer spring 25 and the peripheral edge of the piston spring 24 are supported by a support member that extends from the linear motor 23 toward the back pressure space 27 of the piston 14 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the rear).

A back pressure space 27 surrounded by a casing 30 is disposed on the opposite side of the piston 14 from the displacer 15. The back pressure space 27 includes an outer peripheral area located around the piston 14 in the casing 30 and a rear area located closer to the piston spring 24 (rear side) than the piston 14 in the casing 30. There is also a working medium in the back pressure space 27.

  The high temperature part 2 is attached to the casing 30 via the base member 30A. The high temperature part 2 and the low temperature part 3 are connected via the tube 18A. On the inner peripheral surfaces of the high temperature part 2 and the low temperature part 3, an internal heat exchanger 18 and an internal heat exchanger 19 are provided, respectively. The internal heat exchangers 18 and 19 perform heat exchange between the compression space 17A and the expansion space 17B and the high temperature part 2 and the low temperature part 3, respectively.

  A balance mass 29 is attached to the rear side of the casing 30 via a leaf spring 28. The balance mass 29 is a mass member that absorbs vibration of the casing 30 that is generated when the piston 14 and the displacer 15 vibrate. Specifically, when the vibration is generated in the casing 30 due to the vibration of the piston 14 or the displacer 15, the balance mass 29 is vibrated so as to follow the vibration of the casing 30, whereby the Stirling refrigerator 4. Vibration is reduced.

Next, the operation of the Stirling refrigerator 4 will be described.
First, the linear motor 23 is actuated to drive the piston 14. The piston 14 driven by the linear motor 23 approaches the displacer 15 and compresses the working medium (working gas) in the compression space 17A.

  When the piston 14 approaches the displacer 15, the temperature of the working medium in the compression space 17 </ b> A rises, but heat generated in the compression space 17 </ b> A by the high temperature portion 2 is released to the outside. Therefore, the temperature of the working medium in the compression space 17A is maintained almost isothermal. That is, this process corresponds to an isothermal compression process in a reverse Stirling cycle.

  After the piston 14 approaches the displacer 15, the displacer 15 moves to the low temperature part 3 side. On the other hand, the working medium compressed in the compression space 17A by the piston 14 flows into the regenerator 16, and further flows into the expansion space 17B. At that time, the heat of the working medium is stored in the regenerator 16. That is, this process corresponds to an isovolumetric cooling process in a reverse Stirling cycle.

  The high-pressure working medium that has flowed into the expansion space 17B expands when the displacer 15 moves to the piston 14 side (rear side). As the displacer 15 moves rearward in this way, the center portion of the displacer spring 25 is also deformed so as to protrude rearward.

  When the working medium expands in the expansion space 17B as described above, the temperature of the working medium in the expansion space 17B decreases, but external heat is transferred into the expansion space 17B by the low temperature portion 3, The inside of the expansion space 17B is kept almost isothermal. That is, this process corresponds to an isothermal expansion process of a reverse Stirling cycle.

  Thereafter, the displacer 15 starts to move away from the piston 14 (front side). Thereby, the working medium in the expansion space 17B passes through the regenerator 16 and returns to the compression space 17A side again. At this time, since the heat stored in the regenerator 16 is applied to the working medium, the working medium is heated. That is, this process corresponds to a constant volume heating process of a reverse Stirling cycle.

  By repeating this series of processes (isothermal compression process-isovolume cooling process-isothermal expansion process-isovolume heating process), an inverse Stirling cycle is configured. As a result, the low temperature part 3 is gradually lowered in temperature and has an extremely low temperature (for example, about −50 ° C.). On the other hand, the high temperature part 2 becomes gradually high temperature (for example, about 60 ° C.). As described above, the cold heat in the low temperature section 3 is supplied into the refrigerator through the low temperature side circulation circuit, and the heat in the high temperature section 2 is released to the outside of the refrigerator through the first and second high temperature side circulation circuits. Is done.

  FIG. 3 is a view showing a duct 1 </ b> B as an “air passage” in the Stirling refrigerator 1. Referring to FIG. 3, duct 1B is formed in cooling body 1A. An upper filter 31 and a lower filter 32 are attached to both ends of the duct 1B. The fan 8 can generate a flow in the direction of the arrow DR1 (operation mode 1) and a flow in the direction of the arrow DR2 (operation mode 2) in the duct 1B. In addition, the high temperature side condenser 7 and the drain pan 12B (refer FIG. 1) connected to the high temperature side evaporator 4 are provided in the part connected with the duct 1B.

  In the “operation mode 1”, the air outside the cooling chamber is guided into the duct 1B through the upper filter 31. The airflow that has flowed in the direction of the arrow DR1 in the duct 1B passes through the drain pan, and is then discharged out of the refrigerator through the lower filter 32. That is, in the case of the operation mode 1, the upper filter 31 is located in the intake part of the duct 1B, and the lower filter 32 is located in the exhaust part of the duct 1B.

  In the “operation mode 2”, the air outside the refrigerator is guided into the duct 1B through the lower filter 32. After passing over the drain pan, the airflow flowing in the direction of the arrow DR2 in the duct 1B is discharged out of the cooling chamber via the upper filter 31. That is, in the operation mode 2, the upper filter 31 is located in the exhaust part of the duct 1B, and the lower filter 32 is located in the intake part of the duct 1B.

  Dust adheres to the outer surface of the dust-proof filter located at the intake portion of the duct 1B along with the intake air. If dust adheres excessively, the filter is clogged and the intake efficiency decreases. As a result, the flow rate of the airflow flowing through the duct 1B is reduced, and the cooling efficiency of the high temperature side condenser 7 is reduced. Since the cooling efficiency of the high temperature side condenser 7 is reduced, the supply of the liquid refrigerant to the high temperature side evaporator 4 is hindered, so that the cooling efficiency of the high temperature portion 2 of the Stirling refrigerator 4 is reduced. As a result, the operating efficiency of the Stirling refrigerator 4 decreases. In this way, the operating efficiency of the Stirling refrigerator 1 is reduced.

  On the other hand, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, the intake portion and the exhaust portion are interchanged by periodically reversing the flow in the duct 1B. As a result, the upper filter 31 and the lower filter 32 are alternately positioned in the exhaust section. By positioning the dustproof filter in the exhaust part, it is possible to scatter dust adhering to the filter using the airflow discharged from the duct 1B. As a result, the efficiency of intake into the duct 1B is improved.

  As a method of reversing the flow in the duct 1B, for example, it is conceivable to reverse the rotation direction of the fan 8, but in the present embodiment, the direction of the fan 8 is reversed by 180 ° so that the flow in the duct 1B is reversed. The airflow direction is reversed. By doing so, it is possible to reverse the airflow direction without changing the air entry angle with respect to the fan 8. Therefore, it is possible to form a stable flow regardless of the direction of airflow in the duct 1B.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the fan 8 provided in the duct 1B. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the fan 8 is inverted by 180 ° in the direction of the arrow DR3 from the state shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of the fan 8 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in more detail.

  Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, fan 8 includes a main body 81 provided to be rotatable with respect to cooling body 1 </ b> A, and a rotating portion 82 provided to be rotatable with respect to main body 81. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a stepping motor 33 and a rotating unit 34 are provided as a “reversing mechanism” capable of reversing the direction of the main body 81 by 180 °. The stepping motor 33 is connected to the controller 35. The controller 35 operates the stepping motor 33 to reverse the direction of the main body 81, thereby reversing the air flow direction in the duct 1B.

  The above contents are summarized as follows. That is, the Stirling cooler 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cooler main body 1A, a high-temperature side condenser 7 as a “radiator” attached to the cooler main body 1A, and cooling air for the high-temperature side condenser 7. A duct 1B as an “air passage” through which the air flows, an upper filter 31 as a “first dust filter” and a lower filter 32 as a “second dust filter” provided at both ends of the duct 1B, and the duct 1B. A fan 8 is provided as a “blower” that generates an air flow in the duct 1 </ b> B, and a controller 35 as a “control unit” that reverses the direction of the air flow in the duct 1 </ b> B by the fan 8.

  Here, by generating an air flow from the upper filter 31 to the lower filter 32, dust collected on the lower filter 32 can be scattered, and by generating an air flow from the lower filter 32 to the upper filter 31. Dust collected on the upper filter 31 can be scattered. On the other hand, in the case of generating an airflow in any direction, air is supplied into the duct 1B through the upstream dustproof filter, so that the heat exchange efficiency of the high-temperature side condenser 7 does not decrease. . Then, dust on the upper / lower filters 31 and 32 positioned at the intake port of the duct 1B is removed, so that the intake efficiency to the duct 1B is improved and the cooling efficiency of the high-temperature side condenser 7 is improved. As a result of the above, the operation efficiency of the Stirling refrigerator 1 is improved.

  In the Stirling cooler 1, a drain pan 12B for storing drain water including defrost water is provided in a portion communicating with the duct 1B. By doing in this way, when an airflow goes to arrow DR1 direction, the comparatively high temperature airflow which passed on the high temperature side condenser 7 is guide | induced on the drain water stored by the drain pan 12B. As a result, evaporation of drain water is promoted. On the other hand, when the airflow is directed in the direction of the arrow DR2, the airflow that has passed over the drain water stored in the drain pan 12B is guided onto the high-temperature side condenser 7. In this case, humid air having relatively high humidity is supplied onto the high temperature side condenser 7. Since humid air has a higher heat transport potential than dry air, the cooling efficiency of the high-temperature side condenser 7 can be increased by performing the above.

  In the present embodiment, the example of the Stirling refrigerator 1 as an example of the refrigerator has been mainly described, but it is naturally possible to apply the same idea to a compressor-type refrigerator.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a piping distribution diagram of an example of a refrigerator concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the Stirling refrigerator in the Stirling refrigerator shown by FIG. It is the figure which showed the ventilation path in the refrigerator which concerns on one embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the air blower provided in the ventilation path shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which reversed 180 degrees of the air blower shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the air blower shown by FIG. 3, FIG. 4 in detail.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Stirling cooler, 1A cooler body, 1B duct, 2 high temperature part, 2A-2E pipe (high temperature side circulation circuit), 3 low temperature part, 3A, 3B pipe (low temperature side circulation circuit), 4 Stirling refrigerator, 5 high temperature Side evaporator, 6 Circulation pump, 7 High temperature side condenser, 8 Fan, 9 Dew prevention pipe, 10 Low temperature side condenser, 11 Low temperature side evaporator, 12 Fan, 12A Drain pipe, 12B Drain pan, 12C fan, 31 Upper filter , 32 Lower filter, 33 Stepping motor, 34 Rotating part (reversing mechanism), 35 Controller, 81 Main body (fan), 82 Rotating part (fan)

Claims (4)

The refrigerator body,
A radiator attached to the cooler body;
An air passage through which cooling air of the radiator flows,
First and second dustproof filters respectively provided at both ends of the air passage;
An air blower that is provided in the air passage and generates an air flow in the air passage;
And a cooler comprising a control means for reversing the direction of the airflow from the blower. A reversing mechanism capable of reversing the direction of the blower device by 180 °;
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the control unit reverses the direction of the airflow by operating the reversing mechanism.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a drain pan for storing drain water in the air passage. A Stirling engine having a high temperature portion and a low temperature portion;
An evaporator that is provided in the high temperature part and evaporates an internal refrigerant;
A condenser for condensing the evaporated refrigerant,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the condenser is used as the radiator.

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