JP2008095986A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of properly controlling a temperature of a storage compartment by controlling generation of drawing flow in a plurality of joining return air trunks. <P>SOLUTION: In this refrigerator having the return air trunk composed of a return air trunk 130 where the returned cold air of a refrigerating compartment 102 flows, a return air trunk 131 for a vegetable compartment where the returned cold air of a vegetable compartment 103 flows, and a joining air trunk 132 for joining the return air trunk 130 for the refrigerating compartment and the return air trunk 131 for the vegetable compartment, the generation of drawing flow in the return air trunk 131 for the vegetable compartment is controlled by the returned cold air flowing in the return air trunk 130 for the refrigerating compartment under conditions that the returned cold air hardly flows in the return air trunk 131 for the vegetable compartment, and the returned cold air continuously flows in the return air trunk 130 for the refrigerating compartment by mounting a wind direction adjusting means 133 at a side of the return air trunk 130 for the refrigerating compartment, of an inlet portion of the joining air trunk 132, thus the temperature variation in the vegetable compartment 103 caused by induction of the air from a suction opening 129 of the vegetable compartment by the drawing flow into the vegetable compartment 103 can be controlled, and the temperature in the vegetable compartment 103 can be properly kept with the simple shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that optimizes the temperature of a storage room by the arrangement of return air passages.

  In recent years, refrigerators have become more energy-saving from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment, and installation space is limited due to housing circumstances, and improvement in storage capacity is required for how much food can be stored in the limited space. On the other hand, a multi-door refrigerator having a storage room unique to each temperature zone is mainstream, and the air circulation path for the number of storage rooms is necessary, and the internal volume is reduced and the storage property is lowered. Therefore, it is important how to devise the structure of the air circulation path for cold air and control the temperature of each chamber without reducing the internal volume.

  Conventionally, this type of refrigerator has been proposed as a method for cooling a vegetable room by guiding the return cold air after cooling the refrigeration room to the vegetable room, thereby effectively utilizing the return air path of the refrigeration room and increasing the internal volume. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 9 is a front sectional view of a conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerator main body 1 is provided in parallel with the refrigerating chamber 2 and the switching chamber 3 which can be switched from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigerating temperature range such as refrigeration, vegetables, and chilled in order from the top. The ice storage room 4, the vegetable room 5, and the freezing room 6 are comprised, and it has the cooler 7 which produces | generates cold air, and the fan apparatus 8 which supplies cold air to each storage room. Also, an ice storage chamber air passage 9 for supplying cold air to the ice storage chamber 4, an ice storage chamber return air passage 10 for returning the cold air from the ice storage chamber 4 to the cooler 7, and a cooling chamber for supplying cold air to the switching chamber 3. The switching chamber air passage 11, the switching chamber return air passage 12 for returning cold air from the switching chamber 3 to the cooler 7, the refrigerating chamber air passage 13 for supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber 2, and the refrigerating chamber 2 Refrigeration room return air passage 14 for returning the sent cool air to the vegetable compartment 5, vegetable room return air passage 15 for returning the cool air sent to the vegetable compartment 5 to the cooler 7, and return for the refrigerator compartment A second refrigerating room return air passage 16 is provided for returning a part of the return cold air of the air passage 14 directly to the vegetable room return air passage 15.

  Further, the return air passage 14 for the refrigerator compartment, the return air passage 15 for the vegetable compartment, and the return air passage 16 for the second refrigerator compartment are disposed in the lateral direction of the cooler 7. A switching chamber return air passage 12 for returning cold air from the switching chamber 3 to the cooler 7 is disposed in the front-rear direction of the cooler 7.

As a result, the vegetable room 5 is cooled by the return cold air from the refrigerator compartment 2, and a part of the return cold air from the refrigerator compartment 2 is directly returned to the vegetable room return air passage 15, so that the temperature control of the vegetable compartment 5 is properly performed. While improving the cooling performance such as the cooling speed of the refrigerator compartment 2, the air passage is simplified, the internal volume is expanded, and the storage property is improved.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-325691

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the return air passage 14 for the refrigerator compartment, the return air passage 15 for the vegetable compartment, and the return air passage 16 for the second refrigerator compartment are disposed in the lateral direction of the cooler 7, but switching Since the room return air passage 12 is disposed in the front-rear direction of the cooler 7, a loss corresponding to the return air passage 12 for the switching room is lost with respect to the expansion of the internal volume.

  Therefore, by arranging the return air passages of all the storage rooms other than the freezer compartment 6 in the lateral direction of the cooler 7, the interior depth dimension can be maximized. Further, the return air passage 12 for the switching chamber, the return air passage 14 for the refrigerator compartment, and the return air passage 16 for the second refrigerator compartment are merged to form an integrated return air passage. The width dimension can be secured sufficiently.

  However, when a plurality of return air passages are merged as in the above case, for example, when the switching chamber 3 is set in the freezing temperature zone and operated under conditions where the ambient temperature is low, the return air passage 12 is always returned to the switching chamber return air passage 12. While there is a flow of cold air, there is no return cold air flow in the return air passage 14 for the refrigerator compartment, the return air passage 15 for the vegetable compartment, and the return air passage 16 for the second refrigerator compartment. 12, the return air passage 14 for the refrigerator compartment, and the return air passage 16 for the second refrigerator compartment, in the vicinity where the return air passage 16 for the refrigerator compartment is joined, A pull-in flow from the return air passage 16 for the refrigerator compartment is generated, and the return cold air in the freezing temperature zone of the switching chamber 3 flows backward from the return air passage 15 for the vegetable compartment to the vegetable compartment 5 due to the draw-in flow, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 is necessary. As a result of the cooling, the temperature control of the vegetable compartment 5 becomes impossible.

  As described above, when the arrangement configuration of the plurality of return air passages is devised and a plurality of return air passages are provided and a confluence air passage where the plurality of return air passages merge is provided, a plurality of return air flows depending on how the return cold air flows. A draw-in flow occurs near the junction of the roads, and preset temperature control cannot be performed depending on the refrigerator installation environment and operation status, or storage room temperature control is impossible due to the reverse flow to the intended cold air flow Had the following problem.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the refrigerator which can control the temperature of a storage room appropriately, devising arrangement | positioning structure of several return air paths, improving storage property. .

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention has a plurality of storage chambers in a heat insulating box, and has a cooler that generates cold air and a cooling fan that supplies the cold air to each chamber. A first air passage for supplying cold air to the first storage chamber, which is the uppermost storage chamber located above the cooler, and the second storage chamber located below the first storage chamber And a second air passage, a first return air passage and a second return air passage for returning cold air from the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to the cooler, and the first The return air passage and the second return air passage join together, and a wind direction adjusting means for returning to the entrance of the confluence air passage and changing the direction of the flow of cold air is formed.

  As a result, the wind direction adjusting means installed at the entrance of the confluence air passage changes the flow direction of the return cold air flowing through the second return air passage, and the entrainment flow generated in the first return air passage near the confluence air passage entrance. It is possible to control the temperature of the storage room and to ensure a proper flow of return cold air.

  The refrigerator of the present invention can appropriately control the temperature of the storage room while improving the storage property.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a cooler that forms a plurality of storage chambers in the heat insulation box and generates cool air, and a cooling fan that supplies the cool air to each chamber, and is provided above the cooler. A first air passage and a second air passage for supplying cold air to a first storage room which is the uppermost storage room located and a second storage room located below the first storage room. A first return air passage and a second return air passage for returning cold air from the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber to the cooler, the first return air passage and the first A converging air passage where two return air passages merge, and a wind direction adjusting means for returning to the confluence air passage entrance and changing the direction of the flow of cold air, and a wind direction adjusting means installed at the confluence air passage entrance. Change in the flow direction of the return cold air flowing through the second return air passage, which occurs in the first return air passage near the entrance of the confluence air passage The can included flow suppressing, to ensure the flow of proper return cold air can be properly control the temperature of the storage chamber.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes a cooler that forms a plurality of storage chambers in the heat insulation box and generates cool air, and a cooling fan that supplies the cool air to each chamber, and above the cooler. A first air passage and a third air passage for supplying cold air to the first storage chamber, which is the uppermost storage chamber, and the third storage chamber located below the first storage chamber. A first return air passage and a third return air passage for returning cold air from the first storage chamber and the third storage chamber to the cooler, the first return air passage and the first return air passage. A confluence air passage where the three return air passages merge, and a second return air that is provided in the first return air passage and is located at a lower part of the third storage chamber. A second storage chamber discharge port leading to the storage chamber, and a second storage chamber suction port for sucking the return cold air of the second storage chamber provided in the merging air passage And a wind direction adjusting means for changing the direction of the flow of cold air to the entrance of the confluence air passage is formed, and the air flow direction adjusting means installed at the entrance of the confluence air passage returns the return cold air flowing through the third return air passage. Change the flow direction of the air flow, suppress the entrainment flow generated in the first return air passage near the entrance of the confluence air passage, ensure the proper return air flow, and properly control the temperature of the storage room it can.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind direction adjusting means is formed in a triangular shape at the entrance portion of the merging air passage, and any one of the return air passages to be joined. The flow direction of the return cold air is changed, and the entrainment flow generated in the return air passage near the entrance of the confluence air passage is not changed, and further, each storage chamber at the time of defrosting is suppressed. It is possible to suppress the rise in warm air and prevent the temperature of the storage room from rising.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the wind direction adjusting means is formed in a trapezoidal shape at the entrance portion of the merging air passage, and any one of the return air passages to be joined. The flow direction of the return cold air is changed, and the entrainment flow that occurs in the return air passage that does not change the flow direction of the return cold air near the entrance of the confluence air passage is suppressed, and further, the confluence air passage during defrosting It is possible to promote the inflow of warm air into the return air passage that does not change the flow direction of the return cold air near the entrance, and prevent frost formation in the return air passage.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of the return air passage is enlarged immediately before joining any one of the plurality of return air passages that merge with the confluence air passage. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the entrainment flow generated in the vicinity of the entrance of the merged air passage without reducing the air volume of each storage chamber.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the conventional example or the above-described embodiments, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a heat insulating box 101 configured to be insulated from the surroundings with a heat insulating material such as hard foamed urethane is divided into a plurality of heat insulating compartments, and a refrigerator compartment 102 as a first storage room at the top. The vegetable compartment 103 as the second storage room is arranged at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 102, and the freezer compartment 104 is arranged at the bottom.

  The refrigerator compartment 102 is normally set at 1 ° C. to 5 ° C. with the temperature not frozen for refrigerated storage as the lower limit. In addition, the vegetable room 103 is often set to 2 ° C. to 7 ° C., which is the same or slightly higher temperature setting as the refrigerated room 102. The lower the temperature, the longer the freshness of the leafy vegetables can be maintained.

  The freezer compartment 104 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and is usually set at −22 ° C. to −18 ° C. for frozen storage, but for example, −30 ° C. or −25 ° C. to improve the frozen storage state. It may be set at a low temperature.

  Components of the refrigeration cycle such as the compressor 105 and a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture are accommodated in the lower back surface of the heat insulation box 101.

  A cooling room 106 is provided across the back of the vegetable room 103 and the freezing room 104, and the cooling room 106 is partitioned from the vegetable room 103 and the freezing room 104 by a first partition 107 having heat insulation performance. The vegetable compartment 103 and the freezer compartment 104 are partitioned by a second partition 108 having heat insulation performance. Since the first partition 107 and the second partition 108 are parts assembled after foaming of the heat insulation box 101, foamed polystyrene is usually used as a heat insulation material. However, in order to improve heat insulation performance and rigidity, rigid foam urethane is used. It may be used, and furthermore, a highly heat insulating vacuum heat insulating material may be inserted to further reduce the thickness of the partition structure.

  In the cooling chamber 106, a fin-and-tube type cooler 109 is disposed as a representative, and in the upper space of the cooler 109, the refrigerator compartment 102, the vegetable compartment 103, and the freezer compartment 104 are formed by forced convection. A cooling fan 110 that blows the cool air cooled by the cooler 109 is disposed, and a glass tube as a defrosting device that defrosts the frost attached to the cooler 109 and the cooling fan 110 during cooling is disposed in a lower space of the cooler 109. A radiant heater 111 is provided. The radiant heater 111 removes not only the frost adhering to the cooler 109 and the cooling fan 110 but also the frost adhering to the return air passage (not shown) in which the cool air that has cooled each storage chamber is returned to the cooler 109. Alternatively, the width of the cooler 109 may be greater than the width.

  FIG. 2 is a front sectional view showing the structure of the air passage of the refrigerator in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, the cold air blown by the cooling fan 110 is provided with a freezer compartment air passage 121 for cooling the freezer compartment 104 below the cooling fan 110. Also, above the cooling fan 110, there are provided a refrigeration room air passage 122 and a vegetable room air passage 123 for blowing cool air to the refrigeration room 102 and the vegetable room 103, and the refrigeration room air passage 122 and the vegetable room air passage. A refrigeration room damper 124 and a vegetable room damper 125 for adjusting the flow of cold air are installed in the middle of the air passage 123. Space saving and cost reduction can be achieved by making the damper 124 for refrigerator compartments and the damper 125 for vegetable compartments into a twin damper. The refrigerator compartment 102 is provided with a refrigerator outlet 126 for discharging cold air and an inlet 127 for the refrigerator compartment for sucking cold air. Similarly, the vegetable compartment outlet 128 and the vegetable compartment for the vegetable compartment 103 are also provided. A suction port 129 is provided.

  A refrigerating room return air passage 130 is provided below the refrigerating room suction port 127, and is installed in parallel with the vegetable room return air passage 131 provided below the vegetable room suction port 129, and further for the refrigerating room. The return air passage 130 and the vegetable room return air passage 131 are connected to the confluence air passage 132, and the confluence air passage 132 is connected to the cooler 109. Here, the return air passage 130 for the refrigerator compartment, the return air passage 131 for the vegetable compartment, and the confluence air passage 132 are located on the side surface of the cooler 109, and the depth dimensions of the vegetable compartment 103 and the freezer compartment 104 are enlarged. .

  A wind direction adjusting means 133 that changes the flow direction of the return cold air flowing through the refrigerating room return air passage 130 is formed at the entrance of the confluence air passage 132.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated by a signal from a control board (not shown) according to the set temperature in the cabinet, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 105 dissipates heat in a condenser (not shown), condenses and liquefies, and reaches a capillary tube (not shown). After that, the capillary tube is depressurized while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 105 to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 109. By the operation of the cooling fan 110, heat is exchanged with the air in each storage chamber, the refrigerant in the cooler 109 evaporates, and supply of low-temperature cold air is controlled by a damper or the like to perform desired cooling of each chamber. The refrigerant exiting the cooler 109 is sucked into the compressor 105 through the suction pipe.

  Heat is exchanged with the air in each storage chamber, and moisture adheres to the cooler 109 when heat exchange with the air in each storage chamber results in frost. A signal is periodically output from a control board (not shown), the compressor 105 is stopped, the radiant heater 111 is energized, and the cooler 109 is defrosted.

  Next, the flow of cold air in the heat insulating box 101 will be described. The cool air blown from the cooling fan 110 is sent to the freezer compartment air passage 121 below the cooling fan 110, the refrigerator compartment air passage 122 above the cooling fan 110, and the vegetable compartment air passage 123. The cold air blown into the freezer compartment 104 through the freezer compartment air passage 121 exchanges heat with the air in the freezer compartment 104 and returns to the cooler chamber 106.

  The cool air blown to the refrigerator compartment air passage 122 reaches the refrigerator compartment 102 via the refrigerator compartment damper 124 and the refrigerator outlet 126. The cool air blown to the vegetable room air passage 123 reaches the vegetable room 103 via the vegetable room damper 125 and the vegetable room discharge port 128. Here, a signal is output from a control board (not shown), and the cold room damper 124 and the vegetable room damper 125 are respectively operated to control the flow of cold air to control the temperature of the cold room 102 and the vegetable room 103 to a predetermined temperature. Set to

  The cold air blown into the refrigerator compartment 102 exchanges heat with the air in the refrigerator compartment 102 and is sucked from the refrigerator inlet suction port 127, and returns to the cooler 109 from the refrigerator return air passage 130 through the merged air passage 132. The cold air blown into the vegetable compartment 103 exchanges heat with the air in the vegetable compartment 103 and is sucked from the vegetable compartment suction port 129 and returns from the vegetable compartment return air passage 131 to the cooler 109 through the merging air passage 132.

  As described above, the return cold air from the refrigerator compartment 102 and the vegetable compartment 103 excluding the freezer compartment 104 is first mixed with the return cold air from the refrigerator compartment 102 and the return cold air from the vegetable compartment 103 in the merged air passage 132 to become mixed return cold air, and the cooler 109 Return to. However, the flow of such return cold air is that the refrigerator compartment 102 is cooled and the return cold air from the refrigerator compartment 102 flows in the return air passage 130 for the refrigerator compartment, and the vegetable compartment 103 is cooled and used for the vegetable compartment. This is under the condition that the return cold air from the vegetable compartment 103 flows in the return air passage 131.

  However, in general, the refrigerator compartment 102 has a larger internal volume than the vegetable compartment 103 and the doors are opened and closed more frequently in the refrigerator usage environment. large. Therefore, the refrigeration room 102 has a longer cooling time than the vegetable room 103 and a long time for the cold air to flow back through the return air passage 130 for the refrigeration room. In addition to the vegetable room 103, the back of the vegetable room 103 is the cooling room 106. Since the lower part is the freezer compartment 104, the temperature may decrease due to the heat balance, and since the amount of cooling load is small, the time for cooling air to return through the vegetable room return air passage 131 is short. In this way, when there is almost no flow of cold air returning to the vegetable room return air passage 131 and the flow of cold air continues to the return air passage 130 for the refrigerator compartment, the return cold air flowing in the return air passage 130 for the refrigerator compartment As a result, a draw-in flow is generated in the return air passage 131 for the vegetable room, and the air in the vegetable room 103 is pulled from the intake port 129 for the vegetable room by this draw-in flow, so that the temperature in the vegetable room 103 fluctuates and becomes uncontrollable.

  In order to suppress the occurrence of this entrainment flow, the air direction adjusting means 133 is formed on the return air passage 130 side of the refrigeration chamber at the entrance of the confluence air passage 132, and the flow direction of the return cold air in the refrigerating chamber 102 is changed to change the flow direction of the entrainment flow. By suppressing the occurrence, it is possible to suppress the fluctuation of the temperature in the vegetable compartment 103 and to optimize the temperature control in the vegetable compartment 103 with an inexpensive and simple shape.

  In addition, the same effect can be obtained even in a switching room or a freezing room that can be switched from the freezing temperature zone to the refrigeration temperature zone other than the vegetable room as the second storage room. It is necessary to provide the wind direction adjusting means 133 on the return air path side where the return cold air flows.

As a result of the experiment, in order to sufficiently exhibit the effect of changing the flow direction of the cold air, the horizontal direction length of the air direction adjusting means 133 is substantially equal to the width direction of the refrigerating room return air passage 130. (Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 3, a heat insulating box 201 configured to be insulated from the surroundings with a heat insulating material such as hard foam urethane is divided into a plurality of heat insulating sections, and a refrigerator compartment 202 as a first storage chamber is formed at the top. In the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 202, a switching room 204 as a third storage room, a vegetable room 203 as a second storage room in the lower part of the switching room 204, and a freezing room 205 in the lowermost part are arranged. ing.

  The refrigerator compartment 202 is normally set at 1 ° C. to 5 ° C. with the temperature not frozen for refrigerated storage as the lower limit. In addition, the vegetable room 203 is often set to a temperature setting of 2 ° C. to 7 ° C., which is equal to or slightly higher than that of the refrigerated room 202. The lower the temperature, the longer the freshness of the leafy vegetables can be maintained.

  The switching chamber 204 can be switched from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigeration temperature zone, for example, a freezing setting set at −22 ° C. to −18 ° C., a refrigeration setting set at 1 ° C. to 5 ° C., meat, fish, etc. This is a storage room that can be arbitrarily set to a partial setting or the like that can be partially frozen in order to maintain the freshness of food.

  The freezer compartment 205 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and is usually set at −22 ° C. to −18 ° C. for frozen storage, but for example, −30 ° C. or −25 ° C. to improve the frozen storage state. It may be set at a low temperature.

  Components of the refrigeration cycle such as the compressor 206 and a dryer (not shown) for removing moisture are housed in the lower back surface of the heat insulation box 201.

  A cooling room 207 is provided across the back of the vegetable room 203 and the freezing room 205, and the cooling room 207 is partitioned from the vegetable room 203 and the freezing room 205 by a first partition 208 having heat insulation performance. The vegetable compartment 203 and the freezer compartment 205 are partitioned by a second partition 209 having heat insulation performance. Since the first partition 208 and the second partition 209 are parts that are assembled after foaming of the heat insulating box 201, foamed polystyrene is usually used as a heat insulating material, but hard foamed urethane is used to improve heat insulating performance and rigidity. It may be used, and furthermore, a highly heat insulating vacuum heat insulating material may be inserted to further reduce the thickness of the partition structure. A third partition 210 between the refrigerator compartment 202 and the switching chamber 204, and a fourth partition 211 between the switching chamber 204 and the vegetable compartment 203 are insulated with hard foamed urethane, and the first partition 208 and the second partition 209 Similarly, a highly heat-insulating vacuum heat insulating material may be inserted to further reduce the thickness of the partition structure.

  In the cooling chamber 207, a fin-and-tube type cooler 212 is disposed as a representative, and in the upper space of the cooler 212, the refrigerator compartment 202, the switching chamber 204, the vegetable compartment 203 are formed by forced convection. The cooling fan 213 that blows the cool air cooled by the cooler 212 is disposed in the freezer compartment 205, and a defrosting device that defrosts frost attached to the cooler 212 and the cooling fan 213 during cooling in the lower space of the cooler 212. A radiant heater 214 made of a glass tube is provided. The radiant heater 214 removes not only frost adhering to the cooler 212 and the cooling fan 213 but also frost adhering in a return air passage (not shown) in which the cool air that has cooled each storage chamber is returned to the cooler 212. Alternatively, the width of the cooler 212 may be greater than the width.

  FIG. 4 is a front sectional view showing the structure of the air path of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of the return air path part enlarged from FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the cold air blown by the cooling fan 213 is provided with a freezer compartment air passage 221 for cooling the freezer compartment 205 below the cooling fan 213. In addition, a cooling room air passage 222 and a switching room air passage 223 for blowing cool air to the refrigerating room 202 and the switching room 204 are provided above the cooling fan 213. A cooler room damper 224 and a switching room damper 225 for adjusting the flow of the cold air are installed in the middle of the air passage 223. Space saving and cost reduction can be achieved by using a twin damper for the refrigerating room damper 224 and the switching room damper 225. The refrigerator compartment 202 is provided with a refrigerator outlet 226 through which cold air is discharged and a refrigerator inlet 227 through which cold air is sucked. Similarly, the switching chamber outlet 228 and the switching chamber are provided in the switching chamber 204. A suction port 229 is provided.

  A refrigerating room return air passage 230 is provided below the refrigerating room suction port 227, is installed in parallel with the switching room return air passage 231 provided below the switching room suction port 229, and further for the refrigerating room. The return air path 230 and the switching room return air path 231 are connected to the merged air path 232, and the merged air path 232 is connected to the cooling chamber 207. Here, the return air path 230 for the refrigerator compartment, the return air path 231 for the switching room, and the merging air path 232 are located on the side surfaces of the cooling chamber 207, and the depth dimensions of the vegetable chamber 203 and the freezing chamber 205 are enlarged. .

  Further, in the return air passage 230 for the refrigeration room behind the vegetable room 203, there is provided a vegetable room discharge port 233 for allowing a part of the return cold air from the refrigeration room 202 to flow into the vegetable room 203. Ribs 234 are formed for taking the return cold air into the vegetable compartment 203. A vegetable room suction port 235 through which cold air is sucked is provided in the confluence air passage 232 behind the vegetable room 203.

  A wind direction adjusting means 236 that changes the flow direction of the return cold air flowing through the refrigerating room return air passage 230 is formed at the entrance of the confluence air passage 232.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. First, the operation of the refrigeration cycle will be described. The refrigeration cycle is operated by a signal from a control board (not shown) according to the set temperature in the cabinet, and the cooling operation is performed. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 206 dissipates heat in a condenser (not shown), condenses and liquefies, and reaches a capillary tube (not shown). Thereafter, the capillary tube is depressurized while exchanging heat with a suction pipe (not shown) to the compressor 206 to become a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant and reaches the cooler 212. By the operation of the cooling fan 213, heat is exchanged with the air in each storage chamber, the refrigerant in the cooler 212 evaporates, and supply of low-temperature cold air is controlled by a damper or the like to perform desired cooling of each chamber. The refrigerant exiting the cooler 212 is sucked into the compressor 206 through the suction pipe.

  When the heat is exchanged with the air in each storage chamber and heat is exchanged with the air in each storage chamber, moisture adheres to the cooler 212 and becomes frost. A signal is periodically output from a control board (not shown), the compressor 206 is stopped, the radiant heater 214 is energized, and the cooler 212 is defrosted.

  Next, the flow of cool air in the heat insulating box 201 will be described. The cool air blown from the cooling fan 213 is sent to the freezer compartment air passage 221 below the cooling fan 213, the refrigerating compartment air passage 222 above the cooling fan 213, and the switching room air passage 223. The cold air blown into the freezer compartment 205 through the freezer compartment air passage 221 exchanges heat with the air in the freezer compartment 205 and returns to the cooler room 207.

  The cold air blown to the refrigerator compartment air passage 222 reaches the refrigerator compartment 202 through the refrigerator compartment damper 224 and the refrigerator compartment outlet 226. The cool air blown to the switching chamber air passage 223 reaches the switching chamber 204 via the switching chamber damper 225 and the switching chamber discharge port 228. Here, a signal is output from a control board (not shown), and the cold room damper 224 and the switching room damper 225 are respectively operated to control the flow of the cold air, thereby controlling the temperature of the cold room 202 and the switching room 204 to a predetermined temperature. Set to

  The cold air blown into the refrigerating room 202 exchanges heat with the air in the refrigerating room 202 and is sucked from the refrigerating room suction port 227 and returns to the cooling room 207 from the refrigerating room return air passage 230 through the merged air passage 232. Here, part of the return cold air in the refrigerator compartment 202 flows into the vegetable compartment 203 through the vegetable compartment outlet 233 and the rib 234 provided in the refrigerator compartment return air passage 230, and the air and heat in the vegetable compartment 203 It is exchanged and sucked into the combined air passage 232 from the vegetable room suction port 235 and returned to the cooling chamber 207. Therefore, the vegetable compartment 203 is cooled using the return cold air of the refrigerator compartment 202.

  The cool air blown into the switching chamber 204 exchanges heat with the air in the switching chamber 204, is sucked from the switching chamber suction port 229, and returns from the switching chamber return air passage 231 to the cooling chamber 207 through the merged air passage 232.

  As described above, the return cold air from the refrigeration room 202, the switching room 204, and the vegetable room 203 excluding the freezing room 205 is first mixed with the return cold air from the refrigerating room 202 and the return cold air from the switching room 204 in the combined air passage 232. Then, it is further mixed with the return cold air in the vegetable compartment 203 heat-exchanged in the vegetable compartment 203 by a part of the return cold air in the refrigerating compartment 202 and returns to the cooling compartment 207. However, the flow of the return cold air is such that the refrigerating chamber 202 is cooled and the return cold air of the refrigerating chamber 202 flows in the refrigerating chamber return air passage 230, and the switching chamber 204 is cooled and is used for the switching chamber. This is under the condition that the return cold air from the switching chamber 204 flows in the return air passage 231.

  When the ambient temperature at which the refrigerator is operating is standard, or when the summer is hot, the above-described return cold air flows. For example, when the ambient temperature is reduced in winter, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 202 is 1 ° C to 5 ° C. Since the cooling time of the refrigerating room 202 is short because the temperature is set at 0 ° C., the cooling air hardly returns to the refrigerating room return air passage 230, and the switching is performed when the one of the switching rooms 204 is set at about −18 ° C. The return cold air from the switching chamber 204 always flows through the room return air passage 231. As described above, when there is no flow of cool air returning to the return air path 230 for the refrigerating room and there is a flow of cool air returning to the return air path 231 for the switching room, the return cold air flowing in the return air path 231 for the switching room is used for the refrigerating room. An entrainment flow is generated in the return air passage 230, and the air in the vegetable compartment 203 is pulled from the discharge port 233 for the vegetable compartment provided in the return air passage 230 for the refrigeration room by this entrainment flow. Decreases. As the static pressure decreases, the return cold air from the switching chamber 204 flowing through the combined air passage 232 flows into the vegetable compartment 203 from the vegetable compartment inlet 235 provided in the confluent air passage 232. Since the switching chamber 204 is set to a refrigeration temperature zone of about −18 ° C., the return cold air in the switching chamber 204 is a return cold air in a freezing temperature zone such as about −18 ° C., so the vegetable chamber 203 is supercooled. Therefore, the vegetables stored in the vegetable compartment 203 are frozen. Therefore, when there is almost no flow of cool air returning to the return air path 230 for the refrigeration room and there is always a flow of cool air returning to the return air path 231 for the switching room, the air flow in the vegetable room 203 is caused by the drawing-in flow. As a result, an air flow opposite to the case where there is a flow of returning cold air to both the refrigerating room return air passage 230 and the switching room return air passage 231 is generated, and temperature control in the vegetable compartment 203 becomes impossible.

  In order to suppress the generation of this entrainment flow, the air direction adjusting means 236 is formed on the switching chamber return air channel 231 side at the entrance of the merged air channel 232, and the flow direction of the return cold air in the switching chamber 204 is changed to change the entrainment flow. By suppressing the occurrence, the decrease in static pressure in the vegetable compartment 203 is suppressed, the flow of cold air from the vegetable compartment suction port 235 is prevented, and the temperature control in the vegetable compartment 203 is optimized by an inexpensive and simple shape. can do.

  Note that the return cold air in the vegetable compartment 203 is led from the vegetable compartment suction port 235 to the merged air passage 232 and is combined with the return cold air in the refrigerator compartment 202 and the return cold air in the switching chamber 204. A vegetable room return air path is formed in parallel with the merged air path 232 in the lateral direction, and the return cold air from the vegetable room 203 is returned to the cooling room 207 without being merged with the return cold air from the refrigerating room 202 and the return cold air from the switching room 204. By adopting the air passage configuration, it is difficult for cold air having a low temperature to flow into the vegetable compartment 203 from the vegetable compartment suction port 235.

  In addition, when the switching chamber 204 is a freezer compartment which is only in a freezing temperature zone, a damper for adjusting cold air is not necessary, but the same effect can be obtained in this case.

  As a result of the experiment, in order to sufficiently exhibit the effect of changing the flow direction of the cold air, the horizontal direction length of the wind direction adjusting means 236 is substantially equal to the width direction of the switching chamber return air path 231. That is to say.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view of the return air passage portion in which the return air passage portion of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is enlarged. In addition, about the same structure as Embodiment 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 6, the wind direction adjusting means 236 is formed on the switching chamber return air path 231 side at the entrance of the merged air path 232, and the shape of the air direction adjusting means 236 is triangular, so that the flow of the return cold air in the switching chamber 204 Changing the direction suppresses the generation of entrainment flow, suppresses the decrease in static pressure in the vegetable compartment 203, prevents the inflow of cold air from the vegetable compartment suction port 235, and optimizes the temperature control in the vegetable compartment 203 can do.

  Further, when the cooler 212 is defrosted, the radiant heater 214 is energized, and the warm air rises in the merged air passage 232. Since the switching chamber 204 is set at the freezing temperature, when warm air flows through the switching chamber return air passage 231 and flows into the switching chamber 204, the temperature in the switching chamber 204 rises, and the frozen food becomes a frozen food. Damage is done. The warm air also causes frosting and icing in the switching chamber 204.

  By making the shape of the wind direction adjusting means 236 a triangular shape, the temperature control in the vegetable compartment 203 can be optimized by suppressing the generation of entrainment flow and using an inexpensive and simple shape. Furthermore, inflow of warm air into the switching chamber 204 is suppressed, food preservation is enhanced, and frost formation and icing can be prevented.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a front cross-sectional view of the return air passage portion in which the return air passage portion of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention is enlarged. In addition, about the same structure as Embodiment 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 7, the wind direction adjusting means 236 is formed on the switching room return air path 231 side at the entrance of the merged air path 232, and the shape of the air direction adjusting means 236 is trapezoidal so that the flow of the return cold air in the switching chamber 204 By changing the direction, the generation of entrainment flow is suppressed, the decrease in static pressure in the vegetable room 203 is suppressed, the flow of cold air from the vegetable room suction port 235 is prevented, and the inside of the vegetable room 203 has a cheap and simple shape. Temperature control can be optimized.

  Further, when the cooler 212 is defrosted, the radiant heater 214 is energized, and the warm air rises in the merged air passage 232. The return cold air of the refrigerating room 202 flowing through the refrigerating room return air passage 230 contains a large amount of moisture, and is affected by the temperature of the switching room 204 set in the freezing temperature zone when passing through the back surface of the switching room 204. Therefore, moisture frosts in the return air passage 230 for the refrigerator compartment. The trapezoidal shape of the wind direction adjusting means 236 makes it easy for air warmed during defrosting to flow toward the return air passage 230 for the refrigerator compartment, so that the frost in the return air passage 230 for the refrigerator compartment is melted and used for the refrigerator compartment. It is possible to prevent frost formation in the return air passage 230.

(Embodiment 5)
FIG. 8 is a front cross-sectional view of the return air passage portion in which the return air passage portion of the refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. In addition, about the same structure as Embodiment 2, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 8, as the air direction adjusting means 311, the air passage area of the exit portion of the return air passage 231 for the switching chamber is gradually increased toward the return air passage 230 for the refrigerating chamber, thereby improving the air passage resistance against the return cold air of the switching chamber 204. While ensuring the amount of cool air flow in the switching chamber 204 without attaching, the flow direction of the return cold air in the switching chamber 204 is changed to suppress the generation of entrainment flow, and the decrease in static pressure in the vegetable chamber 203 is suppressed. Prevents the flow of cold air from the suction port 235, ensures the cooling performance of the switching chamber 204 and when the door is opened and closed, and ensures the cooling performance under high load conditions, while optimizing the temperature control within the 204 with an inexpensive and simple shape can do.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can perform a predetermined storage room temperature control by optimizing the flow of the return cold air by providing a simple air direction adjusting means in the return air path of the return cold air. It can be widely applied to uses such as refrigerators and freezers having a plurality of storage rooms.

The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of this invention Front sectional drawing which shows the structure of the air path in Embodiment 1 of this invention Longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator in the second embodiment of the present invention Front sectional drawing which shows the structure of the air path in Embodiment 2 of this invention Cross sectional front view of return air passage portion in embodiment 2 of the present invention Cross section front view of return air passage portion in embodiment 3 of the present invention Cross section front view of return air passage portion in embodiment 4 of the present invention Cross section front view of return air passage in embodiment 5 of the present invention Front sectional view of a conventional refrigerator

Explanation of symbols

101,201 Insulated box 102,202 Refrigerated room (first storage room)
103,203 Vegetable room (second storage room)
109, 212 Cooler 110, 213 Cooling fan 122, 222 Refrigerating room air passage (first air passage)
123 Ventilation path for vegetable room (second ventilation path)
128,233 Vegetable room outlet (second outlet for storage room)
129,235 Vegetable room inlet (second storage room inlet)
130,230 Return air path for refrigeration room (first return air path)
131 Return airway for vegetable room (second return airway)
132,232 Combined air flow path 133,236,311 Wind direction adjusting means 204 Switching room (third storage room)
223 Switching room air passage (third air passage)
231 Return air path for switching room (third return air path)

Claims (5)

  It is a top storage chamber located above the cooler, having a cooler for generating cool air and a cooling fan for supplying cool air to each chamber by partitioning a plurality of storage chambers in the heat insulation box. A first air passage and a second air passage for supplying cold air to the first storage chamber and a second storage chamber located below the first storage chamber; The first return air passage and the second return air passage for returning the cool air from the second storage chamber to the cooler, and the merge of the first return air passage and the second return air passage. A refrigerator characterized by forming an air passage and air direction adjusting means for changing the direction of the flow of cold air to the entrance portion of the merging air passage.   It is a top storage chamber located above the cooler, having a cooler for generating cool air and a cooling fan for supplying cool air to each chamber by partitioning a plurality of storage chambers in the heat insulation box. A first air supply passage and a third air supply passage for supplying cold air to the first storage compartment and a third storage compartment located below the first storage compartment; A first return air passage and a third return air passage for returning cold air from the third storage chamber to the cooler, and a merge where the first return air passage and the third return air passage merge. And a second storage chamber that is provided in the first return air passage and guides a part of the return cold air of the first storage chamber to a second storage chamber located below the third storage chamber. And a second storage chamber suction port for sucking the return cold air of the second storage chamber provided in the merging air passage, and entering the merging air passage Refrigerator, characterized in that the formation of the wind direction adjusting means for changing the direction of the cool air flow back to the mouth portion.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind direction adjusting means is formed in a triangular shape at the entrance of the merging air passage.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wind direction adjusting means is formed in a trapezoidal shape at the entrance of the merging air passage.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the area of the return air passage is enlarged immediately before joining any one of the plurality of return air passages that merge with the confluence air passage.

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