JP2009002545A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator not lowering an installation space of a storage chamber to retain an opening/closing motion space of a cold air flow channel by a damper device. <P>SOLUTION: In this refrigerator 1 including storage chambers (refrigerating chamber 12 and freezing chamber 14) receiving a refrigerated matter or a frozen matter, and a duct 18 provided with cold air inflow ports 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a for sending the cold air to the storage chambers, the cold air inflow ports 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a are provided with the damper devices 20 for keeping the cold air inflow ports 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a in an opened state by moving baffles 24 in an opposite side to the storage chambers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator to which a damper device for controlling cool air sent into a storage room is attached.

  In a general refrigerator (including a freezer, a refrigerator, etc., the same shall apply hereinafter), cold air obtained by a cooler (evaporator) or the like is fed into the refrigerator (including the object to be frozen; the same shall apply hereinafter). The storage chamber in which the is stored is maintained at a predetermined temperature. The amount of cool air sent into the storage chamber is controlled by a damper device provided with a baffle that opens and closes the cool air flow path, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-138052

  However, in the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1, when the cold air flow path is opened, the baffle of the damper device is configured to tilt toward the storage chamber. For this reason, a space for tilting the baffle has to be secured on the side of the accommodation room, and there is a problem that the accommodation room becomes narrower by the amount of the space.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the arrangement space of the storage chamber is not reduced by the open / close operation space of the cold air flow path by the damper device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention includes, as described in claim 1, a storage room in which a refrigerated object or a frozen object is stored, and a duct through which cold air fed into the storage room flows. In the refrigerator provided, the duct is provided with a cold air flow inlet for sending cold air to the storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the cold air, and the cold air flow inlet is configured to switch an open / close state of the cold air flow inlet. The gist is that the damper is attached and the cold air flow inlet is opened by moving a baffle provided in the damper to the opposite side of the storage chamber.

  In this case, as described in claim 2, the damper device is provided with a drive unit for moving the baffle and a frame for fixing the baffle, and the drive unit is configured to store the frame. It is desirable that it does not protrude from the chamber side end face.

  Further, as described in claim 3, the frame may be inserted and attached to the cold air flow inlet.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the frame is attached so as not to protrude outside the cold air flow inlet.

  In addition, as described in claim 5, the driving unit may be provided in the duct.

  In addition, as described in claim 6, it is desirable that the driving unit is disposed in a rotation axis direction of the baffle.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the damper device is attached so that the rotating shaft of the baffle is positioned on the cold air outflow side.

  Furthermore, as described in claim 8, it is desirable that the damper device includes a plurality of the frames and baffles.

  According to the refrigerator according to claim 1 of the present invention, the cold air flow inlet is provided with a damper device provided with a baffle for blocking / opening the cold air, and when the cold air flow inlet is in an open state, The baffle is moved in the direction opposite to the storage chamber. That is, it is not necessary to provide a space for opening the baffle on the side of the accommodation room, and a sufficiently large accommodation room can be secured. Further, since a cold air flow inlet for feeding cold air into the accommodation chamber is provided in the vertical direction of the duct, it is easy to dispose a plurality of damper devices along the duct without bending the duct. Can be made compact.

  In this case, as described in claim 2, if the drive unit for driving the baffle is configured not to protrude from the storage chamber side end surface of the frame, the storage space of the storage chamber is further increased. It becomes possible.

  Further, as described in claim 3, if the frame is inserted and attached to the cold air flow inlet, as described in claim 4, the frame does not protrude outside the cold air flow inlet. If attached, at least a part of the damper device is accommodated in the duct, so that the configuration of the refrigerator can be made compact and the arrangement space of the accommodation chamber can be expanded.

  Moreover, if the drive part is provided in a duct as described in Claim 5, it will become possible to accommodate the whole damper apparatus in a duct, and the structure of a refrigerator can be made compact.

  Further, as described in claim 6, if the drive unit is disposed in the direction of the rotation axis of the baffle, the size (length) of the damper device in the short direction (direction perpendicular to the rotation axis) is small. Therefore, it greatly contributes to downsizing of a refrigerator provided with a plurality of cold airflow inlets. Further, in a refrigerator or the like in which a plurality of cold air flow inlets are provided close to each other, interference between damper devices can be prevented, which is particularly effective.

  Further, as described in claim 7, if the damper device is attached so that the rotating shaft of the baffle is positioned on the cold outflow side, the damper device is compared with the case where the rotating shaft of the baffle is positioned on the duct side. The cold air from the duct can be efficiently guided to the accommodation chamber.

  As described in claim 8, if the damper device is provided with a plurality of frames and baffles, it is possible to perform opening / closing control of the cold air flowing through the plurality of ducts by one damper device. . Thereby, the structure of a refrigerator can be made compact.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Drawing 1 is a typical sectional view for explaining the composition of refrigerator 1 concerning one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is configured by including a refrigerator compartment 12, a freezer compartment 14, a cooler 16, a duct 18, and a damper device 20 in an outer box 10.

  The refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 are storage rooms for storing the items to be refrigerated and the items to be frozen, respectively. Both are separated by a partition plate 11. The refrigerating chamber 12 is provided with a plurality of cold air flow inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, and the freezer compartment 14 is provided with a cold air flow inlet 14a.

  The cold air generated by the cooler 16 is forcibly blown through the duct 18 by a fan (not shown). The amount of this cool air sent into the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezer compartment 14 by the damper device 20 provided at each of the cool air inlets 12a, 12b, 12c and 14a formed perpendicular to the extending direction of the duct 18 is provided. Be controlled. Thereby, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 is maintained at predetermined temperature.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the damper device 20 will be specifically described. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the damper device 20. Here, FIG. 2A is a diagram when the baffle 24 is in an open state, and FIG. 2B is a diagram when the baffle 24 is in a closed state.

  The damper device 20 includes a drive unit 22, a baffle 24 that opens and closes a cool air flow path, and a frame 26 to which the baffle 24 is attached.

  The drive unit 22 is for driving the baffle 24, and is configured by housing a motor 30 and gears 32 a to 32 e in a case 28. In order to explain the structure, FIG. 3 shows a state where the upper lid 28a of the case 28 is removed.

  The motor 30 is a driving source of the damper device 20 and is a known stepping motor. The gears 32a to 32e are selected and incorporated so that the baffle 24 can be driven against the fluid pressure of the cold air flowing through the duct. Specifically, it is designed such that a necessary output calculated from the torque of the motor 30 and the size of the baffle 24 (fluid pressure applied to the baffle 24) is transmitted to the baffle 24.

  The baffle 24 is a plate-like member that is driven by the drive unit 22, and is attached to the frame 26 via a rotation shaft 34 that is integrally provided. The rotating shaft 34 is connected to a fan-shaped final gear 32e. An elastic member 36 is attached to the surface of the baffle 24 so as to cover the opening 38 of the frame 26.

  As described above, the frame 26 is a member that supports the baffle 24, and an opening 38 is formed at the center thereof. Since the damper device 20 is provided in the cold air flow inlets 12 a, 12 b, 12 c and 14 a, the opening 38 becomes a flow path for the cold air sent into the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14.

  In the damper device 20 configured as described above, when the motor 30 is rotated in a predetermined direction from the open state of the opening 38 (FIG. 2A), the baffle 24 rotates about the rotation shaft 34 as a support shaft. Then, it is pressed by the opening 38 (FIG. 2B). Since the elastic member 36 is attached to the surface of the baffle 24, the baffle 24 and the frame 26 are in close contact with each other, and the opening 38 is completely closed. That is, the cold air that passes through the cold air inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 14a and is fed into the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 is completely blocked.

  On the other hand, when the motor 30 is driven in the reverse rotation from the state in which the opening 38 is closed, the baffle 24 is tilted in a direction to open the opening 38 (FIG. 2A). Thereby, the cold air flow inlets 12a, 12b, 12c and 14a are opened, and the cold air is sent into the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14.

  Since the cross-sectional area perpendicular to the direction in which the cool air flows in the duct 18 is larger than the area of the baffle 24, the duct 18 is not closed even if the baffle 24 is tilted in the direction to open the opening 38. The inflow side and the cold air outflow side communicate with each other.

  The damper device 20 is attached in the refrigerator 1 as follows. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the damper device 20 attached to the cold air flow inlet 12a (12b, 12c, 14a) formed in the duct 18.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the damper device 20 has a frame 26 fitted into the cold air flow inlet 12 a and fixed. At this time, the baffle 24 is attached so as to be rotationally driven along the arrow in the drawing. That is, when the cold air flow inlet 12a is opened, the baffle 24 is attached so as to be driven to rotate in the direction of the duct 18, that is, the direction opposite to the refrigerator compartment 12 (freezer compartment 14).

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide a space for the baffle 24 to move to the open state on the refrigerator compartment 12 or freezer compartment 14 side, and sufficient space for the refrigerator compartment 12 and the refrigerator compartment 14 is ensured. Can do. In addition, since a part of the damper device 20 (a part of the frame 26) is fitted into the cold air flow inlet 12a, the size of the refrigerator 1 can be made compact, and the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 are designed to be large. can do.

  Furthermore, in this case, as can be seen from the drawing, the drive unit 22 (case 28) does not protrude beyond the end face of the frame 26 on the refrigerator compartment 12 and freezer compartment 14 side (end face where the opening 38 is formed). Therefore, a larger space can be secured as the arrangement space for the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14. Further, the drive unit 22 is provided in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 36 (longitudinal direction of the frame 26). That is, since the size of the damper device 20 in the short direction is reduced, the size (height) of the refrigerator 1 in which a plurality of damper devices 20 are arranged can be reduced.

  Further, the damper device 20 can be mounted such that the rotating shaft 34 is positioned on the refrigerator compartment 12 and freezer compartment 14 side, that is, on the cold air outflow side. Thereby, the cold air from the duct 18 can be efficiently guided to the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 14.

  Moreover, as another attachment method of the damper apparatus 20, what is shown by FIGS. 5-8 is mentioned. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the damper device 20 is attached so that the frame 26 is buried in the duct 18 and the baffle 24 is driven to rotate in the direction opposite to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14. Good. Thereby, although the flow of the cool air in the duct 18 is somewhat hindered by the frame 26, the space of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 can be expanded more than that shown in FIG. In this case, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the obstruction of the cool air flow is reduced by providing notches and holes in the frame 26.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the damper device 20 is attached so that the frame 26 is brought into contact with the outside of the duct 18 and the baffle 24 is rotationally driven in the direction opposite to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14. May be. Thereby, the flow of the cold air in the duct 18 is not obstructed, and a sufficient space in the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 can be secured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, a rib 181 is provided at a place where the cold air flow inlet 12 a (12 b, 12 c, 14 a) of the duct 18 is provided, a frame 26 is inserted into the rib 181, and the baffle 24 is The damper device 20 may be attached so as to be rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14. Thereby, sufficient space of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 can be ensured, and the damper device 20 can be firmly fixed to the duct 18.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire damper device 20 including the drive unit 22 is accommodated in the duct 18, and the baffle 24 is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14. The damper device 20 may be attached. Thus, if the damper apparatus 20 whole is accommodated in the duct 18, since the installation space of the damper apparatus 20 becomes unnecessary, the structure of the refrigerator 1 can be made further compact. In this case, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the obstruction of the cool air flow is reduced by providing notches and holes in the frame 26.

  In the damper device 20 described so far, one baffle 24 is driven with respect to one drive unit 22, but two with respect to one drive unit 22 as shown in FIG. The same technical idea can be applied to the damper device 21 (so-called double damper device) in which the (or more) baffle 24 is driven. According to such a damper device 21, it is possible to perform open / close control of the cold air flowing through the plurality of ducts 18 with a single damper device. Thereby, the structure of the refrigerator 1 can be made more compact.

  Thus, according to the refrigerator 1 which concerns on this embodiment, the cold air sent into the refrigerating room 12 or the freezer compartment 14 (accommodating room) is supplied to the cold air flow inlets 12a, 12b, 12c and 14a formed in the duct 18. A damper device 20 provided with a baffle 24 is provided to shut off / open, and when the cold air flow inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a are opened, the baffle 24 is connected to the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 14. Are configured to move in the opposite direction. That is, it is not necessary to provide a space for opening the baffle 24 on the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 14 side, and a sufficient space for arranging the refrigerator compartment 12 and the refrigerator compartment 14 is provided as compared with the conventional case. Can be secured. Further, since the cold air flow inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 14a for feeding cold air to the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 14 are provided in the direction perpendicular to the duct 18, the duct 18 is not bent and the duct 18 is not bent. It becomes easy to arrange | position the several damper apparatus 20 along, and can make the refrigerator 1 compact.

  Further, if the drive unit 22 for driving the baffle 24 is configured not to protrude from the end surface on the storage chamber side of the frame 26, the space for arranging the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 can be further increased. Become.

  Further, if the frame 26 is inserted and attached to the cold air inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a, the frame 26 is attached so as not to protrude outside the cold air inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, 14a. Then, since at least a part of the damper device 20 is housed in the duct 18, the configuration of the refrigerator 1 can be made compact, and the size of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 can be further increased. It can be.

  In addition, if the entire damper device 20 including the drive unit 22 is housed and attached in the duct 18, an installation space for the damper device 20 is not necessary, so that the configuration of the refrigerator 1 can be further compacted.

  Moreover, since the drive part 22 is arrange | positioned in the rotating shaft 34 direction of the baffle 24, the magnitude | size (length) of the transversal direction (direction orthogonal to the rotating shaft 34) of the damper apparatus 20 becomes small, and several This greatly contributes to downsizing of the refrigerator 1 provided with the cold air inlets 12a, 12b, 12c, and 14a.

  Further, since the damper device 20 is attached so that the rotating shaft 34 of the baffle 24 is positioned on the cold air outflow side, the damper device 20 is compared with the case where the rotating shaft 34 of the baffle 24 is positioned on the duct 18 side. Can be efficiently led to the refrigerator compartment 12 or the freezer compartment 14.

  And if it is what is called a double damper apparatus with which the flame | frame 26 and the baffle 24 are provided with two or more in the damper apparatus, it will become possible to perform opening / closing control of the cold air which flows into the several duct 18 with the one damper apparatus 21. FIG. . Thereby, the structure of the refrigerator 1 can be made more compact.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, although the refrigerator 1 which concerns on this embodiment demonstrated that it was a refrigerator provided with the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 14 as an accommodation room, it is equipped with another accommodation room, what is called a chilled room, a vegetable room, etc. The technical idea of the present invention can also be applied to a refrigerator.

It is typical sectional drawing for demonstrating the structure of the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the damper apparatus with which the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 is equipped. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the drive part of the damper apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which protruded a part of flame | frame from the duct and attached the damper apparatus to the refrigerator. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which immersed the flame | frame in the duct and attached the damper apparatus to the refrigerator. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which contact | abutted the flame | frame outside the duct and attached the damper apparatus to the refrigerator. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which attached the damper apparatus to the refrigerator by fixing a flame | frame to the rib formed in the duct. It is sectional drawing which showed the state in which the whole damper apparatus was accommodated in the duct and attached. It is an external perspective view of what is called a double damper device in which two frames and baffles are provided for one drive unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 12 Refrigeration room 14 Freezing room 18 Duct 20 Damper device 22 Drive part 24 Baffle 26 Frame 34 Rotating shaft 38 Opening part

Claims (8)

In a refrigerator provided with a storage room in which a refrigerated object or a frozen object is stored, and a duct through which cool air sent into the storage room flows,
The duct is provided with a cold air flow inlet for sending cold air to the accommodating chamber in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the cold air flow, and a damper device for switching the open / close state of the cold air flow inlet is attached to the cold air flow inlet. In addition, the refrigerator is characterized in that the cold air flow inlet is opened by moving a baffle provided in the damper device to the side opposite to the storage chamber.   The damper device is provided with a driving unit for moving the baffle and a frame for fixing the baffle, and the driving unit does not protrude from the end surface on the storage chamber side of the frame. The refrigerator according to claim 1.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame is inserted and attached to the cold airflow inlet.   The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the frame is attached so as not to protrude outside the cold air flow inlet.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit is provided in the duct.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive unit is disposed in a rotation axis direction of the baffle.   The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the damper device is attached such that a rotating shaft of the baffle is positioned on an outflow side of the cold air.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the damper device includes a plurality of the frames and baffles.

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