JP2009174724A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of keeping freshness of food for a longer period in comparison with a conventional one by efficiently and sufficiently exerting food storage performance by the air of low concentration of oxygen (air of high concentration of nitrogen). <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator comprises a refrigerator main body divided into a plurality of storage compartments, and an oxygen separating device for separating oxygen in the air, at least one of the storage compartments is a low oxygen storage compartment having a low oxygen state inside by introducing the air of low concentration of oxygen after separation of oxygen, and the low oxygen storage compartment comprises a low oxygen concentration air introduction opening for introducing the air of low oxygen concentration after separation of oxygen, and a discharge opening for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage compartment. The low oxygen concentration air introduction opening and the discharge opening for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage compartment are separated from each other by more than a height dimension in the low oxygen storage compartment. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

  Some conventional refrigerators use an oxygen separation device using an oxygen separation membrane to supply air having a low oxygen concentration to a storage device. By supplying air with a low oxygen concentration to the storage device in this way, it is possible to suppress the oxidation of the food and keep it fresh for a long period of time.

  The above oxygen separator takes in air (oxygen concentration of about 21%, nitrogen concentration of 78%, other about 1%) and utilizes the fact that oxygen molecules dissolve faster into the membrane than oxygen molecules. Make high-concentration oxygen air and high-concentration nitrogen air. Of these, high-concentration nitrogen air, that is, air with a low oxygen concentration is supplied.

  The following patent documents can be cited as conventional documents in which such an oxygen separation apparatus using an oxygen separation membrane is used to suppress the oxidation of foods and maintain freshness for a long period of time.

JP 2004-360948 A JP 2007-40578 A

  None of the above patent documents is conscious of the fact that high concentration nitrogen air is mixed with the air in the storage chamber and the nitrogen concentration is lowered. Therefore, no consideration is given to suppressing the high-concentration nitrogen air supplied into the storage chamber from being mixed with the air in the storage chamber. That is, it is not conscious that the specific gravity of nitrogen (air ratio 0.97) is lighter than the specific gravity of oxygen (air ratio 1.11). For this reason, the air of high concentration nitrogen with a light specific gravity is supplied from a relatively lower part of the storage chamber, and the air in the storage chamber is sucked into the oxygen separation device from an upper position. As a result, the high concentration nitrogen air supplied from the lower side of the storage chamber is relatively heavy and easily mixed with the high concentration oxygen air that tends to exist in the lower side of the storage chamber, or the specific gravity supplied from the lower side of the storage chamber is light. High-concentration nitrogen air rises in the storage chamber, is discharged from the storage chamber, and is easily sucked into the oxygen separator. For this reason, the air in the storage room is difficult to become high-concentration nitrogen air (low-concentration oxygen air), and the performance of preserving food in the storage room may not be exhibited efficiently or sufficiently.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the object of the present invention is to efficiently and sufficiently demonstrate the preservation performance of foods using low-concentration oxygen air (high-concentration nitrogen air) and maintain the freshness of foods for a longer period than before. It is to provide a refrigerator that can.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a refrigerator main body partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers, and an oxygen separation device that separates oxygen in the air, wherein at least one of the storage chambers includes the oxygen chamber. Is a low oxygen storage chamber in which air with a low oxygen concentration after separation is introduced and the inside becomes a low oxygen state. The low oxygen storage chamber is a low oxygen concentration air with a low oxygen concentration after separating oxygen. A low oxygen concentration air inlet and a discharge port for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber, and the low oxygen concentration air inlet and the discharge port for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber are low oxygen storage It was set as the refrigerator provided apart from the indoor height dimension or more.

A more preferable specific configuration example of the present invention is as follows.
(1) The low oxygen concentration air introduction port is provided at a position higher than the height position of the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.
(2) The low oxygen concentration air introduction port and the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber are provided on separate surfaces of the low oxygen storage chamber.
(3) The low oxygen storage chamber includes a low oxygen concentration air inlet for introducing low oxygen concentration air having a low oxygen concentration after separating oxygen, an exhaust port for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber, and the low oxygen concentration And a partition member that suppresses the flow of air from the concentration air introduction port to the discharge port.
(4) The height of the partition member is lower than the height of the low oxygen concentration air inlet and higher than the height of the outlet for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.
(5) The partition member has a height at a position near the low oxygen concentration air introduction port higher than a height near a discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.
(6) The discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber is connected so as to communicate with the air suction port of the oxygen separator.

  According to the refrigerator of the present invention having such a configuration, it is possible to efficiently and sufficiently demonstrate the preservation performance of food by low-concentration oxygen air (high-concentration nitrogen air), and to maintain the freshness of food for a longer period than before. A refrigerator can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator of one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated using figures.

  First, the whole refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the refrigerator body of FIG.

  The refrigerator includes a refrigerator body 1 and doors 6 to 10. The refrigerator body 1 includes a urethane foam heat insulating material 13 and a vacuum heat insulating material (not shown) between a steel plate outer box 11 and a resin inner box 12. A plurality of storage rooms are provided in the order of the rooms 3 and 4 and the vegetable room 5. In other words, the refrigerator compartment 2 is arranged at the uppermost stage, and the vegetable compartment 5 is arranged at the lowermost stage, and between the refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5, the two rooms are insulated from each other. Partitioned freezer compartments 3 and 4 are provided. The refrigerator compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 5 are storage compartments in a refrigeration temperature zone, and the freezer compartments 3 and 4 are storage compartments in a freezing temperature zone of 0 ° C. or less (for example, a temperature zone of about −20 ° C. to −18 ° C.). is there. The freezer compartment 3 is divided into an ice making chamber 3a and a quick freezer compartment 3b. These storage chambers 2 to 5 are partitioned by partition walls 34, 35, and 36.

  On the front surface of the refrigerator main body 1, doors 6 to 10 that close the front opening portions of the storage chambers 2 to 5 are provided. The refrigerator compartment door 6 closes the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment door 7 closes the front opening of the ice making compartment 3a, and the quick freezing compartment door 8 closes the front opening of the quick freezing compartment 3b. The freezing room door 9 is a door that closes the front opening of the freezing room 4, and the vegetable room door 10 is a door that closes the front opening of the vegetable room 5. The refrigerator compartment door 6 is constituted by a double door with double doors, and the ice making chamber 3a, the quick freezing compartment 3b, the freezing compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 5 are constituted by a drawer type door, and a container in the storage room is pulled out together with the drawer door. It is.

  The refrigerator body 1 is provided with a refrigeration cycle. This refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor 14, a condenser (not shown), a capillary tube (not shown) and an evaporator 15, and then the compressor 14 again. The compressor 14 and the condenser are installed in a machine room provided at the lower back of the refrigerator body 1. The evaporator 15 is installed in a cooler room provided behind the freezing rooms 3 and 4, and a blower fan 16 is installed above the evaporator 15 in the cooler room.

  The cold air cooled by the evaporator 15 is sent by the blower fan 16 to the storage rooms of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3 a, the quick freeze compartment 3 b, the freezer compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 5. Specifically, a part of the cool air sent by the blower fan 16 is sent to a storage room in the refrigerator temperature zone of the refrigerator room 2 and the vegetable room 5 through a damper device that can be opened and closed, and the other part. Are sent to the ice making room 3a, the quick freezing room 3b, and the freezing room 4 storage room.

  The cool air sent to the storage rooms of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making room 3a, the quick freezing room 3b, the freezing room 4 and the vegetable room 5 by the blower fan 16 is cooled through the cold air return passage after cooling each storage room. Returned to the chamber. Thus, the refrigerator of this embodiment has a cold air circulation structure, and maintains each of the storage chambers 2 to 5 at an appropriate temperature.

  A plurality of shelves 17 to 20 made of transparent plates are detachably installed in the refrigerator compartment 2. The lowermost shelf 20 is installed in contact with the back surface and both side surfaces of the inner box 12, and divides the lowermost space 21, which is the lower space, from the upper space. Further, a plurality of door pockets 25 to 27 are installed inside each refrigerator compartment door 6, and these door pockets 25 to 27 protrude into the refrigerator compartment 2 with the refrigerator compartment door 6 closed. Is provided.

  Next, the arrangement of devices in the lowermost space 21 of the refrigerator compartment 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator compartment portion of the refrigerator main body of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lowermost space portion of the refrigerator compartment of FIG.

  In the lowermost space 21, in order from the left, an ice making water tank 22 for supplying ice making water to the ice making tray of the ice making room 3a, a storage case 23 for storing food such as dessert, and the room with low oxygen in the room A low-oxygen storage chamber 24 is installed for maintaining the freshness and long-term storage. The low oxygen storage chamber 24 has a width that is narrower than the width of the refrigerator compartment 2 and is disposed adjacent to the side surface of the refrigerator compartment 2.

  Thus, since the low oxygen storage room 24 is arrange | positioned in the lowest space 21 of the refrigerator compartment 2 arrange | positioned on the freezer compartments 3 and 4 and the vegetable compartment 5 of a refrigerator, it is convenient.

  The ice making water tank 22 and the storage case 23 are disposed behind the left refrigerator compartment door 6. The low oxygen storage chamber 24 is disposed behind the right refrigeration chamber door 6. Thereby, the food tray 60 (see FIG. 6) of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be pulled out only by opening the right refrigerator compartment door 6. The ice-making water tank 22 and the storage case 23 are located behind the lowermost door pocket 27 of the left refrigeration chamber door 6, and the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is the lowermost door pocket of the right refrigeration chamber door 6. 27 is located behind.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an ice making water pump 28 is installed behind the ice making water tank 22. The space behind the storage case 23 and at the rear side of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is an example of an oxygen separation device for reducing the low oxygen storage chamber 24 to low oxygen, as shown in FIGS. An oxygen separator 29 is disposed. As a result, the oxygen separator 29 can easily connect the conduit 29a (see FIG. 9) to the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i (see FIG. 10) provided on the side surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24, and By taking out the storage case 23, maintenance can be easily performed from the front.

  The oxygen separation device 29 is generally known and depressurizes the air outlet side space of a gas separation membrane made of a polymer membrane without pores, and allows air to pass from the air inlet side to the outlet side. When air passes through the polymer membrane, the gas is separated by utilizing the difference in passage speed from the gas that is difficult to pass through the membrane due to the molecules of the components constituting the air. That is, as a characteristic of the polymer film, oxygen that is easily dissolved in the film passes through the film at a rate of 2.2 to 5 times that of nitrogen. Due to the difference in passing speed, the air is separated into air having a high oxygen concentration and air having a low oxygen concentration (air having a high nitrogen concentration). This gas separation membrane is referred to as an oxygen separation membrane, an oxygen-enriched membrane, a nitrogen separation membrane, a nitrogen-rich membrane, or the like depending on the application.

  The experimental results of supplying this high nitrogen concentration air to the storage chamber of the example will be described. Normal air on flat ground is a gas composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1%. The experimental results confirmed that when this normal air was passed through the oxygen separation device 29, air with a high oxygen concentration consisting of 67% nitrogen, 32% oxygen, and 1% was extracted. However, the actual measurement results are obtained when the discharge side of the oxygen separator 29 is decompressed to -74 kPa.

  Next, a basic configuration of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and a cooling method thereof will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the lowermost space portion of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. 4, FIG. 7 is a front view of the rear panel of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 9 and FIG. 9 are perspective views of the low oxygen storage chamber of the refrigerator compartment of FIG.

  The low oxygen storage chamber 24 includes a box-shaped low oxygen storage chamber main body 40 having an opening for food access, a low oxygen storage chamber door 50 for opening and closing the food access opening of the low oxygen storage chamber main body 40, and food. A food tray 60 that is housed and puts in and out of the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 is provided. The low oxygen concentration at which the space surrounded by the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 and the food tray 60 is reduced to low oxygen by closing the food access opening 42a of the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 with the low oxygen storage chamber main body 40. A space 41 is formed. The food tray 60 is attached to the back side of the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 and can move back and forth with the movement of the low oxygen storage chamber door 50.

  The low oxygen storage chamber main body 40 is made of a resin outer shell 42 having excellent chemical resistance, impact resistance and moldability, a glass plate 43 (for example, tempered glass) made of transparent tempered glass, and a metal such as a steel plate. A reinforcing member 44 made of resin and a door engaging member 48 made of resin are provided. As shown in the drawing, the reinforcing member 44 is provided with a continuous drawn portion from the side surface to the bottom surface to increase the strength.

  The outer shell 42 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped basic shape. A food loading / unloading opening 42a is formed on the front surface, and a glass plate mounting opening 42b is formed on the upper surface. On the outer surfaces of the side wall 42c, the bottom surface portion 42d, and the back wall 42e constituting the outer shell 42, outer reinforcing ribs 42f are formed so as to protrude in order to increase the strength of the outer shell 42.

  The glass plate 43 is airtightly placed on the glass plate placement opening 42 b via the annular packing 45, and forms the upper wall of the low oxygen storage chamber body 40. Although this glass plate 43 is provided between the glass plate mounting opening 42b, it has a strength to prevent deformation to the inside. Further, by providing the transparent glass plate 43 on the upper surface of the outer shell 42, the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be seen through.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 15, the metal reinforcing member 44 is formed along both side walls, the bottom surface portion, and the back wall of the outer shell 42, and when the resin is integrally molded, when assembled to the refrigerator body, The deformation of both side walls, the bottom surface portion, and the back wall of the outer shell 42 due to the application of various external forces such as when there is a large amount of storage is prevented or suppressed.

  The low-oxygen storage chamber body 40 has a box-shaped resin outer shell 42 with a food access opening 42a formed on the front surface, and a metal reinforcement extending along both side walls 42c, the bottom surface portion 42d and the back wall 42e of the outer shell 42. Since the member 44 is provided, the structure can be significantly lighter and cheaper than the case where the entire outer shell 42 is formed of a metal plate. Further, since the outer shell 42 can be made of resin, the mounting structure and the like can be simplified.

  In addition, the side walls and the bottom surface of the reinforcing member 44 are formed so as to extend upward from the arcuate corners with a slight arc shape. Further, the bottom surface portion of the reinforcing member 44 is formed so as to have a slight arc shape and extend to the center portion from the arc corner portion with both side walls. As a result, the rigidity of both side walls and the bottom surface can be increased, sufficient strength can be obtained even if the thickness of the reinforcing member is reduced, the capacity can be increased, and the deformation of the reinforcing member 44 itself can be reduced. In addition to suppression, the above-described deformation suppression effect of the outer shell 42 of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is increased.

  In addition, the reinforcing member 44 includes a convex portion 44d extending left and right across both side walls and the bottom surface portion, and a convex portion e extending front and rear on the bottom surface portion. The combination of the plurality of types of convex portions 44d and 44e increases the rigidity, and a sufficient strength can be obtained even if the plate thickness of the reinforcing member 44 is reduced.

As shown in FIG. 9, the door engaging member 48 is installed on the upper surface of the food loading / unloading opening 42a. Door engaging members 48 has a U-shaped portion 48a which is accommodated in the recess 42a ₁ formed in the upper surface of the food out opening 42a, and the door locking claw part 48b extending forward from the U-shaped portion 48a Is integrally molded. The door latching claw portion 48b is provided with substantially the same width as the door handle 52, and is engaged with the front / rear positioning upper end 51e. When opening the low oxygen storage chamber door 50, when the door handle 52 is pulled, the door handle 52 rotates upward about the hinge portion 52a, and the upper portion of the door handle 52 pushes up the door locking claw portion 48b. As a result, the engagement between the door locking claw 48b and the front / rear positioning upper end 51e is released. When the door handle 52 is further pulled, the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 can be opened.

  A back panel 30 that forms a passage through which the cool air supplied from the blower fan 16 passes is provided on the back of the refrigerator compartment 2. The rear panel 30 includes a cold air discharge port (first cold air discharge port) 31 for supplying cold air to the cold room 2 and a low oxygen storage chamber for supplying cold air to the lowermost space 21 of the cold room 2. A cooling air discharge port (second cold air discharge port) 32 for cooling and a cold air return port 33 are provided. The cold air return port 33 is provided behind the low oxygen storage chamber 24 on the side close to the side surface of the refrigerator compartment 2.

  The cold air discharge port 32 is provided toward the gap between the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and the lower surface of the shelf 20. The cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port 32 flows through the gap between the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and the lower surface of the shelf 20 as a cold air passage 37 to cool the low oxygen storage chamber 24 from the upper surface. Therefore, the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is indirectly cooled.

  Here, the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is arranged close to the right side surface of the refrigerator compartment 2 to eliminate the gap on the right side of the low oxygen storage chamber 24, and is illustrated at the left end of the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24. Since the left-side gap of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is eliminated by providing a non-shelf (partition wall), the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port 32 does not flow to the left and right sides of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 It flows over the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24. Thereby, the amount of cool air for cooling the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be increased, and the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be cooled in a short time. The cold air that has cooled the upper surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is sucked into the cold air return port 33 from the front of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 through the left side surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24, and passes through the cold air return passage to the cooler chamber. Is returned. Since the cold air return port 33 is provided on the rear side of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and on the side close to the side surface of the refrigerator compartment 2, the cold air contacts the back surface and the left side surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and cools it. .

  In this way, the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is indirectly cooled by the cold air passing outside. The cold air that has cooled the entire refrigerator compartment 2 is also sucked into the cold air return port 33.

  Next, the outer shell 42 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the outer shell 42 of FIG. 9 as viewed from the upper left.

  The outer shell 42 includes an insertion claw 42g at the upper end, a locking projection 42h provided on the side walls 42c and the back wall 42e, a low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i and an oxygen concentration sensor connection portion 42j provided on the side wall 42c. have. A discharge port 42k for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber is provided near the oxygen concentration sensor connection portion 42j.

  The low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i has a passage that connects the inside and the outside of the outer shell 42, and is connected to the oxygen separation device 29 via a conduit 29a (see FIG. 9). Low oxygen concentration air is supplied from the oxygen separator 29 to the inside of the outer shell 42 through the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i. Note that high oxygen concentration air (67% nitrogen and 32% oxygen, and other 1%) separated by passing normal air through the oxygen separator 29 in the oxygen separator 29 is discharged into the refrigerator compartment 2. Is done.

  In the refrigerator compartment 2, the oxygen concentration is slightly higher, but the volume is large, so that the oxygen concentration is such that the freshness of the food is adversely affected in the time when the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is at a predetermined low oxygen concentration air. Not reached. In addition, a product whose freshness is easily affected by the oxygen concentration is not a problem because it is a refrigerator housed in the low oxygen storage chamber 24.

  The low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i is provided to open at a position higher than the upper end of the reinforcing member 44 at the rear side of the side wall of the outer shell 42. This prevents the low oxygen concentration air from almost flowing into the gap between the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i and the reinforcing member 44, and supplies the low oxygen concentration air to the inside of the food tray 60 for storing food. can do.

  Further, as the operation time elapses, the air discharged from the discharge port 42k gradually becomes low oxygen concentration air, and the air that gradually becomes low oxygen concentration air is sucked into the oxygen separation device 29 to further separate oxygen. The low oxygen concentration air having a lower oxygen concentration is supplied to the inside of the outer shell 42. For this reason, predetermined low oxygen concentration air can be obtained in a short time.

  Moreover, the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i is provided at a position higher than the height of the outlet 42k for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber. Thereby, it can suppress that low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) and the air (normal oxygen concentration air) in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 mix. That is, the arrangement takes into account that the specific gravity of nitrogen (air ratio 0.97) is lighter than the specific gravity of oxygen (air ratio 1.11). As a result, the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) having a low specific gravity supplied from the upper position in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is filled from the upper space in the low oxygen storage chamber 24, and normal oxygen in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is filled. Concentrated air or air having a high specific gravity approaching the normal oxygen concentration moves to a lower space in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and is discharged from the discharge port 42k.

  Thus, the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) supplied into the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is suppressed from being mixed with the air (normal oxygen concentration air) in the low oxygen storage chamber 24. Alternatively, it is possible to suppress the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) from being sucked into the oxygen separation device 29 before the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is filled. Therefore, the performance of preserving the food in the storage room can be sufficiently exhibited, and the freshness of the food can be maintained for a longer period than before.

  Further, the low oxygen storage chamber 24 of the present embodiment includes a low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i and an exhaust port 42k that discharges air in the low oxygen storage chamber, and a position above the left side wall on the back side in the low oxygen storage chamber. Are provided separately at the lower position on the right side wall surface. As a result, the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) is prevented from being sucked into the oxygen separation device 29 before the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is filled.

  In the embodiment, the side wall of the food tray 60 constitutes a partition member that extends in the upward direction from the bottom surface. In the side wall of the food tray 60, the rear upper end 60a of the side wall is lower than the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i. This prevents the inflow resistance of the low oxygen concentration air introduced from the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i. The front upper end 60b of the side wall of the food tray 60 has the lowest structure. Since the height of the discharge port 42k is lower than the front upper end 60b of the lowest side wall, the low oxygen concentration air introduced from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i is smooth to the front upper end 60b of the side wall. To charge.

  After filling up to the front upper end 60b of the side wall, the low oxygen concentration air is supplied from above the low oxygen storage chamber 24 where the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i is located, and the discharge port 42k located below the front portion. Inhalation into the oxygen separation device 29 and the difference in specific gravity also affect the flow of air in the diagonal direction and from the top to the bottom. As a result, the low oxygen concentration air flows gently from the upper back of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 to the bottom surface of the food tray 60 so as to get over the front upper end 60b of the side wall, and from the discharge port 42k to the oxygen separation device 29. A circulation flow is formed which is sucked into the water.

  Thus, the height of the partition member formed by the side wall of the food tray 60 is lower than the height of the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i and higher than the height of the discharge port 42k for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber, or The height of the position close to the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i is preferably higher than the height of the position close to the discharge port 42k for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.

  In the low oxygen storage chamber 24 of the above embodiment, the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i is provided above the left wall surface, but the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i and the discharge port 42k are provided in the low oxygen storage chamber 24. The low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i may be lower than the discharge port 42k (not shown) as long as it is separated by at least the height dimension. In particular, since the discharge port 42k of the embodiment is provided at the lower position on the right wall surface, the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) introduced from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i is the low oxygen concentration air introduction port. This position is satisfied regardless of the height at which 42i is provided. Therefore, before the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) is filled into the low oxygen storage chamber 24 (food tray 60), the oxygen separation device 29 can be prevented from being almost sucked.

  Further, a low oxygen concentration between the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i for introducing the low oxygen concentration air having a low oxygen concentration after the oxygen is separated and the discharge port 42k for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24. When a partition member that suppresses the flow of air from the air inlet 42i to the outlet 42k is provided, the height positions of the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i and the outlet 42k have almost no effect. In particular, when a partition member is provided downward from the ceiling surface of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 (not shown), the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) is the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 (normal oxygen concentration). Since the specific gravity is lighter than air), the space above the lower end position of the partition member is filled with low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air).

  Since the height of the outlet 42k is lower than the front upper end 60b of the side wall, the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i may be lower than the front upper end 60b of the side wall of the food tray 60. This is because low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) rises due to its low specific gravity and can be filled from the upper part of the low oxygen storage chamber 24. However, the flow rate sucked into the oxygen separation device 29 from the discharge port 42k is significantly higher than the flow rate of low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) introduced into the low oxygen storage chamber 24 from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i. If it is large, there may be some low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) that does not rise unless the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i is made higher than the front upper end 60b of the side wall of the food tray 60. This occurs when the size of the gap space between the outer peripheral surface of the food tray 60 and the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is large. That is, if this gap space is continuously large from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i to the discharge port 42k, this gap space forms an air flow path from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i to the discharge port 42k. .

  Accordingly, in this embodiment, the gap space is not continuously increased from the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i to the outlet 42k.

  Specifically, the reinforcing member 44 interposed between the food tray 60 and the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is provided with a convex portion 44d extending left and right across both side walls and the bottom surface portion, and a convex portion e extending front and rear on the bottom surface portion. The gap between the outer peripheral surface of the food tray 60 and the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is reduced by the convex portion. Therefore, since a continuous large gap space is not formed between the outer peripheral surface of the food tray 60 and the inside of the low oxygen storage chamber 24, the air resistance is large and the flow of air hardly occurs.

  Thus, when the reinforcing member 44 is provided with both the convex portion 44d extending left and right across both side walls and the bottom surface portion and the convex portion 44e extending front and rear on the bottom surface portion, the low oxygen concentration air as shown in FIG. The inlet 42i ′ can be positioned lower than the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i in FIG. For example, the height position of the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i ′ in FIG. 12 is lower than the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i in FIG. 10, as indicated by the broken line in FIG.

  When the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i ′ is positioned at the height position of FIG. 12, the shape of the reinforcing member 44 is not covered with the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42i ′ as shown in FIG. Also, the height position of the low oxygen concentration air inlet 42 i ′ in FIG. 12 is lower than the rear upper end 60 a of the side wall of the food tray 60. This is because when both the convex portions 44d and 44e are provided, an air flow hardly occurs in the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the food tray 60 and the inside of the low-oxygen storage chamber 24. It was made lower than the rear upper end 60a of the side wall of the food tray 60. Further, even when the food tray 60 is lower than the front upper end 60b of the side wall of the food tray 60 and lower than the discharge port 42k ', the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be filled with low oxygen concentration air (not shown).

  10 and 12, the discharge ports 42k and 42k 'for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 are connected so as to communicate with the air suction port of the oxygen separation device 29. It is not necessary to communicate with the air suction port of the separation device 29. That is, the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i is located at a position higher than the height of the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 and at a distance from the discharge port 42k (substantially a partition member). If the oxygen separation device 29 is in operation, the oxygen separation device 29 is moved relative to the discharge ports 42k and 42k 'by introduction of low oxygen concentration air having a low specific gravity from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i. Thus, the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 having a high specific gravity is pushed out.

  The low oxygen concentration air introduced from the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i and the flow pushed out from the discharge port 42k at a position lower than the low oxygen concentration air introduction port 42i, that is, the flow of air from a high position to a low position are formed. Therefore, the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) is difficult to be mixed with the air in the low oxygen storage chamber 24 (normal oxygen concentration air), or the low oxygen concentration air (high nitrogen concentration air) is air in the storage chamber. It is possible to prevent the flow that is sucked into the oxygen separator. Therefore, the performance of preserving the food in the storage room can be efficiently and sufficiently exhibited, and the freshness of the food can be maintained for a longer period than before.

  Next, the oxygen concentration sensor connecting portion 42j has a hole that communicates the inside and the outside of the outer shell 42, and is connected to the oxygen concentration sensor. The oxygen concentration inside the outer shell 42 is detected by the oxygen concentration sensor (oxygen concentration sensor 84 in FIG. 16) through the oxygen concentration sensor connecting portion 42j.

  Next, the glass plate 43 will be specifically described with reference to FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the glass plate 43 and the annular packing 45 forming the upper wall of the low oxygen storage chamber body 40 of FIG.

  The glass plate 43 is formed of a transparent rectangular flat plate and has sufficient rigidity and strength. The annular packing 45 has a concave groove 45a for inserting the glass plate 43 on the inner peripheral surface, and has elasticity suitable for maintaining an airtightness between the glass plate 43 and the glass plate mounting opening 42b. ing.

  Next, the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. The low-oxygen storage chamber door 50 is made of a resin door body 51, a resin door handle 52, a sealing state release valve 53, a rubber indicator 54, and a rubber that enhances sealing so that low oxygen concentration air does not leak. The gasket 55 is provided. Note that the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 is connected to the link mechanism 70 and is rotatable and movable back and forth. The sealed state release valve 53 sucks the air in the low oxygen storage chamber by the oxygen separator 29 and returns the oxygen-reduced air, so that the inside is slightly decompressed, or the food and air stored in the inside are cooled. Since the inside is slightly depressurized by contraction, it is provided so that even a consumer with a small finger strength can easily open and close.

  The door main body 51 has substantially the same outer shape as the front outer shape of the outer shell 42, and includes a handle recess 51a, a door reinforcing rib 51b constituting a reinforcing protrusion, a handle hinge receiver 51c, a link mechanism connecting portion 51d, a front and rear positioning upper end 51e, A front-rear positioning lower end 51f and the like are provided.

  Next, the link mechanism 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 15. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the low oxygen storage chamber door 50 of FIG. 9 is pulled forward.

  The link mechanism 70 is disposed between the side surface of the adjacent refrigerator compartment 2 and the side surface of the low oxygen storage chamber body 40.

  Next, the operation of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 15.

  When opening the door body 51, in the state shown in FIG. 9, a finger is put into the handle recess 51a and the lower part of the door handle 52 is pulled, so that the sealed state release valve 53 shown in FIG. The sealed state of the chamber 24 is released. Therefore, even if the user is not particularly conscious, the sealed state of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 can be released at the beginning of the opening operation of the door body 51.

  Further, by pulling the door handle 52, the upper link side 70a is pulled forward through the door body 51, and the connecting portion between the upper link side 70a and the rear link side 70d follows the inclination of the upper support portion 42k for the link. Thus, the door body 51 is inclined and moved forward and downward. Accordingly, the front / rear positioning lower end 51f of the door main body 51 of FIG. 13 is released from the front / rear positioning groove 34a of the partition wall 34 of FIG. 8, and the door main body 51 can be pulled out forward.

  Further, by pulling the door handle 52, the upper link side 70a is pulled forward via the door main body 51. Therefore, the door link 51 is arranged close to the upper link side 70a, and the open / closed state of the door main body 51 of the low oxygen storage chamber 24 is changed. The door switch 83 to detect detects the open state of the door main body 51 of the low oxygen storage chamber 24.

  Further, by pulling the door handle 52, the door main body 51 is moved forward together with the link mechanism 70 and the food tray 60 in a tilted state, and these are pulled out as shown in FIG. 15, and the upper surface of the food tray 60 is opened. The

  These operations may be a single operation of pulling the door handle 52, and a series of operations of each device can be performed, which is convenient.

  When the door body 51 is closed, by pushing the upper part of the door handle 52 in the state shown in FIG. 15, the reverse operation of the opening operation described above is performed, and the door switch 83 is connected to the door of the low oxygen storage chamber 24. The closed state of the main body 51 is detected.

  FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining input / output between the microcomputer, which is the control device 80 in the present embodiment, and each device. As shown in FIG. 16, the control device 80 includes an operation switch 81 disposed on the front face of the refrigerator compartment door 6 and operated by the user, a refrigerator compartment door switch 82 for detecting the open / closed state of the refrigerator compartment door 6, low oxygen Operation of the door switch 83 for detecting the open / close state of the door body 51 of the storage chamber 24, the oxygen concentration sensor 84 for detecting the oxygen concentration in the low oxygen storage chamber 24, and the refrigerator temperature sensor 85 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 A predetermined process is performed in response to the detection signal, and the oxygen separator 29 is controlled based on the result.

The front view of the refrigerator of one Embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. The front view of the refrigerator main body of FIG. The front view of the refrigerator compartment part of the refrigerator main body of FIG. The top view of the lowest space part of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the lowermost space portion of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. 4. The front view of the back panel of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the low oxygen storage chamber vicinity of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a low oxygen storage chamber of the refrigerator compartment of FIG. 4. The perspective view which looked at the outline of a hypoxia store room from the upper left. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a reinforcing glass plate and an annular packing of the low oxygen storage chamber of FIG. 9. The perspective view which shows the Example different from FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the low oxygen storage chamber door of FIG. 9. The perspective view of the state which removed the handle | steering_wheel of FIG. The perspective view of the state which pulled out the low oxygen store room door of Drawing 9 ahead. The figure explaining the input / output with the control apparatus and each apparatus in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator body 2 Refrigeration room 3, 4 Freezing room 3a Ice making room 3b Quick freezing room 5 Vegetable room 6 Refrigeration room door 7 Ice making room door 8 Quick freezing room door 9 Freezing room door 10 Vegetable room door 11 Outer box 12 Inner box 13 Foaming Insulating material 14 Compressor 15 Evaporator 16 Blowers 17-20 Shelf 21 Bottom space 22 Ice making water tank 23 Storage case 24 Low oxygen storage room 25-27 Door pocket 28 Ice making water pump 29 Oxygen separator 29a Conduit 30 Rear panel 31 , 32 Cold air discharge port 33 Cold air return port 34-36 Partition wall 34a Front / rear positioning groove 34b Low oxygen storage chamber fitting claw 37 Cold air passage 40 Low oxygen storage chamber body 41 Low oxygen concentration space 42 Outer wall 42a Food intake / outlet opening portion 42b Glass Plate mounting openings 42c, 44a Side walls 42d, 44b Bottom surfaces 42e, 44c, 60d Back wall 42f Outer reinforcement ribs 42g Assembling claws 42 h Locking projection 42i Low oxygen concentration air inlet 42j Oxygen concentration sensor connection 42k Discharge port 42l Link lower support 43 Glass plate 44 Reinforcement members 44d to 44f Projection 44g Locking portion 45 Annular packing 45a Groove 46 Rail 47 Gap cover 48 Door engaging member 48a U-shaped portion 48b Door locking claw portion 50 Low oxygen storage chamber door 51 Door main body 51a Handle recess 51b Door reinforcing rib (reinforcing means, reinforcing protrusion)
51c Handle hinge receiver 51d Link mechanism connecting part 51e Front / rear positioning upper end 51f Front / rear positioning lower end 51g, 51h, 52b Through hole 52 Door handle 52a Hinge part 53 Sealed state release valve 53a Valve seat 53b Valve body 54 Indicator 55 Gasket 60 Food tray 60a Rear upper end 60b Front upper end 60c Front wall 60e Recess 60f Door fitting claw 70 Link mechanisms 70a to 70d Link side 80 Controller 81 Operation switch 82 Refrigerating room door switch 83 Door switch 84 Oxygen concentration sensor 85 Refrigerating room temperature sensor

Claims (7)

A refrigerator body partitioned into a plurality of storage rooms;
An oxygen separator for separating oxygen in the air,
At least one of the storage chambers is a low oxygen storage chamber that introduces air having a low oxygen concentration after the oxygen is separated and the inside becomes a low oxygen state, and the low oxygen storage chamber is an oxygen storage chamber. A low oxygen concentration air introduction port for introducing low oxygen concentration air having a low oxygen concentration after being separated, and a discharge port for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber, and the low oxygen concentration air introduction port and the low oxygen storage chamber And a discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the low oxygen concentration air introduction port is provided at a position higher than a height position of the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the low oxygen concentration air introduction port and the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber are provided on separate surfaces of the low oxygen storage chamber.   3. The low oxygen storage chamber according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the low oxygen storage chamber is a low oxygen concentration air inlet for introducing low oxygen concentration air having a low oxygen concentration after separating oxygen, and an exhaust for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber. The refrigerator provided with the exit and the partition member which suppresses the flow of the air from the said low oxygen concentration air inlet to the said outlet.   The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the height of the partition member is lower than the height of the low oxygen concentration air introduction port and higher than the height of the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.   6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the partition member has a height close to the low oxygen concentration air introduction port higher than a height close to the discharge port for discharging the air in the low oxygen storage chamber.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an exhaust port for discharging air in the low oxygen storage chamber is connected to communicate with an air intake port of the oxygen separator.

Images