JP2012193921A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator that prevents water generated due to oxygen reduction from entering a container for storing food.SOLUTION: The refrigerator includes a vegetable chamber 16, a lower container 48 which can be hermetically sealed, an oxygen concentration adjusting device 58 for reducing an oxygen concentration by changing oxygen included in the lower container to water, and a connection member 60 connected between the lower container 48 and the oxygen concentration adjusting device 58 to prevent generated water from flowing into the lower container 48.

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigerators.

  Conventionally, a refrigerator provided with a CA storage room for performing CA (Controlled Atmosphere) storage that maintains the freshness of food by changing the composition of air has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

  The CA storage method includes a gas replacement system that is widely used in the food industry, a vacuum system that reduces oxygen by reducing pressure, and a polymer electrolyte membrane that reduces oxygen without changing the atmospheric pressure using a polymer electrolyte membrane. And an adsorption method using an oxygen adsorbent.

  The gas replacement method replaces and stores gas such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide with air, and is widely used to maintain freshness in the distribution process of food and vegetables. Becomes a large-scale device.

  The vacuum method is a method of reducing the pressure as a method of reducing oxygen in order to prevent oxidation of foods. However, since the performance correlates with the degree of vacuum, the strength of the container and the capacity of the vacuum pump are required, and a relatively large device It becomes.

  The adsorption method is widely used in the distribution process of confectionery and the like as in the gas replacement method, but if the adsorbent breaks through the adsorption, the effect is lost and the life is short.

  In the polymer electrolyte membrane system, a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode in the polymer electrolyte membrane to cause the following reactions, respectively. In the anode, 2H2O becomes O2 + 4H ++ 4e-, and in the cathode, O2 + 4H ++ 4e- becomes 2H2O. Therefore, the cathode side of the polymer electrolyte membrane is arranged in the CA storage chamber, and oxygen in the CA storage chamber is reduced. The polymer electrolyte membrane system has the advantage that there is no pressure change and the apparatus is simple.

JP 2004-218924 A JP-A-5-227881 JP-A-2005-48977

  However, in the polymer electrolyte membrane system, oxygen is changed to water on the cathode side, so that oxygen is consumed and moisture is increased as oxygen is reduced. This moisture can increase the relative humidity in the refrigerator when it is lower than the saturated water vapor pressure, and has the effect of preventing the food from drying. Or fall on food.

  This fallen water has a problem that it promotes the decay of food and reduces the effect of preserving freshness by reducing oxygen.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention provides a refrigerator that prevents water generated when oxygen is reduced from entering a container that stores food.

  An embodiment of the present invention includes a storage chamber, a sealable container housed in the storage chamber, and oxygen concentration adjusting means for reducing the oxygen concentration in the container by changing oxygen inside the container to water. And a connecting member that is connected between the storage chamber and the oxygen concentration adjusting means and prevents water generated by the oxygen concentration adjusting means from flowing into the container.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of 1st Embodiment. It is a front view of the state which removed the door of the refrigerator. It is a principal part expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view of an adjustment apparatus. It is a top view of an adjustment device. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the adjustment apparatus of the refrigerator of 2nd Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the adjustment apparatus of the refrigerator of 3rd Embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator of 4th Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator 10 of one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on drawing.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator 10 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-4.

(1) Structure of refrigerator 10 The structure of the refrigerator 10 is demonstrated based on FIG.1 and FIG.2.

  The cabinet 12 of the refrigerator 10 is a combination of an outer box and an inner box, and a heat insulating material is arranged between them. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment 14, the vegetable compartment 16, the upper freezer compartment 18, and the freezer An ice making chamber 22 is provided on the left side of the upper freezing chamber 18. A heat insulating partition wall 24 is provided between the vegetable compartment 16, the upper freezer compartment 18, and the ice making compartment 22, and the refrigerated compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16 constitute a refrigerated space, and the upper freezer compartment 18, the freezer compartment 20, and the ice making compartment. The chamber 22 constitutes a refrigeration space. A partition plate 25 is disposed between the refrigerator compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16.

  A refrigeration evaporator (hereinafter simply referred to as “R EVA”) 26 for cooling the refrigeration space is disposed on the back of the refrigerator compartment 14, and a refrigeration fan (hereinafter simply referred to as “ 28) (referred to as “R fan”). A freezing evaporator (hereinafter simply referred to as “F EVA”) 30 for cooling the freezing space is disposed on the back surface of the freezer compartment 20, and a freezing fan (hereinafter simply referred to as “F fan”) is disposed in the upper freezer compartment 18. 32) is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air cooled by the R evaporator 26 is blown to the refrigerator compartment 14 by the R fan 28, and then the vegetable compartment 16 is cooled via the partition plate 25. The cold air that has cooled the refrigerator compartment 14 is provided on the back surface of the vegetable compartment 16, and is sent to a return duct 34 that is a cold air return means for returning the cold air in the refrigerator compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16 to the R-eva 26.

  The air cooled by the F-evaporator 30 is blown by the F fan 32 to cool the upper freezer compartment 18, the freezer compartment 20, and the ice making chamber 22.

(2) Structure of vegetable room 16 Next, the structure of the vegetable room 16 will be described based on FIG.

  As described above, the return duct 34 is provided on the back of the vegetable compartment 16. The return duct 34 is provided in the vertical direction, and has a front space 36 through which cold air is sent from the refrigerator compartment 14 and a rear space 38 connected to the R-eva 26, and between the front space 36 and the rear space 38. A partition wall 40 is provided. At the lower part of the partition wall 40, an R fan 28 for flowing cool air is provided in the vertical direction.

  The vegetable compartment 16 is provided with a drawer-type door 42, and a pair of left and right moving rails 44, 44 project horizontally from the rear surface of the door 42 in the front-rear direction. The pair of left and right moving rails 44 and 44 are movable with respect to fixed rails 46 and 46 provided on both inner side walls of the vegetable compartment 16.

  A lower container 48 is installed on the pair of left and right moving rails 44, and an upper container 50 is stacked above the lower container 48. The lower container 48 and the upper container 50 are substantially the same size, and the opened upper surface of the lower container 48 is sealed by the bottom surface of the upper container 50.

  The upper container 50 is provided with a lid 52, and the lid 52 is engaged with a pair of front and rear suspension parts 54 projecting downward from the partition plate 25 and an engaging part 56 projecting upward from the lid 52. 52 is arranged in the vegetable compartment 16 in a suspended state. The lid 52 pulls out the drawer-type door 42 and remains under the partition plate 25 even when the lower container 48 and the upper container 50 are pulled forward together.

(3) Structure of Oxygen Concentration Adjusting Device 58 Next, an oxygen concentration adjusting device (hereinafter simply referred to as “adjusting device”) 58 as an oxygen concentration adjusting means will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The adjusting device 58 is made of a polymer electrolyte membrane, and as described in the background art, a voltage is applied between the anode and the cathode, and oxygen is consumed by changing oxygen to water on the cathode side. This device reduces oxygen on the cathode side. The adjustment device 58 is plate-shaped and has a substantially square shape as shown in FIG. 4 when viewed from the front.

  As described above, the return duct 34 is provided on the back of the vegetable compartment 16. The front surface of the return duct 34, that is, the front surface of the front space 36 is provided so as to incline toward the front as it extends upward. A plate-shaped adjusting device 58 is provided on the front surface of the return duct 34. The anode side of the adjusting device 58 is exposed inside the front space 36 of the return duct 34, and the cathode side is exposed outside the return duct 34.

  A connecting member 60 is provided on the front surface of the return duct 34 to which the adjusting device 58 is attached. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connection member 60 includes a cylindrical rear connection portion 62 and a cylindrical front connection portion 64. The cylindrical rear connection portion 62 is formed to have a size that covers all of the adjustment device 58, and the cylindrical front connection portion 64 is rear connection so as to correspond only to a portion where the polymer electrolyte membrane in the adjustment device 58 is exposed. It is formed smaller than the rear connection portion 62 through the step portion from the portion 62. The rear connection portion 62 and the front connection portion 64 are substantially square when viewed from the front, and an opening 70 is provided on the front surface of the front connection portion 64, and the bottom surfaces of the rear connection portion 62 and the front connection portion 64 are integrated and rearward. It is formed so as to be inclined downward. A flange portion 66 is provided at the edge of the opening 70 of the front connection portion 64, and an annular seal member 68 made of silicon or the like is attached to the step portion of the flange portion 66.

  A substantially square container opening 72 is opened at a position corresponding to the opening 70 on the rear surface of the lower container 48 as viewed from the front. In a state where the door 42 is closed and the lower container 48 and the upper container 50 are stored in the vegetable compartment 16, the opening 70 and the container opening 72 are in contact with each other so that the inside of the lower container 48 and the inside of the connection member 60 are spatially separated. It is connected and is blocked from other spaces by a seal member 68.

  A sheet-like water absorbing material 74 is provided horizontally in the width direction at a lower position inside the connecting member 60 and below the adjusting device 58, and the front part is located inside the connecting member 60. The rear portion penetrates the wall of the return duct 34 and is located near the bottom surface of the front space 36 of the return duct 34. The rear end portion of the water absorbing material 74 located in the vicinity of the bottom surface is bent a plurality of times and formed in a pleated shape.

(4) Operation State of Adjustment Device 58 Next, the operation state of the adjustment device 58 will be described in order based on FIG.

  First, when the door 42 is closed, the container opening 72 and the opening 70 of the lower container 48 communicate with each other, and the lower container 48 is sealed and connected to the cathode side of the adjusting device 58.

  Second, when voltage is applied to the anode side and the cathode side of the adjusting device 58 in this state, oxygen on the cathode side is consumed, and the oxygen concentration inside the lower container 48 is lowered and stored in the lower container 48. Can maintain the freshness of the food.

  Third, due to the decrease in the oxygen concentration, water is generated on the cathode side of the adjusting device 58. This water is distributed most on the surface of the electrolyte membrane of the adjusting device 58. The distributed water is arranged such that the adjusting device 58 is inclined in the vertical direction and forwards upward, so that the water on the surface of the electrolyte membrane flows down to the bottom surface of the rear connection portion 62 of the connection member 60. It collects in a certain water storage part 63 (refer FIG. 3).

  Fourth, the water accumulated in the water storage part 63 on the bottom surface is absorbed by the front part of the water absorbing material 74 and drained and stored in the water storage part 37 on the bottom surface of the front space 36 of the return duct 34. Thus, by draining the water inside the connecting member 60 to the return duct 34, the water does not flow into the lower container 48 and the food is not spoiled. At this time, the water-absorbing material 74 flows only water, and blocks the air whose oxygen concentration has decreased from flowing into the front space 36 of the return duct 34. Therefore, the water absorbing material 74 is a water draining means and also serves as an air blocking means.

  Fifthly, the drained water accumulates in the water storage portion 37 on the bottom surface of the front space 36 of the return duct 34, and the humidity of the front space 36 increases. On the other hand, the return duct 34 is cold air that has circulated through the refrigerator compartment 14 and the vegetable compartment 16, and therefore contains a lot of humidity inside the cold air. On the anode side of the adjusting device 58, as described in the background art, water vapor is required for the reaction. Therefore, the cold air having the humidity returned to the return duct 34 and the water storage portion 37 on the bottom surface of the front space 36 are used. Due to the humidity from the water accumulated in the water, the reaction is further promoted, and the oxygen concentration in the adjusting device 58 is reduced. In particular, since the rear part of the water absorbing material 74 is formed in a pleat shape, the water accumulated in the water storage part 37 can be positively evaporated, the amount of evaporated water inside the return duct 34 can be increased, and a large amount Can treat water. Further, the evaporated moisture can promote the reaction of the adjusting device 58 as described above. Therefore, this water absorbing material 74 also serves as a humidity recovery means.

(5) Effect As described above, in the refrigerator 10 according to the present embodiment, the sheet-like water absorbing material 74 is disposed between the connection member 60 and the return duct 34, whereby water inside the connection member 60 is supplied to the return duct 34. The water can be drained, the water does not flow into the lower container 48, and the food is not spoiled.

  In addition, since the plate-like adjusting device 58 is attached so as to incline forward toward the upper side, moisture generated on the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane can be easily flowed downward to the connecting member 60. This can be further promoted without inhibiting the reaction between the membrane and oxygen in the electrolyte membrane.

  Since the anode side of the adjusting device 58 is exposed inside the return duct 34, there has been a problem that it has been difficult to react due to insufficient humidity. However, the lack of humidity is solved by the cold air including the humidity flowing through the return duct 34. To further promote the reaction.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator 10 of this embodiment, since it has both R Eva 26 and F Eva 30, and the adjustment apparatus 58 is provided in the return duct 34 of R Eva 26 with high temperature, icing with respect to F Eve 30 is prevented. In addition, it is possible to eliminate the icing on the R-eva 26 caused by the water generated by the adjusting device 58, and it is possible to suppress a decrease in cooling capacity.

  Moreover, since the connection member 60 is provided between the lower container 48 and the return duct 34, the dead space can be effectively used. That is, since the upper container 50 and the lower container 48 are manufactured by injection molding, they have a taper in the depth direction, and since they are large molded products, there is a great difference in the length of one side of the top and bottom surfaces. A large dead space is usually created on the back of the vegetable compartment 16. However, by arranging the connection member 60 in the dead space, the freshness of the food can be maintained without reducing the effective space.

  In addition, since the adjustment device 58 is disposed inside the return duct 34, the user does not touch the adjustment device 58.

  Next, the refrigerator 10 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the water drainage structure in the connection member 60.

  In this embodiment, the bottoms of the rear connection portion 62 and the front connection portion 64 of the connection member 60 are formed in a mortar shape that is recessed downward in the middle, and a hole 76 is opened at the center thereof. One end of a pipe 78 is connected to the hole 76, and the other end of the pipe 78 is connected to an evaporating dish 80 for evaporating defrosted water from the refrigerator 10. A water absorbing material 82 is inserted into the hole 76. The water absorbing material 82 has a wedge shape formed so as to protrude downward.

  In the present embodiment, the water generated from the adjustment device 58 accumulates on the bottom surface of the connection member 60. This accumulated water flows to the pipe 78 through the wedge-shaped water absorbing material 82 and reaches the evaporating dish 80. The water that reaches the evaporating dish 80 is evaporated by an evaporating pipe or the like. On the other hand, although the water absorbing material 82 allows water to pass through but does not allow air to pass through, air having a reduced oxygen concentration does not leak to the outside.

  Next, the refrigerator 10 of 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.

  The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment resides in a method for treating water generated by the adjusting device 58.

  In the present embodiment, the bottom surface of the connection member 60 is flattened, and water is accumulated in that portion and evaporated. Since the amount of water generated by the adjustment device 58 is small, it does not flow out to the lower container 48 even if it is accumulated on the bottom surface of the connection member 60 and evaporated.

  Next, the refrigerator 10 of 4th Embodiment is demonstrated based on FIG.

  This embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and it is common that a hole 76 is connected to the bottom surface of the connection member 60, a pipe 78 is connected to the hole 76, and a water absorbing material 82 is inserted into the hole 76. is there. In addition, in the present embodiment, a fan 84 for circulating the air inside the lower container 48 is provided inside the connecting member 60.

  In this way, by circulating the air inside the lower container 48 by the fan 84, the moisture and oxygen concentrations become uniform, and the reaction of the adjusting device 58 can proceed stably.

Example of change

  In each of the above embodiments, the container for reducing oxygen is applied to the lower container 48. However, the container may be applied to the upper container 50 or both the upper container 50 and the lower container 48 instead. Furthermore, it is possible to arrange one container in the vegetable compartment 16 without dividing the container up and down, and to apply each of the above embodiments inside the container.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although applied to the vegetable compartment as a storage room which performs CA, you may apply to another storage room.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  If it is the refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 1, it can prevent that a water flows into a container with a connection member, and can prevent decay of food.

  If it is the refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 2, the water collected on the connection member can be drained by the drainage means.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 3, since the drainage means is provided with the blocking means, it is possible to block the entry and exit of air with reduced oxygen and drain only water.

  Since it is a refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 4, since the interruption | blocking means is a water absorption material, air can be interrupted | blocked and only water can be poured.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 5, since the drainage means is connected to the duct, the drained water can be drained into the duct, and evaporation can be promoted by the cold air flowing through the duct.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 6, since one of the oxygen concentration adjusting means is exposed inside the duct, the reaction can be promoted by cold air having humidity flowing in the duct.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 7, since the humidity collecting means for increasing the humidity inside the duct is provided inside the duct, the reaction of the oxygen concentration adjusting means can be promoted.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 8, since the duct is a return duct, humidity is contained by the cold air flowing inside the duct, so that the reaction of the oxygen concentration adjusting means can be promoted.

  If it is a refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 9, since the oxygen concentration adjustment means is plate shape, it can be attached without taking up space.

  In the refrigerator according to the embodiment described in claim 10, since the oxygen concentration adjusting means is provided so as to incline forward toward the upper part, the generated water easily flows downward.

  If it is the refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 11, the water generated with the evaporating dish can be evaporated.

  If it is a refrigerator of embodiment of Claim 12, by raising the temperature of the evaporator for refrigeration, the icing by the generated water can be decreased and the fall of cooling capacity can be suppressed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator, 16 ... Vegetable room, 48 ... Lower container, 58 ... Adjustment apparatus, 60 ... Connection member, 70 ... Opening part, 72 ... Container opening part, 74・ Water absorbing material,

Claims (12)

A storage room;
A sealable container housed in the storage room;
Oxygen concentration adjusting means for reducing the oxygen concentration in the container by changing the oxygen in the container to water;
A connecting member that is connected between the storage chamber and the oxygen concentration adjusting means and prevents water generated by the oxygen concentration adjusting means from flowing into the container;
A refrigerator characterized by comprising: A drainage means for draining the water is provided in the connection member.
The refrigerator according to claim 1. The drainage means is provided with a shut-off means for shutting in / out of air,
The refrigerator according to claim 2. The blocking means is a water-absorbing material;
The refrigerator according to claim 3. The drainage means is connected to a duct through which cool air for cooling the storage chamber flows;
The refrigerator as described in any one of Claims 2 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The oxygen concentration adjusting means is provided in a duct through which cool air for cooling the storage chamber flows, and one of the oxygen concentration adjusting means is exposed inside the duct;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein Humidity recovery means for increasing the humidity inside the duct is provided inside the duct.
The refrigerator according to claim 6. The duct is a return duct from which cool air returns from the storage room to the evaporator of the refrigerator.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein The oxygen concentration adjusting means is plate-shaped,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein The oxygen concentration adjusting means is provided so as to incline forward toward the upper part.
The refrigerator according to claim 9. The drainage means extends to an evaporating dish for evaporating defrost water generated from the refrigerator.
The refrigerator as described in any one of Claims 2 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. The refrigerator cabinet is partitioned into a refrigerated space and a frozen space,
A refrigerating evaporator for cooling the refrigerating space; and a refrigerating evaporator for cooling the refrigerating space,
The storage room is arranged in the refrigerated space;
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the refrigerator is characterized.

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