JP2014009903A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator in which the total wiring length of wiring can be reduced, the refrigerator having its structure simplified to suppress the cost.SOLUTION: A refrigerator includes an interior lamp 11 that lights the interior of a refrigerator 1, a door switch 12 that switches between light-on and light-off of the interior lamp 11, an operation switch 13 that operates a variety of functions of the refrigerator, and an evaporator 14. A control unit 15 centrally having the interior lamp 11, the door switch 12 and the operation switch 13 is fixed to the evaporator 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with an interior lamp and various switches in the interior.

  A refrigerator having various electric parts in a refrigerator is generally used. Electrical parts are, for example, an interior light that illuminates the interior of the warehouse, a door switch that detects the opening and closing of the door and switches on or off of the interior light, a temperature setting switch for setting the interior temperature, and This is a mode changeover switch for switching operation. Hereinafter, switches that operate various functions of the refrigerator, such as a temperature setting switch and a mode switching switch, are collectively referred to as operation switches. The position where each electrical component is disposed is appropriately determined in consideration of the function of each electrical component, the space required for the placement, and the like.

  In a conventional refrigerator, each electric component may be arranged away from each other. In this case, the total wiring length of the wiring that connects the electrical components to each other increases. Therefore, such a refrigerator has the subject that the cost of wiring material becomes high.

  As a technique for solving this problem, Patent Document 1 describes a refrigerator in which a storage portion that is recessed toward the heat insulating material is formed on an inner wall near the opening of an inner box that forms a storage chamber. In this refrigerator, the temperature control device (operation switch), the interior lamp, the door switch for turning on / off the interior lamp, and the panel unit that houses the single circuit board to which each of the electrical components are attached are stored in the above-described manner. It is arranged in the part. Patent Document 2 describes a refrigerator in which a box containing an interior lighting lamp, a door switch, and an operation switch portion is installed on the front wall of the refrigerator main body at the front opening.

JP 2008-89244 A (published April 17, 2008) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-239452 (released on August 26, 2004)

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the storage portion is required, the cost for forming the storage portion is generated, and thus the production cost is increased. Moreover, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, the box is disposed on the front wall of the refrigerator main body. Since the said box protrudes from the refrigerator main body, the packing size at the time of shipping a refrigerator becomes large, and a packing cost and a conveyance cost become high.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the structure and reduce the cost in a refrigerator capable of reducing the total wiring length of wirings to be arranged.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes an interior lamp that illuminates the interior of the refrigerator, and a door switch that switches on / off the interior lamp according to opening and closing of the door included in the refrigerator. And an operation switch for operating various functions including temperature setting in the storage, and an evaporator disposed in the storage, and further, the storage lamp, the door switch, and the operation switch are integrated. The control unit is fixed to the evaporator.

  According to said structure, the control unit is equipped with the interior light, the door switch, and the operation switch collectively. Hereinafter, the interior lamp, the door switch, and the operation switch are collectively expressed as an electric component unit. Compared with the case where the interior light, the door switch, and the operation switch are arranged in different places, the refrigerator according to the present invention can reduce the total wiring length of the wiring to be used. Further, since the wiring is introduced into the warehouse, the number of openings provided in the interior wall of the warehouse can be reduced. From the above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can suppress the production cost.

  Furthermore, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a special structure for arranging the electrical component unit on the inner wall in the cabinet. That is, since it has a simple structure, production costs can be further suppressed. Moreover, since the electrical component unit is disposed inside the cabinet, it does not protrude outside the cabinet. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the packing cost and the transportation cost that occur when shipping the refrigerator.

  As described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of simplifying the structure and suppressing the cost in the refrigerator capable of reducing the total wiring length of the arranged wirings.

  Further, in the refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention, the door switch is disposed at a position facing the door in a closed state, and a force acting on a door protrusion provided in the door is applied. It is preferable to detect that the door is in a closed state by being pushed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction.

  Generally, the refrigerator includes a front opening for taking in and out food and drink. According to said structure, the door switch is arrange | positioned in the position facing with respect to the door of the closed state, and does not form a protrusion part in the side surface in a store | warehouse | chamber. Therefore, the area of the front opening is not reduced, and the taking in and out of food and drink is not hindered. That is, user convenience is improved.

  Further, in the refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention, the evaporator is formed in a U-shape or a B-shape, and is disposed at an upper portion in the warehouse, and the control unit includes the evaporator. A shape that can be fitted and fixed is preferable.

  According to said structure, it is possible to fix a control unit easily with respect to an evaporator. Therefore, the production process is simplified and the production cost is suppressed. Further, by fixing the control unit to the evaporator, the evaporator can easily maintain a predetermined shape.

  In the refrigerator according to one aspect of the present invention, the interior lamp is further disposed at a position where both the upper and lower spaces can be illuminated with the lower surface of the evaporator as a boundary. Is preferred.

  Generally, the space surrounded by the evaporator is controlled to a temperature lower than the outside of the space, and functions as an ice making chamber, for example. On the other hand, the space other than the ice making room in the warehouse functions as a refrigerator room. According to said structure, the interior lamp can illuminate any space of a refrigerator compartment and an ice making room. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate lamp for illuminating the refrigerator compartment and the ice making chamber.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention includes an interior light that illuminates the interior of the refrigerator, a door switch that switches on or off the interior light according to opening and closing of the door included in the refrigerator, and a temperature setting in the interior. The operation switch which operates various functions including is provided, and the evaporator installed in the said store | warehouse | chamber. Furthermore, the control unit comprising the interior lamp, the door switch, and the operation switch in an integrated manner is fixed to the evaporator.

  Therefore, in the refrigerator capable of reducing the total wiring length of the arranged wiring, the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced.

It is a perspective view showing the outline of the refrigerator concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the interior lamp, door switch, and operation switch with which the said refrigerator is provided. It is a top view which shows a mode that the door switch with which the said refrigerator is equipped detects the open state and closed state of a door. (A) shows an open state, (b) shows a closed state. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the control unit with which the said refrigerator is equipped is fixed to an evaporator. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the wiring with which the said refrigerator is provided. It is a top view which shows a mode that the door switch with which the refrigerator which concerns on a comparative example is provided detects the open state and closed state of a door. (A) shows an open state, (b) shows a closed state. It is a perspective view which shows the outline of the wiring with which the refrigerator which concerns on a comparative example is provided. It is a figure which compares the total wiring length of the wiring with which the refrigerator which concerns on one Example of this invention, and the refrigerator which concerns on a comparative example are each equipped.

(Outline of refrigerator 1)
The refrigerator 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated referring FIGS. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the refrigerator 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of the interior lamp 11, the door switch 12, and the operation switch 13 provided in the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 includes an interior lamp 11 that illuminates the interior 20, a door switch 12 that switches on / off the interior lamp 11 in accordance with opening and closing of the door included in the refrigerator 1, The operation switch 13 which operates various functions including the temperature setting of the inside 20 and the evaporator 14 disposed in the inside 20 are provided. Further, a control unit 15 that includes the interior lamp 11, the door switch 12, and the operation switch 13 is fixed to the evaporator 14.

  In the refrigerator 1, the interior 20 functions as a refrigerator compartment. On the other hand, the space formed by the evaporator 14, the control unit 15, and the ice making chamber door 16 is controlled to a temperature lower than the outside of the space, and functions as an ice making chamber, for example. Thus, the refrigerator 1 is provided with the refrigerator compartment and the ice making room.

(Outer box 17 and door 18)
The refrigerator 1 includes an outer box 17 and a door 18 (not shown in FIG. 1). Hereinafter, the surface formed by the closed door 18 is expressed as the front surface of the refrigerator 1 or the front surface of the outer box 17. Moreover, when a user opposes the front surface of the refrigerator 1, the side close | similar to a user is represented as this side, and the side far from a user is expressed as the back.

  The outer box 17 includes a front opening (not shown) on the front surface. The door 18 is disposed so that the front opening can be opened and closed, and a part of the door 18 is supported by the outer box 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer case 17 includes a side outer wall 17a and a side inner wall 17b. A space formed by the side outer wall 17a and the side inner wall 17b is filled with a heat insulating material. Moreover, the wiring mentioned later is arrange | positioned in the said space.

(Inside light 11)
The interior lamp 11 is an illumination member that illuminates the interior of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 1, when the refrigerator is viewed from the front side, the interior lamp 11 is disposed in the lower right part of the control unit 15 and illuminates the back direction and the downward direction of the interior 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the interior lamp 11 includes a lamp 11a and a transparent member 11b, and the periphery of the lamp 11a is formed by a transparent member 11b. The lamp 11a is preferably a light emitting diode (LED), for example. The lamp 11a is not limited to the LED, and may be any lamp that can illuminate the interior 20.

  It is preferable that the interior lamp 11 is disposed at a position where both the upper and lower spaces can be illuminated with the lower surface of the evaporator 14 as a boundary. Alternatively, a part of the interior lamp 11 is preferably disposed on a surface formed by the lower surface of the evaporator 14 described later. According to said structure, the interior lamp 11 can illuminate any space of the interior 20 which is a refrigerator compartment, and an ice-making room. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of separate lamps to illuminate the refrigerating room and the ice making room, and the production cost of the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed.

  Since the interior lamp 11 illuminates the rear direction and the downward direction from the upper side of the interior 20, it is not backlit when the user puts in and out food and drinks, and improves the usability of the user.

  In the present embodiment, the interior lamp 11 is disposed in the lower right portion of the control unit 15 when the refrigerator is viewed from the front side, but may be disposed in the lower left portion. Whether the interior lamp 11 is disposed at the lower right or lower left of the control unit 15 may be appropriately selected according to the opening / closing direction of the door 18, the mode of the door switch 12, and the like.

(Door switch 12)
The door switch 12 is a switch that detects opening / closing of the door 18 and switches on / off of the interior lamp 11 according to the detection result. Hereinafter, a state where the door 18 is open is expressed as an open state, and a state where the door 18 is closed is expressed as a closed state. The door switch 12 turns on the interior lamp 11 when the door 18 is open, and turns off the light when the door 18 is closed.

  FIG. 3 is a top view showing a state in which the door switch 12 detects an open state and a closed state of the door. FIG. 3A shows an open state, and FIG. 3B shows a closed state. The door switch 12 is disposed at a position facing the door 18 in the closed state. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, the door switch 12 has a sector shape with a central angle of, for example, 90 °, in other words, has a shape composed of two straight lines and one curved line. The door switch 12 is fixed to the control unit 15 so as to be rotatable around the intersection of two straight lines as a rotation axis.

  The door 18 includes a door protrusion 19. The door protrusion 19 may be a part of a door pocket disposed inside the door. When the door 18 is in the open state, the door switch 12 and the door protrusion 19 are separated from each other (see FIG. 3A).

  As the door 18 is closed, the distance between the door switch 12 and the door protrusion 19 gradually decreases, and eventually comes into contact with each other. When the door 18 is further closed, the door protrusion 19 applies a force to the door switch 12. More specifically, the door protrusion 19 pushes the door switch 12 in the right direction in FIG. The door switch 12 is rotated by being pushed by the door protrusion 19. As a result, the door switch 12 is pushed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of the force acting on the door protrusion 19 (see FIG. 3B). The door switch 12 detects that the door 18 is in a closed state when it is pushed in, and detects that it is in an open state when it is not pushed in.

  By arranging the door switch 12 at a position facing the door 18 in the closed state, it is possible to form a flat side wall 17b (a side surface of the interior 20). In other words, it is not necessary to form a special structure in which the side inner wall 17b is recessed or protruded. Therefore, the production cost of the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed. Further, since the door switch 12 is not disposed on the side inner wall 17b, the area of the front opening provided in the refrigerator 1 is not reduced. Therefore, the door switch 12 does not hinder the user when taking in and out food and drink.

(Operation switch 13)
The operation switch 13 is a switch for operating various functions provided in the refrigerator 1. The various functions are not particularly limited. For example, the operation switch 13 may be a temperature setting switch for setting the temperature of the interior 20 or may be a mode changeover switch for switching the operation mode of the refrigerator 1. Moreover, the switch which integrated the temperature setting switch and the mode change switch into one may be sufficient.

  The operation switch 13 is disposed at a position facing the user when the door 18 is opened. Therefore, the user can easily operate the operation switch 13. That is, user convenience is improved.

(Evaporator 14)
The evaporator 14 cools the inside 20 and the ice making chamber of the refrigerator 1. The ice making chamber is cooled to a temperature lower than the inside 20.

  In this embodiment, when the interior 20 is viewed from the front side, the shape of the evaporator 14 is preferably a U-shape (see FIG. 4). Note that the shape of the evaporator 14 is not limited to a U-shape, and may be, for example, a B-shape.

  In this embodiment, it is preferable that the evaporator 14 is arrange | positioned by the upper part of the inside 20 of the store | warehouse | chamber. In addition, the place where the evaporator 14 is disposed is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set according to the use of the refrigerator.

(Control unit 15)
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the control unit 15 includes an interior lamp 11, a door switch 12, and an operation switch 13. In the present embodiment, the interior lamp 11, the door switch 12, and the operation switch 13 are collectively expressed as an electrical component unit.

  The control unit 15 preferably has a shape that can be fitted and fixed to the evaporator 14, more specifically a frame shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 15 is fitted and fixed to the evaporator 14. In other words, the control unit 15 is held by the evaporator 14. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a member for holding the control unit 15 on the inner wall of the interior 20. Thus, since the control unit 15 can be easily held, the production process of the refrigerator 1 is simplified and the production cost is suppressed.

Further, by fitting the control unit 15 into the evaporator 14 and fixing it, the evaporator 14 and the control unit 15 come into contact with each other at a plurality of points or sides. This configuration has the following effects.
The control unit 15 is stably held by the evaporator 14.
The control unit 15 functions as a strength holding member for the evaporator 14.
When the control unit 15 functions as a strength holding member, the evaporator 14 can easily hold a predetermined shape. Further, the deformation of the evaporator 14 due to the weight of ice or the like stored in the ice making chamber can be suppressed. That is, the strength of the evaporator 14 can be easily increased, and the degree of freedom in designing the evaporator 14 is increased. Therefore, the cost of the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed.

  Further, since the control unit 15 is disposed in the cabinet 20, the electric component unit does not protrude from the outer box 17. Therefore, the packaging cost and the transportation cost when shipping the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed, and the appearance of the refrigerator 1 is not impaired.

  Note that the method of fixing the evaporator 14 and the control unit 15 to each other is not limited to the above-described fixing. Any fixing method may be used as long as the control unit 15 can be fixed stably. As a matter of course, the shape of the control unit 15 is not limited to a shape that can be fitted and fixed and a frame shape.

(wiring)
The wiring arrange | positioned at the refrigerator 1 is demonstrated referring FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an outline of wiring provided in the refrigerator. The control unit 15, the power source 21, and the wiring are members that are not visible from the outside of the refrigerator 1, but in FIG. 5, they are shown as if they are visible from the outside in order to make it easier to grasp the image.

  The power source 21 is connected to a commercial power source by wiring not shown. The commercial power source is a power source that outputs AC 100V, for example. The power source 21 converts AC 100V power into predetermined power and supplies it to the control unit 15.

  In the present embodiment, the electrical component units are arranged together in the control unit 15. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 has only one set of wires for connecting the power source 21 and the control unit 15. In the present embodiment, the electrical component unit includes an interior lamp 11, a door switch 12, and an operation switch 13. Therefore, the above-described set of wirings includes three wirings (see FIG. 5).

  The refrigerator 1 reduces the total wiring length of the wiring used compared to the case where the interior light, the door switch and the operation switch are not integrated and are disposed in different places (comparative examples described later). Is possible.

  As described above, the wiring is disposed in the space formed by the side outer wall 17a and the side inner wall 17b. Therefore, the side inner wall 17 b includes an opening for introducing the wiring into the cabinet 20. Further, the opening includes a prevention member that prevents leakage of the heat insulating material.

  In the refrigerator 1, the said opening part and the said prevention member with which the side surface inner wall 17b is provided are each one. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can reduce the number of steps for forming the opening and can simplify the step of arranging the wiring. As a matter of course, the number of the prevention members to be used can be suppressed.

  As described above, since the refrigerator 1 can reduce the total wiring length and the number of the prevention members used, the material cost can be suppressed. In addition, since the production process can be simplified, the cost associated with the production process can be suppressed. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 has an effect of simplifying the structure and suppressing the cost in the refrigerator capable of reducing the total wiring length of the arranged wirings.

(Comparative example)
A refrigerator 100 according to a comparative example will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 is a top view showing how the door switch 112 detects the open state and the closed state of the door 118. FIG. 6A shows the open state, and FIG. 6B shows the closed state. Similarly to the door switch 12, the door switch 112 detects that the door 118 is closed by being pushed by the door protrusion 119 and turns off the interior lamp 111. The door switch 112 differs from the door switch 12 in that the door switch 112 is pushed in a direction approximately parallel to the direction of the force received from the door protrusion 119.

  Since the door switch 112 is disposed on the side inner wall 117b, the area of the front opening provided in the refrigerator 100 may be reduced, and user convenience may be deteriorated.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, in the refrigerator 100, the interior lamp 111, the door switch 112, and the operation switch 113 are each arrange | positioned in a different position. Therefore, the refrigerator 100 includes a door switch in addition to a wiring connecting the power source 121 and the interior lamp 111, a wiring connecting the power source 121 and the operation switch 113, and a wiring connecting the power source 121 and the door switch 112. 112 and the operation switch 113, and the wiring which connects the door switch 112 and the interior lamp 111 are provided. That is, the refrigerator 100 includes five wires.

  Moreover, it is necessary to provide an opening for introducing the wiring into the warehouse and a prevention member for preventing leakage of the heat insulating material, corresponding to each of the interior light 111, the door switch 112, and the operation switch 113. That is, the refrigerator 100 includes the three openings and the three prevention members.

  As described above, the refrigerator 100 requires a longer total wiring length and a larger number of the opening and the prevention member than the refrigerator 1. Moreover, the process for arranging the wiring in the refrigerator 100 is more complicated than the process in the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the cost of the refrigerator 100 is higher than the cost of the refrigerator 1.

  The wiring length of the wiring to be used was compared using the refrigerator 1 according to the above-described embodiment and the refrigerator 100 according to the comparative example. The result is shown in FIG. The capacity of the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator 100 is 170 liters (D530 mm × W570 mm × H1250 mm).

  The refrigerator 1 includes three wires that connect the power source 21 and the control unit 15. The length of each wiring was 1000 mm, and the total wiring length was 3000 mm. On the other hand, the refrigerator 100 includes five wires as described above. The total wiring length was 4200 mm. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 reduced the total wiring length by 1200 mm with respect to the refrigerator 100.

(Additional notes)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, the wiring of electrical components in the refrigerator can be reduced, so that the member cost can be reduced and the wiring configuration can be simplified, so that the wiring work is simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 11 Interior light 11a Lamp 11b Transparent member 12 Door switch 13 Operation switch 14 Evaporator 15 Control unit 16 Ice making room door 17 Outer box 17a Side surface outer wall 17b Side surface inner wall 18 Door 19 Door protrusion 20 Inside the chamber

Claims (4)

An interior light that illuminates the interior of the refrigerator,
A door switch for switching on / off of the interior lamp according to opening / closing of the door, provided in the refrigerator;
An operation switch for operating various functions including temperature setting in the cabinet,
And an evaporator disposed in the warehouse,
The refrigerator, wherein the control unit including the interior light, the door switch, and the operation switch is fixed to the evaporator.   The door switch is disposed at a position facing the door in a closed state, and is pushed in a direction approximately perpendicular to the direction of the force acting on the door protrusion provided in the door. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door detects that the door is in a closed state. The evaporator is formed in a U-shape or a B-shape, and is disposed in the upper part of the warehouse,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit has a shape that can be fitted and fixed to the evaporator.   The said interior lamp is arrange | positioned in the position which can illuminate any space of the upper side and the lower side on the lower surface of the said evaporator as a boundary. Refrigerator.

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