JP2020034207A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain a refrigerator having a high-humidity refrigeration chamber irrespective of a quantity of stored goods.SOLUTION: In a refrigerator having a first storage chamber which is maintained in a refrigeration temperature zone, a second storage chamber arranged below the first storage chamber, and maintained in the refrigeration temperature zone, or switchable to the refrigeration temperature zone, and a third storage chamber arranged below the first storage chamber, and maintained in a freeze temperature zone, or switchable to the freeze temperature zone, the refrigerator has: a first evaporator for cooling the first storage chamber; a second evaporator for cooling the second storage chamber and the third storage chamber; a first blower for blowing air which is cooled by the first evaporator; a second blower for blowing air which is cooled by the second evaporator; a first wind passage for sending air which is exchanged in heat with the first evaporator to the first storage chamber, and returning the air to the first evaporator once again; and a second wind passage for sending air which is exchanged in heat with the second evaporator to the second storage chamber and the third storage chamber, and returning the air to the second evaporator once again.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to refrigerators.

  There is a demand for a refrigerator that can control the humidity satisfactorily irrespective of the amount of storage while maintaining the freshness of food in the refrigerator. In connection with such a technique, a technique described in Patent Document 1 is known.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator including at least a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment being a single space, a dedicated cooler for cooling this space, and a cooler dedicated to the freezer compartment. There is.

  The refrigerator described in Patent Literature 1 divides the space of the refrigerator into a plus temperature and a minus temperature, and provides a dedicated cooler for the plus temperature and a cooler for the minus temperature. To achieve high humidity

JP 2006-250406 A

  However, the refrigerator described in Patent Literature 1 cools the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment with a cooler provided in the refrigerator compartment, so that a route for sending cool air from the refrigerator compartment to the vegetable compartment, and a route from the vegetable compartment to the refrigerator compartment. Since a path for returning cold air to the air is required, space efficiency is low, that is, the internal volume is reduced.

  In addition, the refrigerator compartment must be maintained at about 3 ° C and the vegetable compartment must be kept at about 6 ° C. Since the space between the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment is large, it is possible to prevent the drying of stored items and achieve high energy-saving cooling. Therefore, the amount of cold air circulation is kept as low as possible. Therefore, the temperature of the cooler becomes a minus temperature. Then, since the circulation of the cool air moves from the lower temperature to the higher temperature, the cool air returns to the refrigerator compartment, from the refrigerator compartment to the vegetable compartment, and returns from the vegetable compartment to cooling. As a result, the cool air returned from the vegetable room is dehumidified by the minus temperature cooler, and cool air having a low humidity is blown into the refrigerator room. This makes it easier for moisture to evaporate from stored foods in the refrigerator compartment filled with low-humidity cool air, and to inject high-humidity cool air in the vegetable compartment, which increases the humidity in the vegetable compartment. This was due to the moisture in the storage in the room and was not sufficient to prevent the storage in the refrigerator from drying out.

Furthermore, when the storage in the refrigerator compartment is small, that is, when the water in the storage in the refrigerator compartment cannot be supplied to the vegetable compartment, the drying of the vegetables in the vegetable compartment is promoted. An object of the present invention is to realize a refrigerator that is a high-humidity cold room regardless of the amount of the stored material.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and a first storage room that maintains a refrigerated temperature zone, and a second storage room that is provided below the first storage room and that can be maintained in a refrigerated temperature zone or can be switched to a refrigerated temperature zone. And a third storage room provided below the first storage room and maintained in a freezing temperature zone or switchable to a freezing temperature zone, wherein the first evaporator for cooling the first storage room is provided. A second evaporator that cools the second storage room and the third storage room, a first blower that blows air cooled by the first evaporator, and air cooled by the second evaporator A second air blower that blows air, a first air passage that sends air that has exchanged heat with the first evaporator to the first storage chamber and returns it to the first evaporator again, and air that has exchanged heat with the second evaporator. And a second air passage for sending to the second storage room and the third storage room and returning to the second evaporator again. .

  According to the present invention, by providing the evaporator dedicated to the refrigerator compartment, it is possible to realize a refrigerator that is a high-humidity vegetable compartment regardless of the amount of storage.

Front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention AA sectional view of FIG. Front view with each door and each container removed Perspective view of a case forming the first joint cooling space Schematic diagram of cold air passage structure Diagram showing refrigeration cycle Schematic diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator of a comparative example Graph showing the temperature and humidity measurement results of the refrigerator compartment of the example and the refrigerator compartment of the comparative example Table showing the storage temperature and humidity and the water retention of the stored material of the refrigerator room of the example and the refrigerator room of the comparative example. The graph which shows the temperature and humidity measurement result of the vegetable room of the case where the 2nd switching room of an Example is set to a refrigeration temperature zone, and a comparative example. Table showing the storage temperature and humidity and the water retention of stored items in the vegetable room of the comparative example and the case where the second switching room of the example is set in the refrigeration temperature zone.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  An embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment 2 is assumed as the first storage room, the first switching room 5 is assumed as the second storage room, and the second switching room 6 is assumed as the third storage room. The temperature zone of the third storage room is not switched, and the temperature room may be fixed as the vegetable room that keeps the refrigerator temperature zone as the second storage room, and the freezing room that keeps the freezing temperature zone as the third storage room. .

  FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

  The box 10 of the refrigerator 1 has a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice making compartment 3 provided side by side, a freezing compartment 4, a first switching compartment 5, and a second switching compartment 6 in this order from above. The refrigerator 1 is provided with a door for opening and closing the opening of each storage room. These doors open and close the opening of the refrigerator compartment 2, and are divided into left and right rotating refrigerator compartment doors 2 a and 2 b, and the ice making compartment 3, the freezing compartment 4, the first switching compartment 5, and the second switching compartment 6. A drawer-type ice making room door 3a, a freezing room door 4a, a first switching room door 5a, and a second switching room door 6a, each of which opens and closes an opening. In addition, even if the thickness of the doors is relatively thin, the invasion of heat from the outside air is suppressed and no dew condensation occurs on the door surfaces inside the first switching room door 5a and the second switching room door 6a. Thus, a vacuum heat insulating material 25 is provided.

  The door 2a is provided with an operation section 26 for performing an operation of setting the temperature in the refrigerator. Door hinges (not shown) are provided at the upper and lower portions of the refrigerator compartment 2 for fixing the refrigerator 1 and the doors 2a and 2b, and the upper door hinge is covered with a door hinge cover 16.

  The ice making room 3 and the freezing room 4 are basically freezing storage rooms in which the inside of the refrigerator is kept in a freezing temperature range (less than 0 ° C.), for example, about -18 ° C. on average. (0 ° C. or higher), for example, a refrigerated storage room with an average temperature of about 4 ° C. The first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 are freezing storage rooms that can be set in a freezing temperature zone, and are switching rooms that can also be set in a refrigeration temperature zone. It is a storage room that can switch between a mode and a refrigeration mode that averages to -18 ° C. In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the strong refrigeration mode and the weak refrigeration mode, which are temperatures between the refrigeration mode and the freezing mode, the weak refrigeration mode in which the temperature is higher than the refrigeration mode, and the strong temperature in which the temperature is lower than the freezing mode. A freezing mode is also provided, and these are switched by the operation unit 26.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outside of the refrigerator 1 and the inside of the refrigerator 1 are separated by a box body 10 formed by filling a foam insulation material (for example, urethane foam) between the outer box 10 a and the inner box 10 b. I have. In the box 10, a plurality of vacuum heat insulating materials 25 are mounted between the outer case 10a made of a steel plate and the inner case 10b made of a synthetic resin in addition to the foamed heat insulating material. Specifically, in this embodiment, the vacuum heat insulating material 25 is provided on the back surface, both side surfaces, and the bottom surface. The refrigerating compartment 2, the freezing compartment 4 and the ice making compartment 3 are separated by a heat insulating partition wall 28, the freezing compartment 4 and the ice making compartment 3 and the first switching compartment 5 are separated by an insulating partitioning wall 29, and the first switching compartment 5 The second switching chamber 6 is separated by a heat insulating partition wall 30. In the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the vacuum heat insulating material 25 is provided also in the heat insulating partition wall 29 and the heat insulating partition wall 30. Further, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the heat insulating partition wall 27 is provided between the first switching room 5 and the F evaporator 14b, which will be described later, and a low-temperature space around the F evaporator 14b. A heat insulating material 25 is provided. When the first switching room 5 is in the refrigeration mode, the adjacent rooms have the upper surface (insulated partition wall 29) and the rear surface (insulated partition wall 27) of the freezing temperature zone, and the bottom surface (insulated) when the second switching room 6 is in the freezing mode. From the partition wall 30), the first switching chamber 5 in the refrigeration temperature zone may absorb heat, and the first switching chamber 5 may be excessively cooled. If the cooling is excessive, it is necessary to heat with a heater (not shown) in order to maintain the refrigeration temperature zone, and the energy saving performance is reduced. Therefore, in the refrigerator of the present embodiment, the inside of the heat insulating partition walls 27, 29, 30 A vacuum heat insulating material 25 is provided to suppress cooling from the top surface, the back surface, and the bottom surface, suppress heating by a heater, and improve energy saving performance.

  By providing a plurality of door pockets 33a, 33b, 33c inside the refrigerators 2 doors 2a, 2b and a plurality of shelves 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 can have a plurality of storage spaces. It is partitioned. The freezing compartment 7 and the second switching compartment 6 are respectively provided with an ice making compartment container (not shown) that is integrally pulled out with the doors 3a, 4a, 5a and 6a, the freezing compartment container 4b, the first switching compartment container 5b, and the second switching compartment. A chamber container 6b is provided.

  On the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 2, the freezer compartment 4, the first switching compartment 5, and the second switching compartment 6, the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, the freezing compartment temperature sensor 42, the first switching compartment temperature sensor 43, and the second A switching chamber temperature sensor 44 is provided, and an R evaporator temperature sensor 40a is provided above the R evaporator 14a, and an F evaporator temperature sensor 40b is provided above the F evaporator 14b. The temperatures of the chamber 4, the first switching chamber 5, the second switching chamber 6, the R evaporator 14a, and the F evaporator 14b are detected. Further, inside the door hinge cover 16 at the ceiling of the refrigerator 1, there are provided an outside air temperature sensor 37 for detecting the temperature of outside air (outside air) and an outside air humidity sensor 38 for detecting humidity. As other sensors, a door sensor (not shown) for detecting an open / closed state of each of the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a, an ice tray temperature sensor (not shown), and the like are also provided.

  At the upper part of the refrigerator 1, a control board 31 on which a CPU, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, an interface circuit and the like, which are a part of the control device, are mounted. The control board 31 is connected to an outside air temperature sensor 37, an outside air humidity sensor 38, a refrigerator room temperature sensor 41, a freezer room temperature sensor 42, a vegetable room temperature sensor 43, evaporator temperature sensors 40a and 40b, a toy temperature sensor 45, and the like. The above-mentioned CPU, based on these output values and settings of the operation unit 26, programs previously recorded in the above-mentioned ROM, and the like, describe the compressor 24, the R fan 9a, the F fan 9b, and the dampers 101a, 101b, The control of 102a, 102b and the refrigerant control valve 52 is performed.

  FIG. 3 is a front view showing a state in which the doors 2a, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a and the containers 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b are removed, and FIG. The duct to be connected is omitted, and shows the flow of cool air in the main duct, and (b) shows the arrangement in the refrigerator and the flow of cool air to the discharge ports 111a, 112a. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a case 35 a that forms the first indirect cooling space 35.

  First, the configuration inside the refrigerator compartment 2 and the flow of cool air will be described with reference to FIGS.

  An R evaporator 14 a serving as a refrigerating evaporator is provided substantially at the back of the refrigerating compartment 2. The air cooled to a low temperature by heat exchange with the R evaporator 14a is refrigerated via the refrigeration room air passage 11 and the refrigeration room discharge port 11a by the R fan 9a which is a refrigeration fan provided above the R evaporator 14a. The air is sent to the chamber 2 and cools the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2. The air blown into the refrigerator compartment 2 returns from the refrigerator compartment return ports 15a and 15b (see FIG. 3) to the R evaporator 14a and is cooled again by the R evaporator 14a. The refrigerator compartment return ports 15a and 15b are provided with slits smaller than the minimum diameters of the drain port 22a and the R water pipe 27a, which will be described later, to prevent food from being clogged at the drain port 22a and the R water pipe 27a.

  The discharge port 11a of the refrigerator compartment 2 is provided in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2, and in this embodiment, the discharge port 11a is provided so that air is discharged above the uppermost shelf 34a and the second shelf 34b. The return ports 15a and 15b are provided in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 2. In the present embodiment, the return port 15b is provided in the second stage from the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 2 (between the shelf 34c and the shelf 34d). Is provided at a lowermost stage (between the shelf 34d and the heat insulating partition wall 28) of the refrigerating room 2 and substantially behind a second indirect cooling space 36 described later.

  A first indirect cooling space 35 is provided inside the refrigerator compartment 2 and above the shelf 34d. The first indirect cooling space 35 is provided with a case 35a shown in FIG. 4, the front side is a front wall 135a of the case 35a, the back side is the inner box 10b and the back wall 135b of the case 35a, and the left side is the inner box 10b and the case 35. Is covered by a partition wall 35b and a right wall 135d of the case 35a, the upper side is covered by a shelf 34c, and the lower side is covered by a bottom surface 135f of the case 35. Further, the first joint cooling space 35 does not have a discharge port for directly blowing cool air. With these configurations, an indirect cooling structure is provided in which low-temperature and low-humidity cool air from the R evaporator 14a does not directly enter the first indirect cooling space 35, and the drying of food provided in the first indirect cooling space 35 is suppressed. This aims to improve the preservability of foods that are vulnerable to drying such as vegetables. In order to allow the case 35a to be taken in and out, the case 35, such as between the inner box 10b and the left wall 135c of the case 35a, between the partition wall 35b and the right wall 135d of the case 35a, and between the shelf 34c and the front wall 135a of the case 35a. A gap of about 8 mm is provided between the case 35 and other wall surfaces, and a handle 135e is provided on the case 35 to facilitate putting in and out.

  A second indirect cooling space 36 is provided above the heat insulating partition wall 28 inside the refrigerator compartment 2. The second indirect cooling space 36 has a structure in which the door 36a and the storage portion 36b are in contact with each other and are sealed. This is because, similarly to the first indirect cooling space 35, the low-temperature and low-humidity air does not directly enter the food in the second indirect cooling space 36 to suppress the drying of the food in the second indirect cooling space 36. . Further, the second indirect cooling space 36 of the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment has a structure in which when the door 36a is closed, the door 36a and the storage portion 36b are brought into contact with each other without a gap by packing, and are completely sealed. In addition, a pump (not shown) is provided to reduce the pressure inside the second indirect cooling space 36 to, for example, 0.8 atm, thereby suppressing the oxidation of the food provided in the second indirect cooling space 36.

  The second indirect cooling space 36 is adjacent to the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 4 through the heat insulating partition wall 28, and the heat of the ice making room 3 and the freezing room is absorbed by the ice in the freezing temperature zone lower than that of the refrigerating room 2. The temperature mode (for example, about −3 to 0 ° C.) can be set. Further, a heater (not shown) is provided in the heat insulating partition wall 28, and a chilled mode in which a refrigerator temperature zone (for example, about 0 to 3 ° C.) close to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 is set by controlling the heater or the like. It is settable. The switching of these temperature modes is performed by the operation unit 26.

  Next, the configurations of the ice making room 3, the freezing room 4, the first switching room 5, and the second switching room 6 and the flow of cool air will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cool air passage, and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 for the detailed structure, and FIG.

  The F evaporator 14b, which is a refrigerating evaporator, is provided substantially at the back of the first switching chamber 5, the second switching chamber 6, and the heat insulating partition wall 30 (see FIG. 2). The low-temperature air that has undergone heat exchange with the F evaporator 14b passes through the freezing room air passage 12 and the freezing room discharge ports 12a and 12b by the F fan 9b that is a freezing fan provided above the F evaporator 14b. Then, air is blown to the ice making room 3 and the freezing room 4 to cool water on the ice tray 3c (FIG. 5) of the ice making room 3, ice on the container 3b, food on the container 4b in the freezing room 4, and the like. The air that has cooled the ice making compartment 3 and the freezing compartment 4 flows from the freezing compartment return port 12c to the lower portion of the F evaporator 14b via the freezing compartment return air passage 12d, and is cooled again by the F evaporator 14b.

  Further, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 are also cooled by air cooled at a low temperature by the F evaporator 14b. The blowing of cool air to the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 is controlled by dampers 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b, which are ventilation controllers.

  First, the flow of cool air to the first switching chamber 5 will be described. When the first switching chamber 5 is in the freezing mode, the damper 101a is opened. By opening the damper 101a, the temperature becomes low in the F evaporator 14b, and the air blown into the freezing room air passage 12 by the F fan 9b is discharged through the damper 101a to the direct cooling discharge port of the first switching chamber 5. Air is blown into a first switching chamber container 5b provided in the first switching chamber 5 from a certain first switching chamber discharge port 111a. Since the air is blown into the first switching chamber container 5b, cold air is directly blown to the food in the first switching chamber container 5b, and the temperature of the food on the first switching chamber container 5b can be lowered in a relatively short time. When the first switching chamber 5 is in the refrigeration mode, the damper 101b is opened. By opening the damper 101b, the air blown into the freezer compartment air passage 12 by the F fan 9b is discharged from the first switching chamber discharge port 111b, which is the indirect cooling discharge port of the first switching chamber 5, via the damper 101b. The air is blown inside the first switching chamber 5 and outside the first switching chamber container 5b. Since the air is sent to the outside of the first switching chamber container 5b, it is difficult for cold air to directly reach the food in the first switching chamber container 5b, that is, indirect cooling is performed, and the food can be cooled while suppressing the drying of the food. The air discharged from the first switching room discharge port 111a or the first switching room discharge port 111b and cooling the inside of the first switching room 5 is discharged from the first switching room return port 111c through the freezing room return air passage 12d through the F. It flows to the lower part of the evaporator 14b, and is cooled again by the F evaporator 14b.

  Next, the flow of cool air to the second switching chamber 6 will be described. When the second switching chamber 6 is in the freezing mode, the damper 102a is opened. The air cooled by the F evaporator 14b passes through the F fan 9b, the freezer compartment air passage 12, and the damper 102a to the second switching chamber discharge port 112a, which is a direct cooling discharge port of the second switching chamber 6, for second cooling. Air is blown into the switching chamber container 6b to lower the temperature of the food on the second switching chamber container 6b. When the second switching chamber 6 is in the refrigeration mode, the damper 102b is opened, and the air cooled by the F evaporator 14b flows through the F fan 9b, the freezing room air passage 12, and the damper 102b. Air is blown into the second switching chamber 6 and outside the second switching chamber container 6b from the second switching chamber discharge port 111b, which is a discharge port for indirect cooling of No. 6, to cool the food while suppressing drying of the food as indirect cooling. . The air that has cooled the inside of the second switching chamber 6 flows from the second switching chamber return port 112c to the lower portion of the F evaporator 14b via the freezing chamber return air passage 12d, and is cooled again by the F evaporator 14b.

  The above is the configuration of the refrigerator compartment 2, the ice making compartment 3, the freezing compartment 4, the first switching compartment 5, and the second switching compartment 6 and the flow of the cool air in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment.

  FIG. 6 is a refrigeration cycle (refrigerant flow path) of the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment. In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the compressor 24, the outside radiator 50a which is a radiator for radiating heat of the refrigerant, the wall radiating pipe 50b, and the condensation prevention for suppressing the condensation on the front surface of the partition walls 28, 29, 30. A pipe 50c, a refrigeration capillary tube 53a and a refrigeration capillary tube 53b, which are decompression means for decompressing the refrigerant, an R evaporator 14a and an F evaporator for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in the refrigerator to absorb heat in the refrigerator. 14b for cooling the inside of the refrigerator. A three-way valve 52 for controlling a refrigerant flow path; a dryer 51 for removing water in the refrigeration cycle; gas-liquid separators 54a and 54b for preventing liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 24; A refrigeration cycle is also provided by connecting a valve 56 and a refrigerant junction 55 for connecting the refrigerant flow to each other by a refrigerant pipe.

  In addition, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment uses the flammable refrigerant isobutane as the refrigerant. Further, the compressor 24 of the present embodiment has an inverter and can change the rotation speed.

  The three-way valve 52 is provided with two outlets indicated by 52a and 52b, a refrigeration mode in which the refrigerant flows through the outlet 52a, and a refrigeration mode in which the refrigerant flows through the outlet 52b. is there. Further, the three-way valve 52 of the present embodiment also has a fully closed mode in which neither the outlet 52a nor the outlet 52b allows the refrigerant to flow, or a fully open mode in which the refrigerant flows, and switches to these modes. It is possible.

  In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant flows as follows. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 24 flows through the external radiator 50a, the external radiator 50b, the dew condensation prevention pipe 50c, and the dryer 51 in this order, and reaches the three-way valve 52. The outlet 52a of the three-way valve 52 is connected to a refrigeration capillary tube 53a via a refrigerant pipe, and the outlet 52b is connected to a refrigeration capillary tube 53b via a refrigerant pipe.

  When cooling the refrigerator compartment 2, the refrigerant is made to flow toward the outlet 52a. The refrigerant flowing out of the outlet 52a flows in the order of the refrigeration capillary tube 53a, the R evaporator 14a, the gas-liquid separator 54a, and the refrigerant junction 55, and then returns to the compressor 24. The low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flows through the R evaporator 14a in the refrigeration capillary tube 53a, so that the R evaporator 14a has a low temperature. The air cooled by the R evaporator 14b is blown by the R fan 9a as described above. Thereby, the refrigerator compartment 2 is cooled.

  When cooling the ice making room 3, the freezing room 4, the first switching room 5, and the second switching room, the three-way valve 52 is made to allow the refrigerant to flow toward the outlet 52b. The refrigerant flowing out of the outlet 52b flows in the order of the freezing capillary tube 53b, the F evaporator 14b, the gas-liquid separator 54b, the check valve 56, and the refrigerant junction 55, and then returns to the compressor 24. The check valve 56 is arranged so that the refrigerant flows from the gas-liquid separator 54b to the refrigerant junction 55 side and does not flow from the refrigerant junction 55 to the gas-liquid separator 54b side. The low-temperature and low-temperature refrigerant flows through the F evaporator 14b in the freezing capillary tube 53b, so that the temperature of the F evaporator 14b becomes low. The air cooled by the F evaporator 14b is blown by the F fan 9b as described above. Thereby, each of the storage rooms 3, 4, 5, and 6 is cooled.

  As described above, the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment cools the storage chambers 3, 4, 5, and 6 including the R evaporator 14a, the first switching chamber 5, and the second switching chamber 6 when cooling the refrigerator compartment 2. In this case, the cooling is performed separately from the F evaporator 14b.

  Thereby, the respective evaporator temperatures of the R evaporator 14a and the F evaporator 14b can be controlled. Specifically, when the refrigerant flows into the F evaporator 14b that cools the storage chambers 3, 4, 5, and 6 that are in the freezing temperature zone or that can be set in the freezing temperature zone, the temperature is lower than those storage chambers. The evaporator temperature (for example, −25 ° C.). On the other hand, when the refrigerant flows into the R evaporator 14a that cools the refrigerating compartment 2 in the refrigerating temperature zone, the evaporator temperature of the refrigerant is set relatively high (for example, −10 ° C.). Generally, as the temperature of the evaporator is higher, the cooling efficiency of the refrigeration cycle can be increased, which is effective for improving energy saving performance. Further, as the temperature of the evaporator is higher, frost formation of moisture in the air when the air passes through the evaporator is suppressed, that is, dehumidification of the air is suppressed, and the inside of the refrigerator can be kept at a high humidity. Therefore, by cooling the refrigerating room 2 in a state where the temperature of the R evaporator 14a is high, the energy saving performance when the refrigerating room 2 is cooled can be improved as compared with the case where the refrigerating room 2 is cooled by a common evaporator with the storage room in the freezing temperature zone. At the same time, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 2 can be kept high in humidity.

  Further, by separating the R evaporator 14a for cooling only the refrigerating compartment 2 in the refrigerating temperature zone and the F evaporator 14b for cooling the other storage compartments, the defrosting method of the R evaporator 14a is set as off-cycle defrosting. Further, the energy saving performance is further improved, and the refrigeration compartment 2 is humidified.

  First, a defrosting method of the F evaporator 14b will be described with reference to FIGS. A defrost heater 21 for heating the F evaporator 14b is provided below the F evaporator 14b. The defrost heater 21 is, for example, an electric heater of 50 W to 200 W, and in this embodiment, a radiant heater of 150 W. Defrosted water (melted water) generated during the defrosting of the F evaporator 14b is discharged from the F toy 23b at the lower part of the F evaporator 14b to the F evaporating dish 32 provided at the upper part of the compressor 24 via the F drain pipe 26. Is done.

  On the other hand, an off-cycle defrosting method is employed for defrosting the R evaporator 14a, and the R fan 9a is driven in a state where no refrigerant flows through the R evaporator 14a. By the R fan 9a, the air in the refrigerator compartment 2 flows to the R evaporator 14a via the refrigerator compartment return ports 15a and 15b (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and the refrigerator temperature (0 ° C. or higher) higher than the melting point of frost. The frost in the R evaporator 14a is heated and defrosted by the air in the refrigerator compartment 2. Defrosted water generated during defrosting of the R evaporator 14a is supplied from an R toy 23a (see FIG. 2) provided at a lower portion of the R evaporator 14a to a machine room 39 via an R drain pipe (not shown). It is discharged to the R evaporating dish.

  When this off-cycle defrosting method is used, the R evaporator 14a can be defrosted only with the fan (1 to 3W) without using the electric heater (about 150W). Can be suppressed. Further, the air (about 4 ° C.) that passes during the off-cycle defrost is cooled by the low-temperature R evaporator 14a and the frost (about 0 ° C.) attached to the R evaporator 14a. The chamber 2 can be cooled. Therefore, it is a defrosting method with high energy saving performance. Furthermore, since the temperature of the R evaporator 14a is high during the off-cycle defrost, the dehumidification of the air passing through the R evaporator 14a is suppressed or humidified, so that the effect of keeping the refrigerator compartment 2 at a high humidity is further enhanced. be able to.

  As described above, the R evaporator 14a that cools the refrigerating compartment 2 serving as the storage compartment in the refrigerating temperature zone is provided, the evaporator temperature when the refrigerating compartment 2 is cooled is increased, and an off-cycle defrosting defrosting method is adopted. By doing so, the energy saving performance is enhanced, and the refrigeration room 2 is kept at a high humidity.

  According to the effects described above, in the present embodiment including the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 capable of switching between the refrigeration temperature zone and the freezing temperature zone, an effect of increasing the degree of freedom of storage is also obtained. Particularly when there are many frozen foods, both the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 can be easily set to the freezing mode.

  Considering the case where both the first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 are in the freezing mode, the room for storing the food to be stored at the refrigeration temperature is the refrigeration room 2, and the freshness is reduced by drying vegetables and the like. Food will also be installed in the refrigerator compartment 2.

  Therefore, the refrigerator compartment 2 of this embodiment is provided with a first indirect cooling space 35 and a second indirect cooling space 36 for preventing cold air from flowing directly into the food inside. The second indirect cooling space 36 is hermetically sealed, and the first indirect cooling space 35 does not have a discharge port for blowing air into the first indirect cooling space 35, so that drying of food by cold air is suppressed. I have. That is, by providing the first indirect cooling space 35 and the second indirect cooling space 36 and storing the food whose freshness is reduced by drying in these storage spaces, both the first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 are provided. It is possible to provide a refrigerator in which drying of vegetables is suppressed even in the freezing mode. That is, the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 can be easily set in the freezing mode, and the degree of freedom of storage can be increased.

  Here, by making the second indirect cooling space 36 a closed structure, the intrusion of low-temperature and low-humidity air can be suppressed more reliably. Furthermore, the second indirect cooling space 36 of the present embodiment is configured to be able to reduce the pressure, thereby improving the preservability of foods susceptible to oxidation.

  On the other hand, since the first indirect cooling space 35 does not decompress compared to the second indirect cooling space 36, it has a relatively simple structure. That is, since it is sufficient if the effects of low-temperature and low-humidity air can be suppressed to achieve indirect cooling, for example, a gap of about 10 mm may be provided between the front, rear, left, right, and upper and lower walls, and stress generated when the pressure is reduced is not received. The strength of the wall surface may be relatively low, and a relatively low-cost structure can be provided. Specifically, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, a part of the wall surface of the first indirect cooling space 35 is formed using the inner box 10b and the shelf 34c to cover six surfaces, and the case 35a is also about 2 mm thick. Is relatively thin and has no ribs, thereby reducing the material cost of the case 35a. That is, the cost used for additional components for indirect cooling is suppressed. Further, by providing the gap as described above, the case 35a can be put in and out at low cost without providing a special mechanism for the case 35a.

  Further, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, a plurality of considerations are given to the intrusion of the air into the first indirect cooling space 35 from the above-described gap, and the refrigerator 1 is configured to more reliably suppress the drying of the vegetables. .

  In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, in addition to not providing a discharge port for directly blowing air into the first indirect cooling space 35, no discharge port is provided between the shelf 34c and the shelf 34d where the first indirect cooling space 35 is provided. Like that. Accordingly, the low-temperature and low-humidity air from the evaporator 14a is less likely to enter the first indirect cooling space 35, and the drying of the food is more reliably suppressed.

  Further, as described with reference to FIG. 6 and the like, by providing the R evaporator 14a for cooling the refrigeration chamber 2 in the refrigeration temperature zone, increasing the temperature of the evaporator, and adopting the off-cycle defrosting method, The air in the refrigerator compartment 2 is made highly humid. Therefore, even if air in the surrounding refrigerating room 2 flows into the first indirect cooling space 35, since the air is humid, drying of the food in the first indirect cooling space 35 is suppressed.

  Therefore, since the first indirect cooling space 35 can sufficiently suppress the drying of vegetables without employing a closed structure, vegetables are provided in the first indirect cooling space 35, and the first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 In the freezing mode, and the degree of freedom of storage can be increased.

  Further, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, consideration is given to drying the food (vegetables) provided in the first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 when the refrigerator mode is set.

  The case of the first switching room 5 is shown as a representative. As described with reference to FIG. 5, the discharge port that blows cool air to the first switching chamber 5 includes the first switching chamber discharge port 111a that discharges into the first switching chamber container 5b, and the discharge port 111a that outwards. A first switching chamber discharge port 111b for discharging is provided. When the first switching chamber 5 is in the refrigeration mode, the damper 101a is closed and the damper 101b is opened, and cool air is discharged from the first switching chamber discharge port 111b that discharges outside the first switching chamber container 5b. Like that. Thereby, the inside of the first switching room container 5b becomes an indirect cooling space in which cool air is not directly blown, that is, as compared with the case where air is blown by the first switching room discharge port 111a which discharges into the first switching room container 5b. Drying is suppressed. On the other hand, when the first switching chamber 5 is in the freezing mode, the damper 101a is opened, the damper 101b is closed, and air is blown from the first switching chamber discharge port 111a that discharges into the first switching chamber container 5b. In addition, the cold air directly reaches the food, so that a higher cooling performance can be obtained as compared with the case of the indirect cooling, and a sufficiently high performance can be obtained even in the freezing mode. The opening area of each of the first switching chamber discharge port 111a and the damper 101a mainly used in the freezing mode is larger than the opening area of each of the first switching chamber discharge port 111b and the damper 101b mainly used in the refrigeration mode. ing. Thereby, a high air volume can be obtained in the refrigerating mode in which high cooling performance is required. Further, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, when the first switching chamber 5 is at a high temperature or the like, both the first switching chamber discharge port 111a and the first switching chamber discharge port 111b are simultaneously opened. Thereby, the amount of air blown to the first switching chamber 5 can be increased, and higher cooling performance can be obtained.

  As described above, the first switching chamber 5 and the second switching chamber 6 can be switched between blowing air into the containers 5b and 6b and blowing cold air out of the containers 5b and 6b, respectively. In addition to providing high cooling performance when the first switching room 5 and the second switching room 6 are in the freezing mode, drying of the food is suppressed in the refrigeration mode, so that vegetables can be easily installed. That is, it is possible to cope with a case where the amount of stored vegetables is large, and it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of storage.

  When storing vegetables in the first switching room 5 or the second switching room 6, the switching room is set to the refrigeration mode, and a cover that covers the upper surface of the container is provided for the container in the switching room. This makes it possible to maintain the switching room at a higher humidity.

  Further, if a platinum catalyst for decomposing ethylene gas is provided in a container in the switching chamber, ethylene gas generated from vegetables and the like is decomposed into water and carbon dioxide. The decomposed water contributes to increasing the humidity in the container, and the decomposed carbon dioxide suppresses the respiration of the vegetables and contributes to maintaining the freshness of the vegetables for a long time.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a refrigerator of a comparative example. A refrigeration room 2, a freezing room 7, and a vegetable room 8 are provided from above, and the circulation path of the air flowing through the refrigeration room 2 maintained in the refrigeration temperature zone and the air flowing through the freezing room 7 maintained in the low refrigeration temperature zone. The circulation path is separated, and an R evaporator (refrigeration evaporator) 14a and an R fan (refrigeration fan) 9a are provided at the back of the refrigerating compartment 2, and an F evaporator (refrigeration evaporator) 14b and F are provided at the back of the freezing compartment 7. This is a refrigerator provided with a fan (freezing fan) 9b. The air that has exchanged heat with the refrigeration evaporator 14a is blown by driving the refrigeration fan 9a to cool the refrigeration compartment 2 and the vegetable compartment 8, and the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigeration evaporator 14b is supplied to the refrigeration fan 9b. The air is blown by driving to cool the freezing room 7. In this configuration, the vegetable room air supply passage 13 for blowing the air sent out by the refrigeration fan 9a to the vegetable room 8 and the vegetable room return air passage 18 for returning the air cooled in the vegetable room 8 to the R evaporator room 19a have a low temperature. Pass through the freezing room 7 or the F evaporator room 19b. Since the temperature of the air flowing through the vegetable room ventilation path 13 and the vegetable room return air path 18 is relatively high, the absolute humidity tends to be high, and frost easily grows in the vegetable room ventilation path 13 and the vegetable room return air path 18. . In order to prevent the air passage from being blocked by frost, an insulation wall (insulation member) is provided between the vegetable room air passage 13 and the vegetable room return air passage 18 and the freezing room 7 or the F evaporator room 19b. It is necessary to prevent the temperature of the inside surface of the air passage 13 and the vegetable compartment return air passage 18 from dropping too much. Therefore, a space for the air passage and a space for the heat insulating wall (heat insulating member) are required, and the freezing room 7 or the F evaporator room 19b is reduced. When the freezing room 7 is reduced, the space efficiency is deteriorated because the effective internal volume is reduced. When the F evaporator room 19b is reduced, the size of the housed freezing evaporator 14b is reduced, which causes a decrease in heat exchange performance. This leads to lower energy saving performance.

  FIG. 8 shows 24 hours from the start of storage when three small bowls of salad for one person were stored in each refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator of this example and the refrigerator of the comparative example, which were operated in an empty state and were in a stable state. The temperature and humidity measurement results in the refrigerator compartment until the elapse are shown. 8A shows the temperature of the refrigerator of this embodiment, (b) shows the humidity of the refrigerator of this embodiment, (c) shows the temperature of the refrigerator of the comparative example, and (d) shows the humidity of the refrigerator of the comparative example. . FIG. 9 shows the maximum, minimum and average values of the temperature and humidity between 8 hours and 24 hours in the graph shown in FIG. 8 and the water retention of the salad itself excluding the dishes.

  Comparing the results of FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the moisture retention of the storage is low despite the high average humidity of the comparative example, that is, the storage is dry. This is because the comparative example cools the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment with a small amount of cool air circulation by one evaporator. Specifically, as can be seen from the fact that the minimum temperature of the comparative example is 0.2 ° C., the temperature of the cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment of the comparative example is low, and furthermore, the cool air circulation is performed to adjust the average temperature to about 3 ° C. This is because it is necessary to raise the maximum temperature to 4.4 ° C. by turning off the fan. As a result, the fluctuation range of the temperature and the humidity was larger in the comparative example than in the example, and in the comparative example, the stored salad was dried.

  Similarly, a comparative study was conducted for the vegetable room. FIG. 10 shows that when the same amount of vegetables was stored in the vegetable compartments of the refrigerator of the present embodiment and the refrigerator of the comparative example, which were operated in an empty state and were in a stable state, the vegetables from the start of storage to the lapse of 7 days. The temperature and humidity measurement results of the upper corner of the room are shown. 10A shows the temperature of the refrigerator of the present embodiment, (b) shows the humidity of the refrigerator of the embodiment, (c) shows the temperature of the refrigerator of the comparative example, and (d) shows the humidity of the refrigerator of the comparative example. FIG. 11 shows the maximum, minimum, and average values of the temperature and humidity two hours after the start of storage in the graph shown in FIG. 10 and the water retention of shimeji stored in the upper corner of the vegetable compartment. Note that the temperature in the example excludes the influence of defrosting.

  When the results of FIGS. 10 and 11 are compared and examined, the variation of the temperature and the humidity is larger in the comparative example, the moisture retention of the stored product is reduced to about half that in the example, and the drying is promoted in the comparative example. You can see that. This is because there is no storage in the refrigerator compartment and there is no supply of moisture to the vegetable compartment, and in the comparative example, the upper stage of the vegetable compartment communicates with the evaporator by the direct cooling structure in which cool air flows directly into the vegetable compartment, This is because the air in the vegetable compartment is pulled by the cold evaporator regardless of the presence or absence of the cool air circulation and dehumidified.

  The above is an example showing this embodiment. Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiments have been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described above. Further, for a part of the configuration of the embodiment, it is possible to add / delete / replace another configuration.

1 refrigerator 2 refrigerator compartment 2a, 2b refrigerator compartment door 3 ice making room (freezer storage room)
3a Ice making room door 4 Freezing room (freezing storage room)
4a Freezer compartment door 5 First switching room (freezing storage room and switching room)
5a First switching room door 6 Second switching room (freezing storage room and switching room)
6a Second switching room door 7 Freezer room 8 Vegetable room 9a R fan (refrigeration fan)
9b F fan (freezing fan)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Insulated box 10a Outer box 10b Inner box 11 Refrigerating room airway 11a Refrigerating room outlet 12 Freezer room airway 12a Ice making room outlet 12b Freezing room outlet 12c Freezer room return port 12d Freezer room return airway 14a R evaporator (Refrigerator evaporator)
14b F evaporator (refrigeration evaporator)
15a, b Refrigerator return port 19a R evaporator room (R evaporator storage room)
19b F evaporator room (F evaporator storage room)
16 Hinge cover 21 Radiant heater 23a R toy 23b F toy 24 Compressor 25 Vacuum insulation 26 F Drain pipes 27, 28, 29, 30 Insulation partition 31 Control board 32a R evaporating dish 32b F evaporating dish 34a R top shelf 34b R-shelf second tier 34c R-shelf third tier 34d R-shelf lowermost tier 35 First indirect cooling room 36 Second indirect cooling room 37 Ice making tank 39 Machine room 40a R evaporator temperature sensor 40b F evaporator temperature sensor 41 Refrigerator room temperature Sensor 42 Freezing room temperature sensor 43 First switching room temperature sensor 44 Second switching room temperature sensor 45 Toy temperature sensors 50a, 50b Radiator 51 Dryer 52 Three-way valve (refrigerant control means)
53a Refrigerated capillary tube (decompression means)
53b Capillary tube for freezing (decompression means)
54b Refrigeration gas-liquid separator 54b Refrigeration gas-liquid separator 55 Refrigerant merging section 56 Check valves 57a, 57b Heat exchange sections 101a, 101b, 102a, 102b Damper (blowing control section)
111a, 111b First switching room discharge port 111c First switching room return port 112a, 112b Second switching room discharge port 112c Second switching room return port

Claims (6)

A first storage room to keep in the refrigerated temperature zone,
A second storage room that is provided below the first storage room and can be maintained in the refrigeration temperature zone or switchable to the refrigeration temperature zone,
A third storage room that is provided below the first storage room and that can be maintained in the freezing temperature zone or switchable to the freezing temperature zone,
In a refrigerator equipped with
A first evaporator that cools the first storage room, and a second evaporator that cools the second storage room and the third storage room,
A first blower for blowing air cooled in the first evaporator, and a second blower for blowing air cooled in the second evaporator,
A first air passage that sends air that has exchanged heat with the first evaporator to the first storage chamber and returns to the first evaporator again, and the air that has exchanged heat with the second evaporator has the second storage chamber and A second air passage that is sent to the third storage room and returned to the second evaporator again,
A refrigerator comprising: In claim 1,
A refrigerator having a second storage room damper for controlling the amount of air blown into the second storage room in the middle of the second air passage. In claim 2,
The second storage room is a switching room that can be switched from a refrigeration temperature zone to a freezing temperature zone,
The second storage chamber damper has a refrigeration temperature zone damper that opens when the refrigeration temperature zone, and a refrigeration temperature zone damper that opens when the refrigeration temperature zone,
When the second storage room is set in the refrigeration temperature zone, blows from the damper for the refrigeration temperature zone to the second storage room through the discharge port for the refrigeration temperature zone,
A refrigerator, wherein when the second storage room is set in the freezing temperature zone, air is blown from the freezing temperature zone damper to the second storage room via the freezing temperature zone discharge port. In claim 3,
When the second storage room is set in the refrigeration temperature zone, indirectly cools the container in the second storage room,
A refrigerator, wherein the container in the second storage room is directly cooled when the second storage room is set in a freezing temperature zone. In claim 2,
A refrigerator provided with a cover for covering an upper surface of the container in the second storage room. In claim 2,
The container in the second storage chamber is provided with a platinum catalyst for decomposing ethylene gas.

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