JP2021134995A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator in which a refrigerating temperature zone space and a high temperature zone space are provided in the same storage chamber, and a structure in which food, etc. in the high temperature zone space can be restrained from drying.SOLUTION: A refrigerator according to an embodiment comprises: a storage chamber comprising a refrigerating temperature zone space kept in a refrigerating temperature zone, and a high temperature zone space kept in a temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone; and a blocking part for blocking the high temperature zone space. The high temperature zone space is indirectly cooled by cold transferred from the refrigerating temperature zone space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a refrigerator provided with a vegetable container for storing vegetables is considered inside the refrigerator compartment. In this type of refrigerator, the inside of the refrigerating chamber, which is an example of the storage chamber, is maintained in the refrigerating temperature zone space maintained in the refrigerating temperature zone, that is, the space other than the vegetable container, and the temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. A configuration is realized that is divided into a high temperature zone space, that is, a space inside a vegetable container.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-041883

However, in the conventional configuration, since the refrigerated temperature zone space and the high temperature zone space are provided in the same storage chamber, the cold air supplied to the storage chamber is directly supplied to the high temperature zone space as well. For example, foods in a high temperature space such as vegetables may be dried.

Therefore, for a refrigerator provided in a storage room in which the refrigerating temperature zone space and the high temperature zone space are the same, a configuration is provided in which foods in the high temperature zone space can be suppressed from drying.

The refrigerator according to the present embodiment closes a storage room having a refrigerating temperature zone space maintained in the refrigerating temperature zone and a high temperature zone space maintained in a temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone, and the high temperature zone space. The high temperature zone space is indirectly cooled by the cold heat transmitted from the refrigerating temperature zone space.

Front view schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment Longitudinal side view schematically showing a partial configuration example of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment Front view schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment Longitudinal side view schematically showing a partial configuration example of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment Longitudinal side view schematically showing a partial configuration example of the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment Front view schematically showing an example of the internal configuration of the refrigerator according to the fifth embodiment Longitudinal side view schematically showing a partial configuration example of the refrigerator according to the sixth embodiment

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments relating to the refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings. The substantially same configurations in the plurality of embodiments are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

(First Embodiment)
The refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with a plurality of storage chambers inside a rectangular box-shaped heat insulating box 11 constituting the outer shell thereof. The heat insulating box body 11 is an example of a refrigerator main body constituting the main body of the refrigerator 10, and has a structure in which a heat insulating material such as a vacuum heat insulating panel or urethane foam is provided between the inner box and the outer box. The heat insulating box 11 is provided with a refrigerating chamber 12 maintained in a refrigerating temperature zone as a storage chamber for accommodating a storage such as foods. Further, the heat insulating box 11 is provided with a freezing chamber 13 maintained in a freezing temperature zone as a storage chamber for accommodating a storage such as foods. The front opening of the refrigerating chamber 12 is opened and closed by a so-called double door type refrigerating chamber door (not shown) that rotates in the left-right direction. Further, the front opening of the freezing chamber 13 is opened and closed by a drawer-type freezing chamber door (not shown).

In the present embodiment, the refrigerating chamber 12 is provided on the upper side of the heat insulating box body 11, and the freezing chamber 13 is provided on the lower side of the heat insulating box body 11. The refrigerator 10 may be configured to include various storage rooms such as a small freezing room and an ice making room maintained in the freezing temperature zone as storage rooms other than the refrigerating room 12 and the freezing room 13.

Next, an example of the internal configuration of the refrigerating chamber 12 will be described in more detail. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a cold air duct 14 is provided inside the refrigerating chamber 12. The cold air duct 14 extends in the vertical direction along the rear wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 12. A cold air outlet 14a is provided on the front surface of the cold air duct 14. The number of cold air outlets 14a may be one, or may be two or more. The lower part of the cold air duct 14 is connected to a cooling chamber (not shown). Inside the cooling chamber, a cooler (not shown) that forms part of a well-known refrigeration cycle is provided. Further, inside the cooling chamber, a blower fan (not shown) for blowing cold air generated by the cooler is provided.

The cold air generated by the cooler when the blower fan is driven by a control device (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the refrigerator 10 is the cold air outlet of the cold air duct 14 due to the blower action of the blower fan, as illustrated by arrow F. It is supplied from 14a into the refrigerating chamber 12. In the present embodiment, the cooling chamber is also connected to the freezing chamber 13, and the cold air generated by the cooler is also supplied to the freezing chamber 13. That is, the refrigerator 10 has a configuration in which the cooler for the refrigerating chamber 12 and the cooler for the freezing chamber 13 are shared by the same cooler. In the refrigerator 10 having a configuration in which both the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13 are cooled by a common cooler in this way, the performance of the cooler is that the freezing chamber 13 needs to be cooled in the freezing temperature zone. , A cooler with relatively high cooling performance is used. Therefore, according to the refrigerator 10, the refrigerator compartment 12 is more easily cooled than the refrigerator provided with the cooler for the refrigerator compartment separately from the cooler for the freezer compartment.

Inside the refrigerating chamber 12, a partition wall 15 having a substantially rectangular plate shape is provided. The partition wall 15 is an example of a closed portion, and is arranged horizontally below the central portion in the vertical direction in the refrigerating chamber 12. In the present embodiment, the partition wall 15 is mainly composed of a heat insulating material. A gasket 15a is provided on the lower surface of the partition wall 15. The gasket 15a has a shape capable of closing the edge of the upper surface opening of the vegetable case 16, which will be described later, for example, a rectangular frame shape. The partition wall 15 divides the space inside the refrigerating room 12 into a refrigerating temperature zone space 12A and a vegetable space 12B.

The heat insulating material constituting the partition wall 15 may be, for example, a foamed heat insulating material such as urethane foam, or a vacuum heat insulating panel. When an effervescent heat insulating material is used as the heat insulating material, the partition wall 15 has a structure in which the foam heat insulating material is filled inside the case constituting the outer shell thereof. Further, when a vacuum heat insulating panel is used as the heat insulating material, the partition wall 15 has a structure in which the vacuum heat insulating panel is inserted inside the case constituting the outer shell thereof. Further, the partition wall 15 may be configured to include both a foam heat insulating material and a vacuum heat insulating panel inside the case constituting the outer shell thereof.

The refrigerating temperature zone space 12A is a cooling space maintained in a predetermined refrigerating temperature zone by the cold air blown out from the cold air outlet 14a of the cold air duct 14. That is, the cold air duct 14 has a cold air outlet 14a in a portion facing the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A, in this case, a portion closer to the upper side, and a portion facing the vegetable space 12B, in this case, a portion closer to the lower side. It is configured so that it does not have a cold air outlet 14a. Therefore, cold air is directly supplied from the cold air outlet 14a of the cold air duct 14 into the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A, whereby the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A is refrigerated by so-called direct cooling. It is designed to be maintained in the temperature range. In this case, the temperature in the refrigerating temperature zone is assumed to be, for example, about 1 to 2 degrees.

The vegetable space 12B is an example of a high temperature zone space maintained in a temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. In this case, the inside of the vegetable case 16 having an open upper surface is formed as the vegetable space 12B. There is. Further, the upper surface opening of the vegetable case 16 comes into contact with the lower surface of the partition wall 15, in this case, the gasket 15a. As a result, the inside of the vegetable case 16, in other words, the vegetable space 12B, is closed by the partition wall 15. It is preferable that the degree of closure of the vegetable space 12B by the partition wall 15 is as close to sealing as possible.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a ventilation hole 17 communicating with the upper and lower sides of the partition wall 15 is provided at the edge of the partition wall 15. As a result, the cold air in the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A flows through the ventilation holes 17 to the space around the vegetable space 12B, in this case, the space outside the side surface of the vegetable case 16. Then, by supplying cold air around the vegetable space 12B, the cold heat is transmitted into the vegetable space 12B through the vegetable case 16, whereby the inside of the vegetable space 12B is separated from the refrigerating temperature zone by so-called indirect cooling. Is maintained in a high temperature zone. In this case, the temperature in the high temperature zone is assumed to be, for example, about 3 to 5 degrees.

A rail member (not shown) is provided on the side of the vegetable case 16 to support the vegetable case 16 so that it can be pulled out along the front-rear direction of the refrigerator 10. Since such a rail member is provided, a certain amount of space is secured on the side portion of the vegetable case 16. Therefore, by providing the ventilation hole 17 above the rail member, the cold air is efficiently streamlined from the refrigerated temperature zone space 12A to the space around the vegetable space 12B, in this case, the space on the side of the vegetable case 16. It can be flushed well.

Further, in the refrigerator 10, the partition wall 15 is mainly composed of a heat insulating material, but cold heat can be transferred from the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A to the vegetable space 12B through the partition wall 15. That is, the vegetable space 12B is indirectly cooled by the cold heat that can be transmitted from the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A through the partition wall 15.

According to the refrigerator 10 described above, the vegetable space 12B provided in the refrigerating chamber 12 is closed by the partition wall 15, and the vegetable space 12B is indirectly cooled by the cold heat transmitted from the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A. It was configured as follows. According to this configuration, with respect to the refrigerator 10 in which the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A and the vegetable space 12B are provided in the same refrigerating chamber 12, the vegetables in the vegetable space 12B are maintained in the high temperature zone for vegetables. It is possible to prevent the cold air from being directly supplied into the space 12B, and it is possible to prevent the foods in the vegetable space 12B from drying out.

Further, according to the refrigerator 10, the partition wall 15 that closes the vegetable space 12B is provided with a ventilation hole 17 that allows cold air to flow from the refrigerated temperature zone space 12A to the periphery of the vegetable space 12B. According to this configuration, cold air can be efficiently supplied around the vegetable space 12B through the ventilation holes 17, and indirect cooling of the vegetable space 12B can be further promoted.

Further, according to the refrigerator 10, the partition wall 15 that closes the vegetable space 12B is made of a heat insulating material. According to this configuration, it is possible to further prevent the inside of the vegetable space 12B from being directly cooled, and it is possible to further prevent the foods in the vegetable space 12B from drying out.

(Second Embodiment)
The refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 has a configuration in which the partition wall 15 is not provided with the ventilation holes 17. According to this configuration, it is possible to further prevent the inside of the vegetable space 12B from being directly cooled, and it is possible to further prevent the foods in the vegetable space 12B from drying out. In this configuration, if the heat insulating performance of the partition wall 15 is too high, the transfer of cold heat from the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A to the vegetable space 12B becomes insufficient, and the inside of the vegetable space 12B may not be sufficiently cooled. There is. Therefore, for example, it is advisable to take measures such as forming the partition wall 15 with a heat insulating material having low heat insulating performance or reducing the thickness of the partition wall 15.

(Third Embodiment)
The refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 is provided with a moisture permeable portion 30 on the partition wall 15. The moisture permeable portion 30 is configured to include a well-known moisture permeable sheet configured to allow only moisture to pass through the inside of the case constituting the outer shell thereof. Further, the case of the moisture permeable portion 30 is provided with a ventilable hole portion and a slit portion. In this case, the moisture permeable portion 30 is provided at the rear portion of the partition wall 15 so that the moisture in the refrigerating temperature zone space 12A can pass through the vegetable space 12B.

According to this configuration, moisture can be supplied to the inside of the vegetable space 12B closed by the partition wall 15, and the drying of foods, for example, vegetables in the vegetable space 12B can be further suppressed. Further, since the moisture permeable portion 30 is provided at the rear portion of the partition wall 15, it is possible to make it difficult for the user existing in front of the refrigerator 10 to see the moisture permeable portion 30. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the appearance due to the presence of the moisture permeable portion 30 while exhibiting the moisture permeable function of the moisture permeable portion 30. The moisture permeable portion 30 may be provided at the rear portion of the partition wall 15 over the entire length of the partition wall 15 in the left-right direction, or may be provided in a range shorter than the dimension of the partition wall 15 in the left-right direction. Further, a plurality of moisture permeable portions 30 may be provided along the left-right direction of the partition wall 15. Further, the moisture permeable portion 30 may be provided on the left portion or the right portion of the partition wall 15. Further, a wall portion may be provided so as to surround the periphery of the moisture permeable portion 30, and a configuration may be realized in which foods are difficult to be placed on the upper portion of the moisture permeable portion 30.

(Fourth Embodiment)
According to the refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 5, the moisture permeable portion 40 has a structure in which the upper portion thereof protrudes upward from the upper surface of the partition wall 15. That is, the moisture permeable portion 40 forms a stepped portion higher than the upper surface of the partition wall 15 at the rear portion of the partition wall 15. Further, the moisture permeable portion 40 has an opening 40a on the front surface of a portion higher than the upper surface of the partition wall 15, and the upper surface of the portion higher than the upper surface of the partition wall 15 is closed. The moisture permeable portion 40 allows the moisture in the refrigerated temperature zone space 12A to pass through the vegetable space 12B through the opening 40a.

According to this configuration, the moisture permeable portion 40 forms a stepped portion. As a result, it is possible to make it difficult to place foods on the upper part of the moisture permeable portion 40, and it is possible to prevent the upper part of the moisture permeable portion 40 from being covered with foods. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the moisture permeable portion 40 from being blocked by foods, and it is possible to maintain an environment in which the moisture permeable performance can be sufficiently exhibited.

Further, according to the moisture permeable portion 40, the opening 40a for passing moisture is provided on the front surface of the step portion. According to this configuration, even if foods are placed above the moisture permeable portion 40, it is possible to prevent the opening 40a from being blocked by the foods, and the moisture permeable portion 40 can be prevented from being blocked. It is possible to fully demonstrate the moisture permeability.

(Fifth Embodiment)
According to the refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 6, the moisture permeable portion 50 is embedded in the side surface of the vegetable case 16. Also with this configuration, moisture can be supplied to the inside of the vegetable space 12B closed by the partition wall 15, and the drying of foods, for example, vegetables in the vegetable space 12B can be further suppressed. The moisture permeable portion 50 may be provided on at least one wall surface of the vegetable case 16.

(Sixth Embodiment)
The refrigerator 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 is provided with a heater 60 at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 12, in other words, at the bottom of the vegetable space 12B. In this case, the heater 60 is provided inside a heat insulating wall that separates the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13. The heater 60 is an example of a heating unit, and heats the air in the vegetable space 12B by generating heat in the lower part of the vegetable space 12B. The drive of the heater 60 is controlled by a control device (not shown).

According to this configuration, the occurrence of dew condensation in the vegetable space 12B can be suppressed by appropriately heating the air in the vegetable space 12B with the heater 60. For example, when a large amount of vegetables are contained in the vegetable space 12B, or when the vegetable space 12B is configured to supply moisture, the humidity in the vegetable space 12B may become too high. In such a case, by appropriately driving the heater 60, the occurrence of dew condensation in the vegetable space 12B can be effectively suppressed. Further, by appropriately heating the inside of the vegetable space 12B with the heater 60, it is possible to prevent the vegetables from being deteriorated due to chilling injury.

(Other embodiments)
The present embodiment is not limited to the plurality of embodiments described above, and various changes and extensions can be made without departing from the gist thereof. For example, the refrigerator 10 may be configured by appropriately combining the plurality of embodiments described above. Further, the high temperature zone space is not limited to the vegetable space 12B, but is a space provided in the same storage room as the refrigerating temperature zone space and maintained in a temperature zone higher than the refrigerating temperature zone. If there is, it may be another space. Further, the partition wall 15 may not be provided with the gasket 15a as long as it can close the high temperature zone space. Further, the partition wall 15 may be configured not to have a heat insulating material. Further, the ventilation holes 17 may have a slit shape or a hole shape. Further, the number of ventilation holes 17 may be one, or may be two or more. Further, the present embodiment can also be applied to a refrigerator in which a cooler for a refrigerating room is provided separately from a cooler for a freezing room.

Although a plurality of embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The present embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

In the drawings, 10 is a refrigerator, 12 is a refrigerator compartment (storage chamber), 15 is a partition wall (closed portion), 17 is a ventilation hole, 30, 40, 50 is a moisture permeable portion, and 60 is a heater (heating portion).

Claims (6)

A storage room having a refrigerated temperature zone space maintained in the refrigerated temperature zone and a high temperature zone space maintained in a temperature zone higher than the refrigerated temperature zone,
A closed portion that closes the high temperature zone space and
With
The high temperature zone space is a refrigerator that is indirectly cooled by the cold heat transmitted from the refrigerating temperature zone space. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the closed portion is provided with a vent for allowing cold air to flow from the refrigerated temperature zone space to the periphery of the high temperature zone space. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the closed portion is made of a heat insulating material. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closed portion is provided with a moisture permeable portion that allows moisture to pass through. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the moisture permeable portion is provided at the rear portion of the closed portion. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a heating unit for heating the inside of the high temperature zone space in the lower portion of the high temperature zone space.

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