JP2022070724A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator that can restrain frosting in a return duct, and has a simple structure.SOLUTION: A refrigerator according to an embodiment comprises a refrigerator body, a cooler, a cooler housing chamber, a return duct, and a foam heat insulation material. The refrigerator body includes an upper storage chamber, and a lower storage chamber arranged on the lower side of the upper storage chamber. The cooler generates cold air. The cooler housing chamber is provided in the refrigerator body. The cooler housing chamber houses the cooler. The return duct communicates with the upper storage chamber and the cooler housing chamber. The return duct forms a return flow passage through which air in the upper storage chamber returns to the cooler housing chamber. The foam heat insulation material is made of urethane foam. The foam heat insulation material is packed between the cooler housing chamber and an outer peripheral part of the return duct.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

The refrigerator keeps the storage room at a low temperature by circulating the cold air between the cooler storage room and the storage room that house the cooler that forms the cold air. The cold air that has been sent to the storage chamber and whose temperature has risen is sent to the cooler accommodating chamber through the return duct and cooled by exchanging heat with the cooler.
Since the return duct is located near the cooler, the moisture contained in the elevated cold air flowing in the return duct is likely to frost. Therefore, the circulation of cold air may be hindered and the cooling performance may be deteriorated.
In particular, when the return duct is arranged in parallel with the cooler in the refrigerator, it is difficult to arrange a high-performance heat insulating material because the space between the cooler and the return duct becomes narrow.
Providing a defrost heater or blower mechanism to prevent frost formation increases component costs.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-19586 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-95530

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a simple structure capable of suppressing frost formation in a return duct.

The refrigerator of the embodiment has a refrigerator body, a cooler, a cooler accommodating chamber, a return duct, and an effervescent heat insulating material. The refrigerator body includes an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber located below the upper storage chamber. The cooler forms cold air. The cooler storage chamber is provided in the refrigerator body. The cooler containment chamber houses the cooler. The return duct communicates with the upper storage chamber and the cooler containment chamber. The return duct forms a return flow path for the air in the upper storage chamber to return to the cooler containment chamber. The foam insulation is made of urethane foam. The foam insulation is filled between the cooler containment chamber and the outer periphery of the return duct.

The front view which shows the refrigerator of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F2-F2 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F3-F3 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F4-F4 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F5-F5 in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F6-F6 in FIG. The perspective view which shows the return duct and the ventilation duct in the refrigerator of embodiment. Exploded view of the perspective showing the return duct and the ventilation duct in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F9-F9 in FIG. The perspective view which shows the inner box of the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the 1st member in the refrigerator of an embodiment. The perspective view which shows the 2nd member in the refrigerator of an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of F13. The perspective view which shows the fixed frame in the refrigerator of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the connection structure of the air duct and the cooler accommodation chamber in the refrigerator of embodiment. Exploded perspective view showing the main configuration between the inner box and the outer box in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F17-F17 in FIG. Exploded view of the perspective showing the flow path forming member of the upper storage chamber in the refrigerator of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the flow path forming member of the upper storage chamber in the refrigerator of embodiment. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of F20. Enlarged view of F21 part in FIG.

Hereinafter, the refrigerator of the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.
Unless otherwise specified, this specification defines up, down, left, and right based on the direction in which the user standing in front of the refrigerator looks at the refrigerator. In addition, the side closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator when viewed from the refrigerator is defined as "front", and the side far from the refrigerator is defined as "rear". As used herein, the "horizontal width direction" means the left-right direction in the above definition. As used herein, the "depth direction" means the front-back direction in the above definition. "Vertical direction" means the height direction of the refrigerator.
The + X direction is the right direction, the −X direction is the left direction, the + Y direction is the rear direction, the −Y direction is the front direction, the + Z direction is the upward direction, and the −Z direction is the downward direction, which are indicated by arrow lines in the figure.
A plane in which the normal extends in the + X direction may be referred to as a YZ plane, a plane in which the normal extends in the + Y direction may be referred to as a ZX plane, and a plane extending in the + Z direction may be referred to as an XY plane. The XY plane is a horizontal plane.
Unless otherwise specified, the shape of each component of the refrigerator will be described based on the posture of the refrigerator.

The refrigerator of the embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator of an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F2-F2 in FIG.

The overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described. However, the refrigerator 1 does not have to have all of the configurations described below, and some configurations may be omitted as appropriate.
The refrigerator 1 has, for example, a housing 10 and a plurality of doors 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes, for example, an inner box 10a, an outer box 10b, and a foamed heat insulating material 10c.
The inner box 10a is a member that forms the inner surface of the housing 10, and is made of, for example, a synthetic resin.
The outer box 10b is a member that forms the outer surface of the housing 10, and is made of metal, for example. The outer box 10b is formed to be one size larger than the inner box 10a, and is arranged outside the inner box 10a. The outer box 10b has a rectangular parallelepiped shape forming an outer surface portion excluding the front surface of the housing 10. The outer box 10b is formed of, for example, a metal or a composite material of a metal and a resin.
The foamed heat insulating material 10c is a heat insulating material made of urethane foam, and is filled between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b. As a result, the housing 10 has a heat insulating property.
The foamed heat insulating material 10c is formed by introducing a urethane foaming liquid between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b, filling the inside while foaming, and solidifying the foaming heat insulating material 10c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 has an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22, a left side wall 23, a right side wall 24, and a rear wall 25 (see FIG. 2). The upper wall 21 and the lower wall 22 extend substantially horizontally. The left side wall 23 and the right wall 24 stand upward from the left and right ends of the lower wall 22 and are connected to the left and right ends of the upper wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 25 stands upward from the rear end portion of the lower wall 22 and is connected to the rear end portion of the upper wall 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of storage chambers 27 are provided inside the housing 10. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of storage chambers 27 include a refrigerating chamber 27A, a vegetable compartment 27B (upper storage chamber), and a freezing chamber 27C (lower storage chamber). The refrigerating room 27A, the vegetable room 27B, and the freezing room 27C are arranged in this order from the upper side to the lower side. That is, the refrigerating chamber 27A is arranged in the upper part of the refrigerator 1.
The housing 10 has an opening on the front side of each storage chamber 27 that allows food and the like to be taken in and out of each storage chamber 27.
The openings of the plurality of storage chambers 27 are opened and closed by the plurality of doors 11. The plurality of doors 11 have a refrigerating room door 11A, a vegetable room door 11B, and a freezing room door 11C, respectively, for opening and closing the refrigerating room 27A, the vegetable room 27B, and the freezing room 27C.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 has a first partition portion 28 and a second partition portion 29. The first partition 28 and the second partition 29 are, for example, partition walls along a substantially horizontal direction. The first partition portion 28 is located between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B, and partitions the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B. The second partition portion 29 is located between the vegetable compartment 27B and the freezing chamber 27C, and partitions the vegetable compartment 27B and the freezing chamber 27C.

The second partition portion 29 constitutes a bottom wall of the vegetable compartment 27B and an upper wall of the freezing chamber 27C.
The second partition portion 29 is formed by a protruding portion of the inner box 10a projecting substantially horizontally from the rear surface of the vegetable chamber 27B and the freezing chamber 27C toward the front surface, and a foamed heat insulating material 10c filled inside the protruding portion. Has been done. Therefore, the second partition portion 29 insulates the vegetable chamber 27B and the freezing chamber 27C from each other. The upper surface portion 29A, which is the upper surface of the second partition portion 29, and the lower surface portion 29B, which is the lower surface, extend substantially horizontally.

The room temperature of the refrigerating room 27A is adjusted to a temperature at which the stored material does not freeze. For example, the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 27A is maintained lower than that of the vegetable compartment 27B and higher than that of the freezing chamber 27C.
Inside the refrigerating chamber 27A, a refrigerating chamber container 13Aa and a cold water container 13Ab (see FIG. 1) are arranged.

The refrigerating chamber container 13Aa is arranged, for example, on the rear surface of the first partition portion 28 in the vicinity of the inner wall 27a (see FIG. 1) on the + X direction side of the refrigerating chamber 27A. The inside of the refrigerating chamber container 13Aa can be kept at the lowest temperature in the refrigerating chamber 27A, and is used as a chilled chamber container, for example.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cold water container 13Ab is arranged between the inner wall 27b on the −X direction side of the refrigerating chamber 27A and the refrigerating chamber container 13Aa. The cold water container 13Ab stores cold water for ice making in the ice making chamber 13Cd in the freezing chamber 27C. The cold water stored in the cold water container 13Ab is supplied to the ice making chamber 13Cd by a pump.

In the refrigerating chamber 27A, the ceiling plate 12A and the shelves 12B, 12C, 12D are arranged in this order above the refrigerating chamber container 13Aa and the cold water container 13Ab.
The ceiling plate 12A is arranged between the inner walls 27a and 27b so as to cover the upper ends of the refrigerating chamber container 13Aa and the cold water container 13Ab from above.
The shelves 12B, 12C, and 12D are plate members on which the storage is placed above the ceiling plate 12A. The inner walls 27b and 27c are provided with a plurality of locking portions for arranging the shelves 12B, 12C and 12D.

The front surface of the refrigerator compartment 27A is covered with a refrigerator compartment door 11A so as to be openable and closable.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerating chamber door 11A is connected to the end portion of the housing 10 in the + X direction by, for example, hinges 30 provided at the upper and lower ends in the + X direction. The refrigerating chamber door 11A is rotatable in a horizontal plane about the rotation axis of the hinge 30 extending in the vertical direction. The refrigerating room door 11A is a rotary single door that opens by rotating the left end from the front to the right.
As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerating chamber door 11A has door containers 20A, 20B, and 20C for accommodating the storage in the + Y direction toward the refrigerating chamber 27A and from the lower side to the upper side in this order.

The room temperature of the vegetable room 27B is adjusted to a temperature at which the storage does not freeze. The vegetable compartment 27B is a storage chamber having a refrigerating function provided separately from the refrigerating chamber 27A. The indoor temperature of the vegetable compartment 27B may be adjusted to the same temperature range as the indoor temperature of the refrigerating chamber 27A, or may be adjusted to a temperature range higher than that of the refrigerating chamber 27A. For example, the indoor temperature of the vegetable compartment 27B may be higher than the indoor temperature of the refrigerating chamber 27A, and may be maintained at a temperature suitable for storing a storage such as vegetables.
However, the storage of the vegetable compartment 27B is not limited to vegetables, and for example, it is possible to store an appropriate storage that does not require freezing storage. For example, the storage that can be stored in the refrigerator compartment 27A may be stored in the vegetable compartment 27B.
Inside the vegetable compartment 27B, a first vegetable compartment container 13Ba and a second vegetable compartment container 13Bb for accommodating a storage such as vegetables are arranged.
The first vegetable compartment container 13Ba is connected to the vegetable compartment door 11B at the end in the −Y direction, and can move in the depth direction along a guide rail provided in the vegetable compartment 27B.
The second vegetable compartment container 13Bb is arranged above the first vegetable compartment container 13Ba so as to cover a part of the upper part of the first vegetable chamber container 13Ba.
The front surface of the vegetable compartment 27B is covered with a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 11B that can be opened and closed.

A heat insulating material is arranged inside the vegetable compartment door 11B. A gasket that abuts on the front surface of the inner box 10a that forms the opening on the front surface of the vegetable chamber 27B is provided on the outer edge portion on the rear surface side of the vegetable chamber door 11B. When the vegetable compartment door 11B is closed, the opening of the vegetable compartment 27B is adiabatically closed.

The upper end of the vegetable compartment door 11B is adjacent to the tip portion in the depth direction at a substantially central portion of the tip portion in the −Y direction (hereinafter, simply the tip portion) of the first partition portion 28 in the vertical direction.
The tip of the first partition 28 is also in contact with the gasket at the lower end of the refrigerating chamber door 11A in order to close the refrigerating chamber 27A.

The temperature inside the freezing chamber 27C is maintained at a temperature at which a storage such as foodstuff can be frozen, for example. Inside the freezing chamber 27C, for example, a first freezing chamber container 13Ca and a second freezing chamber container 13Cb, an ice making chamber 13Cd, and a third freezing chamber container 13Cc are arranged. There is.
The first freezing chamber container 13Ca is connected to the freezing chamber door 11C at the end in the −Y direction, and can move in the depth direction along a guide rail provided in the freezing chamber 27C.
The second freezing chamber container 13Cb is arranged above the first freezing chamber container 13Ca and can move in the depth direction along the guide rail provided in the freezing chamber 27C.
The ice making chamber 13Cd receives cold water from a cold water container 13Ab (see FIG. 1) arranged in the refrigerating chamber 27A to make ice.
The third freezing chamber container 13Cc is arranged above the second freezing chamber container 13Cb and can move in the depth direction along a guide rail provided in the freezing chamber 27C. In the third freezing chamber container 13Cc, the ice formed in the ice making chamber 13Cd can be accommodated in the portion arranged below the ice making chamber 13Cd.
The front surface of the freezing chamber 27C is covered with a drawer-type freezing chamber door 11C so as to be openable and closable.

A heat insulating material is arranged inside the freezing chamber door 11C. A gasket that abuts on the front surface of the inner box 10a that forms the opening on the front surface of the freezing chamber 27C is provided on the outer edge portion on the rear surface side of the freezing chamber door 11C. When the freezing chamber door 11C is closed, the opening of the freezing chamber 27C is adiabatically closed.

On the rear side of the housing 10, various members forming the refrigerator main body 5 together with the housing 10 are arranged. Examples of the member forming the refrigerator body 5 include a pipe through which a refrigerant circulates, a cooling unit 15, a cooling fan 16, a duct 14, and a control board 17.
In the refrigerator main body 5, a machine room 50 is provided below the housing 10 on the rear side (+ Y direction side) of the freezing room 27C.

The cooling unit 15 (cooler) is arranged in a cooling unit storage chamber 18 (cooler storage chamber) provided behind the freezer chamber 27C.
For example, the cooling unit 15 has an evaporator 15a that vaporizes the low boiling point refrigerant that has passed through the expansion valve by exchanging heat with the air in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18. The evaporator 15a cools the air around the evaporator 15a by taking the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant from the air in the cooling unit accommodation chamber 18, and forms cold air in the cooling unit accommodation chamber 18.

The configuration around the cooling unit 15 will be described.
The cooling unit storage chamber 18 is formed by covering the recess 18a recessed in the + Y direction on the rear wall surface 10aC forming the rear inner surface of the freezing chamber 27C with the storage chamber cover member 18b.
The accommodation chamber cover member 18b is a wall body in which a heat insulating material such as EPS (Expanded Poly-Styrene) is arranged inside a resin outer cover.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F3-F3 in FIG. However, in FIG. 3, the illustration of each container including the ceiling plate 12A, the shelves 12B, 12C, 12D and the refrigerating room container 13Aa shown in FIG. 2 is omitted. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F4-F4 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F5-F5 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the storage chamber cover member 18b, a cooling fan 16 that sucks the cold air in the cooling unit storage chamber 18 and the sucked cold air are directed toward the freezing chamber 27C and the refrigerating chamber 27A. A plurality of flow paths that can be flowed are formed. The cooling fan 16 transfers the cold air formed by the cooling unit 15 to the refrigerating chamber 27A, the vegetable compartment 27B, and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 through a plurality of flow paths in the accommodating chamber cover member 18b and a duct 14 described later. A circulating flow is formed between the freezing chamber 27C and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18.

When viewed from the + Y direction, the cooling fan 16 is also arranged closer to the center in the width direction of the freezing chamber 27C and closer to the −X direction.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling fan 16 is arranged in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 so as to face the space above and above the cooling unit 15. In the −Y direction of the cooling fan 16, a flow path C11 is formed in which the cold air sucked by the cooling fan 16 flows in the + X direction and the −Z direction. The flow path C11 communicates with a plurality of openings 18e (see FIG. 3) formed on the surface of the accommodation chamber cover member 18b in the −Y direction. The cold air flowing through the flow path C11 flows into the freezing chamber 27C through the opening 18e.
As shown in FIG. 2, on the + Y direction side of the lower end portion 18d of the accommodation chamber cover member 18b, a guide plate 18f that extends in the + Z direction toward the + Y direction and guides the air flow diagonally upward is formed. .. An opening 18g communicating with the inside of the lower end side of the recess 18a is formed on the + Y direction side of the guide plate 18f. This opening 18g is covered from the front side by the accommodation chamber cover member 18b when viewed from the + Y direction.
A flow path C13 is formed between the lower end portion 18d and the recess 18a. The flow path C13 communicates the freezing chamber 27C and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 with each other.
When the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 becomes negative pressure due to the suction of the cooling fan 16, the air in the freezing chamber 27C returns to the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 through the flow path C13.

As shown in FIG. 3, when viewed from the + Y direction, an opening 18c is formed in the + X direction of the cooling fan 16 so as to penetrate the rear surface of the accommodation chamber cover member 18b in the + Y direction.
As shown in FIG. 5, the opening 18c communicates with the flow path C11. A through hole penetrating the rear surface of the accommodation chamber cover member 18b from the opening 18c constitutes a flow path C12 for flowing cold air to a duct 14 described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the duct 14 forms a part of a flow path for circulating the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15 between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18. ..
The duct 14 has flow path forming members 14A, 14B, 14C.

The flow path forming member 14A has a plate-shaped wall surface portion 14Aa that covers the inner wall portion 10aA in the refrigerating chamber 27A from the front side. The inner wall portion 10aA is a portion of the inner box 10a that forms the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber 27A in the + Y direction. The inner wall portion 10aA extends in the + Z direction in parallel with the rear wall 25 at the lower end portion of about one-third or less of the indoor height of the refrigerating chamber 27A, and is approximately one-third of the indoor height of the refrigerating chamber 27A. Above, it gradually inclines in the + Y direction as it advances in the + Z direction.
The wall surface portion 14Aa extends along the inclination of the inner wall portion 10aA and is arranged on the front side of the inner wall portion 10aA.
In the present embodiment, the wall surface portion 14Aa does not have a clear step portion. Therefore, when the user looks inside the refrigerating room 27A, it is difficult to understand that the wall surface portion 14Aa protrudes to the front side. As a result, the user can easily have the impression that the refrigerator compartment 27A is spacious.

As shown in FIG. 3, ribs 14Ab and 14Ac project in the + Y direction on the surface of the wall surface portion 14Aa in the −Y direction in order to secure a substantially constant gap between the wall surface portion 14Aa and the inner wall portion 10aA.
The rib 14Ab extends from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the wall surface portion 14Aa at a position closer to the −X direction than the center in the lateral width direction of the refrigerating chamber 27A.
The rib 14Ac extends from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the rib 14Ab at a position closer to the + X direction than the center in the width direction of the refrigerating chamber 27A.
A rib 14Ad protruding from the wall surface portion 14Aa in the + Y direction is connected to each upper end portion of the ribs 14Ab and 14Ac.
A heat insulating material 14Ae (see FIG. 2) is arranged on the inner peripheral surfaces of the ribs 14Ab, 14Ac, and 14Ad seen from the + Y direction and the rear surface (surface in the + Y direction) of the wall surface portion 14Aa.
As shown in FIG. 2, a first flow path C1 is formed along the inner wall portion 10aA between the heat insulating material 14Ae inside the ribs 14Ab, 14Ac, and 14Ad and the inner wall portion 10aA facing the ribs 14Ab, 14Ac, and 14Ad. ..
As shown in FIG. 3, in the wall surface portion 14Aa, a plurality of openings 14Af penetrating the wall surface portion 14Aa and the heat insulating material 14Ae in the thickness direction are formed between the ribs 14Ab and 14Ac. The positions of the plurality of openings 14Af in the vertical direction are different from each other. The shape of each of the plurality of openings 14Af seen from the + Y direction is, for example, a rectangle long in the width direction. The opening area of each of the plurality of openings 14Af increases from the lower side to the upper side.
A sealing member that airtightly seals between the inner wall portion 10aA and the heat insulating material 14Ae is attached to the surface of the heat insulating material 14Ae along the ribs 14Ab and 14Ac in the + Y direction.

With such a configuration, between the lower end portion and the upper end portion of the flow path forming member 14A, the wall surface portion 14Aa, the ribs 14Ab, 14Ac, 14Ad, and the inner peripheral surfaces thereof are provided on the rear side of the wall surface portion 14Aa. A heat insulating material 14Ae to cover and a first flow path C1 surrounded by an inner wall portion 10aA are formed.
The first flow path C1 communicates with the inside of the refrigerating chamber 27A through a plurality of openings 14Af.
As shown in FIG. 3, in the first partition 28 which is the bottom wall of the refrigerating chamber 27A, a communication hole 28b for communicating the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B is opened at the corner in the + Y direction in the + X direction. There is.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flow path forming member 14B is arranged in the vegetable compartment 27B, which is the upper storage chamber. The flow path forming member 14B is detachably provided from the front side of the vegetable chamber 27B with respect to the inner wall portion 10aB forming the inner surface of the rear side of the vegetable chamber 27B. The lower end portion of the flow path forming member 14B is in contact with the upper surface portion 29A of the second partition portion 29 from above.
The flow path forming member 14B forms a second flow path C2 communicating with the first flow path C1 from the lower side together with the inner wall portion 10aB. The detailed configuration of the flow path forming member 14B will be described later.

The schematic configuration of the flow path forming member 14C will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the flow path forming member 14C is on the + Y direction side of the rear wall surface 10aC of the inner box 10a forming the inner surface of the freezing chamber 27C in the + Y direction and the inner surface of the recess 18a of the cooling unit storage chamber 18. It is arranged in the refrigerator main body 5.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F6-F6 in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a return duct and a ventilation duct in the refrigerator of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the flow path forming member 14C has a ventilation duct 31 and a return duct 32.
The air duct 31 is a member that forms an air flow path Cb that sends out cold air from the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 toward the upper vegetable chamber 27B.
The ventilation duct 31 is arranged above the inner surface on the upper side of the recess 18a. As shown in FIG. 5, the ventilation duct 31 faces the upper end portion of the accommodation chamber cover member 18b that abuts on the rear wall surface 10aC above the recess 18a.
An opening 31a (inflow port) that opens in the −Y direction is formed at the lower end of the air flow path Cb. The air flow path Cb communicates with the flow path C12 at the opening 31a. The air flow path Cb extends in the + Y direction from the opening 31a and then extends in the + Z direction above the cooling unit 15. An opening 31b that opens in the + Z direction is formed at the upper end of the air flow path Cb. The air flow path Cb communicates with the second flow path C2 at the opening 31b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the return duct 32 is a member that communicates with the vegetable chamber 27B and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and forms a return flow path Cr in which the air in the vegetable chamber 27B returns to the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18.
The return duct 32 is arranged adjacent to the ventilation duct 31 and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 in the + X direction.
An opening 32a that opens in the + Z direction is formed at the upper end of the return duct 32. The return flow path Cr communicates with the inside of the vegetable chamber 27B at the opening 32a. In the present embodiment, the opening 32a is arranged at a position overlapping the end portion in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 + X direction when viewed from the + Z direction.
The return flow path Cr extends in the −Z direction from the opening 32a, then inclines in the + X direction as it advances in the −Z direction, and extends in the −Z direction at a position away from the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18. The return flow path Cr thus bypasses the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 in the + X direction, descends along the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18, and then gradually swirls 90 degrees toward the −X direction to cool the cooling unit 15. It extends in the -X direction below. An opening 32b (exhaust port) that opens in the −X direction is formed at the lowermost portion of the return flow path Cr.

Below the cooling unit 15 in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18, a gutter portion 41 for recovering water when removing frost adhering to the evaporator 15a is arranged.
As shown in FIG. 7, the gutter portion 41 is a container opened in the + Z direction and has a drainage port 41b at the bottom. In the present embodiment, the lower end portion of the return duct 32 penetrates the inner surface 18h in the + X direction (see FIG. 6) in the recess 18a of the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and the side wall 41a in the + X direction of the gutter portion 41. It is fixed to the gutter 41.

The blower duct 31 and the blower duct 31 are surrounded by a foamed heat insulating material 10c filled between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b. Therefore, the foamed heat insulating material 10cA, which is a part of the foamed heat insulating material 10c, is filled between the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 in the lateral width direction. Further, in the lateral width direction, the foamed heat insulating material 10cB, which is a part of the foamed heat insulating material 10c, is filled between the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and the outer peripheral portion of the return duct 32.
The detailed configuration of the flow path forming member 14C will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control board 17 controls the entire refrigerator 1 in an integrated manner. For example, the control board 17 has a cooling unit 15, a flow rate controller 39 described later, and a compressor described later based on the detection results of temperature sensors provided in the refrigerating chamber 27A, the freezing chamber 27C, the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18, and the like. It controls the operation of 51.
The control board 17 is preferably placed in a place where moisture can be avoided. In the present embodiment, it is arranged between the rear wall 25 and the inner wall portion 10aA in the upper part of the refrigerating chamber 27A. A foamed heat insulating material 10c is arranged between the control substrate 17 and the inner wall portion 10aA. In the present embodiment, since the upper end portion of the inner wall portion 10aA protrudes in the −Y direction, even if the control board 17 is arranged, the foam insulation having a sufficient thickness between the control board 17 and the inner wall portion 10aA is provided. The material 10c can be arranged. Therefore, the control board 17 and the inside of the refrigerator compartment 27A are insulated from each other.

The machine room 50 is located on the rear side of the freezing room 27C on the + Y direction side of the first freezing room container 13Ca and on the −Z direction side of the cooling unit 15, and is located in a rectangular parallelepiped region extending in the width direction of the refrigerator 1. It is provided. The machine room 50 is separated from the inside of the freezing room 27C by a heat insulating wall filled with the foamed heat insulating material 10c.
Inside the machine room 50, a compressor 51 for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant to form high-temperature steam, an evaporation tray for storing defrosted waste generated by automatic defrosting, and the like are arranged. Has been done. Since the compressor 51 and the condenser are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, the height of the machine room 50 is reduced. The evaporating dish is located below the condenser.

The detailed configuration of the flow path forming member 14C will be described.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a perspective view showing a return duct and a ventilation duct in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F9-F9 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 8, the flow path forming member 14C has a main body portion 14a and a blower flow path forming member 14b. Further, the flow path forming member 14C includes a sealing member 36 (first opening sealing member) and a sealing member 37 that tightly seal the periphery of the opening of the inner box 10a when mounted on the inner box 10a. (Second opening sealing member) and sealing member 38 (upper opening sealing member) are arranged.
As used herein, the term "liquid tight" means that the foaming liquid forming the foamed heat insulating material 10c does not leak during flow and foaming unless otherwise specified.

The main body portion 14a has a ventilation duct 31 and a return duct 32 adjacent to each other in the lateral width direction (adjacent direction), an upper connecting plate 33 (connecting plate), and a plurality of lower connecting plates 34 (connecting plates). The upper connecting plate 33 and the plurality of lower connecting plates 34 extend in the lateral width direction, respectively, and connect the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 to each other in the lateral width direction.
The main body portion 14a can be formed as an assembly in which assembly parts having an appropriate configuration are connected. For example, in the present embodiment, the main body portion 14a includes a first member 14aF and a second member 14aR, a side sealing member 42, and a side sealing member 43 (see FIG. 9).

The first member 14aF and the second member 14aR are members that can be separated so as to divide the return flow path Cr and the blow flow path Cb into two along the center line of the return flow path Cr. In the present embodiment, the main portions of the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR are the main body portions 14a with the virtual surface D (see FIGS. 11 and 12) including the center line of the return flow path Cr and parallel to the ZX plane as a boundary. Has a shape divided in the front-rear direction. However, members such as the locking claws 32k and 31h and the support columns 32s, which will be described later, extend beyond the virtual surface D.
As shown in FIG. 9, the side sealing member 42 is sandwiched between the seams of the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR forming the side portion in the lateral width direction of the air flow path Cb, and is sandwiched between the air flow paths. The side portion of Cb is hermetically sealed.
The side sealing member 43 is sandwiched between the joints of the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR forming the lateral side portion of the return flow path Cr, and the side portion of the return flow path Cr is liquid-tightened. Seal.
The side sealing members 42, 43 are formed of, for example, a soft tape having a resin base material having elasticity in the thickness direction and an adhesive tape attached to the resin base material, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like. May be good.
Hereinafter, the detailed configuration of the main body portion 14a will be described, and then the detailed configurations of the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the ventilation duct 31 has a first cylinder portion 31B forming a lower end portion and opening in the −Y direction, a second cylinder portion 31C forming an upper end portion and opening in the + Z direction, and a first cylinder portion. It has a casing portion 31A that forms an outer peripheral portion between the portion 31B and the second cylinder portion 31C.

The casing portion 31A forms a recess 31d to which the blower flow path forming member 14b can be mounted from above the opening 31b, and supports the blower flow path forming member 14b described later in the recess 31d from below. The surface of the casing portion 31A in the −Y direction forms a flat surface portion 31e parallel to the ZX plane.
The first tubular portion 31B protrudes from the flat surface portion 31e in the −Y direction. The shape of the opening 31a in the first cylinder portion 31B viewed from the + Y direction is a substantially rectangular shape elongated in the width direction with the four corners rounded.
On the outer peripheral portion of the tip portion in the −Y direction of the first tubular portion 31B, four locking projections 31c (first projection portions) protruding outward at the central portion of each long side and each short side of the opening 31a are provided. It is provided. Each locking projection 31c is locked to a fixed frame 35, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first cylinder portion 31B is inserted from the rear side into the opening portion O1 penetrating the rear wall surface 10aC of the freezing chamber 27C in a state where the sealing member 36 described later is arranged on the flat surface portion 31e. .. A fixed frame 35, which will be described later, inserted in the + Y direction from the inside of the freezing chamber 27C is fitted in the outer peripheral portion of the first cylinder portion 31B.

As shown in FIG. 8, a second tubular portion 31C extends in the + Z direction at the upper end of the recess 31d. The upper end of the second tubular portion 31C has an inclination that increases in the + Z direction as it advances in the + Y direction.
The air flow path forming member 14b has an outer shape that fits into the recess 31d from above, and has a first pipe line 14b1 and a second pipe line 14b2 inside.
As shown in FIG. 5, the opening at the lower end of the first pipeline 14b1 has a rectangular shape that overlaps with the opening 31a when viewed from the + Y direction, and opens toward the bottom of the recess 31d when viewed from the −Z direction. ing. The first pipeline 14b1 is bent in the + Z direction from the opening at the lower end. The cross-sectional shape of the first pipeline 14b1 is a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the horizontal direction.
The second pipeline 14b2 is formed with a substantially rectangular cross section extending outward from the opening 14b3 at the upper end of the first pipeline 14b1 extending in the + Z direction from the upper end of the first pipeline 14b1.
The opening 31b of the air flow path Cb is formed by opening the second pipeline 14b2 at the upper end of the air flow path forming member 14b. At the upper end of the blower flow path forming member 14b, an inclined surface 14b4 that increases in the + Z direction as it advances in the + Y direction is formed on the outer peripheral side of the opening 31b.
The air flow path forming member 14b is formed of, for example, a heat insulating material such as EPS.

A flow rate controller 39 is detachably arranged in the second pipeline 14b2.
The flow rate regulator 39 adjusts the flow rate of the cold air flowing from the first pipe line 14b1 to the second pipe line 14b2. The flow rate regulator 39 has a frame body 39a, a flow rate control plate 39c, and a motor accommodating portion 39e.
The outer shape of the frame 39a is along the opening 31b when viewed from the −Z direction, and is slightly smaller than the opening 31b. On the outer peripheral portion of the frame body 39a, a sealing member 39f for sealing between the frame body 39a and the second pipeline 14b2 is provided over the entire circumference. The sealing member 39f is not particularly limited as long as cold air can be sealed between the frame body 39a and the inner surface of the second pipeline 14b2. For example, as the sealing member 39f, the above-mentioned soft tape, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like may be used.
Inside the frame body 39a, the flow rate adjusting plate 39c and the motor accommodating portion 39e are arranged in this order in the −X direction.

The flow rate adjusting plate 39c is a rectangular plate elongated in the lateral width direction in which the opening 14b3 can be closed from above. A rotation shaft 39d extending in the −X direction is fixed to the end of the flow rate adjusting plate 39c in the −Y direction. The rotation shaft 39d extends inside the motor accommodating portion 39e.
The motor accommodating portion 39e internally accommodates a motor whose operation is controlled by a control signal from a control board 17 (see FIG. 2) and a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the output shaft of the motor to the rotating shaft 39d. ing. The upper end of the motor accommodating portion 39e protrudes from the opening 31b in the + Z direction. Therefore, the flow rate regulator 39 can be attached to the second pipeline 14b2 or removed from the second pipeline 14b2 by gripping the motor accommodating portion 39e protruding from the opening 31b.
The upper end of the motor accommodating portion 39e is formed in a plane parallel to the XY plane. A sheet 44 having elasticity in the thickness direction is arranged at the upper end portion of the motor accommodating portion 39e.

When the motor is driven, the rotation shaft 39d rotates around its central axis. The flow rate adjusting plate 39c takes an inclination angle between a fully closed state in which the opening 14b3 is closed and a fully open state in which the flow rate adjusting plate 39c stands up in the + Z direction, depending on the rotation angle of the rotation shaft 39d. Since the flow path resistance from the opening 14b3 to the second pipeline 14b2 changes according to the inclination angle of the rotation shaft 39d, the flow rate of the cold air flowing through the air flow path Cb is adjusted.
In the present embodiment, the opening 14b3 is provided at a position higher than the lower surface portion 29B of the second partition portion 29 and lower than the upper surface portion 29A. When the flow rate adjusting plate 39c is fully closed, the cold air entering the first pipeline 14b1 cannot enter above the upper surface portion 29A.
Since the outside of the lower end portion of the casing portion 31A where at least the first pipeline 14b1 is formed is surrounded by the foamed heat insulating material 10c having excellent heat insulating performance, the heat of the air in the vegetable chamber 27B is inside the first pipeline 14b1. It is suppressed from being transmitted to the cold air. Therefore, the temperature rise of the cold air that cools the freezing chamber 27C can be suppressed, and the cooling efficiency of the freezing chamber 27C in the fully closed state of the flow rate adjusting plate 39c can be improved.

As shown in FIG. 8, the return duct 32 has a first cylinder portion 32B forming an upper end portion and opening in the + Z direction, a second cylinder portion 32C forming a lower end portion and opening in the −X direction, and a first cylinder portion. It has a duct main body 32A which is a tube shape communicating with the portion 32B and the second cylinder portion 32C and forms a return flow path Cr inside.

On the outer peripheral portion of the duct main body 32A, a plurality of ribs 32g extending in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the duct main body 32A and a plurality of ribs 32h extending in the extending direction of the duct main body 32A project outward. The plurality of ribs 32g and 32h improve the strength and rigidity of the duct body 32A. Therefore, as compared with the case where the plurality of ribs 32g and 32h are not provided, the duct main body 32A has the same strength and rigidity even if the thickness is reduced.
In particular, the plurality of ribs 32g and 32h have an effect of suppressing deformation due to foaming pressure when the foaming heat insulating material 10c is filled on the outer periphery of the return duct 32.
Since the plurality of ribs 32g and 32h are embedded in the foamed heat insulating material 10c after being filled with the foamed heat insulating material 10c, they also have an effect of stabilizing the position in the foamed heat insulating material 10c.
Since the thickness of the duct main body 32A is reduced, the space between the duct main body 32A and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and between the duct main body 32A and the casing portion 31A is compared with the case where the duct main body 32A does not have a plurality of ribs 32g and 32h. The filling amount of the foamed heat insulating material 10c is increased, and the heat insulating effect of the foamed heat insulating material 10c is improved.

A first cylinder portion 32B extends in the + Z direction at the upper end of the duct main body 32A. The shape of the first cylinder portion 32B seen from the −Z direction is a substantially rectangular shape with four corners rounded. The height of the upper end of the first cylinder portion 32B has an inclination that increases in the + Z direction as it advances in the + Y direction, similar to the second cylinder portion 31C of the air duct 31. The inclination angle of the upper end of the first cylinder portion 32B is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, it is equal to the inclination of the inclined portion 29b of the second partition portion 29 described later.

A second cylinder portion 32C extends in the −X direction at the lower end of the duct main body 32A. At the base end portion of the second tubular portion 32C in the extending direction, a protruding edge portion 32c parallel to the YZ plane projects outward. The ridge portion 32c surrounds the outer circumference of the duct main body 32A over the entire circumference.
The shape of the second cylinder portion 32C seen from the + X direction is a substantially rectangular shape with four corners rounded. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer shape of the second tubular portion 32C has a shape that can be fitted into the insertion opening 41c that penetrates the side wall 41a of the gutter portion 41 in the thickness direction.
As shown in FIG. 8, a locking claw 32d that can be elastically deformed is provided on the inner peripheral side at the tip end portion of the second tubular portion 32C in the extending direction. At the tip of the locking claw 32d, a protrusion 32e (second protrusion) protruding toward the outer peripheral side of the second cylinder 32C is formed.

The upper connecting plate 33 has a return duct 32 and a ventilation duct 31 so as to surround the first cylinder portion 32B, which is the upper end portion of the return duct 32, and the second cylinder portion 32C, which is the upper end portion of the ventilation duct 31, from the outside, respectively. It is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the.
The upper connecting plate 33 is arranged on the lower surface side of the upper surface portion 29A of the second partition portion 29. First, the detailed shape of the upper surface portion 29A will be described.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an inner box of a vegetable compartment in the refrigerator of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, the upper surface portion 29A has a main surface 29a, an inclined portion 29b, and a corner portion 29c.
The main surface 29a extends substantially horizontally in the + Y direction from the front end of the upper surface portion 29A.
The inclined portion 29b is a plane having an inclination in which the height in the + Z direction increases as it advances in the + Y direction from the rear end of the main surface 29a.
The corner portion 29c is an inclined surface connecting the end portion of the inclined portion 29b in the + Y direction and the lower end portion of the inner wall portion 10aB. The corner portion 29c has an inclination in which the height in the + Z direction increases as it advances in the + Y direction. However, the inclination of the corner portion 29c is larger than that of the inclined portion 29b.

An opening O2 (first opening) and an opening O3 (second opening) penetrate the inclined portion 29b in the thickness direction of the inner box 10a forming the inclined portion 29b.
The shape of the opening O2 is a substantially rectangular shape through which the second cylinder portion 31C of the ventilation duct 31 can be inserted from below the inclined portion 29b in the + Z direction.
The shape of the opening O3 is a substantially rectangular shape through which the first tubular portion 32B of the return duct 32 can be inserted from below the inclined portion 29b in the + Z direction. The opening O3 is formed in the + X direction with the opening O2.
The arrangement pitch of the openings O2 and O3 in the lateral width direction is equal to the arrangement pitch of the second cylinder portion 31C and the first cylinder portion 32B.
An opening O4 is formed in the vicinity of the opening O2 on the main surface 29a.
The opening O4 has a shape through which a hook 33b, which will be described later, provided on the upper connecting plate 33 can be inserted when the second cylinder portion 31C is inserted into the opening O2.

In the corner portion 29c, fixing portions 29d are formed at two locations outside the opening O2 in the lateral width direction, respectively. Each fixed portion 29d bulges from the corner portion 29c to the inside of the freezing chamber 27C. The shape of each fixing portion 29d has an uneven shape substantially along the surface of the screw fixing portion 33h provided on the upper connecting plate 33, which will be described later. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of each fixed portion 29d is an inclined surface 29f whose height increases from the front to the rear of the refrigerating chamber 27A. A mortar-shaped recess 29e is formed on the inclined surface 29f, and a screw fixing portion 33h is fitted from the lower side into the recess formed on the back surface side of each fixing portion 29d.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper connecting plate 33 has a front plate portion 33a, a rear plate portion 33e, a square plate portion 33f, and a back plate portion 33g.
The front plate portion 33a extends in the −Y direction from the central portion in the depth direction of the first cylinder portion 32B and the second cylinder portion 31C. The front plate portion 33a is a flat plate extending in parallel with the main surface 29a of the upper surface portion 29A. In this embodiment, the front plate portion 33a is parallel to the XY plane.
The front plate portion 33a has a hook 33b in the vicinity of the second cylinder portion 31C in the −Y direction.
The hook 33b locks the lower end portion on the front side of the flow path forming member 14B that is locked to the upper connecting plate 33 from above. The shape of the hook 33b is not particularly limited as long as the flow path forming member 14B can be engaged. In the present embodiment, the hook 33b is a gantry-shaped protrusion having a rectangular through hole when viewed from the −Y direction.
As long as one or more hooks 33b are provided, the number and arrangement position are not particularly limited. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the hook 33b is provided independently on the front side of the first cylinder portion 31B and in the central portion in the lateral width direction.

On the front plate portion 33a between the hook 33b and the second cylinder portion 31C, a plurality of ribs 33c1 that circulate along the outer circumference of the second cylinder portion 31C project in the + Z direction.
On the front plate portion 33a along the outer circumference of the first cylinder portion 32B, a plurality of ribs 33c2 that circulate along the outer circumference of the first cylinder portion 32B project in the + Z direction.
On the front plate portion 33a in the −Y direction of the outer peripheral portion of the plurality of ribs 33c2, the plurality of ribs 33d formed in a grid pattern when viewed from the −Z direction project in the + Z direction.
The upper ends of the plurality of ribs 33c1 and 33c2 are inclined in the −Z direction toward the −Y direction, and the vertical height at each end in the + Y direction is the −Y of the rear plate portion 33e described later. Equal to the vertical height of the directional end.
The upper ends of the plurality of ribs 33d are inclined in the −Z direction from the outer peripheral side of the plurality of ribs 33c2 toward the −Y direction, similarly to the plurality of ribs 33c.
The plurality of ribs 33c1, 33c2, 33d are formed in a region overlapping the inclined portion 29b when viewed from the −Z direction when the flow path forming member 14C is mounted on the inner box 10a.
The inclination of the upper ends of the plurality of ribs 33c1, 33c2, 33d is the same as the inclination of the inclined portion 29b. The upper ends of the plurality of ribs 33c1, 33c2, 33d diagonally support the sealing member 38 described later from below, and press the sealing member 38 described later against the back surface of the inclined portion 29b.

The rear plate portion 33e extends in the + Y direction from the central portion in the depth direction of the first cylinder portion 32B and the second cylinder portion 31C. The rear plate portion 33e is a flat plate that is inclined from the end portions of the plurality of ribs 33c1 and 33c2 in the + Y direction in the same manner as the upper ends of the plurality of ribs 33c1 and 33c2.
The rear plate portion 33e is formed in a region overlapping the inclined portion 29b when viewed from the −Z direction when the flow path forming member 14C is mounted on the inner box 10a. The rear plate portion 33e diagonally supports the sealing member 38 described later from below, and presses the sealing member 38 described later against the back surface of the inclined portion 29b.

The square plate portion 33f is inclined in the + Z direction from the end portion of the rear plate portion 33e in the + Y direction toward the + Y direction. The inclination and formation range of the square plate portion 33f are the same as the inclination and formation range of the corner portion 29c of the inner box 10a.
The back plate portion 33g is a flat plate extending in the + Z direction from the end portion of the square plate portion 33f in the + Z direction.
When the flow path forming member 14C is attached to the inner box 10a, the square plate portion 33f and the back plate portion 33g are fitted to the back surface of the fixing portion 29d at positions overlapping with the fixing portion 29d when viewed from the −Z direction. A screw fixing portion 33h is formed. The screw fixing portion 33h is provided to fix the flow path forming member 14B, which will be described later, with screws. The detailed configuration of the screw fixing portion 33h will be described later.

The plurality of lower connecting plates 34 connect the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 to each other below the upper connecting plate 33. The number of the plurality of lower connecting plates 34 is not particularly limited.
The end portion of each lower connecting plate 34 in the −X direction is connected to the side surface of the casing portion 31A. The end portion of each lower connecting plate 34 in the + X direction surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the return duct 32, and reinforces the outer peripheral portion of the return duct 32 as in the case of the plurality of ribs 32 g.
Each lower connecting plate 34 between the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 is formed with a through hole 34a penetrating in each plate thickness direction. When the foamed heat insulating material 10c is filled between the blower duct 31 and the return duct 32 in each through hole 34a, the foaming liquid which is the raw material of the foamed heat insulating material 10c is placed between the blower duct 31 and the return duct 32. It has the effect of facilitating flow. As a result, the foamed heat insulating material 10c is filled between the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 without forming an unfilled portion.
Further, the through hole 34a also has an effect of reducing the path cross-sectional area of the heat conduction path from the return duct 32 to the ventilation duct 31 as compared with the case where the through hole 34a is not formed. As a result, the heat of the air flowing through the return duct 32 is less likely to be conducted to the ventilation duct 31, so that the temperature rise of the cold air flowing through the ventilation flow path Cb can be suppressed.

The sealing member 36 tightly seals between the flat surface portion 31e around the first tubular portion 31B and the edge portion of the opening O1 (see FIG. 5) of the rear wall surface 10aC. The shape of the sealing member 36 as seen from the + Y direction is a substantially rectangular shape along the outer circumference of the first tubular portion 31B. The material of the sealing member 36 is not particularly limited as long as the periphery of the opening O1 can be liquid-tightly sealed. For example, the sealing member 36 may be formed of the above-mentioned soft tape, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like.

The sealing member 37 liquidally seals between the protruding edge portion 32c around the second tubular portion 32C and the edge portion of the insertion opening 41c in the side wall 41a of the gutter portion 41. The shape of the sealing member 37 seen from the + X direction is a substantially rectangular shape along the outer circumference of the second tubular portion 32C. The material of the sealing member 37 is not particularly limited as long as the periphery of the insertion opening 41c can be liquid-tightly sealed. For example, the sealing member 37 may be formed of packing, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like punched out from a resin base material having elasticity in the thickness direction.

The sealing member 38 has an outer shape capable of covering the upper connecting plate 33 around the second cylinder portion 31C, the first cylinder portion 32B, and the hook 33b from above, and the second cylinder portion 31C and the first cylinder portion. It is a sheet in which through holes 38a, 38b, 38c through which the 32B and the hook 33b are penetrated are formed. The sealing member 38 is between the upper connecting plate 33 surrounding the second cylinder 31C and the edge of the opening O2, and between the upper connecting plate 33 surrounding the first cylinder 32B and the edge of the opening O3. And between the upper connecting plate 33 surrounding the hook 33b and the edge of the opening O4, the hook 33b is hermetically sealed.
The material of the sealing member 38 is not particularly limited as long as the above-mentioned portion can be liquid-tightly sealed. For example, the sealing member 37 may be formed of packing, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like punched out from a resin base material having elasticity in the thickness direction.

Next, the detailed configuration of the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR constituting the main body portion 14a will be described with a focus on the configuration of the connecting portion with each other. The portion of the main body portion 14a marked with the symbol "X" may be separated in the front-rear direction. The X separated into the first member 14aF and the X separated into the second member 14aR are referred to as "XF" and "XR", respectively, so as to be distinguishable. However, if each shape can be easily understood from the "X" shape before separation, the description of each shape will be omitted.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the first member in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a second member in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of F13 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the main portion of the first member 14aF has a shape on the main body portion 14a on the front side (−Y direction side) of the virtual surface D.
The duct main body 32AF constitutes the front side of the duct main body 32A. Ribs 32gF and ribs 32h (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral side of the duct main body 32AF, respectively.
The first cylinder portion 32BF is formed at the upper end of the duct main body 32AF, and the second cylinder portion 32CF is formed at the lower end.

At each end of the duct body 32AF in the + Y direction, an end surface 32i formed in a plane parallel to the ZX plane and on which the side sealing member 43 (see FIG. 9) is arranged is formed. The end face 32i constitutes a seam portion in the duct main body 32AF.
On the outer peripheral side of each end surface 32i, a guide wall 32j that protrudes from the end surface 32i in the + Y direction and guides the side sealing member 43 protrudes.
On the outer peripheral side of each end surface 32i, a locking claw 32k (first locking portion) protrudes beyond the virtual surface D in the + Y direction. A plurality of locking claws 32k are provided at intervals in the extending direction of each end surface 32i.
The locking claw 32k has a claw body 32k1 and a locking projection 32k2. The claw body 32k1 protrudes in the + Y direction and can be elastically deformed toward the outside of the duct body 32AF. The locking projection 32k2 projects toward the inner peripheral side of the duct body 32AF at the tip of the claw body 32k1.
On the inner peripheral portion of the duct main body 32AF, columns 32s that project in the + Y direction beyond the virtual surface D are provided. The length of the column 32s is shorter than the inner diameter of the return duct 32 in the depth direction and longer than the inner radius.

The casing portion 31AF constitutes the casing portion 31A on the front side of the virtual surface D. The first cylinder portion 31B is formed on the −Y direction side of the casing portion 31AF. A second cylinder portion 31CF is formed at the upper end of the casing portion 31AF.
At each end of the casing portion 31AF in the + Y direction, an end surface 31f formed on a plane parallel to the ZX plane and on which the side sealing member 42 (see FIG. 8) is arranged is formed. The end face 31f constitutes a seam portion in the casing portion 31AF.
On the outer peripheral side of the end surface 31f, a guide wall 31g that projects from the end surface 32i in the + Y direction and guides the side sealing member 42 projects.
On the outer peripheral side of the end surface 31f, a locking claw 31h (first locking portion) protrudes beyond the virtual surface D in the + Y direction. A plurality of locking claws 31h are provided at intervals in the extending direction of the end face 31f.
Each locking claw 31h has a claw body 31h1 and a locking projection 31h2. The claw body 31h1 protrudes in the + Y direction and can be elastically deformed toward the outside of the casing portion 31AF. The locking projection 31h2 projects toward the inner peripheral side of the casing portion 31AF at the tip end portion of the claw body 31h1.

The duct main body 32AF and the casing portion 31AF are connected to each other in the lateral width direction by the upper connecting plate 33F (first connecting plate) and the plurality of lower connecting plates 34F (first connecting plate).
In the present embodiment, the first member 14aF is formed of, for example, a resin molded product molded by injection molding or the like.

As shown in FIG. 12, the main portion of the second member 14aR has a shape on the main body portion 14a on the rear side (+ Y direction side) of the virtual surface D.
The duct body 32AR constitutes the rear side of the duct body 32A. Ribs 32gR and ribs 32h are formed on the outer peripheral side of the duct main body 32AR, respectively.
The first cylinder portion 32BR is formed at the upper end of the duct main body 32AR, and the second cylinder portion 32CR is formed at the lower end.

At each end of the duct main body 32AR in the −Y direction, an end surface 32m formed on a plane parallel to the ZX plane and on which the side sealing member 43 (see FIG. 9) is arranged is formed. The end face 32m constitutes a seam portion in the duct main body 32AR.
On each end face 32m, a ridge 31j extending along the extending direction of the end face 32m protrudes from the end face 32m in the −Y direction. Since each ridge 32n sinks into the surface of the side sealing member 43 when connected to the duct main body 32AF, the deviation of the side sealing member 43 in the ZX plane is suppressed. Further, each of the ridges 32n is recessed in the surface of the side sealing member 43 to improve the adhesion to the side sealing member 43 and the liquid tightness at the contacted portion.

A locking plate 32p (second locking portion) protruding in the + Y direction from each end face 32m is formed on the outer peripheral side of each end face 32m. Each locking plate 32p is arranged at a portion facing each locking claw 32k of the duct main body 32AF. The locking projection 32k2 of the locking claw 32k is locked to the tip of each locking plate 32p in the protruding direction.
On the outer peripheral surface of each locking plate 32p, two guide plates 32q are formed so as to project to the outer peripheral side and sandwich the claw body 32k1 of the locking claw 32k.
Each guide plate 32q regulates the position of the claw body 32k1 in the extending direction of the end face 32m.
A boss portion 32r projecting in the −Y direction is provided on the inner peripheral portion of the duct main body 32AR. The boss portion 32r is provided at a portion facing the support column 32s of the duct main body 32AF. The tip of the boss portion 32r in the protruding direction is provided with a fitting hole 32r1 that is recessed in the + Y direction and fits the tip of the support column 32s.
The sum of the height of the bottom of the fitting hole 32r1 from the inner peripheral surface of the duct main body 32AR and the length of the support column 32s is equal to the inner diameter of the return duct 32 in the depth direction.

The casing portion 31AR constitutes the casing portion 31A on the rear side of the virtual surface D. A second cylinder portion 31CR is formed at the upper end of the casing portion 31AR.
At each end of the casing portion 31AR in the −Y direction, an end surface 31i formed on a plane parallel to the ZX plane and on which the side sealing member 42 (see FIG. 8) is arranged is formed. The end face 31i constitutes a seam portion in the casing portion 31AR.
On the end face 31i, a ridge 31j extending along the extending direction of the end face 31i protrudes from the end face 31i in the −Y direction. Since each ridge 31j sinks into the surface of the side sealing member 42 when connected to the casing portion 31AF, the deviation of the side sealing member 42 in the ZX plane is suppressed. Further, each ridge 31j is recessed in the surface of the side sealing member 42 to enhance the adhesion to the side sealing member 42 and the liquidtightness at the contacted portion.

A locking plate 31k (second locking portion) protruding in the + Y direction from the end surface 31i is formed on the outer peripheral side of the end surface 31i. Each locking plate 31k is arranged at a portion of the casing portion 31AF facing each locking claw 31h (see FIG. 11). The locking projection 31h2 of the locking claw 31h is locked to the tip of each locking plate 31k in the protruding direction.

Here, the detailed shape of the screw fixing portion 33h will be described.
The screw fixing portion 33h has a tip surface 33i, a reduced diameter portion 33j, and a screw hole 33k on the upper side of the square plate portion 33f.
The tip surface 33i is an inclined surface formed at the tip of the screw fixing portion 33h in the protruding direction, and the height in the + Z direction increases as the screw fixing portion 33h advances in the + Y direction. The inclination of the tip surface 33i with respect to the horizontal plane is not particularly limited as long as it is an angle at which the flow path forming member 14B, which will be described later, can be easily screwed from the inside of the vegetable compartment 27B.
The reduced diameter portion 33j is a recess that is recessed below the tip surface 33i in the normal direction of the tip surface 33i. The shape of the reduced diameter portion 33j is not particularly limited as long as the inner diameter is gradually reduced as the diameter is gradually reduced inward from the tip surface 33i. For example, the reduced diameter portion 33j may be a conical concave portion, a bowl-shaped concave portion, or the like.
The screw hole 33k is a through hole having a length capable of screwing a fixing screw. The screw hole 33k extends in the normal direction of the tip surface 33i at the center of the reduced diameter portion 33j.

As shown in FIG. 13, the duct main body 32AR and the casing portion 31AR are connected to each other in the lateral width direction by the upper connecting plate 33R (second connecting plate) and the plurality of lower connecting plates 34R (second connecting plate). There is.
An engaging frame 40 for engaging the pressing member 45, which will be described later, is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the second member 14aR on the −Y direction side.
The engaging frame 40 can be provided on the outer peripheral portions of one or both of the casing portion 31AR and the duct main body 32AR. In the example shown in FIG. 13, the engaging frame 40 is provided on the outer peripheral portions of both the casing portion 31AR and the duct main body 32AR.
The engaging frame 40 has a frame body 40a, a locking plate 40b (first guide portion), and a locking claw 40c.
The frame body 40a extends in the + Y direction from the outer peripheral portion on the rear side of the second member 14aR. The shape of the frame body 40a seen from the + Y direction is the same as the outer shape of the end portion of the pressing member 45 seen from the same direction in the + Y direction.

The locking plate 40b locks the suction pipe 52 (see FIG. 16) described later.
The locking plate 40b has a flat plate portion 40b1 extending in the −Y direction from the tip of the engaging frame 40 facing in the vertical direction in the + Y direction, and a locking groove 40b2 formed at the tip of the flat plate portion 40b1 in the protruding direction. And have. The shape of the locking groove 40b2 is not particularly limited as long as it can be locked to the side surface of the suction pipe 52 extending in the vertical direction in the + Y direction and the position of the suction pipe 52 in the lateral width direction can be regulated. For example, the shape of the locking groove 40b2 may be a U-shape or a V-shape that opens in the + Y direction when viewed from the −Z direction.
The number of locking plates 40b can be appropriately formed at positions according to the arrangement of the suction pipes 52. In the present embodiment, for example, two locking plates 40b facing each other in the vertical direction on the rear side of the casing portion 31AR and two locking plates 40b facing each other in the vertical direction at the upper end of the duct main body 32AR and below the upper end thereof. And are formed respectively.

The locking claw 40c is provided on a part of the frame main body 40a and locks the side surface of the pressing member 45 inserted into the frame main body 40a. In the present embodiment, the locking claws 40c are provided at two locations facing each other in the lateral width direction.
Each locking claw 40c has a claw body 40c1 and a locking projection 40c2, respectively. The claw body 40c1 is a plate portion sandwiched between two elongated slits extending in the + Y direction from the end portion of the frame body 40a in the −Y direction. The claw body 40c1 is elastically deformable toward the outside of the frame body 40a. The locking projection 40c2 projects toward the inner peripheral side of the frame body 40a at the tip of the claw body 40c1.

In the present embodiment, the second member 14aR is formed of, for example, a resin molded product molded by injection molding or the like.

In order to assemble the first member 14aF and the second member 14aR, the side sealing member 42 is sandwiched between the end face 31f and the end face 31i, and the side sealing member 43 is sandwiched between each end face 32i and each end face 32m. The first member 14aF and the second member 14aR face each other with the first member 14aF sandwiched between the two members. In this state, they are pressed against each other in opposite directions.
For example, in the duct main bodies 32AF and 32AR, the locking structure shown in FIG. 9 is formed.
When the pressing is started, the locking projections 32k2 of each locking claw 32k advance in the opposite direction along the surface of each locking plate 33p, and each claw body 32k1 is elastically deformed outward. At this time, since each locking claw 32k is guided between the guide plates 32q provided on each locking plate 32p, it can be easily assembled even if the number of locking claws 32k is large.
When each locking projection 32k2 exceeds the tip of each locking plate 32p, each locking projection 32k2 is locked to the tip of each locking plate 32p by the elastic restoring force of each locking plate 32p.
Since the difference between the distance from the end surface 32i to the locking projection 32k2 and the distance from the end surface 32n to the tip of the locking plate 32p is smaller than the thickness of the side sealing member 43, the side sealing member 43 , End face 32i, is compressed between 32m. In particular, since the ridges 32n project from the end surface 32m, the side sealing member 43 is more strongly compressed in the vicinity of the ridges 32n.
In this way, the side sealing member 43 is in close contact between the end faces 32i and 32m, and the side portion of the return flow path Cr is liquidtightly sealed.

When the duct main bodies 32AF and 32AR are pressed in the opposite direction, the tip of the support column 32s is fitted into the fitting hole 32r1 of the boss portion 32r. Since the distance between the inner peripheral surfaces of the duct main body 32AF and 32AR is regulated by the support column 32s and the boss portion 32r in the depth direction, for example, the foaming pressure acts on the outer peripheral portion of the duct main body 32A at the time of the foaming heat insulating material 10c. However, deformation of the duct body 32A in the depth direction can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cross-sectional area of the return flow path Cr from being narrowed after the foaming heat insulating material 10c is filled.

Although not shown, the locking structure of each locking claw 31h and each locking plate 31k is the same. The side sealing member 42 is in close contact between the end faces 31f and 31i. The ridge 31j has the same function as the ridge 32n. In this way, the side portion of the air flow path Cb is hermetically sealed.

Next, the fixing structure of the flow path forming member 14C in the refrigerator main body 5 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the second tubular portion 32C is inserted into the insertion opening 41c in the side wall 41a of the gutter portion 41 with the sealing member 37 sandwiched between the protruding edge portion 32c and the inner surface 18h of the recess 18a. It has been inserted. As shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 32e of the locking claw 32d is locked to the surface of the edge portion of the insertion opening 41c in the −X direction.
As a result, the opening 32b at the lower end of the return duct 32 opens inside the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18. The outer peripheral portion of the return duct 32 and the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 are filled with the foamed heat insulating material 10c, but the entire circumference of the second cylinder portion 32C is between the inner surface 18h and the ridge portion 32c. The sealing member 37 is arranged so as to surround the. Further, the inner surface 18h is pressed against the side wall 41a, which is thicker than the inner box 10a, by the sealing member 37. Therefore, the foamed heat insulating material 10c does not enter the return flow path Cr at the time of filling.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first tubular portion 31B is inserted into the opening O1 with the sealing member 36 sandwiched between the flat surface portion 31e and the rear wall surface 10aC constituting the edge portion of the opening O1. Has been done. The first cylinder portion 31B in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 is fixed to the edge portion of the opening O1 by the fixing frame 35.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a fixed frame in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a connection structure between the air duct and the cooler accommodating chamber in the refrigerator of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 14, the fixed frame 35 has a frame main body 35a, a locking plate 35d, and a holding claw 35f.
The frame body 35a is a plate member having an opening 35b through which the first cylinder portion 31B can be inserted and capable of contacting the edge portion of the opening O1. At the edge of the opening 35b, a plurality of inclined ribs 35c that incline inward of the opening 35b as they proceed in the −Y direction are projected. The tip of each inclined rib 35c in the protruding direction is capable of inserting the first cylinder portion 31B and forms a substantially rectangular opening along the outer circumference of the first cylinder portion 31B.

As shown in FIG. 15, the locking plate 35d is engaged with each locking projection 31c of the first cylinder portion 31B. The tip of the locking plate 35d is provided at a position where it can be locked on the + Y direction side of each locking projection 31c of the first tubular portion 31B inserted into the opening 35b.
As shown in FIG. 14, each locking plate 35d is inclined from the edge of the opening 35b in the same manner as the inclined rib 35c, and protrudes in the −Y direction. Each locking plate 35d extends to the extent that it comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the first cylinder portion 31B.
The height of each locking plate 35d is higher than that of each inclined rib 35c, and when each locking plate 35d is locked to each locking projection 31c on the + Y direction side, between the frame main body 35a and the flat surface portion 31e. The size is such that the sealing member 36 can be compressed. That is, the value obtained by subtracting the distance from the surface of the frame body 35a in the + Y direction to the tip of each locking plate 35d in the protruding direction from the distance from the flat surface portion 31e to the end of the locking projection 31c in the + Y direction is 0. Larger and smaller than the thickness of the undeformed sealing member 36.
Each locking plate 35d is elastically deformable toward the outside of the opening 35b.

The holding claw 35f is provided to hold an appropriate wiring in the recess 18a arranged around the casing portion 31A, for example, the wiring of the temperature sensor. An appropriate number of holding claws 35f are provided at appropriate positions according to the arrangement and number of wirings to be held. In the present embodiment, the holding claws 35f include holding claws 35fa provided at two positions at the ends in the −Z direction of the frame body 35a, and holding claws 35fb provided at the ends in the −X direction.
Each holding claw 35f extends in the + Y direction from the outer peripheral portion of the frame main body 35a. A protrusion 35f1 protruding inward of the frame body 35a is formed at the tip of the holding claw 35f + Y direction. The protrusion 35f1 has an inclined surface that increases from the tip of the holding claw 35f toward the base end.
As shown in FIG. 5 as an example of the holding claw 35fa, each holding claw 35f extends along the inner surface of the recess 18a, and an appropriate wiring is inserted between the holding claw 35f and the inner surface of the recess 18a. , Wiring can be urged to the inner surface of the recess 18a. Since the protrusion 35f1 of each holding claw 35f is provided with an inclination, for example, wiring can be performed by inserting the wiring between the tip of the holding claw 35f and the inner surface of the recess 18a in the −Y direction. Can be easily and smoothly held by the holding claw 35f.
FIG. 15 shows an example in which the wiring 46 connected to the temperature sensor is held by the holding claw 35fb. However, the illustration of the inner box 10a is omitted for the sake of readability.
In the example shown in FIG. 15, the holding claw 35fa does not hold the wiring 46, but the holding claw 35fa may hold the wiring 46 depending on the route of the wiring 46. The holding claw 35fa may hold other wiring or the like (not shown).

The configuration of the refrigerator main body 5 behind the flow path forming member 14C will be described.
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of a perspective showing the main configuration between the inner box and the outer box in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F17-F17 in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16, in the refrigerator main body 5, a suction pipe 52 (intake pipe) and a pressing member 45 (adiabatic locking member) are arranged behind the flow path forming member 14C.

The suction pipe 52 is an intake pipe that sucks the refrigerant sent from the cooling unit 15 into the compressor 51. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 51 is liquefied by the condenser. The liquefied refrigerant dissipates heat through a heat dissipation pipe arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the refrigerator body 5, lowers the boiling point through an expansion valve, and is then guided to the evaporator 15a. In the evaporator 15a, the refrigerant evaporates, and the heat of vaporization is taken from the air around the evaporator 15a. The refrigerant leaving the evaporator 15a returns to the compressor 51 through the suction pipe 52.
In the present embodiment, the suction pipe 52 is arranged so as to pass through the rear side of the flow path forming member 14C and orbit the space between the rear surface of the inner box 10a of the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable compartment 27B and the rear wall 25. ing.
As shown in FIG. 17, the suction pipes 52 extending in the vertical direction at two locations on the rear side of the flow path forming member 14C are respectively locked to the locking grooves 40b2 of each locking plate 40b in the flow path forming member 14C. are doing. The two locking plates 40b facing each other in the vertical direction constitute a first guide portion that guides the suction pipe 52 in the vertical direction at a position away from the air flow path Cb and the return flow path Cr.

The pressing member 45 is a member that engages with the flow path forming member 14C from the rear side and also engages with the rear wall 25 from the front side. The presser member 45 is a heat insulating material made of styrofoam.
As shown in FIG. 16, the pressing member 45 has an engaging portion 45a, a rear surface locking portion 45b (locking portion), a guide groove portion 45c (second guide portion), and a side surface locking portion 45d.

As shown in FIG. 17, the engaging portion 45a is formed at the end portion of the pressing member 45 in the −Y direction. The engaging portion 45a is fitted inside the frame body 40a of the engaging frame 40 of the flow path forming member 14C. The engaging portion 45a engages with the engaging frame 40 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. Each locking plate 40b of the engaging frame 40 is arranged along the outer peripheral surface in the vertical direction of the engaging portion 45a when engaged with the engaging portion 45a (see FIG. 5).
The rear surface locking portion 45b is formed at the end portion of the pressing member 45 in the + Y direction, and is locked to the rear wall 25. The surface shape of the rear surface locking portion 45b is not particularly limited as long as it can be locked to the rear wall 25. The rear surface locking portion 45b may be, for example, a plane parallel to the YZ plane as shown in FIG. 17, or may have an appropriate uneven shape.
The rear surface locking portion 45b restricts the position of the flow path forming member 14C to a position away from the rear wall 25. As a result, a space for filling the foamed heat insulating material 10c is stably secured between the outer peripheral portion on the rear side of the flow path forming member 14C and the rear wall 25 (see FIG. 5).

The guide groove portion 45c forms a U-shaped groove recessed in the + Y direction from the surface of the pressing member 45 in the −Y direction. The U-shaped groove penetrates the pressing member 45 in the vertical direction. The guide groove portion 45c extends in the longitudinal direction of the suction pipe 52 locked to the locking plate 40b. In the present embodiment, the guide groove portion 45c guides the suction pipe 52 extending in the vertical direction between the locking plates 40b facing in the vertical direction.
The depth of the guide groove portion 45c is such that the suction pipe 52 can be sandwiched between the guide groove portion 40b and the locking groove 40b2 when the guide groove portion 45c is engaged with the engagement frame 40.
Therefore, when the pressing member 45 is engaged, the suction pipe 52 is surrounded by the locking plate 40b and the guide groove portion 45c. As a result, the position of the suction pipe 52 in the direction intersecting the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) is restricted. The suction pipe 52 is arranged at a fixed position in the depth direction and the width direction between the flow path forming member 14C and the rear wall 25.
The guide groove portion 45c is a second guide portion that guides the intake pipe.

As described above, since the suction pipe 52 is position-controlled by the locking plate 40b and the guide groove portion 45c, even if the foaming pressure of the foaming liquid forming the foamed heat insulating material 10c acts on the suction pipe 52, the suction pipe 52 is positioned. It is possible to stabilize the position where the 52 intersects in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 16, the side surface locking portion 45d is a stepped portion in which the locking claw 40c of the engaging frame 40 is locked from the rear side. Although the side surface locking portion 45d on the side surface in the + X direction is drawn in FIG. 16, the side surface locking portion 45d is similarly formed on the side surface in the −X direction.

As will be described later, in the flow path forming member 14C, the sealing member 38 is arranged on the upper connecting plate 33, and the second cylinder portion 31C and the first cylinder portion 32B are placed in the openings O2 and O3 in the inclined portion 29b. In the inserted state, they are connected to the flow path forming member 14B.

Next, the detailed configuration of the flow path forming member 14B will be described.
FIG. 18 is an exploded view of a perspective showing a flow path forming member of the upper storage chamber in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a flow path forming member of the upper storage chamber in the refrigerator of the embodiment. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of F20 in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 18, the flow path forming member 14C has a main body portion 48, a cover 47, an outer sealing member 53, and an inner sealing member 54.
The main body portion 48 is a member that forms the inner peripheral surface of the second flow path C2 together with the inner wall portion 10aB.
On the surface of the main body portion 48 in the + Y direction, a groove portion 48a extending in the vertical direction and forming an inner peripheral surface excluding the inner wall portion 10aB in the second flow path C2 is formed.
The lower end portion of the groove portion 48a surrounds each side surface of the second cylinder portion 31C in the −Y direction and each side surface in the width direction from the outside in the upper connecting plate 33, and the end portion in the + Y direction becomes the inner wall portion 10aB. Has a close shape.
The upper end portion of the groove portion 48a has substantially the same shape as the portion of the flow path of the first flow path C1 at the lower end portion of the flow path forming member 14A except for the inner wall portion 10aA.
A substantially rectangular groove cross section is formed between the groove portion 48a and the inner wall portion 10aB in which the cross-sectional area gradually decreases from the lower end portion toward the upper end portion. However, the groove 48a is formed with appropriate protrusions such as a guide wall for adjusting the flow of cold air and a protrusion for holding the flow rate controller 39.

The outer peripheral portion of the main body portion 48 surrounds the groove portion 48a from the outer peripheral side. An upper protruding edge portion 48e is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end portion of the groove portion 48a so as to project outward except for the end surface in the + Y direction. A lower protruding edge portion 48f is formed on the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the groove portion 48a so as to project outward except for the end surface in the + Y direction.
An upper surface 48b is formed on the surface of the upper protruding edge portion 48e in the + Z direction. The upper surface 48b is an inclined surface whose height increases in the + Z direction toward the + Y direction.
A lower surface 48d is formed on the surface of the lower protruding edge portion 48f in the −Z direction. The lower surface 48d is an inclined surface whose height increases in the + Z direction toward the + Y direction. The inclination angle of the lower surface 48d is equal to the inclination angle of the inclined portion 29b and the rear plate portion 33e of the upper connecting plate 33.
The surface in the −Y direction between the upper ridge portion 48e and the lower ridge portion 48f in the main body portion 48 is an inclined surface toward the + Y direction as it advances in the + Z direction. Most of each surface in the lateral width direction between the upper ridge portion 48e and the lower ridge portion 48f in the main body portion 48 is a plane parallel to the YZ plane.
At the end of the main body 48 in the + Y direction, a rear surface 48c extending in the vertical direction is formed across the opening of the groove 48a. Each rear surface 48c is a plane parallel to the ZX plane.
The main body 48 is formed of, for example, a heat insulating material such as EPS.

The cover 47 covers the inner peripheral surface of the groove portion 48a in the main body portion 48, the outer peripheral surface excluding the upper surface 48b, the lower surface 48d, and the rear surface 48c along the outer peripheral surface.
The cover 47 has a first cover portion 47a, a second cover portion 47b, a third cover portion 47c, and a fourth cover portion 47d.
The first cover portion 47a covers the upper ridge portion 48e. The second cover portion 47b covers the lower ridge portion 48f. The third cover portion 47c covers the front side between the upper ridge portion 48e and the lower ridge portion 48f on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 48. The fourth cover portion 47d covers both side surfaces between the upper ridge portion 48e and the lower ridge portion 48f on the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 48.

A fixing plate 47n parallel to the XY plane extends in the −Y direction from the upper end of the first cover portion 47a in the −Y direction.

On the side surface of the second cover portion 47b in the −Y direction, an engaging claw 47f that is detachably engaged with the hook 33b is provided at a position where the hook 33b can be engaged. One or more engaging claws 47f are provided depending on the number of hooks 33b and the arrangement position.
In the example shown in FIG. 19, the engaging claw 47f is provided at the center of the second cover portion 47b in the lateral width direction. The engaging claw 47f has a claw body 47f1 and an engaging protrusion 47f2.
The claw body 47f1 is formed between two slits extending in the + Z direction from the lower end of the second cover portion 47b and penetrating in the depth direction. The claw body 47f1 can be elastically deformed toward the body 48 when it receives an external force in the + Y direction. The engaging protrusion 47f2 projects in the −Y direction at the lower end of the claw body 47f1.
At the two positions of the second cover portion 47b that sandwich the engaging claw 47f in the lateral width direction, guide walls 47g that guide both ends of the hook 33b in the lateral width direction project in the −Y direction. The distance between the guide walls 47g is gradually decreased so as to approach the width of the hook 33b in the + Z direction.

A return duct cover 47h extends in the + X direction on the side surface of the second cover portion 47b in the + X direction. The return duct cover 47h covers the first cylinder portion 32B of the return duct 32 from above.
The return duct cover 47h is provided with a grid window 47i having a grid having a plurality of openings for flowing the air of the vegetable chamber 27B into the return flow path Cr.
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, fixing members 47j projecting to the outside of the second cover portion 47b are provided at both ends in the + Y direction in the lateral width direction of the second cover portion 47b, respectively. Each fixing member 47j is provided for fixing the flow path forming member 14B to the upper connecting plate 33 with a screw.
Each fixing member 47j is provided at a position that covers each fixing portion 29d (see FIG. 10) of the inner box 10a from above. The upper surface portion 47j3 (see FIG. 19) of each fixing member 47j has an inclination along the inclined surface 29f of the fixing portion 29d. On the back side of the upper surface portion 47j3, a recessed portion 47j4 (see FIG. 20) that fits into the fixing portion 29d from above is formed.
A screw hole 47j1 through which a screw to be screwed into a screw hole 33k (see FIG. 13) of each screw fixing portion 33h of the upper connecting plate 33 penetrates through the upper surface portion 47j3. Around the screw hole 47j1, a concave surface formed on the upper surface portion 47j3, and a reduced diameter portion 47j2 whose diameter is reduced from the upper surface portion 47j3 toward the center of the screw hole 47j1 is formed.

A fixing plate 47k is provided at the upper end of each of the fourth cover portions 47d so as to project outward in the lateral width direction and detachably fix the upper end portion of the flow path forming member 14B to the inner wall portion 10aB. As shown in FIG. 20, on the surface of each fixing plate 47k in the + Y direction, an engaging claw 47m protruding in the + Y direction is formed.
The engaging claw 47m is elastically deformed so as to be detachably engaged with the engaging hole of the fixture 55 (see FIG. 18) fixed to the inner wall portion 10aB. The shape of the engaging claw 47m is not particularly limited as long as it can be detachably engaged with the fixture 55. For example, the engaging claw 47m has two elastic plates extending in the + Y direction and facing each other with a gap in the vertical direction, and an engaging projection protruding outward in the facing direction at the tip of each elastic plate in the extending direction. It may be configured to have. In this case, the fixative 55 has a recess that engages with each engaging projection of the engaging claw 47m inside the engaging hole into which the engaging claw 47m is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 20, the outer sealing member 53 is attached to the upper surface 48b, the rear surface 48c, and the lower surface 48d of the main body 48. The outer sealing member 53 airtightly seals the second flow path C2 between the lower end portion of the flow path forming member 14A, the inner wall portion 10aB, and the edge portion of the opening O2 in the inclined portion 29b, and the main body portion 48. do.
As shown in FIG. 18, the outer sealing member 53 is a closed loop having an upper surface sealing portion 53a, a rear surface sealing portion 53b, and a lower surface sealing portion 53c attached to the upper surface 48b, the rear surface 48c, and the lower surface 48d, respectively. Has a shape. The material of the outer sealing member 53 is not particularly limited as long as it has elasticity and has an airtightness capable of suppressing the outflow of cold air flowing through the second flow path C2 and the inflow of air in the vegetable chamber 27B. .. For example, as the outer sealing member 53, the above-mentioned soft tape, butyl rubber, double-sided tape, or the like may be used.

The outer sealing member 53 has a width narrower than either the width in the depth direction of the upper surface 48b and the width in the depth direction of the front end portion 48dF extending in the lateral width direction on the front side of the lower surface 48d.
As shown in FIG. 20, the upper surface sealing portion 53a is attached to the outer edge portion of the upper surface 48b along the inner peripheral surface of the first cover portion 47a. Therefore, the upper surface 48b is exposed on the inner peripheral side of the upper surface sealing portion 53a.
Similarly, the bottom surface sealing portion 53c is attached to the outer edge portion of the lower surface 48d along the inner peripheral surface of the second cover portion 47b. An inner sealing member 54 is attached to the lower surface 48d on the inner peripheral side of the lower surface sealing portion 53c in the front end portion 48dF.
The inner sealing member 54 seals a gap between the front upper end of the air flow path forming member 14b of the flow path forming member 14C and the main body 48, and the air flow path Cb is inside the outer sealing member 53. The cold air from the water flow path forming member 14B is arranged so as to be difficult to leak from the front side.
As the material of the inner sealing member 54, the same material as the outer sealing member 53 is used.

Here, the connection structure between the upper end portion of the flow path forming member 14B and the lower end portion of the flow path forming member 14A will be described.
FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the F21 portion in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 21, a protrusion 28a protruding from the lower surface of the first partition portion 28 is locked from above on the fixing plate 47n of the flow path forming member 14B.
The upper surface 48b of the flow path forming member 14B faces away from the lower end surface 14Ag of the flow path forming member 14A having a similar inclination. A sealing member 14Ah is attached to the lower end surface 14Ag at a portion facing the upper surface 48b on the inner peripheral side of the upper surface sealing portion 53a. The sealing member 14Ah is made of the same material as the outer sealing member 53.
The upper surface sealing portion 53a and the sealing member 14Ah are sandwiched between the upper surface 48b and the lower end surface 14Ag in a compressed state. Since the inner peripheral portion and the outer peripheral portion of the connecting portion of the flow path forming members 14B and 14A are doubly sealed by the sealing member 14Ah and the upper surface sealing portion 53a, the airtightness of the connecting portion is improved. .. If the connection portion is single-sealed, the airtightness may decrease depending on the fixing variation and the like. In the present embodiment, the cold air flowing from the second flow path C2 to the first flow path C1 can be more reliably suppressed from flowing out from the connection portion between the flow path forming member 14B and the flow path forming member 14A.

The connection structure of the flow path forming members 14B and 14C will be described together with the manufacturing method of the refrigerator 1.

The manufacturing method of the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment will be described focusing on the manufacturing method of the refrigerator main body 5.
The gutter 41 is arranged in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 of the inner box 10a. The flow path forming members 14B and 14C are assembled in the above-mentioned configuration.
After that, the flow path forming member 14C is mounted by sandwiching the sealing members 36, 37, 38 from the rear side of the inner box 10a.
At this time, the second cylinder portion 31C, the first cylinder portion 32B, and the hook 33b at the upper end of the flow path forming member 14C are inserted into the openings O2, O3, and O4 from below, respectively, and protrude above the inclined portion 29b. ing.
The second tubular portion 32C of the return duct 32 is inserted into the insertion opening 41c of the gutter portion 41 from the outside of the inner surface 18h of the recess 18a. The second tubular portion 32C is locked to the edge portion of the insertion opening 41c by the locking claw 32d.
The first cylinder portion 31B of the ventilation duct 31 is inserted into the opening O1 from the rear side. The locking projection 31c of the first cylinder portion 31B is locked to the locking plate 35d of the fixed frame 35 mounted from the front side.

In this way, the flow path forming member 14C is fixed to the insertion opening 41c and the opening O1 in the inner box 10a via the gutter portion 41 and the fixing frame 35, respectively.
At this time, the second cylinder portion 31C is inserted into the opening O2, and the first cylinder portion 32B is inserted into the opening O3 from below. Therefore, in a plan view from the −Z direction, the opening 31b, which is the upper opening of the air flow path Cb, opens inside the opening O2. Similarly, in a plan view from the −Z direction, the opening 32a, which is the upper opening of the return flow path Cr, opens inside the opening O3.
Since the sealing members 37, 36, and 38 are in close contact with the inner box 10a from the outside of the inner box 10a, the edges of the insertion opening 41c and the openings O1, O2, O3, and O4 are hermetically sealed, respectively. Will be done.

After that, the parts to be arranged between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b are appropriately arranged.
For example, the suction pipe 52 and the pressing member 45 are arranged on the + Y direction side of the flow path forming member 14C, and the suction pipe 52 is locked between the locking groove 40b2 and the guide groove portion 45c. Since the engaging portion 45a of the pressing member 45 engages with the frame main body 40a, the positions in the vertical direction and the lateral width direction with respect to the flow path forming member 14C are restricted.
When the arrangement of each component is completed, the outer box 10b is mounted from the rear side of the inner box 10a. The inner surface of the rear wall 25 included in the outer box 10b is locked to the rear surface locking portion 45b of the pressing member 45.
For example, a fixture for fixing the flow path forming member 14A is attached to the inner wall portion 10aA.

In this state, the foaming liquid forming the foamed heat insulating material 10c is introduced into the space between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b (hereinafter referred to as the filling space). The foaming liquid is filled in the filling space while foaming in the filling space.
At this time, the parts in the filling space and the inner box 10a may be deformed or moved when subjected to the foaming pressure of the foaming liquid. In the present embodiment, since the flow path forming member 14C and the suction pipe 52 are pressed by the pressing member 45, their respective positional deviations and deformations are suppressed.
Since the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 are connected in the adjacent direction by the upper connecting plate 33 and the lower connecting plate 34 extending in the directions adjacent to each other, the distance in the adjacent direction is kept constant. In particular, since the through holes 34a are formed in each lower connecting plate 34, the foaming liquid can flow smoothly. As a result, it is possible to prevent poor filling between the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32. Further, since the cross-sectional area of the heat conduction path of the lower connecting plate 34 is suppressed by the through hole 34a, the heat conduction from the ventilation duct 31 to the return duct 32 is also reduced.
Since the edges of the insertion opening 41c and the openings O1, O2, O3, and O4 are each hermetically sealed, the foamed heat insulating material 10c is provided in the ventilation duct 31, the return duct 32, and the cooling unit storage chamber 18. It is prevented from entering inside.

After that, the flow path forming member 14B is inserted through the opening of the vegetable chamber 27B, and the lower end portion is arranged on the inclined portion 29b of the second partition portion 29. After that, when the flow path forming member 14B is pressed against the inclined portion 29b of the second partition portion 29, the engaging claw 47f is locked to the hook 33b guided by the guide wall 47g. In this state, when each fixing plate 47k is pressed toward the inner wall portion 10aB, each engaging claw 47m engages with each fixing tool 55. As a result, the flow path forming member 14B is temporarily fixed to the upper connecting plate 33 and the inner wall portion 10aB.

After that, the screw 56 is inserted into the screw hole 47j1 of the fixing member 47j and screwed toward the screw fixing portion 33h (see FIG. 8) of the upper connecting plate 33. At this time, since the reduced diameter portion 47j2 is formed around the screw hole 47j1, the screw 56 can be easily inserted into the screw hole 47j1 even from the front side of the vegetable compartment 27B.
The screw 56 penetrates through the screw hole 47j1 of each fixing member 47j and the recess 29e on the upper surface of the fixing portion 29d. At this time, even if the screw hole 47j1 and the screw hole 33k are misaligned, as the screw 56 is pushed in, the tip of the screw 56 is on the screw hole 33k along the inclination of the reduced diameter portion 33j along the recess 29e and the recess 29e. Will be guided to.
As a result, the screw 56 is smoothly screwed into the screw hole 33k and is securely screwed into the screw hole 33k of the screw fixing portion 33h. Therefore, the workability of the fixing work for fixing the flow path forming member 14B is improved, and the working time can be shortened. Poor screwing due to poor work is less likely to occur. In the present embodiment, since the screw hole 33k is inclined in the −Y direction rather than the vertical direction, the screw 56 can be easily attached / detached from the opening on the front side of the vegetable compartment 27B, and the workability of attaching / detaching the flow path forming member 14B is also easy. Is improved.
In this way, the flow path forming member 14B is fixed in the vegetable compartment 27B in a state where the outer sealing member 53 is pressed against the inclined portion 29b, the corner portion 29c, and the inner wall portion 10aB.

In the above-mentioned fixed structure of the flow path forming member 14B, as shown in FIG. 5, the lower end portion of the flow path forming member 14B is in contact with the edge portion of the opening O2 from above.
The engaging claw 47f of the flow path forming member 14B is inserted on the + Y direction side of the hook 33b sandwiched between the guide walls 47g. The engaging protrusion 47f2 is locked to the opening of the hook 33b from below.
A sealing member 38, an inclined portion 29b, and an outer sealing member 53 are sandwiched between the front plate portion 33a and the main body portion 48 in a compressed state. Further, the inner sealing member 54 is sandwiched between the inclined surface 14b4 of the air flow path forming member 14b and the main body portion 48 in a compressed state.
The compressed outer sealing member 53 and inner sealing member 54 prevent the cold air flowing in the second flow path C2 from leaking into the vegetable compartment 27B.
The upper end of the motor accommodating portion 39e is pressed by a pressing protrusion 48g protruding from the inside of the groove portion 48a via the seat 44.

At the time of fixing the flow path forming member 14B, the sealing member 38 was compressed by the front plate portion 33a of the upper connecting plate 33, the plurality of ribs 33c1, 33c2, 33d, the rear plate portion 33e, and the inclined portion 29b. It is sandwiched in the state. Therefore, the edges of the openings O2, O3, and O4 formed in the upper surface portion 29A are hermetically sealed on the lower surface side of the upper surface portion 29A.

After that, as shown in FIG. 21, the first partition portion 28 is arranged. The protrusion 28a protruding from the lower surface of the first partition portion 28 is locked from above on the fixing plate 47n of the flow path forming member 14B.
After that, the flow path forming member 14A is fixed to the inner wall portion 10aA. The lower end of the flow path forming member 14A is connected to the flow path forming member 14B as described above.

In this way, the refrigerator body 5 to which the flow path forming members 14A, 14B, 14C are mounted is formed.
After that, the refrigerator 1 is manufactured by attaching other parts to the refrigerator main body 5.

In the refrigerator 1, cold air is formed by exchanging heat between the air in the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and the evaporator 15a through which the low-temperature refrigerant flows.
When the flow rate adjusting plate 39c of the flow rate regulator 39 closes the air flow path Cb, the cold air is sucked into the flow path C11 by the cooling fan 16 and then flows into the freezing chamber 27C through the opening 18e. As a result, the inside of the freezing chamber 27C is cooled. The cold air that has exchanged heat with the storage or the like in the freezing chamber 27C returns to the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 through the opening of the lower end portion 18d.
When the air flow path Cb is opened by the flow rate adjusting plate 39c, a part of the cold air sucked into the flow path C11 by the cooling fan 16 passes through the opening 18c and the flow path C12, and the lower end portion of the air flow path Cb. Inflow to.
In the present embodiment, the cooling fan 16 and the opening 18c are arranged on the evaporator 15a in the lateral width direction, and the opening 32b is provided diagonally downward when viewed from the cooling fan 16. Therefore, the air flowing in from the opening 32b is sucked out in the diagonal direction of the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 by the cooling fan 16, so that a wide range of the evaporator 15a is used while the evaporator 15a is crossed diagonally. Heat can be exchanged on the surface. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the air when forming the cold air is improved.
Further, since the cold air toward the air flow path Cb flows to the air flow path Cb through the opening 18c and the flow path C12 adjacent to the cooling fan 16 in the + X direction, the flow path resistance of the cold air toward the air flow path Cb is reduced. ..

The cold air in the air flow path Cb flows into the second flow path C2 from the opening 31b, and flows into the first flow path C1 from the upper end of the second flow path C2. The cold air flowing through the first flow path C1 flows into the refrigerating chamber 27A through the plurality of openings 14Af and cools the inside of the refrigerating chamber 27A.

The cold air flows into the vegetable compartment 27B through the communication hole 28b penetrating the first partition 28, and cools the inside of the vegetable compartment 27B.
The cold air whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange with the stored matter or the like before reaching the vegetable chamber 27B descends from the upper end of the return flow path Cr through the lattice window 47i and flows into the lower part of the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 through the opening 32b. do.
In this way, cold air circulates inside the refrigerator 1. Based on the output of the temperature sensor arranged inside the refrigerator 1, the control board 17 is provided with cold air so that the refrigerating chamber 27A, the vegetable compartment 27B, and the freezing chamber 27C of the refrigerator 1 are in a preset temperature range. The temperature and the flow rate of the air flow path Cb by the flow rate controller 39 are controlled.

As described above, according to the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, the heat insulating wall is formed by the foamed heat insulating material 10 cB filled between the cooling unit accommodating chamber 18 and the return duct 32 (see FIG. 6). Therefore, it becomes difficult for the return duct 32 to be cooled by the cold air formed in the cooling unit storage chamber 18, so that the moisture of the air from the vegetable compartment 27B to the cooling unit storage chamber 18 through the return duct 32 freezes and freezes. Is suppressed.
Therefore, for example, frost formation in the return duct 32 can be suppressed by a simple configuration without providing a defrost heater or a blower mechanism to prevent frost formation.
Further, in the present embodiment, the heat insulating wall is formed by the foamed heat insulating material 10cA filled between the ventilation duct 31 and the return duct 32 (see FIGS. 6 and 17). Therefore, frost formation in the return duct 32 can be suppressed in that the return duct 32 is less likely to be cooled by the cold air flowing through the ventilation duct 31.

Since the foamed heat insulating materials 10cA and 10cB are superior in heat insulating performance as compared with, for example, styrofoam, for example, a return duct 32 is arranged inside the freezing chamber 27C, and a partition wall of the heat insulating material such as styrofoam with the evaporator 15a is arranged. It is possible to prevent frost formation in the return duct 32 in a space-saving manner as compared with the case of providing.
Further, by arranging the return duct 32 in the filling space on the rear side of the inner box 10a, the degree of freedom between the inner diameter of the return flow path Cr and the arrangement path is improved. In the present embodiment, the return flow path Cr detours in the + X direction from directly below the opening 32a and is curved at the lower end to form an opening 32b facing in the −X direction. Therefore, the inner diameter of the return flow path Cr can be increased and the air can flow smoothly. As a result, the flow path resistance in the return duct 32 is reduced, so that the load on the cooling fan 16 is reduced and the cooling efficiency is also improved. As a result, the power consumption and noise associated with the operation of the cooling fan 16 and the compressor 51 are reduced.

In the above embodiment, the lower storage chamber is the freezing chamber and the upper storage chamber is the vegetable compartment. However, the ventilation duct and the return duct can be arranged between the appropriate lower storage chamber and the upper storage chamber where cold air circulates. Therefore, the lower storage room and the upper storage room are not limited to the freezing room and the vegetable room. For example, a freezing room may be arranged below the refrigerating room. In this case, the refrigerating room is the upper storage room and the freezing room is the lower storage room.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the ventilation duct and the return duct are adjacent to each other in the lateral width direction has been described. However, the return duct may be offset in height from the ventilation duct as long as it is adjacent to the cooler accommodating chamber.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the ventilation duct and the return duct are formed as an assembly of the first member and the second member connected by the connecting plate has been described. However, the ventilation duct and the return duct may be formed by other assemblies. For example, the ventilation duct and the return duct may each be formed of a pipe member, and the respective connecting members may be connected to each other.

In the above embodiment, the example described in which the second cylinder portion 31C and the first cylinder portion 32B protrude from the inclined portion 29b in which the openings O2 and O3 are formed, respectively. If the air flow path Cb and the second flow path C2 communicate with each other, and the inside of the vegetable chamber 27B and the return flow path Cr communicate with each other, however, the second cylinder portion 31C and the first cylinder portion 32B communicate with each other. It does not have to protrude from the inclined portion 29b.

In the above embodiment, the refrigerator compartment door 11A has been described with an example of a rotary single door. However, the refrigerating room door 11A is not limited to the single door. For example, the refrigerating room door 11A may be a Kannon-type double door, a sliding door-type door, or the like.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the refrigerator forms a cool air with a refrigerator main body including an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber arranged below the upper storage chamber. The refrigerator storage chamber provided in the refrigerator main body and accommodating the cooler communicates with the upper storage chamber and the cooler accommodation chamber, and the air in the upper storage chamber returns to the cooler accommodation chamber. Since the return duct forming the return flow path and the foamed heat insulating material made of urethane foam filled between the cooler accommodating chamber and the return duct are provided, a simple configuration capable of suppressing frost formation in the return duct can be suppressed. Refrigerator can be provided.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and variations thereof are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof, as are included in the scope and gist of the invention.

1 ... Refrigerator, 5 ... Refrigerator body, 10a ... Inner box, 10aA, 10aB ... Inner wall, 10aC ... Rear wall surface, 10b ... Outer box, 10c, 10cA, 10cB ... Foam insulation, 14 ... Duct, 14A, 14B, 14C ... Flow path forming member, 14aF ... 1st member, 14aR ... 2nd member, 15 ... Cooling unit (cooler), 18 ... Cooling unit storage room (cooler storage room), 25 ... Rear wall, 27A ... Refrigerator room, 27B ... Vegetable room (upper storage room), 27C ... Freezer room (lower storage room), 29 ... Second partition (bottom wall of vegetable room), 29b ... Inclined part, 31 ... Blower duct, 31a ... Opening (flow) (Inlet), 31c ... Locking projection (first protrusion), 31C ... Second cylinder, 31h ... Locking claw (first locking portion), 32 ... Return duct, 32b ... Opening (exhaust port), 32e ... Projection part (second protrusion part), 32k ... Locking claw (first locking part), 32p ... Locking plate (second locking part), 33 ... Upper connecting plate (connecting plate), 33F ... Upper connecting plate (1st connecting plate), 33R ... Upper connecting plate (2nd connecting plate), 34 ... Lower connecting plate (connecting plate), 34a ... Through hole, 34F ... Multiple lower connecting plates (1st connecting plate), 34R ... Multiple lower connecting plates (second connecting plate), 35 ... fixed frame, 35d ... locking plate, 36 ... sealing member (first opening sealing member), 37 ... sealing member (second opening sealing member) , 38 ... Sealing member (upper opening sealing member), 40b ... Locking plate (first guide portion), 41 ... Gutter, 41a ... Side wall, 41c ... Insertion opening, 42, 43 ... Side sealing member, 45 ... Presser member (insulation locking member), 51 ... Compressor, 52 ... Suction pipe (intake pipe), Cb ... Blower flow path, Cr ... Return flow path, O2 ... Opening (first opening), O3 ... Opening Part (second opening)

Claims (14)

A refrigerator body including an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber arranged below the upper storage chamber.
A cooler that forms cold air and
A cooler accommodating chamber provided in the refrigerator body and accommodating the cooler,
A return duct that communicates with the upper storage chamber and the cooler accommodating chamber and forms a return flow path through which air in the upper storage chamber returns to the cooler accommodating chamber.
A urethane foam heat insulating material filled between the cooler accommodating chamber and the outer peripheral portion of the return duct,
To prepare
refrigerator. An air flow path for sending out the cold air from the cooler accommodating chamber toward the upper storage chamber is formed, and an air duct arranged adjacent to the return duct is further provided.
The foamed heat insulating material is also filled between the ventilation duct and the return duct.
The refrigerator according to claim 1. The return duct and the ventilation duct are connected to each other by a plurality of connecting plates extending in adjacent directions to each other.
The refrigerator according to claim 2. At least one of the plurality of connecting plates is formed with a through hole penetrating in the plate thickness direction and into which the foamed heat insulating material enters.
The refrigerator according to claim 3. The return duct and the ventilation duct are a first member and a second member that can be separated so as to divide the return flow path and the ventilation flow path into two along the center line of the return flow path, and the first member. It has a side sealing member that is sandwiched between the member and the second member and seals each side of the return flow path and the ventilation flow path in a liquid-tight manner.
Each of the plurality of connecting plates is divided into a first connecting plate included in the first member and a second connecting plate included in the second member.
The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4. The first member has a first locking portion that engages with the second member.
The second member has a second locking portion to which the first locking portion is locked.
The first member and the second member are connected to each other by locking the first locking portion and the second locking portion to each other.
The refrigerator according to claim 5. The refrigerator body has an inner box forming the upper storage chamber and the lower storage chamber, and an outer box covering the outside of the inner box.
The return duct and the ventilation duct are arranged between the inner box and the outer box.
The foamed heat insulating material is filled between the inner box and the outer box.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 6. Further provided with a flow path forming member arranged in the upper storage chamber and abutting on the upper surface of the bottom wall of the upper storage chamber from above.
The lower end portion of the flow path forming member is in contact with each edge portion of the first opening and the second opening formed in the inner box forming the upper surface from above.
The upper opening of the ventilation duct is open to the inside of the first opening in a plan view.
The upper opening of the return duct opens inside the second opening in a plan view.
The return duct and the ventilation duct extend in an adjacent direction to each other, and the return duct and the outer peripheral portion of the ventilation duct so as to surround the upper end portion of the return duct and the upper end portion of the ventilation duct from the outside, respectively. It is connected to each other by the upper connecting plate provided in
An upper opening sealing member for liquid-tightly sealing each edge portion is arranged between each edge portion and the upper connecting plate.
The refrigerator according to claim 7. Further, a heat insulating locking member formed of styrofoam having an engaging portion that engages with the outer peripheral portions of one or both of the return duct and the ventilation duct and a locking portion that engages with the inner surface of the outer box. Prepare, prepare
The refrigerator according to claim 7 or 8. Further, an intake pipe for sucking the refrigerant flowing out of the cooler into the compressor is provided.
A first guide portion for guiding the intake pipe is provided on the outer peripheral portion of one or both of the return duct and the ventilation duct.
The adiabatic locking member is provided with a second guide portion for guiding the intake pipe.
The first guide portion and the second guide portion regulate the positions of the intake pipes in the longitudinal direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 9. The ventilation duct is
The first cylinder inserted from the outer surface side of the inner box into the opening of the inner box that opens to the cooler storage chamber through the inflow port into which the cold air flows from the cooler storage chamber. Department and
A first protrusion provided on the outer peripheral side of the tip of the first cylinder in the insertion direction,
A flat surface portion that surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the first cylinder portion and extends outward from the outer peripheral portion,
Have and
The ventilation duct is
The opening is in a state where the first opening sealing member for sealing the periphery of the opening is arranged on the flat surface portion and the first cylinder portion is inserted into the opening from the outer surface side of the inner box. The inner box is fixed to the inner box by a fixing frame fitted to the outside of the outer peripheral portion of the first tubular portion between the inner surface of the inner box and the first protrusion.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 7 to 10. The fixed frame is
A frame body into which the outer peripheral portion of the first cylinder portion is inserted and abutting on the inner surface of the inner box, and
It protrudes from the inner peripheral portion of the frame body toward the first protrusion, is formed so as to be elastically deformable on the outer peripheral side, is inclined inward as it advances in the protrusion direction, and the tip portion in the protrusion direction is the first. 1 Locking plate that locks with the protrusion,
The refrigerator according to claim 11. Further provided with a gutter that is located below the cooler and collects moisture that falls from the cooler.
The return duct is
The second cylinder portion through which the exhaust port for discharging the air returning to the cooler accommodating chamber penetrates inside, and
A locking claw that has a second protrusion that protrudes outward at the tip of the second cylinder in the insertion direction and is elastically deformable on the inner peripheral side.
A protruding edge portion that surrounds the outer peripheral portion of the second cylinder portion and projects outward from the outer peripheral portion of the second cylinder portion.
Have and
An insertion opening into which the second cylinder portion can be inserted is formed on the side wall of the gutter portion.
The return duct is
The second protrusion and the insertion opening in a state where the second opening sealing member for sealing the periphery of the insertion opening is arranged at the ridge portion and the second cylinder portion is inserted into the insertion opening. It is fixed to the side wall of the gutter by engaging with the edge of the gutter.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 12. The upper storage chamber is a vegetable compartment whose temperature is adjusted to a temperature at which the storage can be refrigerated.
The lower storage chamber is a freezing chamber in which the temperature of the stored food is adjusted to a temperature at which it can be frozen.
A refrigerating room whose temperature can be adjusted to a temperature lower than the room temperature of the vegetable room is further provided above the vegetable room.
The cooler accommodating chamber is formed in a recess formed on the inner surface on the rear side of the freezing chamber.
The return duct extends in the vertical direction through the side of the recess, and the upper end portion of the return duct penetrates the bottom wall of the vegetable compartment to form an opening on the upper surface side of the bottom wall. , The lower end of the return duct forms an opening communicating with the recess.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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