JP2753345B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a multi-door refrigerator having a sub refrigerator room such as a vegetable room, a chilled room, and a bottle room in addition to a main refrigerator, and in particular, to enlarge a refrigerator room. Related to interior lighting.

[Related Art] Large refrigerators tend to have a remarkably large internal volume, but when the internal volume exceeds a certain limit, the refrigerator compartment is evenly cooled by a simple cold air passage as in the past. And some drastic measures are needed.
In addition, when the internal volume of the refrigerator compartment becomes large, it becomes difficult to evenly illuminate the interior of the compartment only with the interior light installed in one corner, and there is a problem that it is inconvenient for food to enter and exit especially when the room is dark. Occur.

Generally, incandescent lamps are used as interior lamps, and lamps with relatively large output are used as the content of the refrigerator becomes larger.Therefore, there is a problem of heat deformation and deterioration of plastic parts around the lamp due to heat generated when the lamp is turned on. It has become.

On the other hand, a multi-door refrigerator having a sub refrigerator room such as a vegetable room, a chilled room, and a bottle room in addition to the main refrigerator is becoming popular.
In the case of this type of refrigerator, it is necessary to distribute cold air not only to the main refrigerator compartment but also to the sub refrigerator compartment. 1 and 2 show an example of a cold air distribution system in the case of a multi-door refrigerator (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-125767). In this example, the cool air from the cooler room is divided into a plurality of cool air distribution passages, and is distributed to each of the refrigerator compartments via the passages. Each distribution passage is provided with a flow controller (for example, a regulating valve or a regulating plate such as a damper thermometer), and these flow controllers are individually controlled by outputs of temperature detectors provided in each refrigerator compartment. Is done.

However, arranging flow controllers in each distribution passage and individually controlling the regulators with temperature detectors provided in each refrigerator compartment would result in an unnecessarily increased amount of electrical and mechanical parts required. As a result, not only does the price of the product rise, but also the failure rate of the product tends to increase due to the increase in the number of parts, which raises a new problem in terms of reliability.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and in particular, by incorporating a lighting device inside a refrigerator in a cold air distribution system, a refrigerator compartment is provided. Therefore, even if the inner volume of the lamp is large, it is intended to realize ideal interior lighting without spots and prevention of deterioration of plastic parts around the lamp due to heat generated by the lamp.

Means for Solving the Problems The configuration of a refrigerator that can achieve the above object of the present invention is a cold air supply path that connects an inner chamber provided in a refrigerator provided with a cooler to a refrigerator compartment. And a cold air distribution passage branched from the cold air supply passage in the width direction of the refrigerator and provided with a cool air outlet provided on the back wall of the refrigerator above and below the refrigerator to blow cold air into the refrigerator. An interior light provided in a space between both inner side walls of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage and irradiating over a plurality of internal shelves; and the interior light mounted on both inner side walls of the distribution passage. And an interior light cover that covers the front side of the refrigerator in the space where the refrigerator is installed.

Further, a space surrounded by both inner side walls of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage is provided over a plurality of stages of the shelf in the refrigerator.

Further, the interior light cover is mounted over substantially the entire length of a space surrounded by both inner side surfaces of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage.

A long and narrow storage space in the height direction is formed between a plurality of branch passages arranged at predetermined intervals on the left and right of the center of the refrigerator compartment (main refrigerator compartment in the case of a multi-door refrigerator). One or more interior lights will be installed in the storage space. In order to protect the interior light, it is desirable to attach a detachable lamp cover over the entire length of the storage space.

[Operation] The cool air from the cooler room is split into a plurality of cool air distribution passages after passing through the flow controller, and is distributed into the refrigerator compartment from a cool air outlet provided in the branch passage. In the case of the present invention, since the plurality of cool air distribution passages are arranged at predetermined intervals on the left and right inside the center of the refrigerator compartment, the cool air from the cool air outlet is
It is distributed widely in the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the refrigerator compartment to uniformly cool the refrigerator compartment. When the temperature in the refrigerator compartment changes beyond a predetermined range, the change is detected by a temperature detector provided in the refrigerator compartment, and the flow rate regulator provided in the cool air supply passage is operated.

However, in the case of a multi-door refrigerator, since the temperature detector is not installed in the sub-refrigerator, the flow controller does not directly react to a temperature change in the sub-refrigerator. But,
A multi-door refrigerator with a normal design is made so that a certain amount of air moves between the main refrigerator compartment and the sub refrigerator compartment, so when the temperature in the sub refrigerator compartment changes, it is linked to it. As a result, the temperature in the main refrigerator compartment also changes. For this reason, it is possible to indirectly control the temperature in the sub-refrigerator by operating the flow regulator in accordance with the temperature in the main refrigerator.

The light emitted from the interior lamp housed in the storage space between the plurality of branch passages is irregularly reflected on the surface of the member constituting the storage space and forms a kind of planar light source, and spreads over a plurality of indoor shelves in the refrigerator compartment. Light up all the way.

[Example] Hereinafter, the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an example of a multi-door refrigerator. 3 to 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator main body, the inside of which is divided into a freezer compartment 2, a main refrigerator compartment 3, a bottle compartment 4, and a vegetable compartment 5. 2a is a door for the freezer compartment, 3a and 3b are doors for the main refrigerator compartment, 4a is a door for the bottle compartment, and 5a is a door for the vegetable compartment, and these doors open and close the front openings of the freezer compartment and each refrigerator compartment. It is for closing freely. Reference numeral 6 denotes a low-temperature room arranged at the upper part of the main refrigerator compartment 3 for storing food at a low temperature of +1 to -3C.

Although not shown in detail, a part of the cool air from the cooler room provided at the back of the freezer room 2 is led to the freezer room, and the rest is led to the main refrigerator room 3 through the cool air supply passage. I will
7 is a temperature detector for detecting the temperature in the main refrigerator compartment,
Reference numeral 8 denotes a flow controller such as a damper thermometer (thermosensitive switching device) for adjusting the supply amount of cool air to the main refrigerator compartment in response to a control signal from the temperature detector 7. 9 and
Reference numeral 10 denotes a cool air discharge port provided in a cool air supply passage on the downstream side of the flow controller 7, and discharges the cool air passing through the flow controller 8 into the main refrigerator compartment.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an inner box in plastic for partitioning the inside of the refrigerator, and two ribs 12a and 12b (projections) are provided at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction at a central back portion of the main refrigerator compartment. Is formed. Numeral 13 denotes a duct for forming a cool air distribution passage, which is composed of a partially cylindrical duct cover 16 and two gutter members 14 and 15 fixed to the inner surface of the duct cover 16 so as to be separated from each other. This duct cover is formed from a metal plate or a synthetic resin plate having elasticity, and the left and right edges thereof are pushed into the ribs 12a and 12b to elastically engage with the inner wall of the inner box 11, whereby the inside of the main refrigerator compartment is provided. Over substantially the entire height, two vertical cold air distribution passages 14a and 15a are formed between the inner wall of the inner box 11 and the gutter members 14 and 15. The gutter members 14 and 15 are preferably made of a material having excellent heat insulation properties, for example, a styrofoam molded product.

The upper ends of two cold air distribution passages 14a and 15a formed between the gutter members 14 and 15 and the refrigerator inner box 11
Is connected to the cool air supply passage at the cool air discharge ports 9 and 10 on the downstream side, and the lower end of one cool air distribution passage 14a is in the bottle room 4 and the lower end of the other cool air distribution passage 15a is in the vegetable room 5 And cool air is distributed between the two chambers. In the case of a normal refrigerator having no sub-refrigerator, the lower ends of the cold air distribution passages 14a and 15a are closed by an appropriate method,
It will be opened in the refrigerator compartment. 17 is a gutter-shaped member 14
Lights when one or both of the main refrigerator doors 3a and 3b are opened, making it easier to take out food when the surroundings are dark. . 18
Is a lamp cover for covering the interior light, which is detachably attached to a vertical opening provided at the center of the duct cover 16 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. .

Reference numerals 19, 20 and 21 denote cabinets for storing foods, each having a predetermined interval (for example, 120 to 140 mm), and an inner box of the main refrigerator compartment.
Installed on 11. It is desirable that these shelves be made of transparent plastic so that the lights of the inside lights 17 reach all corners of the main refrigerator compartment. 22a, 22
b, 23a, 23b, 24a and 24b are cool air outlets provided at predetermined positions of the duct cover 16 (corresponding positions with the shelves 19, 20 and 21), respectively, for controlling the temperature of each part of the shelves in the cabinet. The cooling air from the flow controller 8 is introduced into the main refrigerator compartment through the cold air distribution passages 14a and 15a so that the cooling air can be cooled to the temperature (for example, 3 to 5 ° C.).

[Effects of the Invention] Since the refrigerator according to the present invention is configured as described above in detail, it exhibits the following effects.

(1) The plurality of cool air distribution passages arranged at the center left and right of the refrigerator at predetermined intervals distribute cool air vertically and horizontally through a plurality of cool air outlets provided in the distribution passage. , It is possible to uniformly cool the large refrigerator compartment.

(2) Since a structure is adopted in which the cool air from the cooler room is divided into a plurality of cool air distribution passages after passing through the flow controller, even in the case of a multi-door refrigerator, a plurality of cool air is supplied by a single flow controller. Can control the temperature in the refrigerator compartment,
It is possible to provide a refrigerator with a low failure rate and high reliability.

(3) Since the interior of the refrigerator compartment is illuminated by the internal lamps housed in the storage space between the cold air distribution passages, it is possible to provide uniform illumination over the corners of the large refrigerator compartment.

(4) Since both sides of the in-compartment light accommodating section can be kept at a lower temperature by the cool air in the cool air duct, deterioration of plastic parts, such as a lamp cover, around the lamp due to heat generated during lighting can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are structural views showing an example of a conventional refrigerator,
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a multi-door refrigerator showing an embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a view of a main refrigerator compartment of the embodiment, and FIG. FIGS. 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views of a main part of the main refrigerator compartment. In the figure, 3 ... main refrigerator compartment, 7 ... temperature detector 8 ... flow rate regulator, 9, 10 ... cool air discharge port 11 ... refrigerator box, 13 ... cool air duct 14, 15 ... gutter shape Members, 14a, 15a: Cold air distribution passage 16: Duct cover, 17: Interior light 18: Lamp cover, 19, 20, 21 ... Interior shelves 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b ... … A cool air outlet.

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Mitsuo Yoshida 1-280 Higashi Koigakubo, Kokubunji-shi, Tokyo Inside the Design Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References Japanese Utility Model Sho 64-45272 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Sho 50 -50468 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cold air supply passage communicating between a refrigerator compartment and a refrigerator compartment provided in a refrigerator provided with a cooler, and a cold air supply passage branching from the cold air supply passage in a width direction of the refrigerator compartment, and refrigeration. A cold air distribution passage provided on the back wall of the room over the upper and lower sides of the refrigerator compartment and having a cool air outlet for blowing cool air to the refrigerator room, and a space between both inner side walls of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage. A refrigerator comprising: an interior light for irradiating a plurality of stages of interior shelves; and an interior light cover for covering a front side of the refrigerator in a space where the interior light is installed. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a space surrounded by both inner side walls of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage extends over a plurality of stages of the shelf in the refrigerator. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the interior light cover is mounted over substantially the entire length of a space surrounded by both inner side walls of a passage adjacent to the cold air distribution passage.