JP3396590B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To standardize duct mounting components by providing an offset area from the bottom of an inner box of an inner compartment to the rear surface and laying out a cooled-air supply duct on the side of an insulating material of the inner box with he offset area in a cabinet where an insulating material is laid out between the inner box and the outer box. SOLUTION: A damper box 38 of a refrigerator projects a suction opening on the left side surface of a box main body 42 and projects a lower duct 44 from the top of the box main body 42. In this case, a stepped area 64 is provided from the bottom 14d of an inner box which constitutes a chill compartment to the rear surface 14e thereof. The top of this stepped area 64 is opened into a ventilation opening 66. The upper part of the lower duct 44 is laid out from the rear of the offset area 64 so that an exhaust opening 56 of the lower duct 44 may be aligned with the ventilation opening 66 of the offset area 64. Or a synthetic resin-made reinforcing member 68 is placed from the front of the stepped area 64 so that the opening between a frame 70 and a front board 72 in this reinforcing member 68 may be housed in the offset area 64. This construction makes it possible to reinforce the rigidity of the surrounding area of the inner box 22 and joint an air supply duct with ease.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a household refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a refrigerator cabinet is constructed by combining an inner box made of synthetic resin and an outer box made of metal, and injecting urethane foam between the outer box and the inner box to form a foamed structure. Had formed. After that, a partition plate having a heat insulating structure was inserted into the inner box to divide it into a refrigerating room and a freezing room.

However, recently, in order to reduce the cost, there is a structure in which the partition plate is not provided and the partition is provided by an inner box.

In this case, in order to send cold air from the cooler on the back side of the freezer compartment to the refrigerating compartment, a duct is joined to the inner compartment from the space having the cooler to the back side of the inner compartment constituting the refrigerating compartment. Was there.

[0005]

However, when the partition is integrally formed with the inner box as described above, the rigidity of the inner box becomes weak, so that the inner box bends when urethane is injected and foamed. There was a problem.

When the inner box bends in this way, there is a problem in that when the ducts are joined, the joining surfaces do not match, and the urethane foam seal is not perfect.

Further, it is necessary to provide a ventilation port near the bottom surface of the inner box forming the refrigerating compartment for feeding the cool air sent from the duct to the inside of the refrigerating compartment. The position is different. Therefore, it has been difficult in the past to use common parts for the part to which the duct is attached.

In view of the above problems, the present invention prevents the inner box from bending even when the rigidity of the inner box is increased and urethane foam is injected, and the ventilation port is provided at any position of the inner box. (EN) Provided is a refrigerator in which a duct mounting component can be shared even if provided.

[0009]

A refrigerator according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a combination of an inner box and an outer box in which a plurality of internal compartments are integrally formed, and a heat insulating material between the inner box and the outer box. In a refrigerator consisting of a foam-filled cabinet, a step portion projecting inward from the bottom surface to the rear surface of the inner box forming one internal chamber in the cabinet is integrally provided, and at least the upper surface of the step portion is provided with a cool air A blower port is provided, a cool air blower duct is arranged on the heat insulating material side of the inner box having the step, and the blower port and the blower duct are joined.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator of the first aspect, a front reinforcing member is arranged in a front portion around a rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and the blower duct and the front reinforcing member are used to form the front reinforcing member. It sandwiches the rear surface of the inner box.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator of the first aspect, a rear reinforcing member is arranged in a rear portion around the rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and the air duct and the rear portion are provided on the rear surface of the inner box. And a reinforcing member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the first aspect, a front reinforcing member is arranged in a front portion around a rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and a rear reinforcing member is arranged in a rear portion of the peripheral portion. The rear surface of the inner box is sandwiched between the front reinforcing member and the rear reinforcing member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigerator according to the second aspect, the front reinforcing member has an opening portion capable of accommodating the step portion, and the width of the opening portion is formed larger than the width of the step portion. It has been done.

A refrigerator according to a sixth aspect is the refrigerator according to the second or fifth aspect, wherein the lower portion of the interior chamber duct attached longitudinally to the rear surface of the inner box forming the one interior chamber is provided with the front portion. It is attached to the front part of the reinforcing member via a sealing material.

The refrigerator according to claim 1 will be described.

In the refrigerator of the first aspect, the rigidity around the inner box can be increased by forming the step portion. Further, since the blower duct can be joined to the rear side of this step portion, the joining is easy.

According to the refrigerator of claim 2, since the rear surface of the inner box around the step is sandwiched by the air duct and the front reinforcing member,
The rigidity of the inner box in this portion can be increased.

According to the refrigerator of claim 3, since the air duct and the rear reinforcing member are provided on the rear surface of the inner box, the rigidity of the inner box in this portion can be increased.

According to the refrigerator of claim 4, since the rear surface of the inner box is sandwiched by the front reinforcing member and the rear reinforcing member, and the air duct is located at the rear portion of the rear reinforcing member, the inner box in this portion The rigidity of the box can be increased.

According to the refrigerator of claim 5, since the opening of the front reinforcing member is formed larger than the width of the step, even if the position of the step differs depending on the model of the refrigerator, the front reinforcing member is stepped. Can be mounted on the part.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the refrigerator according to the second or fifth aspect, wherein the lower portion of the internal compartment duct attached longitudinally to the rear surface of the inner box forming the one internal compartment, Since the front reinforcing member is attached to the front portion of the front reinforcing member via a sealing material, and the mounting direction of this sealing material and the mounting direction of the internal chamber duct are the same, both of them can be completely sealed.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A refrigerator 10 which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cabinet 12 of the refrigerator 10 is provided with a refrigerating room 14, a switching room 16, a freezing room 18, and a vegetable room 20 from the upper stage thereof. Further, an ice making chamber 21 is provided on the left side of the switching chamber 16. Here, the switching chamber 16 is a room in which the temperature inside the switching chamber 16 is switched between 5 ° C. and −18 ° C. by the user. That is, by this switching, the switching chamber 16 can be used as a refrigerating room or a freezing room. Doors 14a to 21a are provided on the front surface of each room.

The cabinet 12 is a combination of an inner box 22 made of synthetic resin and an outer box 24 made of metal, and urethane foam 26 as a heat insulating material is injected between them. The refrigerating compartment 14, the switching compartment 16, a partition portion 28 for partitioning the ice making compartment 21, and a partition portion 30 for partitioning the vegetable compartment 20 and the freezing compartment 18 are integrally formed with the inner box 22.

A cooling space 32 is provided at the rear of the switching chamber 16, the freezing chamber 18, and the ice making chamber 21. A cooler 34 is provided below the cooling space 32.
A fan 36 is provided on the upper left side of 4. A damper box 38 is provided on the upper right side of the cooler 34. The fan 36 is configured to send the air (cool air) cooled by the cooler 34 directly to the freezer compartment 18 and the ice making compartment 22 and to the suction port 40 of the damper box 38.

Here, the structure of the damper box 38 will be described with reference to FIG.

The damper box 38 includes a box body 42.
The suction port 40 projects from the left side surface of the box, and the lower duct 44 projects from the top surface of the box body 42. Further, a ventilation port 46 for sending cool air to the switching chamber 16 is opened on the front right side of the box body 42. A refrigerating compartment damper 48 and a switching compartment damper 50 are provided inside the box body 42, and by opening and closing the cool air, the cool air sucked from the suction port 40 is sent to the lower duct 44 or the blower port 46.

Next, the shape of the lower duct 44 will be described.

A duct body 52 of a fan-shaped lower duct 44 projects from the upper surface of the box body 42, and a duct holding plate 54 is provided on the rear surface of the upper end of the duct body 52. The duct holding plate 54 is composed of a bottom plate 54a and a vertical plate 54b. The duct main body 52 is arranged at the center of the bottom plate 54a, and a cool air discharge port 56 is provided.

Next, the structure of the refrigerator compartment 14 will be described.

The ceiling surface 14a and both side surfaces 14 of the refrigerator compartment 14
b, 14c, the bottom surface 14d and the rear surface 14e are formed by the inner box 22.

However, since it is necessary to provide a duct on the rear surface 14e for sending cool air from the cooling space 32 to the refrigerating chamber 14, an upper duct 60 made of expanded polystyrene for sending cool air is provided on the front portion of the rear surface 14e. A decorative plate 62 is placed on the front surface of the upper duct 60. An internal light 64 for illuminating the refrigerating compartment 14 is located at the center of the upper duct 60. The upper duct 60 and the decorative plate 62 are provided with cold air outlets 80, respectively.

Next, the joint structure between the upper duct 60 and the lower duct 44 provided in the damper box 38 will be described.

Bottom 14 of inner box 22 which constitutes refrigerating compartment 14
A step portion 64 is provided from d to the rear surface 14e.
A ventilation port 66 is opened on the upper surface of the step portion 64.

From the rear of the step 64, the damper box 3
The upper part of the lower duct 44 of 8 is arranged. Then, the discharge port 56 of the lower duct 44 and the ventilation port 66 of the step 64 are made to coincide with each other.

A reinforcing member 68 made of synthetic resin is arranged from the front of the step portion 64. The reinforcing member 68 includes a frame-shaped frame portion 70 and a front plate 72 installed between the frame portions 70, and an opening 74 formed between the front plate 72 and the frame portion 70.
Can store the stepped portion 64. The opening 74 is formed to be considerably larger than the width of the step 64.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the reinforcing member 68 is attached to the rear surface 14e of the inner box 22, the upper portion of the lower duct 44 is attached to the step 64.
The duct holding plate 54 is attached to the rear side of the rear surface 14e. On the other hand, the reinforcing member 68 is attached from the front part of the rear surface 14e, and both are fixed with three screws 76. That is, the rear surface 14e is sandwiched between the duct holding plate 54 and the reinforcing member 68. In order to securely attach the duct holding plate 54 to the rear surface 14e of the inner box 22, a sealing material 76 is attached between the duct holding plate 54 and the rear surface 14e.

As shown in FIG. 8, after the lower duct 44 is attached to the inner case 22, the urethane foam 26 is injected between the inner case 22 and the outer case 24. In this case, since the rear surface 14e is sandwiched between the reinforcing member 68 and the duct holding plate 54, the rear surface 14e is not bent by the pressure of the injected foam. Therefore, the joining position of the lower duct 44 is not displaced or a gap is formed, so that the sealing property of the urethane 26 is not deteriorated.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower portion of the upper duct 60 is arranged on the front portion of the front plate 72 of the reinforcing member 68. As a result, the cool air sent from the ventilation port 66 of the step portion 64 flows into the upper duct 60. The upper duct 60
In order to enhance the sealing property between the reinforcing member 68 and the reinforcing member 68, a sealing material 78 is attached between them.

As described above, since the ventilation port 66 is provided on the upper surface of the step portion 64 in the horizontal direction, the cool air sent from the lower duct 44 is blown substantially vertically to the upper duct 60 via the ventilation port 66. Reach Therefore, there is no waste in the cold air flow path, and the rigidity in this vicinity is increased. Also, the upper duct 6
The seal member 78 is attached between the 0 and the reinforcing member 68, but the attaching direction is the vertical direction and coincides with the attaching direction of the upper duct 60, so that the sealing property is improved.

In the above embodiment, the stepped portion 64 is provided in the refrigerator compartment 1.
The reinforcing member 68 described in the above-mentioned embodiment can be used even if the reinforcing member 68 is provided at the center of No. 4 but is not limited to this, and is provided at a slightly displaced position, or when the width of the step portion 64 is increased. .
This is because the opening 74 of the reinforcing member 68 is formed larger than the step 64, that is, when the width a of the opening 74 and the width b of the step 64 are compared as shown in FIG. Since the width a is larger, the reinforcing member 68 can be attached even if the width b of the step portion 64 is slightly different. Therefore, even if the model and the size of the stepped portion 64 change depending on the model of the refrigerator, the common reinforcing member 68 can be used, so that the cost can be reduced.

As a modification of the above embodiment, the reinforcing member 68 is attached from the front of the rear surface 14e in the above embodiment, but instead of this, the rear of the rear surface 14e, that is, the duct holding plate 5.
It may be mounted on top of 4. Even in this case, the rear surface 1
Since 4e is reinforced, the rear surface 14e does not bend even when urethane is foamed and injected.

Further, as another modification, the rear surface 1
4e may be sandwiched from the front and the rear by a pair of reinforcing members, respectively. In this way, the rear surface 14e
Can be reinforced.

[0044]

As described above, in the refrigerator according to the first aspect of the present invention, the stepped portion is provided, and the cool air blowing port is provided on the upper surface of the stepped portion, whereby the cool air can be sent upward and the flow path of the cool air can be obtained. There is no waste, and the rigidity of the inner box around this can be increased. Therefore, the inner box does not bend even when the urethane foam, which is a heat insulating material, is injected.

In the refrigerator of claim 2, claim 3 or claim 4, since the inner box is reinforced by the reinforcing member,
The inner box does not bend due to the injection of urethane foam.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the opening of the front reinforcing member is formed to be larger than the width of the step portion, the refrigerator having different step portions or a step portion having a large width is provided. Can be manufactured using the same parts. Therefore, the cost can be reduced.

According to the sixth aspect of the refrigerator, the lower portion of the interior chamber duct that is vertically mounted on the rear surface of the inner box that forms the interior chamber is provided with a sealing material on the front portion of the front reinforcing member. Since the mounting direction of the sealing material and the mounting direction of the internal chamber duct are the same, both of them can be completely sealed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a semi-longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator compartment with the door open.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view from the refrigerating compartment to the switching compartment 16.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a lower duct, an inner box, and a reinforcing member.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerating compartment with the upper duct of the inner box removed.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view between the refrigerating chamber and the switching chamber before urethane foaming.

FIG. 8 is likewise after urethane foaming.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 refrigerator 12 cabinets 14 Refrigerator 16 switching room 36 fans 38 damper box 40 Suction port 44 Lower duct 46 Blower 52 duct body 54 Duct holding plate 56 outlet 60 upper duct 64 steps 66 Blower 68 Reinforcement member 74 opening

Front page continued (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 23/00 306 F25D 17/08 308

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An inner box and an outer box in which a plurality of internal chambers are integrally formed are combined, and a heat insulating material is foam-filled between the inner box and the outer box.
In a refrigerator comprising a filled cabinet, a step portion projecting inward from the bottom surface to the rear surface of an inner box forming one of the compartments in the cabinet is integrally provided, and at least an upper surface of the step portion. the air blowing port of the cool air is provided to, distribution of air duct of the cool air in the heat insulating material side of the inner box with the stepped portion
The refrigerator is characterized in that the blower opening and the blower duct are joined together. 2. A front reinforcing member is arranged in a front portion around a rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and the rear surface of the inner box is sandwiched by the air duct and the front reinforcing member. The refrigerator according to Item 1. 3. A rear reinforcing member is arranged at a rear portion around a rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and the air duct and the rear reinforcing member are provided on a rear surface of the inner box. The refrigerator according to Item 1. 4. A front reinforcing member is arranged at a front portion around a rear surface of the inner box having the step portion, and a rear reinforcing member is arranged at a rear portion of the periphery, and the front reinforcing member and the rear reinforcing member are provided. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a rear surface of the inner box is sandwiched. 5. The front reinforcing member has an opening capable of accommodating the step, and the width of the opening is formed larger than the width of the step. Refrigerator. 6. A lower part of a chamber interior duct which is vertically mounted on a rear surface of an inner box forming the one chamber, is attached to a front part of the front reinforcing plate via a sealing material. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the refrigerator is a refrigerator.