JP3404364B2 - Glass tube heater and refrigerator for defrost - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a defrosting glass tube heater for defrosting a cooler and a refrigerator provided with the defrosting glass tube heater.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for a glass tube heater for defrosting used in a refrigerator, in order to prevent breakage of the heater wire or breakage of the glass tube due to invasion of moisture into the glass tube due to defrosting of the cooler, There is a demand for a structure that protects the defrost heater from these external factors.

As a conventional refrigerator of this type, an actual Kaihei 3
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 83788/83.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator in which the conventional glass tube heater for defrosting is arranged will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a cooler, which has a top cover 2 below the cooler 1, a glass tube heater 3 for defrosting below the cooler, and a gutter 4 below. Reference numeral 5 indicates an insulating member provided at the end of the defrosting glass tube heater 3, and 6 indicates a lead wire of the defrosting glass tube heater 3. The lead wire 6 is drawn out from the end surface of the insulating member 5 to the outside of the defrosting glass tube heater 3 as shown in FIG.

Regarding the refrigerator constructed as described above,
The operation will be described below.

The frost adhering to the cooler 1 is melted by the heat generated by the defrosting glass tube heater 3, and defrost water drops from the cooler 1 and flows along the gutter 4.

Further, the top cover 2 is provided so as not to drip the defrosted water that is dripped onto the defrosting glass tube heater 3, so that the glass tube is prevented from cracking or the heater is broken.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the lead wire 6 has an insulating member 5
The structure was such that it was led out from the side wall surface of and was placed as it is above.

[0010]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the lead wire 6 does not have a draining portion, and defrosting water easily enters the defrosting glass tube heater 3 from the lead-out portion, and damage such as heater disconnection occurs. As a result, there is a drawback that the refrigerator may not be defrosted.

The present invention solves the conventional problems by preventing water from entering the defrosting glass tube heater, improving the reliability of the defrosting glass tube heater, and defrosting reliability. The purpose is to provide a refrigerator with high performance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the structure of the glass tube heater for defrosting and the holding portion thereof are simplified to improve the mounting efficiency and the workability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which lead wires of a glass tube heater for defrosting can be attached and fixed in a more accurate position and direction.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a lead wire connected to both ends of a heater wire covered with a glass tube and a connecting portion between the heater wire and the lead wire are provided. An insulating member for covering and a lead-out hole for guiding the lead wire to the outside of the insulating member, wherein the lead wire is insulated through the lead-out hole in the mounting posture of the defrosting glass tube heater body. A lead-out hole that is led out from the member is provided on the side wall surface of the insulating member, and water that is formed integrally with the insulating member below the lead-out hole and that propagates through the lead wire is provided.
The dewatering part is provided so as not to enter the lead-out pit, and even if the defrost water travels along the lead wire, the defrosting water is drained at the draining part and does not enter the lead-out pit and the defrosting glass tube heater.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the invention, a draining portion is formed by providing a lead wire engaging portion on the lower surface of the insulating member. A drainer is formed compactly without using.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the engaging portion is provided on the protruding portion that protrudes from the lower surface of the insulating member to ensure a height for draining. The water that has passed through the insulating member is drained by the protrusion itself.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a second engagement is provided in which a lead wire raised from the engagement portion is engaged above the lead-out hole. The joint part is formed integrally with the insulating member, and once the lead wire is arranged downward, it is pulled up to form a draining part, and the defrost water that propagates through the lead wire is discharged to the outlet hole. Do not fit. Moreover, a separate member for fixing the lead wire is not required.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect of the present invention, an eave portion that covers the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member at the upper portion of the lead-out hole. Prevents water from getting into the outflow pit and the glass tube heater for defrosting.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the invention according to the fourth aspect, an eave portion is provided on the upper portion of the evacuation hole to cover the evacuation hole, and the eaves portion is used to provide a second engaging portion. Since it is formed, the composite function is fulfilled without providing a separate engaging portion.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the outlet shaft is inclined downward toward the outlet hole, and even if defrost water falls around the outlet hole, Do not penetrate the lead wire from there to enter the inside.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or 7, wherein the insulating member is a rubber cap, and since the insulating member has flexibility, the lead wire is wound. Flexible for forming locks and lead-out holes.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a cooler provided in the refrigerator main body, and a dew tray located below the cooler for receiving defrosting water of the cooler. The defrosting glass tube heater according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is arranged between the cooler and the dew tray, and the defrosting water of the cooler or the vicinity of the cooler generated during defrosting is provided. Even if the dew condensation due to water vapor is transmitted through the lead wire, it is drained at the draining part and does not enter the outflow pit and the glass tube heater for defrosting, and the defrosting glass tube heater is prevented from being damaged and reliable defrosting is performed. .

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a glass tube heater for defrosting and a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a front view of essential parts of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the defrosting glass tube heater of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a side view of an essential part of the glass tube heater for defrosting according to the same embodiment.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, 10 is a refrigerator main body. Reference numeral 11 denotes a heat insulating wall that divides the inside of the refrigerator body 10 into upper and lower parts, and forms a refrigerating compartment (not shown) in the upper part, a vegetable compartment 12 provided in the lower part of the refrigerating compartment, and a freezing compartment 13 in the lower part.

A refrigerating cycle cooler 14 is arranged behind the freezing chamber 13. A defrosting glass tube heater 15 is located below the cooler 14 to melt the frost adhering to the cooler 14. 16 is a glass tube heater 15 for defrosting
Is a dew tray that is placed below and receives defrosting water from the cooler 14.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an insulating member (hereinafter referred to as a rubber cap 17) which covers both ends of the defrosting glass tube heater 15 and electrically insulates them.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an upper surface cover for covering the upper surface of the defrosting glass tube heater 15. The top cover 18 is arranged so that the defrosting water of the cooler 14 does not reach the defrosting glass tube heater 15. Here, the top cover 18 prevents the defrosting water dripping from the cooler 14 during defrosting from contacting the defrosting glass tube heater 15 having a high temperature and generating an evaporation sound.
Alternatively, it prevents damage to the glass tube due to thermal shock.

This upper surface cover 18 is prevented from rotating.
The mounting legs 19 formed on both sides of the upper surface cover 18 are inserted into the mounting holes 20 formed in the rubber cap 17 and sandwiched. As a result, the top cover 18 is not displaced, so that the desired purpose can be achieved.

Reference numeral 21 is a heater wire formed of an electric heating element such as a coiled nichrome wire covered in the glass tube of the defrosting glass tube heater 15, and 22 is a lead wire connected to both ends of the heater wire 21. , Power is supplied to the heater wire 21.
Reference numeral 23 is a holding portion for sandwiching and holding the rubber cap 17 in the vertical direction, which is formed of a resin material (for example, polypropylene resin) and is formed integrally with the dew tray 16. Further, a cut portion (not shown) is formed at the base of the holding portion 23, and elasticity is imparted when the defrosting glass tube heater 15 is inserted to prevent the holding portion 23 from being damaged by cracks or whitening.

As a result, the glass tube heater 15 for defrosting, which is held by the holding member 23, is attached or detached horizontally, and the cooler 14 can be attached to a predetermined position while being fixed. Good sex.

On the other hand, 24 is the rubber cap 17 when the defrosting glass tube heater 15 is attached to the holding portion 23.
It is a lead-out hole for the lead wire 22 which is opened on the side wall surface thereof. Reference numeral 25 is a lead-out hole formed so as to penetrate through the rubber cap 17 from the heater wire 21 side toward the lead-out hole 24.

Here, the opening 26 on the heater wire 21 side of the lead-out hole 25 is located above the lead-out hole 24, and the lead-out hole 25 is formed so as to be inclined downward in the rubber cap 17 toward the lead-out hole 24. Has been done.

In the case of the embodiment, the lead-out pit 25 is led out a little in the horizontal direction from the opening 26 to arrange the connection terminal 27 as shown in FIG. May be taken.

Further, 28 is below the outlet hole 24,
An engaging portion 29 that engages with the lead wire 22 is provided on the protruding portion 28, which is an integrally formed protruding portion that protrudes from the lower surface of the rubber cap 17. The engaging portion 29 has a lead-out hole 24.
The groove is located below and has a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the lead wire 22.

A rubber cap 1 is provided at the upper portion of the lead-out hole 24.
It is an eave part molded integrally with 7. The eaves portion 30 is formed in a substantially L shape so as to cover the outlet hole 24 and prevent defrost water from directly dripping.

Reference numeral 31 is a second engaging portion formed by using the upper surface of the eaves portion 30 and is located above the lead-out hole 24.

The lead wire 22, which is electrically connected to the heater wire 21 by the connection terminal 27, is led out from the lead-out hole 24 through the lead-out hole 25 and then hangs downward to engage the engaging portion 29.
After being engaged with, it is pulled back to fold upward and the second
The engaging portion 31 is engaged and fixed. Then lead 22
Is arranged at a predetermined position of the inner box 32 forming the inner wall of the refrigerator body 10.

At this time, the draining portion 33 of the lead wire 22 with the engaging portion 29 at the lower end is formed.

The rubber cap 17 and the lead wire 22 have the same symmetrical structure on both sides of the defrosting glass tube heater 15.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below.

First, the frost adhering to the cooler 14 is thawed by the radiant heat of the defrosting glass tube heater 15 to become defrost water and fall or the lead wire 22 arranged beside the cooler 14 is discharged. It is transmitted and dropped on the dew tray 16.

At this time, since the defrosting glass tube heater 15 has the upper surface cover 18, water does not drop into the glass tube and evaporation noise can be prevented, and damage to the glass tube due to thermal shock can be prevented. In addition, defrost water that has passed through the lead wire 22 or water droplets due to dew condensation of steam around the cooler 14 at the time of defrost is drained because the drainer 33 is at the lowest position, and it will be transmitted before this. Absent.

For this reason, these water may enter the inside of the glass tube of the defrosting glass tube heater 15 from the outlet hole 24 through the outlet pit 25, reach the heater wire 21, and cause damage such as disconnection. It can be prevented. Further, since the defrosting glass tube heater 15 is not damaged, the defrosting function is surely fulfilled, and it is possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator in which defrosting is not possible and cooling is not impossible.

Here, the engaging portion 29 as in this embodiment.
Is formed on the lower surface of the rubber cap 17, the distance from the lead-out hole 24 to the draining portion 33 can be further increased, and the draining effect on the lead-out hole 24 can be further enhanced.

Even if the defrosting water reaches the outlet hole 24 for some reason, the opening 25 on the glass tube side of the outlet shaft 25.
Is located above the outlet hole 24 and is inclined downward toward the outlet hole 24, so that water does not enter the heater wire 21 through the outlet shaft 25 and reach the heater wire 21.

Further, since the eaves portion 30 is formed in such a shape as to cover the lead-out hole 24, defrosting water falling from above does not directly reach the lead-out hole 24, so that water enters the lead-out pit 25. It is possible to reduce the cause of the defrosting and further improve the reliability of the defrosting glass tube heater 15.

Further, since the lead wire 22 is sandwiched and fixed in the engaging portion 29, the lead wire 22 is disposed upward, and further sandwiched and fixed by the second engaging portion 31, the lead hole 22 cannot be fitted in the lead-out hole 24. Since no stress is applied, the lead-out hole 24 is not deformed and the diameter thereof is not widened, intrusion of defrost water is not induced. It should be noted that if the second engaging portion 31 is formed by utilizing a part (upper surface) of the eaves portion 30 provided for the purpose of preventing water from getting into the lead-out hole 24 as in the present embodiment, rubber can be formed. The structure of the cap 17 can be made simpler and more compact.

Further, since the insulating member is composed of the flexible rubber cap 17, the lead wire 22 is wound,
Flexible engagement, good workability, and compact cord processing. Further, even if the lead-out pit 25 is inclined, the insulating member is made of rubber, so that it is possible to forcefully remove it in terms of molding, and there is an advantage that the cost of the molding die can be reduced.

Further, since the cords of the lead wire 22 are engaged with each other by integrally molding the rubber cap 17 and no separate parts are used, the space around the cooler can be designed more compact and the ineffective volume can be reduced. it can. At the same time, the number of man-hours and costs for assembling the refrigerator can be reduced.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the lead hole for guiding the lead wire to the outside is provided in the insulating member that covers the connecting portion between the heater wire covered with the glass tube and the lead wire. In the mounting posture of the defrosting glass tube heater body, a lead-out hole for leading the lead wire to the outside through the lead-out hole is provided on the side wall surface of the insulating member, and integrated with the insulating member below the lead-out hole. In front of the water formed on the lead wire
Since a dewatering part is provided to prevent entry into the lead-out pit, even if defrost water travels through the lead wire, it is drained at the draining part and does not enter the lead-out pit and defrosting glass tube heater, resulting in damage such as heater wire disconnection. Can be prevented.

The invention described in claim 2 is the same as claim 1
In the invention described in (1), further, since the engaging portion of the lead wire is provided on the lower surface of the insulating member to form the draining portion, the draining portion can be formed economically and compactly without using a separate member.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as claim 2
In the invention described in (3), since the engaging portion is provided on the protruding portion that protrudes from the lower surface of the insulating member, the height for draining is sufficient and the draining effect can be enhanced. Further, since the water that has propagated through the insulating member can be drained by the protrusion itself, the draining effect is synergistically improved.

The invention described in claim 4 is the same as claim 1
Alternatively, in the invention according to claim 2, the second engaging portion that engages the lead wire raised from the engaging portion above the lead-out hole is formed integrally with the insulating member, so that the drainer can be compactly drained. The portion is configured to prevent the defrost water that has passed through the lead wire from entering the defrosting glass tube heater. Moreover, a separate member for fixing the lead wire is not required, which is economical.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as claim 1.
Further, in the invention described in (1), since the eaves portion covering the outlet hole is formed integrally with the insulating member on the upper portion of the outlet hole, the outlet hole is not directly exposed to water, and the outlet tube and the defrosting glass tube heater Intrusion can be prevented.

The invention described in claim 6 is the same as claim 4
Further, in the invention described in (1), the eaves portion covering the outlet hole is provided on the upper portion of the outlet hole to form the second engaging portion, so that the combined function can be obtained without providing an additional engaging portion.

The invention described in claim 7 is the same as claim 1.
In the invention described in (1), since the lead-out pit is inclined downward toward the lead-out hole, it does not enter the inside through the lead wire.

The invention described in claim 8 is the same as claim 1.
In the invention according to claim 4 or claim 7, since the insulating member is the rubber cap, workability of winding and locking the lead wire is improved due to the flexibility, and the molding metal is used for forming the lead-out hole. A simplification effect on the mold can be obtained.

The invention according to claim 9 is a refrigerator provided with a dew tray located below the cooler for receiving defrosting water of the cooler, wherein the refrigerator is provided between the cooler and the dew tray. Since the defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 8 is arranged, the defrosting water is drained at the draining portion even when transmitted through the lead wire, and does not enter the lead-out pit and the defrosting glass tube heater. It is possible to provide a high-reliability refrigerator that can prevent damage such as wire breakage and that does not defrost and cannot be cooled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a main part of a refrigerator in which a glass tube heater for defrosting according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is arranged between a cooler and a dew tray.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part of the glass tube heater for defrosting according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an essential part of the glass tube heater for defrosting according to the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Refrigerator body 14 Cooler 15 Defrosting glass tube heater 16 Dew tray 17 Rubber cap (insulating member) 21 heater wire 22 lead wire 24 Outlet hole 25 Outlet shaft 28 Projection 29 Engagement part 30 eaves 31 Second engaging portion 33 Drainer

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Kazumasa Miyake 4-2-5 Takaida Hondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Refrigerator Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Maeda 4-chome Takaidamoto-dori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture No. 2-5 Matsushita Refrigerator Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Tsuda 4-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Refrigerator Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-10-232082 (JP, A) ) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-22165 (JP, A) SAI 52-42337 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 21/08

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A lead wire connected to both ends of a heater wire covered with a glass tube, an insulating member for covering a connecting portion between the heater wire and the lead wire, and an outer portion of the lead wire inside the insulating member. And a lead-out hole through which the lead wire is led out from the insulating member through the lead-out hole in a mounting posture of the defrosting glass tube heater body. And is formed integrally with the insulating member below the lead-out hole and propagates through the lead wire.
A defrosting glass tube heater, characterized in that a water draining portion is provided to prevent water from entering the lead-out pit . 2. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 1, wherein a lead wire engaging portion is provided on a lower surface of the insulating member to form a draining portion. 3. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is provided on a protruding portion protruding from a lower surface of the insulating member. 4. The second engaging portion for engaging the lead wire raised from the engaging portion above the lead-out hole is integrally formed with the insulating member. The glass tube heater for defrosting according to. 5. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 1, wherein an eave portion covering the outlet hole is formed integrally with the insulating member above the outlet hole. 6. The defrosting glass tube according to claim 4, wherein an eaves portion that covers the extraction hole is provided above the extraction hole, and the second engagement portion is formed using the eaves portion. heater. 7. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 1, wherein the outlet shaft is inclined downward toward the outlet hole. 8. The defrosting glass tube heater according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the insulating member is a rubber cap. 9. A refrigerator provided with a cooler provided inside a refrigerator main body and a dew pan located below the cooler to receive defrosting water of the cooler, wherein the cooler and the dew pan A glass tube heater for defrosting according to any one of claims 1 to 8 is disposed between the refrigerator and the refrigerator.