JP5686982B2 - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cooling storehouse in which a cooling control operation is performed, and more particularly to a cooling storehouse that saves energy by limiting the operating rate of a cooling fan when a compressor is stopped.

The thing of patent document 1 is known as this kind of cooling storage. When the internal temperature detected by the internal thermistor reaches the upper limit of the preset internal temperature, the compressor in the refrigeration unit is turned on, and when the internal temperature reaches the lower limit of the internal temperature, the compressor is turned on. By alternately repeating the turn-off, the interior is cooled to a substantially set temperature. On the other hand, the cooling fan that circulates the cool air generated by the cooler to the storage chamber while the compressor is turned on is a form in which the internal air is agitated when operated even when the compressor is off. This is effective in eliminating variations in the temperature distribution in the cabinet. However, since the power consumption increases when the cooling fan is continuously operated, the operating rate of the cooling fan is limited to save energy.
In the related art, the cooling fan is intermittently operated with an ON / OFF time of 15 seconds / 150 seconds, and the intermittent operation is started from OFF so as to be effective by energy saving.

Japanese Patent No. 3220377

On the other hand, in this type of cooling storage, the internal temperature detected by the internal thermistor is displayed on the temperature display provided on the front of the door, etc., but the cooling fan is intermittently operated as described above. In such a case, there is a risk of causing the following problems regarding the temperature display.
As shown in FIG. 7, the internal thermistor 1 is arranged in the middle of the internal duct 3 that directs the internal air to the cooler 2, and the detected temperature is regarded as the internal temperature. When the compressor is stopped and the cooling fan 4 is switched to the intermittent operation as shown in FIG. 5 and is initially in the off state, the cold heat of the cooler 2 is transferred to the internal thermistor 1 by natural convection as shown by the arrow in FIG. However, the detected temperature may be much lower than the lower limit value of the internal set temperature.

In the refrigerator, the set temperature in the refrigerator is set to 3 ° C., for example, and the lower limit value (set temperature −2K) is about “1 ° C.”. In the above situation, the detected temperature is further 2K from the lower limit value. There is a possibility that the temperature will be lowered ("-1 ° C"), and as a result, the minus temperature "-1 ° C" will be displayed on the temperature display as the internal temperature, and the anxiety that the stored items will freeze. There was a risk of giving a feeling to the user.
The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to display the temperature inside the cabinet without feeling uneasy for the user while realizing energy saving with respect to the operation of the cooling fan. By the way.

The cooling storage of the present invention includes a storage chamber for storing a stored product, a cooler connected to a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor and disposed in the storage chamber, and cool air generated by the cooler is circulated to the storage chamber. The cooling fan to be circulated, the in-compartment thermistor for detecting the temperature in the storage chamber, and when the detected temperature of the in-compartment thermistor reaches the preset upper limit value of the in-compartment temperature, the compressor is operated, In what comprises operation control means for repeatedly stopping the operation of the compressor when the lower limit value of the set temperature is reached, and an internal temperature display means for displaying the temperature according to the detected temperature of the internal thermistor, Fan control means for intermittently operating the cooling fan while the compressor is stopped during operation control of the compressor and controlling the intermittent operation to start from the stopped state, and the cooling fan of If the detected temperature of the internal thermistor is lower than the lower limit value of the internal set temperature during the shortage operation, the display temperature displayed by the internal temperature display means is a predetermined value higher than the detected temperature. Display temperature correction means for correcting to the correction temperature is provided.
In addition, the “cooler connected to the refrigeration apparatus including the compressor and disposed in the storage chamber” in the above configuration refers to the storage chamber in addition to the case where the cooler is disposed in a part of the storage chamber. The case where the cooler chamber is provided in a connected form and the cooler is arranged in the cooler chamber is also included.

When the compressor is stopped during the cooling control operation, the fan control means causes the cooling fan to shift to the intermittent operation and start from the stopped state. At this time, when the temperature detected by the thermistor in the cabinet is lower than the actual temperature inside the cabinet due to the influence of the cooler of the cooler, etc., especially when the detected temperature falls below the lower limit of the temperature set in the cabinet, the display temperature correction means With this function, a predetermined correction temperature higher than the detected temperature becomes the display temperature and is displayed by the internal temperature display means.
When the cooling fan is intermittently operated when the compressor is stopped, especially by starting from the stopped state, energy saving can be realized more reliably, and the detected temperature makes the actual internal temperature unnecessary. Even if the temperature is lower, the temperature close to the actual inside temperature can be displayed, and the user is prevented from feeling uneasy.

The following configuration may also be used.
(1) The correction temperature is a lower limit value of the internal set temperature.
(2) The correction temperature is the internal set temperature.
(3) The display temperature correction means functions only when the cooling fan is initially turned off during intermittent operation of the cooling fan. The control time for correcting the display temperature is shortened, and an effect is obtained that the CPU utilization rate can be increased and the memory capacity can be suppressed in the control device.

(4) After the temperature detected by the internal thermistor reaches the lower limit value of the internal set temperature, the display temperature correction means becomes a lower reference temperature or lower than the lower limit value of the internal set temperature by a predetermined value. In such a case, a function of applying the detected temperature to the display temperature is provided.
When the detected temperature of the internal thermistor falls below the lower limit of the internal set temperature, the correction temperature is displayed as described above, but when the detected temperature is lower than the lower reference temperature, the detected temperature is directly used as the display temperature. Is displayed.
When the temperature detected by the internal thermistor falls below the low reference temperature, if there is any abnormality, for example, the cooling fan is in a stopped state due to a failure or the compressor is stopped, the operation is continued. Since there is a high possibility that a situation has occurred, a temperature below the low reference temperature is displayed, so that a preliminary warning can be given that an abnormality has occurred.

  (5) Alarm means for generating a low temperature alarm is provided when a state in which the temperature detected by the internal thermistor is equal to or lower than the low reference temperature continues for a predetermined time. An abnormality is accurately detected, and this is issued as an alarm.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display the internal temperature without feeling uneasy for the user while realizing energy saving with respect to the operation of the cooling fan.

The partially cutaway front view of the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention Partial cutaway schematic plan view Refrigeration circuit diagram Block diagram showing control mechanism of cooling control operation Timing chart showing cooling fan control mode Timing chart showing the relationship between the temperature detected in the chamber and the display temperature Schematic sectional view showing the structure near the cooler chamber according to the conventional example

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, a horizontal refrigerator is illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator has a refrigerator main body 10 made of a horizontally long heat insulation box that opens on the front surface, and the inside is a refrigerator compartment 11 for storing stored items, and is provided at the four corners of the bottom surface. Supported by legs 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 11 is partitioned by a heat-insulating inner frame 13 to form left and right entrances 14, and a double-split heat insulating door 15 is mounted. An intermediate frame heater 13A for preventing condensation is embedded in the intermediate frame 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator is equipped with a refrigeration circuit 20 in which a compressor 21, a condenser 22, a capillary tube 23, and a cooler 24 (evaporator) are circulated and connected by refrigerant piping.
A machine room 16 is provided on the side of the refrigerator main body 10, and a cooler room 17 communicating with the refrigerating room 11 is formed on an upper side of the machine room 16. Are mounted in the cooler chamber 17 together with the cooling fan 26, while the compressor 21, the condenser 22 and the capillary tube 23 constituting the refrigeration apparatus 25 are accommodated in the lower part of the machine chamber 16.
The left side wall of the refrigerator compartment 11 is provided with an internal duct 27 for guiding the internal air toward the lower surface of the cooler 24, and the internal thermistor detects the internal temperature in the internal duct 27. 28 is provided.
Further, a drain pan 29 for receiving defrost water is disposed on the bottom surface of the cooler chamber 17, and a pan heater 29 </ b> A is provided on the back surface of the drain pan 29 in order to melt a fallen frost mass.

The cooling control mechanism of this embodiment will be described. First, basic cooling control operation will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, a set temperature input unit 32 for inputting a set temperature Ts and a thermistor 28 are connected to the input side of the control device 30 provided with a timer 31 and the like. A compressor 21 and a cooling fan 26 are connected to each other.
Since the present embodiment is a refrigerator, the internal set temperature Ts is set to “3 ° C.”, for example, and the comparison result between the internal set temperature Ts and the internal detected temperature Tk detected by the internal thermistor 28 is obtained. Based on this, the compressor 21 of the refrigeration apparatus 25 is on / off controlled.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 reaches the upper limit value Tsu (Ts + 2K = 5 ° C.) of the internal set temperature Ts, the compressor 21 and the cooling fan 26 are operated. As shown by an arrow x in FIG. 1, cold air is generated while the internal air passes through the internal duct 27 and the cooler 24, and the cold air is blown into the refrigerating chamber 11 to circulate. When the detected temperature Tk reaches the lower limit value Tsd (Ts−2K = 1 ° C.) of the internal set temperature Ts after a lapse of time, the operation of the compressor 21 is stopped. “° C.”.

Here, in the present embodiment, a function of performing exceptional operation control of the cooling fan 26 while the compressor 21 is in a stopped state is provided (fan control unit 40). That is, in the off state of the compressor 21, the cooling fan 26 is intermittently operated as shown in FIG. 5, for example, intermittent operation with an on / off time of 15 seconds / 150 seconds is performed, and the intermittent operation is off. It is supposed to start from.
By operating the cooling fan 26 even when the compressor 21 is in a stopped state, the internal air is agitated and effective in eliminating variation in the temperature distribution in the internal space. Since the intermittent operation has a high off-time ratio and starts from off, it is effective in reducing energy consumption.

The control device 30 is provided with a middle frame heater 13A provided on the middle frame 13 and a heater control unit 45 for controlling on / off of the pan heater 29A provided on the drain pan 29.
Since the middle frame heater 13A is for preventing condensation, it is normally turned on during the cooling control operation. On the other hand, since the pan heater 29A is to function during the defrosting operation, it is normally off during the cooling control operation. In contrast, in the present embodiment, both the middle frame heater 13A and the pan heater 29A are intermittently operated in synchronization with the cooling fan 26 while the compressor 21 is in a stopped state during the cooling control operation. ing.

  When the compressor 21 is in a stopped state, when the cooling fan 26 is operated, as shown by the arrow y in FIG. 2, condensation is likely to occur due to cooling by applying cool air to the inner frame 13. However, only when the cooling fan 26 is in operation, the middle frame heater 13A is turned on to raise the temperature, thereby preventing condensation. In other words, since the middle frame heater 13A is turned on only when there is a possibility of condensation, it is possible to suppress power consumption and efficiently prevent condensation. Further, by intermittently operating the middle frame heater 13A, the temperature rise in the warehouse during the stoppage of the compressor 21 is alleviated, and the operation rate of the compressor 21 is reduced, which can further contribute to energy saving.

  On the other hand, the advantages of operating the pan heater 29A in synchronization with the cooling fan 26 while the compressor 21 is stopped are as follows. When the pan heater 29A is turned on, the air below the cooler 24 is warmed, and the warm air is applied to the cooler 24 by the cooling fan 26, thereby preventing frost formation. As a result, the amount of frost formation on the cooler 24 is reduced, and the time for a plurality of defrosting operations performed regularly during one day can be shortened. Note that turning on the pan heater 29A leads to an increase in the internal temperature, but since it is only intermittently turned on for a short time, there is almost no effect on the increase in the internal temperature.

  Now, during the above-described cooling control operation, the internal temperature is displayed on the internal temperature display unit 35 provided on the surface of the heat insulating door 15 or the like based on the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28. In this embodiment, the temperature display is switched by reading the detected temperature Tk at a predetermined time interval (for example, 30 seconds). More specifically, the resolution of the internal thermistor 28 is “0.5 ° C.”, the detected temperature Tk is read in units of 0.5 ° C., and the internal temperature display unit 35 further rounds it down as an integer value. It is trying to display. For example, if the actual internal temperature is “2.4 ° C.”, the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 is “2.5 ° C. (estimated)”, and the display temperature is “2 ° C.”.

Here, when the intermittent operation control of the cooling fan 26 is performed when the compressor 21 is stopped as described above, the following problems may occur with respect to the display of the internal temperature.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, when the compressor 21 is stopped and the cooling fan 26 is switched to the intermittent operation, and the initial OFF state, the cooler 24 is cooled as indicated by the arrow z in FIG. There is a possibility that the internal thermistor 28 arranged in the internal duct 27 is reached by natural convection, and the internal thermistor 28 detects a value lower than the actual internal temperature. In the refrigerator, the internal set temperature Ts is set to “3 ° C.”, and the lower limit value Tsd at which the compressor 21 is controlled to stop is “1 ° C.”. However, in the above situation, the ambient condition However, there is a possibility that the detected temperature Tk is further lowered by about 2K from the lower limit value Tsd (“−1 ° C.”). Then, the minus temperature “−1 ° C.” is displayed on the inside temperature display unit 35 as the inside temperature, giving the user anxiety that the stored items stored in the refrigerator may freeze. There is a fear.

  In this embodiment, measures are taken to eliminate the above-described problems, and the above-described control device 30 includes a display temperature correction unit 41. The display temperature correction unit 41 detects that the detected temperature Tk of the in-compartment thermistor 28 reaches the lower limit value Tsd of the in-compartment set temperature Ts and the compressor 21 is stopped. Until the compressor 21 is restarted, that is, while the compressor 21 is stopped and the cooling fan 26 is intermittently controlled, the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 is set to the internal set temperature Ts. When the temperature is lower than the lower limit value Tsd, the internal temperature display unit 35 functions to display the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts as the display temperature regardless of the detected temperature Tk.

Further, the display temperature correction unit 41 described above, after the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 reaches the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts, further, a predetermined value ( 3K) When the temperature is equal to or lower than the low low reference temperature Tc, the temperature correction is canceled, and the function of displaying the detected temperature Tk as the display temperature on the internal temperature display unit 35 is also provided.
Further, when the state in which the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 is equal to or lower than the low reference temperature Tc continues for a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour), the alarm unit 36 issues a low temperature alarm. Yes.

Then, the effect | action which concerns on a chamber internal temperature display is demonstrated based on the timing chart of FIG.
When the internal temperature (detected temperature Tk) reaches the upper limit value Tsu of the internal set temperature Ts (timing A), the compressor 21 is turned on and the cooling fan 26 enters the continuous operation mode, whereby the cold air is stored in the refrigerator compartment. By being circulated and supplied to 11 and cooled, the internal temperature gradually decreases. During this time, the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 is taken every 30 seconds, and the display temperature of the integer value based on the detected temperature Tk is switched and displayed on the internal temperature display unit 35 (including overwriting).

When the internal temperature decreases and the detected temperature Tk reaches the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts (timing B), the compressor 21 is turned off and the cooling fan 26 is switched to the intermittent operation mode. As a result, the actual internal temperature starts to rise. However, as described above, depending on the conditions, the detected temperature Tk detected by the internal thermistor 28 continues to decrease, for example, to about “−1 ° C.”. There may be a phenomenon that it starts to rise again.
In this way, while the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 falls below the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts and rises again to the same lower limit value Tsd, the internal setting is made regardless of the detected temperature Tk. The lower limit value Tsd of the temperature Ts becomes the display temperature and is displayed on the internal temperature display unit 35.
While the detected temperature Tk rises to the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts (timing C) and continues to rise thereafter, the above temperature display correction function is canceled and an integer value based on the detected temperature Tk again. Is displayed on the internal temperature display unit 35.

When there is an abnormality in the refrigerator, for example, when the cooling fan 26 is stopped due to a failure or when the compressor 21 is turned off, the on-state continues, the characteristic line X indicates As described above, there is a phenomenon in which the detected temperature Tk further continues to decrease from the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts. In this case, the temperature correction function is initially exhibited, and the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts becomes the display temperature and is displayed on the internal temperature display unit 35 as described above.
When the detection temperature Tk continues to fall and reaches a low reference temperature Tc that is 3K lower than the lower limit value Tsd (timing D), the temperature correction function is canceled thereafter, and the detection temperature Tk is displayed as the display temperature in the chamber. It is displayed on the temperature display unit 35. In this case, the display temperature becomes a minus temperature of “−2 ° C.” or less, and this can be used to preliminarily warn the user that there is an abnormality.
When the state where the detected temperature Tk is equal to or lower than the low reference temperature Tc continues for a predetermined time (one hour), the alarm unit 36 issues a low temperature alarm with a lamp or buzzer.

  As described above, according to the refrigerator of the present embodiment, when the cooling fan 26 is intermittently operated when the compressor 21 is stopped during the cooling control operation, energy saving can be achieved by starting from the stopped state. Even if the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 is unnecessarily lower than the actual internal temperature, for example, minus temperature, the display temperature is set as the internal temperature. Since the display is corrected and displayed as a positive temperature close to the actual internal temperature such as the lower limit value Tsd of the temperature Ts, it is possible to give the user anxiety that the stored items may freeze while being a refrigerator. It can be prevented beforehand.

  Further, when the detected temperature Tk of the internal thermistor 28 continues to decrease and reaches a low reference temperature Tc (−2 ° C.) that is 3K lower than the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature Ts, some abnormal situation occurs. Therefore, when the detected temperature Tk further decreases after reaching the low reference temperature Tc, the temperature correction function is canceled, and the detected temperature Tk is displayed as the display temperature on the internal temperature display unit 35. The In other words, the display temperature becomes a minus temperature of “−2 ° C.” or less, which can warn the user in advance that there is an abnormality.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) The corrected display temperature, that is, the correction temperature, is not limited to the lower limit value Tsd of the internal set temperature exemplified in the above embodiment, and may be the internal set temperature Ts or any temperature in the vicinity thereof.
(2) The correction temperature function by the display temperature correction unit may be made to function only when the cooling fan is initially in the off state after the cooling fan is switched to the intermittent operation. The reason why the detected temperature is unnecessarily lower than the actual internal temperature is considered to be remarkable when the cooling fan is first turned off, and is intended to perform the correction temperature function only when necessary. . As a result, the control time for correcting the display temperature can be shortened, and the utilization rate of the CPU can be increased or the memory capacity can be reduced in the control device.

(3) Regarding the on / off time when the cooling fan is intermittently operated, the 15 seconds / 150 seconds exemplified in the above embodiment are merely examples, and may be other times.
(4) The detected temperature in the cabinet that is the basis of the display temperature may be a detected temperature obtained by another method such as an average value of the detected temperatures of a plurality of sampling times before the capture timing.
(5) The switching of the display temperature is not limited to every 30 seconds exemplified in the above embodiment, but may be performed every other time.

(6) The function of canceling the temperature correction function when the detected temperature reaches the low temperature reference value is not necessarily required, and such a function is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(7) The correction function of the display temperature according to the present invention is considered to be particularly effective when the cooling temperature of the refrigerator or the like is a plus temperature, but is uneasy if the display temperature is considerably lower than the set temperature. Since the same applies to a freezer or the like, the present invention can be widely applied to all cooling storages having a function of displaying the internal temperature.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Refrigeration room (storage room) 21 ... Compressor 24 ... Cooler 25 ... Refrigeration device 26 ... Cooling fan 28 ... Inside thermistor 30 ... Control device 35 ... Inside temperature display part (inside temperature display means) 36 ... Alarm Section (alarm means) 40 ... Fan control section (fan control means) 41 ... Display temperature correction section (display temperature correction means) Tk ... Detection temperature Ts ... Inside temperature Tsd ... Lower limit value Tsu ... Upper limit value Tc ... Low reference temperature

Claims (4)

A storage room for storing the storage;
A cooler connected to a refrigeration apparatus including a compressor and disposed in the storage room;
A cooling fan that circulates and circulates the cold air generated by the cooler into the storage chamber;
An internal thermistor for detecting the temperature in the storage chamber;
When the detected temperature of the internal thermistor reaches the preset upper limit of the internal set temperature, the compressor is operated, and when the internal temperature reaches the lower limit, the compressor is repeatedly stopped. Operation control means;
In what is provided with an internal temperature display means for displaying the temperature according to the detected temperature of the internal thermistor,
Fan control means for intermittently operating the cooling fan while the compressor is stopped during operation control of the compressor and controlling the intermittent operation to start from a stopped state;
When the detected temperature of the internal thermistor is lower than the lower limit of the internal set temperature during the intermittent operation of the cooling fan, the display temperature displayed by the internal temperature display means is set to the internal setting. Display temperature correction means for correcting to the lower limit value of the temperature, or to an arbitrary temperature in the vicinity of the set temperature in the cabinet, and
The cooling storage characterized by being provided. The said storage temperature correction | amendment means functions only when the said cooling fan at the time of the intermittent operation | movement of the said cooling fan becomes an OFF state initially, The cooling storage warehouse of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. When the detected temperature of the internal thermistor reaches the lower limit value of the internal set temperature, and the display temperature correction means further falls below a low reference temperature that is a predetermined value lower than the lower limit value of the internal set temperature. The cooling storage according to claim 1, further comprising a function of applying the detected temperature to the display temperature. The alarm means for generating a low temperature alarm is provided when the state in which the temperature detected by the internal thermistor is equal to or lower than the low reference temperature continues continuously for a predetermined time. Cooling storage.

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