JP5722734B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator provided with an evaporator for generating cold air and a drain pipe for draining defrost water.

  Conventionally, refrigerators have a refrigerator compartment for storing food and beverages at low temperatures, a refrigerator compartment for storing food frozen and storing frozen foods, and fresh food such as meat and seafood. A plurality of storage chambers such as a chilled chamber for storing at lower temperatures are provided.

  Also, an evaporator for generating predetermined cold air, a fan and a cold air passage for sending the generated cold air to a freezing room, a chilled room, and a refrigeration room, and a defrosting device for defrosting the evaporator And a drain support that collects the defrost water and a drain pipe that discharges the defrost water to the outside of the machine.

  Since the defrost water is discharged to the outside of the machine (for example, the evaporating dish provided in the machine room where the compressor is installed) via the drain pipe, the drain pipe penetrates the refrigerator heat insulating box (heat insulating material). (See, for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, in order to secure a large refrigerator internal volume, an evaporator is often arranged at the top of the compressor, and there are more cases where the drainage part of the defrost water receiver to the evaporating dish is not arranged linearly. Yes.

  The heat insulation box of the refrigerator is filled with foam insulation such as urethane foam in the gap between the outer box and the inner box in a liquid state, filled, foamed and solidified, and therefore embedded in the insulation. The drain pipe is considered not to be deformed by withstanding the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying. For example, by providing knurled irregularities on the outer surface of the drain pipe, it is possible to increase the tube strength and withstand the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material so as not to be deformed.

JP 2002-90043 JP

  When the drainage path from the drainage part of the drain support that receives the defrost water to the evaporating dish cannot be arranged linearly, it is necessary to incline the drainpipe. However, when the drain pipe is inclined, water may stay depending on the inclination angle.

  If the water stays, there is a possibility that the defrost water is frozen in the drain pipe, which causes a problem. In particular, it is not preferable to provide knurled irregularities for reinforcement in order to give pressure resistance to the drain pipe, because water easily stays in the recesses and grooves formed by the irregularities.

  Further, the inner diameter of the drain pipe is preferably a predetermined appropriate inner diameter because it is such a size that defrost water and foreign matters can easily flow and is not easily deformed by the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material. It is desirable.

  That is, the drain pipe that receives the defrost water from the drain support drainage and guides it to the evaporating dish preferably has a shape and size in which the defrost water does not stay and flows easily. It is desirable to have a shape and size that are not easily deformed by the pressure of time.

  Therefore, in view of the above problems, the present invention is a refrigerator including a evaporator that generates cold air, a defroster that defrosts the evaporator, and a drain pipe that discharges defrost water. It aims at providing the refrigerator which is equipped with the drain pipe which has the shape which is easy to flow, and the shape which cannot change easily with the pressure at the time of filling solidification of a foam heat insulating material, and can discharge | emit defrost water reliably.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an evaporator that generates cold air, a defroster that defrosts the evaporator, and a refrigerator that includes a drain pipe that discharges defrost water. It is inclined downward from the horizontal direction by a predetermined inclination angle or more, has a concave and convex groove for reinforcement, has a pressure-resistant top surface portion, and has a smooth bottom surface portion without a concave portion in which defrost water stays. It is characterized by.

  According to this configuration, the drain pipe has a concave and convex groove for reinforcement formed on the upper surface portion thereof, so that the pipe strength is increased and pressure resistance is obtained, and the drain pipe can be incorporated while preventing deformation during filling and solidification of the heat insulating material. it can. In addition, since it is inclined downward in the drainage direction by a predetermined inclination angle or more and its bottom surface portion is smooth without having a concave portion, it can be drained smoothly without allowing it to stay inside the pipe when flowing defrost water. . That is, it is possible to obtain a refrigerator that includes a drain pipe having a shape in which defrost water does not stay and easily flows and a shape that is difficult to be deformed by the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material, and that can reliably discharge the defrost water. it can.

  Further, in the refrigerator having the above structure according to the present invention, the bottom surface portion includes a flat portion connected to the concavo-convex portion formed on the top surface portion, and the flat portion is not more than a horizontal angle even if it is inclined 5 ° to the left and right from the horizontal direction. It is characterized by an inclined surface that does not become necessary. According to this configuration, even if the installation angle of the drain pipe changes depending on the installation situation of the refrigerator, if the inclination is within 5 °, the defrost water does not stay in the drainage path and the defrost water is surely discharged. it can.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, the predetermined inclination angle is about 5 °, and the drain pipe is inclined downward by 5 ° or more from the horizontal in the draining direction. According to this configuration, even if the main body of the refrigerator is inclined to some extent depending on the installation situation of the refrigerator, it can be inclined downward in the direction of drainage, dewatering water does not stay in the drainage path, and the drainage section and the evaporating dish Can be shortened.

  In the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the drain pipe is connected to a drain part of a drain support included in the defrosting device, and is connected to the connection part to incline downward from the horizontal in the drain direction in the drain direction. And an out-of-machine drainage section connected to the pipe section. According to this configuration, the pipe portion between the connecting portion and the external drainage portion is inclined at a predetermined angle, so that the defrost water can be reliably discharged even when a drain pipe inclined at an angle close to horizontal is used. .

  In the refrigerator having the above-described configuration, the connecting portion includes a first curved portion that is continuous with the pipe portion, and the external drainage portion includes a second curved portion that is continuous with the pipe portion. The concave-convex groove is formed in the pipe portion intermediate between the portion and the second curved portion. According to this configuration, since the reinforcing concave and convex grooves are formed in the intermediate pipe portion that is an area embedded in the heat insulating material, the tube strength that is not crushed by the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material is exhibited.

  In the refrigerator configured as described above, the drain pipe may have a uniform inner diameter that allows easy insertion of foreign matter such as defrost water and retaining screws in the region from the connecting portion to the drainage portion outside the machine. It is characterized by having. According to this configuration, even if a stop screw or dust enters, it can be easily discharged to the outside through the drain pipe.

  According to the present invention, the drainage direction is tilted downward from the horizontal by a predetermined inclination angle or more, and has a concave and convex groove for reinforcement, and has a pressure-resistant top surface portion and a recess in which defrost water stays. Since it has a configuration using a drain pipe with a smooth bottom surface, it has a shape that is easy to flow without defrost water staying, and a drain pipe that has a shape that is difficult to deform due to the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material A refrigerator capable of reliably discharging defrost water can be obtained.

It is an expansion explanatory view of the drain pipe with which the refrigerator concerning the present invention is provided. It is AA sectional drawing of the drain pipe shown in FIG. It is expansion explanatory drawing of the conventional drain pipe. It is sectional drawing explaining a mode that the conventional drain pipe deform | transforms. It is the whole drain pipe in which the uneven groove for reinforcement was formed in the perimeter. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the arrangement | positioning structure of the evaporator and defroster of a refrigerator. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows the arrangement structure of the drain pipe of a refrigerator.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Moreover, the same code | symbol is used about the same structural member, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted suitably. First, an example of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a freezer compartment 2 at the lower portion and a refrigerator compartment 3 thereon. In addition, a chilled room is provided in the refrigerator compartment 3 so as to be a large food storage room having a common door.

  Between the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3 and between the refrigerator compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3, a heat insulating partition wall filled with a heat insulating material 4 such as urethane foam is disposed. On the rear surface, an evaporator 5 for generating cold air is disposed.

  Moreover, the ventilation fan (not shown) and the cool air duct which send the cool air produced | generated by the evaporator 5 to the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3 are provided, and the cool air channel | path which sends cool air to each store room, and each store room are provided. A return passage that circulates and returns to the evaporator 5 is provided. Further, a defrosting device 8 that performs defrosting of the evaporator 5 is provided below the evaporator 5, a drain support 11 that collects the defrosted water, and a drain for discharging the collected defrosted water. A pipe 12 and a drain pipe 16 are attached.

  The defrost water is drained through the drain pipe 12 to, for example, an evaporating dish (not shown) installed in a machine room provided with the compressor 17 at the lower part of the main body. For that purpose, the drain pipe 12 is provided so as to penetrate the heat insulating material 4, and after assembling the outer box and the inner box forming the refrigerator 1, and attaching the components such as the drain pipe 12 to a predetermined position, It is filled with a heat insulating material such as urethane foam and foamed and solidified. That is, the drain pipe 12 for draining the defrost water to the evaporating dish installed outside with the evaporator 5 and the defroster 8 and the heat insulating material 4 interposed therebetween is installed so as to be embedded through the heat insulating material 4. The

  The defroster 8 includes a glass tube heater 9 for defrosting the evaporator 5 and a drain support 11 that receives drain water (defrost water) generated by defrosting. Further, the drain support 11 is provided with a drainage part 11a, and a drain pipe 12 is connected to the lower part of the drainage part 11a via a seal member 13 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the drain support 11 is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the long glass tube heater 9, and a drainage portion 11a is provided in the middle of the longitudinal direction. And the bottom face of the both sides which reaches this drainage part 11a is made into a downward inclined surface, and all the defrost water which fell to the drain support 11 is made to flow into the drainage part 11a rapidly. Further, the defrost water is allowed to flow out from the drainage part 11 a to the drain pipe 12.

  Next, the drain support 11 and the drain pipe 12 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an enlarged explanatory view of a drain pipe 12 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG. 3 and 4 show a drain pipe having a conventional configuration, and FIG. 5 shows an example of a drain pipe having a conventional configuration in which a concavo-convex groove for reinforcement is formed on the entire circumference.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drain pipe 12 </ b> A having a conventional configuration uses a pipe member having a circular cross section, and is attached by fitting (for example, press-fitting) the connecting portion 12 </ b> Aa into the drainage portion 11 a of the drain support 11. Yes. Moreover, it is set as the structure which attaches the rubber-made sealing member 13 to a fitting part, and prevents a water leak. The seal member 13 also prevents the heat insulating material from entering the pipe when the heat insulating material such as urethane foam is filled and solidified.

However, the drain pipe 12A having a circular cross-section of the pipe portion 12Ab between the connecting portion 12Aa and the external drainage portion 12Ac is not sufficiently high in strength, and may be deformed by the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the heat insulating material. is there. For example, when the drain pipe 12A is made of a blow molded resin having a thickness of 1 to 2 mm, it is crushed as shown in FIG. 4 by the pressure (300 to 400 g / cm ² ) at the time of filling and solidifying the heat insulating material. There may be a deformed drain pipe 12A ′.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, by providing a reinforcing concave and convex groove 14 (a plurality of concave and convex portions are formed in a knurled shape) on the outer surface, the tube strength is increased and the foamed heat insulating material is filled and solidified. It can withstand pressure and prevent deformation. That is, the drain pipe 12 </ b> B provided with the knurled concave / convex grooves 14 can withstand the pressure (300 to 400 g / cm <2>) at the time of filling and solidifying the heat insulating material and does not deform.

  This drain pipe 12B also includes a connecting portion 12Ba, an external drainage portion 12Bc, and a pipe portion 12Bb having a circular cross section between them, and an uneven groove for reinforcement on the outer peripheral portion of a uniform pipe having a circular cross section. 14 is formed.

  However, in the configuration in which the concave and convex grooves 14 for reinforcement are provided on the entire outer surface as in the case of the drain pipe 12B, when the drain pipe 12B is installed in an inclined posture, particularly in an inclined posture close to the horizontal, the lower side A concave bottom portion 15B is formed on the bottom surface. For this reason, there arises a problem that the defrost water stays in the concave bottom portion 15B and freezes to block the tube.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the drain pipe 12 of the present embodiment has a smooth bottom surface when the drain pipe 12 is installed with an inclination, and is used for reinforcement to prevent deformation at the other outer peripheral portion. The concave and convex grooves 14 are provided so that a predetermined tube strength can be exhibited. In addition, the drain pipe 12 is inclined downward in the direction of drainage so that the defrost water flows smoothly without stagnation.

  That is, the drain pipe 12 inclines the pipe portion 12b (water guide portion) in the intermediate region from the connecting portion 12a press-fitted into the drainage portion 11a to the drainage portion 12c outside the machine from the horizontal in the drainage direction downward by a predetermined inclination angle θ1 or more. Thus, the upper and lower grooves 14 are provided with a concavo-convex groove 14 for reinforcement and have a pressure resistance, and a smooth bottom surface 15 that does not have a recess in which defrost water stays.

  If it is this structure, since the drain pipe 12 will have the uneven | corrugated groove | channel 14 for reinforcement in the upper surface part, and will exhibit high pipe | tube intensity | strength and will have pressure | voltage resistance, it will not deform | transform at the time of insulation material filling solidification. Moreover, since the bottom face part 15 does not have a recessed part and is made smooth, the defrost water which flows through the inside can be drained smoothly, without staying. That is, even in the drain pipe 12 inclined at an angle close to horizontal, the shape in which the defrost water does not stay and flows easily, and the shape that does not easily deform due to the pressure at the time of filling and solidifying the foam heat insulating material The refrigerator 1 having the drain pipe 12 is a refrigerator that can reliably discharge defrost water.

  The concave and convex grooves 14 formed for reinforcement are preferably provided on the entire circumference of the outer circumference of the pipe, or as wide as possible on the outer circumference of the pipe. Moreover, it is preferable that the bottom face part 15 is smooth without an unevenness so that the defrost water can easily flow. Furthermore, even if the installation posture of the refrigerator 1 (not ± 5 °) is slightly inclined, it is desirable that the defrost water flow in a reliable manner in response to good conditions.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reinforcing concave / convex grooves 14 are provided in a wide area of the outer peripheral portion excluding the bottom surface portion 15 through which the defrost water flows. Further, in addition to inclining in the direction of draining, as shown in FIG. 2, the left and right bottom surfaces are inclined with respect to the tube axis direction at a predetermined inclination with respect to the portion that becomes the connecting portion between the bottom surface portion 15 and the reinforcing uneven groove 14. The structure is inclined upward by an angle θ2 or more. That is, the defrost water is less likely to stay in each cross-sectional area of the drain pipe 12. This predetermined inclination angle θ2 is, for example, about 5 °.

  That is, the bottom surface portion 15 includes a flat portion 15A connected to the concave and convex grooves 14 formed on the top surface portion, and the flat portion 15A is an inclined surface that does not fall below the horizontal angle even if it is tilted 5 ° to the left and right from the horizontal direction. If it is this structure, even if the installation angle of the drain pipe 12 changes with the installation conditions of a refrigerator, if it is the inclination within 5 degrees, the defrost water will not stay in a drainage path, and defrost water is ensured. Can be discharged.

  Since the flat portion 15A connecting the bottom surface portion 15 and the concavo-convex portion is inclined upward by about 5 ° from the horizontal direction, portions other than the region in the vicinity of the bottom surface portion 15 (the portions reaching the top surface, the side surface, and the bottom surface). ), The concave / convex groove 14 for reinforcement is formed, and the drain pipe 12 having the concave / convex groove 14 in a relatively wide area is obtained. Therefore, even if it is the structure which does not provide an uneven | corrugated | grooved part in a part on the bottom side, tube intensity | strength can be maintained high.

  The predetermined inclination angle θ1 of the drain pipe 12 inclined in the direction of drainage is preferably about 5 ° or more. In this way, by tilting the drain pipe 12 downward from the horizontal by 5 ° or more in the direction of drainage, the defrost water does not stay in the drainage path regardless of the installation state of the refrigerator 1, and the drainage part 11a and The distance to the evaporating dish can be shortened.

  As described above, the drain pipe 12 includes the connecting portion 12a connected to the drainage portion 11a of the drain support 11 included in the defrosting device 8, and the pipe that is connected to the connecting portion 12a and is inclined downward from the horizontal in the drain direction. It is set as the structure provided with the part 12b and the external drainage part 12c connected to this pipe part 12b. If it is such a structure, even if it uses the drain pipe 12 inclined at the angle close | similar to horizontal by inclining the pipe part 12b between the connection part 12a and the external drainage part 12c by the predetermined angle, the defroster 8 The defrost water generated by can be reliably discharged to the evaporating dish provided outside the apparatus.

  Since the drainage portion 11a of the drain support 11 is opened vertically downward, the connecting portion 12a has an opening portion that extends vertically upward, and the connecting portion 12a is a pipe portion that is inclined downward from the horizontal to the drainage direction from the horizontal. It has the 1st curved part 12ab which continues to 12b. Similarly, the external drainage part 12c has a second curved part 12bc connected to the pipe part 12b inclined downward from the horizontal in the drainage direction, and has a drainage opening part directed downward.

  That is, the drain pipe 12 has a connecting portion 12a that opens vertically upward through a first curved portion 12ab at one end of a pipe portion 12b that is an intermediate portion, and a second curved portion 12bc at the other end. An external drainage portion 12c that opens downward, and an intermediate pipe portion 12b is inclined downward from the horizontal to the drainage direction from the horizontal, and has an upper surface portion on which a concave and convex groove 14 for reinforcement is formed, and a concave portion. It is set as the structure which has the bottom face part 15 made smooth without having.

  The pipe strength is required because it is the pipe portion 12b in the intermediate region corresponding to the portion embedded in the heat insulating material 4, and it is preferable to provide the concave and convex grooves 14 for reinforcement in the pipe portion 12b. Moreover, it is preferable that the internal diameter of the drain pipe 12 from the connection part 12a to the external drainage part 12c is a uniform diameter. In other words, the pipe has a uniform inner diameter as the minimum inner diameter, and a plurality of convex grooves are provided in the pipe portion 12b in the intermediate region.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the uniform drain pipe 12 is not less than a predetermined size. For example, when the refrigerator 1 is assembled, it is preferable to have an inner diameter that facilitates the removal of these foreign substances when component mounting screws, set screws, etc. fall into the pipe. That is, the drain pipe 12 has an inner diameter (for example, 10 mm) that is easy to allow foreign matter such as defrosted water and a stop screw to pass therethrough, and the reinforcing concave and convex grooves 14 are formed in a knurled shape in the pipe portion 12b in the intermediate region. Forming. With this configuration, even if a stop screw or dust enters, it can be easily discharged through the drain pipe.

  Further, from the viewpoint of the pipe strength of the drain pipe 12, it is preferable that the pipe inner diameter is not larger than a predetermined value. That is, it is preferable that the inner diameter is of a size that can be inserted into the fallen stop screw.

  Generally, since the outer diameter of the head of the set screw used when mounting various parts on the refrigerator 1 is 10 mm or less, if the inner diameter of the drain pipe 12 is 10 mm or a slightly larger size, the defrost water can easily flow. Foreign objects such as retaining screws can be easily inserted. Further, if the inner diameter is about 10 mm, the tube strength does not become weak even if it is a resin drain pipe. Furthermore, since the bottom surface portion 15 is not provided with an uneven portion and is made smooth, even if a stop screw or the like enters the pipe, it can be easily taken out without staying inside the pipe.

  That is, even if the drain pipe made of blow molded resin is embedded in the heat insulating material by setting the outer shape, internal structure, arrangement inclination angle and inner diameter of the drain pipe to a predetermined shape and size, the heat insulating material is filled. The drain pipe is prevented from being deformed by the pressure at the time of solidification, and foreign matter such as a stop screw and defrost water can be reliably discharged without staying inside.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the drainage direction is inclined downward from the horizontal by a predetermined inclination angle or more, and the reinforcing concave and convex grooves are formed in a knurled shape and have pressure resistance, and defrosted water is retained. Because it has a configuration using a drain pipe that does not have a concave part and has a smooth bottom part, a shape that does not retain defrost water easily flows, and a shape that does not easily deform due to pressure during filling and solidification of foam insulation The refrigerator which can be discharged | emitted reliably can be obtained by providing the drain pipe which has this.

  In addition, the evaporator 5 is arranged at the upper part of the compressor, and even if the drain support part 11a of the drain support 11 to the evaporating dish is not arranged in a straight line, the drain pipe is inclined at a predetermined angle. By doing, the vertical dimension from the drain support 11 to the drainage part of the drain pipe 12 can be made small.

  That is, even in a compact configuration in which an evaporator is installed in the upper part close to the compressor and the drain pipe is inclined, the defrost water does not stay inside the pipe, and the distillation dish provided outside Can be surely drained.

  Thus, the refrigerator 1 which concerns on this invention is the refrigerator provided with the evaporator which produces | generates cool air, the defrost apparatus which defrosts an evaporator, and the drain pipe which discharges defrost water, In the refrigerator provided with the inclined drain pipe, Even if it uses, the refrigerator which can discharge | emit defrost water reliably can be obtained.

  Therefore, the refrigerator according to the present invention can be suitably used for a refrigerator that is required to be compact and requires that the drain pipe be inclined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Freezing room 3 Refrigeration room 4 Heat insulation material (heat insulation partition wall)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Evaporator 8 Defroster 9 Glass tube heater 11 Drain support 11a Drain part 12 Drain pipe 12a Connection part 12ab First curved part 12b (Intermediate) Pipe part 12bc Second curved part 12c Outside machine drain part 13 Seal member 14 Uneven groove 15 Bottom part θ1 Inclination angle (with respect to the horizontal direction of the drain pipe)
θ2 Tilt angle (with respect to the horizontal direction of the flat part)

Claims (6)

In an refrigerator that generates cold air, a defroster that defrosts the evaporator, and a refrigerator that includes a drain pipe that discharges defrost water,
The drain pipe is inclined downward from the horizontal in the direction of drainage by a predetermined inclination angle or more, has a concave and convex groove for reinforcement, has a pressure resistant upper surface portion, and does not have a concave portion in which defrost water stays and is smooth. A refrigerator comprising a bottom surface having a circular cross-section and a bottom surface having an inclined surface that extends in the horizontal direction of the cross-section of the bottom surface. The inclined surface is a flat portion which connects the uneven part formed on the upper surface, and characterized in that the flat portion and an inclined surface is also inclined 5 ° from the horizontal direction to the left and right does not fall below the horizontal angle The refrigerator according to claim 1. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined inclination angle is about 5 [deg.], And the drain pipe is inclined downward by 5 [deg.] Or more from the horizontal in the draining direction. The drain pipe is connected to a drain part of a drain support included in the defrosting device, a pipe part connected to the connection part and inclined downward from the horizontal to the drain direction in the drain direction, and connected to the pipe part. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an external drainage unit. The connecting portion has a first curved portion that is continuous with the pipe portion, and the external drainage portion has a second curved portion that is continuous with the pipe portion, between the first curved portion and the second curved portion. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the concave and convex grooves are formed in the intermediate pipe part. The drain pipe has a uniform inner diameter of a size in which foreign matter such as defrost water and a stop screw can be easily inserted in a region from the connecting portion to the external drainage portion. The refrigerator according to any one of 5.

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