JP6218790B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and particularly to a refrigerator provided with a heat radiating pipe.

  In the refrigerator, the temperatures in the plurality of storage chambers of the refrigerator are each cooled to a predetermined temperature using a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a condenser, a heat radiating pipe, a cabinet pipe, a capillary tube, a cooler, and the like are connected to each other by piping. As an example of the patent document which disclosed such a refrigerator, there exists patent document 1, for example.

  The refrigerant in the pipe is first compressed by a compressor to become a high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows in order through the condenser, the heat radiating pipe, and the cabinet pipe. While the refrigerant flows, the heat of the refrigerant is dissipated. The radiated refrigerant flows into the capillary tube and is depressurized to become a low temperature / low pressure refrigerant. The low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant flows into the cooler, and heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing in and the air in the refrigerator storage chamber. The refrigerant subjected to heat exchange flows into the compressor and is compressed again. Thereafter, the cycle is repeated, whereby the temperature in the cabinet is maintained at a desired temperature.

JP 2003-207253 A

  In the refrigerator, the heat radiating pipe of the refrigerant circuit is disposed on the inner side of a side plate or the like that becomes a casing of the refrigerator. The heat of the refrigerant flowing through the heat radiating pipe is radiated to the outside through the side plate and the like. While the refrigerant is dissipating heat, the proportion of the refrigerant that liquefies increases.

  At this time, for example, in the heat radiating pipe arranged so that the refrigerant flows upward, the liquefied refrigerant becomes difficult to flow, and the refrigerant may stay. When the liquefied refrigerant stays in the heat radiating pipe, the contact area between the gaseous refrigerant and the heat radiating pipe (inner wall surface) decreases, and the heat of the refrigerant may not be efficiently radiated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator including a heat radiating pipe that efficiently radiates the heat of the refrigerant.

The refrigerator according to the present invention has a housing and a refrigeration cycle. The housing accommodates a plurality of storage rooms and has a door of the storage room on the front side. The refrigeration cycle is disposed in a housing and includes a compressor, a condenser, a heat radiating pipe, and a cooler, and the refrigerant circulates. The housing includes a back plate, a first side plate, and a second side plate. The back plate is disposed on the back side so as to face the door. The first side plate and the second side plate are disposed so as to face each other in a direction crossing a direction in which the door and the back plate face each other. The heat radiating pipe includes an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe. The upstream pipe is connected to the condenser, and is arranged vertically on the front side of the first side plate, and allows the refrigerant to flow from the lower part to the upper part of the first side plate. The downstream pipe is connected to the upstream pipe and is arranged over at least two surfaces of the housing including the first side plate, and allows the refrigerant sent to the upper portion of the first side plate to flow toward the lower portion of the housing. The downstream pipe is disposed so that the refrigerant alternately flows on at least two surfaces of the housing including the first side plate.

  According to the refrigerator of the present invention, the heat radiating pipe includes an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe, and causes the refrigerant sent to the upper portion of the first side plate by the upstream pipe to flow upward through the downstream pipe. And can flow toward the bottom of the housing. Thereby, the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the heat radiating pipe can be efficiently radiated.

It is a perspective view of the refrigerator which looked at Embodiment 1 from the front side. In the same embodiment, it is a figure which shows the refrigerating cycle of a refrigerator. In the embodiment, it is a perspective view of the refrigerator seen from the back side. In the embodiment, it is a perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe in a refrigerator. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a heat radiating pipe shown in FIG. 4 in the same embodiment. In the same embodiment, it is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the attachment aspect to the housing | casing of a thermal radiation pipe. It is a perspective view which shows the thermal radiation pipe of the refrigerator which concerns on a comparative example. It is a side view which shows the thermal radiation pipe of the refrigerator which concerns on a comparative example. It is a perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe in the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the heat radiating pipe shown in FIG. 9 in the same embodiment. In the embodiment, it is the 1st perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe of the refrigerator which concerns on a modification. In the embodiment, it is the 2nd perspective view which shows the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe of the refrigerator which concerns on a modification. In each embodiment, it is a fragmentary sectional view which shows one modification of the attachment aspect to the housing | casing of a thermal radiation pipe. In each embodiment, it is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the other modification of the attachment aspect to the housing | casing of a thermal radiation pipe. In each embodiment, it is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the refrigerant | coolant which flows through a heat radiating pipe in the case of the modification of the attachment aspect to the housing | casing of the heat radiating pipe shown by FIG. In each embodiment, it is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the refrigerant | coolant which flows through a heat radiating pipe in the case of the other modification of the attachment aspect to the housing | casing of the heat radiating pipe shown by FIG.

Embodiment 1
Here, an example of a refrigerator in which heat radiation pipes are arranged on two surfaces of the side plate and the back plate of the housing will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the refrigerator 1, for example, a refrigerating room 5, an ice making room 7, a switching room 9, a freezing room 11, and a vegetable room 13 are housed in a housing 3 as storage rooms. The refrigerator compartment 5 is arranged in the upper part in the housing 3, and the vegetable compartment 13 is arranged in the lower part in the housing 3. Between the refrigerator compartment 5 and the vegetable compartment 13, an ice making room 7, a switching room 9 and a freezing room 11 are arranged. In addition, the arrangement | positioning relationship of a storage chamber is an example, Comprising: It is not restricted to this.

  The refrigerator compartment 5 is a storage compartment that is set to a temperature that does not freeze objects stored in the refrigerator. The ice making room 7 is a storage room for storing ice produced by an ice making machine in the warehouse. The switching chamber 9 is a storage chamber that can switch the temperature zone according to the application. The freezer compartment 11 is a storage compartment that is set to a freezing temperature that freezes items stored in the cabinet. The vegetable room 13 is a storage room that mainly contains vegetables.

  On the front side 3 a of the housing 3, a double door 6 a and a door 6 b of the refrigerator compartment 5 are provided. Further, on the front side 3 a of the housing 3, the drawer type doors 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the ice making room 7, the switching room 9, the freezing room 11, and the vegetable room 13 are provided.

  The housing 3 is configured by members including a back plate 3b, side plates 3c and 3d, and a top plate 3e. The back plate 3b, the side plates 3c, 3d, and the top plate 3e are made of a metal plate such as an iron plate, for example. The back plate 3b is disposed so as to face the front side 3a (the door 6a and the like). The side plate 3c and the side plate 3d are disposed so as to face each other in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the door and the back plate 3b face each other, and are connected to the back plate 3b. The upper surface plate 3 e is disposed on the upper portion of the housing 3.

  Next, the refrigeration cycle (refrigerant circuit) provided in the refrigerator 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a refrigerant circuit 20 in which a compressor 21, a condenser 23, a heat radiating pipe 27, a cabinet pipe 31, a capillary tube 35, and a cooler 37 (evaporator) are connected by piping. It has been.

  The compressor 21 compresses the refrigerant into a high temperature / high pressure refrigerant. As shown in FIG. 3, the compressor 21 is disposed in the lower part on the back plate 3 b side in the housing 3 of the refrigerator 1. The condenser 23 dissipates heat from the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant. The condenser 23 is also arranged in the lower part (machine room) on the back plate 3 b side in the housing 3 of the refrigerator 1.

  A fan 25 is disposed on the side of the condenser 23. By sending air to the condenser 23 by the fan 25, heat dissipation in the condenser 23 is promoted. Further, an intake slit 19 for promoting air flow is provided in the side plate 3c located on the side of the condenser 23. Further, a drain pan 17 that receives dew is disposed in the vicinity of the condenser 23. Note that a main body substrate 15 for controlling a series of cooling operations and the like by the refrigerant circuit is disposed on the upper portion of the housing 3.

  The heat radiating pipe 27 further radiates heat from the refrigerant. One end side (upstream side) of the heat radiating pipe 27 is connected to the outlet side of the condenser 23. As will be described later, the heat radiating pipe 27 is disposed on the side plate 3c and the back plate 3b (see FIG. 4). The cabinet pipe 31 is arrange | positioned at the front side 3a of the refrigerator 1, and prevents that dew adheres to the door vicinity. One end side (upstream side) of the cabinet pipe 31 is connected to the other end side (downstream side) of the heat radiating pipe 27.

  The dryer 33 removes moisture and the like contained in the refrigerant. One end side (upstream side) of the dryer 33 is connected to the other end side (downstream side) of the cabinet pipe 31. The capillary tube 35 depressurizes the refrigerant. One end side (upstream side) of the capillary tube 35 is connected to the other end side (downstream side) of the dryer 33.

  The cooler 37 cools the storage chamber by exchanging heat between the air in the storage chamber of the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerant. One end side (upstream side) of the cooler 37 is connected to the other end side (downstream side) of the capillary tube 35. The other end side (downstream side) of the cooler 37 is connected to the compressor 21. Further, a heat exchanging unit 39 that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant that flows from the cooler 37 toward the compressor 21 and the refrigerant that flows through the capillary tube 35 is provided. The refrigeration cycle (refrigerant circuit) of the refrigerator 1 is configured as described above.

  Next, the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe in the refrigeration cycle will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heat radiating pipe 27 is disposed over two surfaces of the side plate 3 c and the back plate 3 b that are connected to each other. The heat radiating pipe 27 includes an upstream pipe 28 and a downstream pipe 29. The upstream pipe 28 is disposed vertically on the front surface side 3a of the side plate 3c (see the dotted line frame in FIG. 5). The upstream pipe 28 refers to a portion up to a point where the heat radiating pipe 27 connected to the condenser 23 has been raised. In FIG. 4, in order to show the arrangement structure of the heat radiating pipe 27, the heat radiating pipe 27 is shown by a solid line.

  The downstream pipe 29 is arranged so that the refrigerant sent out from the upstream pipe 28 flows toward the lower part of the housing 3 (see the dotted line frame in FIG. 5). Specifically, the downstream pipe 29 is arranged in such a manner that the refrigerant flows downward or laterally without flowing the refrigerant upward. Since the upstream pipe 28 is arranged on the front side 3a of the side plate 3c, the downstream pipe 29 can be easily arranged on the two surfaces of the side plate 3c and the back plate 3b. As shown in FIG. 6, the heat radiating pipe 27 is fixed to the inner wall surfaces of the side plate 3c and the back plate 3b by, for example, an aluminum tape 41.

  In the refrigerator 1 described above, since the heat radiating pipe 27 including the upstream pipe 28 and the downstream pipe 29 is arranged, the heat of the refrigerant can be efficiently radiated. This will be described in comparison with a refrigerator according to a comparative example.

  As a refrigerator according to a comparative example, FIG. 7 shows a refrigerator 101 in which a heat radiating pipe 127 is arranged over two surfaces of a side plate 103c and a top plate 103e of the housing. FIG. 8 shows the refrigerator 101 in which the heat radiating pipe 127 is disposed only on the side plate 103c of the housing. In the refrigerator 101 according to the comparative example, the refrigerant sent from the condenser (not shown) to the heat radiating pipe 127 flows toward the upper portion of the housing 103, and then flows to the lower portion of the housing 103. It flows toward the upper part of the housing 103.

  At this time, for example, when the flow rate of the refrigerant is low, or depending on the state of the refrigerant such as the ratio of the gas-phase refrigerant to the liquid-phase refrigerant, the refrigerant once flowing into the lower portion of the casing 103 is again returned to the casing 103. It may be difficult to flow toward the upper part of the pipe, and the refrigerant may flow backward, and the refrigerant may stay in the portion of the heat radiating pipe 127 located at the lower part of the housing 103. For this reason, there are few portions where the gas-phase refrigerant contacts the inner wall surface of the heat radiating pipe 127, and the refrigerant may not be sufficiently radiated.

  In the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment with respect to the refrigerator 101 according to the comparative example, the heat radiating pipe 27 includes an upstream pipe 28 and a downstream pipe 29. For this reason, the refrigerant that has flowed through the upstream pipe 28 and sent to the upper part of the casing 3 flows downward or laterally through the downstream pipe 29 without flowing upward, and is sent to the lower part of the casing 3. It will be. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from flowing backward in the heat radiating pipe 27. Moreover, it can suppress that a refrigerant | coolant retains. As a result, an area where the gas-phase refrigerant comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the heat radiating pipe 27 is ensured, and the heat of the refrigerant can be reliably radiated.

Embodiment 2
Here, an example of a refrigerator in which a heat radiating pipe is disposed on three surfaces of two opposite side plates and a back plate of the housing will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the heat radiating pipe 27 is disposed over three surfaces of the side plate 3c, the back plate 3b, and the side plate 3d. The heat radiating pipe 27 includes an upstream pipe 28 and a downstream pipe 29. The upstream pipe 28 is arranged in the vertical direction on the front side 3a of the side plate 3c (see the dotted line frame in FIG. 10).

  The downstream pipe 29 is arranged on the side plate 3c, the back plate 3b, and the side plate 3d in such a manner that the refrigerant flows downward or laterally without flowing the refrigerant upward (see the dotted line frame in FIG. 10). Since the upstream pipe 28 is arranged on the front side 3a of the side plate 3c, the downstream pipe 29 can be easily arranged on the three surfaces of the side plate 3c, the back plate 3b, and the side plate 3d. In addition, since it is the same as that of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1 etc. about the structure other than this, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member and the description will not be repeated unless it is required.

  In the refrigerator 1 described above, the heat radiating pipe 27 includes an upstream pipe 28 and a downstream pipe 29. For this reason, the refrigerant that has flowed through the upstream pipe 28 and sent to the upper part of the casing 3 flows downward or laterally through the downstream pipe 29 without flowing upward, and is sent to the lower part of the casing 3. It will be. Thereby, the backflow of the refrigerant | coolant in the thermal radiation pipe 27 or the retention of a refrigerant | coolant can be suppressed. In addition, the downstream pipe 29 is disposed over the three surfaces of the side plate 3c, the back plate 3b, and the side plate 3d, so that the heat of the refrigerant can be radiated more efficiently.

(First modification)
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the refrigerator 1 according to the first modified example, the length of the heat radiating pipe 27 a arranged on the side of the freezing room 11 and the switching room 10 in the storage room is the refrigerating room 5. Or the heat radiating pipe 27 (downstream pipe 29) is arrange | positioned so that it may become shorter than the length of the heat radiating pipe 27 arrange | positioned at the side of the vegetable compartment 13. FIG. In addition, since it is the same as that of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 etc. about the structure other than this, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member and the description will not be repeated unless it is required.

  As described above, in the refrigerator 1, the refrigeration room 5, the ice making room 7, the switching room 9, the freezing room 11, and the vegetable room 13 are housed in the housing 3 as storage rooms. In the storage room, the temperature is set according to the item to be accommodated. For example, in the refrigerator compartment 5, the temperature is set to about 5 ° C., and in the freezer compartment 11 and the ice making room 7, the temperature is set to about −18 ° C. Moreover, in the vegetable compartment 13, temperature is set to about 10 degreeC. In the switching chamber 9, the temperature can be switched to a temperature of about 0 ° C or about -7 ° C.

  In the vicinity of the heat radiating pipe 27, the temperature rises as the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the heat radiating pipe 27 is radiated. The heat released to the periphery may flow into each storage room, and the flowed heat becomes a factor that raises the temperature in the storage room.

  In the refrigerator according to the first modified example, the length of the heat radiating pipe 27a disposed on the side of the freezer compartment 11 and the switching chamber 10 having a relatively low set temperature is the refrigerator compartment 5 and the vegetables having a relatively high set temperature. The heat radiating pipe 27 is disposed so as to be shorter than the length of the heat radiating pipe 27 disposed on the side of the chamber 13.

  Thereby, the amount of heat radiated from the refrigerant flowing through the heat radiating pipe 27 can be suppressed from flowing into the freezer compartment 11 and the switching chamber 10, and the temperature inside the freezer compartment 11 and the like can be prevented from rising. As a result, wasteful power consumption can be suppressed. 11 and 12 show the case where the length of the heat radiating pipe 27a (downstream pipe 29) disposed on the side plate 3d on the side of the freezer compartment 11 or the like is shortened, the freezer compartment The length of the downstream pipe 29 arranged on the side surface plate 3c on the side such as 11 may be shortened.

(Second modification)
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the case where the heat radiating pipe 27 is fixed to the inner wall surface of the housing 3 (side plates 3c, 3d, back plate 3b) with an aluminum tape 41 will be described as an example. did. In this case, the cross-sectional shape of the heat radiating pipe 27 is circular, and the heat radiating pipe 27 is in line contact with the inner wall surface of the housing 3.

  In order to efficiently dissipate the heat of the refrigerant flowing through the heat radiating pipe 27, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, as a heat radiating pipe, a part of the heat radiating pipe 27 having a circular cross section is processed to form the flat portion 43. The formed heat radiating pipe 27 may be applied. By bringing the flat portion 43 of the heat radiating pipe 27 into contact with the inner wall surface of the housing 3, the heat radiating pipe 27 comes into surface contact with the inner wall surface of the housing 3. Thereby, the heat | fever of a refrigerant | coolant can be thermally radiated more efficiently than the case where it makes line contact.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14, you may attach the heat radiating pipe 27 to the inner wall face of the housing | casing 3 with the adhesive agent 45 containing metal powder, without processing the heat radiating pipe 27, for example. In this case, the adhesive 45 is filled in the gap between the heat radiating pipe and the inner wall surface of the housing 3 so as to cover the portion where the heat radiating pipe 27 and the inner wall surface of the housing 3 are in contact.

  Thereby, the heat | fever of a refrigerant | coolant can be thermally radiated more efficiently than the case where it makes line contact. The adhesive is not limited to the adhesive 45 containing metal powder. For example, an adhesive containing ceramic powder may be used, and a viscous fluid or a thermosetting fluid having high thermal conductivity may be used. it can.

  In addition, as described in the first and second embodiments, the downstream pipe 29 is configured so that the refrigerant sent to the upper part of the casing 3 flows downward or laterally without flowing upward, and the casing 3 It is arranged to be sent to the lower part of. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15 or FIG. 16, in the portion of the heat radiating pipe 29 where the downstream pipe 29 is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction so that the refrigerant flows in the horizontal direction, The phase refrigerant 51 is positioned, and the gas phase refrigerant 53 is positioned above the phase refrigerant 51. Thereby, the heat | fever of a gaseous-phase refrigerant | coolant can be thermally radiated efficiently. The same applies to the case where the heat radiating pipe 27 having a circular cross section is fixed to the housing 3 by the aluminum tape 41 (see FIG. 6).

  In addition, about the refrigerator demonstrated in each embodiment, it is possible to combine variously as needed.

  The embodiment disclosed this time is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the scope described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention is effectively used for a refrigerator provided with a heat radiating pipe.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 3 housing | casing, 3a front side, 3b back plate, 3c, 3d side plate, 3e top plate, 5 refrigerator compartment, 6a, 6b door, 7 ice making room, 8 door, 9 switching room, 10 door, 11 freezing Chamber, 12 Door, 13 Vegetable room, 14 Door, 15 Main board, 17 Drain pan, 19 Intake slit, 20 Refrigeration circuit, 21 Compressor, 23 Condenser, 25 Fan, 27 Heat radiation pipe, 28 Upstream pipe, 29 Downstream pipe, 29a Horizontal pipe, 31 Cabinet pipe, 33 Dryer, 35 Capillary tube, 37 Cooler, 39 Heat exchange part, 41 Aluminum tape, 43 Plane part, 45 Viscous adhesive, 51 Liquid phase refrigerant, 53 Gas phase refrigerant

Claims (8)

A housing that houses a plurality of storage rooms and has a door of the storage room on the front side;
A refrigeration cycle that is disposed within the housing and includes a compressor, a condenser, a heat radiating pipe, and a cooler, and a refrigerant circulates;
The housing is
A back plate disposed on the back side so as to face the door;
Including a first side plate and a second side plate arranged to face each other in a direction intersecting with a direction in which the door and the back plate face each other,
The heat radiating pipe is
An upstream pipe connected to the condenser, arranged in the longitudinal direction on the front side of the first side plate, and flowing a refrigerant from the lower side to the upper side of the first side plate;
The refrigerant connected to the upstream pipe and disposed over at least two surfaces of the housing including the first side plate and sent to the upper portion of the first side plate flows toward the lower portion of the housing. A downstream pipe ,
The said downstream pipe | tube is a refrigerator with which the refrigerant | coolant was arrange | positioned so that a refrigerant | coolant may flow alternately at least 2 surfaces of the said housing | casing containing the said 1st side plate . The storage room is
A first storage chamber set at a first temperature;
A second storage chamber set at a second temperature lower than the first temperature,
The length of the downstream pipe disposed on the side of the second storage chamber in the downstream pipe is shorter than the length of the downstream pipe disposed on the side of the first storage chamber. Refrigerator.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat radiating pipe includes a flat portion in surface contact with the first side plate and the back plate. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein either a heat conductive viscous fluid or a curable fluid is interposed between the heat radiating pipe and the first side plate and the back plate.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the downstream pipe includes a horizontal pipe extending in a horizontal direction.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the downstream pipe is disposed across the first side plate and the back plate.   The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the downstream pipe is further disposed over the second side plate.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the downstream pipe is disposed over three surfaces of the housing including the first side plate, the back plate, and the second side plate.

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