JP6344896B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools and stores food and the like in a storage chamber, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that can cool a plurality of storage chambers with a single cooler with high efficiency.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a refrigerator that supplies cold air cooled by a single cooler to a storage room partitioned into a plurality of storage rooms having different cooling temperatures, such as a refrigerator room and a freezer room. In this type of refrigerator, a blower is provided at the outlet of the cooling chamber that houses the cooler, and the cold air sent out by the blower is branched and supplied to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively (for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2).

  In the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 1, a damper (refrigeration room damper) is provided in a supply air passage (refrigeration room supply air passage) for flowing cold air sent from a blower to the refrigerating room, and the refrigerating room damper causes the refrigerating room damper to The amount of cold air to be supplied can be controlled. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the refrigerator compartment from being overcooled by closing the refrigerator compartment damper when the refrigerator compartment is not required to be cooled.

  Further, in the refrigerator disclosed in Patent Document 2, a damper (freezer compartment damper) is further provided at the inlet of a supply air passage (freezer compartment supply air passage) for flowing cold air sent from the blower to the freezer compartment, The amount of cold air supplied to the freezer is controlled by the freezer damper. In the refrigerator having such a configuration, it is possible to supply cold air only to the refrigerator compartment by performing the cooling operation with the refrigerator compartment damper opened and the freezer compartment damper closed.

  Also known is a refrigerator provided with two coolers, that is, a cooler for cooling the refrigerator compartment (refrigerator for refrigerator) and a cooler for cooling the freezer compartment (refrigerator for refrigerator). (For example, Patent Document 3). In this type of refrigerator, the refrigerant is allowed to flow through one of the coolers to alternately cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

Japanese Patent No. 4739926 (page 4-5, Fig. 2-3) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2013-2664 (pages 5-6, FIG. 4) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-72577 (page 4-5, FIG. 1)

  However, the conventional refrigerator has a problem that it is difficult to suitably cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment independently.

  For example, in a refrigerator provided with a damper (refrigerating room damper) only in a refrigerating room supply air passage connected from a blower to a refrigerating room as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, cold air is supplied only to the refrigerating room. I could not. That is, when a cooling operation for operating the compressor and the blower to cool the refrigerator compartment is performed, the cool air sent from the blower is always supplied to the freezer compartment. For this reason, since cooling air is supplied to the freezing room even in a situation where cooling of the freezing room is unnecessary, efficient cooling operation cannot be performed.

  In the cooler, since cooling is performed to a sufficiently low temperature (freezing temperature) to cool the freezer compartment, there is much frost formation, and heating power for melting the frost is also required. In addition, the low cooling temperature has also caused drying of the refrigerator compartment and vegetable compartment.

  Moreover, in the refrigerator provided with a damper (freezer compartment damper) at the entrance of the freezer supply air passage that supplies the cold air to the freezer compartment as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 2, the cold air discharged from the blower is collected. Then, since the freezer damper is passed, there is a problem that the pressure loss is large.

  In addition, it is necessary to form an air passage through which cool air discharged from the blower flows, that is, a freezer-refrigeration common air passage upstream of the freezer damper, at the back of the freezer supply air passage. There was a problem of narrowing.

  Further, in the refrigerator provided with two coolers as in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 3, there is a problem that the refrigeration cycle circuit becomes complicated and the component cost and assembly cost increase. Further, since the refrigerant is switched to flow through the two coolers, complicated control is required. In addition, there is a problem in that the cooling efficiency is lowered because thermal loss occurs due to switching of the refrigerant circuit. Furthermore, in order to arrange the refrigeration cooler, it is necessary to form a cooling chamber in the back of the refrigeration chamber, and there is a problem that the storage capacity of the refrigeration chamber is reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to efficiently cool a plurality of storage chambers with a single cooler and to ensure a large storage volume. It is to provide a refrigerator that can be used.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a storage chamber partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers, a cooler that cools air supplied to the storage chamber, and a feed port that is provided with the cooler and is connected to the storage chamber. A cooling chamber and a blower provided at the feed port, a movable blower cover is provided outside the cooling chamber of the feed port, and the blower cover has a substantially box shape having a recess on the blower side The blower cover has an opening formed by partially cutting a side wall of the blower cover, and the blower cover is spaced apart from the cooling chamber to open the feed port and to feed the feed. The feed port is partially blocked with the opening opened so that the cooled air flows close to the mouth.

  According to the refrigerator of the present invention, a movable blower cover is provided outside the cooling chamber feed port, and the blower cover closes the feed port while ensuring an opening through which air cooled by the cooler flows. Can do. Thereby, in the state which stopped the cold air supply to the one storage chamber of the partitioned storage chamber, cold air can be supplied independently to another storage chamber. As a result, each storage chamber can be suitably cooled according to the respective cooling load.

  Moreover, the said opening part opens with respect to the supply air path connected to a refrigerator compartment in the state which plugged up the said feed port with the said air blower cover. Thereby, cooling of a refrigerator compartment can be performed in the state which stopped cooling of the other storage room. Further, by providing a damper that can be opened and closed in the supply air passage, the supply of cold air to the refrigerator compartment can be shut off. As a result, the cooling of the refrigerator compartment can be controlled independently and efficiently.

  Also, the blower cover according to the present invention is provided on the discharge side of the blower, and moves in a direction approaching the cooling chamber to close the feed port of the cooling chamber, and moves in a direction away from the cooling chamber to flow cool air. Form. Therefore, the air on the blower discharge side having a high flow speed in the rotational radius direction can be flowed out of the cooling chamber with a small flow resistance.

  Moreover, the opening connected to the freezer compartment is shielded while the opening connected to the refrigerator compartment is secured by closing the outlet of the cooling chamber with the blower cover. This makes it possible to independently and suitably control the supply of cold air to the freezer compartment, and prevent the freezer compartment from being too cold. That is, an appropriate amount of cold air can be supplied to each of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

  In addition, as in a conventional refrigerator having a freezer damper provided at the inlet of the freezer supply air passage, a freezer-refrigeration common airflow into which cool air discharged from the blower flows between the freezer supply air passage and the cooling chamber Therefore, it is possible to secure a wide storage space for the freezer compartment.

  In addition, unlike a conventional refrigerator provided with two coolers, it is not necessary to form a cooling chamber for placing a refrigeration cooler in the back of the refrigeration chamber, so that a large storage capacity of the refrigeration chamber can be secured. . Further, a complicated refrigeration cycle circuit and complicated control are not necessary, and thermal loss due to switching of the refrigerant circuit can be prevented.

  Moreover, when frost adheres to the cooler and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than a predetermined value, the blower cover may block the cooling chamber feed port, and the blower may be operated. Thereby, the frost adhering to the cooler can be melted without heating with a defrost heater or the like, and the refrigerator can be cooled using the heat of melting of the frost without operating the compressor. it can. Moreover, since cold air with high humidity can be supplied to a refrigeration room or a vegetable room by defrosting, it is possible to prevent the food stored therein from being dried and enhance the effect of maintaining freshness.

It is a front external view of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front schematic diagram explaining the supply air path of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the structure of the cooling chamber vicinity of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the fan cover of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view of the state which closed the air blower cover (A) which shows the structure of the air blower and shielding apparatus of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and (B) the open state. Explanatory drawing which shows the result of having analyzed the air flow around an axial-flow fan on the conditions that (A) the pressure difference of the discharge side and the suction side is 12 Pa, (B) the same pressure difference is 4 Pa, and (C) the same pressure difference is 2 Pa. It is.

  Hereinafter, the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail based on drawing.

  FIG. 1 is a front external view showing a schematic structure of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment includes a heat insulating box 2 as a main body, and forms a storage room for storing food and the like inside the heat insulating box 2. The interior of the storage room is divided into a plurality of storage rooms 3 to 7 according to the storage temperature and application. The uppermost stage is the refrigeration room 3, the lower left side is the ice making room 4, the right side is the upper freezing room 5, and the lower stage. Is the lower freezer compartment 6, and the bottom is the vegetable compartment 7. The ice making chamber 4, the upper freezing chamber 5, and the lower freezing chamber 6 are all storage chambers in the freezing temperature range, and these are collectively referred to as freezing chambers 4 to 6 as appropriate in the following description.

  The front surface of the heat insulation box 2 is opened, and heat insulation doors 8 to 12 are provided in the openings corresponding to the storage chambers 3 to 7 so as to be opened and closed. The heat insulating doors 8a and 8b divide and block the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the left upper and lower parts of the heat insulating door 8a and the upper right lower part of the heat insulating door 8b are rotatably supported by the heat insulating box 2. Moreover, the heat insulation doors 9-12 are each united with a storage container, and are supported by the heat insulation box 2 so that it can be pulled out to the front of the refrigerator 1.

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a schematic structure of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat insulation box 2 which is the main body of the refrigerator 1 is disposed with a steel plate outer box 2a having a front opening and a gap in the outer box 2a, and the front opening. It is composed of an inner box 2b made of synthetic resin, and a heat insulating material 2c made of polyurethane foam filled and foamed in a gap between the outer box 2a and the inner box 2b. Each of the heat insulating doors 8 to 12 adopts the same heat insulating structure as that of the heat insulating box 2.

  The refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartments 4 to 6 located in the lower stage are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 28. The ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 inside the freezing chambers 4 to 6 are partitioned by a partition wall (not shown in the drawing). The ice making chamber 4 and the upper freezing chamber 5 and the lower freezing chamber 6 provided in the lower stage communicate with the cold air in a freely flowing manner. The freezer compartments 4 to 6 and the vegetable compartment 7 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 29.

  On the back surface of the refrigerator compartment 3, a refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 is formed as a supply air passage which is partitioned by a synthetic resin partition 45 and supplies cold air to the refrigerator compartment 3. In the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14, an air outlet 17 through which cold air flows to the refrigerator compartment 3 is formed. The refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 is provided with a refrigerator compartment damper 25. The refrigerating room damper 25 is an openable / closable damper driven by a motor or the like, and controls the flow rate of the cool air supplied to the refrigerating room 3 to appropriately maintain the temperature inside the refrigerating room 3.

  On the back side of the freezer compartments 4 to 6, there is formed a freezer compartment supply air passage 15 for flowing the cold air cooled by the cooler 32 to the freezer compartments 4 to 6. A cooling chamber 13 is formed on the further back side of the freezing chamber supply air passage 15, and a cooler 32 (evaporator) for cooling the air circulating in the warehouse is disposed therein. .

  The cooler 32 is connected to the compressor 31, a radiator (not shown), and an expansion valve (capillary tube) (not shown) via a refrigerant pipe, and constitutes a vapor compression refrigeration cycle circuit. It is. In the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment, isobutane (R600a) is used as the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle.

  The refrigerator 1 also includes a refrigerating room temperature sensor 51 that detects the temperature inside the refrigerating room 3, a freezing room temperature sensor 52 that detects the temperature inside the freezing rooms 4 to 6, and other various sensors (not shown).

  Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 is provided with a control device (not shown), and the control device executes a predetermined calculation process based on input values from the sensors, and includes a compressor 31, a blower 35, a shielding device 40, Control each component such as the refrigerator compartment damper 25.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing a schematic configuration of the supply air passage of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigeration chamber supply air passage 14 for supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber 3 is configured to send the cold air to the uppermost portion in the central portion of the refrigerating chamber 3 and then descend from both sides. ing. Thereby, cold air can be efficiently supplied to the whole inside of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  The refrigerator 1 includes a return air passage 20 through which air flows from the refrigerator compartment 3 to the cooling compartment 13 (see FIG. 2). A return port 22 that is an opening connected to the return air passage 20 is formed in the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 3. The air in the refrigerator compartment 3 flows to the return air passage 20 through the return port 22 and flows below the cooler 32.

  In addition, a vegetable room supply air passage 16 for flowing the air cooled by the cooler 32 to the vegetable compartment 7 is formed in front of the return air passage 20. The vegetable room supply air passage 16 branches upward from the freezer compartment air supply passage 15 and turns downward through the inside of the heat insulating partition wall 28 (see FIG. 2) above the freezer compartments 4 to 6. It passes through the back of the freezer compartments 4-6. And it penetrates the heat insulation partition wall 29 (refer FIG. 2), and is connected to the vegetable compartment 7. FIG. The vegetable compartment 7 is formed with an air outlet 19 which is an opening for blowing cold air from the vegetable compartment supply air passage 16.

  The vegetable room supply air passage 16 is provided with a vegetable room damper 26 that controls the flow of cold air supplied to the vegetable room 7. Thereby, the vegetable compartment 7 can be cooled independently of the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the temperature of the vegetable compartment 7 can be controlled appropriately.

  In addition, you may comprise the vegetable room supply air path 16 so that it may branch from the side of the freezer compartment supply air path 15, or the downward | lower direction. Thereby, the vegetable compartment supply air path 16 can be shortened, and pressure loss can be reduced.

  Moreover, the vegetable room supply air path 16 can also be connected to the return air path 20 which returns the cold air from the refrigerator compartment 3. That is, the cool air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment 3 may be supplied to the vegetable compartment 7. Thus, by connecting the vegetable compartment supply air passage 16 to the return air passage 20, the vegetable compartment damper 26 can be omitted and cost reduction can be achieved.

  A return opening 24 is formed in the vegetable compartment 7, and the air in the vegetable compartment 7 passes from the return opening 24 through the vegetable compartment return air passage 21 (see FIG. 2) and the return opening 13 b (see FIG. 2). And flows to the lower part of the cooling chamber 13.

  FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the structure near the cooling chamber 13 of the refrigerator 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the cooling chamber 13 is provided inside the heat insulating box 2 and on the far side of the freezer compartment supply air passage 15. The cooling chamber 13 and the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 or the freezer compartments 4 to 6 are partitioned by a synthetic resin partition 46. That is, the cooling chamber 13 is a space formed by being sandwiched between the inner box 2 b and the partition 46.

  The freezer compartment supply air passage 15 formed in front of the cooling chamber 13 is a space formed between the partition body 46 and the synthetic resin front cover 47 assembled in front thereof, and is cooled by the cooler 32. It becomes an air passage for flowing cool air. The front cover 47 is formed with an air outlet 18 that is an opening for blowing cool air into the freezer compartments 4 to 6.

  A return port 23 for returning air from the freezer compartments 4 to 6 to the cooling compartment 13 is formed on the lower back surface of the lower freezer compartment 6. Under the cooling chamber 13, a return port 13 b is formed which is connected to the return port 23 and sucks the return cold air from the storage chamber into the cooling chamber 13.

  A defrost heater 33 is provided below the cooler 32 as defrosting means for melting and removing frost adhering to the cooler 32. The defrost heater 33 is an electric resistance heating type heater. In addition, as a defrosting means, it is also possible to employ | adopt other defrost systems, such as an off-cycle defrost which does not use an electric heater, and a hot gas defrost, for example.

  The partition 46 at the top of the cooling chamber 13 is formed with a feed port 13a that is an opening connected to the storage chambers 3 to 7. That is, the feed port 13a is an opening through which the cold air cooled by the cooler 32 flows, and the cooling chamber 13, the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14, the freezer compartment supply air passage 15, and the vegetable compartment supply air passage 16 (see FIG. 3). ). A blower 35 for sending cold air to the freezer compartments 4 to 6 and the like is disposed at the feed port 13a.

  The blower 35 is an axial flow blower including a rotary propeller fan 37 and a casing 36 in which a wind tunnel 36a that is a substantially cylindrical opening is formed. The casing 36 is attached to the feed port 13 a of the cooling chamber 13 and is a part that becomes a boundary between the suction side and the discharge side of the blower 35.

  The casing 36 is provided with a fan 37 coaxially with the wind tunnel 36a. Note that the discharge side end of the fan 37 is disposed outside the discharge side end of the wind tunnel 36a, that is, outside the discharge side end surface of the casing 36, that is, on the discharge side or the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 side. . Thereby, the flow resistance of the discharge air flowing out in the direction of the rotation radius of the fan 37 is reduced, and the cold air can be sent out with a small flow loss.

  Further, a shielding device 40 including a blower cover 41 for closing the feed port 13a is provided outside the feed port 13a of the cooling chamber 13, that is, on the discharge side of the blower 35. The shielding device 40 is attached such that the support base 43 is in close contact with the casing 36 of the blower 35, for example.

  The blower cover 41 has a concave shape on the surface facing the cooling chamber 13, that is, the surface facing the blower 35 (concave portion 41b). A contact portion 41 a that contacts the support base 43 is formed at the peripheral edge of the recess 41 b. Thus, the blower cover 41 can contact the support base 43 outside the wind tunnel 36a and close the feed port 13a without contacting the fan 37 protruding to the discharge side from the casing 36.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the blower cover 41. Further, FIG. 5 shows a partition 48 that forms the inlet portion 14a of the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 in a positional relationship in a state where the blower cover 41 is closed. In FIG. 5, the mechanism for opening and closing the blower cover 41 is not shown.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the blower cover 41 has a substantially box shape having a recess 41 b on the blower 35 side. An opening 42 is formed in the upper side wall of the blower cover 41 by partially cutting the side wall.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an inlet portion 14 a of the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 is formed above the blower cover 41 by a partition 48 made of synthetic resin. Specifically, the inlet portion 14 a is a space formed by being sandwiched between a rear-side partition 46 and a front-side partition 48, and the upper portion communicates with the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14.

  And as shown in FIG. 5, the opening part 42 is opened with respect to the refrigerator compartment supply air path 14 (inlet part 14a) also in the state which closed the feed port 13a with the air blower cover 41. As shown in FIG. Thereby, even if the blower cover 41 is closed, a flow path (opening 42) for flowing the cold air cooled by the cooler 32 (see FIG. 4) to the refrigerating chamber 3 (see FIG. 4) is secured.

  6 (A) and 6 (B) are perspective views showing structures of the blower 35 and the shielding device 40 of the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 (A) shows a state in which the blower cover 41 is closed. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the blower cover 41 is opened. 6A and 6B, the mechanism for opening and closing the blower cover 41 is not shown.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the blower 35 includes a fan motor 38 that rotates the fan 37. The fan motor 38 is fixed to the casing 36 by a support frame 39, and a fan 37 is attached to the rotation shaft of the fan motor 38.

  A support base 43 of the shielding device 40 is tightly fixed to the discharge side end surface of the casing 36. The support base 43 is a substantially flat plate-like component having an opening through which cool air can flow in a substantially central portion. On the main surface 43a of the support base 43 on the freezer compartment 4 to 6 (see FIG. 4) side, a guide pin 44 that supports the blower cover 41 in a reciprocating manner in the rotation axis direction (Z direction) of the fan 37 is provided. Yes. That is, the guide pin 44 extending in the rotation axis direction (Z direction) of the fan 37 is slidably fitted in the support hole 41 b formed in the blower cover 41. Thereby, the air blower cover 41 can approach the air blower 35 as shown in FIG. 6 (A) or can be separated as shown in FIG. 6 (B).

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the blower cover 41 approaches the blower 35, the contact portion 41a at the peripheral edge of the blower cover 41 comes into contact with the main surface 43a of the support base 43, and at the contact portion 41a, the blower 35 This will block the air flow path. That is, the blower cover 41 closes the feed port 13a (see FIG. 4) of the cooling chamber 13 (see FIG. 4) and closes a part of the air flow path. Specifically, by closing the blower cover 41, the flow path flowing from the feed port 13a to the freezer compartment supply air path 15 is closed.

  Here, as described above, the opening 42 is formed in the blower cover 41, and the opening 42 opens to the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 even when the blower cover 41 is closed. Thereby, even if the blower cover 41 is closed, as shown by the arrow V, the air discharged by the blower 35 flows out to the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14 through the opening 48.

  Thus, by moving the blower cover 41 in a direction approaching the cooling chamber 13 and closing the feed port 13a with the blower cover 41, the supply of cold air to the freezing chambers 4 to 6 is stopped, and the refrigerator compartment 3 (FIG. 2)).

  Instead of the configuration in which the blower cover 41 is in contact with the main surface 43a of the support base 43 as described above, the blower cover 41 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the support base 43 or the discharge side end surface or outer peripheral surface of the casing 36. It is also possible to adopt.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the blower cover 41 moves away from the blower 35, a gap, that is, air flows between the contact portion 41a at the peripheral edge of the blower cover 41 and the support base 43. Are formed. That is, the blower cover 41 is opened. As indicated by an arrow V, the air discharged by the blower 35 flows out from the opening formed between the contact portion 41 a of the blower cover 41 and the support base 43.

  In this manner, by moving the blower cover 41 in the direction away from the cooling chamber 13, cold air can be supplied to both the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartments 4 to 6.

  Note that various methods can be adopted as a mechanism and a driving method for opening and closing the blower cover 41. For example, the blower cover 41 can be opened and closed by a motor, a solenoid, or other methods. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a part corresponding to the support base 43 of the shielding device 40 is fixed to the front cover 47 (see FIG. 4) and the blower cover 41 is brought into contact with the casing 36.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 7 (A) thru | or (C), the air flow around the air blower 35 is demonstrated in more detail. FIGS. 7A to 7C are explanatory views showing the results of analyzing the air flow around the axial blower as the blower 35. FIG. 7A shows the analysis result under the condition that the pressure difference between the discharge side and the suction side is 12 Pa, FIG. 7B shows the pressure difference of 4 Pa, and FIG. 7C shows the pressure difference of 2 Pa. is there.

  In FIGS. 7A to 7C, the symbol V represents a wind speed vector distribution on the main surface 43a of the support base 43 (see FIG. 6). When the support base 43 is not attached to the casing 36, the symbol V corresponds to the wind speed vector distribution at the discharge side end face of the casing 36. Reference sign V1 represents the wind speed vector distribution on the surface S1 on the suction side (right side of the paper), and reference sign V2 represents the wind speed vector distribution on the surface S2 on the discharge side (left side of the paper). Each of the wind speed vectors V, V1, and V2 is expressed as a direction in which the direction of the arrow is the direction of each flow, and the length of the arrow is a length proportional to the speed of each flow. In each figure, horizontal lines M drawn above and below the fan 37 are used for calculation and can be ignored because they are not used to explain the analysis results.

  As shown in FIG. 7C, when the pressure difference between the discharge side and the suction side of the blower 35 is 2 Pa, the wind speed vector V on the discharge side of the blower 35 is slightly inclined in the vertical direction in the figure. You can see that it is facing the left side. The wind speed vector V2 on the discharge side surface S2 also protrudes to the left. That is, it can be seen that under the condition of a pressure difference of 2 Pa, the air flow on the discharge side of the blower 35 has a high speed in the rotation axis direction Z of the fan 37 and a low speed in the rotation radius direction R. In other words, the air discharged by the blower 35 mainly flows forward of the blower 35.

  However, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the pressure difference between the discharge side and the suction side of the blower 35 becomes 4 Pa, the wind velocity vector V on the discharge side of the blower 35 becomes slightly larger in the vertical direction in the figure. The wind speed vector V2 on the discharge side surface S2 is shortened. That is, when the pressure difference increases to about 4 Pa, the speed of the air flow on the discharge side of the blower 35 increases in the rotational radius direction R of the fan 37.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the pressure difference is further increased to 12 Pa, the wind speed vector V on the discharge side of the blower 35 is directed substantially in the vertical direction in the figure. Further, the wind velocity vector V2 on the discharge side surface S2 is very short. That is, it can be seen that under the condition where the pressure difference is 12 Pa, the flow of the air discharged from the blower 35 has a very low speed in the rotation axis direction Z of the fan 37 and a high speed in the rotation radius direction R. In other words, the air discharged from the blower 35 does not flow in the forward direction of the blower 35, that is, in the Z direction, but flows out in the rotational radius direction R.

  7A to 7C, the air flow on the discharge side of the blower 35 forms a swirling flow around the rotation axis of the fan 37.

  As described above, the characteristics of the axial blower as the blower 35 have been described. However, in the refrigerator in which the cold air is forcedly circulated in the closed circuit as in the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment, the discharge side and the suction side of the blower 35 The pressure difference is about 10-12 Pa. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the cold air discharged by the blower 35 flows in the radial direction R of the fan 37 of the blower 35 so as to flow.

  Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6B, the blower cover 41 according to the present embodiment moves away from the cooling chamber 13 when the freezer compartments 4 to 6 are cooled, and the air blower cover 41 and the cooling device 41 are cooled. An opening for flowing cool air is formed between the chamber 13 and the chamber 13. Therefore, as described above, the discharge air from the blower 35 having a large flow velocity in the rotation radius direction R passes through the opening and has a very small flow resistance along the casing 36 and the partition 46, and the freezer compartment supply air passage. 15 (and refrigerating room supply passage 14).

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 7A, the air flowing from the blower 35 toward the front surface is very small from the beginning, and therefore the blower cover 41 moved away from the cooling chamber 13 has an influence on the air path resistance. Will be very small.

  However, the distance X between the main surface 43a of the support base 43 and the blower 35 side end surface (contact portion 41a) of the blower cover 41 shown in FIG. In order not to increase the pressure loss due to the blower cover 41, it is necessary to ensure a predetermined length. Specifically, the distance X should be 30 mm or more, more preferably 50 mm or more. When the distance X is shorter than 30 mm, the flow loss due to the blower cover 41 becomes large, and it becomes difficult to suppress the pressure loss as compared with the case of using a damper or the like of the prior art.

  On the other hand, if the distance X is secured to 50 mm or more, the increase in pressure loss due to the addition of the blower cover 41 is almost eliminated. Briefly described with reference to FIG. 7A, the discharge-side surface S3 shown in the figure is at a position where the distance X (see FIG. 6B) corresponds to 50 mm. The surface S2 is at a position where the distance X is 80 mm. From this figure, it can be seen that if the opening is secured up to the position of the surface S3, that is, the position where the distance X is 50 mm, most of the air flow can pass through the opening without being obstructed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the opening 42 is formed on the side wall of the blower cover 41. More specifically, the opening 42 is formed so as to cut out an end of the side wall of the blower cover 41 on the cooling chamber 13 side. As shown in FIG. 6A, the opening 42 is formed on the outer side in the rotational radial direction with respect to the fan 35. Thus, even when the blower cover 41 is closed, the air on the discharge side of the blower 35 that flows in the rotational radius direction R of the fan 35 as shown in FIG. 14 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the pressure loss of the cooling air circulating in the refrigerator 1 can be reduced, and the cooling efficiency can be improved.

  Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6 again.

  First, the operation | movement which cools the refrigerator compartment 3 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 31 can be cooled by operating the compressor 31, opening the refrigerator compartment damper 25, and operating the blower 35. That is, the air cooled by the cooler 32 sequentially passes through the feed port 13 a (blower 35) of the cooling chamber 13, the refrigerator compartment damper 25, the refrigerator compartment supply air passage 14, and the outlet 17 and is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3. Is done. Thereby, the food etc. which were stored in the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 can be cooled and preserve | saved at appropriate temperature.

  Then, the circulating cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerating chamber 3 returns to the inside of the cooling chamber 13 from the return port 22 via the return air passage 20, as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is cooled again by the cooler 32.

  Here, in either the state where the blower cover 41 is closed as shown in FIG. 6A or the state where the blower cover 41 is opened as shown in FIG. Can flow. That is, cold air can be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 regardless of whether the blower cover 41 is opened or closed. Thereby, the cooling operation of the refrigerator compartment 3 can be performed independently of the cooling of the freezer compartments 4-6 mentioned later.

  For example, by operating the compressor 31 with the blower cover 41 closed, opening the refrigerator compartment damper 25, and operating the blower 35, cold air can be supplied only to the refrigerator compartment 3.

  Next, the operation | movement which cools the freezer compartments 4-6 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, the freezer compartments 4 to 6 can be cooled by operating the compressor 31, operating the blower 35, and opening the blower cover 41. Specifically, the blower cover 41 is separated from the blower 35 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the air cooled by the cooler 32 is sent out by the blower 35 disposed in the feed port 13a of the cooling chamber 13, and sequentially passes through the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 and the blower outlet 18, and the freezer compartment 4˜ 6 is supplied.

  As a result, food stored in the freezer compartments 4 to 6 can be cooled and stored at an appropriate temperature. Then, the air inside the freezer compartments 4 to 6 passes through the return port 23 formed at the back of the lower freezer compartment 6 and flows into the cooling chamber 13 through the return port 13 b of the cooling chamber 13.

  Here, the cooling operation of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 can be performed independently of the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 3. That is, as described above, since the refrigerator compartment 3 can be cooled regardless of the opening / closing of the blower cover 41, the opening / closing control of the blower cover 41 may be performed according to the load state of the freezer compartments 4-6.

  For example, with the refrigerator compartment damper 25 (and the vegetable compartment damper 26) closed, the compressor 31 is operated, the blower cover 41 is opened, and the blower 35 is operated, so that only the freezer compartments 4 to 6 are cooled. Can be supplied.

  Next, the supply of cold air to the vegetable compartment 7 will be described. A part of the air sent out to the freezer compartment supply air passage 15 by the blower 35 flows into the vegetable compartment supply air passage 16 shown in FIG. 3 by opening the vegetable compartment damper 26, and from the outlet 19 to the vegetable compartment 7. Discharged. Thereby, the inside of the vegetable compartment 7 can be cooled. And the cold air which circulated through the vegetable compartment 7 is returned to the cooling compartment 13 through the return passage 24 shown in FIG.

  As described above, the refrigerator 1 can efficiently supply the cold air cooled by the single cooler 32 to each of the storage chambers 3 to 7 with little pressure loss. Thereby, the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartments 4-6 can be suitably cooled now according to each cooling load.

  Moreover, according to the refrigerator 1 of the present invention, the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartments 4 to 6 are alternately cooled with only one cooler 32 as in the conventional refrigerator equipped with two coolers. Can do. Here, since the refrigerator 1 does not require a complicated refrigerant circuit or circuit switching control, each of the storage chambers 3 to 7 can be cooled with high heat loss and high efficiency.

  Moreover, since the refrigerator 1 does not require a refrigerator dedicated to refrigeration, the refrigerator compartment 3 can be widened. Further, the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle can be further improved by adjusting the cooling temperature (refrigerating temperature of the refrigerant) by the cooler 32 in accordance with the target cold holding temperature of the storage room to which cold air is to be supplied.

  Furthermore, a refrigerating room temperature sensor 51 and a freezing room temperature sensor 52 for detecting temperatures of the refrigerating room 3 and the freezing rooms 4 to 6 respectively are provided, and the refrigerating room is based on the temperature of the refrigerating room 3 detected by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 51. The opening degree of the blower cover 41 (distance X shown in FIG. 6B) may be controlled based on the temperature of the freezer compartments 4 to 6 detected by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 52 by controlling the opening degree of the damper 25. . Thereby, an appropriate amount of cold air can be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartments 4 to 6, respectively.

  Next, the operation during the defrosting operation will be described with reference to FIGS. If the cooling operation is continued, frost adheres to the air-side heat transfer surface of the cooler 32, hinders heat transfer and closes the air flow path. Therefore, frost formation is determined from a decrease in the refrigerant evaporation temperature or the like, or a determination is made by a defrost timer or the like, and a defrost cooling operation or a defrost operation for removing frost adhering to the cooler 32 is started.

  First, a defrost cooling operation for cooling the refrigerator compartment 3 using latent heat of frost attached to the cooler 32 will be described. When performing the defrost cooling operation, the operation of the compressor 31 is stopped and the blower cover 41 is closed as shown in FIG. And the refrigerator compartment damper 25 is opened and the air blower 35 is drive | operated.

  Thereby, air can be circulated between the refrigerator compartment 3 and the cooling chamber 13, and the frost adhering to the cooler 32 by this circulating air can be thawed. That is, defrosting can be performed without heating by the defrost heater 33. At the same time, the refrigerator 3 can be cooled using the heat of frost melting without operating the compressor 31.

  That is, according to the refrigerator 1 of the present invention, the heater input for defrosting and the compressor input for cooling can be reduced, the power consumption of the refrigerator 1 can be reduced, and the overall cooling efficiency can be increased. . Moreover, since cold air with high humidity can be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 by defrosting, the drying of food etc. stored there can be prevented and the effect of maintaining freshness can be enhanced. In addition, by providing a supply air passage for supplying cold air to the vegetable compartment 7 without going through the freezer compartment supply air passage 15, the vegetable compartment 7 can be cooled and replenished with latent heat of defrosting.

  Here, the above-described defrost cooling operation is performed when it is determined that the cooler 32 has formed frost and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 is higher than a predetermined value. Even if the frost formation of the cooler 32 is detected, if the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 is lower than a predetermined value, the refrigerator compartment 3 is not required to be cooled. A normal defrosting operation using 33 is performed.

  In a normal defrosting operation, the compressor 31 is stopped, the defrosting heater 33 is energized, and the frost attached to the cooler 32 is melted. At this time, the blower cover 41 closes the feed port 13a, and the refrigerator compartment damper 25 is closed. Thereby, it can prevent that the air in the cooling chamber 13 heated by the defrost heater 33 flows out to the refrigerator compartment supply air path 14 and the freezer compartment supply air path 15. FIG. As a result, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

  Moreover, when the defrosting of the cooler 32 is completed, energization of the defrost heater 33 is stopped, the compressor 31 is started, and cooling by the refrigeration circuit is started. After detecting that the cooler 32 and the cooling chamber 13 have been cooled to a predetermined temperature, or after a predetermined time has elapsed with a timer or the like, the blower cover 41 or the refrigerator compartment damper 25 is opened, and the fan 35 is operated. To start. Thereby, the influence by defrost heat can be suppressed as much as possible, and cooling operation can be restarted.

  Next, an operation for forming an air curtain will be described with reference to FIG. When the open state of the heat insulating door 8 is detected, the refrigerator compartment damper 25 is opened and the blower 35 is operated. As a result, cold air is blown downward from the air outlet 17 formed in the front upper portion of the refrigerator compartment 3, and an air curtain is formed in the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 3.

  Here, by closing the blower cover 41, the air curtain can be formed by circulating the cold air only in the refrigerator compartment 3 without circulating the cold air in the freezer compartments 4-6.

  Moreover, you may provide the flap (not shown) which can adjust opening degree in the blower outlet 17 of the upper surface front part of the refrigerator compartment 3. FIG. By providing a flap and adjusting the angle (opening degree), a suitable air curtain for preventing cold air from leaking from the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 to the outside of the refrigerator can be formed. Furthermore, the fan 35 may be continuously operated for a predetermined time after the heat insulating door 8 is closed, and the flap may be swung. Thereby, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3 heated by opening the heat insulation door 8, especially the storage pocket inside the heat insulation door 8, can be cooled efficiently.

  In the embodiment described above, the example in which the opening 42 formed in the blower cover 41 is connected to the refrigerating chamber 3 has been described. However, the opening 42 may be connected to another storage chamber. For example, the opening 42 may be connected to the vegetable room 7 (vegetable room supply air passage 16), a separately provided storage room in a freezing temperature range, or the like. Moreover, the refrigerator compartment 3 shown in this embodiment can also be comprised as a storage room of a freezing temperature range. Even if it deform | transforms in this way, according to this invention, each storage chamber from which cold storage temperature differs can be cooled suitably with one cooler 32, respectively.

  Moreover, although the structure which forms the one opening part 42 in the air blower cover 41 was mentioned as an example, the number of the opening parts 42 is not limited to one, You may provide a some opening part. In other words, the blower cover 41 can be formed with a plurality of openings connected to different storage chambers. For example, another opening may be formed in the blower cover 41 in addition to the opening 42 described above, and the added opening may be connected to the vegetable room 7 (vegetable room supply air passage 16). good. Thereby, the vegetable compartment 7 can be cooled with high efficiency according to the cooling load independently.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 2 Heat insulation box 3 Refrigerating room 4 Ice making room (freezer room)
5 Upper freezer room (freezer room)
6 Lower freezer compartment (freezer compartment)
7 Vegetable room 13 Cooling room 13a Feed port 13b Return port 14 Supply air path (refrigeration room supply air path)
15 Supply air passage (freezer compartment supply air passage)
16 Supply air channel (vegetable room supply air channel)
35 Blower 40 Shielding Device 41 Blower Cover 42 Opening 32 Cooler 25 Damper (Refrigerator Damper)
54 Partition

Claims (5)

A storage room partitioned into a plurality of storage rooms;
A cooler for cooling air supplied to the storage chamber;
A cooling chamber in which the cooler is disposed and a feed opening connected to the storage chamber is formed;
A blower provided at the feed port,
A movable blower cover is provided outside the cooling chamber of the feed port,
The blower cover has a substantially box shape having a recess on the blower side,
The blower cover has an opening formed by partially cutting away the side wall of the blower cover,
The blower cover is spaced apart from the cooling chamber to open the feed port, and partially closes the feed port in a state in which the opening is opened so that the cooled air flows close to the feed port. A refrigerator characterized by closing.   2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening opens with respect to a supply air passage connected to a part of the storage chamber in a state in which the feeding port is partially blocked by the blower cover. The storage room is divided into at least a refrigerator room and a freezer room as the storage room,
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the opening opens to a supply air passage connected to the refrigerator compartment in a state in which the feed port is partially blocked by the blower cover.   The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the supply air passage is provided with a damper that can be freely opened and closed.   4. The fan according to claim 3, wherein when the frost adheres to the cooler and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than a predetermined value, the blower cover partially closes the feed port and operates the blower. The refrigerator described.

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