JP6707183B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an indirect cooling type refrigerator.

The refrigerator receives the water generated in the cooler when removing the frost attached to the cooler by the drip tray. The water received by the drip tray is stored in the drain pan through the drain pipe. The water stored in the drain pan evaporates due to the heat in the machine room of the refrigerator, for example. As the water flows through the drain pipe, some of the water remains in the drain pipe. Since the refrigerator performs the cooling operation when the operation for removing the frost is completed, the drain pipe is cooled in the cooling operation. If the temperature outside the refrigerator is relatively high, the water remaining in the drain pipe will evaporate, but if the temperature outside the refrigerator is relatively low, the water remaining in the drain pipe will freeze. When the water remaining in the drain pipe is repeatedly frozen, the ice grows and the drain pipe is blocked by the ice. When the drain pipe is blocked by ice, the water received by the drip tray overflows from the drip tray and wets the floor where the refrigerator is installed.

Conventionally, a technique has been proposed in which a heater is wound around a drain pipe and the drain pipe is heated by the heater to prevent the drain pipe from being blocked by ice. Conventionally, in order to prevent the temperature inside the control board of the refrigerating and freezing showcase from rising, some technology has been used to lower the temperature inside the control board by flowing a part of drain water through a heat-resistant tube arranged in a meandering manner. It has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP, 2011-252691, A

However, although the technique of heating the drain pipe with the heater described above can prevent the drain pipe from being blocked by ice, a heater that is not necessary to realize the cooling function that is the original function of the refrigerator is required. Becomes Even if the technique described in Patent Document 1 is applied to a refrigerator, it is difficult to prevent the drain pipe from being blocked by ice.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a refrigerator in which the drain pipe is prevented from being blocked by ice by the components necessary to realize the cooling function.

In order to solve the problems described above and achieve the object, a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, an inverter that drives the compressor, and a reactor that improves the power factor of the inverter. From the drip tray, a cooler that evaporates the refrigerant that has become liquid after being compressed by the compressor, a drip tray that receives water generated in the cooler, a drain pan that stores water from the drip tray, and the drip tray. It has a drain pipe which is a passage of water to the drain pan, and a heat dissipation plate attached to the drain pipe. One end of the heat dissipation plate is wound around the drain pipe and attached to the drain pipe. The reactor is attached to the radiator plate by a first set of first bolts and first nuts and a second set of second bolts and second nuts .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The refrigerator according to the present invention has an effect that it is possible to prevent the drain pipe from being blocked by ice due to the components necessary to realize the cooling function.

The figure which shows typically the one cross section of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1. One figure which shows typically a part of structure of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1. Another diagram schematically showing a part of the configuration of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment The figure which shows typically the drain pipe, reactor, and heat sink which the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 has. The figure which shows typically the one cross section of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2. The figure which shows typically the one part structure of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2. The figure which shows typically the one part structure of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3. The figure which shows typically the one part structure of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Embodiment 1.
First, the configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing one cross section of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. The refrigerator 1 has a plurality of components as described below. In FIG. 1, some of the plurality of constituent elements of the refrigerator 1 are not hatched for easy understanding of each of the plurality of constituent elements of the refrigerator 1.

The refrigerator 1 has a compressor 2 that compresses a refrigerant, an inverter 3 that drives the compressor 2, a control board 4 on which the inverter 3 is mounted, and a reactor that improves the power factor of the inverter 3. The reactor is not shown in FIG. The reactor is connected to an AC line (not shown). The reactor also has a function of improving the power factor of the current supplied to the refrigerator 1 from an AC power supply (not shown). The refrigerator 1 further includes a cooler 5 that vaporizes the refrigerant that has become liquid after being compressed by the compressor 2.

The refrigerator 1 has a condenser and an expansion mechanism (not shown) in addition to the compressor 2 and the cooler 5. An example of the expansion mechanism is an expansion valve or a capillary tube. The refrigerant becomes high temperature and high pressure gas by being compressed by the compressor 2, and the gaseous refrigerant from the compressor 2 is cooled in the condenser to become low temperature and high pressure gas. The gaseous refrigerant from the condenser becomes a low temperature and low pressure liquid in the expansion mechanism, and the liquid refrigerant from the expansion mechanism vaporizes in the cooler 5 to become a low temperature and low pressure gas. The compressor 2 compresses the refrigerant from the cooler 5. In this way, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circulates in the compressor 2, the condenser, the expansion mechanism, and the cooler 5 in this order, and the state of the refrigerant changes.

The refrigerator 1 includes a heater 6 that heats frost attached to the cooler 5, a drip tray 7 that receives water generated in the cooler 5 based on the frost removed by heating by the heater 6, and a drip tray 7. Further, a drain pan 8 for storing the above water and a drain pipe 9 which is a water passage from the drip tray 7 to the drain pan 8 are further provided. The heater 6 is located below the cooler 5 when the refrigerator 1 is properly installed. The case where the refrigerator 1 is properly installed is the case where the refrigerator 1 is installed with the compressor 2 positioned vertically below and the control board 4 positioned vertically above.

The drip tray 7 is located below the heater 6 when the refrigerator 1 is properly installed. The drain pan 8 is located below the drip tray 7 when the refrigerator 1 is properly installed. The drain pipe 9 is located below the drip tray 7 and above the drain pan 8 when the refrigerator 1 is properly installed. The refrigerator 1 further includes a fan motor 10 that circulates cold air inside the refrigerator 1. The fan motor 10 is one in which a fan and a motor for driving the fan are integrated.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a part of the configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. As described above, the refrigerator 1 has the drain pipe 9 which is a passage for water from the drip tray 7 to the drain pan 8. A valve 11 is provided at the end of the drain pipe 9 on the drain pan 8 side. The refrigerator 1 further includes a pipe 12 that is a passage for the refrigerant.

Water generated in the cooler 5 based on the frost removed by the heating by the heater 6 is received by the drip tray 7 and then passes through the drain pipe 9. When the water generated in the cooler 5 passes through the drain pipe 9, the weight of the water opens the valve 11 and the water is stored in the drain pan 8. The water stored in the drain pan 8 is vaporized and evaporated by one or both of the heat of the compressor 2 and the heat of the pipe 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator 1 has a reactor 13 for improving the power factor of the inverter 3. The reactor 13 also has a function of improving the power factor of the current supplied to the refrigerator 1 from an AC power supply (not shown). FIG. 3 is another diagram schematically showing a part of the configuration of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. The refrigerator 1 further includes a heat dissipation plate 14 attached to the drain pipe 9. The heat dissipation plate 14 transfers heat. The heat dissipation plate 14 is made of, for example, aluminum. The reactor 13 is attached to the heat dissipation plate 14. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the drain pipe 9, the reactor 13 and the heat dissipation plate 14 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, one end 14 a of the heat dissipation plate 14 is wound around the drain pipe 9 and attached to the drain pipe 9.

In the specific example of the first embodiment, the first set of the first bolt 15a and the first nut (not shown) and the second set of the second bolt 15b and the second nut (not shown) are provided. The reactor 13 is attached to the heat dissipation plate 14 by the combination. When the refrigerator 1 operates, a current constantly flows through the reactor 13, so that heat is generated in the reactor 13, and the generated heat is transferred to the drain pipe 9 by the heat dissipation plate 14 that transfers the heat. That is, the heat generated in the reactor 13 is added to the drain pipe 9.

Next, the operation of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. When the refrigerator 1 operates, a current constantly flows through each of the control board 4 and the reactor 13. Since the current always flows, heat is constantly generated in each of the control board 4 and the reactor 13. When the refrigerator 1 performs the cooling operation, the compressor 2 operates and the cooler 5 is cooled by the refrigerant refrigeration cycle. For example, the cooler 5 is cooled to a temperature in the range of -30°C to -40°C.

When the cooling operation continues, the air around the cooler 5 is cooled and frost adheres to the cooler 5. If the entire cooler 5 is covered with frost, even if the fan motor 10 is operated, cool air will not circulate and the inside of the refrigerator 1 will not be cooled. In order to avoid the state where the inside of the refrigerator 1 does not cool, when the amount of frost attached to the cooler 5 increases, the heater 6 is energized, and the heater 6 applies heat to the frost attached to the cooler 5. Since the frost is melted by the heating by the heater 6, the frost attached to the cooler 5 is removed. When the frost attached to the cooler 5 is removed by the heating by the heater 6, the compressor 2 and the fan are controlled in order to prevent the frost from attaching to the cooler 5 and the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 from rising. The motor 10 stops operating.

The water generated in the cooler 5 based on the frost removed by the heating by the heater 6 is received by the drip tray 7, passes through the drain pipe 9, and is stored in the drain pan 8. The water stored in the drain pan 8 is vaporized and evaporated by one or both of the heat of the compressor 2 and the heat of the pipe 12.

By the way, the water generated in the cooler 5 may remain in the drain pipe 9. In the winter, the temperature around the refrigerator 1 is relatively low, so that the water remaining in the drain pipe 9 cannot be completely sublimated by the operation of the fan motor 10 and remains in the drain pipe 9. Since the amount of frost adhering to the cooler 5 increases even when the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened for a relatively long time and when the door is opened and closed with a relatively high frequency, heating by the heater 6 is performed. As a result, the amount of water generated increases, and the water easily remains in the drain pipe 9.

By repeating the operation of removing the frost adhering to the cooler 5, the water remaining in the drain pipe 9 grows into the nucleus of the initially generated ice, and the inside of the drain pipe 9 is eventually closed by the ice. When the inside of the drain pipe 9 is blocked by ice, the water received by the drip tray 7 cannot pass through the drain pipe 9, overflows from the drip tray 7, and the floor on which the refrigerator 1 is installed gets wet. Conventionally, a heater is wound around the drain pipe 9 in order to prevent the inside of the drain pipe 9 from being blocked by ice.

In the first embodiment, as described above, the refrigerator 1 has the reactor 13 that generates heat and the heat dissipation plate 14 to which the reactor 13 is attached. The heat dissipation plate 14 is attached to the drain pipe 9. The heat generated in the reactor 13 is transferred to the drain pipe 9 via the heat dissipation plate 14. That is, the heat generated in the reactor 13 is added to the drain pipe 9. Therefore, the water remaining inside the drain pipe 9 does not become ice. That is, the refrigerator 1 does not have a heater that heats the drain pipe 9, and can prevent the inside of the drain pipe 9 from being blocked by ice using the heat generated in the reactor 13.

Furthermore, even in the winter, even if the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened for a relatively long time, and even if the door is opened and closed with a relatively high frequency, it occurs in the reactor 13 necessary for realizing the cooling function. Since heat is applied to the drain pipe 9, the inside of the drain pipe 9 is suppressed from being blocked by ice. As a result, the refrigerator 1 can prevent the floor on which the refrigerator 1 is installed from getting wet.

That is, the refrigerator 1 can prevent the drain pipe 9 from being blocked by ice by the reactor 13, which is a component necessary to realize the cooling function.

In addition, since the heat generated in the reactor 13 is transferred to the drain pipe 9 via the heat dissipation plate 14, the heat of the reactor 13 is dissipated and the temperature of the reactor 13 is prevented from becoming too high, and the resistance of the reactor 13 is reduced. The value will be relatively low. As a result, the increase in power consumption of the refrigerator 1 is suppressed. That is, the refrigerator 1 can suppress an increase in the power consumption of the refrigerator 1.

Further, the refrigerator 1 does not have a heater for heating the drain pipe 9. Therefore, the cost of the refrigerator 1 is lower than the cost of the refrigerator having the heater for heating the drain pipe 9.

Since each of the plurality of reactors 13 has individual differences in heat dissipation, the reactor 13 is directly attached to the drain pipe 9 in order to transfer the heat of the reactor 13 relatively uniformly in each of the plurality of refrigerators 1. It is not attached to the radiator plate 14, and the radiator plate 14 is attached to the drain pipe 9.

Embodiment 2.
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing one cross section of the refrigerator 1A according to the second embodiment. Also in FIG. 5, in order to easily understand each of the plurality of components included in the refrigerator 1A, some of the plurality of components included in the refrigerator 1A are not hatched. Refrigerator 1A has the components that refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment has, except for heat dissipation plate 14, first bolt 15a, and second bolt 15b. In the second embodiment, parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a partial configuration of refrigerator 1A according to the second embodiment. The refrigerator 1A further includes a container 16 in which the reactor 13 is housed. The container 16 suppresses the reactor 13 from getting wet. A part of the container 16 is open. The reactor 13 is housed in a container 16. The container 16 is attached to the drain pan 8 by a member (not shown). In the refrigerator 1A, the reactor 13 is in contact with the drain pan 8.

As described in the first embodiment, the reactor 13 constantly generates heat during operation of the refrigerator 1A. Since the reactor 13 is in contact with the drain pan 8, the heat generated in the reactor 13 is transferred to the drain pan 8. That is, the heat generated in the reactor 13 is added to the drain pan 8. Therefore, the water stored in the drain pan 8 evaporates relatively quickly. Further speaking, for example, the door of the refrigerator 1A is opened for a relatively long time, a relatively large amount of frost adheres to the cooler 5, the frost is melted by the heating of the heater 6, and a relatively large amount of water is drained by the drain pan 8. Even when entering, the water stored in the drain pan 8 evaporates relatively quickly. Therefore, the floor on which the refrigerator 1A is installed is prevented from getting wet.

That is, the refrigerator 1A can prevent the floor on which the refrigerator 1A is installed from getting wet by the reactor 13, which is a component necessary to realize the cooling function.

In addition, since the heat generated in the reactor 13 is transferred to the drain pan 8, the heat of the reactor 13 is dissipated and the temperature of the reactor 13 is prevented from becoming too high, and the resistance value of the reactor 13 becomes relatively low. As a result, the increase in power consumption of the refrigerator 1A is suppressed. That is, the refrigerator 1A can suppress an increase in power consumption related to the refrigerator 1A.

Embodiment 3.
FIG. 7: is a figure which shows typically the structure of a part of refrigerator 1B which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. Refrigerator 1B has the components included in refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, parts different from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

In the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment, the reactor 13 is attached to the heat dissipation plate 14, but in the refrigerator 1B, the control board 4 is attached to the heat dissipation plate 14 instead of the reactor 13. That is, in the third embodiment, the control board 4 is located at a place different from the place shown in FIG. 1 and attached to the heat dissipation plate 14. In the specific example of the third embodiment, a third set of a third bolt 17a and a third nut (not shown) and a fourth set of a fourth bolt 17b and a fourth nut (not shown) are provided. The control board 4 is attached to the heat dissipation plate 14 by the combination.

When the refrigerator 1B operates, a current always flows through the control board 4, so that heat is constantly generated in the control board 4. The heat generated in the control board 4 is transferred to the drain pipe 9 via the heat dissipation plate 14. That is, the heat generated in the control board 4 is added to the drain pipe 9. Therefore, the water remaining inside the drain pipe 9 does not become ice.

That is, in the refrigerator 1B, it is possible to prevent the drain pipe 9 from being blocked by ice by the control board 4, which is a component necessary to realize the cooling function.

The control board 4 may be equipped with an element for driving the compressor 2. In that case, the heat generated in the control board 4 includes the heat generated by the element.

Fourth Embodiment
FIG. 8: is a figure which shows typically the one part structure of the refrigerator 1C which concerns on Embodiment 4. As shown in FIG. Refrigerator 1C has the components that refrigerator 1A according to the second embodiment has. In the fourth embodiment, parts different from the second embodiment will be mainly described.

In the refrigerator 1A according to the second embodiment, the reactor 13 is housed in the container 16, but in the refrigerator 1C, not the reactor 13 but the control board 4 is housed in the container 16. That is, in the fourth embodiment, the control board 4 is located in a place different from the place shown in FIG. 1 and is housed in the container 16. The control board 4 is in contact with the drain pan 8.

When the refrigerator 1C operates, a current constantly flows through the control board 4, so that heat is constantly generated in the control board 4. Since the control board 4 is in contact with the drain pan 8, the heat generated in the control board 4 is transferred to the drain pan 8. That is, the heat generated in the control board 4 is added to the drain pan 8. Therefore, the water stored in the drain pan 8 evaporates relatively quickly.

Further speaking, for example, the door of the refrigerator 1C is open for a relatively long time, a relatively large amount of frost adheres to the cooler 5, and the frost is melted by the heating by the heater 6, so that a relatively large amount of water is drained by the drain pan 8. Even when entering, the water stored in the drain pan 8 evaporates relatively quickly. Therefore, the floor on which the refrigerator 1C is installed is prevented from getting wet.

That is, in the refrigerator 1C, the floor on which the refrigerator 1C is installed can be prevented from getting wet by the control board 4 that is a component necessary to realize the cooling function.

The position of the reactor is not limited in the refrigerator 1B and the refrigerator 1C.

The configurations described in the above embodiments are examples of the content of the present invention, and can be combined with another known technique, and the configurations of the configurations are not departing from the scope of the present invention. It is also possible to omit or change parts.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Refrigerator, 2 Compressor, 3 Inverter, 4 Control board, 5 Cooler, 6 Heater, 7 Drip tray, 8 Drain pan, 9 Drain pipe, 10 Fan motor, 11 valves, 12 Piping, 13 Reactor , 14 heat sinks, 16 containers.

Claims (2)

A compressor for compressing the refrigerant,
An inverter for driving the compressor,
A reactor for improving the power factor of the inverter,
A cooler for vaporizing the refrigerant that has become liquid after being compressed by the compressor,
A drip tray for receiving water generated in the cooler,
A drain pan that stores water from the drip tray,
A drain pipe that is a passage of water from the drip tray to the drain pan,
A heat sink attached to the drain pipe,
One end of the heat dissipation plate is wound around the drain pipe and attached to the drain pipe,
The reactor is attached to the heat dissipation plate by a first set of a first bolt and a first nut and a second set of a second bolt and a second nut. And a refrigerator. A compressor for compressing the refrigerant,
A control board including an inverter for driving the compressor;
A cooler for vaporizing the refrigerant that has become liquid after being compressed by the compressor,
A drip tray for receiving water generated in the cooler,
A drain pan that stores water from the drip tray,
A drain pipe that is a passage of water from the drip tray to the drain pan,
A heat sink attached to the drain pipe,
One end of the heat dissipation plate is wound around the drain pipe and attached to the drain pipe,
The control board is attached to the heat dissipation plate by a third set of a third bolt and a third nut, and a fourth set of a fourth bolt and a fourth nut. Characteristic refrigerator.

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