JP7033780B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator provided with an atomizer in a machine room.

Conventionally, a refrigerator has been proposed that realizes energy saving by improving the efficiency of the compressor and reducing the amount of heat generated by the compressor (for example, Patent Document 1). In addition, a refrigerator that saves energy by extending the length of the capacitor and lowering the condensation temperature has also been proposed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-038843

However, when energy saving is achieved by increasing the efficiency of the compressor as in Patent Document 1 or by extending the length of the compressor to lower the condensation temperature, it is sufficient to evaporate the drain water. No heat can be obtained from the compressor or condenser.

The water discharged during defrosting of the frost adhering to the evaporator is stored as drain water in the evaporating dish in the machine room, but if sufficient heat from the compressor or condenser cannot be obtained, the water in the evaporating dish is evaporated. The ability will be insufficient. Therefore, when the door is opened and closed frequently, or when a large amount of watery food is put in the refrigerator, the drainage drainage amount exceeds the evaporation capacity, and the drainage water overflows from the evaporating dish.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to secure the amount of evaporation of drain water from the evaporating dish even when the heat for evaporating the drain water of the evaporating dish cannot be obtained by energy saving. It is to provide a refrigerator that can.

The refrigerator of the present invention is characterized by comprising at least a machine room having a compressor and an evaporating dish, and an atomizing device provided in the evaporating dish and atomizing drain water by energization.

In the present invention, the "atomization device" is a device that operates by electric energization to atomize drain water, and examples thereof include a device provided with an ultrasonic vibrator.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, the drain water in the evaporating dish is atomized by electrically energizing the atomizing device. Therefore, due to energy saving, it is possible to secure the amount of evaporation of drain water in the evaporating dish even when sufficient heat cannot be obtained from the compressor.

Further, in the present invention, in the machine chamber, between the compressor, the evaporation capacitor provided in the evaporating dish, the heat dissipation capacitor connected to the evaporation capacitor, and the compressor and the heat dissipation capacitor. It is characterized in that it is provided with a cooling fan provided.

According to the present invention, the heat radiated by the heat radiating capacitor is discharged to the compressor side by the cooling fan. Therefore, the air flow in the machine room is directed from the evaporating dish to the heat dissipation condenser and to the compressor via the cooling fan. As a result, the drain water in the evaporating dish atomized by the atomizer adheres to the heat dissipation condenser along this air flow, and the adhered drain water vaporizes, so that the heat exchange of the heat dissipation condenser is performed. Facilitate. As a result, the condensation temperature is lowered, which contributes to the reduction of the compression work of the compressor. Therefore, energy saving can be achieved.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the atomizing device is installed on the windward side of the heat radiating condenser.

According to the present invention, since the atomizing device is installed on the wind side of the heat radiating capacitor, the drain water in the evaporating dish atomized by the atomizing device adheres to the heat radiating capacitor and the adhering drain. The vaporization of water promotes heat exchange in the heat dissipation condenser. As a result, the condensation temperature is lowered, which contributes to the reduction of the compression work of the compressor. Therefore, energy saving can be achieved.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the energization of the atomizer is performed for a certain period of time after defrosting.

According to the present invention, the energization of the atomizer is not always performed, but is performed for a certain period of time after defrosting, in which drain water by defrosting accumulates in the evaporating dish. Therefore, the power consumption of the atomizer can be suppressed.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the energization of the atomizing device is performed for a certain period of time when the defrosting time exceeds a predetermined time.

According to the present invention, there is a correlation between the amount of drain water and the defrosting time, and the longer the defrosting time, the larger the amount of drain water. Therefore, when the defrosting time exceeds the predetermined time, it is considered that the amount of drain water has reached the predetermined amount. In such a case, the atomizing device is energized for a certain period of time. The drain water in the evaporating dish will surely be atomized.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the atomizing device is covered with a cover member so as not to come into contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator.

According to the present invention, the bottom plate of the machine room is made by squeezing an iron plate in a concave shape, and the surface of the machine room of the atomizer on the bottom plate side is covered with the bottom plate as a cover member squeezed in a concave shape. The structure is such that the atomizer cannot be contacted from the bottom of the refrigerator. This makes it possible to prevent the atomizing device from stopping functioning due to a mouse, cockroach, or the like from the bottom side of the refrigerator. In addition, the machine room is covered with a metal cover member, and the structure is such that the atomizer cannot come into contact with the atomizer from the back side of the refrigerator where the machine room is located, so that the atomizer does not come into contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator. ing. A predetermined high voltage is applied to the atomizer, but since the atomizer has a structure that does not come into contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator as described above, the user or the like may accidentally touch the atomizer. Can be prevented.

As described above, the present invention provides a refrigerator capable of ensuring the amount of evaporation of drain water from the evaporating dish even when the heat for evaporating the drain water of the evaporating dish cannot be obtained from the outside due to energy saving. can do.

It is a perspective view which looked at the refrigerator which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the rear surface side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA'shown in FIG. It is an enlarged perspective view which shows the machine room of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the machine room of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the refrigeration cycle which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the evaporating dish to which the atomizing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is attached. It is sectional drawing of the part of the evaporating dish to which the atomizer is attached.

Next, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(Explanation of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the refrigerator 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear surface side. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA'shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the machine room 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the machine room 12 of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. An outline of the refrigerator 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The refrigerator 1 of one embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator body 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator main body 2 includes a storage 10 composed of a refrigerating room 4, a freezing room 5, and a storage room 6. The refrigerating chamber 4, the freezing chamber 5, and the storage chamber 6 are partitioned by a heat insulating partition wall 7. Normally, the refrigerating chamber 4 and the storage chamber 6 are kept at a temperature of 0 to 10 ° C., and the freezing chamber 5 is kept at a temperature of about -18 ° C. The refrigerating room 4, the freezing room 5, and the storage room 6 have an opening on the front side of the refrigerator main body 2 so that food and the like to be stored in each room can be taken in and out.

The openings of the refrigerating room 4, the freezing room 5, and the storage room 6 can be opened and closed by a single-door upper door 3a, a drawer-type middle door 3b, and a lower door 3c provided in front of the refrigerator body 2. ing.

The refrigerator main body 2 is composed of an outer box 2a, an inner box 2c, and a heat insulating material 2b. The outer box 2a is made of a steel plate. The inner box 2c is made of synthetic resin and is arranged in the outer box 2a with a gap from the outer box 2a. The heat insulating material 2b is made of foamed polyurethane and fills the gap between the outer box 2a and the inner box 2c.

A cooling chamber 11 for accommodating the evaporator 14 is provided in the back of the freezing chamber 5, and a partition plate 8 for partitioning the freezing chamber 5 and the cooling chamber 11 is provided between the freezing chamber 5 and the cooling chamber 11. It is prepared. The partition plate 8 is formed with a fan (not shown) that circulates the cold air in the refrigerator and an air passage (not shown) thereof. Further, an air passage damper 17 is formed on the evaporator 14. Further, below the evaporator 14, a defrosting heater 13 that is energized at the time of defrosting and a saucer 15 that drains drain water are provided. The drain water in the saucer 15 is drained to the evaporating dish 20 described later by the drain pipe 60 through the opening 15a provided in the saucer 15.

Below the cooling chamber 11, a machine room 12 in which the compressor 50 is installed is provided. The machine room 12 houses an evaporating dish 20, an atomizer 30, a compressor 50, a heat dissipation condenser 52, and a cooling fan 54. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the compressor 50, the cooling fan 54, the heat dissipation condenser 52 and the evaporating dish 20 are arranged side by side in the width direction of the refrigerator 1, and the machine is arranged. The space of the room 12 is effectively used.

(Explanation of a refrigerating cycle according to one embodiment of the present invention)
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining a refrigeration cycle according to one embodiment of the present invention. Next, the refrigeration cycle according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the compressor 50 is connected to the evaporation condenser 51 via the discharge pipe 40. The compressor 50 compresses the refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator 14 into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas, and discharges the refrigerant to the evaporation condenser 51 via the discharge pipe 40. The evaporation condenser 51 is arranged in the evaporating dish 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The discharge pipe 40 is arranged in the machine room 12 so as to connect the outlet of the compressor 50 and the inlet of the evaporation condenser 51.

The evaporation condenser 51 is formed in a meandering shape by being folded back a plurality in the evaporating dish 20, and is arranged so as to be immersed in drain water. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 50 flows into the evaporation condenser 51 through the discharge pipe 40 and exchanges heat with the drain water stored in the evaporating dish 20. Therefore, the condensing capacity of the evaporation condenser 51 can be improved, and the evaporation of the drain water is promoted. The evaporation condenser 51 is connected to the heat dissipation condenser 52, and the condensed refrigerant is discharged to the heat dissipation condenser 52.

The heat dissipation capacitor 52 is a capacitor in which a large number of wires are attached to a metal tube formed in a meandering shape by being folded back in a U shape at both ends in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat radiating capacitor 52 is located in the central portion of the evaporating dish 20 and behind the cooling fan 54 in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. The heat radiating capacitor 52 further cools the refrigerant sent from the evaporation capacitor 51 to become a liquid refrigerant at room temperature and high temperature. Further, a cooling fan 54 is arranged between the compressor 50 and the heat radiating condenser 52, and the cooling fan 54 dissipates heat by discharging heat around the heat radiating condenser 52 to the compressor 50 side. The condenser 52 is being cooled.

The outlet of the heat radiating condenser 52 is connected to the pipe 41, and the pipe 41 is connected to the side condenser 55. The side capacitor 55 is a raw pipe of a pipe, and as shown in FIG. 1, is fixed to the surface of the outer box 2a on the heat insulating material 2b side with an aluminum foil tape or the like. The side capacitor 55 is meandered on the left and right side surfaces and the upper surface of the outer box 2a on the heat insulating material 2b side, and is also piped on the opening peripheral edge of the outer box 2a to prevent dew condensation on the opening peripheral edge of the outer box 2a. ..

The side capacitor 55 is connected to the dew condensation prevention pipe 42. Although not shown, the dew condensation prevention pipe 42 is arranged at least in a part around the opening on the front side of the storage cabinet 10, and is located on the front side of the storage cabinet 10 due to the heat of condensation of the refrigerant flowing through the dew condensation prevention pipe 42. Condensation around the opening is prevented.

The outlet of the dew condensation prevention pipe 42 is connected to the dehydrator 56. A desiccant is sealed in the dehydrator 56, and the desiccant removes the moisture of the refrigerant flowing from the dew condensation prevention pipe 42.

The outlet of the dehydrator 56 is connected to the capillary tube 43. The capillary tube 43 is a tube having a small diameter, and the refrigerant expands in the capillary tube to reduce the pressure, resulting in a gas-liquid two-phase state.

The outlet of the capillary tube 43 is connected to the evaporator 14. The evaporator 14 is a so-called fin-and-tube heat exchanger in which the inside of a circular tube as a heat transfer tube is used as a refrigerant flow path and the outside of the tube is used as an air flow path. In the evaporator 14, the inside of the heat transfer tube is in a gas-liquid two-phase state, and the air outside the tube is cooled by evaporating the liquid refrigerant. Of course, it is also possible to adopt another type of heat exchanger as the evaporator 14, for example, a heat exchanger using a flat porous tube or a deformed tube.

When the periphery of the evaporator 14 is cooled, the inside of the freezing chamber 5 is cooled by the cold air, and the cold air is stored in the refrigerating chamber 4 and the storage chamber 4 through the air passage damper 17 and the flow path provided in the storage chamber 10. It is also supplied to room 6.

The outlet of the evaporator 14 is connected to the suction pipe 44. As shown in FIG. 1, the suction pipe 44 is arranged meandering on the back surface of the refrigerating chamber 4 and the freezing chamber 5, and the outlet of the suction pipe 44 is connected to the compressor 50. The refrigerant vaporized by the evaporator 14 is sucked into the compressor 50 via the suction pipe 44 by operating the compressor 50.
In this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle is formed as described above.

(Explanation of Atomizer According to One Embodiment of the Present Invention)
Next, a more detailed description of the atomizer 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be given.

<Explanation of the atomizer 30 provided in the evaporating dish 20>
As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a resin evaporating dish 20 is arranged at the bottom of the machine room 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the evaporating dish 20 has a storage recess capable of storing drain water, and a heat dissipation condenser 52 is arranged behind the cooling fan 54 in the direction of arrow C. Further, in the evaporating dish 20, the atomizing device 30 is arranged behind the region where the heat radiating capacitor 52 is arranged in the direction of arrow C.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the evaporating dish 20 to which the atomizer 30 is attached, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the evaporating dish 20 to which the atomizer 30 is attached. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a throttle 20b having an opening is formed in a portion of the bottom plate 20a of the evaporating dish 20 where the drain water most collects. Due to the drawing 20b, a recess is formed in the bottom plate 20a of the evaporating dish 20 so that drain water can easily collect. In the present embodiment, the atomizing device 30 is attached to the bottom plate 20a of the evaporating dish 20 via the sealing material 71 by screwing with a screw 72 or the like. At this time, the atomizing device 30 is attached to the bottom plate 20a so that the mechanical surface of the atomizing device 30 for atomizing water is exposed from the opening of the throttle 20b formed in the bottom plate 20a.

Further, in the portion where the atomizing device 30 is attached, the machine room bottom plate 70 is squeezed into a concave iron plate, and the machine room bottom plate 70 squeezed in a concave shape serves as a cover member and atomizes from the bottom side of the refrigerator. It covers the device 30. That is, the structure is such that the atomizer 30 cannot be contacted from the bottom side of the refrigerator. This makes it possible to prevent the atomizing device 30 from stopping functioning due to a mouse, cockroach, or the like from the bottom side of the refrigerator. Further, the machine room 12 is covered with a metal cover (not shown) so that the atomizing device 30 cannot be contacted from the back side of the refrigerator where the machine room is located, and the atomizing device 30 is in contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator. It has a structure that does not. As described above, a predetermined high voltage is applied to the atomizing device 30, but since the atomizing device 30 has a structure that does not come into contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator as described above, the user or the like mistakenly atomizes. It is possible to prevent the device 30 from being touched.

The atomizing device 30 includes, for example, an ultrasonic vibrator that operates by energization. The atomizing device 30 is connected to a control unit (not shown), and the control unit energizes the atomizing device 30 for a certain period of time after defrosting the evaporator 14. When the ultrasonic vibrator of the atomizing device 30 is energized, the ultrasonic vibrator vibrates, and the drain water stored in the evaporating dish 20 is vibrated to generate mist (fine particles). This mist is discharged above the evaporating dish 20 and diffused into the machine room 12 as shown by the arrow B in FIG.

As described above, the heat around the heat radiating condenser 52 is transferred by the cooling fan 54 in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. Therefore, the flow of air taken in from the ventilation port 16 provided on one side wall of the storage 10 and exhausted from the ventilation port 16 provided on the other side wall is in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIG. That is, the air flow inside the machine room 12 is in the direction indicated by the arrow C.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the machine room 12 in which the air flow in the above directions is formed, the atomizing device 30 is located on the windward side with respect to the heat dissipation condenser 52. Therefore, the mist discharged in the direction of the arrow B by the atomizing device 30 advances toward the heat dissipation condenser 52 due to the air flow in the arrow C direction, and a part of the mist adheres to the heat dissipation condenser 52. .. Further, the other part adheres to the compressor 50 or is discharged from the ventilation port 16.

As a result, the mist is evaporated by the heat radiating condenser 52 and the compressor 50, and is discharged from the ventilation port 16, so that the drain water in the evaporating dish 20 is evaporated. In this embodiment, in particular, from the viewpoint of energy saving, the efficiency of the compressor 50 is improved, and the heat released from the compressor 50 is reduced by reducing the mechanical loss. Similarly, from the viewpoint of energy saving, the condensation temperature of the heat radiating capacitor 52 is lowered by extending the pipe length or the like. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is difficult to sufficiently evaporate the drain water in the evaporating dish 20 by using the evaporation condenser 51, the heat dissipation condenser 52, and the compressor 50 as heat sources. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, the bottom plate 20a of the evaporating dish 20 is provided with a throttle 20b having an opening so that drain water can easily collect, and atomization is performed so that the surface is exposed from the opening of the throttle 20b. The device 30 was provided. Therefore, the drain water in the evaporating dish 20 can be atomized by the atomizing device 30, and the drain water in the evaporating dish 20 can be reliably evaporated even in the refrigerator 1 in which energy saving is achieved.

Further, mist from the atomizing device 30 adheres to the heat radiating condenser 52, and the adhering drain water is vaporized, so that heat exchange of the heat radiating condenser is promoted. As a result, the condensation temperature is lowered, which contributes to the reduction of the compression work of the compressor. As a result, the wind power of the cooling fan can be weakened, so that energy saving can be achieved.

According to the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment as described above, even if the amount of drainage drainage increases when the door is frequently opened and closed or when a large amount of watery food is put into the refrigerator 1, the evaporating dish 20 is surely contained. It is possible to evaporate the drain water of the above and prevent the drain water from overflowing from the evaporating dish 20.

The drain water is drained by the drain pipe 60 as shown in FIG. An opening 15a is formed under the evaporator 14, and one end of the drain pipe 60 is connected to the opening 15a. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the other end of the drain pipe 60 is provided between the heat radiating condenser 52 and the cooling fan 54 so as to be located inside the evaporating dish 20. The temperature around the opening 15a under the evaporator 14 is low and the pressure is negative, and one end of the drain pipe 60 connected to the opening 15a is also negative pressure. However, if the position of the drain pipe 60 is on the discharge (positive pressure) side of the cooling fan, high temperature outside air can easily enter the inside of the storage cabinet 10. In the present embodiment, since the cooling fan is on the suction (negative pressure) side, the other end side of the drain pipe 60 is also on the negative pressure side. Therefore, negative pressure is generated at both ends of the drain pipe 60, and it is possible to prevent outside air from entering the inside of the storage.

If the atomizing device 30 is operated in a state where the evaporating dish 20 is not in contact with the drain water, it may lead to a failure. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the front portion side of the evaporating dish 20 where the other end of the drain pipe 60 is located is inclined so as to be higher than the rear portion side provided with the atomizing device 30. Let's arrange it. By arranging in this way, it is possible to prevent the atomizing device 30 and the drain water in the evaporating dish 20 from being in contact with each other even when the amount of drain water is small.

Further, in the present embodiment, the energization of the atomizing device 30 is not always performed, for example, it is performed for a certain period of time after the evaporator 14 is defrosted. By defrosting the evaporator 14, drain water collects in the evaporating dish 20 via the drain pipe 60. Therefore, by energizing the atomizing device 30 for a certain period of time after defrosting the evaporator 14, the energizing period can be minimized and the power consumption of the atomizing device 30 can be suppressed. Further, it is conceivable that drain water is surely accumulated in the evaporating dish 20 by energizing the atomizing device 30 for a certain period of time after defrosting the evaporator 14, as described above. Failure of the atomizer 30 can also be prevented.

It is considered that there is a certain correlation between the amount of drain water in the evaporating dish 20 and the defrosting time of the evaporator 14. That is, the longer the defrosting time of the evaporator 14, the more the amount of drain water in the evaporating dish 20 increases. Therefore, when the defrosting time of the evaporator 14 exceeds a predetermined time, the atomizing device 30 may be energized for a certain period of time. When the defrosting time of the evaporator 14 exceeds a predetermined time, it is considered that the drain water amount has reached the predetermined water amount. In such a case, the atomizing device 30 is energized for a certain period of time. This makes it possible to reliably atomize the drain water in the evaporating dish 20. Further, the power consumption of the atomizing device 30 can be suppressed by minimizing the period of energization of the atomizing device 30. Further, in such a case, it is considered that the amount of drain water has reached a predetermined amount, so that the failure of the atomizing device 30 as described above can be prevented.

The amount of drain water in the evaporating dish 20 may be detected by, for example, a seesaw-type sensor provided in the evaporating dish 20. In this case, when the sensor determines that the amount of drain water in the evaporating dish 20 has reached a predetermined amount, the atomizing device 30 may be energized.

In the present embodiment, the atomizing device 30 has described an embodiment using an ultrasonic element. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and for example, a generally known device such as a centrifugal miniaturization device using a rotating disk or an electrostatic atomizing device is used as the atomizing device 30. May be good.

In the present embodiment, an embodiment in which the atomizing device 30 is provided in the evaporating dish 20 has been described in a configuration in which the heat radiating condenser 52 is forcibly cooled by using the cooling fan 54. However, the present invention is not limited to such an aspect, and the present invention is also applicable to a type of refrigerator in which a cooling fan 54 is not installed. In this case, the atomizing device 30 in the evaporating dish 20 may be located outside the storage 10 or the mist by the atomizing device 30 may form a flow path to the outside of the storage 10. Just do it.

Although the embodiments and embodiments of the present invention have been described, the disclosed contents may be changed in the details of the configuration, and the present invention is requested to change the combinations and orders of the elements in the embodiments and embodiments. It can be realized without deviating from the scope and idea of.

2 Refrigerator 12 Machine room 20 Evaporating dish 30 Atomizer 50 Compressor 52 Heat dissipation condenser 54 Cooling fan

Claims (4)

With at least a machine room with a compressor and an evaporating dish,
An atomizer provided in the evaporating dish and atomizing drain water by energization ,
An evaporation capacitor provided in the evaporating dish and
The heat dissipation capacitor connected to the evaporation capacitor,
A cooling fan provided between the compressor and the heat dissipation condenser,
Ventilation ports provided on the side walls on both sides of the machine room are provided.
The heat radiating capacitor is provided at a position covering a part of the evaporating dish provided with the atomizing device and the evaporation capacitor, and is provided on the cooling fan side of the atomizing device.
The arrangement along the direction from the ventilation port provided on one side wall toward the ventilation port provided on the other side wall is the same as the evaporating dish provided with the atomizer and the evaporation condenser. The order is the radiator condenser, the cooling fan, and the compressor.
A refrigerator that features that. The energization of the atomizer is performed for a certain period of time after defrosting.
The refrigerator according to claim 1. When the defrosting time exceeds a predetermined time, the energization of the atomizing device is performed for a certain period of time.
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerator is characterized by the above. The atomizer is covered with a cover member so as not to come into contact with the outer surface of the refrigerator.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refrigerator is characterized by the above.

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