JP7300592B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to refrigerators.

A refrigerator performs a cooling operation by circulating a refrigerant. Some refrigerators in recent years have a configuration in which a refrigerant pipe through which a refrigerant flows is branched into a plurality of circulation paths. Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration in which two refrigerant pipes are merged into one refrigerant pipe using a joint pipe.

JP 2014-134331 A

By using a connection mechanism such as the joint pipe of Patent Document 1, a plurality of flow paths through which coolant flows can be merged into one flow path. However, when the connection mechanism is arranged so that the connection mechanism is horizontal as in Patent Document 1, the refrigerant accumulates in a portion where the inner diameter of the flow path is large (for example, a portion where a plurality of flow paths joins), and the state of the refrigerant deteriorates. Instability will occur. Then, when the next refrigerant flows into the part where the state of the refrigerant has become unstable, the refrigerants may mix and cause noise. A user near the refrigerator perceives this sound as an unpleasant sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the possibility of unpleasant noise caused by a connection mechanism in a refrigerator provided with a connection mechanism that merges a plurality of flow paths through which refrigerant flows into one flow path.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the refrigerator provided by the present invention includes a cooler for generating cold air, and a connection mechanism for joining a plurality of channels in which the refrigerant flows into one channel, The connecting mechanism is arranged in the refrigerator with the connecting mechanism slanted such that an inlet through which the refrigerant flows into the connecting mechanism is higher than an outlet through which the refrigerant flows out of the connecting mechanism, and the connecting mechanism comprises: It is characterized in that it is provided above the cooler, and the connection mechanism is embedded inside the heat insulating material.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in a refrigerator provided with the connection mechanism which merges the several flow path through which a refrigerant|coolant flows into one flow path, it can reduce possibility that the connection mechanism will generate an unpleasant sound.

2 is a diagram showing an appearance of refrigerator 100. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a longitudinal section of refrigerator 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the rear surface of refrigerator 100. FIG. It is a figure which shows a refrigerating cycle. 4 is a diagram showing a connection mechanism 409; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a connection mechanism 409; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention.
(embodiment)
1 is a view showing the appearance of refrigerator 100, FIG. 2 is a view showing a longitudinal section of refrigerator 100, and FIG. Refrigerator 100 is composed of an outer box made of metal (for example, iron plate), an inner box made of hard resin (for example, ABS), and foamed heat insulating material (for example, hard urethane) filled between the outer box and the inner box. be. Refrigerator 100 includes a plurality of storage compartments including refrigerating compartment 200 , switching compartment 201 , ice making compartment 202 , freezing compartment 203 and vegetable compartment 204 . Doors 101, 102, 103, 104, and 105 in FIG. 1 are doors for opening and closing refrigerator compartment 200, switching compartment 201, ice making compartment 202, freezing compartment 203, and vegetable compartment 204, respectively.

The refrigerating compartment 200 is set to a refrigerating temperature range in which stored items do not freeze for refrigerating storage. The vegetable compartment 204 is set in a temperature range slightly higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 200 as a temperature suitable for storing vegetables. The freezer compartment 203 is set to a freezing temperature zone for frozen storage. The temperature zone of the switching chamber 201 can be switched to a desired temperature zone by the user from a plurality of temperature zones.

In addition, the refrigerator 100 includes a first machine room 205 located in the upper part of the refrigerator 100 , a second machine room 207 located in the lower part of the refrigerator 100 , and a cooling room 208 located in the back of the refrigerator 100 . The cooling chamber 208 accommodates a cooler 209 that generates cool air, a defrosting heater that removes frost adhering to the cooler 209, and the like. A compressor 206 and the like are housed in the first machine room 205 . In the second machine room 207, a three-way valve 301 for switching the flow of refrigerant, a defrosting tray for storing defrosted water generated by defrosting of the defrosting heater, and a defrosting tray for evaporating the defrosted water accumulated in the defrosting tray. A defrosting fan etc. are accommodated.

Next, a refrigeration cycle included in refrigerator 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 4 . A refrigerating cycle provided in refrigerator 100 is composed of compressor 206 , condenser 401 , heat radiation pipes 402 , 403 and 404 , capillary tubes 407 , 408 and 410 , cooler 209 , and suction pipe 411 . Refrigerator 100 performs a cooling operation by enclosing a refrigerant in this refrigerating cycle.

The heat dissipation pipe 402 branches into a heat dissipation pipe 403 and a heat dissipation pipe 404 via the three-way valve 301 . Heat radiation pipe 403 is provided on the front surface of refrigerator 100 , and heat radiation pipe 404 is provided on the back or side surface of refrigerator 100 . Refrigerator 100 is provided with a sensor that detects the temperature and humidity of the outside air. Based on the detection results of these sensors, refrigerator 100 determines whether condensation is likely to occur at the front opening of refrigerator 100 . Normally, the coolant flows through the heat radiation pipe 404 , but if it is determined that dew condensation is likely to occur, the three-way valve 301 switches the flow path of the coolant so that the coolant flows through the heat radiation pipe 403 . By flowing the refrigerant through the heat radiation pipe 403 , it is possible to prevent condensation from occurring at the front opening of the refrigerator 100 .

A heat radiation pipe 403 is connected to a capillary tube 407 via a strainer 405 . Also, the heat radiation pipe 404 is connected to the capillary tube 408 via the strainer 406 . Capillary tube 407 and capillary tube 408 are connected to a connection mechanism 409 which will be described later with reference to FIG. A capillary tube 410 is connected to the outlet portion 501 of the connection mechanism 409 , and the connection mechanism 409 merges the two coolant flow paths into one flow path. Capillary tube 410 is connected to cooler 209 and the refrigerant leaving cooler 209 returns to compressor 206 via suction pipe 411 .

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the connection mechanism 409. As shown in FIG. An inlet portion 500 of the connection mechanism 409 is connected to the capillary tubes 407 and 408 , and an outlet portion 501 of the connection mechanism 409 is connected to the capillary tube 410 . Refrigerant flows into the connecting mechanism 409 from the inlet 500 and flows out from the outlet 501 .

As is clear from FIG. 5 , the inner diameter of the channel through which the coolant flows through the capillary tubes 407 and 408 differs from the inner diameter of the connecting mechanism 409 . In particular, a confluence point 502 where the refrigerant flowing through the capillary tube 407 and the refrigerant flowing through the capillary tube 408 join is a point where the change in inner diameter is large. If the connection mechanism 409 is arranged horizontally, the coolant will accumulate in the junction 502 and the state of the coolant will become unstable. Then, when the next refrigerant flows into the confluence point 502, the refrigerants may mix and cause noise. A user near refrigerator 100 finds this sound unpleasant. Therefore, in the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment, the connection mechanism 409 is arranged so that the entrance portion 500 is positioned higher than the exit portion 501 . As a result, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from accumulating at the junction 502 and reduce the possibility of the above-described noise being generated.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of the connection mechanism 409 described above from the rear side of the refrigerator 100. As shown in FIG. The connection mechanism 409 is arranged in an inclined state so that the entrance portion 500 is positioned higher than the exit portion 501 . Although FIG. 6 shows one capillary tube connected to the inlet portion 500, the capillary tube 408 is actually arranged behind the capillary tube 407 (on the front side of the refrigerator 100). ing.

As a result of the verification, when the inclination angle of the connection mechanism 409 was set to 10 degrees or more, the refrigerant was suppressed from staying at the junction 400 of the connection mechanism 409 and the refrigerant smoothly flowed from the outlet 501 to the capillary tube 410 . In addition, the noise generated by the accumulation of the refrigerant at the confluence point 502, which is felt by the user near the refrigerator 100, is also suppressed.

Also, although not shown, there are mechanisms such as various pipes and partition walls with other storage chambers around the connection mechanism 409, so it is not desirable to increase the inclination angle of the connection mechanism 409 too much. As a result of the verification, if the inclination angle of the connection mechanism 409 is up to 45 degrees, the connection mechanism 409 can be arranged while suppressing interference with other mechanisms. That is, it can be said that setting the inclination angle of the connection mechanism 409 to 10 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less is an example of a preferred embodiment.

Also, the connection mechanism 409 is embedded inside the foam heat insulating material. Thereby, a work space for welding connection between the capillary tube 410 and the cooler 209 and a work space for welding connection between the cooler 209 and the suction pipe 411 can be secured. Moreover, the capacity of each storage compartment such as the refrigerator compartment 200 can be increased.

Also, by designing the connection mechanism 409 so that the capillary tubes 407, 408, and 410 have the same inner diameter, changes in the inner diameter of the coolant flow path can be minimized. In addition, the capillary tubes 407, 408, 410 can be designed as common parts, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

Also, the inner diameter of the capillary tubes 407 , 408 may be smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet section 500 . In this case, another refrigerant pipe may be sandwiched between the capillary tubes 407 and 408 and the inlet portion 500 . That is, the capillary tubes 407 and 408 may be realized by connecting a plurality of refrigerant pipes with different inner diameters.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the connection mechanism 409 has been described as a mechanism for joining two coolant channels into one channel. This embodiment can also be applied to a connection mechanism for connecting.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be applied to household refrigerators and freezers, and commercial refrigerators and freezers.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 refrigerator 209 cooler 407 capillary tube 408 capillary tube 409 connection mechanism 410 capillary tube 500 inlet 501 outlet

Claims (8)

a refrigerator,
a cooler for generating cold air;
a connection mechanism for merging a plurality of channels in which the coolant flows into one channel;
The connection mechanism is arranged in the refrigerator in a state in which the connection mechanism is inclined such that an inlet portion through which the refrigerant flows into the connection mechanism is positioned higher than an outlet portion through which the refrigerant flows out from the connection mechanism. and
The connection mechanism is provided above the cooler,
The refrigerator, wherein the connection mechanism is embedded inside a heat insulating material. a first heat radiation pipe provided on the front surface of the refrigerator;
a second heat radiation pipe provided on the back or side of the refrigerator;
a three-way valve that switches the flow path of the refrigerant;
Determination means for determining whether dew condensation is likely to occur at the front opening of the refrigerator,
The first heat dissipation pipe and the second heat dissipation pipe are each connected to the inlet via a capillary tube,
3. The three-way valve switches the flow path of the coolant so that the coolant flows through the first heat radiation pipe when the determining means determines that condensation is likely to occur. 1. The refrigerator according to 1. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant pipe connected to said outlet is connected to said cooler. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the refrigerant pipe connected to the inlet is equal to the inner diameter of the refrigerant pipe connected to the outlet. 5. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refrigerant pipe connected to the inlet portion has a form in which a plurality of refrigerant pipes having different inner diameters are connected. 6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the refrigerant pipe connected to said inlet is a capillary tube. 6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the refrigerant pipe connected to the inlet and the refrigerant pipe connected to the outlet is a capillary tube. 8. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said connection mechanism is a connection mechanism for joining two flow paths through which a refrigerant flows into one flow path.

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