JPH01285771A - Deodorizing device for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To retain the ability to deodorize in the refrigerator compartment over a long period of time by providing a heat generator in the cold air suction passage from the refrigerator compartment and fibrous active charcoal around said heat generator. CONSTITUTION:The cold air containing odor in the refrigerator compartment 3 is sucked into a suction passage 10 by a fan 6, and the odor is efficiently absorbed by the fibrous active charcoal 11b in a deodorizing device 11 disposed in the inlet side opening 10a of the suction passage 10. If the user senses the odor in the compartment due to the degradation of the deodorizing ability, he or she turns on the electricity on a heating element 11 to heat the fibrous active charcoal 11b so as to decompose absorbed odorants and dry the moisture. The fibrous active charcoal 11b can be periodically heated for reactivation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a deodorizing device for a refrigerator, and more particularly to a deodorizing device using activated carbon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, in order to eliminate unpleasant odors within a refrigerator, a deodorizer made of granular activated carbon contained in a plastic case has been installed inside the refrigerator. Deodorization using activated carbon is a safer, simpler, and less expensive deodorization method than deodorization methods that use ozone or ultraviolet light.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, when activated carbon physically adsorbs odors and reaches a saturated state, it loses its deodorizing ability and usually needs to be replaced with a new one after about 4 to 6 months. In addition, if a large amount of food with a high moisture content is stored, or if the refrigerator door is opened and closed frequently during humid seasons such as the rainy season, the activated carbon will absorb a large amount of moisture, resulting in deodorizing ability. sometimes decreased. Conventional deodorizing of refrigerators using activated carbon has the above-mentioned problems.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the deodorizing device for a refrigerator of the present invention includes a heating element and fibrous activated carbon attached to the outer periphery of the heating element in the cold air suction passage from the refrigerator compartment. It is.

Function The present invention regenerates the activated carbon by thermally decomposing and drying the odor and moisture adsorbed on the activated carbon, thereby maintaining the deodorizing ability in the refrigerator for a long period of time.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, a deodorizing device for a refrigerator according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a refrigerator main body, and 2.3 is a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment formed inside the refrigerator main body 1.

4 is an insulating wall that partitions the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3, 6 is a cooler installed behind the freezer compartment 2, and 6 is the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3.
a blower that forcedly circulates the cold air cooled by the cooler 6;
γ is a partition plate between the freezing chamber 2 and the cooling chamber 8, which is installed in front of the cooling chamber 8 in which the cooler 5 and the like are installed. Reference numeral 9 indicates a passageway for returning cold air in the freezer compartment 2 to the cooler 5, and reference numeral 1o indicates a cold air suction passageway for returning cold air in the refrigerator compartment 3 to the cooler 6. 11 is a deodorizing device attached to the opening 10a on the inlet side of the cold air suction passage 10. 11a.

11b is a heating element and fibrous activated carbon that constitute the deodorizing device 11, and 11c is the deodorizing device 11 connected to the opening 1 of the cold air suction passage.
This is a fitting for fixing to 0a.

11d and 11e are a stainless steel tube and a nichrome wire, respectively, which constitute the heating element 11a. The fibrous activated carbon 1
1b is a ring-shaped fastener 12 at both ends that connects the heating element 11 &
It is attached to the entire outer periphery of the

The operation of the refrigerator deodorizing device configured as above will be explained.

The cold air containing internal odor in the refrigerator compartment 3 is sent to the blower 6.
is sucked into the suction passage 10 as shown by the arrow in the figure,
It is adsorbed by the fibrous activated carbon 11b of the deodorizing device 11 provided at the opening 10a on the inlet side of the suction passage 10, and efficiently deodorizes the interior of the refrigerator. The fibrous activated carbon 11b normally becomes saturated in several months and loses its deodorizing ability. Also,
During humid seasons, such as the rainy season, opening and closing the refrigerator door absorbs moisture, reducing its deodorizing ability.

When you feel an unpleasant odor in the refrigerator due to a decrease in deodorizing power,
The user of the refrigerator energizes the heating element 11 and heats it to decompose odor components and dry moisture adsorbed on the fibrous activated carbon 11b. The fibrous activated carbon 1
Since 1b can be periodically heated and regenerated, there is no need to replace it with a new one every few months as in the past, and the deodorizing ability can be maintained for a long period of time. The surface temperature of the heating element 11 is set to about 150'C, and the fibrous activated carbon 11b can be regenerated by applying electricity for about 3Q minutes, and can be regenerated about 30 times. 10-1
Deodorizing ability can be maintained for 5 years. Furthermore, the reason why the activated carbon is the fibrous activated carbon 11b is that the activated carbon can be easily formed into any shape and can be easily attached to the heating element 11.

As described above, the heating element and the fibrous activated carbon attached to the outer periphery of the heating element are arranged in the cold air suction passage 10 from the refrigerator compartment 3 provided in the heat insulating wall 4 that partitions the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3. 11b, the fibrous activated carbon 11b can be regenerated when the deodorizing ability decreases, so the deodorizing effect can always be maintained, and the activated carbon 11b does not need to be replaced for a long time. There is no.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention is provided in a cold air suction passage from a refrigerator compartment provided in a heat insulating wall that partitions a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment,
This refrigerator deodorizing device consists of a heating element and fibrous activated carbon attached to the outer periphery of the heating element, so it efficiently deodorizes the inside of the refrigerator, maintains the deodorizing effect, and replaces the activated carbon over a long period of time. There's no need.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of section A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a deodorizing device. 2... Freezer room, 3... Refrigerator room, 4...
...Insulation wall, 10 ...Cold air intake passage, 11
... Deodorizing device, 11a ... Heating element, 1
1b...Fibrous activated carbon.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A deodorizing device for a refrigerator, which is disposed in a cold air suction passage and includes a heating element and fibrous activated carbon attached to the outer periphery of the heating element.