JPH0264381A - Damper opening and closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make the amount of cold air, returned to the side of an opening part, larger than the amount of clod air, hitting an opening and closing plate with an angle and flowing, and permit the sufficient feeding of cold air into a refrigerator by a method wherein the height of a rib, provided around the opening of a base plate, is slanted so as to be lower at the supporting side of the opening and closing plate and higher at the opposite side. CONSTITUTION:An opening 103 i formed on one end of the base plate 102 of a damper device while a slanted rib 104 is formed around the opening 103. Upon normal time or when a damper opening command is not outputted, a shape memory alloy 110 is not conducted and accordingly, the shape memory alloy 110 is elongated whereby an opening and closing plate 106 is energized by the energizing force of a leaf spring 108 toward the closing direction thereof. When a damper opening command is outputted, the shape memory alloy wire 110 is conducted directly and is contracted by the self generation of heat thereby pivoting the opening and closing plate 106 clockwise against the energizing force of the leaf spring 108 through a spindle 115 and opening the opening 103. A resistance, generated when cold air flowing through the opening 103 hits a packing 107, is small and the cold air is supplied sufficiently into a refrigerator whereby the area of the opening 103 may be reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a damper opening/closing device for adjusting the flow rate of cold air in a refrigerating compartment or a switching compartment of an electric refrigerator or the like.

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a refrigerator having a divided freezer compartment and refrigerator compartment, temperature control is performed by opening and closing a damper provided in a passage connecting the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment.

Conventionally, gas thermostatic bellows have been used as the drive source for opening and closing, but gas thermostatic bellows has problems such as slow response speed and increased device size.
Recently, drive sources using shape memory alloy coil springs have come into use. A conventional damper opening/closing device using a shape memory alloy coil spring as a drive source will be described below.

Conventional damper opening/closing devices are, for example,
There is one described in Publication No. 81.

This will be explained using FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a conventional damper opening/closing device.

1 is a damper opening/closing device; 2 is a substrate of the damper device; an opening 3 is formed at one end thereof; and a support plate 4 is protruded from the upper surface of the midsection thereof. Reference numeral 6 designates an operating plate rotatably supported by the support plate 4, and an opening/closing plate 6 for opening and closing the opening 3 of the substrate 2 is attached to the tip end thereof.

Further, a bias spring 7 is attached to the actuation plate 6, which always biases the opening 3 in a direction to close it.

8 is a coil spring made of a heat-treated shape memory alloy so that it contracts when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher;
It is attached to one end of the actuating plate 5 on the side where the opening/closing plate 6 is not provided, and is normally in an elongated shape in the direction of closing the actuating plate 6 with the biasing force of the bias spring 7. When contracted, the actuating plate 6 is biased in the direction of opening against the biasing force of the bias spring 7. Reference numeral 9 is connected in series to a heater consisting of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor disposed within the hollow portion of the coil spring 8, and the heater 9 is energized when the damper is commanded to open. ing. When the heater 9 is energized, this heater 9
The coil springs 8 begin to contract in order from the portion closest to the coil spring 8, and as a result, the contraction force of the coil springs 8 overcomes the biasing force of the bias spring 7, and the actuating plate 5 is rotated clockwise, that is, in the opening direction. Note that 1o indicates a storage portion in which the coil spring 8 and heater 9 are stored.

The operation of the damper opening/closing device configured as described above will be explained below.

First, under normal conditions, that is, when there is no command to open the damper, the heater 9 is not energized, so the coil spring 8 is in an extended state, and the actuating plate 5 is urged in the closing direction by the biasing force of the bias spring 7. Therefore, the opening 3 is closed by the opening/closing plate 6 of the actuating plate 6.

When a command to open the damper is issued from a control circuit (not shown), the relay switch 11 is closed, current flows through the series circuit of the heater 9 and the coil spring 8, and the coil spring 8 is heated by the heater 9. Ru. Therefore, the coil spring 8 contracts, and the actuating plate 5 is rotated clockwise against the biasing force of the bias spring 7 to open the opening 3.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional structure described above, current flows through the series circuit of the closed collar, the heater 9, and the coil spring 8, in which the opening 3 and the opening/closing plate 6 are in contact with each other via the actuating plate 6.

As a result, the opening/closing plate 6 rotates clockwise via the operating plate 5 to open the opening 3.

However, since the opening 3 is parallel to the board 2 in the closed state, the opening angle of the opening/closing plate 6 with respect to the board 2 becomes small even in the open state, and the cool air flowing through the opening 3 hits the opening/closing plate 6 and is returned. This has the drawback that it creates a thin layer and creates a large amount of resistance, making it difficult for cold air to flow into the refrigerator. For this reason, it is necessary to make the opening 3 larger or to make the fully open size larger in the open state, which has the disadvantage of complicating the structure and preventing miniaturization.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a damper opening/closing device that has a simple structure, has a small opening area, has low resistance to cold air flowing from the opening, and can supply a sufficient amount of cold air into the refrigerator. purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the damper opening/closing device of the present invention has a structure in which the height of the rib provided around the opening of the board is lower on the pivot side of the opening/closing plate and higher on the opposite side. It is tilted.

Also, a board having an opening, an opening/closing plate with one end pivotally supported for opening and closing the opening, a leaf spring that urges the opening/closing plate in the closing direction, and a plate spring attached to the board and fixed at both ends and generated by energization and heat generation. A relatively thin shape memory alloy wire serves as a driving source that expands and contracts in the direction toward and away from the opening/closing plate as the temperature changes, and one end of the shape memory alloy wire contacts near the center of the shape memory alloy wire, and the other end penetrates the substrate. A Nupindo/Shikaranashi that comes into contact with the opening/closing plate is provided with an inclined rib in the opening of the above board, with the pivot side of the opening/closing plate being low and the opposite side being high, and a gasket is attached to the opening/closing plate that comes into contact with the rib. It is.

Function: With this configuration, when the cold air from the opening hits the opening/closing plate, more of the cold air hits the opening/closing plate at an angle than the cold air that is returned to the opening side, making it possible to send sufficient cold air into the refrigerator. It is something.

EXAMPLE An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, 101 is a damper opening/closing device, and 102 is a board of the damper device.
An opening 103 is formed at one end of 02, and an inclined rib 104 is formed around the entire circumference of the opening 103. Bearings 105a and 106 are provided at the other end of the board 102.
b is provided protrudingly. Reference numeral 106 designates an opening/closing plate rotatably supported by the bearings 106a and 106b provided on the lower rib side of the substrate, and the tip of the opening/closing plate 106 has the substrate 10 at its tip.
A slightly larger gasket 107 is provided at a position corresponding to the inclined rib 104 formed on the substrate 1.
By the plate spring 108 fixed to 02, the inclined rib 10
4 and the packing 107 are in contact with each other to always urge the opening 103 in the closing direction.

A protrusion 109 is formed in the midsection of the substrate 102,
On the back side thereof, a relatively thin shape memory alloy wire 110 heat-treated so as to shrink when heated to a predetermined temperature or higher is fixed by caulking both ends with fixed terminals 111a and 111b, and serves as a driving source.

Fixed terminals 111a and 111b are fixed to substrate 102 with rivets 112a and 112b.

In addition, the shape memory alloy wire 110 is used as a fixed terminal 1 that does not undergo expansion or contraction.
The caulked portions 113a and 113b of 11a and 111b are in contact with round bottles 114a and 114b having good thermal conductivity so as not to concentrate stress.

The shape memory alloy wire 110 is in contact with a concave portion 116 of a spindle 115 which is driven in the vertical direction to move toward and away from the opening/closing plate by the expansion and contraction of the shape memory alloy wire 110 at the center thereof, and the other end of the spindle 116 is It passes through the substrate 102 and comes into contact with the opening/closing plate 108 . Note that 117 is a cover for the protrusion 109 formed on the substrate 102 that houses the driving source.

The operation of the damper opening/closing device configured as described above will be described below. First, under normal conditions, that is, when a damper opening command is not issued, the shape memory alloy 110 is not energized, so the shape memory alloy 110 is in an extended state, and the opening/closing plate 106 is biased in the closing direction by the biasing force of the leaf spring 108. ing.

When a command to open the damper is issued from a control circuit (not shown), current is applied directly to the shape memory alloy wire 110, causing the shape memory alloy wire 110 to contract due to self-heating, and the biasing force of the leaf spring 108 is applied via the spindle 116. The opening/closing plate 108 is rotated clockwise to open the opening 103.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when the shape memory alloy wire 110 is energized and the opening/closing plate 106 is fully opened, the opening angle of the gasket 107 with respect to the substrate 102 is large, so that the opening 103 is closed. Since the resistance when the flowing cold air hits the gasket 107 is small and the cold air is sufficiently supplied into the refrigerator compartment, it is possible to reduce the area of the opening 3, and it is also possible to reduce the fully open dimension of the opening/closing plate 106. Therefore, the amount of shrinkage of the shape memory alloy wire 11o is reduced, which not only results in a long life but also enables miniaturization. Since the ribs 104 around the opening 103 have different heights, when the opening/closing plate is opened, the cold air from the opening 103 flows through the opening/closing plate 106.
Since the cold air hits the refrigerator and flows diagonally, there is no problem of the cold air wrapping around the inside of the refrigerator and causing a small amount of cold air to flow into the refrigerator.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a substrate having an opening, an opening/closing plate pivoting one side for opening and closing the opening, a leaf spring urging the opening/closing plate in the closing direction, and a substrate of the opening/closing plate. A relatively thin shape memory alloy wire as a driving source that is attached to the shape memory alloy wire at both ends and expands and contracts in the direction toward and away from the opening/closing plate as the temperature changes due to heat generated by electricity, and one end near the center of the shape memory alloy wire. and a spindle whose other end passes through the board and comes into contact with the opening/closing plate, and an inclined rib is provided in the opening of the board with the shaft support side of the opening/closing plate being low and the opposite side being high, and the rib is in contact with the rib. Because the structure has a gasket attached to the contacting opening/closing plate,
When the opening/closing plate is fully opened, the angle of inclination with respect to the board becomes larger.
Therefore, since the resistance when cold air flows into the refrigerator compartment can be reduced, the opening can be designed smaller, and the fully open size can also be designed smaller, which meets customer needs as the amount of cold air decreases as refrigerators have more doors. It is possible to construct a damper opening/closing device that has a similar structure, and its practical effects are significant.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a damper opening/closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the damper opening/closing device in the damper open state, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the conventional damper opening/closing device, and FIG. 6 is a control block diagram of the damper opening/closing device. 101... Damper opening/closing device, 102...
...Substrate, 103...Opening, 104...
... Slanted rib, 105a. 106b...bearing, 106...opening/closing plate, 108...plate spring, 110...shape memory alloy wire (driving source χ116...spindle /L'
, 107...Patsukin. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and 1 other personFigure tot--Damper opening/closing device 102--Substrate fω--Opening section to4--I's opening/closing class-107"-1 Tsukin tθ8-Ibhane 1f0-type I-in wJ building, alloy n5--Shi'tor 10/

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A substrate with ribs formed around the opening, an opening/closing plate rotatably supported on the rib side of this substrate and in contact with the rib, and a position where the opening/closing plate contacts the rib and a position away from the rib. A damper opening/closing device comprising a drive source that drives the damper opening/closing device, and the height of the rib is formed such that the height of the rib is low on the pivot side of the opening/closing plate and high on the opposite side. (2) A board having an opening, an opening/closing plate with one end pivoted to open and close the opening, a leaf spring that urges the opening/closing plate in the closing direction, and a leaf spring attached to the board and fixed at both ends to generate electricity when energized. A relatively thin shape memory alloy wire serves as a driving source that expands and contracts in the direction toward and away from the opening/closing plate as the temperature changes due to temperature changes; and a spindle that abuts the opening/closing plate, a damper comprising an inclined rib provided in the opening of the substrate with the pivoting side of the opening/closing plate being low and the opposite side being high, and a packing being attached to the opening/closing plate that abuts the rib. Switchgear.