JPH03267679A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the operation of a fan for normally maintaining a storage chamber at an icing temperature and to obviate variation in thawing time by providing a through fan on the back surface of the chamber, and providing a first chilled gas inlet opened at the lower part of the chamber and a second chilled gas inlet disposed at the upper part of the fan to be opened at the upper part. CONSTITUTION:When a chilled gas damper 4 is opened, chilled gas from a refrigerating chamber 1 is guided through a chilled gas inlet passage 2 and a first chilled gas inlet 3a of a storage chamber 3 by a refrigerating chamber cooling fan 10 to cool the chamber 3. At the time of quick cooling, a compressor 11 is forcibly continuously operated to maintain the temperature of the chilled gas to be introduced low. The passage 2 communicates with a second chilled gas inlet 3b at the top of the back surface of the chamber 3, i.e., the suction port 8a of a through fan. At the time of quick thawing, a chilled gas damper 4 is closed by a command of a controller 16, the compressor is forcibly continuously operated, the temperature in the storage chamber is lowered to prevent the temperature of the outer periphery of the storage chamber from abnormally rising.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator that has both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions and is provided with a storage chamber that maintains a normal freezing greenhouse temperature range. At the same time, a refrigerator that reduces fluctuations in thawing time due to temperature changes in the refrigerator compartment, and also eliminates the need for fan operation to maintain the temperature of the storage compartment as a normal ice room [Conventional technology] Conventional refrigerator with a quick thawing compartment For example,
As described in Publication No. 754, high-temperature air from the refrigerator compartment is introduced into the storage compartment for thawing, and when rapid cooling is performed, cold air is introduced into the storage compartment from a cold air inlet connected to the storage compartment. [Problem to be solved by the invention] The above-mentioned conventional technology introduces high-temperature air from the refrigerator compartment into the storage compartment for thawing, so it is difficult to solve problems when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment changes. No consideration was given to variations in thawing time.

Also, if you try to maintain the temperature in a normal ice greenhouse, you have to run a fan.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems in the prior art described above, and in order to achieve each of the above objects by shortening the thawing time, the basic configuration of the refrigerator according to the present invention is as follows:
Equipped with freezer and refrigerator compartments.

In a refrigerator that has a storage compartment with both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions as part of the refrigerator compartment, the heater part and fan suction part are connected to the suction part of the defrosting/quick cooling fan during defrosting, and the fan suction part is connected to the suction part of the fan for defrosting/quick cooling. It is equipped with an electric damper that switches between the cold air introduction path and the fan intake path.

Additionally, there is a cross-flow fan located on the back side of the storage chamber, and a first cross-flow fan located below the cross-flow fan and opening at the bottom of the storage chamber.
a second cold air introduction port located above the cross-flow fan and opening at the top; a cold air introduction path connecting the freezer compartment and the storage compartment; and a cold air introduction path provided in the cold air introduction path. It is equipped with a damper and a thawing heater provided on the ceiling of the storage room.

In order to achieve the above objectives, we are equipped with a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment.
In a refrigerator comprising a storage compartment having both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions as a part of the refrigerator compartment, a cross-flow fan is provided on the back side of the storage compartment, and a first cold air intake port opens at the bottom of the storage compartment. A second cold air introduction port is provided above the cross-flow fan and opens at the top, and a cold air damper is provided in the cold air introduction path connecting the freezer compartment and the storage compartment. is provided with a thawing heater, and when the storage chamber is used as a rapid cooling chamber, the cold air damper is opened and the once-through fan is operated; when the storage chamber is used as a thawing chamber, the cold air damper is opened. is closed, and the once-through fan and the defrosting heater are operated to perform defrosting.

[Effect]

The functions of each of the above technical means are as follows.

A cold air introduction path for introducing cold air from the freezer compartment opens at the lower part of the back of the storage room, and a cold air damper is provided in the cold air introduction path, making it unnecessary to operate a fan that normally maintains the storage room as an ice-house. I can do it.

During rapid thawing, the cold air damper is closed and a thawing heater installed on the ceiling of the storage room and a cross-flow fan installed at the back of the storage room are operated to circulate warm air into the storage room. Since the food is thawed in the refrigerator, the thawing time does not change even if the temperature in the refrigerator room changes.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the storage compartment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the interior of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. 4 are flowcharts showing the control procedure for rapid cooling, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for rapid thawing.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, 1 is a freezer compartment, and 12 is a refrigerator compartment. 2 is a cold air introduction path that introduces cold air from the freezer compartment, and 3 is a storage room installed in the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 12. This storage room 3 has both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions as described below. 4 is a cold air damper. This cold air damper 4 is provided at the opening of the cold air introduction path 2 on the storage chamber side. The cold air damper 4 connects the heater and the fan suction section during defrosting, and switches between the cold air introduction path and the fan suction path during rapid cooling.

6 is a ceiling duct formed in the ceiling of the storage room, 6a is a front intake port thereof, and 7 is a defrosting heater provided in the ceiling duct.

8 is a cross-flow fan located at the back of the storage chamber 3; 8a is a
The inlet of the once-through fan is shown.

3a is a first cold air inlet opening at the bottom of the storage chamber 3;
3b is a second cold air introduction port provided at one end (storage room side) of a cold air introduction path 2a that connects a portion of a cold air damper and the storage room 3, which will be described later.

9 is a temperature sensor provided at the inlet 8a of the cross-flow fan.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a freezer compartment cooling fan, which is operated in synchronization with the compressor 11. The freezer compartment cooling fan 10 circulates cold air to the freezer compartment 1 and the refrigerator compartment 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a temperature control thermostat for the refrigerator compartment, which operates in synchronization with the compressor 11. The cold air damper 4 detects the temperature of the room and opens and closes the cold air damper.The cold air damper 4 detects the temperature with the ice room temperature sensor 5 that maintains the storage room 3 at the temperature of a normal ice room, and opens and closes according to a command from the control circuit 16. It is something to do.

When the cold air damper 4 opens, the cold air from the freezer compartment 1 is guided by the freezer compartment cooling fan 10 via the cold air introduction path 2 to the first cold air introduction port 3a of the storage compartment 3 to cool the storage compartment 3. When the ice room temperature sensor 5 cools down to a predetermined temperature, the cold air damper 4 closes in response to a command from the control circuit 16.

Moreover, since the cold air introduction path 2 opens to the first cold air introduction port 3a of the storage compartment 3, cold air can be easily caused to flow into the storage compartment 3 by the wind pressure of the freezer compartment cooling fan 10.

Next, the control operations for rapid cooling and rapid defrosting of such a refrigerator will be explained with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively. In the following explanation, the numbers in parentheses are the step numbers of the flowchart.

In the flowchart, the cold air damper 4 is simply referred to as a damper, the cross-flow fan 8 is simply referred to as a fan, the thawing heater 7 is simply referred to as a heater, and the temperature sensor is simply referred to as a sensor.

First, rapid cooling will be explained. During the rapid cooling operation, the compressor 11 is forced to operate continuously (step 1) to maintain the temperature of the introduced cold air low.

Since the cold air introduction path 2 communicates with the second cold air introduction port 3b at the upper rear side of the storage room 3, that is, the inlet 88 of the cross-flow fan, the cold-air damper 4 opens (step 2) and the cross-flow fan 8 operates (step 2). Step 3) Then, cold air can be forcibly introduced into the storage chamber 3.

As rapid cooling progresses, the temperature of the temperature sensor 9 decreases, and when the preset temperature is reached (step 4)
), the cold air damper 4 is closed (step 5) to prevent the food 15 from freezing.

When the temperature of the temperature sensor 9 rises again and reaches the preset temperature, the cold air damper is opened (step 6) to introduce cold air.

Close the cold air damper 4 (step 7) 1 Cross-flow fan 8
(step 8) and the rapid cooling operation is completed (step 9), the operating value of the ice room temperature sensor 5 is shifted to the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 12 for a preset time, and the normal ice room temperature range is maintained. By maintaining the temperature of the storage room 3 within the refrigerator room temperature range (step 10), it is possible to prevent the food 15 from freezing and maintain the temperature at which it is ready to eat and drink.

The cold air damper 4 is located as shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, and the cross-flow fan 8 sucks in the cold air that has passed through the second cold air inlet 3b, blows it out into the storage room 3 through the first cold air inlet 3d, and blows it out into the storage room 3. It exchanges heat with the load inside 3 and cools the refrigerator compartment 1 through a small gap.
This is what will be blown out in 2.

In other words, since the cold air damper 4 is located at the position indicated by the broken line, the air blown out from the first cold air introduction port 3d is not sucked into the ceiling duct 6 side, and is absorbed through the gaps between the parts that make up the storage room 3. This leaks into the refrigerator compartment 12.

Next, rapid defrosting will be explained.

In response to a command from the control circuit 16, the cold air damper 4 is closed, the compressor is forced to operate continuously, and the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment is lowered. In other words, this prevents the temperature around the storage chamber from rising abnormally. (Step 11) Heater 7 installed inside the ceiling duct 6 of the storage room 3
Then, the cross-flow fan 8 installed at the back of the storage room is operated.

(Step 12) The air heated by the thawing heater 7 is sucked into the cross-flow fan 8 and discharged into the storage chamber 3, supplying warm air to the food 15, so that the food 15 can be thawed. The air that has heated the food 15 and has been deprived of heat is sucked in through the front intake port 6a of the ceiling duct 6 of the storage room 3 and circulated.

As rapid thawing progresses, the energization of the thawing heater 7 is stopped at a temperature preset by a temperature sensor 9 installed at the inlet 8a of the cross-flow fan. (Step 13) At this time, in the present invention, since the compressor is forcibly operated, the ambient temperature of the storage chamber 3 becomes low, and the temperature sensor 9 does not reach the preset temperature. Then, thawing progresses, but the energization time of the thawing heater 7 becomes longer, and only the temperature of the food 15 increases. When the ambient temperature of the storage room 3 fluctuates in this manner, the energization of the defrosting heater 7 is stopped according to the defrosting time set by the control circuit 16 (step 14). (Step 15) After the power supply to the thawing heater 7 is stopped, the cross-flow fan 8 is operated for a preset time, and when the temperature of the storage room 3 has cooled sufficiently, the cold air damper 4 is opened (Step 16) to blow the cold air. After the food is forcibly introduced into the storage chamber 3 to reduce the temperature difference between the surface and center of the food 15 and to reduce uneven thawing, the cross-flow fan 8
(step 17), and the decompression is completed. (Step 18) Also, in synchronization with the defrosting of the cooler 14 of the refrigerator, the temperature around the cross-flow fan 8 is increased by energizing only the cross-flow fan 8 or the cross-flow fan 8 and the defrosting heater 7 for a preset time. to remove frost adhering to the cross-flow fan 8.

Furthermore, after the rapid defrosting is completed in step 18, the compressor is stopped in step 19 when a preset time has elapsed, and the forced continuous operation of the compressor is stopped.

According to this embodiment, when the storage room is used as a rapid thawing room, the compressor is forced into operation at the same time as the cold air damper that supplies cold air to the storage room is closed, and thawing is completed and a preset time has elapsed. Since the forced operation of the compressor is continued until the storage temperature is reached, the temperature at the outer periphery of the storage chamber does not increase and the user does not feel uneasy.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the thawing time is shortened, the fluctuations in the thawing time due to temperature changes in the refrigerator compartment are reduced, and the fan operation for maintaining the temperature of the storage compartment as a normal ice room is We can provide refrigerators that are not needed.

Furthermore, a refrigerator can be obtained in which there is no frost clogging of cold air introduction passages, etc.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the storage compartment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the interior of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for rapid cooling, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the control procedure for rapid thawing. 1...Freezing room, 2...Cold air introduction path, 3...Storage room,
3a...First cold air inlet, 3b...Second cold air inlet, 4...Cold air damper, 5...Ice chamber temperature sensor 6...Ceiling duct, 6a...Front intake Mouth, 7.
... Thawing heater, 8... Cross-flow fan, 8a.
... Cross-flow fan inlet, 9 ... Temperature sensor, 10
...Freezer room cooling fan, 11...Compressor, 12...
・Refrigerating room, 13...Temperature control thermostat for the refrigerating room. 14...Cooler. 15...Food. 16...Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a refrigerator comprising a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a storage compartment having both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions in a part of the refrigerator compartment, a suction section of a defrosting/quick cooling fan; This refrigerator is characterized by being equipped with an electric damper that connects the heater section and fan intake section during defrosting, and switches between the cold air introduction path and the fan intake path during rapid cooling. 2. In a refrigerator comprising a freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment, and a storage compartment having both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions in a part of the refrigerator compartment, a cross-flow fan is provided at the back of the storage compartment, and a cross-flow fan is provided at the back of the storage compartment. a first cold air inlet opening at the bottom; and a second cold air inlet located at the top of the cross-flow fan and opening at the top of the storage chamber.
A cold air introduction port, a cold air introduction path connecting the freezer compartment and the storage room, a cold air damper provided in the cold air introduction path, and a thawing heater provided in the ceiling of the storage room. A refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. In a refrigerator that is equipped with a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, and a part of the refrigerator compartment is equipped with a storage compartment that has both rapid defrosting and rapid cooling functions, a cross-flow fan is installed on the back of the storage compartment, and the storage compartment is equipped with a cross-flow fan. A first cold air inlet opening at the bottom is provided,
A second cold air inlet opening at the top of the storage chamber is provided, a cold air damper is provided in a cold air introduction path connecting the freezing chamber and the storage chamber, and a thawing port is provided in the ceiling of the storage chamber. When the storage chamber is used as a rapid cooling chamber, the cold air damper is opened and the once-through fan is operated; when the storage chamber is used as a thawing chamber, the cold air damper is opened. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is closed and the once-through fan and the defrosting heater are operated to defrost the refrigerator.