JPH04302980A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve sealability by absorbing irregularities in upper and lower sizes by providing a separate drain retainer and the cap at a drain pipe and providing a cutout groove on the cap and to prevent reverse flow of defrosted water by forming a space on an outer periphery of a drain cap. CONSTITUTION:A refrigerator has a partition shelf 2 for partitioning a freezing chamber 3 and a cold storage chamber 4, and a cooler 5 provided on the innermost surface of the chamber 3. A trough 9 for receiving defrosted water and a drain port 2c passed through the shelf 2 are provided under the cooler 5. A drain retainer 10 is provided at a position opposed to the port 2c. With the above structure, a drain cap 17 formed of a cylindrical elastic material is attached in a gap between the periphery of the port 2c and the bottom 10a of the retainer 10. A cutout groove 17a for connecting a drain pipe of the retainer 10 is provided on a lower part of the back surface of the cap 17. Further, a predetermined space 19 is formed between the outer peripheral wall of the cap 17 and the inner peripheral wall of the retainer 10.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

The present invention relates to a sealing structure for a defrosting water drainage structure of a refrigerator-freezer.

0002

[Industrial application field]

0003

[Prior Art] This type of structure has a
There is one described in Publication No. 1. The conventional structure will be explained below using FIG. 4. In the figure, 29 is a defrost water tray,
26 An elastic member disposed in close contact with the outer periphery of the lower part of the drain pipe extending below the defrosting water tray from the refrigerator ceiling surface, and a drain hole in which the lower end of the drain pipe is inserted into the upper opening.
The elastic member was held by the hose 31, the upper end of the drain hose, and the ceiling surface of the refrigerator. As a result, defrosting water is discharged through the drain hose, and moisture from outside the refrigerator no longer enters and condenses on the refrigerator ceiling and drips onto the food.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the conventional example has the following problems. That is, (1) since the refrigerator ceiling and drain pipe are fixed as shown in the diagram, and the drain pipe is also fixed with heat insulating material, it is difficult to install the elastic member in a slightly compressed manner during assembly work. .

(2) It is said that the drain hose should be pressed down with the elastic member installed, but if it is slightly compressed, the original purpose may not be achieved due to shrinkage of each part during cooling operation or variations during assembly. This will also impair sealing performance. For this reason, if an attempt is made to increase the compression allowance, assembly workability becomes difficult as described above.

(3) Even if this installation becomes possible,
In the process of defrosting water being led to the drain hose through the drain pipe, food waste and impurities generated in the freezer and refrigerator compartments are collected in this drain hose as well as in the defrosting water.
The drain pipe passes through the freezer compartment suction duct 28 and the refrigerator compartment suction duct 25 and often causes clogging in the drain pipe. When this occurs, the defrosting water accumulates in the defrosting water tray and turns into ice blocks, blocking the freezer compartment suction duct and the refrigerator compartment suction duct, resulting in defects such as inhibiting cooling performance.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a separate pipe for a drain receiver between the drain port of the partition shelf (corresponding to the drain pipe 30 of the conventional example) and the drain pipe. - a drain cap having an elastic body that can be compressed in the vertical direction is interposed in the gap between the drain receiver and the drain port, and the drain cap is installed at a position where it joins the drain pipe of the drain receiver. A notch groove is formed in the cap.

This is also possible by providing a certain space between the outer circumferential wall of the drain cap and the inner circumferential wall of the drain receiver.

[0009]

[Function] According to the above, by providing a drain receiver and a drain cap, (1) Since the drain receiver is a separate piece from the drain pipe, the drain cap is attached to the drain port and then the drain receiver is attached, so that the work is easier. sex becomes easier,
In addition, by providing a bellows in the cylindrical middle part of the drain cap in a range that can absorb variations in vertical dimensions,
Improves sealing properties.

(2) By providing a certain space between the outer peripheral wall of the drain cap and the inner peripheral wall of the drain receiver,
In the event that the drain pipe becomes clogged, the defrosting water will remain in a certain space due to the notch groove in the drain cap and the joint gap in the drain receiver. Therefore, since the defrosting water does not flow back toward the receiving tray, the cooling performance is not affected.

(3) Drain pipe, drain receiver and separate pipe
This makes cleaning convenient by removing the drain receiver when the drain pipe becomes clogged.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. 1 is a box that forms the refrigerator body. The partition shelf 2 that partitions the box body 1 also serves as a freezer compartment suction duct 2a, a refrigerator compartment suction duct 2b, and a drain port 2c, and a freezer compartment 3 is formed above the partition shelf 2, and a refrigerator compartment 4 is formed below. are doing. 5 is a cooler, which is located at the back of the freezer compartment 3. 6 is a fan for sending cold air to the freezer compartment 3 and the refrigerator compartment 4; 7 is a radiant heater, and there is a cooler 5 on the top.
A heater cover 8 is provided above the radiant heater 7. The radiant heater 7 periodically defrosts the frost on the cooler 5. 9 is a gutter, and radiant heater 7
Receives defrost water that melts in the water.

The gutter 9 is integrally provided with a guide hole 9a passing through a part of the partition shelf 2, and corresponds to a drain port 2c provided below the partition shelf 2. Reference numeral 10 denotes a drain receiver, which is divided into a drain pipe 12, and is used for assembling the drain cap 17 and removing dirt and debris inside the drain cap 12.
This is to deal with blockages caused by impurities. The drain receiver 10 is installed directly below the drain port 2c, and its bottom is sloped 1 so that defrosting water (not shown) can easily flow backward.
0a etc. are provided. Further, a guide pipe 10b for communicating defrosting water to the drain pipe 12 is integrally formed at the rear part. 11 is a drain receiver 10 and a drain pipe 12
It is a joint for connecting the drain pipe 12.
and is fixed to the heat insulating foam 13 of the box. The drain pipe 12 penetrates the inside of the heat insulating foam 13 from above to below, and has an evaporation dish 14 at its tip, in which defrost water is stored. 15 is a compressor, which evaporates the defrosting water accumulated in the evaporating tray 14 by the high heat generated during operation of the compressor 15. In this state, while not being defrosted, ambient warm air flows backward through the drain pipe and rises upward through the lower through hole 12a of the drain pipe, and the gap 16 between the drain receiver 10 and the lower surface 2d of the partition shelf 2 As a result, the warm air adheres to the lower surface 2d of the partition shelf 2, and is cooled by the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment, resulting in dew condensation. Therefore, the drain cap 17
In order to isolate the gap 16 from the outside, it is interposed between the peripheral surface of the drain port 2c of the partition shelf 2 and the inclined surface 10a of the drain receiver 10 in the vertical direction. The drain cap 17 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and has a cylindrical shape, and is designed to absorb vertical assembly variations and dimensional variations.
The vicinity of the cylindrical middle part is processed into a bellows or the like, and a cutout groove 17a connected to the joint 11 is provided at the rear thereof. Further, a certain space 19 is formed between the outer circumferential wall of the drain cap 17 and the inner circumferential wall surface of the drain receiver 10.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention provides a bellows or the like in the middle part so that the drain cap can expand and contract vertically, thereby ensuring reliable sealing between the top and bottom against variations during assembly and shrinkage between parts. Can be done. Therefore, by installing it between the surface around the outlet of the partition shelf and the bottom surface of the drain receiver,
In response to the backflow of warm air from outside the refrigerator, it rises through the exhaust port and forms frost on the cooler, so no condensation forms on the bottom of the partition shelf. Therefore, the frost on the cooler is turned into defrosting water again at the next defrosting time and flows out of the refrigerator, so that the effect on the partition shelf is completely eliminated. In addition, if the drain pipe becomes clogged with dirt or impurities, the defrosting water will not be discharged from that point, so the accumulated defrosting water will be kept between the outer circumferential wall of the drain cap and the inner circumferential wall of the drain receiver. By providing a space, water will flow into the space from the notch groove of the drain cap. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the risk of the ice flowing backwards and returning into the gutter and destroying the freezer compartment suction duct, refrigerator compartment suction duct, and even the radiant heater, and the drain receiver and drain pipe are separated. This makes it easier to attach the drain cap, and the drain receiver is removable, making it easier to clean.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention;

[Fig. 2] An enlarged perspective view of the main parts of Fig. 1;

[Figure 3] Figure 1,
A cross-sectional view of the central part of the refrigerator with FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of main parts showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

2... Partition shelf, 2c... Drain port, 7... Radiant heater, 9... Gutter, 10... Drain receiver, 12...
...Drain pipe, 17...Drain cap, 17a
...notch groove, 19...space.

Claims (2)

[Claims] Claim 1: A refrigerator having a partition shelf that partitions a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, a cooler provided at the back of the freezer compartment, a toy that receives defrosting water below the cooler, and drainage that passes through the partition shelf. A drain receptacle is provided at a position opposite to the drain port, and a drain receptacle made of a cylindrical elastic body is provided in the gap between the peripheral surface of the drain port and the bottom surface of the drain receptacle. A refrigerator characterized in that a drain cap is provided, and a notch groove connected to a drain pipe of the drain receiver is provided at a lower rear surface of the drain cap. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a certain space is provided between the outer circumferential wall of the drain cap and the inner circumferential wall of the drain receiver.