JPH04353379A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To preserve vegetable in fresh condition and permit the reduction of the volume of a pan receiving water produced by defrosting by a method wherein a water reserving means, reserving the water produced by defrosting, which is sent via the guide passage of the water produced by defrosting, and dispersing moisture into the vegetable chamber, is provided. CONSTITUTION:Water produced by defrosting an evaporator 6 exclusive for a refrigerating chamber is reserved in the receiving pan 20 of water, produced by defrosting, at the bottom of a vegetable chamber 4 through the drain hose 18 of the refrigerating chamber below the evaporator 6 while one part of a condenser 15 is arranged below the receiving pan 20 of water produced by defrosting to evaporate the water by the heat of the condenser 15. The water from the evaporator 9 exclusive for a refrigerating chamber is guided through the drain hose 19 of the refrigerating chamber into a receiver 22 of water produced by defrosting, which is position at the deep side surface of the vegetable chamber 4, and a water reserving means 21 having a sponge 23. The sponge 23 is provided with a large moisture permeating capacity and the evaporating and diffusing capacity of moisture whereby the inside of the vegetable chamber 4 can be kept at a high humidity. According to this method, packing by a special film or the lid of a special filter on the upper surface of a vegetable tray become unnecessary. On the other hand, the capacity of the receiving pan 20 of water produced by defrosting can be reduced.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a water storage means for a vegetable compartment provided in the refrigerator and a structure of the refrigerator which increases the internal volume of the refrigerator.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, refrigerators with vegetable compartments for storing vegetables and so-called large refrigerators with a large internal capacity have become popular in ordinary households. However, since there is a limit to the external dimensions of refrigerators for general households, there is a desire to develop a refrigerator that has an increased internal volume without changing the external dimensions.

[0003] Hereinafter, a conventional three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment will be explained with reference to the drawings. In a conventional three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment (hereinafter referred to as a refrigerator-freezer) 50, referring to FIG. They are arranged in the order of 53.

[0004] The freezer compartment 51 is provided with a dedicated freezer door 54 on the front side for taking food in and out, and an evaporator dedicated to the freezing compartment on the back side of the freezer compartment 51 for cooling the inside of the freezing compartment 51. A container 55 is provided. Further, a fan 56 exclusively for the freezer compartment is also provided for circulating the cold air cooled by the evaporator 55 exclusively for the freezer compartment.

[0005] The refrigerator compartment 52 is provided with a door 57 dedicated to the refrigerator compartment in the front for taking food in and out, and an evaporator dedicated to the refrigerator compartment to cool the inside of the refrigerator compartment 52 is provided on the back side of the refrigerator compartment 52. A container 58 is provided. Further, in order to circulate the cool air cooled by the evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment, a fan 59 for the refrigerator compartment is also provided.

The vegetable compartment 53 has a dedicated vegetable compartment door 60 for taking vegetables in and out, and a vegetable tray 61 for storing vegetables. In the vegetable compartment 53, a ventilation hole 62 is provided in a partition plate 53a for partitioning the refrigerator compartment 52 and the vegetable compartment 53 so that the cold air in the freezer compartment 52 circulates by natural convection.

Note that arrow F in the figure indicates the flow of cold air. Although the temperature of each compartment varies depending on the model, the temperature in the freezer compartment 51 is set to about -19°C, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 52 is set to 3°C, and the temperature in the vegetable compartment is set to about 4°C.

Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator-freezer 50 having the above configuration includes a compressor 62, a condenser 63,
It consists of a main capillary tube 64, a solenoid valve 65, an evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment, and an evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment.

[0009] Separately, a system is also provided which returns from the main capillary tube 64 to the evaporator 55 exclusively for the freezer compartment via a secondary capillary tube 66.

In this refrigeration cycle, arrow A in the figure
A refrigerant as a heat transport medium is circulating in the direction indicated by .

The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas sent out from the compressor 62 is condensed into high-pressure liquid refrigerant by the compressor 63, which radiates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas.

The high-pressure liquid refrigerant leaving the radiator 63 has a diameter of 0.
The main capillary tube 64 consisting of a 6-0.8 (mm) capillary tube reduces the pressure to a pressure that facilitates evaporation. The depressurized liquid refrigerant flows toward the electromagnetic valve 65 with low flow path resistance.

Next, this reduced pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the normally open solenoid valve 65, and is cooled in the freezer compartment by the refrigerator compartment evaporator 58 using the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid refrigerant.

Next, the refrigerant gas is transferred to the evaporator 58 exclusively for the refrigerator compartment.
The evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment, which has a different structure, cools the inside of the freezer compartment and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas by the same refrigeration action as the evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment.

Next, this low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas is compressed to a condensing pressure by the compressor 62, becomes a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas, and is sent to the condenser 63, where the above-mentioned refrigeration cycle is repeated.

Further, when the freezing compartment is sufficiently cooled, the solenoid valve 65 is closed, and the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant passes through the secondary capillary tube 66 to cool only the inside of the freezing compartment 52.

In the above-mentioned refrigeration cycle, the temperatures of the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment are below 0°C, so the saturated vapor pressure of the surrounding air decreases and The water vapor condenses and becomes frost, which is then used in the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment.
Frost forms on the surface. If this frost is left as it is, the cooling efficiency of each evaporator will be significantly reduced, so it is necessary to defrost the frost that has formed on the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 58 for the refrigerator compartment.

As a method of defrosting, the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment is defrosted by a heater (not shown) provided in the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment by the operation of a timer or the like at regular intervals, for example, every 12 hours. Defrosted. In recent years, radiant electric heaters have been used as this heater. In this radiant electric heater, a radiant electric heating tube in which a high wattage heater wire is housed in a heat-resistant quartz glass tube is disposed on the lower surface of the evaporator 55 for the freezer compartment, and defrosts using the radiant heat.

On the other hand, the defrosting method for the refrigerator compartment evaporator 58 is such that when the operation of the compressor 62 is stopped, the refrigerator compartment fan 59
As a result, air is blown to the evaporator 58 exclusively for the refrigerator compartment to defrost the air.

The defrosting water removed by the defrosting means is transferred to the refrigerator compartment drain hose 6 provided in each evaporator.
7 and the freezer compartment drain hose 68, the vegetable compartment 53
Defrost water is stored in a defrost water tray 69 provided at the bottom of the defrost water tray 69.

A part of the condenser 63 in the refrigeration cycle is disposed below the defrost water receiver 69, and the heat emitted from the condenser 65 is utilized for the defrost water stored in the defrost water receiver 69. The defrost water is then evaporated.

[0022] With the above configuration, stable cooling efficiency can be obtained by appropriately defrosting.

[0023]

However, the conventional refrigerator described above requires a dedicated space for arranging a defrost water tray at the bottom of the refrigerator.

[0024] This space is a space that does not contribute to the cooling of food, which is the original function of the refrigerator, and is a so-called ineffective capacity, which is a problem in increasing the so-called effective capacity, which increases the internal capacity without changing the external dimensions. It became.

[0025] In addition, conventional vegetable compartments are set at about 4°C, so the saturated vapor pressure is low, so the moisture contained in vegetables easily evaporates. In addition, it was necessary to take measures such as putting a lid on the vegetable tray.

[0026] This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to provide a water storage means in the vegetable compartment provided in the refrigerator and to increase the effective capacity in the refrigerator. The purpose is to provide refrigerators.

[0027]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a refrigerator based on the present invention includes an evaporator for cooling the inside of the refrigerator, and a defroster for defrosting the frost that forms on the evaporator. and means. In addition, there is a defrost water guide path that guides the defrost water removed by the defrost means to the vegetable room, and a defrost water guide path that is arranged in the vegetable room and stores the defrost water that is sent via the defrost water guide path. and a water storage means for dispersing moisture into the vegetable compartment.

[0028]

[Operation] According to the present invention, a defrosting water guide path is provided to guide the defrosting water removed by defrosting the frost forming on the evaporator of the refrigerator to the vegetable compartment. A water storage means is installed to supply water to the vegetable compartment.

Furthermore, by guiding the defrosting water removed from the evaporator of the refrigerator to the water storage means, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the defrosting water tray provided at the lowest part of the refrigerator.

[0030]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment based on the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

A three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment (hereinafter referred to as a refrigerator-freezer) 1 based on the present invention has, with reference to FIGS. A freezer compartment 2, a refrigerator compartment 3, and a vegetable compartment 4 are arranged in this order.

The freezer compartment 2 is provided with a freezer door 5 on the front side for taking food in and out, and on the back side of the freezer compartment 2,
An evaporator 6 exclusively for the freezer compartment 2 is provided to cool the inside of the freezer compartment 2. Further, a fan 7 exclusively for the freezer compartment is also provided for circulating the cold air cooled by the evaporator 6 exclusively for the freezer compartment.

[0033] The refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with a door 8 exclusively for the refrigerator compartment on the front side for taking food in and out, and an evaporator 9 exclusively for the refrigerator compartment is provided on the back side of the refrigerator compartment 3. Further, in order to circulate the cold air cooled by the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment, a fan 10 for the refrigerator compartment is also provided.

The vegetable compartment 4 has a door 11 dedicated to the vegetable compartment for taking vegetables in and out, and a vegetable tray 12 for storing vegetables. In the vegetable compartment 4, a ventilation hole 13 is provided in a partition plate 4a for partitioning the freezer compartment 3 and the vegetable compartment 4 so that cold air in the refrigerator compartment 3 circulates by natural convection.

Note that arrow F in the figure indicates the flow of cold air. Also, the temperature in each room varies depending on the model, but
The freezing compartment 2 is set to have a temperature of approximately -19°C, the refrigerator compartment 3 to approximately 3°C, and the vegetable compartment 4 to approximately 4°C.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator-freezer 1 having the above-mentioned configuration includes a compressor 14, a condenser 15, a main capillary tube 16, a solenoid valve 17, an evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment, and a refrigerator. It consists of a system of indoor evaporators 6.

Separately, a system is also provided which returns from the main capillary tube 16 to the evaporator 6 exclusively for the freezer compartment via the secondary capillary tube 18.

In this refrigeration cycle, arrow A in the figure
A refrigerant as a heat transport medium is circulating in the direction indicated by . The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas sent out from the compressor 14 is condensed into high-pressure liquid refrigerant by the condenser 15, which radiates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas.

The high pressure liquid refrigerant leaving the condenser 15 has a diameter of 0.
The main capillary tube 16 consisting of a 6-0.8 (mm) capillary tube reduces the pressure to a pressure that facilitates evaporation. This reduced pressure liquid refrigerant flows toward the electromagnetic valve 17, which has a smaller flow path resistance.

Next, this reduced pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the normally open solenoid valve 17, and is evaporated by the evaporator 9 exclusively for the refrigerator compartment.
The interior of the freezer is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid refrigerant.

Next, the refrigerant gas is cooled in the freezer compartment by the same freezing effect as the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment in the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment, which has a different structure from the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment. becomes refrigerant gas.

Next, this low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas is compressed to a condensing pressure by the compressor 14 to become a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas, which is sent to the condenser 15 to repeat the above-mentioned refrigeration cycle.

Further, when the refrigerator compartment is sufficiently cooled, the solenoid valve 17 is closed, and the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas passes through the secondary capillary tube 18 and cools only the inside of the freezing compartment 2.

In the above refrigeration cycle, the temperatures of the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment are below 0°C, so the saturated vapor pressure of the surrounding air decreases, and the surrounding air The water vapor inside condenses and becomes frost, forming frost on the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment.

If this frost is left as it is, the cooling efficiency of each evaporator will be significantly reduced, so it is necessary to defrost the frost that has formed on the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment and the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment. There is.

As a method of defrosting, the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment is operated by a heater (not shown) provided in the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment at regular intervals, for example, every 12 hours, by the operation of a timer or the like. Defrosted. In recent years, a radiant electric heater has been used as this heater. This radiant electric heater has a radiant electric heating tube containing a high wattage heater wire placed in a heat-resistant quartz glass tube, and is placed on the underside of the evaporator 6 for the freezer compartment.
Defrosting is performed using the radiant heat.

On the other hand, the method for defrosting the refrigerator compartment evaporator 9 is to defrost the refrigerator compartment by blowing air into the refrigerator compartment evaporator 9 using the refrigerator compartment fan 10 when the compressor 14 stops operating.

Next, the defrosting water removed by the defrosting means is treated as follows.

The defrosting water removed from the evaporator 6 exclusively for the freezer compartment is transferred to the defrosting water provided at the bottom of the vegetable compartment 4 via the freezer compartment drain hose 18 provided at the bottom of the evaporator 6 exclusively for the freezer compartment. The water is stored in the water tray 20.

The defrosting water stored in the defrosting water receiver 20 is removed by placing a part of the condenser 15 in the refrigeration cycle under the defrosting water receiver 20 and using the heat emitted from the condenser 15. Evaporating frost water.

On the other hand, the defrosting water removed from the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment is drained to the rear side of the vegetable compartment 4 by the refrigerator drain hose 19 installed at the bottom of the evaporator 9 for the refrigerator compartment. The water is guided to the water storage means 21.

Referring to FIG. 4, this water storage means 21 includes a defrosting water receiver 22 and a sponge 23 made of a hydrophilic porous resin material.
have. Referring to FIG. 5, the sponge 23, which is a hydrophilic porous resin material, is made of a synthetic resin with high porosity and has numerous continuous pores that communicate with each other formed throughout. As a result, it has a large moisture permeation ability, and due to the countless continuous pores, its surface area is several times larger than its apparent area, and moisture evaporation and diffusion is also large.

By introducing the defrosting water to the sponge 23 made of a hydrophilic porous resin material having such properties, the humidity in the vegetable compartment 4 can be maintained at a high level. This eliminates the need for wrapping vegetables in a vegetable compartment with a special film to prevent moisture diffusion, and for providing a lid made of a special filter on the top of the vegetable tray.

Further, this defrosting water receiver 22 is provided with a discharge pipe 24 for discharging overflow water when the defrosting water exceeds a specified amount. being guided.

Furthermore, by using the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the amount of defrost water stored in the defrost water evaporation tray 20, and therefore it is possible to reduce the capacity of the defrost water receiving tray. Expressing it in concrete numbers, the base area is 650 (mm) x
650 (mm) and an effective internal volume of 400 liters, the height of the evaporating dish can be lowered by about 40 (mm), making it possible to increase the effective internal volume by 12.1 liters.

[0056] In the vegetable compartment constructed as described above, bacteria are likely to grow due to the high temperature and humidity, and the defrosting water contains odor generated from the food in the refrigerator. In order to prevent these problems, it is possible to make the vegetable compartment antibacterial and deodorized by using a material containing an antibacterial agent.

[0057] Although the above embodiment is limited to a three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment, it goes without saying that similar effects can be obtained in a refrigerator having only a refrigerator compartment and a vegetable compartment.

[0058]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention,
A defrost water guide path that defrosts the frost that has formed on the evaporator for the refrigerator compartment and guides the removed defrost water to the vegetable compartment; By storing the delivered defrosting water and providing a water storage means to dissipate the moisture into the vegetable compartment, the vegetable compartment can be kept at high humidity, allowing vegetables to be wrapped in special film or It is possible to keep vegetables fresh without installing a special film on the top of the vegetable tray. In addition, by guiding the defrosting water removed from the evaporator for the refrigerator compartment to the vegetable compartment, it is possible to reduce the capacity of the defrosting water tray, making it more effective than conventional refrigerators with the same external shape. This makes it possible to increase the internal volume.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall configuration of a three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment based on the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment based on the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a three-door refrigerator/freezer with a vegetable compartment based on the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vegetable compartment and a defrost water tray based on the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a sponge, which is a hydrophilic porous resin material, as a water storage means according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of a three-door refrigerator-freezer with a vegetable compartment in the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Refrigerator with vegetable compartment 2 Freezer room 3 Refrigerator room 4 Vegetable room 6 Evaporator for freezer compartment 7. Freezer compartment fan 9 Evaporator for refrigerator compartment only 10 Fan for refrigerator compartment only 12 Vegetable tray 18 Freezer compartment drain hose 19 Refrigerator room drain hose 21 Water storage means 22 Defrost water receiver 23 Sponge Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A refrigerator having a vegetable compartment, comprising: an evaporator for cooling the inside of the refrigerator; a defrosting means for defrosting frost that forms on the evaporator; A defrost water guide path that guides defrost water to the vegetable compartment; and a defrost water guide path arranged in the vegetable compartment to store the defrost water sent via the defrost water guide route and dissipate moisture into the vegetable compartment. A refrigerator characterized by comprising a water storage means.