JPH0571849A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent waste of power by sensing, when a temperature of any zone of a cold storage chamber rises, by temperature sensing means, opening a damper, operating a wind direction switching unit, and selectively supplying chilled gas toward a discharge port of the zone. CONSTITUTION:Whether a temperature of any one of zones 9a, 9b, 9c, i.e., any of temperature sensors 18a, 18b, 18c, is higher or lower than a predetermined value is judged. If the temperature is judged to be high, a motor-driven damper 14 is opened, a blower 12 and an auxiliary blower 21 are simultaneously operated to forcibly feed chilled gas continuously in a sufficient amount into a cold storage chamber 7. Simultaneously, a wind direction switching unit 20 is rotated in a direction of the zone in which a temperature rises due to storage of food, etc., and chilled gas fed in a large quantity is concentrically fed into the zone 9a, in which the temperature rises, through a discharge port 16a by the blowers 12 and 21. And, the temperature rise of the food in the zone is suppressed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a forced ventilation type refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in the forced ventilation type refrigerator,
In particular, an increasing number of examples have improved cooling ducts for the purpose of cooling the refrigeration chamber more uniformly. For example, JP-A-1-189
That is the example shown in Japanese Patent No. 477, which will be described below with reference to FIG.

A refrigerator body 1 is composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3 and a heat insulating material 4 filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. Reference numeral 5 is a partition wall that divides the inside of the refrigerator body 1 into upper and lower parts, and is formed by partitioning a freezer compartment 6 in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment 7 in the lower part. The refrigerating room 7 is divided into a plurality of zones 9 by shelves 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a refrigerating cycle compressor housed in the bottom rear portion of the refrigerator body 1. Reference numeral 11 is a cooler of the refrigeration cycle housed in the back surface of the freezer compartment 6, and 12 is a blower for forcedly ventilating the cool air cooled by the cooler 10 to the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerating compartment 7. Reference numeral 13 is a ventilation duct for guiding cold air into the refrigerating compartment 7, and 14 is a damper device (hereinafter referred to as an electric damper 14) which is provided at an inlet of the refrigerating compartment 7 and regulates the amount of cold air inflow by electric input. Reference numeral 15 is a discharge duct that communicates with the zones 9 from the electric damper 14, and 16 is a discharge port that opens in each zone 9. Reference numerals 17 and 18 denote temperature sensors provided in the freezing compartment 6 and the refrigerating compartment 7, respectively.

The operation of the above arrangement will be described below. Normally, the compressor 10 and the blower 12 are intermittently operated based on the set value of the temperature sensor 17 provided in the freezer compartment 6, and the cool air cooled by the cooler 11 is the blower 12
To force the freezer compartment 6 to reach a constant temperature (for example, -2).
It is cooled so as to keep (0 ° C).

On the other hand, the cool air ventilation by the blower 12 is also performed to the refrigerating compartment 7 through the ventilation duct 13, and the electric damper 14 is controlled to open and close based on the set value of the temperature sensor 18. The cool air whose inflow amount has been adjusted is ventilated into each zone 9 through the discharge duct 15 and the discharge port 16 and is cooled so as to maintain a constant temperature (for example, 4 ° C.).

[0007]

However, in the above structure, although the discharge ports 16 dedicated to the respective zones 9 in the refrigerating chamber are provided, when the electric damper 14 is opened, Since cold air is uniformly ventilated in each zone through the discharge duct 15, cooling is performed even in a zone that does not require cooling, power is wasted, and supercooling occurs. There was a case where the problem of freezing occurred.

Further, since the temperature sensor 17 is provided at one representative point in the refrigerating chamber 7, if the temperature rises and cooling is required in the zone where the temperature sensor 18 is not provided, the motor is electrically driven. In some cases, the opening of the damper 14 is delayed and a time lag occurs in the cooling action, the temperature rises significantly, and the quality of food deteriorates.

In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has an object to prevent a waste of electric power and an obstacle to food by causing a necessary zone to perform a necessary cooling action.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided with an air-direction switching device for selectively switching the air direction toward the discharge port of each zone in the middle of the discharge duct. The temperature detection means is individually provided in each zone, and the control means for controlling the damper device and the wind direction switching device based on the output of each temperature detection means is added.

[0011]

According to the present invention, when the temperature of any zone in the refrigerating chamber rises, the temperature detecting means detects the temperature, the damper device is opened, and the wind direction switching device is actuated, so that the discharge port of the zone is operated. Cold air is selectively supplied toward the interior, and the cooling action is performed intensively. Then, when the temperature in the zone decreases, the temperature detecting means detects it and the damper device is closed.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same components as those of the conventional one are designated by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof is omitted, and only different portions will be described.

Reference numerals 9a, 9b and 9c are zones defined in the refrigerating compartment 7, and 18a, 18b and 18c are temperature detecting means (hereinafter referred to as "temperature detecting means" provided in one of the zones 9a, 9b and 9c, respectively. Temperature sensors 18a, 18b, 18c). Reference numeral 19 denotes a discharge duct that communicates with the zones 9a, 9b, 9c from the electric damper 14,
Reference numerals a, 16b, and 16c are respective discharge ports. Reference numeral 20 denotes an air flow direction switching device provided in the middle of the discharge duct 19. Reference numeral 21 is an auxiliary blower provided between the electric damper 14 and the wind direction switching device 20.

Reference numeral 22 is a wind direction switching device in which an auxiliary blower is built in and integrated. Next, the control relationship will be described. Reference numeral 23 denotes a control means (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer 23) including a microcomputer and the like, and a timer 24 for counting an operation time safe time T (for example, 1 min) of the wind direction switching device 20 is built therein.

The input terminal of the microcomputer 23 is connected to the temperature sensor 17 in the freezer compartment and the temperature sensors 18a, 18b and 18c corresponding to the zones in the refrigerating compartment,
The output terminal has a compressor 10, a blower 12, and an electric damper 1
4, a wind direction switching device 20, an auxiliary blower 21, and driving means such as an electromagnetic relay for driving them are connected.

The operation of this structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in STEP 1, the temperature sensor 1 in the freezer compartment
It is determined whether the temperature of 7 is higher or lower than the predetermined value t ₁ ° C, and if it is lower, the process waits until it becomes higher in STEP 1. STEP1
If it is determined that the temperature is high, the process proceeds to STEP 2 and the compressor 10 and the blower 12 are operated.

On the other hand, regarding the refrigerating compartment side, in STEP 3, whether the temperature of any one of the zones 9a, 9b, 9c, that is, any of the temperature sensors 18a, 18b, 18c is higher or lower than a predetermined value t ₃ ° C. If it is low, the process waits in STEP 3 until it becomes high. When it is determined in STEP 3 that the temperature is high, the process proceeds to STEP 4, the electric damper 14 is opened, the blower 12 and the auxiliary blower 21 are simultaneously operated, and cold air is forced in the refrigerating compartment 7 continuously and with a sufficient air volume. Be ventilated.

At the same time, in STEP 5, the wind direction switching device 20 rotates in the direction of the zone (for example, zone 9a) where the temperature has risen due to the storage of food or the like, and the blower 1
A large amount of cool air that is ventilated by 2 and the auxiliary blower 21 is intensively blown into the zone 9a through the discharge port 16a. Then, the newly stored food is cooled in a short time, and the temperature rise of the existing food in the zone 9a is suppressed.

In the wind direction switching device 22 integrally provided with an auxiliary blower as shown in FIG. 2, at STEP 5, the air is forcedly ventilated while rotating in the direction of the zone 9a in which the temperature has risen.

Next, in STEP 6, it is judged whether or not the count time of the timer 24 has reached a predetermined time Tmin (for example, 1 min), and if it has not reached, the CPU waits until it reaches in STEP 6. When the STEP6 detimer 24 counts Tmin, the process proceeds to STEP7. In STEP 7, it is determined whether or not there is a zone in which the temperature of the temperature sensor is higher than the predetermined value t ₃ ° C in addition to the zone 9a, and if there is no zone, the process proceeds to STEP 8. On the other hand, if there is another zone where the temperature of the temperature sensor is higher than the predetermined value t ₃ ° C (for example, zone 9b), STEP5
Then, the wind direction switching device 20 rotates in the direction of the zone 9b, and cool air is likewise intensively sent into the zone 9b through the discharge port 16b to promote cooling.

In this way, when the temperature of only one zone rises, the wind direction switching device 20 selectively and continuously cools only that zone, and when the temperature of a plurality of zones rises simultaneously, The wind direction switching device 20 switches the wind direction alternately every predetermined time, and the cooling is automatically distributed.

Therefore, the zone requiring cooling can be efficiently cooled in a short time, the quality deterioration due to the temperature rise of the food can be prevented, and the newly stored food exhibits a rapid cooling effect. Can be used for food and drink. At the same time, waste of power can be prevented.

Next, in STEP 8, each of the zones 9a, 9a
b, 9c, that is, temperature sensors 18a, 18b, 18
It is judged whether any of the values c is higher or lower than the predetermined value t ₄ ° C, and if higher, the process waits until it becomes lower in STEP8. ST
If the temperature is judged to be low in EP8, the process proceeds to STEP9,
The electric damper 14 is closed and the auxiliary blower 21 is stopped.
Therefore, the cooling effect on each zone is also stopped.

Here, when the temperature of each zone decreases to a predetermined value, the supply of cold air is stopped if there is no other zone being cooled, and if there is another zone being cooled, Since the wind direction of the wind direction switching device 20 is directed to another zone and the supply of cold air also stops,
It is possible to prevent food from freezing due to wasteful cooling or supercooling.

When STEP 9 ends, the process moves to STEP 10. At STEP 10, it is determined whether the temperature of the temperature sensor 17 in the freezing room is higher or lower by a predetermined value t ₂ ° C.
Wait until it gets low at 8. When it is determined in STEP 10 that the temperature is low, the process proceeds to STEP 11, the compressor 10 and the blower 12 are stopped, and a series of cooling operations are completed. And
After that, the action by this flow is repeated, and each zone 9a, 9b, 9c in the refrigerating chamber 7 is maintained substantially uniformly at a predetermined temperature (for example, 4 ° C.).

[0027]

As described above, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) Since only the zones requiring cooling can be intensively cooled and the cooling action can be released for each zone, it is possible to prevent deterioration of quality and supercooling due to temperature rise of food without wasting electric power.

(2) The newly stored food product automatically exhibits a rapid cooling effect and can be easily consumed for eating and drinking, which is of high practical utility value.

(3) Each zone in the refrigerating chamber can be cooled and maintained at a predetermined temperature substantially uniformly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator showing an example in which an auxiliary blower and a wind direction switching device are integrated in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 6 Freezing room 7 Refrigerating room 9a, 9b, 9c Zone 10 Compressor 12 Blower 13 Ventilation duct 14 Electric damper (damper device) 16a, 16b, 16c Discharge port 18a, 18b, 18c Temperature sensor (temperature detection means) 19 Discharge duct 20 Wind direction switching device 21 Auxiliary blower 22 Wind direction switching device 23 Microcomputer (control means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A known refrigeration cycle including a freezer compartment, a refrigerating compartment, a compressor and a cooler, a blower for forcing convection of the cool air cooled by the cooler, and a ventilation duct for guiding the cool air to the refrigerating compartment. A damper device provided at the outlet of the ventilation duct, a shelf for partitioning the refrigerating chamber into a plurality of zones, a plurality of zones partitioned by the shelf, and cool air for communicating between the damper device and each zone. Of the discharge duct, the discharge port of the cool air provided at the inlet of each zone, the wind direction switching device provided in the middle of the discharge duct to selectively guide the cool air to each zone, and the temperature in each zone. A refrigerator comprising a temperature detecting means for detecting and a control means for controlling the damper device and the wind direction switching device based on the output of the temperature detecting means. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary blower provided in the middle of the discharge duct. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein an auxiliary blower is integrated in the wind direction switching device. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the discharge duct downstream of the wind direction switching device is branched independently for each zone. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising control means for operating the auxiliary blower in conjunction with the opening of the damper device. 6. A damper device is opened when the temperature detecting means of at least one zone detects a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the wind direction switching device is selectively operated on the zone, and the temperature detecting means of all zones are set to predetermined values. The refrigerator according to claim 5, further comprising control means for closing the damper device when a temperature lower than the temperature is detected. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising control means for alternately operating the wind direction switching device for each zone for a predetermined period of time when the temperature detecting means of the plurality of zones detect a predetermined temperature or higher. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising control means for forcibly operating the blower when the damper device is opened.