JPH09292173A - Damper device for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a damper device for a refrigerator that can control steadily and independently the opening and closing state of a pair of baffles by a single driving means. SOLUTION: This damper device is provided with first and second paths, first and second baffles 33 and 34 that open and close each of the both paths, an operating arm 58 which is supported movably in the direction of length and rotatively and of which lower end is rotated along a predetermined circle on the same plane of the movement and the rotation, and first connecting and second connecting arms 61 and 62 that are connected to each of the upper end of the operating arm 58 and both baffles 33A, 33B, 34A and 34B rotatively. The both baffles 33A, 33B, 34A and 34B are opened and closed by moving the upper end of the operating arm 58 vertically and horizontally rotating the lower end of the operating arm 58 with a motor and a disk 57.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a damper device for a refrigerator in which a storage chamber is formed in a heat insulating box and cool air from a cooler is supplied to the storage chamber by a blower.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of refrigerator has a heat-insulating box divided into a plurality of storage compartments, for example, a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-12301 (F25D23 / 00). In addition, the cool air from the cooler is distributed to each room by a blower to cool them.

In this case, the control of the compressor and the blower is usually performed based on the temperature of the freezer compartment, whereby the freezer compartment is brought to a predetermined freezing temperature, but the temperature control of the refrigerating compartment supplies cold air to the refrigerating compartment. It is performed by opening and closing the duct by a damper device arranged in the supply duct.

Conventionally, as this damper device, a so-called gas-filled damper in which a baffle is opened and closed by a bellows filled with gas has been used, but in recent years, in order to improve the temperature control performance of the refrigerating compartment, the interior of the refrigerating compartment is improved. A device that opens and closes the baffle by a driving device such as a motor based on the output of a temperature sensor that detects the temperature has been developed.

In the conventional damper device, a cam having a different thickness depending on its portion is rotated by a motor, a pressing pin is brought into contact with the surface of the cam, and the baffle is pushed open by advancing the pressing pin based on the rotation of the cam. . On the other hand, a method has been adopted in which the baffle is always urged by a spring material in the closing direction, and when the baffle is closed, the cam is further rotated to retract the pressing pin.

In recent years, two sets of baffles, pressing pins, and cams have been prepared, and the changes in the thickness of the cams are made to differ by 180 degrees, so that both cams are simultaneously rotated by a single motor to open both sides. There are also developed ones that create four states, one open, the other open, and both closed. According to such a damper device, since the open / closed state of each baffle can be independently controlled by a single motor, for example, the temperature of the refrigerating room and the ice temperature corners formed therein can be independently controlled, or the refrigerating room can be controlled independently. It is possible to control the amount of cold air to the stage in stages.

[0007]

As described above, in the conventional damper device, since the baffle is opened and closed by the pressing of the pressing pin and the urging force of the spring member, for example, when the periphery of the spring member is frozen, When a load is applied to the spring material and the urging force is reduced, the baffle cannot be closed by the pressing pin, so the baffle remains open, resulting in overcooling.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and by a single driving means,
An object of the present invention is to provide a damper device for a refrigerator that can stably and independently control the open / closed state of two baffles.

[0009]

The damper device according to the invention of claim 1 is applied to a refrigerator in which cold air cooled by a cooler is supplied by a blower into a storage chamber formed in a heat insulating box, and the storage chamber First and second passages for supplying cool air to the first and second passages for opening and closing these passages, respectively
Baffle, an operating arm that is movably and rotatably supported in the longitudinal direction, and one end of which is rotated along a predetermined circumference on the same plane as the moving and rotating plane. It is provided with first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the end and both baffles,
By rotating one end of the operation arm by a predetermined driving means and moving the other end of the operation arm in the vertical and horizontal directions, both baffles are opened and closed.

In the damper device of the second aspect of the present invention, the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber are configured by partitioning the inside of the heat insulating box, and the cool air cooled by the cooler is stored in both by a blower. It is applied to a refrigerator which is distributed and supplied indoors, and first and second passages for supplying cold air to both storage chambers, respectively, and first and second baffles for opening and closing these passages, respectively. In the direction of movement and rotation, one end of which is rotated along a predetermined circumference on the same plane as the movement and rotation plane, the other end of the operation arm, and both baffles. And a first and a second connecting arm rotatably connected to each other. One end of the operation arm is rotated by a predetermined driving means, and the other end of the operation arm is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions. By moving to To open or close the baffle.

According to the present invention, when one end of the operating arm is rotated by a predetermined driving means, the other end of the operating arm moves in the vertical and horizontal directions. Since the other end of the operation arm is rotatably connected to the first and second baffles by the first and second connection arms, for example, when the operation arm moves upward, both connection arms are connected. An arm draws both baffles, which allows opening both the first and second passages. On the contrary, when the operation arm moves downward, both the baffles can be pushed out by the both connecting arms to close the both passages.

When the other end of the operating arm moves to the left, for example, the first baffle remains closed and the second baffle remains closed.
Only the baffle of can be drawn. Therefore, each baffle makes it possible to open only the second passage while keeping the first passage closed. On the contrary, when the other end of the operation arm moves to the right, for example, only the first baffle can be pulled while the second baffle remains closed. Therefore, each baffle makes it possible to open only the first passage while keeping the second passage closed.

As described above, the open / closed state of the first and second baffles can be independently controlled by the single driving means, and for example, the amount of cold air to the storage chamber can be adjusted stepwise. At the same time, particularly in claim 2, it becomes possible to independently control the supply of cold air to the first and second storage chambers and control the temperature.

In particular, the operation arm is connected to both baffles by the first and second connecting arms, so that even if a load is applied due to freezing or the like, the baffle is opened and closed as long as the driving means can operate. Therefore, the operation is remarkably stable as compared with the conventional one.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a refrigerator 1 of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 (excluding a door. Partially see through). Refrigerator 1 has an outer box 2 made of steel plate
And a heat-insulating box body 6 having a front opening formed by filling a heat-insulating material 4 such as polyurethane foam between the inner boxes 3 made of hard resin by an in-situ foaming method.

The inside of the heat-insulating box body 6 is formed integrally with the inner box 3 and has an upper partition wall 8 in which the molded heat-insulating materials 5 and 7 are housed, and similarly, the heat-insulating material 10 is also formed inside. Are divided into three upper and lower chambers by a lower partition wall 9 in which is stored, a refrigerating chamber 11 (first storage chamber) above the upper partition wall 8, a vegetable chamber 12 below the lower partition wall 9, and between them. It is a freezer compartment 13.

The front opening of the refrigerating compartment 11 is openably and closably closed by a rotary heat insulating door 14, and the freezing compartment 13 and the vegetable compartment 12 are open-top containers (not shown).
Drawer-type heat-insulating doors 15 and 16 (the freezer compartment 13 has two upper and lower stages) and 17 are openably and closably closed.

A cooling chamber 22 is defined by a partition plate 21 in the deep part of the freezing chamber 13, and a cooling device 23 is vertically installed in the cooling chamber 22. A blower 24 is provided above the cooler 23, and a freezer compartment discharge port 13A is formed at an upper portion and a center portion of the partition plate 21, and a freezer compartment suction port 13B is formed at a lower portion. .

Further, the molded heat insulating material 7 at the rear portion in the upper partition wall 8 is made of, for example, styrofoam, and a guide duct 26 is formed in the molded heat insulating material 7 so as to vertically penetrate therethrough. The upper end opening 20 of the guide duct 26 is
It is formed on the upper surface of the molded heat insulating material 7 located at the lower rear end inside the refrigerator compartment 11. And the guide duct 26 is provided with the blower 24
The inside of the cooling chamber 22 and the opening 20 communicate with each other by bypassing (FIG. 3).

On the other hand, a rear duct plate 27 is attached to the inner part of the refrigerating compartment 11 at a distance from the rear surface of the inner box 3,
A refrigerator rear duct 28 extending vertically is formed between the rear duct plate 27 and the inner box 3. The lower end of the refrigerator compartment rear duct 28 is communicated with the upper end of the guide duct 26 so as to close the opening 20 from above. Further, the front surface of the rear duct plate 27 is formed with the refrigerating chamber discharge ports 11A.

The lower part of the refrigerating compartment 11 is partitioned by a partition plate 51, and below this partition plate 51, an ice temperature corner 5 is provided with a transparent door 53 hung on the front surface.
2 (second storage chamber) is formed. The rear duct plate 27 located on the rear surface of the ice temperature corner 52 is formed with an ice temperature corner discharge port 52A.

The volume of the ice temperature corner 52 is configured to be narrower than that of the upper refrigerating compartment 11, so that it can be kept at a low temperature (ice temperature) such as 0 ° C. to −3 ° C. lower than that of the refrigerating compartment 11 as described later. It is used to store perishable foods such as meat.

A cold air inlet 41 to the vegetable compartment 12 is formed at the right rear side of the ice temperature corner 52. The cold air inlet 41 and the vegetable compartment outlet formed in the vegetable compartment 12 are formed. 12A is connected by the vegetable compartment duct 42 that descends inside the heat insulating material 4.

Furthermore, a vegetable compartment return duct 43 is formed in the molded heat insulating material 10 in the lower partition wall 9 to connect the upper portion of the vegetable compartment 12 and the lower portion of the cooling chamber 22.

On the other hand, the guide duct 2 in the molded heat insulating material 7
The damper device 31 of the present invention is attached to the upper end portion of the device 6. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the damper device 31 includes a rectangular case 32 having upper and lower surfaces opened, and two baffles 33 rotatably provided in the case 32.
34 and the baffle 3 attached to the rear of the case 32
It is composed of a mechanism portion 36 for rotating and driving the motors 3, 34 and a motor 37 (driving means) including a stepping motor or a DC motor.

The upper part of the case 32 has a central partition wall 32.
It is divided into left and right by A, and a first passage 38 and a second passage 39 are formed on the left and right of the division wall 32A.
The lower end of the partition wall 32A is branched to the left and right, and rectangular openings 51 and 52 are formed between both end portions and the inner surface of the case 32 located diagonally above them, respectively, and the passages 3
8 and 39 communicate with the guide duct 26 through these openings 51 and 52, respectively.

Further, both baffles 33, 34 are the partition walls 32.
Front and rear rotation shafts 33A, 34 located on both lower sides of A
The lower end is pivotally supported by the case 32 at A. These baffles 33, 34 are located in the passages 38, 39 above the openings 51, 52 and rotate to rotate each opening 51,
Each 52 is opened and closed.

On the other hand, a link mechanism 56 as shown in FIG. 6 is housed in the mechanism section 36. This link mechanism 56
Is located at the lower center and is located at the output shaft 37 of the motor 37.
A disk (driving means) 57 whose center is connected to A, an operation arm 58 whose lower end is rotatably connected to the front surface of the circumference of the disk 57, and an upper end of the operation arm 58 which is rotated. It is composed of first and second connecting arms 61 and 62 that are freely connected and extend to the left and right.

A long hole 63 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the center of the operation arm 58, and a support pin 64 protruding rearward from the center of the case 32 is rotated and slid in the long hole 63. It is movably engaged. In addition, the long holes 6 extending in the longitudinal direction are also formed at the tips of the two connecting arms 61, 62.
6 and 67 are formed, and the long holes 66 and 67 are formed.
Engaging pins 33B and 34B extending rearward from the center of the rear edges of the baffles 33 and 34 are rotatably and slidably engaged therewith.

The engaging pins 33B and 34B are the case 3
2, which is formed on the rear surface of the second rotary shaft 33A and 34A and passes through arc-shaped through holes 68 and 69, respectively.
Engage 67.

With this structure, the operation arm 58 is supported by the support pin 64 so as to be movable and rotatable in the longitudinal direction. The lower end of the operation arm 58 is rotated along the circumference of the disk 57 on the same plane as the moving and rotating plane by the rotation of the disk 57, and the upper end of the operation arm 58 is moved in the vertical and horizontal directions with the rotation. Will be moved to.

When the operating arm 58 moves upward, the connecting arms 61, 62 are pulled to draw the baffles 33, 34 together, which causes the openings 51, 52 in both the first and second passages 38, 39. Is opened (Fig. 8). On the contrary, when the operation arm 58 moves downward, both the baffles 33, 34 are pushed out by the both connecting arms 61, 62, and the openings 51, 38 of the both passages 38, 39 are thereby pushed.
52 is closed (FIG. 6).

When the upper end of the operating arm 58 moves to the left, only the second baffle 34 is pulled while the first baffle 33 remains closed. As a result, only the opening 52 of the second passage 39 is opened while the opening 51 of the first passage 38 is closed by the baffles 33 and 34 (the amount of pushing is absorbed by the elongated hole 66) (FIG. 7).

On the contrary, when the upper end of the operation arm 58 moves to the right, only the first baffle 33 is pulled while the second baffle 34 remains closed. As a result, only the opening 51 of the first passage 38 is opened while the opening 52 of the second passage 39 is closed by each baffle 33, 34 (the amount of pushing is absorbed by the elongated hole 67) (FIG. 9).

The ice temperature corner duct member 7 is provided between the upper right end of the damper device 31 and the ice temperature corner discharge port 52A.
2 are installed. The duct member 72 is attached so as to close the upper surface of the second passage 39 from above, and connects the discharge port 52A and the second passage 39.

With the above construction, the compressor 23 and the blower 24 (not shown) that form a known refrigeration cycle with the cooler 23
Is operated, the cool air cooled by the cooler 23 is blown into the freezer compartment 13 from the freezer compartment outlet 13A by the blower 24. After cooling in the freezer compartment 13 by cooling, the cool air is supplied from the lower freezer inlet 13B to the cooling compartment 2.
Return to the lower part of 2.

The operation of the compressor and the blower 24 is based on the output of a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature in the freezer compartment 13, which is also controlled by a controller (not shown) to a predetermined upper limit temperature (eg, -19 ° C.) and lower limit temperature. (Eg -21 ° C)
ON-OFF control is performed between the freezing chamber 1 and the freezing chamber 1
3 is maintained at a predetermined freezing temperature (about -20 ° C).

A part of the cool air blown out from the blower 24 flows into the guide duct 26 and is split into the left and right passages 38 and 39 in the case 32 of the damper device 31. Then, assuming that both baffles 33, 34 are open, the cool air that has flowed into the first passage 38 flows into the refrigerating compartment rear duct 28, rises in the duct 28, and then the refrigerating compartment discharge port 11A. -More blown into refrigerating compartment 11.

On the other hand, the cold air flowing into the second passage 39 flows into the ice temperature corner duct 72, passes through the duct 72, and is discharged from the ice temperature corner discharge port 52A to the ice temperature corner 52.
It is blown out inside.

Outputs of a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature in the refrigerating compartment 11 and a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the ice temperature corner 52 are input to the control device, so that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 11 rises. Then, for example, when it reaches + 4 ° C., it is determined that the refrigerating compartment 11 needs to be cooled, and when it descends from there and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 11 reaches, for example, + 2 ° C., the refrigerating compartment 11 is determined not to require cooling.

When the temperature of the ice temperature corner 52 rises and reaches, for example, + 0 ° C., the control device determines that cooling of the ice temperature corner 52 is necessary, and the temperature of the ice temperature corner 52 is lowered from that to decrease the temperature of the ice temperature corner 52 to −, for example. Ice temperature corner 5 when reaching 3 ℃
No. 2 is judged not to require cooling.

When the control device determines that both the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52 require cooling, the motor 37 is rotated to position the lower end of the operation arm 58 at the upper end of the disk 57 as shown in FIG. Then, the upper end of the operation arm 58 is raised, both baffles 33 and 34 are opened as described above, and cold air is supplied to both the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52.

Also, the ice temperature corner 52 requires cooling,
When it is determined that the refrigerating chamber 11 does not need to be cooled, the control device rotates the motor 37 to position the lower end of the operation arm 58 at the right end and move the upper end of the operation arm 58 to the left as shown in FIG. As described above, only the second baffle 34 is opened while the first baffle 33 is closed. As a result, cold air is supplied only to the ice temperature corner 52.

Further, when it is determined that the ice temperature corner 52 does not require cooling and the refrigerating compartment 11 requires cooling, the controller rotates the motor 37 to position the lower end of the operation arm 58 at the left end as shown in FIG. Then, the upper end of the operating arm 58 is moved to the right, and only the first baffle 33 is opened while the second baffle 34 is closed as described above. As a result, cold air is supplied only to the refrigerator compartment 11.

When it is determined that both the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52 do not need cooling, the control device rotates the motor 37 to position the lower end of the operation arm 58 at the lower end of the disk 57 as shown in FIG. Then, the upper end of the operation arm 58 is lowered, both baffles 33 and 34 are closed as described above, and the cold air supply to both the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52 is stopped.

As described above, in the present invention, the single motor 37 is used.
This makes it possible to independently control the open / closed state of the first and second baffles 33, 34, independently control the supply of cold air to the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52, and the refrigerating compartment 11 has an average of +3. The temperature of the ℃ and the ice temperature corner 52 can be controlled in the range of -3 ℃ to 0 ℃.

In particular, the operation arm 58 is connected to both the baffles 33 and 34 by the first and second connecting arms 61 and 62, and freezing or the like occurs in the case 32, and the opening / closing load of the baffles 33 and 34 is increased. Even if the number increases, the baffles 33 and 34 can be reliably opened and closed if the motor 37 is operable. Therefore, the operation is extremely stable.
Incidentally, in order to further secure the sealing property of the baffles 33, 34, the baffles 33, 34 may be constantly urged by a spring (not shown) in the closing direction.

The cold air circulated in the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52 flows into the vegetable compartment duct 42 through the cold air inlet 41, and passes through the vegetable compartment discharge outlet 12A into the vegetable compartment 12. Is ejected. Then, after circulating inside the vegetable compartment 12 and indirectly cooling the inside of the container (not shown), the cool air returns to the lower part inside the cooling compartment 22 through the vegetable compartment return duct 43 formed in the lower partition wall 9. As a result, the vegetables in the container are kept at a temperature of about + 6 ° C to + 8 ° C while being prevented from being dried.

In the embodiment, the damper device 31 is used to independently control the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 11 and the ice temperature corner 52, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the amount of cold air to the refrigerating compartment 11 is controlled stepwise. It may be used to In that case, both baffles 33 and 34 are opened and a large amount of cold air is supplied to perform rapid cooling in a state where the temperature in the refrigerating chamber 11 is close to room temperature after the refrigerator 1 is installed, for example.

Then, when the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 11 is lowered and approaches + 3 ° C. (for example, + 5 ° C.), either baffle 33 or 34 is closed to perform a fine control such as reducing the amount of cold air. It will be possible.

[0051]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, if one end of the operation arm is rotated by a predetermined driving means,
The other end of the operating arm moves vertically and horizontally. The other end of the operating arm is a first and a second connecting arm.
And the second baffle are rotatably connected to each other, so that, for example, when the operation arm moves upward,
Both baffles can be drawn together by the two connecting arms, thereby opening both the first and the second passage. On the contrary, when the operation arm moves downward, both the baffles can be pushed out by the both connecting arms to close the both passages.

When the other end of the operating arm moves to the left, for example, the first baffle remains closed and the second baffle remains closed.
Only the baffle of can be drawn. Therefore, each baffle makes it possible to open only the second passage while keeping the first passage closed. On the contrary, when the other end of the operation arm moves to the right, for example, only the first baffle can be pulled while the second baffle remains closed. Therefore, each baffle makes it possible to open only the first passage while keeping the second passage closed.

As described above, the open / closed state of the first and second baffles can be independently controlled by a single driving means, and for example, the amount of cold air to the storage chamber can be adjusted stepwise. At the same time, particularly in claim 2, it becomes possible to independently control the supply of cold air to the first and second storage chambers and control the temperature.

In particular, the operation arm is connected to both baffles by the first and second connecting arms, and even if the driving means is operable even if a load is applied due to freezing or the like, the baffle is opened and closed. Therefore, the operation is remarkably stable as compared with the conventional one.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a refrigerator to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partially transparent front view of the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical side view of the refrigerator of the damper device portion of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a damper device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional front view of the damper device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the link mechanism of the damper device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the link mechanism of the damper device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the link mechanism of the damper device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the link mechanism of the damper device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Refrigerator 6 Insulation Box 8 Upper Partition Wall 9 Lower Partition Wall 11 Refrigerator Room 12 Vegetable Room 13 Freezer Room 23 Cooler 24 Blower 31 Damper Device 32 Case 33 First Baffle 34 Second Baffle 37 Motor 38 First Passage 39 Second passage 52 Ice temperature corner 57 Disk 58 Operation arm 61 First connecting arm 62 Second connecting arm 63 Long hole 64 Support pin

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator in which cold air cooled by a cooler is supplied by a blower into a storage chamber formed in an insulating box, and first and second passages for supplying the cool air to the storage chamber, and these passages. First and second baffles that open and close both passages, respectively, and are supported so as to be movable and rotatable in the longitudinal direction, and one end thereof rotates along a predetermined circumference on the same plane as the moving and rotating plane. An operating arm and first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the other end of the operating arm and the baffles, respectively, and one end of the operating arm is driven by a predetermined driving means. A damper device for a refrigerator, characterized in that the baffle is opened and closed by rotating the other end of the operation arm vertically and horizontally. 2. The first heat storage box is defined by dividing the inside of the heat insulation box.
In which the cool air cooled by the cooler is distributed and supplied to both storage chambers by a blower, and the cold air cooled by the cooler is supplied to each of the storage chambers. First and second passages, and first and second passages for opening and closing these passages, respectively
Baffle, an operating arm that is movably and rotatably supported in the longitudinal direction, and one end of which is rotated along a predetermined circumference on the same plane as the moving and rotating plane. An end portion and first and second connecting arms rotatably connected to the both baffles, respectively, and rotating one end portion of the operating arm by a predetermined driving means,
A damper device for a refrigerator, characterized in that both baffles are opened and closed by moving the other end of the operation arm vertically and horizontally.