JPH09313270A - Refrigerator and sink with integrated refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to use a refrigerator provided either outside or inside of a sink, and to prevent loss of cooling efficiency of a refrigerator due to heat generated in a sink having the refrigerator. SOLUTION: A container 12, made of thermal insulating material, is provided with a unit cover 13 composed inside of an air channel 13c which has an intake port 13a and an exhaust port 13b, and which is led from the intake port 13a to the exhaust port 13b. The unit cover 13 is provided inside with a thermoelectric element 16 having a heat-absolving section and a radiating fin 21, and a refrigeration device 15 having a blower 17 for air-cooling the radiating fin 21. A refrigerator 11 refrigerates inside by contacting the heat-absorbing section to the container 12. The container 12 is provided with fixing means 14 to fix to a sliding member 9 of a sink. The sink with the built-in refrigerator 11 is provided with an outside air supplying passage 6, whose end faces the intake port 13a of the refrigerator 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cold storage for cooling and storing food or food waste that is easily perishable at room temperature, and to a sink incorporating the cold storage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-295315, a heat radiating heat exchanger and a blower fan are separately installed in a cabinet of a wash basin to separately radiate the heat radiating heat exchanger. It is proposed to force air to cool the air.

[0003]

However, in the above structure, since the cool box and the blower fan are incorporated separately, the cool box can be air-cooled only in the cabinet and cannot be used outside. The heat dissipation heat exchanger is exposed to the outside, so it does not look good. Further, since only the air from the blower fan is applied to the heat radiating heat exchanger, there is a problem that heat easily accumulates in the cabinet and the heat impairs the cooling function of the cool box.

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to use the cool box regardless of whether it is installed inside or outside the sink. Further, it is an object of the present invention to prevent the heat inside the cabinet from impairing the cooling performance of the cool box when the cool box is incorporated into the sink.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage container comprising a container main body made of a heat insulating material and forming a storage space therein, and a lid for opening and closing the storage space of the container main body. A unit cover attached to the outside of the storage container, having an intake port and an exhaust port, and having an air flow path from the intake port to the exhaust port formed therein; and a heat absorbing unit and a heat radiating unit provided inside the unit cover. A heat exchanger having a heat exchanger and a cooling device having a blower that blows air toward a heat radiating unit, wherein the heat absorbing unit is a cool box for contacting the storage container to cool the storage space, It is characterized in that the storage container is provided with an attachment means to a sliding member that is incorporated in a cabinet such as a sink so as to be drawn out.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a storage container provided with a container main body made of a heat insulating material and forming a storage space therein, and a lid for opening and closing the storage space of the container main body, and an external storage container. A unit cover which is attached and has an air inlet and an exhaust port and in which an air flow path extending from the intake port to the exhaust port is formed; and a heat exchange section which is provided inside the unit cover and has a heat absorbing section and a heat radiating section. A cooling device comprising a blower that blows air toward the heat radiating portion, and a cool box for cooling the storage space by bringing the heat absorbing portion into contact with the storage container, and a cooling device on the lower surface of the storage container. It is characterized by having legs.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the cooling device of the cool box according to claim 1 or 2 uses a thermoelectric element as a heat exchange part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cold storage box according to the first aspect is incorporated into the cabinet of the sink so as to be freely drawn out, and an external air supply path for supplying external air to the cooling device of the cold storage box is provided in the cabinet to supply the external air. It is characterized by incorporating a cool box characterized in that the end of the passage is opposed to the intake port of the cool box.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the cold storage box according to the first aspect is incorporated into the cabinet of the sink so as to be freely drawn out, and the cabinet is provided with an outside air supply path for supplying the outside air to the cooling device of the cold storage box. It is characterized in that a duct is provided at the end of the passage and the tip of the duct is extended to a position facing the intake port of the cool box.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect, the cooling device of the cool box uses a thermoelectric element as a heat exchange section.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the sink 1 has a counter 3 having a sink 3a, a cooking space 3b, and a stove 3c mounted on the upper surface of a floor cabinet 2. The floor cabinet 2 is provided with a storage section 4 having a front door with an opening door 4a at a portion between the sink 3a and the cooking space 3b.
A cool box 11 is installed in the storage section 4 so as to be freely drawn out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the accommodating portion 4 is provided with side plates 4b on the left and right sides, a bottom plate 4c at the lower portion, and a back plate 4d at the rear portion, and is partitioned from the other accommodating space of the sink 1. In addition, an outside air introduction port 6a that opens to the front in the lower riser plate 5
And an outside air supply port 6b is formed in the back plate 4d of the storage section 4. As a result, the outside air inlet 6a through the bottom plate 4c
An outside air supply passage 6 is formed below the bottom plate 4c, passing around below, and reaching the outside air supply port 6b from the rear of the back plate 4d.

A duct 7 as shown in FIG. 3 is installed at the outside air supply port 6b, and an elastic packing 8 such as a sponge is fixed to the tip of the duct 7. The tip of the duct 7 is installed at a position facing an intake port of a unit cover 13 described later, and a packing 8 brings the intake port and the duct 7 into close contact with each other.

A slide rail 9 that can be pulled out forward is laid on the upper surface of the bottom plate 4c, and a cool box 11 is attached to the upper portion of the slide rail 9. An outlet 10 is provided on the side plate 4b of the storage section 4 so that the power cord 11a of the cool box 11 can be connected.

Next, the structure and function of the cool box 11 will be described. The cool box 11 includes a storage container 12, a unit cover 13 attached to the rear part of the storage container 12, and a cooling device 15 mounted inside the unit cover 13.
The screw hole 1 is attached to the bottom of the
4 are provided.

The storage container 12 is composed of a container body 12a having an open upper part and a lid 12b which covers the upper open part of the container body 12a so as to be openable and closable. They are composed of a heat insulating material in which a hollow portion of a double container having an outer wall made of polypropylene and an inner wall made of aluminum is filled with hard urethane foam. Further, a mounting portion 12 for fixing a cooling device 15 described later, in which the outer wall and a part of the rigid urethane foam are omitted so that the inner wall is exposed to the rear wall portion of the container body 12a.
c is formed.

The unit cover 13 is formed of polypropylene in a shape in which the container body side is open. An intake port 13a is formed at the rear end of the unit cover 13, and an exhaust port 13b is formed at the upper end, and the inside of the unit cover 13 is an air flow path 13c communicating from the intake port 13a to the exhaust port 13b. .

The cooling device 15 includes a thermoelectric element 16 (heat exchanging portion) having a heat absorbing portion 16f and a heat radiating fin 21, and a blower fan 17 forming an air flow for cooling the heat radiating fin 21.
And a control unit 18 that electrically controls these operations.

Here, the function of the thermoelectric element 16 will be described with reference to FIG. As is generally known, the thermoelectric element 16 fixes one bonding electrode 16c so as to bond one ends of the n-type semiconductor 16a and the p-type semiconductor 16b, and at the same time, fixes the n-type semiconductor 16a and the p-type semiconductor 16b. Separate electrodes 16d and 16e are fixed to the other ends. When a direct current voltage is applied to the thermoelectric element 16 such that the electrode 16d on the n-type semiconductor side is a positive electrode and the electrode 16e on the p-type semiconductor side is a negative electrode, a current flows from the n-type semiconductor 16a to the bonding electrode 16c.
Because of the Peltier effect, the junction electrode 16c on one end side of the semiconductor causes a heat absorption action and the electrodes 16d and 16e on the other end side cause a heat generation action. When a direct current is continuously supplied to the thermoelectric element 16, the joining electrode 16c continues to generate an endothermic action, and thus has a continuous cooling action. The inside of the storage container 12 is cooled by utilizing this cooling action.

This thermoelectric element 16 is connected to the joint electrode 1 on one end side.
6c is fixed to the container body 12a so as to be in close contact with the inner wall of the container body 12a of the mounting portion 12c described above with a heat-conducting substance (heat-conducting grease or ceramic) as a heat absorbing portion 16f therebetween. In addition, the other end of the thermoelectric element 16 is connected to the heat radiation fin 21 via the insulator 19 and the heat conductive material 20.

The blower fan 17 is provided in the lower portion inside the unit cover 13 so as to face the intake port 13a. The blower fan 17 draws the air in the air supply path 6 into the intake port 1
The airflow to be sent from 3a to the exhaust port 13b is positively generated, and the airflow dissipates the heat generated by the radiating fins 21 from the exhaust port 13b above the unit cover 13 to the outside of the cool box 11 to cool the radiating fins 21 by air. .

A control unit 18 for controlling the cooling device 15 and the blower fan 17 is provided on the upper portion of the unit cover 13. Further, a control unit 18 is provided on the upper end of the unit cover 13.
A switch 23 for turning on / off the power source is provided.

Next, the operation of the cool box 11 will be described. When the power switch 23 is turned on, an electric current is supplied to the thermoelectric element 16, and the electric current causes the thermoelectric element 16 to exhibit heat absorption and heat dissipation due to the Peltier effect. Since the heat absorbing part 16f is in contact with the inner wall of the storage container 12, it takes heat from the container body 12a and cools the internal storage space. Thermoelectric element 16
The heat generated in the electrodes 16d and 16e on the other end side of the is transmitted to the radiation fin 21. Further, at the same time as supplying current to the thermoelectric element 16, the blower fan 17 is driven to generate an air flow from the intake port 13a through the radiating fins 21 toward the exhaust port 13b. As a result, the heat generated by the radiating fins 21 is discharged to the outside of the unit cover 13 through the air passage 13c and the exhaust port 13b. Therefore, the temperature rise inside the unit cover 13 can be prevented, and the cooling effect of the thermoelectric element 16 can be improved.

Since the outside air is supplied from the room to the cool box 11 through the outside air supply path 6, the hot air remaining inside the storage section 4 does not enter the unit cover 13 of the cool box 11. In addition, the hot air discharged from the exhaust port 13b is
Since hot air is discharged from the hot air discharge port 24 formed in the upper part of the storage unit 4 to the outside of the sink 1, hot air does not remain inside the sink 1.

In the cool box 11 described above, the user pulls out the cool box 11 from the cabinet 2, opens the lid 12b, and puts garbage and food into the internal storage space to keep cold. Since it is installed near the sink of the sink, it is particularly suitable for storing food waste. Further, in order to simplify the subsequent processing, if a vinyl bag is attached inside the container body 12a and the garbage is thrown therein, the post-processing is easy. Furthermore, in that case, the lid 12b is divided into an outer lid and an inner lid that covers a part of the outer lid, and the upper end of the plastic bag is sandwiched between the container body and the outer lid. If you open the outer cover when you take out the plastic bag, you can use it easily.

In the cool box 11 of this embodiment, the thermoelectric element 16 and the blower fan 17 are built in the cool box 11 and the air flow path 13c passing through the heat radiation fins 21 of the thermoelectric element 16 is formed. The case 11 itself has a heat dissipation function. Therefore, even if it is installed inside or outside the sink 1, it can be sufficiently used as the cool box 11. Further, since the thermoelectric element is used as the cooling device, the generation of noise is small, and it is possible to obtain a compact cool box in which the cooling function section is suppressed to a small size, and even if it is incorporated in the sink, it does not interfere with other stored items.

In addition, the sink 1 is provided with an intake port 1 of the cool box 11.
3a is provided with an outside air supply path 6 having an outside air supply port 6b, and the outside air supply port 6b is further provided with an intake port 13 of the cold storage 11.
Since the duct 7 extending to the vicinity of a is provided, the cool box 1
The hot air discharged from No. 1 is not returned to the cooling device 15 by convection in the cabinet, and the function of the cooling device 15 is not adversely affected. In addition, the duct 7 is the back plate 4 of the storage unit 4.
Since it is attached to d, there is no adverse effect on pulling out the cool box 11.

When the intake port 13a of the cool box 11 and the outside air supply port 6b are installed close to each other, the hot air in the cabinet does not enter the inside of the unit cover 13 through the intake port 13a again. Need not be provided.

When the cool box 11 of this embodiment is used outside the sink 1, it is sufficient to remove the screw at the bottom of the cool box 11 and remove the cool box from the slide rails. This cool box 11 is provided with a cooling device inside the unit cover 13, and the inside of the unit cover 13 is an air flow path, so that it looks good and the cooling performance does not deteriorate even outside the sink. In addition, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to screw the rubber leg 25 into the screw hole 14 which is a means for attaching to the slide rail. In that case, a more stable installation state can be obtained than when the container body 12a is installed directly on the floor surface. Further, instead of attaching the rubber legs 25, a plurality of protrusions may be integrally formed on the lower surface of the storage container 12, and the protrusions may be used as the legs.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, the riser plate 5 at the bottom of the floor cabinet 2 provided with the cool box 11 which can be pulled out has an outside air introduction port 6a opening forward and an outside air supply port 6b at the rear part of the bottom plate 4c. Formed, outside air inlet 6
The outside air supply path 6 is formed by connecting a and the outside air supply port 6b,
Further, a duct 26 is attached to the outside air supply port 6b. The lower end of the duct 26 is connected to the outside air supply port 6b by a lock nut 26a, and the front end thereof is bent forward so as to face the intake port 13a of the cool box 11. Further, a stretchable packing 27 such as a sponge is fixed to the tip of the duct 26 via a short tubular member 26b so as to be in close contact with the intake port 13a.

It is needless to say that the same effect as that of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained in this embodiment as well. Further, in this embodiment, since the outside air supply port 6b is formed in the bottom plate 4c, there is an effect that the outside air can be easily sucked in even if the depth of the cabinet 2 becomes large.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, a partition plate 4e is provided on the upper part of the storage section 4 of the sink 1, and a hot air intake port 28a facing the exhaust port 13b of the cool box 11 is formed in the partition plate 4e. A hot air exhaust path 28 is provided on the upper side, and a louver 28b for hot air exhaust is provided in the front part of the storage section 4. for that reason,
The hot air discharged from the exhaust port 13b of the cool box 11 does not accumulate inside the cabinet 2, and a more stable cooling effect is obtained.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a drawer 29 is provided as a storage unit 4 at a portion of the floor cabinet 2 of the sink 1 which is located between the sink 3a and the cooking space 3b, and the drawer 29 is provided with a cool box. 11 are installed.

As shown in FIG. 10, the floor cabinet 2 provided with drawers 29 is provided with side plates 4b on the left and right sides, a bottom plate 4c on the lower part, and a back plate 4d on the rear part, and serves as another storage space for the sink 1. It is compartmentalized. Further, an outside air introduction port 6a that opens downward is formed between the front end of the bottom plate 4c and the front plate 29a of the drawer 29, and a hot air discharge port 24 is formed above the front plate 29a of the drawer 29. The cool box 11 is attached to the upper surface of the bottom plate 29b of the drawer 29.

Next, the structure and function of the cool box 11 will be described. The cool box 11 includes a storage container 12, a unit cover 13 attached to a front portion of the storage container 12, and a cooling device 15 mounted inside the unit cover 13.
A screw hole 14 is provided in the lower part of the above as means for attaching the drawer 29 to the bottom plate 29b. Suwanachi, unit cover 1
The configuration is almost the same as that of the above-described embodiment except that the reference numeral 3 is attached to the front portion of the storage container 12.

The unit cover 13 is formed of polypropylene in a shape in which the container body side is open. An intake port 13a is formed at the lower end of the unit cover 13 and an exhaust port 13b is formed at the upper end thereof, and the inside of the unit cover 13 is an air flow path 13c communicating from the intake port 13a to the exhaust port 13b. Further, the cooling device 1 including the thermoelectric element 16 and the blower fan 17 inside the unit cover 13
5 built-in.

The blower fan 17 is provided at the lower end of the unit cover 13 so as to face the intake port 13a.
The blower fan 17 draws the air outside the cabinet 2 from the intake port 1
The airflow to be sent from 3a to the exhaust port 13b is positively generated, and the airflow dissipates the heat generated by the radiating fins 21 from the exhaust port 13b above the unit cover 13 to the outside of the cool box 11 to cool the radiating fins 21 by air. .

The cold storage 11 of the floor cabinet 2
A baffle plate 4f that prevents hot air from flowing into the rear part of the floor cabinet 2 is installed at the rear position of the exhaust port 13b.

As described above, in the sink 1 incorporating the cold storage box 11 of the present embodiment, the outside air introduction port 6a facing the front intake port 13a of the cold storage box 11 is provided on the bottom plate 4c of the floor cabinet 2. Therefore, the hot air discharged from the cool box 11 convects inside the cabinet 2 to cool the cooling device 15.
Therefore, the function of the cooling device 15 is not adversely affected. Further, since the structure of the cabinet 2 is simpler than that of the first and second embodiments described above, the manufacturing cost is low. Further, since the baffle plate 4f prevents hot air from accumulating in the cabinet 2, sufficient cooling performance can be maintained.

In each of the above embodiments, a heat exchanger other than the thermoelectric element 16 may be used as the cooling device 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, instead of incorporating the slide rail 9 and the drawer 29 into the sink 1,
A wagon 30 that can be freely taken in and out may be incorporated, and the cold storage 11 may be installed in the wagon 30. In that case, cool box 11
If you want to take out the outside and use it, the wagon 30 from the sink 1
Since it is sufficient to pull out the cold storage box 11 from the slide rail 9 and the drawer 29 one by one, it does not take time and effort.

Further, although the screw hole 14 is formed in the lower portion of the storage container 12 as a means for attaching the sink 1 to the sliding member 9, other attachment methods may be used. For example, an engaging portion may be formed between the sliding member 9 and the storage container 12, or the lower portion of the storage container 12 may be fitted to the sliding member 9.

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cool box can be used regardless of whether it is installed inside or outside the sink.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a sufficient cooling effect can be exhibited even if the cold storage is used outside the sink. Also, since the cooling device is built in the unit cover,
Good looking.

Further, in the inventions of claims 4 and 5,
When the cool box is installed in the sink, hot air discharged from the cool box can be prevented from returning to the cooling device of the cool box, and the cooling state of the cool box can be sufficiently maintained.

Further, if a thermoelectric element is used as the cooling device, it is possible to obtain a compact cold storage box with less noise and a small cooling function section. do not become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sink according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a storage unit incorporating the cold storage box of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a duct of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a function of a cooling device of a cool box.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cool box of the first embodiment is used by being taken out from the sink and used.

FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a storage part of a sink according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which a cool box is incorporated.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a duct according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a storage part of a sink according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a cool box is incorporated.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a sink according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a storage unit in which a cold storage is incorporated in the sink of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sink showing an example in which a cool box is incorporated into a wagon.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Sink 6 ... Outside air supply channel 7 ... Duct 9 ... Slide rail (sliding member) 11 ... Cooling box 12 ... Storage container 12a ... Container body 12b ... Lid 13 ... Unit cover 13a ... Intake port 13b ... Exhaust port 13c ... Air flow path 14 ... Mounting means 15 ... Cooling device 16f ... Heat absorption part 17 ... Blower fan (Blower) 21 ・ ・ Radiation fin 25 ・ ・ ・ Rubber leg 29 ・ ・ ・ Drawer (sliding member)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A storage container including a container body made of a heat insulating material and forming a storage space therein, and a lid for opening and closing the storage space of the container body, and an intake port attached to the outside of the storage container. A unit cover having an air outlet and an air flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet formed therein;
A heat exchanger provided inside the unit cover and having a heat absorbing portion and a heat radiating portion; and a cooling device having a blower that blows air toward the heat radiating portion, and the heat absorbing portion contacts the storage container. A cool box for cooling the storage space by providing the storage container with attachment means to a sliding member that is incorporated in a cabinet such as a sink so as to be pulled out. 2. A storage container provided with a container main body made of a heat insulating material and forming a storage space therein, a lid for opening and closing the storage space of the container main body, and an intake port attached to the outside of the storage container. A unit cover having an air outlet and an air flow path from the air inlet to the air outlet formed therein;
A heat exchanger provided inside the unit cover and having a heat absorbing portion and a heat radiating portion; and a cooling device having a blower that blows air toward the heat radiating portion.
A cool box for cooling the storage space by contacting the storage container, characterized in that legs are provided on a lower surface of the storage container. 3. The cool box according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device uses a thermoelectric element as a heat exchange section. 4. A cold storage box according to claim 1 is incorporated into a sink cabinet so that it can be pulled out freely. An external air supply path for supplying external air to the cooling device of the cold storage box is provided in the cabinet, and the end of the external air supply path is kept cold. A sink that incorporates a cool box characterized by being opposed to the intake port of the box. 5. A cold storage cabinet according to claim 1 is incorporated in a sink cabinet so that it can be pulled out freely, and an external air supply passage for supplying outside air to a cooling device of the cold storage cabinet is provided in the cabinet, and the external air supply passage is provided at the end thereof. A sink with a built-in cool box characterized in that a duct is provided and the tip of the duct is extended to a position facing the intake port of the cool box. 6. A sink having a cool box according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the cooling device uses a thermoelectric element as a heat exchange section.