JPH10339540A - Freezer and refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a temperature of each of a freezer and a refrigerator from being increased and further prevent a location around a cooling device and an air passage from being frosted, by a method wherein when a plurality of electric dampers for the freezer and the refrigerator are controlled, the electric dampers are controlled individually either during a defrosting operation or upon completion of the defrosting operation. SOLUTION: A freezer and a refrigerator are operated such that temperatures of a refrigerator chamber 4, a specified refrigerator chamber 17 and a changing- over chamber 18 are detected by temperature sensing means 14, 19 and 20 for each of these chambers either during defrosting operation or upon completion of defrosting operation, and then an opening or closing of each of the electric dampers 13, 21 and 22 is determined in reference to these detected temperatures. With such an arrangement as above, it is possible to restrict an increasing in temperature within the refrigerator having the electric dampers closed therein, to release moisture around the cooling device 7 into the refrigerator showing a certain surplus state against the increased temperature, and to prevent frosting around the cooling device 7 and the air passage. Then, a high reliability in operation of the freezer and refrigerator can be attained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to damper opening / closing control during defrosting of a refrigerator having a damper opening / closing device using an electric input for controlling the amount of circulating cold air to rooms having different temperature zones. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a refrigerator-freezer has at least two or more cooling rooms such as a refrigerating room and a freezing room, and regulates a cool air discharge air passage leading to each room and an amount of cool air into a refrigerator in each room. Many configurations provided with an electric damper have been adopted. For this reason, a control circuit for an electric damper of this type of refrigerator-freezer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-137737.

Hereinafter, control of the conventional electric damper during defrosting will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a heat insulating box of a refrigerator main body, 2 denotes a partition wall, 3 denotes a refrigerator room, 4 denotes a freezer room, and 5 denotes a compressor. Numeral 6 denotes a cooling chamber provided at the back of the freezing chamber 5, in which a cooler 7, a blower 8 for forced air circulation, and a defrost heater 9 are provided.

[0005] Reference numeral 10 denotes a refrigerating room discharge air passage, which is provided on the partition wall 2 and communicates with the refrigerating room 3 and the freezing room 4. Reference numeral 11 denotes an automatic temperature control device provided at an outlet of the refrigerating room discharge air passage 10, which is provided with a refrigerating room cold air discharge port 12 and an electric damper 13 for adjusting the amount of cold air in the refrigerating room.
Reference numeral 4 denotes a refrigerator compartment temperature detection sensor, reference numeral 15 denotes a freezer compartment cool air discharge port provided at the front of the cooling compartment 6, and reference numeral 16 denotes a freezer compartment cool air suction port provided below the cooling compartment 6.

The control of the electric damper 13 and the flow of cool air during defrosting of the refrigerator-freezer having the above-described structure will be described.

At the time of defrosting, the operation of the compressor 5 is stopped, and at the same time, electricity is supplied to the defrosting heater 9 to remove frost adhering to the cooler 7 by the heat generated. At that time, the frost adhering to the cooler 7 is heated and melted, and becomes water and warm and humid and fills the cooling chamber 6. At this time, by opening the electric damper 13, the warm and humid air is uniformly released from the cooling chamber 6 to the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control state at the time of this defrosting. In step 1, the operation of the compressor 5 is stopped, and the defrost heater 9 is energized and the cooler 7 is deactivated.
Starts defrosting. After the start of defrosting, in step 2, the electric damper 13 is forcibly opened from closed. In step 3, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment temperature detection sensor 14 is changed from the closed set temperature of the electric damper 13 to the open set temperature. In step 4, the defrost is completed, the power to the defrost heater 9 is stopped, the compressor 5 starts operating, and returns to the normal operation state.

As a result, the warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber 6 during the defrosting is discharged through the electric damper 13 to both the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartment cool air discharge port to the freezer compartment 4.
In addition, the temperature rise during the defrosting of both the freezing compartments 4 is made uniform.

[0010]

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the warm and humid air generated during the defrosting from the cooling chamber is discharged into each of the refrigerators through the electric damper, thereby increasing the temperature in each of the refrigerators. In addition, even when the electric damper is closed during defrosting, frost is formed on the cooling chamber, its surroundings, and the air passage, and it is difficult to provide a highly reliable refrigerator-freezer. In recent years, a refrigerator-freezer having a vegetable compartment at the center and a refrigerator-freezer using the center as a switching room have been developed, and the air passage from the cooling room to each compartment has been restricted, and the electric damper during defrosting has been restricted. There was a problem of the control method.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an electric damper control for a refrigerator, and when an electric damper is present, these electric dampers are individually controlled during or after defrosting. By controlling, it is possible to prevent the temperature inside each refrigerator from being raised and to prevent frost formation around the cooler and the air passage, thereby providing a highly reliable refrigerator-freezer.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a heat insulating box which is divided into different temperature zones by a partition wall, a compressor, a cooler, a blower for forced circulation of cold air, and a heater for defrosting at the back of the heat insulating box. A cooling chamber provided with a temperature detecting means of a cooler, a cool air discharge air path and a cool air return air path provided on the partition wall, and an automatic temperature control device including a plurality of electric dampers in the cool air discharge air path; In a refrigerator including an in-compartment temperature detecting means for detecting an in-compartment temperature, after starting defrosting, all electric dampers are closed, and after Δt seconds, an in-compartment temperature detecting means detects an in-compartment temperature. Perform a control circuit that opens the electric damper until the end of defrosting, in which the temperature of each in-compartment temperature detecting means adjusts the cool air into the compartment below a value determined from the set value determined separately for each in-compartment. It is a freezer refrigerator.

Further, after the start of defrosting, all the electric dampers are closed, and when the temperature of the cooler temperature detecting means has become equal to or higher than a set value, the temperature in each of the refrigerators is detected by each of the refrigerator temperature detecting means. The electric damper for adjusting the cool air to the inside of the refrigerator in which the temperature of each refrigerator temperature detecting means is equal to or less than a set value determined separately for each refrigerator is opened until the end of defrosting. .

Also, between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling operation, Δt
When there is a second, the electric damper for adjusting the cool air into the refrigerator determined to be open is opened until the start of the cooling operation.

After the start of defrosting, all the electric dampers are closed. After the completion of the defrosting, the temperature in each of the refrigerators is detected by the temperature detecting means in each refrigerator. An electric damper that adjusts cool air into a refrigerator having a value equal to or less than a set value determined separately from the inside is opened until the start of the cooling operation.

Further, when the electric damper is opened or closed, if the temperature of each internal temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than a set value determined for each internal compartment, the predetermined electric damper is opened. It is a thing.

The electric damper opening / closing time is such that when the electric damper is opened or closed, the electric damper that adjusts the cool air to the interior determined to be open is opened for only Δt seconds.

These controls minimize the rise in the internal temperature of the refrigerator, and select and release the warm and humid air from the cooling room with little effect, thereby preventing the temperature from rising inside the refrigerator and cooling the cooler. The formation of frost on the periphery and the wind path can be prevented.

[0019]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) In FIG. 1, reference numeral 17 denotes a specific refrigerator compartment, and reference numeral 18 denotes a switching compartment in which the temperature inside the refrigerator can be changed. 19 is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the specific refrigerator compartment 17, and 20 is a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the switching chamber 18. 21 is a damper for adjusting the amount of cool air to the specific refrigerator compartment 17, and 22 is a damper for adjusting the amount of cool air to the switching room.

At the time of defrosting, the operation of the compressor 5 is stopped and the heater 9 for defrosting is energized to remove frost adhering to the cooler 7 by the heat generated. The flowchart is shown in FIG.

First, in step 1, the operation of the compressor 5 is stopped, and the defrost heater 9 is energized to start the defrost of the cooler 7. After Δt seconds after the start of defrosting, in step 2, the temperature in each compartment is read by each compartment temperature detecting means. Next, in step 3, the opening and closing of the individual electric dampers for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage is determined.

For example, if each determination temperature is set as shown in (Table 1), the electric damper 13 for adjusting the amount of cold air to the refrigerator compartment 4 is closed, and the specific refrigerator compartment 17 and the switching compartment 18 are cooled. The electric dampers 21 and 22 for adjusting
Open. Next, as step 4, the state of these electric dampers is maintained until the end of defrosting. Next, as step 5, the defrosting is completed, the cooling operation is started, and the normal control is performed.

[0024]

[Table 1]

As described above, the control of the electric damper during the defrosting of the present embodiment comprises the heater 9 for defrosting, the temperature detecting means in each storage, and the damper for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage. The electric dampers that can be opened during defrosting can be set individually, and the time to open the electric dampers can be set with a timer. Temperature can be prevented.

Further, by opening the electric damper, the warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber is released from the cooling chamber into a room having a sufficient margin against the temperature rise, thereby improving the reliability of the cooling chamber, its periphery, and the air path. Can be secured.

In this embodiment, a refrigerator which is mainly composed of a refrigerator room at the upper part, a freezer room at the center part and a vegetable room at the lower part has been taken up in recent years. Regardless of what is controlled by the electric damper, which can adjust the amount of cool air with the electric damper, the effect of suppressing the temperature rise in the refrigerator and preventing frost formation around the cooler and the air passage are obtained.

In this embodiment, the electric damper is
Although three, the number of electric dampers is not limited. Since the electric dampers can be individually controlled, finer control can be performed, and higher reliability can be secured.

In this embodiment, after the defrosting is completed, the cooling operation is performed and the normal control is performed. However, if there is a time between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling, the opening and closing of the electric damper may be performed until the start of the cooling operation. . As a result, more heat and moisture generated in the cooling chamber can be released, and higher reliability can be secured.

Although the opening and closing of the electric damper is performed until the end of the defrosting or the start of the cooling operation, it may be performed for Δt seconds. Thus, even when the defrosting time varies depending on the outside air temperature, the electric damper is opened and closed only for a certain period of time, so that the damper is not opened more than necessary, thereby ensuring high reliability.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of this embodiment. First, in Step 1, the operation of the compressor is stopped, and the heater 9 for defrosting is energized to start defrosting the cooler. After the start of defrosting, when the temperature of the cooler temperature detecting means 23 becomes equal to or higher than _Tx ° C. in Step 2, the temperature in each refrigerator is detected by each temperature detecting means in each refrigerator in Step 3. Next, in step 4, the opening and closing of the electric damper for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage is determined.

For example, if each determination temperature is set as shown in Table 2, the damper for adjusting the amount of cold air to the refrigerator compartment 4 and the switching compartment 18 is open, and the specific refrigerator compartment 17 is opened.
The electric damper for adjusting the cold air is closed. Next, as step 5, the state of these electric dampers is maintained until the end of defrosting. Next, defrosting is completed as step 6,
The cooling operation starts and normal control is performed.

[0033]

[Table 2]

As described above, the control of the electric damper during the defrosting of the present embodiment includes the defrosting heater 9, the temperature detecting means in each storage, the damper for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage, and the cooler. Since it is constituted by the temperature detecting means 23, the electric dampers to be opened during defrosting can be individually set, and the timing of opening and closing the electric dampers can be set according to the temperature of the cooler. By opening and closing
Preventing the temperature rise in each compartment more than allowable and opening the electric damper allows the warm and humid air generated in the cooling room to escape from the cooling room to the inside of the compartment with room for the temperature rise. In addition, the reliability of the surrounding area and the wind path can be ensured.

In this embodiment, three electric dampers are used as in the first embodiment, but the number of electric dampers is not limited. Since the electric dampers can be individually controlled, finer control can be performed, and higher reliability can be secured.

After the defrosting is completed, the cooling operation is performed and the normal control is performed. However, if there is a time between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling, the opening and closing of the electric damper may be performed until the start of the cooling operation. As a result, more heat and moisture generated in the cooling chamber can be released, and higher reliability can be secured.

Although the opening and closing of the electric damper is performed until the end of defrosting or the start of the cooling operation, it may be performed for Δt seconds. Thus, even when the defrosting time varies depending on the outside air temperature, the electric damper is opened and closed only for a certain period of time, so that the damper is not opened more than necessary, thereby ensuring high reliability.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of this embodiment. First, in step 1, while the operation of the compressor 5 is stopped, the heater 9 for defrost is energized to start defrosting of the cooler, and all the electric dampers are closed. Next, in step 2, the defrosting is completed. Next, in step 3,
The temperature in each refrigerator is detected by the temperature detector in each refrigerator.

Next, at step 4, it is determined whether to open or close the electric damper for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage. For example, if each determination temperature is set as shown in (Table 3), the damper for adjusting the amount of cool air to the refrigeration room 4 and the specific refrigeration room 17 is closed, and the electric motor for adjusting the cool air to the specific refrigeration room is used. The damper is opened. Next, as step 5, the state of these electric dampers is maintained until the cooling operation starts. Next, as step 6, the cooling operation is started and normal control is performed.

[0040]

[Table 3]

The control of the electric damper after the completion of the defrosting of the present embodiment as described above is constituted by the defrosting heater 9, the temperature detecting means in each storage, and the damper for adjusting the amount of cool air into each storage. Therefore, the electric dampers that open and close after the completion of defrosting can be individually set, and by appropriately opening and closing the electric dampers until the start of the cooling operation, it is possible to prevent a temperature rise in each compartment from exceeding an allowable level.

Further, by opening the electric damper, the warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber is released from the cooling chamber into a room having a sufficient margin against the temperature rise, thereby improving the reliability of the cooling chamber and its surroundings and the air passage. Can be secured.

In this embodiment, the number of the electric dampers is three as in the first embodiment, but the number of the electric dampers is not limited. Since the electric dampers can be individually controlled, finer control can be performed, and higher reliability can be secured.

Although the opening and closing of the electric damper is performed until the start of the cooling operation, it may be performed for Δt seconds. Accordingly, when the interval between the end of the defrosting and the cooling operation is long, the damper is not opened more than necessary, thereby securing high reliability.

In the first to third embodiments, when the open / close state of the electric damper is determined, if the temperature inside all the compartments is high, the predetermined electric damper may be opened. This makes it possible to provide a highly reliable refrigerator-freezer by performing control with an emphasis on prevention of frost formation around the cooler and the air path.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the electric dampers to be opened during defrosting can be individually set, and the time for opening the electric dampers can be set.
Appropriate opening and closing of the electric damper prevents the temperature in each compartment from rising more than allowable, and opening the electric damper cools the warm and humid air generated in the cooling room into a room with sufficient room for the temperature rise. Escape from the chamber, thereby ensuring the reliability of the cooling chamber, its surroundings, and the air path.

If there is a time between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling, the opening and closing of the electric damper can be performed until the start of the cooling operation, so that more warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber can be released, and higher reliability can be obtained. Can be secured.

Although the electric damper is opened and closed until the end of the defrosting or the start of the cooling operation, the electric damper is opened and closed only for a certain period of time, even if the defrosting time varies depending on the outside air temperature. There is no need to open the damper more than necessary, thereby ensuring high reliability.

Further, it is necessary to determine whether to open or close the electric damper Δt seconds after the start of defrosting by determining whether the electric damper is to be opened or closed by the cooler temperature detecting means. It can be set, and by opening and closing the appropriate electric damper, it is possible to prevent a temperature rise in each compartment beyond an allowable level.

Further, by opening the electric damper, the warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber is released from the cooling chamber into a room having a sufficient margin against the temperature rise, thereby improving the reliability of the cooling chamber, its periphery, and the air path. Can be secured.

If there is a time between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling, the opening and closing of the electric damper can be performed until the start of the cooling operation, so that more warm and humid air generated in the cooling chamber can be released, and higher reliability can be obtained. Can be secured.

Although the electric damper is opened and closed until the end of the defrosting or the start of the cooling operation, the electric damper is opened and closed only for a fixed time even when the defrosting time varies depending on the outside air temperature as Δt seconds. There is no need to open the damper more than necessary, thereby ensuring high reliability.

Further, during the defrosting, the electric dampers are all closed, and the electric dampers which are opened and closed after the defrosting are completed are individually set.
Appropriate opening and closing of the electric damper until the start of the cooling operation prevents the temperature rise in each compartment more than allowable, and opening the electric damper reduces the temperature and humidity generated in the cooling chamber against the temperature rise. The cooling chamber is allowed to escape into the room with ample room, so that the reliability of the cooling chamber, its surroundings, and the air path can be ensured.

Although the opening and closing of the electric damper is performed until the start of the cooling operation, it may be performed for Δt seconds. Accordingly, when the interval between the end of the defrosting and the cooling operation is long, the damper is not opened more than necessary, thereby securing high reliability.

When the temperature in all the compartments is high, a predetermined electric damper may be opened. Thereby, a highly reliable refrigerator-freezer can be provided that focuses on prevention of frost formation around the cooler and the air passage.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a first embodiment showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a second embodiment showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional refrigerator-freezer.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Insulated box 2 Partition wall 3 Freezer room 4 Refrigerator room 5 Compressor 6 Cooling room 7 Cooler 8 Blower for forced air circulation 9 Defrost heater 10 Refrigerator room discharge air path 11 Automatic temperature control device 13 Electric damper for refrigerator room 14 Refrigeration room temperature detection means 17 Specific refrigeration room 18 Switching room 19 Specific refrigeration room temperature detection means 20 Switching room temperature detection means 21 Electric damper for specific refrigeration room 22 Electric damper for switching room 23 Cooler temperature detection means

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heat insulation box divided into different temperature zones by a partition wall, a compressor and a cooler installed at the back of the heat insulation box, a blower for forced air circulation and a heater for defrosting, A temperature detecting means of a cooler, an automatic temperature control device including a plurality of electric dampers in the cool air discharge air path, a cool air return air path and the cool air discharge air path in the partition wall, and a chamber for detecting the temperature in each chamber. After the start of defrosting, all electric dampers are closed, and after Δt seconds, the temperature in each of the refrigerators is detected by the temperature detectors in the refrigerator. Refrigerator-freezer having a control circuit that opens an electric damper that adjusts cool air into a refrigerator having a value equal to or less than a set value determined separately for each refrigerator until the completion of defrosting. 2. A heat insulation box divided into different temperature zones by a partition wall, a compressor and a cooler installed at the back of the heat insulation box, a blower for forced air circulation and a heater for defrosting, Temperature detecting means of a cooler, a cool air discharge air path and a cool air return air path to the partition wall, an automatic temperature control device having a plurality of electric dampers in the cool air discharge air path, and detecting temperatures in the respective compartments. After the start of defrosting, all the electric dampers are closed, and when the temperature of the cooler temperature detecting means becomes higher than a set value, the temperature in each of the refrigerators is detected by the temperature detecting means in the refrigerator. Control to make the electric damper open until the end of defrosting by performing detection and adjusting the temperature of each chamber temperature detecting means to cool the inside of the chamber below the set value determined for each chamber. A refrigerator with a circuit. 3. An electric damper for adjusting cool air to the inside of the refrigerator, which is determined to be open, until the start of the cooling operation, when Δt seconds pass between the end of the defrosting and the start of the cooling operation. 2. The refrigerator-freezer according to 2. 4. A heat insulation box partitioned into different temperature zones by a partition wall, a compressor and a cooler installed at the back of the heat insulation box, a blower for forced air circulation and a heater for defrosting, A temperature detecting means of a cooler, an automatic temperature control device including a plurality of electric dampers in the cool air discharge air path, a cool air return air path and the cool air discharge air path in the partition wall, and a chamber for detecting the temperature in each chamber. After the start of defrosting, all the electric dampers are closed, and after the defrosting is completed, the temperature in each compartment is detected by each compartment temperature detecting unit, and the temperature of each compartment temperature detecting unit is detected. Is a refrigerator having a control circuit that opens an electric damper that adjusts cool air into a refrigerator having a value equal to or less than a set value separately determined for each refrigerator until the start of a cooling operation. 5. The electric damper according to claim 1, wherein when the electric damper is opened or closed, the predetermined electric damper is opened when the temperature of each internal temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than a set value determined for each internal. The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 4. 6. The electric damper according to claim 1, wherein the electric damper has a control circuit for opening and closing the electric damper for only Δt seconds when the electric damper is opened or closed. Item 6. The refrigerator-freezer according to any one of Items 5.