JPH10339549A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a convenience in use of a vegetable chamber of which frequency in use is increased or improve a storing characteristic in view of the fact that an amount of consumption of vegetables is increased under a recent trend of getting health. SOLUTION: This refrigerator is constructed such that a refrigerator chamber 25 is placed at an upper section, a freezer chamber 27 is placed at a lower section and a vegetable chamber 31 is arranged at a central part. An upper surface of a lid member 44 covering a vegetable container 33 is provided with a suction duct 46 of the refrigerator chamber 25, an aeration duct 48 communicated with a refrigerator chamber discharging cold air branch bypass and a low temperature chamber discharging cold air branch bypass, a circulating duct formed at an outer circumference of the vegetable container 33 and a second returning duct 542 communicated with a cooling device 35 from a deep surface of the vegetable chamber 31 so as to constitute a cooling air passage for the vegetable chamber 31. With such an arrangement as above, it is possible to perform a monitoring of storage of vegetables having a high degree of frequency in use at the central section and also its storing characteristic is improved. In addition, a cooling capability of the vegetable chamber can be assured rationally while a temperature distribution at the vegetable container is being improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment are arranged from above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a refrigerator equipped with a low temperature room and a vegetable room for storing fresh foods such as fish, meat, vegetables and fruits in addition to a conventional freezing room and a refrigerator room has been developed. Widespread. On the other hand, instead of a refrigerator having a conventional freezer at the upper part, a refrigerator which is frequently used and arranged at the level of the upper eye to improve the usability and the storage capacity has become mainstream. Representative examples of these are disclosed in, for example, JP-A-6-2.
One example is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 73031, and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

[0003] Reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator body composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3, and a heat insulating material 4 filled in a space between the two boxes 2, 3. Reference numerals 5 and 6 denote partition walls that partition the inside of the refrigerator up and down. Reference numeral 7 denotes a refrigerating compartment formed above the partition wall 5 and above the main body 1 and provided with a rotary door 8.

[0004] Reference numeral 9 denotes a vegetable compartment for storing vegetables and fruits formed below the partition wall 6 and below the main body 1;
The room is provided with a humidity control means 10 and a drawer type door 11 for maintaining the room at high humidity. Reference numeral 12 denotes a freezer compartment formed between the partition walls 5 and 6 in the center of the main body 1 and includes drawer-type doors 13 and 14. Reference numeral 15 denotes a low-temperature chamber provided in the refrigerator compartment 7 for storing fish and meat.

[0005] A compressor 16 and a cooler 17 constitute a refrigeration cycle. Reference numeral 18 denotes a blower for forcibly ventilating the cool air cooled by the cooler into the refrigerator.
Numeral denotes temperature control means (hereinafter referred to as damper devices 19 and 20) for feeding a required amount of cool air to the cold room 15 and the vegetable room 9, respectively.

The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described. The operation of the compressor 16 causes the cooler 17
The cool air cooled in the step (1) is forcibly ventilated to each room by the blower (18), and the refrigerating room (7), the vegetable room (9) and the low-temperature room (15) are maintained at appropriate temperatures by damper devices (19) and (20).

[0007] Therefore, the temperature of fresh food such as vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, etc. can be well controlled and freshness can be maintained. Also,
The most frequently used refrigeration compartment is located at the level of the upper eyes, making it easy to open and close doors, overlook food, and get in and out.
Usability and storability are better than a conventional refrigerator with a freezer at the top.

[0008]

However, in the above configuration, especially in the background where the consumption of vegetables is increasing due to the recent health tendency, the frequently used vegetable room is located at the bottom and the user leans down. There is a problem that the usability and storage of the vegetable room are not good, such as the number of times it is taken and it is difficult to overlook the interior.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which the usability and storage capacity of a vegetable room are particularly improved.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, a refrigerator according to the present invention has a refrigerator compartment at the top, a freezer compartment at the bottom, a vegetable compartment in the center, and a lid for covering the vegetable container. A ventilation duct provided on the upper surface of the body and communicating with the suction duct of the refrigerator compartment, the cold air branch bypass bypass of the refrigerator compartment and the cold air branch bypass of the low temperature compartment, and a circulation duct formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container communicating with the ventilation duct. And a return duct communicating from the back of the vegetable compartment to the cooler to form a cooling air passage. As a result, vegetables that are frequently used can be stored and managed in the convenient central portion, and the storability is improved. Further, the cooling capacity of the vegetable room can be reasonably secured while improving the temperature distribution of the vegetable container.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a refrigerator compartment having a built-in low-temperature compartment at the top, a freezer compartment at the bottom, a vegetable compartment at the center, and a cold air return port provided at the back of the low-temperature compartment and the return port. A first return duct communicating with a cooler, a lid covering an upper opening surface of a vegetable container provided in the vegetable compartment, a suction duct of the refrigerator compartment provided on an upper surface of the lid, and the cold air discharged from the refrigerator compartment. A ventilation duct that communicates with the branch bypass and the low-temperature chamber discharge cool air branch bypass; a circulation duct that communicates with the ventilation duct and is formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container from the front to the rear; and a vegetable that communicates with the circulation duct. A cool air return port provided on the inner surface of the room and a second return duct connected to the cooler from the cool air return port are connected to each other.

[0012] The cooling capacity and good temperature distribution of the vegetable compartment can be reasonably secured while preserving and managing the frequently used vegetables in the convenient central part.

Further, a part of the cool air in the ventilation duct is diverted to a second return duct communicating with the cooler.

By diverting the cool air from the ventilation duct, the vegetable room can be prevented from being overcooled. Further, a configuration is provided in which cool air distribution adjusting means for controlling cool air in the ventilation duct is provided.

The temperature of the vegetable compartment can be switched by adjusting the branch of the cool air in the ventilation duct.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described below.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment. Reference numerals 22, 23, and 24 denote partition walls that partition the inside of the refrigerator up and down. 25 is the partition wall 22 on the upper side of the main body 21
Refrigerated compartment partitioned at the top of the
It has. 27 is a main body 21 below the partition wall 23.
Drawer-type door 2 which is a freezer compartment formed at the bottom of
8, 29 are provided.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a low-temperature room provided at the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 25 for storing mainly fish and meat, and 31 denotes a vegetable room for storing vegetables and fruits. The drawer-type door 32 and the door 32 are provided. And a small container 34 mainly for storing small vegetables and fruits arranged in the container. The upper refrigerator compartment 25 and the lower refrigerator compartment 25 are provided between the partition walls 22 and 23. Body 2 sandwiched between freezer compartments 27
1 is located at the center.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a cooler of the refrigeration cycle,
Is a blower for forcibly blowing the cool air cooled by the cooler 35 into the refrigerator. Numeral 37 denotes a freezer duct for guiding the cool air of the blower 36 to the freezer 27, and reference numeral 38 denotes a blower 36.
Is a discharge duct of the cold room that guides the cold air to the cold room 25, 39 is a discharge duct of the low temperature room that guides the cold air of the blower 36 to the low temperature room 30, and 40 is a cold room discharge cold air that is provided in the cold air discharge path to the cold room 25. 41 is a low-temperature chamber discharge cool air branch bypass provided in the middle of the cool air discharge path to the low-temperature chamber 30; (Hereinafter referred to as damper devices 42 and 43).

Reference numeral 44 denotes a lid for covering the upper opening of the vegetable container 33 in the vegetable compartment 31. The lid 44 is integrally provided with a humidity control means 45 such as a moisture permeable functional film for maintaining the inside of the container at high humidity.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a suction duct of the refrigerator compartment 25;
Is a suction duct (hereinafter, referred to as a first return duct) of the low temperature chamber 30, and 48 is above the lid 44 in communication with the suction duct 46, the cold room branch bypass 40, and the cold room branch bypass 41. And an opening 49 is provided in front of the humidity control means 45.

A circulation duct 50 communicates with the ventilation duct 48 and circulates around the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a cold air return port provided at an upper part on the back side in the vegetable compartment 31. 52 is a second return duct for returning air to the cooler 35 via the cool air return port 51.

Regarding the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the cool room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 38 of the cool room, and an appropriate amount of cool air is sent into the cool room by the damper device 42 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C. Is done.

The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the low-temperature room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 39 of the low-temperature room, and an appropriate amount of cool air is sent to the low-temperature room 30 by the damper device 43, and -3 ° C. Is maintained at an appropriate temperature.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 returns to the cooler 35 via the first return duct 47. next,
The air that has cooled the refrigerator compartment 25 and the cold air that has branched off from the low-temperature branch bypass 41 are guided to the ventilation duct 48 and
From the upper surface of the lid 44.

Then, the air convects through the circulation duct 50 with the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 facing rearward. Thereafter, air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via a second return duct 52 from a cool air return port 51 provided at the upper part inside the vegetable compartment 31.

Thus, the vegetable container 33 and the lid 44
The vegetable room 31 is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 6 ° C. by indirect cooling from the outer periphery of the container. At this time, due to the action of the humidity control means 45 provided on the top surface of the vegetable container 33, the vegetable room becomes highly humid due to the transpiration moisture of the stored food such as vegetables and fruits, and the freshness of the vegetables and fruits is prolonged. Maintained for a period.

By arranging the vegetable compartment 31 in the center of the main body, the storage capacity of vegetables frequently used in recent years is enhanced, and the usability is improved, for example, the waist does not need to be bent.

On the other hand, in the course of returning cold air from the upper refrigerator compartment 25, part of the cold air discharged from the refrigerator compartment, and part of the cold air discharged from the low-temperature compartment to the lower cooler 35, the vegetable container in the vegetable compartment 31 is returned. A circulation duct 50 that circulates from the front to the back on the outer periphery of 33.
, The cooling capacity sufficient to cool the vegetable compartment 31 that requires a small amount of cooling due to the heat transmission to the cooler 35 on the back and the freezing compartment 27 on the bottom is increased by returning cold air from the refrigerator compartment 25 and discharging the refrigerator compartment. It is obtained from a part of the cool air and a part of the cool air discharged from the low temperature chamber.

Further, low-temperature air convects in front of the container having a distributionally high temperature, and air heated passing through the front of the vegetable compartment 31 convects in the rear of the container having a low distribution temperature to produce a vegetable container. 33 can be indirectly cooled while improving the temperature distribution.

In this way, stable storage is achieved by indirect cooling with a small amount of temperature variation, while preventing damage to the stored vegetables due to dew condensation inside the vegetable container and freezing and preventing dew condensation and freezing failure outside the vegetable container. Management is possible, and long-term freshening of vegetables and fruits is possible.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, 53 is the ventilation duct 48.
And the second return duct, and a portion of the cool air in the ventilation duct 48 to the second return duct.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the cool room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 38 of the cool room, and an appropriate amount of cool air is sent into the cool room by the damper device 42 and maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C. Is done.

The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the low-temperature room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 39 of the low-temperature room, and an appropriate amount of cool air is sent to the low-temperature room 30 by the damper device 43, so that -3 ° C. Is maintained at an appropriate temperature.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 returns to the cooler 35 via the first return duct 47. next,
The cold air that has cooled the refrigerating compartment 25 and the cold air branched from the refrigerating compartment discharge cold air branch bypass 40 and the low temperature compartment discharge cold air branch bypass 41 are led to a ventilation duct 48, and a part of the cool air is passed through a communication duct 53 to a second duct. The return duct 52 returns to the cooler 35. The rest of the cool air flows from the opening 49 to the lid 4.
4 open to the front.

Then, the air convects through the circulation duct 50 with the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 facing rearward. Thereafter, air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via a second return duct 52 from a cool air return port 51 provided at the upper part inside the vegetable compartment 31.

As described above, the vegetable container 33 and the lid 44
The vegetable room 31 is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 6 ° C. by indirect cooling from the outer periphery of the container. At this time, due to the action of the humidity control means 45 provided on the top surface of the vegetable container 33, the vegetable room becomes highly humid due to the transpiration moisture of the stored food such as vegetables and fruits, and the freshness of the vegetables and fruits is prolonged. Maintained for a period.

By arranging the vegetable compartment 31 at the center of the main body, the storage capacity of vegetables frequently used in recent years is enhanced, and the usability is improved, for example, without having to bend down.

On the other hand, in the course of the return air of the upper refrigerator compartment 25, a part of the cold air discharged from the refrigerator compartment and a part of the cold air discharged from the low temperature compartment to return to the lower cooler 35, the vegetable container in the vegetable compartment 31 is returned. A circulation duct 50 that circulates from the front to the back on the outer periphery of 33.
Is formed, the cooling capacity sufficient to cool the vegetable compartment 31 that requires a small amount of cooling by heat transmission to the cooler 35 on the back surface and the freezing compartment 27 on the bottom surface is increased by the return air of the refrigerator compartment 25 and the discharge of the refrigerator compartment. It is obtained from a part of the cool air and a part of the cool air discharged from the low temperature chamber.

The temperature of the vegetable compartment 31 can be easily adjusted by returning part of the cool air from the ventilation duct to the second return duct 52 via the communication duct 53.
In addition, low-temperature air convects in front of the container having a high temperature in distribution, and air heated passing through the front of the vegetable compartment 31 convects in the rear of the container having low temperature in distribution, and the temperature of the vegetable container 33 rises. Reasonable indirect cooling can be achieved while improving distribution.

In this way, stable storage is achieved by indirect cooling with a small amount of temperature unevenness, while preventing damage to the stored vegetables due to dew condensation and freezing inside the vegetable container and preventing dew condensation and freezing failure outside the vegetable container. Management is possible, and long-term freshening of vegetables and fruits is possible.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the second embodiment. 1 and 3, 54 is the ventilation duct 47.
And a cool air distribution adjusting means capable of adjusting the distribution of cool air to the return duct 52.

With respect to the refrigerator configured as described above,
The operation will be described below. The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown to the freezing room 27 by the blower 36 via the discharge duct 37 of the freezing room, and is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as -18 ° C. Further, the cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the refrigerating room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 38 of the refrigerating room, and an appropriate amount of the cool air is sent to the refrigerating room by the damper device 41 to maintain an appropriate temperature such as 4 ° C. Is done.

The cool air cooled by the cooler 35 is blown into the low-temperature room by the blower 36 through the discharge duct 39 of the low-temperature room, and an appropriate amount of cool air is sent to the low-temperature room 30 by the damper device 42, so that -3 ° C. Is maintained at an appropriate temperature.

Next, the air that has cooled the low-temperature chamber 30 returns to the cooler 35 via the first return duct 47. next,
The cool air that has cooled the refrigerating room 25 and the cool air that has been branched from the cool room discharge cool air branch bypass 40 and the low temperature room discharge cool air branch bypass 41 are passed through a ventilation duct 48 by a cool air distribution adjusting device 54.
Is distributed to the communication duct 53. The cool air distributed to the communication duct 53 is supplied to the cooler 3 by the second return duct 52.
Return to 5. The cool air in the ventilation duct is released from the opening 49 to the front of the upper surface of the lid 44.

Then, the air convects through the circulation duct 50 with the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 facing rearward. Thereafter, air flows along the back surface of the vegetable container 33, and returns to the cooler 35 via a second return duct 52 from a cool air return port 51 provided at the upper part inside the vegetable compartment 31.

As described above, the vegetable container 33 and the lid 39
The vegetable room 31 is maintained at an appropriate temperature such as 6 ° C. by indirect cooling from the outer periphery of the container. At this time, due to the action of the humidity control means 44 provided on the top surface of the vegetable container 33, the interior of the vegetable room becomes highly humid due to the transpiration moisture of the stored food such as vegetables and fruits, and the freshness of the vegetables and fruits is prolonged. Maintained for a period.

As described above, by arranging the vegetable compartment 31 in the center of the main body, the storage capacity of vegetables frequently used in recent years is enhanced, and the usability such as the need to bend down is improved.

On the other hand, while the return air from the upper refrigerator compartment 25 and part of the cold air discharged from the low-temperature compartment return to the lower cooler 35, the outer periphery of the vegetable container 33 in the vegetable compartment 31 moves from the front to the rear. By forming the circulation duct 49 that circulates,
A sufficient cooling capacity to cool the vegetable compartment 31 requiring a small amount of cooling by the heat transmission to the cooler 35 on the back and the freezing compartment 27 on the bottom is obtained from the return air of the refrigerator compartment 25 and a part of the cold air discharged from the cold compartment. Can be

The temperature of the vegetable container 33 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the cool air by the cool air distribution adjusting device 54. In addition, low-temperature air still convects in front of the container having a high distribution temperature, and the rear of the container having a low temperature distribution has a vegetable compartment 31.
The heated air convects through the front of the vase and the vegetable container 3
3 can be indirectly cooled while improving the temperature distribution.

As described above, indirect cooling having a small amount of temperature variation and stable storage is performed while preventing damage to stored vegetables due to dew condensation inside the vegetable container and freezing and preventing dew condensation and freezing failure outside the vegetable container. Management is possible, and long-term freshening of vegetables and fruits is possible.

[0052]

As described above, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a refrigerator compartment with a built-in low-temperature compartment at the top, a freezer compartment at the bottom, and a vegetable compartment at the center, and is provided on the upper surface of the lid covering the vegetable container. A ventilation duct communicating with the suction duct of the refrigerator compartment, the cold air branch bypass bypass of the refrigerator compartment, and the cold air branch bypass bypass of the cold compartment, a circulation duct formed on the outer periphery of the vegetable container, and a return communicating with the cooler from the back of the vegetable compartment. Because the ducts are connected sequentially, it is possible to store the vegetables that are frequently used in a convenient and easy-to-use central part, and to maintain a good cooling capacity and temperature distribution in the vegetable compartment. The shelf life of fruits can be improved.

The temperature of the vegetable container can be adjusted by adjusting the area of the communication duct by providing a communication duct for communicating the ventilation duct and the return duct and diverting cool air to the communication duct.

In addition, in the branch of the ventilation duct and the communication duct,
By providing the cool air distribution adjusting device, the temperature of the vegetable room can be more easily adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of Embodiment 1 of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 25 Refrigerator room 27 Freezer room 30 Low temperature room 31 Vegetable room 33 Vegetable room 35 Cooler 44 Cover 45 Humidity control unit 46 Suction duct of refrigeration room 47 First return duct 48 Ventilation duct 49 Opening 50 Circulation duct 51 Cold air return port 52 second return duct 53 communication duct 54 cool air distribution adjusting means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration room for storing refrigerated foods and the like at an upper part,
A freezer compartment for storing frozen foods etc. at the bottom and vegetables at the center
A vegetable room for storing fruits and the like, a low-temperature room for storing fish, meat and the like at a low temperature in the refrigerated room, and a refrigerator for a refrigeration cycle arranged over the back of the vegetable room and the freezing room; A first return duct communicating from the chamber to the cooler, a lid covering an upper opening surface of the vegetable container provided in the vegetable compartment, a suction duct of the refrigerator compartment provided on an upper surface of the lid, and the refrigerator compartment. A ventilation duct that communicates with a part of the cool air discharge duct to the cold room and a part of the cool air discharge duct to the low-temperature chamber; And, a cool air return port provided on the back side of the vegetable room in communication with the circulation duct,
A refrigerator comprising a second return duct communicating from the cool air return port to a cooler. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a part of the cool air in the ventilation duct is diverted to a second return duct communicating with the cooler. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising cold air distribution adjusting means for diverting the cool air in the ventilation duct to the inside of the vegetable compartment and to the second return duct.