JPH1078283A - Outer case joining structure of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an outer case joining structure of a refrigerator which reduces the number of operating processes and thereby enables shortening of the time for manufacture and reduction of the cost of manufacture. SOLUTION: An outer case joining structure of a refrigerator equipped with an outer case comprising a top plate, two side plates 122 and a bottom plate 124 joined to the lower ends of the two side plates 122 comprises bending parts 122b and 123b which are provided in the lower ends of the two side plates 122 so that at least a part of each of them overlaps the bottom plate 124, a groove 122a which is so formed in each of the bending parts 122b and 123b as to open downward, an insertion part 124a which is formed in the end part of the bottom plate 124 and so bent as to be inserted into the groove 122a and a close contact means which is provided in the insertion part 124a and brings the insertion part 124a into close contact with the groove 122a in the state wherein the insertion part 124a is inserted into the groove.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an outer box connecting structure of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an improved connecting structure of a side plate and a bottom plate forming an outer box.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a refrigerator main body is formed by filling a heat insulating material between an inner box and an outer box. Of these, the outer box is formed by connecting a number of iron plates bent in a predetermined form, and in particular, both side plates and the bottom plate are connected by welding or screws.

[0003] An example of an outer box structure of a conventional refrigerator will be described with reference to FIG. Both ends of the bottom plate 2 corresponding to the lower end of the side plate 1 are bent at about 90 °, and the bending portion 3 of the bottom plate 2 and the side plate 1 are bent with the bending portion 3 inserted inside the lower end of the side plate 1. The side plate 1 and the bottom plate 2 are joined by welding the lower end at a number of places. Reference numeral 2a indicates a weld.

However, in such a conventional refrigerator outer box connection structure, various problems are caused by connecting the bottom plate of the outer box to the side plate by welding or screws. First
In addition, since welding and screw connection should be performed at many places,
There is a problem in that the number of work steps is large and the production cost and time are required. Second, with the outer box completed,
When the heat insulating material is foamed between the outer case and the inner case, there is a problem that the foaming liquid leaks outside through gaps between the welded portions and the screwed portions. Third, PCM (PreCoated M
In the case of using an outer box made of etal), the coating surface is damaged during the welding process, so that there is a problem that the painting operation must be performed separately.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to solve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to form a plate forming an outer box into a predetermined shape and to connect the plate to a form for insertion. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an outer box connecting structure of a refrigerator that can reduce the number of operation steps, shorten the manufacturing time, and reduce the manufacturing cost. Another object of the present invention is to provide an outer box connecting structure of a refrigerator in which a connecting portion of a plate forming an outer box maintains a firm connecting state.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outer box connecting structure for a refrigerator having an outer box including an upper plate, both side plates, and a bottom plate connected to lower ends of the both side plates. A bending portion provided at least at a lower end of the both side plates so as to overlap with the bottom plate, a groove formed to be opened downward in the bending portion, and formed at an end of the bottom plate. An insertion portion bent so as to be inserted into the groove, and provided in the insertion portion;
And a contact unit for contacting the insertion portion with the groove when the insertion portion is inserted into the groove.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator showing the configuration of the refrigerator to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator has a freezer 1 inside.
1 and a main body 100 in which a refrigerator compartment 12 is formed;
An evaporator 21 that is installed on one side of 00 and generates cold air;
The cold air generated from the evaporator 21 is transferred to the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 1.
2 and a blower fan 31 for forced circulation. Body 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes a triple structure of the inner box 110, the outer box 120, and the heat insulating material 130 filled between the inner box 110 and the outer box 120 so that the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerating compartment 12 maintain good heat insulation from the outside.
A door 13 is provided in front of the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 12.
Is provided to store or draw out food.
A duct 32 is provided behind the refrigerator compartment 12 to appropriately guide the cold air generated in the freezer compartment to be supplied to the refrigerator compartment 12. A machine room 14 is formed on the rear side of the lower portion of the main body 100. In the machine room 14, a compressor or the like that is a driving source of the refrigeration cycle is installed.

On the other hand, the outer box 120 is formed by connecting a number of iron plates. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the disassembled state of the outer box 120. Referring to FIG. 3, the outer case 120 includes a top plate 121, both side plates 122 and 123, a bottom plate 124, and a back plate (not shown). Of these, the upper plate 121
And both side plates 122 and 123 are formed by bending one plate “co”, and the bottom plate 124 is formed by both side plates 122 and 123.
And a back plate (not shown) is connected to these rear ends. At this time, the bottom plate 124 and both side plates 122, 12
3 and the rear plate are connected by an insertion type, but since these connection structures are the same, only the connection structure between the bottom plate 124 and both side plates 122 and 123 will be described.

First, both lower ends of both side plates 122 and 123 are bent inward by approximately 90 ° to form bending portions 122b and 123b, respectively, and grooves 122a and 1b are opened downward in the bending portions 122b and 123b.
23a are formed. Then, the bottom plate 12 facing the bending portions 122b, 123b of the both side plates 122, 123.
4 are formed at both ends with insertion portions 124a which are bent upward by approximately 90 °. The insertion portion 124a of the bottom plate 124 is formed by the grooves 122a, 1 of the side plates 122, 123.
23a, the bottom plate 124 and both side plates 1
22, 123 are combined.

Referring to FIG. 4, the connection structure between the bottom plate 124 and the side plate 122 will be described in detail. The side plate 122 has a bottom plate 124
And a groove 122a is formed in the bending portion 122b so as to be recessed upward. The insertion portion 124a of the bottom plate 124 inserted into the groove 122a has a protrusion 124b.
Is formed so that the insertion portion 124a is forcedly inserted when the insertion portion 124a is inserted into the groove 122a, and maintains a firm coupling state in the inserted state. That is, the outer surface of the projecting portion 124b provided on the insertion portion 124a is
The side plate 122 and the bottom plate 124
Maintain a firm bond.

Next, referring to FIG. 5, the side plate 122 and the bottom plate 1 will be described.
The modification of the coupling structure 24 will be described. As in the above-described embodiment, a bending portion 122b is formed on the side plate 122 so as to overlap with the bottom plate 124, and a groove 122a that is recessed upward is formed in the bending portion 122b. This groove 122a is different from the above-described embodiment having a substantially constant size irrespective of the depth, and is different from the above-described embodiment in which the large groove 122c formed on the inside and the small groove 122 formed on the entrance side are formed.
d. The bottom plate 124 has an insertion portion 124 having a protrusion 124b formed in the same manner as in the above embodiment.
a is provided. When the insertion portion 124a is inserted into the groove of the bending portion 122b, the side plate 122 and the bottom plate 124 maintain a firm connection state, but in order to maintain a more favorable connection state, the large groove portion 122c needs to be inserted into the insertion portion. The small groove 122d preferably has a size suitable for receiving the protrusion 124b between the large groove 122c and the small groove 122d. preferable. In fact, groove 12
Since the portion 2a has elasticity, the insertion portion 124a is
The maximum depth of the large groove 122c before being inserted into the small groove 122d is designed to be equal to or lower than the height of the protrusion 124b.
Is designed to be the same as or smaller than the thickness of the insertion portion 124a. Therefore, when the insertion portion 124a is inserted into the groove 122a, the insertion portion 124a is forcibly inserted while elastically deforming the groove 122a, and in the inserted state, the protrusion 124b is inserted between the large groove portion 122c and the small groove portion 122d. In addition to maintaining the state of being bent, the elastic restoring force of the groove 122a acts on the insertion portion 124a, so that the bending portion 122b of the side plate 122 and the insertion portion 124a of the bottom plate 124 maintain a firmly connected state. Further, it is preferable to form the locking projection 122e so that the boundary between the large groove portion 122c and the small groove portion 122d becomes a corner so as to maintain a better locking state.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the side plate 122 and the bottom plate 1 will be described.
Another modification of the coupling structure 24 will be described. As in the above-described embodiment, a bending portion 122b is formed on the side plate 122 so as to overlap with the bottom plate 124, and a groove 122a that is recessed upward is formed in the bending portion 122b. The bottom plate 124 is provided with an insertion portion 124a so as to be inserted into the groove 122a. This insertion part 1
An incision piece 124c protrudes from 24a. The incision piece 124c is formed so as to open from the inside to the outside of the groove 122a, so that it can be easily inserted when the insertion portion 124a is inserted into the groove 122a, and is firm when inserted. Keep the connection state. Although the above description has been made only on the connection structure between the side plate and the bottom plate, such a connection structure can be applied to the connection structure between the side plate and the back plate, and the connection structure between the bottom plate and the back plate.

[0013]

As described above, according to the outer box connecting structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the side plate and the bottom plate are connected by the insertion type, the connecting work is not only very easy, but also the work process and the working time. There is an advantage that can be shortened.

Further, since welding is not performed, PC
Since M (Pre Coated Metal) iron plate can be used,
After the assembly of the outer box is completed, a separate coating and painting operation is not required.

[0015] Further, since the projecting portion and the cut-out piece are formed as locking means at the insertion portion of the bottom plate, the bottom plate and the side plate can be connected to each other to maintain a firmly connected state. When urethane is foamed as a heat insulating material between the outer case and the outer box, leakage of the foaming liquid can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an outer box connection structure of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator showing the configuration of the refrigerator to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a view showing an outer box coupling structure according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a modification of the coupling structure of the side plate and the bottom plate shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing another modification of the coupling structure between the side plate and the bottom plate shown in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 110 inner box 120 outer box 122,123 both side plates 122a, 123a groove 122b, 123b bending part 124 bottom plate 124a insertion part 124b protruding part 124c cut piece

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An outer box connecting structure of a refrigerator comprising an outer box including an upper plate, both side plates, and a bottom plate connected to lower ends of the both side plates, wherein at least a part of the lower end of the both side plates overlaps with the bottom plate. And a groove formed in the bending portion and opened downward, and an insertion portion formed at an end of the bottom plate and bent so as to be inserted into the groove. And a contacting means provided on the insertion portion, wherein the insertion portion is inserted into the groove so that the insertion portion comes into close contact with the groove. Construction. 2. The outer box connection structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the contacting means includes a protrusion formed by partially deforming the insertion portion. 3. The contacting means includes a protrusion formed by partially deforming the insertion portion, and the groove includes a large groove for accommodating the protrusion and a small groove smaller than the large groove. 2. The outer box device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion is coupled in a state of being hooked between the large groove portion and the small groove portion. 4. The structure according to claim 2, wherein the boundary between the large groove and the small groove forms a locking projection. 5. The outer box connection structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the contacting means includes a cut piece formed by cutting from the insertion portion.