JPH1089833A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent leakage of cold air by reducing in size a damper mechanism. SOLUTION: A damper mechanism 13 is provided in a duct 12. The mechanism 13 has a body frame 14 having a damper port 14f, a damper plate 15, a damper motor 19 and a gear train 20. A rotary shaft 15a of the plate 15 is rotated by the motor 19 and the train 20. The plate 15 controls to drive the motor 19 to operate to block the duct 12 for a predetermined period (30min) during a term to block the duct 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a damper mechanism.

[0002]

Conventionally, in a refrigerator, a duct is formed in a refrigerator main body to supply cold air from a cold air generating unit to a predetermined cooling room, for example, a refrigerator room, and a damper is provided to open and close this duct. A mechanism is provided. The damper mechanism includes a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct, a damper motor including an AC synchronous motor, a cam rotated by the damper motor, and linearly moving in accordance with the rotation of the cam. And a spring for urging the damper plate in the closing direction.

[0003] The opening and closing of the damper plate is controlled as follows. That is, when the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is detected by the temperature sensor to be equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the damper motor is energized for a predetermined time, whereby the cam rotates by a predetermined angle, and the damper plate is moved by a rod member through a spring member. Is turned in the opening direction against the spring force of. This opens the duct. On the other hand, when it is detected that the temperature of the refrigerator exceeds the predetermined temperature, the damper motor is energized for a predetermined time, whereby the cam is rotated by a predetermined angle, and the damper plate is rotated in the closing direction by the spring force of the spring member. Is done. Thereby, the duct is closed.

However, since the damper mechanism has a structure in which the damper plate is directly pressed in the direction of rotation by a cam or a rod to open and rotate, the cam corresponds to the stroke required for the rotation of the damper plate. Not only requires a cam step,
The space required for placing and reciprocating the rod is required, and since the cam and the rod are in sliding contact with each other, the rod can be pushed back in the closing direction even though the cam can push the rod in the opening direction. No, the above-mentioned spring member is inevitably required. For this reason, there is a problem that the damper mechanism becomes large. Further, when the damper mechanism is provided in the refrigerator compartment, the effective storage space of the refrigerator compartment is reduced.
Also, recently, it has been considered to provide a damper mechanism inside the duct to increase the effective storage space of the refrigerator compartment. However, the fact is that it is difficult to realize this because the entire damper mechanism is large.

In order to solve this problem, the present inventor considered that a cam, a rod, and a spring member are not required by rotating a rotation shaft of a damper plate by a damper motor, and thus the damper mechanism is reduced in size. I have. However, in this case,
Since the spring member for urging the damper plate in the closing direction is eliminated, the magnetic force of the magnet when the damper motor is stopped is expected to hold the damper plate at the closing position. However, when vibration or impact acts on the damper mechanism due to opening / closing of a refrigerator door, activation of a compressor, or the like, there is a concern that the damper plate will move slightly from the closed position to the open direction and cool air will leak.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the size of the damper mechanism and to prevent the leakage of cool air during the period when the damper plate should be closed. To provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duct formed in a refrigerator main body for supplying cool air from a cool air generating section to a predetermined cooling chamber, and a rotatable opening and closing of the duct. A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of the damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; and a cooling chamber temperature for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber. A sensor, control means for driving and controlling the damper motor to open or close the damper plate based on a detection signal from the cooling chamber temperature sensor, and at a predetermined cycle during a period in which the duct should be closed. Closing assurance means for controlling the driving of the damper motor so as to perform the closing operation of the damper plate.

In this configuration, the damper motor is driven and controlled to open or close based on the detection signal from the cooling chamber temperature sensor. As a result, the duct is opened or closed, cool air is supplied or stopped, and the cooling chamber is maintained at a predetermined temperature. In this case, since the rotating shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor, unlike the conventional damper mechanism requiring a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the damper mechanism of the present invention is small.

During the period in which the duct should be closed, the damper plate is kept closed by the magnetic force of the magnet when the damper motor is stopped. However, the damper plate may move in the opening direction due to vibration or impact. Is concerned. However, according to the configuration of the present invention, since the damper motor is controlled so as to close the damper plate at a predetermined cycle during the period when the duct is to be closed, the damper plate moves in the opening direction during the period when the duct is to be closed. Even when the duct is incompletely closed due to operation, the damper plate is immediately closed and rotated, that is, the incompletely closed state of the duct can be eliminated and the leakage of cool air can be prevented. Become.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duct formed to supply cold air from a cold air generator to a predetermined cooling chamber in a refrigerator body, and a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct. A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of the damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; a cooling chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber; Control means for turning off and on the damper motor to open or close the damper plate based on a detection signal from a temperature sensor for use, a door open / close sensor for detecting opening / closing of a door of a chamber communicating with the duct, When the opening or closing of the door is detected by the door opening / closing sensor during a period in which the duct should be closed, the drive control of the damper motor is performed so as to close the damper plate. Configured to include a closure assurance measures.

In this configuration, as described above, since the rotating shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor, unlike the conventional damper mechanism which requires a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the configuration of the present invention is different from that of the prior art. The damper mechanism becomes compact. In addition, there is a concern that the damper plate may move in the opening direction due to a change in the internal pressure of the cooling chamber when the door is opened and closed. When the opening or closing is detected, the damper motor is driven and controlled so as to close the damper plate, so that the incompletely closed state of the duct can be eliminated and the leakage of cool air can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a duct formed to supply cold air from a cold air generator to a predetermined cooling chamber in a refrigerator body, and a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct. A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of the damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; a cooling chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber; Control means for turning off and on the damper motor to open or close the damper plate based on a detection signal from the temperature sensor for use, and a compressor of the refrigeration cycle started or stopped during a period in which the duct should be closed. In some cases, the assembling means includes a closing assurance means for controlling the driving of the damper motor so as to perform the closing operation of the damper plate.

In this configuration, as described above, the rotation shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor. Therefore, unlike the conventional damper mechanism that requires a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the present invention has a configuration. The damper mechanism becomes compact. In addition, although there is a concern that the damper plate may move in the opening direction due to vibration or impact generated with the start of the compressor, according to the present invention, the compressor of the refrigeration cycle starts or operates during the period when the duct should be closed. When the motor is stopped, the damper motor is driven and controlled so as to close the damper plate, so that the incompletely closed state of the duct can be eliminated and the leakage of cool air can be prevented.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 3, a freezer compartment 2 is formed in a refrigerator main body 1, an ice making compartment 3 is formed above the freezing compartment 2, and a refrigerator compartment 4 serving as a cooling compartment is formed above the freezing compartment 2. And the freezer 3
Is provided with a drawer-type door 5 for opening and closing it, and a storage container 5a is provided inside the drawer-type door 5. Ice making room 4
Is provided with a double-door type door 6 for opening and closing the door, and the refrigerator compartment 4 is provided with a single-door door 7 for opening and closing the door. An ice making device 8 is provided inside the ice making room 4.

A partition plate 9 is disposed at a rear portion from the freezing compartment 2 to the ice making compartment 3 at a distance from the back wall of the refrigerator body 1. And a cooler 10a and a fan 10b are provided. In addition, a case 11 having a cool air supply port 11a is provided at an upper portion on the back side of the partition plate 9.
In this case 11, a heat insulating material 11c is provided so as to form a duct portion 11b. Furthermore, this duct part 1
A duct portion 4a is formed from 1b to the back of the refrigerator compartment 4, and a duct 12 is formed by the two duct portions 11b and 4a. The duct portion 11b is provided with a damper mechanism 13 described later.

The cool air from the cool air generating section 10 is supplied from a discharge port (not shown) to the ice making chamber 3 and the freezing chamber 2 and is also supplied to the refrigerating chamber 4 via the damper mechanism 13 and the duct 12. ing.

Now, the damper mechanism 13 will be described. The main body frame 14 includes a horizontal plate portion 14a and front and rear left and right side plate portions 14b, 14c, 14d, and 14e.
An elongated rectangular tubular damper port 14f is formed in the horizontal plate portion 14a. A damper plate 15 for opening and closing the damper opening 14f from above is provided on the main body frame 14 so as to be rotatable via rotation shafts 15a and 15b. The rotating shafts 15a and 15b are integrally formed so as to protrude from left and right ends of the damper plate 15, and are provided with left and right side plate portions 14d and 14d.
e. Note that one of the rotating shafts 15a
Protrudes outside through the hole of the left side plate portion 14d. On one surface of the damper plate 15, a sealing member 16 made of a relatively flexible member, for example, a soft tape is mounted.

On the left side plate portion 14d of the main body frame 14,
A drive unit 17 is provided, which is a drive unit case 1
8, a damper motor 19, as shown in FIG.
And a gear train 20 provided so as to be linked to the rotation shaft.
Has a fan shape, and its output shaft portion 20b, which is the shaft portion, is fitted so as to be able to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 15a of the damper plate 15. Further, stoppers 21 and 21 for regulating the rotation of the final gear 20a are provided on the drive unit case 18.
Is provided.

The damper motor 19 is constituted by a two-phase, 48-pole stepping motor driven by 12 V DC. The rotation direction is changed by changing the order of pulse application to the two-phase A-phase and B-phase. It is designed to change forward and reverse. The damper motor 19 is rotated in the forward direction by the forward rotation of the damper motor 19, and the damper plate 15 is rotated in the closing direction by the reverse rotation of the damper motor 19. And the pulse angle is 7.5
The output shaft 20b is decelerated by the gear train,
Has a step angle of 0.15 degrees. Therefore, 60
With 0 pulse, the damper plate 15 rotates 90 degrees. However, when the damper plate 15 is actually driven to rotate, the sealing material 16
In consideration of the compression deformation of the device, a large number of 610 pulses are applied so that reliable opening and closing can be performed. The pulse application frequency is 400 pps. The above-described damper mechanism 13 is provided in the duct portion 1 of the above-described duct 12.
1b.

FIG. 6 shows an electrical configuration related to the opening / closing control of the damper plate 15, and the control circuit 22 constituting the control means and the closing assurance means comprises, for example, a microcomputer. The control circuit 22 is provided with a detection signal of a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (cooling compartment temperature sensor) 23 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 7. Further, the control circuit 22 drives the damper motor 19 to rotate in the forward and reverse directions via the drive circuit 24.

Hereinafter, control contents of the control circuit 22 will be described. FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the control contents. First, in step S1, it is determined whether or not the temperature (detection signal) detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 23 is higher than a predetermined temperature. By applying a pulse (pulse number 610) to the damper motor 19 so as to rotate in the forward direction and driving the damper motor 19, the damper plate 15 is rotated in the opening direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1). In this case, the driving unit 17
Stop at a position where the final gear 20a of the gear train 20 abuts against one of the stoppers 21. As a result, the damper plate 15 rotates to the open position, and the damper port 14f and, consequently, the duct 12
Is released.

In the next step S3, it is determined again whether the temperature detected by the refrigerator temperature sensor 23 is higher than a predetermined temperature. If it is high, continue this open state,
Since the cool air is supplied into the refrigerator compartment 4 by opening the damper port 14f, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 gradually decreases, and the detected temperature becomes lower than the predetermined temperature. In this case, the process proceeds to step S4 to apply a pulse (pulse number 610) to the damper motor 19 so that the damper motor 19 rotates in the reverse direction, thereby driving the damper plate 15 in the closing direction (opposite to the arrow A in FIG. Direction). In this case, the driving unit 1
7, the final gear 20a of the gear train 20 is the other stopper 21
Before the contact, the sealing material 16 of the damper plate 15 is slightly pressed against the peripheral portion of the damper opening 14f, and closes the damper opening 14f in a state where the sealing material 16 is compressed. In this case, the closing is maintained by the magnetic force of the magnet when the damper motor 19 is stopped.

At the same time as the closing of the damper port 14f, time counting is started in step S5, and then, in step S6, it is determined whether or not the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 23 is higher than a predetermined temperature. If not high,
The process proceeds to step S7 to determine whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 30 minutes, has elapsed since the damper port 14f was closed. If not, the process returns to step S6. The plate 15 is rotated in the closing direction. That is, during the period when the duct 12 should be closed (refrigeration room 4
During the period when the temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature), the damper motor 19 is driven in the closing direction at predetermined time intervals. Before the predetermined time elapses, the refrigerator temperature sensor 2
If the detected temperature of Step 3 becomes higher than the predetermined temperature, the process proceeds to Step S2 to drive the damper motor 19 in the opening direction.

According to this embodiment, since the rotating shaft 15a of the damper motor 15 is opened by the damper motor 19, unlike the conventional damper mechanism which requires a cam, a rod, and a spring member. The size of the damper mechanism 13 can be reduced, and the effective space of the storage room such as the ice making room 3 can be increased. Further, since the damper mechanism 13 is small in this way, it can be provided inside the duct 12, and the effective space of the storage room can be further effectively increased.

In this embodiment having no spring member as described above, the damper plate 15 is kept closed while the duct 12 is to be closed.
This is achieved by the magnetic force of the magnet and the gear frictional force at the time of stop, but there is a concern that the damper plate may move in the opening direction due to vibration or impact. However, according to the present embodiment, the predetermined period (30
Since the drive of the damper motor 19 is controlled so as to close the damper plate 15 in the step (d), the damper plate 15 operates in the opening direction during the period in which the duct 12 should be closed, and the duct 12 is in an incompletely closed state. Even if it happens, the damper plate 15 is immediately closed and rotated, that is, the incompletely closed state of the duct 12 can be eliminated, and the leakage of cool air can be prevented. The damper motor is not limited to a stepping motor, but may be an AC synchronous motor.

Next, FIGS. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. That is, a door opening / closing sensor 31 for detecting the opening / closing of the door 7 is provided in the refrigerator compartment 4 which is a chamber communicating with the duct 12. This door opening / closing sensor 31
Is composed of, for example, a microswitch. The function of the control circuit 22 as blocking assurance means is as follows. In FIG. 9, when the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 is lower than the predetermined temperature and the damper plate 15 is closed (when step P4 is executed), the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 23 is reduced to the predetermined temperature in step P5. It is determined whether or not it is higher. If not, the process proceeds to step P6, where it is determined whether or not the door 7 is detected by the door open / close sensor 31. If not, the process proceeds to step P5.
Returning to step P4, if the time has elapsed, the process shifts to step P4 to rotate the damper plate 15 in the closing direction. That is, duct 1
If the door 7 is opened or closed during a period in which the refrigerator 2 should be closed (during a period in which the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 is lower than a predetermined temperature), the damper motor 1
9 is driven in the closing direction.

According to the second embodiment, the door 4 is detected by the door open / close sensor 31 during the period when the duct 12 is to be closed.
When the opening or closing of the duct 12 is detected, the drive of the damper motor 19 is controlled so as to close the damper plate 15, so that the incompletely closed state of the duct 12 can be eliminated and the leakage of cool air can be prevented. That is, when the internal pressure of the refrigerator compartment 4 communicating with the duct 12 changes depending on whether the door 7 is opened or closed, the damper plate 15 may move in the opening direction and the duct 12 may be in an incompletely closed state. However, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to eliminate such a problem as described above. The door opening / closing sensor may be provided in the cooling room communicating with the duct. Therefore, the door opening / closing sensor may be provided in the freezing room 2 and the ice making room 3 in addition to the refrigerator room 4.

Next, FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment in the function of the control circuit 22 as blocking assurance means. That is, in FIG. 10, when the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 is lower than the predetermined temperature and the damper plate 15 is closed (when step R4 is executed), the detection by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 23 is performed at step R5. It is determined whether the temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature. If not high, go to step R6,
It is determined whether the compressor has been started or stopped. If there is no start or stop, the process returns to step R5. If there is start or stop, the process proceeds to step R4 and the damper plate 15
Is rotated in the closing direction. That is, if the compressor is started or stopped during the period when the duct 12 should be closed (during the period when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 4 is lower than the predetermined temperature), the damper motor 19 is driven in the closing direction.

According to the third embodiment, when the compressor is started or stopped during the period when the duct 12 should be closed, the drive of the damper motor 19 is controlled so as to close the damper plate 15. Can be prevented from being incompletely closed, and leakage of cool air can be prevented. That is, when the compressor is started, vibration or impact may occur, and as a result, the damper plate 15 may move in the opening direction and the duct 12 may be in an incompletely closed state. However, according to the third embodiment, such a problem can be eliminated as described above.

[0030]

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the rotating shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor, unlike the conventional damper mechanism requiring a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the size of the damper mechanism can be reduced. Can be planned. Furthermore, since the damper motor is driven and controlled to close the damper plate at a predetermined cycle during the period when the duct should be closed, the damper plate operates in the opening direction during the period when the duct should be closed, and the duct is incompletely closed. Even if the state occurs, the incompletely closed state of the duct can be resolved, and the leakage of cool air can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the rotation shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor, unlike the conventional damper mechanism which requires a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the damper mechanism has The size can be reduced. Further, even if the internal pressure of the cooling chamber changes when the door is opened and closed during the period when the duct should be closed, the door opening / closing sensor detects the opening or closing of the door, and controls the driving of the damper motor to close the damper plate. Therefore, the incompletely closed state of the duct can be eliminated, and leakage of cool air can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the rotation shaft of the damper motor is opened by the damper motor, unlike the conventional damper mechanism which requires a cam, a rod, and a spring member, the damper mechanism has The size can be reduced. In addition, when the compressor of the refrigeration cycle is started or stopped during the period when the duct should be closed, the drive control of the damper motor is performed to close the damper plate. Even in such a case, this can be immediately resolved, and the leakage of cool air can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a damper mechanism showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a main part of the refrigerator.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a damper mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a driving unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control contents.

FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a refrigerator main body, 2 is a freezing room, 3 is an ice making room, 4 is a refrigeration room (cooling room), 9 is a partition plate, 10 is a cold air generator, 11 is a cooler, 12 is a duct, 13 is a damper mechanism, 14 Is a main body frame, 14f is a damper opening, 15 is a damper plate, 15a,
15b is a rotating shaft, 16 is a sealing material, 17 is a driving unit, 19
Denotes a damper motor, 22 denotes a control circuit (control means, closing assurance means), 23 denotes a refrigerator room temperature sensor (cooling room temperature sensor), and 31 denotes a door open / close sensor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] A refrigerator has a duct formed to supply cool air from a cool air generator to a predetermined cooling chamber, and a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct. A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of a damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; a cooling chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber; Control means for controlling the drive of the damper motor to open or close the damper plate based on the detection signal; and driving the damper motor to close the damper plate at a predetermined cycle during a period in which the duct should be closed. A refrigerator comprising a closing assurance means for controlling. 2. A refrigerator having a duct formed to supply cool air from a cool air generator to a predetermined cooling chamber, a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct, and A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of a damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; a cooling chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber; Control means for turning off and on the damper motor to open or close the damper plate based on the detection signal; a door open / close sensor for detecting opening / closing of a door of a chamber communicating with the duct; and closing the duct. Closing assurance means for controlling the driving of the damper motor so as to close the damper plate when the opening or closing of the door is detected by the door opening / closing sensor during a period of time Refrigerator which is equipped with a. 3. A refrigerator having a duct formed to supply cool air from a cool air generator to a predetermined cooling chamber, a damper plate rotatably provided to open and close the duct, and A damper mechanism having a damper motor for transmitting rotation to a rotation shaft of a damper plate and driving the rotation of the damper plate; a cooling chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the predetermined cooling chamber; Control means for turning off the damper motor so as to open or close the damper plate based on the detection signal; and when the compressor of the refrigeration cycle starts or stops during a period in which the duct should be closed, the damper plate And a closing assurance means for controlling the driving of the damper motor to perform a closing operation of the refrigerator.