JPH11118319A - Refrigerator having vertical cold air distribution blade - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform uniform distribution of cold air in a vertical direction as a vortex flow is prevented from occurring to the periphery of the outlet of a cold air discharge by a method wherein a number of plate-form blades are arranged in parallel to each other in a cold air duct and rotated in reciprocation along a horizontal axis. SOLUTION: A vertical distribution device 30 having a number of plate-form vertical distribution blades 51 is formed in a supply duct. A horizontal shaft 58 is arranged on the vertical distribution blades 51 and inserted in shaft holes 47 of flanges 45 arranged on both sides of a duct plate 9 to rotatably support each vertical distribution blade 51. Further, an interlocking member 41 is extended through a position separated away by a given distance from the horizontal shaft 58 and coupled to each vertical distribution blade 51. In this case, a work protrusion 42 formed on the upper end part of the interlocking member 41 is engaged with a cam group 67, and the interlocking member 41 is elevated through rotation of a cam 65. This constitution changes the discharge direction of cold air by changing the rotation angle of the vertical distribution blade 51.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cabinet forming a cooling chamber, and at least one cold air discharge port provided in a side wall of the cooling chamber to form a cool air passage and open toward the inside of the cooling chamber. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cool air distribution device for uniformly distributing cool air into a cooling room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a refrigerator has a cabinet forming a pair of cooling chambers, ie, a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, separated by an intermediate partition, a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing each cooling compartment, and a freezer compartment and a refrigerator. A refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator for supplying cool air to the chamber is provided. Cool air generated from the evaporator flows along a supply duct formed in a rear wall of each cooling chamber, and is supplied to each cooling chamber through a cool air discharge port toward the cooling chamber by a blower fan.

However, in such a conventional refrigerator, there is a region where the cool air discharged through the cool air discharge port is provided intensively and a region where the cool air is supplied in a relatively small amount. There is a problem that uniform cooling is not performed. Then, a so-called three-dimensional cooling type refrigerator that has solved such problems has been proposed.
In the three-dimensional cooling refrigerator, a large number of cooling air discharge ports are provided on the rear wall surface and both side wall surfaces of the cooling chamber, respectively, so as to uniformly supply the cool air.

However, even in such a refrigerator of the three-dimensional cooling type, since cool air is discharged in a certain direction through a cool air discharge port, there may be a dead zone in an angle region where the supply of cool air is insufficient. In particular, since the supply duct must be provided not only on the rear wall but also on the side wall of the cooling chamber, there is a problem that the accommodation space for food and drink is reduced, and the number of parts and the number of processes increase, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. . The uniform distribution of cool air in the cooling room has become a very important problem in connection with the trend of refrigerators becoming larger.

[0005] In addition, the applicant of the present invention has published International Publication No. 95
/ 27278 discloses a refrigerator having a cool air distribution device. 1 to 3 are a side sectional view, a partially enlarged sectional view, and an exploded perspective view of main components of a refrigerator having the cold air distribution device.

[0006] In the refrigerator having the conventional cool air distribution device, a pair of cooling chambers 2 and 3 separated by an intermediate partition 5 are provided in a substantially rectangular cabinet 1. Each of the cooling chambers 2 and 3 is divided into a relatively low-temperature freezing chamber 2 and a relatively high-temperature refrigerator chamber 3. Opening doors 6 and 7 are provided at the front openings of the cooling chambers 2 and 3, respectively. In the cabinet 1, a refrigeration system including a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), and a freezer evaporator 12a and a freezer evaporator 12b is provided. The cool air generated from the evaporators 12a and 12b is supplied to the cooling chambers 2 and 3 by the freezing room fan 13a and the refrigerating room fan 13b.

The inner wall plate 2 forming the rear inner wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 3
A partially cylindrical duct plate 9 having a cool air discharge port 16 opened toward the refrigerator compartment 3 is attached to the refrigerator compartment 3. A seal plate is provided between the duct plate 9 and the rear wall 4 of the cabinet 1. Supply duct 1 isolated by 25
5 and a return duct 17 are provided. Supply duct 15
Inside, a duct member 21 for guiding cool air from the refrigerator compartment fan 13b downward is provided. Cold room evaporator 12b
The cold air generated from the cooling air is transferred by the refrigerating room fan 13b and supplied to the refrigerating room 3 through the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge port 16.

In the supply duct 15, a cold air distribution device 130 is provided.
Is provided. The cool air distribution device 130 includes a rotating shaft 131 having a vertical axis and a cool air distribution blade 132 and a rotating shaft 1 coupled to the rotating shaft 131 corresponding to each cool air outlet 16.
31 is provided with a drive motor 135 for driving the rotation. Each cooling air distribution blade 132 is composed of three disks 136, 137, 138 arranged in parallel along the axial direction, and the disks 13
6, 137, 138, the first blade 133
And the second blade portion 134. Each wing 133,
134 is curved so as to have a gentle S-shaped cross section, and the blade portions 133 and 134 are bent in opposite directions.

With such a configuration, the drive motor 135
While rotating the rotating shaft 131 at a low speed, the supply duct 1
The direction of the flow of the cool air moved along 5 is changed by the bent plate surface of the cool air distribution blade 132, and the cold air spreads right and left into the refrigerator compartment 3 and is dispersed right and left. On the other hand, when concentrated cooling is required for a specific portion, the rotating shaft 131 is stopped in accordance with the direction of the cold air distribution blade 132 so that the cool air is concentratedly discharged toward that portion.

However, such a cold air distribution device 130
Since each of the blade portions 133 and 134 is curved in a gentle S-shape, a swirl may be formed around the cool air discharge port 16 to hinder the slow flow of cool air. Further, the conventional cool air distribution device 130 can achieve a uniform distribution of the cool air in the horizontal direction to some extent, but does not sufficiently distribute the cool air in the vertical direction. There are limits to achieving uniform cooling throughout.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to achieve a uniform distribution of cool air in a vertical direction without eddy currents in view of the conventional problems. It is to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device which can be used.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided on one side wall of a cooling chamber, forms a cool air duct in the side wall, and is opened toward the inside of the cooling chamber. A duct plate having at least one cool air discharge port; a plurality of flat vertical distributing vanes rotatably provided in the cool air duct around a horizontal axis and arranged in parallel with each other; The refrigerator is characterized in that it comprises means for reciprocating rotation in parallel to the horizontal axis within a predetermined angle range.

Here, the rotating means has a plurality of connecting portions hingedly connected to each of the vertical distribution blades at positions separated from the horizontal axis, and is provided with an interlocking member provided to be vertically movable; And elevating means for elevating and lowering the interlocking member. The interlocking member is formed in a bar shape penetrating the vertical distribution blade, and the connecting portion is formed of a connecting protrusion protruding from the interlocking member. Preferably, the pair of coupling projections respectively support the upper and lower surfaces of each vertical distribution blade.

[0014] The vertical distribution blade may have a through hole that allows the coupling protrusion to pass therethrough with the interlocking member, and a diameter that is formed to extend from the through hole and that is smaller than the diameter of the coupling protrusion that is larger than the diameter of the interlocking member. The interlocking member having penetrated the vertical distribution blade through the through hole is coupled to the coupling hole.

The elevating means includes a driving motor; and a cam for converting a rotational motion of the driving motor into an elevating motion of the interlocking member. The cam includes a cylindrical cam body provided coaxially with a rotation shaft of the drive motor, and a cam groove having a closed-loop cam profile that moves up and down on an outer surface of the cam body. It has a working projection that meshes with the groove. According to the present invention, no vortex is generated, and the cool air is uniformly dispersed in the vertical direction.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 3 relating to the prior art and the drawings relating to the embodiment of the present invention, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. Further, in each embodiment, the overlapping description is omitted for the substantially same parts.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of FIG. This refrigerator has a cabinet 1 forming an upper freezer compartment 2 and a lower refrigerating compartment 3 separated by an intermediate partition 5 like the conventional refrigerator described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Opening doors 6 and 7 are provided at the front openings of the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3, respectively. A shelf 8 for stacking and storing food is provided in the refrigerator compartment 3 and divides the refrigerator compartment 3 into three layered storage areas at the upper, middle and lower sides. A special cold storage room 18 for storing foods suitable for a specific temperature is formed on the upper side of the refrigerator compartment 3, and a vegetable compartment 19 for storing vegetables is formed on the lower side of the refrigerator compartment 3. Have been.

In the cabinet 1, a compressor 11 and a condenser are provided.
(Not shown) and the freezer compartment evaporator 12a and the refrigerator compartment evaporator 12
b is provided. Each evaporator 1
The cold air generated from 2a, 12b is supplied to the freezer compartment fan 13a.
And it is supplied to the said cooling chambers 2 and 3 by the refrigerator compartment fan 13b. A supply duct 15 and a return duct 17 are provided behind the refrigerator compartment 3. The cool air generated from the cool room evaporator 12b is transferred to the cool room fan 13b and supplied to the cool room 3 through the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge port 16.
A vertical distribution device 30 for dispersing the cool air in the vertical direction is provided in the supply duct 15.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show the vertical distribution device 30. FIG. The vertical distribution device 30 includes a large number of flat distribution blades 51 and a rotating device 61 for reciprocating the vertical distribution blades 51 within a predetermined angle range. The vertical distribution blades 51 are provided in the supply duct 15 formed by the duct plate 9, and are arranged so as to correspond to three upper cooling air discharge ports 16a and three lower cooling air discharge ports 16b. The duct plate 9 is curved so as to protrude toward the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3, and the vertical distribution blade 51 is formed in a substantially arc shape so as to be accommodated in the inner surface of the curved duct plate 9.

Each vertical distribution blade 51 has a horizontal axis 58 on both sides. Numerous shaft holes 47 into which horizontal shafts 58 are inserted are formed in the flanges 45 provided on both side surfaces of the duct plate 9. When the horizontal shaft 58 is inserted into the shaft hole 47, the vertical distribution blade 51 is rotatably supported. Each vertical distribution blade 51 is formed with a coupling hole 57 to which the interlocking member 41 described later is coupled. The coupling hole 57 is formed at a position separated from the horizontal shaft 58 by a predetermined distance.

The rotating device 61 includes a driving motor 63, a cam 65 rotated by the driving motor 63, and an interlocking member 41 which moves up and down by the cam 65. The drive motor 63 is fixed to a fixing portion 49 provided on the upper part of the duct plate 9. The cam 65 includes a cylindrical cam body 66 coaxially coupled to a shaft 64 of the drive motor 63, and a cam groove 67 formed on an outer surface of the cam body 66. The cam groove 67 has a closed loop cam profile that moves up and down along the cylindrical surface of the cam body 66.

The interlocking member 41 is formed as a bar arranged in the vertical direction. The interlocking member 41 passes through the vertical distribution blade 51 through the coupling hole 57. The lower end of the interlocking member 41 is inserted into a support hole 29 provided in the lower flange 28 of the duct plate 9. This support hole 29 allows the interlocking member 41
Are supported so as to be vertically movable. The interlocking member 41 has a number of coupling protrusions 43 that provide a coupling portion coupled to the vertical distribution blade 51. Each of the vertical distribution blades 51 has its upper and lower surfaces supported by a pair of coupling projections 43.
An operation protrusion 42 is formed on the upper end of the interlocking member 41. The operation projection 42 meshes with the cam groove 67 of the cam 65. This allows the interlocking member 4 to rotate while the cam 65 rotates.
1 is moved up and down by the cam groove 67.

The operation of the refrigerator having the above-mentioned structure according to the present invention is as follows. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a state of discharging the cool air by the rotation of the vertical distribution blade 51. The cam 65 is continuously rotated by the drive motor 63. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, during the rotation of the cam 65, the vertical distribution blade 51
Is located obliquely downward, the cool air in the supply duct 15 is discharged downward by the vertical distribution blades 51. When the vertical distribution blades 51 are positioned obliquely upward as shown in FIG. 9, the cool air in the supply duct 15 is discharged upward by the vertical distribution blades 51. Therefore, the cam 6
The continuous rotation of 5 causes vertical distribution blades 51 to reciprocate within a predetermined angle range while maintaining a parallel state.

As described above, since the discharge of the cool air continuously changes in the vertical direction due to the change in the rotation angle of the vertical distribution blade 51, the cool air is uniformly dispersed and supplied into the refrigerator compartment 3. Further, since the vertical distribution blade 51 is formed in a flat plate shape, the current state of the vortex caused by the rotation of the vertical distribution blade 51 does not occur.

When it is necessary to centrally supply cool air to the upper or lower specific area, the centralized cooling is realized by stopping the drive motor 63 with the vertical distribution blades 51 directed to the area. Can be. In this case, a temperature sensor is provided at a plurality of locations in the refrigerator compartment 3, and a control unit that controls the drive motor 63 based on a sensing signal from the temperature sensor is provided.

FIGS. 10 to 13 show a vertical distribution device 40 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the configurations of the drive motor 63, the cam 65, and the interlocking member 41 are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The vertical distribution blade 51 has a through hole 69 in addition to the coupling hole 68. The coupling hole 68 is formed to extend from the through hole 69. The through hole 69 has a size that allows the coupling protrusion 43 to pass through together with the interlocking member 41. That is,
The diameter of the through hole 69 is larger than the diameter of the coupling protrusion 43. The diameter of the coupling hole 68 is larger than the diameter of the interlocking member 41 and smaller than the diameter of the coupling protrusion 43.

The interlocking member 41 penetrates the vertical distribution blade 51 through the through hole 69, and the interlocking member 41 penetrating the vertical distribution blade 51 is moved laterally so as to be accommodated in the coupling hole 68. Thus, the interlocking member 41 is coupled to the coupling hole 68. At this time, as in the first embodiment described above, the pair of coupling projections 43 are respectively located on the upper and lower portions of the vertical distribution blade 51.

Since the size of the connection hole 68 is smaller than the size of the connection protrusion 43, the vertical distribution blade 51 is supported by the connection protrusion 43. Further, since the size of the through hole 69 is larger than the size of the coupling projection 43, the interlocking member 41 can easily penetrate the vertical distribution blade 51. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, there is an advantage that the assembling of the interlocking member 41 and the vertical distribution blade 51 is easy.

The operation of the vertical distribution device 40 according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. That is, the cam 65
The vertical distribution blade 51 reciprocates between a position rotated downward as shown in FIG. 12 and a position rotated upward as shown in FIG. Thus, the cool air is distributed in the vertical direction.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a uniform and stable flow of cool air and a uniform vertical distribution of cool air without generating a vortex around the cool air discharge port. Effects are provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a conventional refrigerator having cool air distribution blades.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of main elements of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the cool air distribution device shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the combined state of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the connected state of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the combined state of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a cool air distribution device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the combined state of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a side sectional view of the connected state of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a side sectional view of the connected state of FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cabinet 6,7 Opening / closing door 9 Duct plate 11 Compressor 12a, 12b Evaporator 13a, 13b Fan 15 Supply duct 16 Cold air discharge port 17 Return duct 30,40 Vertical distribution device 41 Interlocking member 43 Coupling projection 45 Flange 51 Vertical distribution blade 57, 68 Coupling hole 61 Rotating device 63 Drive motor 65 Cam 69 Through hole

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A duct plate provided on one side wall of a cooling chamber, forming a cool air duct in the side wall, and having at least one cool air discharge port opened toward the inside of the cooling chamber; A plurality of plate-shaped vertical distribution blades provided rotatably about a horizontal axis and arranged in parallel with each other; and the vertical distribution blades are arranged parallel to each other with respect to the horizontal axis within a predetermined angle. A refrigerator comprising means for reciprocating rotation. 2. The interlocking member, wherein the rotating means has a plurality of connecting portions hingedly connected to the respective vertical distribution blades at positions separated from the horizontal axis, and is provided so as to be vertically movable; The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a lifting unit that raises and lowers the interlocking member. 3. The interlocking member is formed in a bar shape penetrating the vertical distribution blade, and the connecting portion is a connecting protrusion protruding from the interlocking member.
A refrigerator according to claim 1. 4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the pair of connecting projections respectively support upper and lower surfaces of each vertical distribution blade. 5. The vertical distribution blade has a through hole that allows the coupling protrusion to penetrate with the interlocking member, and a diameter that is formed to extend from the through hole and is smaller than a diameter of the coupling protrusion that is larger than a diameter of the interlocking member. Having a binding hole having
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the interlocking member penetrating the vertical distribution blade through the through hole is coupled to the coupling hole. 6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the elevating means includes a driving motor; and a cam for converting a rotational motion of the driving motor into an elevating motion of the interlocking member. 7. The cam has a cylindrical cam body provided coaxially with a rotation shaft of the drive motor, and a cam groove having a closed-loop cam profile that moves up and down on an outer surface of the cam body. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the interlocking member has an operation projection that meshes with the cam groove.