JPS62272073A - Thawing-room temperature controller for refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a thawing chamber temperature control device for a refrigerator. More specifically, the present invention relates to a temperature control device that provides a thawing chamber within a refrigerator that is controlled at a wide range of temperatures from low to high temperatures, and controls this thawing chamber at a predetermined temperature within the range from low to high temperatures.

[Prior art] Conventionally, the thawing chamber of a refrigerator uses a dedicated fan to guide cold air cooled by a cooler into the thawing chamber, and then blows air at about 3°C onto the items to be thawed and returns it to the cooler. was. Additionally, there was no thawing chamber that could control the temperature over a wide range from low to high temperatures.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As mentioned above, the thawing chamber of conventional refrigerators uses a dedicated fan to circulate air at about 3°C over the thawed items. There was a problem that as the time became longer, the odor of the items to be thawed was diffused into the refrigerator.

In order to shorten the thawing time, it is possible to install a heater in the thawing chamber, but this will increase the electricity bill, and if the thermistor breaks, the temperature fuse, or the timer malfunctions, the heater will overheat and the insulation There were problems such as deformation of the urethane and inner box.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to control the temperature in a wide range from low to high temperatures, shorten the thawing time, and is suitable not only for thawing, but also for refrigeration, vegetable storage, etc. The purpose is to provide a multifunctional thawing chamber that can be used and to safely and appropriately control the temperature inside the thawing chamber by utilizing the heat generated by the compressor without incurring electricity costs.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The thawing chamber temperature control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a thawing chamber whose temperature is controlled over a wide range of temperatures from low to high temperatures in the refrigerator main body, and which controls the cooling temperature by opening and closing an electromagnetic damper. cooling means for controlling the amount of cold air sent from the thawing chamber to the thawing chamber; heating means for controlling the amount of heat transferred from the high temperature section of the compressor to the thawing chamber via a heat pipe by opening and closing a solenoid valve; temperature setting means for setting the control temperature of the
- Temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the thawing chamber, and based on the outputs of the temperature setting means and temperature detection means, when the set value is in the low temperature range, the opening and closing of the electromagnetic damper is controlled, and when the set value is in the medium temperature range temperature control means for controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic damper and the electromagnetic valve when the set value is in a high temperature range, and controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve to control the inside of the thawing chamber to the set value when the set value is in a high temperature range. It is characterized by this.

[When the action set value is within the low temperature range (e.g. -5°C to 8°C), the inside of the thawing chamber is controlled to the set value by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper based on the temperature control means, and is used for refrigeration, etc. can. When the set value is within the medium temperature range (for example, around 10°C), the inside of the thawing chamber is controlled to the set value by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper and solenoid valve based on the temperature control means, and can be used for storing southern vegetables such as bananas. . When the set value is within a high temperature range (for example, around 30° C.), the inside of the thawing chamber is controlled to the set value by opening and closing a solenoid valve based on the temperature control means, and can be used for high temperature thawing.

[Embodiment] Figures 1 (a) and 2 (b) and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, (1) is the refrigerator body. The refrigerator main body (1) is divided into a freezer compartment (2) by a partition wall.
), first and second refrigerator compartments (3) (4), thawing compartment (5) that is controlled at a wide temperature range from low to high temperature, vegetable compartment (6)
). A cooler (7) and a fan (8) for circulating cold air are installed at the back of the freezer compartment (2), and the fan (8) circulates the cold air cooled by the cooler (7) into the freezer compartment ( 2), 1st. Second cold room (3) (4)
and is sent to the vegetable compartment (6) and returned to the cooler (7). That is, the cold air sent into the freezer compartment (2) returns to the cooler (7) via the first ventilation path (9), and the cold air cooled by the cooler (7) goes through the bypass path. (10) through the second ventilation duct (11)
The cold air branched from the second ventilation path (11) and sent to the first refrigerator compartment (3) returns to the cooler (7) via the third ventilation path (12), 2nd ventilation duct (11
) and sent to the second refrigerator compartment (4), the cold air is sent to the refrigerator compartment (3) via the fifth ventilation path (14), and the cold air is sent to the refrigerator compartment (3) through the third ventilation path (12). Return to the cooler (7). The cold air branched from the second ventilation passage (11) and sent to the vegetable compartment (6) is sent to the second refrigerator compartment (4) via the fourth ventilation passage (13), and then to the fifth ventilation passage (13). Ventilation duct (1
4) to the first refrigerator compartment (3), and the third
It returns to the cooler (7) via the ventilation path (12).

Further, the fan (8) transfers the cold air cooled by the cooler (7) to the bypass path (10) and the second ventilation path (
11) and the thawing chamber (15) through the cold air outlet (15).
5). The cold air outlet (1
5) is provided with an electromagnetic damper (16) that opens and closes this cold air outlet (15), and this electromagnetic damper (16) has a solenoid (16a) controlled by an electric signal and a damper flap (16b) as an on-off valve. It consists of

(17) is a compressor that constitutes a refrigeration cycle with the cooler (7), and a negative side of a heat pipe (18) is provided in a high temperature part (17a) such as an oil cooler of this compressor (17). ing. A heat dissipation plate (19) disposed in the thawing chamber (5) is coupled to the other side of the heat pipe (18), and a heat sink (19) is connected to the other side of the heat pipe (18).

A solenoid valve (20) whose opening and closing are controlled by electric signals is inserted. The heat pipe (18) uses a volatile substance such as fluorocarbon gas sealed inside the heat pipe (18) to compress the compressor (1).
The amount of heat absorbed in the high temperature part (17a) of 7) is transferred to the heat sink (
19), and the amount of heat transferred is controlled by opening and closing the electromagnetic valve (20).

A first container (21) for accommodating objects to be thawed and objects to be refrigerated is placed on the heat sink (19), and this first container (21) is placed on the heat sink (19).
21) is connected to the second refrigerator compartment (4) by the connecting part (22).
It is formed integrally with the second container (23) placed therein. Said 1st. The connecting part (22) that connects the second containers (21) and (23) is connected to the second refrigerator compartment (4) and the thawing compartment (5).
An engagement groove (25) formed in a partition wall (24) that partitions the
is removably engaged with.

The thawing room (5), the first refrigerating room (3), and the freezing room (2) each include a thawing room temperature sensor (26), a refrigeration room temperature sensor (27), and a freezing room temperature sensor (26) for detecting the respective indoor temperatures. 28) are provided respectively. Further, a cooling layer temperature sensor (29) for detecting the temperature of the cooler (7) is fixed to the cooler (7), and a defrosting end sensor (30) is installed near the cooler (7). is provided.

A control panel (31) is provided on the outside of the upper part of the refrigerator main body (1), and this control panel (31) is provided with an outside temperature sensor (32) for detecting outside temperature.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control panel (31) consists of a display/operation section (33) and a control section (3/I) which are connected to each other.

The display operation section (33) has a high temperature range (for example, 30
Before and after) 1st page for setting. Second. Third setting switch (35)
(36) (37) and the first low temperature range (e.g. -2°C
4th and 5th setting switches (38) (39) for setting a second low temperature range (for example, around +3℃), and a medium temperature range (for example, 10℃) suitable for storing southern vegetables, etc.
The sixth setting switch (40) for setting the temperature (around ℃) and the temperature in the freezer compartment (2) are set to low (for example, -15℃).
A seventh setting switch (41) is provided for switching and setting medium temperature (for example, -18°C) to a little over 1 (for example, -21°C).

The control unit (34) controls the outside temperature sensor (32) and the frozen room temperature sensor (28) in the same manner as conventional freezer control.
, detection signals from the defrosting end sensor (30), cooling layer temperature sensor (29), and refrigerator room temperature sensor (27), and a setting signal from the seventh setting switch (41) of the display operation section (33). Based on the compressor (17) and fan (
8), and controls the freezer compartment (2), the first and second refrigerator compartments (
3) It is configured to control the temperature in (4) and the vegetable compartment (6) to a predetermined value.

The control section (34) further includes the display operation section (33).
) for setting the high temperature range. 2nd and 3rd setting switch (3
5) Based on the setting signal from (36) and (37) and the detection signal from the defrosting room temperature sensor (26), the set value of the timer (42) for setting the defrosting time is set at t5. t3, shi! and a high temperature range control in which the temperature in the thawing chamber (5) is controlled to a high temperature set value by controlling the opening and closing of the solenoid valve (20) during the set time, and the first and second low temperatures. The opening/closing of the electromagnetic damper (16) is controlled based on the setting signals from the fourth and fifth setting switches (38) and (39) for setting the temperature range and the detection signal from the defrosting room temperature sensor (26). A low temperature range control that controls the temperature in the chamber (5) to a low temperature set value, and a 68th constant switch (40) for setting a medium temperature range.
) and the detection signal from the thawing room temperature sensor (26), the electromagnetic damper (16) and the electromagnetic valve (20) are controlled to open and close to reduce the temperature in the thawing chamber (5) to a medium temperature. In addition to controlling the medium temperature range to the set value of
When any of the first to sixth setting switches (35) to (40) is pressed.

The device is configured to display the pressed switch by lighting it up.

Next, the operation peculiar to the present invention in the above embodiment will be explained using the characteristic diagram of FIG. 3 and the flowchart of FIG. 4.

First, low temperature range control will be explained.

First, the first low temperature range control will be explained. death,.

When the fourth setting switch (38) for setting the first low temperature range of the display operation section (33) is pressed at the same time, the setting signal is sent to the control section (34). The control unit (34) lights up the pressed fourth setting switch (38) to display this, and also outputs the setting signal and the thawing room temperature sensor (26).
) and controls the opening and closing of the electromagnetic damper (16) to control the amount of cold air cooled by the cooler (7) and sent by the fan (8) into the thawing chamber (5). Control. As a result, the temperature inside the thawing chamber (5) is controlled to a first low temperature (for example, around -2°C) and can be used for refrigeration. In other words,... The temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) at the time is set to TQ1 (for example -2°C) as shown in Fig.
If the temperature T is higher than the upper limit of the control range (for example, −1° C.), the electromagnetic damper (16) is opened and the electromagnetic valve (20) is closed to cool the temperature T and lower it. death,. If at some point T reaches the lower limit of the TQl control width (for example -3°C), the electromagnetic damper (16) will also close, and the temperature in the thawing chamber (5) will change by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper (16). T is controlled within a control range centered around the set value TQ□.

Next, the second low temperature range control will be explained. Basically, it operates in the same manner as the first low temperature range control, and the temperature inside the thawing chamber (5) is controlled to the second low temperature range (for example, around 3°C) and can be used for refrigeration. In other words, the thawing chamber (5
) is the set value T Q 2 as shown in Figure 3.
(e.g. 3°C) lower limit of control width (e.g. 2°C)
If it is lower, the electromagnetic damper (16) closes and the electromagnetic valve (2
0) When closed, cooling is stopped and the temperature T rises. death. When T reaches the upper limit of the control range of Tm2 (for example, 4° C.), the electromagnetic damper (16) opens and cools down. Thereafter, the temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) is controlled within a control range around the set value TQ2 by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper (16).

Second, medium temperature range control will be explained.

death,. At the same time, the sixth setting switch (4) of the display operation section (33)
0) is pressed, the setting signal is sent to the control section (34). The control unit (34) turns on the pressed sixth setting switch (40), and also turns on the electromagnetic damper (16) and the electromagnetic valve (20) based on this setting signal and the detection signal from the defrosting room temperature sensor (26). ) is controlled to open and close, and the temperature inside the thawing chamber (5) is controlled to a medium temperature range (for example, after 10° CAN), which can be used for storing southern vegetables. In other words, 罎. As shown in FIG. 3, if the temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) at the time of
) is closed, cooling is stopped, and the solenoid valve (20) is opened, allowing the heat pipe (18) to flow from the high temperature part (17a) of the compressor (17)
), the amount of heat is transferred to the heat sink (19), and it is heated and the temperature T rises. death,. At some point, when T reaches the upper limit of the control width of Tm (for example, 12° C.), the electromagnetic damper (16) opens and the electromagnetic valve (20) closes, and cooling is achieved by the inflow of cold air. death,. When T reaches the lower limit of the control width of Tm (e.g. 8°C) after the time, the electromagnetic damper (16) closes, the electromagnetic valve (20) opens, and the compressor (17
The amount of heat is transferred from the high temperature part (17a) of ) to the heat sink (19) via the heat pipe (18) and is heated. Therefore,.

After that time, the temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) is controlled within a control range around the set value Tm by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper (16) and the electromagnetic valve (20).

Thirdly, high temperature range control will be explained.

At 78 o'clock, the first setting switch (3) on the display operation section (33)
When 5) is pressed, the setting signal is sent to the control section (34). The control unit (34) lights up the pressed first setting switch (35), and also displays "Defrost?"
EsJ, is the thing to be thawed r500g? '' becomes r'/ESJ, and the set value of the timer (42) corresponds to 500g, which becomes 5, and the timer (42) operates. This setting time is 5
During this period, the control unit (34) controls the setting signal and the thawing room temperature sensor (
Based on the detection signal from 26), the solenoid valve (20) is opened and closed, and the high temperature part (17a) of the compressor (17) is transmitted to the heat sink (19) via the heat pipe (18). Heats by controlling the amount of heat. This opens the thawing chamber (5
) is controlled to a high temperature range for thawing (eg around 30°C) and can be used for high temperature thawing. That is, if the temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) at 9 o'clock is lower than the lower limit value (for example, 28 °C) of the control range of the set value Th (for example, 30 °C), as shown in Fig. 3, The electromagnetic valve (20) acts as a gap, and the amount of heat is transferred from the high temperature part (17a) of the compressor (17) to the heat sink (19) via the heat pipe (18), and the temperature T increases. death,. When T reaches the upper limit of the control width of Th (for example, 32° C.), heating is stopped by closing the solenoid valve (20), and the temperature T decreases. Also.

After 8 o'clock, T is the lower limit of the control width of Th (
When the temperature reaches 28'C), the solenoid valve (20) opens and heats up. Therefore, after that time, open and close the solenoid valve (20).

The temperature T in the thawing chamber (5) is controlled within a control range centered around the set value Th.

Shiya. 5 hours have passed since the set time for defrosting. When the time comes, based on the time-up output of the timer (42),
When the high temperature range control is canceled and the first setting switch (35) turns off, the fourth setting switch (38) is turned on and the set value in the thawing chamber (5) becomes the set value T of the first low temperature range control.
Return to QI. Therefore, from time ``-qo'' to time Il,,oo, the electromagnetic damper (16) is opened and the electromagnetic valve (20) is closed to cool the room.After the time ``-qo'', the inside of the thawing chamber (5) is cooled by opening and closing the electromagnetic damper (16). The temperature T is controlled within a control range centered around the set value TQ.

2nd and 3rd setting switch (36) of display operation section (33)
When (37) is pressed, the suppressed switch lights up in the same manner as described above, and the set values of the timer (42) become j3, j, which corresponds to 300 g and 100 g, and this set time t, 3. During J, the solenoid valve (20) is controlled to open and close, and the temperature in the thawing chamber (5) is controlled to a high temperature range for high-temperature thawing.

In the above embodiment, the thawing chamber (5) is connected to the first and second refrigerator chambers (3).
) (4), etc., to prevent the odor of the thawed food in the thawing chamber (5) from spreading to other chambers. (4) etc. may be provided to promote the flow of cold air.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides high
A thawing chamber whose temperature is controlled over a wide range of temperatures up to The temperature of the thawing chamber is controlled to a set value within a wide range from a low temperature range to a high temperature range. Therefore, this thawing chamber can be used for multiple functions such as storing ordinary foods (low temperature range control), storing southern vegetables (medium temperature range control), and high temperature thawing (high temperature range control), making it extremely convenient. At the same time, the number of chambers in the refrigerator can be reduced as much as possible, and the structure can be simplified. In particular, when this thawing chamber is used for high-temperature thawing, the thawing chamber can be thawed at a high temperature by using the heat of the high-temperature section of the compressor without using a dedicated fan as in the past, which shortens the thawing time. In addition, since the heat of the compressor is used without using a fan or heater for defrosting, no extra power is consumed during the defrosting operation.

Furthermore, if the thawing chamber is not provided with a cold air outflow passage, the odor of the food to be thawed will not be diffused into the refrigerator.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIGS. 1(a) and 2(b) show an embodiment of the defrosting chamber temperature control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention.
(a) is a partially cutaway front view of the refrigerator, (b) is A of (a)
-A sectional view, Figure 2 is a control circuit diagram, Figure 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the opening and closing operations of the electromagnetic damper and solenoid valve and temperature changes in the thawing chamber, and Figure 4 is a detailed explanation of the present invention. This is a flowchart. (1)...Refrigerator body, (5)...Defrosting chamber, (7)
... Cooler, (8) ... Fan, (16) ... Electromagnetic damper, (17) ... Compressor, (17a) ... High temperature section, (18) ... Heat pipe, (19)...
Heat sink, (20)...Solenoid valve, (26)...Defrosting room temperature sensor, (34)...Control unit. Applicant Fujitsu General Ltd. 1≦L-BIJ

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A thawing chamber that is controlled at a wide range of temperatures from low to high temperatures is provided in the refrigerator main body, and a cooling means that controls the amount of cold air sent from the cooler to the thawing chamber by opening and closing an electromagnetic damper, and a solenoid valve. heating means for controlling the amount of heat transferred from the high temperature section of the compressor to the defrosting chamber via a heat pipe by opening and closing; temperature setting means for setting a control temperature within the defrosting chamber; and detecting the temperature within the defrosting chamber. Based on the outputs of the temperature detection means, the temperature setting means, and the temperature detection means, when the set value is in the low temperature range, the opening and closing of the electromagnetic damper is controlled, and when the set value is in the medium temperature range, the electromagnetic damper and the solenoid valve are controlled. and temperature control means for controlling the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve when the set value is in a high temperature range to control the inside of the defrosting chamber to the set value. Temperature control device. (2) The cooling means includes a cold air blower that sends cold air cooled by a cooler by a fan installed in the freezer compartment to the thawing chamber via a ventilation passage, and an electromagnetic damper installed at a cold air outlet of the air passage. The heating means includes a heat sink provided in the thawing chamber, one end of which is coupled to the heat sink,
The thawing chamber temperature control device for a refrigerator according to claim 1, comprising a heat pipe whose other end is provided in an oil cooler of a compressor, and a solenoid valve inserted in the middle of the heat pipe.