KR100208363B1 - Refrigerator and its control method with cooling air dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method of a refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, wherein the cold air duct is provided on one side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and has a cold air outlet opening toward the cooling chamber. Wow; At least one cold air distribution vane rotatably installed at the cold air discharge outlet; A rotation driving means of the cold air distribution blade; At least a pair of temperature sensing sensors disposed opposite to each other in the cooling chamber; Obtain the temperature deviation in the cooling chamber based on the temperature signal from the temperature sensor, and if the temperature deviation is more than the predetermined temperature, rotate the cold air distribution blade continuously, and if the temperature deviation is less than the predetermined temperature, the cold air distribution wing And a control unit for controlling the rotation driving means to rotate step by step at a predetermined time interval. As a result, the drive motor can be intermittently rotated according to the temperature in the cooling chamber to achieve uniform cooling and concentrated cooling in the cooling chamber, thereby maintaining a uniform temperature distribution.

Description

Refrigerator with cold air distribution device and control method of refrigerator

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator having a cold air distribution device for supplying uniform cold air as a whole.

A refrigerator having a cold distribution device is proposed in PCT application WO 95/27278 by the applicant of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show a refrigerator having such a conventional cold distribution device. In the refrigerator 101 having a conventional cold air distribution device, a pair of cooling chambers divided into a freezing chamber 2 and a refrigerating chamber 3 by an intermediate partition 5 in a substantially rectangular main body is provided. Opening / closing doors 6 and 7 are provided on the front openings 2 and 3, respectively. In the main body, a refrigeration system including a compressor 11, a condenser and a freezer compartment evaporator 12a and a refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b (not shown) is installed. The cold air generated in each of the evaporators 12a and 12b is supplied to each cooling chamber by the freezing chamber fan 13a or the refrigerating chamber fan 13b.

On the other hand, in the rear wall of the refrigerating chamber 3, a cold air duct 15 is provided in which cold air from the refrigerating chamber evaporator 12b is blown by the refrigerating chamber fan 13b and flows therein. The cold air distribution device 110 is installed in the vertical direction. On the rear wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 3, a cold air discharge port 16 through which cold air from the cold air duct 15 is discharged to the refrigerating room 3 is formed, and the cold air distribution device 110 guides the supplied cold air to the cold air discharge port. It supplies to the refrigerating compartment 3 through 16. At the rear of the cold air duct 15, a circulation duct 17 connecting the refrigerating chamber 3 and the refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b is formed to be isolated from the cold air duct 15. The cold air which cooled the refrigerator compartment 3 returns to the refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b via this circulation duct 17. As shown in FIG.

The cold air distribution device 110 includes a rotation shaft 121, a plurality of cold air distribution blades 111, and a drive motor 131 for rotating the rotation shaft 121. The rotating shaft 121 is rotatably installed on the rear side of the refrigerating chamber 3, and the rotating shaft 121 of the driving motor 131 is coupled to the upper portion of the rotating shaft 121. The cold air distribution blades 111 are formed in a plate-shaped body curved in a wave shape with respect to the plane including the axis of the rotation shaft 121, and are spaced apart from each other to correspond to each of the cold air discharge ports 16 along the rotation shaft 121. It is. At the upper and lower ends of each cold air distributing wing 111, a pair of end plates 113 formed of an upper plate 113a and a lower plate 113b is formed, and an intermediate plate is formed between the upper plate 113a and the lower plate 113b. 115 is provided to divide the cold air distribution blade 111 into the first blade portion 117 and the second blade portion 119. Each wing portion 117, 119 is bent to form an S-shaped cross section, and each wing portion 117, 119 of each cold air distribution wing 111 is bent in the opposite direction to each other.

In the refrigerator 101 having the conventional cold air distribution device 110 having such a configuration, when the driving motor 131 rotates the rotary shaft 121 at a low speed, the cold air supplied along the cold air duct 15 is cold air distribution wing 111. The direction of the flow path is changed by the curved plate surface of the shells, and spreads in the refrigerating chamber from side to side and is discharged. On the other hand, when intensive cooling is necessary for a specific site, the rotating shaft 121 is stopped in accordance with the direction of the cold air distribution blade 111 so that cold air is concentrated discharged toward the site. By such a cold air distribution device 110, it becomes possible to realize uniform cooling and concentrated cooling in the refrigerating chamber 3.

By the way, in recent years, since the refrigerator compartment is gradually enlarged by the trend of enlargement of the refrigerator 1, the conventional cold air distribution apparatus 110 which is rotatably installed in a refrigerator compartment and aims at equal distribution of cold air is the objective of the structure. There are some limitations in achieving this. Thus, there is a problem in that the four corners where cold air does not reach the corner region of the cooling chamber, and in some cases, the cold air is discharged intensively in a specific region, which hinders the safe storage of food. In addition, since the conventional cold air distribution device 110 has a relatively complicated structure and is difficult to manufacture, there is a problem that the production cost increases.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a control method of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device that can cool the entire uniformly by supplying cold air in a cooling chamber in consideration of these problems in the related art.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which a cold air distribution device having a relatively simple structure can be provided to reduce the manufacturing cost.

1 is a front sectional view of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention;

2 is a partially enlarged side cross-sectional view of FIG.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device of the present invention,

4 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention;

5 is a control flow diagram of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention;

6 is an exploded perspective view of another cold air distribution device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device,

8 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional cold air distribution device.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

2, 3: Cooling chamber 5: Intermediate bulkhead

6, 7: door 9a, 9b: temperature sensor

12a, 12b: Evaporator 13a, 13b: Cooling chamber fan

15: cold air duct 16: cold air outlet

21: duct member 30, 50: cold air distribution device

31: rotation axis 33a, 33b, 33c: vertical distribution wing

35: drive motor 40: cold air grill member

51: horizontal distribution wing 53: rotating pin

55: working pin 57: protrusion

59: cutout 61: interlocking member

63: elevating drive cam 65: cam groove

67: working part

According to the present invention, in the refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, the cold air duct is provided on one side wall in the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and has a cold air outlet opening toward the cooling chamber. Wow; At least one cold air distribution vane rotatably installed at the cold air discharge outlet; A rotation driving means of the cold air distribution blade; At least a pair of temperature sensing sensors disposed opposite to each other in the cooling chamber; Obtain the temperature deviation in the cooling chamber based on the temperature signal from the temperature sensor, and if the temperature deviation is more than the predetermined temperature, rotate the cold air distribution blade continuously, and if the temperature deviation is less than the predetermined temperature, the cold air distribution wing It is achieved by a refrigerator comprising a control unit for controlling the rotation driving means to rotate step by step at a predetermined time interval.

Here, each of the cold air distribution wing is a vertical distribution wing having a parallel axis of rotation in the vertical direction, the cold air discharge port is configured to be installed in the central region of the rear wall, wherein the temperature sensor is, It is preferable to comprise so that each may be installed in left and right wall surfaces.

On the other hand, each of the cold air distribution wing is a horizontal distribution wing having a parallel axis of rotation in the horizontal direction, the cold air discharge port is configured to be installed in the central region of the rear wall surface, the temperature sensor is, on the upper and lower walls of the cooling chamber It is preferable to configure so that each may be installed.

The rotation drive means may include: an interlocking member installed horizontally in the axial direction of each of the cold air distributing blades and movable horizontally in the axial direction and integrally rotating the respective cold air distributing wings; It can be configured simply including an interlocking member driving means for moving the interlocking member. Here, the linkage member drive means, and the rotating shaft which is rotatably installed in the axial direction on the rear side of the cold air distribution blade; A drive cam rotatably installed on the rotation shaft; An actuating part formed on the interlocking member and interacting with the driving cam, thereby elevating the interlocking member during rotation of the elevating driving cam; It may be configured to include a drive motor for rotating the rotary shaft, wherein, the drive motor is preferably composed of a stepping motor capable of position control of the stop angle.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, in the control method of the refrigerator having a cold air distribution wing which is rotatably installed in the cold air discharge port provided on one side wall in the cooling chamber, detecting the temperature in the cooling chamber Steps; Obtaining a temperature deviation in the cooling chamber based on a temperature signal from the temperature sensor; And continuously rotating the cold air distribution wing when the temperature deviation is greater than or equal to a predetermined time, and rotating the cold air distribution wing in a predetermined time interval when the temperature deviation is less than or equal to the predetermined time interval. Is achieved.

Here, the cold air distribution wing is at least one horizontal distribution wing having an axis parallel to the horizontal direction; The temperature sensor is installed on each of the left and right walls in the cooling chamber, or the cold air distribution blades are at least one vertical distribution blade having an axis parallel to the vertical direction; The temperature sensor may be installed on each of the upper and lower walls in the cooling chamber.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a front sectional view of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side sectional view of FIG. The refrigerator 1 having a cold air distribution device as seen in these figures is, as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the prior art, by the freezing chamber 2 and the refrigerating chamber (2) by the intermediate partition 5 in a substantially rectangular body. A pair of cooling chambers divided by 3) is provided, and opening / closing doors 6 and 7 are respectively provided on the front surface of each of the cooling chambers 2 and 3.

The refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with a plurality of shelves 8 for placing food to partition the refrigerator compartment 3 into a plurality of food storage areas in the vertical direction. The special refrigeration chamber 18 used for storing the food suitable for a specific temperature range is formed in the upper side of the refrigerating chamber 3, and the vegetable chamber 19 for storing vegetables is formed in the lower side of the refrigerating chamber 3. As shown in FIG. On both inner wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber 3, temperature sensing sensors 9a and 9b which face each other in a diagonal direction are provided, respectively.

In the main body 4, a compressor 11, a condenser, a freezer compartment evaporator 12a, and a refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b, which are not shown, are installed to perform a refrigeration cycle, and cold air is generated in each of the evaporators 12a and 12b. A freezer compartment fan 13a and a refrigerating compartment fan 13b are installed above the evaporators 12a and 12b to forcibly blow cold air generated in each of the evaporators 12a and 12b to the freezer compartment 2 or the refrigerator compartment 3.

On the rear wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 3, a duct housing 20 is provided which forms a cold air duct 15 that provides a flow path of cold air from the evaporator 12b. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the duct housing 20 includes a duct member 21 for forming cold air ducts 15 to thermally guide cold air and a front plate attached to the front surface of the duct member 21. (23), a seal plate (25) bonded to the rear surface of the duct member (21), and a partial cylindrical cold air grill member provided in a form surrounding the cold air distribution device (30) in front of the front plate (23). It consists of 40.

The cold air discharge openings 16 which are opened toward the refrigerating chamber 3 are provided in the cold air grill member 40 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. The cold air grill member 40 is provided in the receiving portion of the front plate (23). The front plate 23 is provided to have a substantially same plane as the inner wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 3, and the cold air grill member 40 protrudes from the front plate 23 into the refrigerating chamber 3 inside. Accordingly, the cold air grill member 40 and the cold air distributor 30 slightly protrude from the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment 3 as a whole, and the cold air guided by the cold air distributor 30 is stored in the refrigerating compartment 3 at a large discharge angle range. ) Is distributed within.

The cold air distribution device 30 is rotatably supported by the front plate 23. The front plate 23 and the duct member 21 form a cold air duct 15 for guiding the flow of cold air therebetween, and has an unillustrated portion for accommodating a portion of the cold air distribution device 30. The cold air distribution device 30 is provided in the cold air duct 15. The cold air distribution device 30, which will be described in detail later, is supplied into the refrigerating chamber 3 by the cold air blown into the cold air duct 15 by the refrigerating chamber fan 13b. At the rear of the cold air duct 15, a circulation duct 17 connecting the refrigerating chamber 3 and the refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b is formed to be isolated from the cold air duct 15. The cold air which cooled the refrigerator compartment 3 returns to the refrigerator compartment evaporator 12b via this circulation duct 17. As shown in FIG.

On the other hand, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device of the present invention. The cold air distribution device 30 is constituted by a horizontal distribution blade 51 which is provided adjacent to the cold air discharge port 16 in the cold air duct, and which can be rotated up and down, and a drive part which rotates the horizontal distribution blade 51 up and down.

The horizontal distribution blade 51 has a front projection 57 and a back cutout 59 corresponding to the cold air discharge port 16, and has a substantially curved shape in which the attachment of the projection 57 is cut off. And rotation pins 53 extending laterally from the both end parts are provided. On the other hand, the cold air grill member 40 having the cold air discharge port 16 is provided with flange portions 45 extending in the orthogonal direction from the rear surface at both longitudinal longitudinal edges thereof, and the rotation pins 53 are provided on these flange portions 45. The rotating hole 47 which accommodates) is provided mutually. The horizontal distribution blades 51 in which the two rotation pins 53 are respectively accommodated in the opposing rotation holes 47 are able to rotate up and down on the front surface of the cold air discharge port 16. In the present embodiment, three horizontal distribution blades 51 having such a configuration are provided along the vertical direction of each cold air discharge port 16.

The drive unit includes a rotation shaft 31 installed in the vertical direction on the rear side of the horizontal distribution blade 51 in the cold air tuck, a drive cam 63 installed on the rotation shaft 31, and a driving motor for rotating the rotation shaft 31 ( 35) and an interlocking member 61 which is hinged to each of the horizontal distribution blades 51 and moves up and down by interaction with the drive cam 63 in accordance with the rotation of the rotary shaft 31.

The rotary shaft 31 is installed along the longitudinal direction of the cold air duct 15 on the rear side of the horizontal distribution blade 51, and the driving motor 35 is coupled to the upper end, and the lower end of the cold air grill member 41 It is rotatably fixed to the lower edge. The drive motor 35 is housed in the motor case at the top of the front plate 23 and is installed. Such drive motor 35, it is preferable to use a stepping motor capable of forward and reverse rotation and control the stop angle position. The rotating shaft 31 is provided with a drive cam 63 for rotating the horizontal distributing blade 51 in the vertical direction. The drive cam 63 has a cam body 66 which is installed coaxially to the rotation shaft 31, and the cam body 66 is formed with a cam groove 65 having a camp profile that is elevated along the cylindrical surface thereof. have.

On the other hand, the interlocking member 61 has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed in parallel with the rotation shaft 31 between the cold air grill member 40 and the horizontal distribution blade 51. The interlocking member 61 is provided with a plurality of working rings 62 protruding from the outer circumferential surface toward the horizontal distributing blade 51 along the longitudinal direction, respectively. Correspondingly, in the protruding portion 57 of the X-shaped horizontal distribution blade 51, an action pin 55 fitted to the action ring 62 is formed parallel to the rotation pin 53. The working ring 62 of the interlocking member 61 and the working pin 55 of the horizontal distributing wing 51 are hinged to each other, and thus the horizontal distributing wing 51 is moved up and down by the interlocking member 61. Accordingly, the action pin 55 can be pivoted up and down on the shaft.

And the action part 67 extended toward the drive cam 63 is provided in the outer peripheral surface of the horizontal distribution blade 51 corresponding to the drive cam 63. As shown in FIG. The acting portion 67 is an actuating protrusion extending from the outer circumferential surface of the interlocking member 61 toward the cam body 66, and the actuating protrusion is engaged with the cam groove 65 of the cam body 66. When the rotating shaft 31 is rotated, the working protrusion is moved along the cam groove 65 of the cam body 66, the horizontal distribution wing 51 is hinged by the lifting of the interlocking member 61 accordingly It will move up and down.

The cold air distribution device 30 further has a lifting guide 70 for guiding the lifting of the interlocking member 61 and preventing its own rotation. The lifting guide portion 70 allows the plate-like guide piece 69 extending from the outer circumferential surface toward the cold air grill member 40 along the axis line of the interlocking member 61, and allowing the guide piece 69 to be lifted and lowered. The guide part 49 formed in the back surface of the cold air grill member 40 is comprised. The guide part 49 is a pair of plate-shaped objects facing each other, and the guide piece 69 is inserted between them.

On the other hand, Figure 4 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention. The refrigerator 1 according to the present invention includes a power supply unit 91 for supplying power from the outside, an operation unit 92 for setting a temperature in the refrigerating chamber by a user's operation, and an operation unit 92. And a control unit 90 for controlling the respective functional parts while applying the output signal. The control unit 90 drives the compressor 11 to circulate a refrigerant cycle (not shown) to form cold air around the evaporator. Then, the cooling chamber fan 13 is driven to discharge cold air around the evaporator 12 into the refrigerating chamber through the cold air duct 15. The control unit 90 also applies temperature signals from the temperature sensing unit 93, that is, the temperature sensors 9a and 9b respectively provided on both side walls of the refrigerating chamber, and is based on these temperature signals. The operation of the drive motor 35 is controlled.

5 is a control flowchart of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention. As can be seen in the flow chart, the cold air formed around the evaporator 12 is discharged into the refrigerating chamber by the cooling chamber fan 13 (S1). When cooling is performed in the refrigerating compartment by the operation of the cooling chamber fan 13, the control unit 90 applies temperature signals from the temperature sensors 9a and 9b respectively provided on both inner wall surfaces of the cooling chamber. (S2). Then, the temperature deviation in the refrigerating chamber is obtained based on the applied temperature signal, and the temperature deviation is compared with a predetermined temperature deviation tolerance (S3).

At this time, if the temperature deviation is less than a predetermined allowable value, the control unit 90 drives the drive motor 35 step by step at a predetermined time interval (S5), the horizontal distribution blade 51 is an example of the cold air discharge port 16 For example, the upper, middle and lower parts can be rotated step by step. On the other hand, if the temperature deviation is more than the allowable value, the controller 90 rotates the drive motor 35 at a predetermined speed so that the horizontal distribution blade 51 rotates up and down in front of the cold air discharge port 16 (S4). At this time, it is preferable to rotate the driving motor 35 at a rather high speed. Accordingly, the discharged cold air from the cold air duct 15 can be irregularly mixed in the refrigerating chamber to form a uniform temperature distribution as a whole. will be.

On the other hand, in the above-described and illustrated embodiments, the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator in which the cold air distribution device 30 including the horizontal distribution blades 51 having the horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the cold air discharge port 16 are installed. Although the control method of (1) was demonstrated, FIG. 6 is a distribution perspective view of the cold air distribution apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

The cold air distribution device 50, which can be seen in the drawing, has the same rotation shaft 31 and drive motor 35 as described with reference to FIG. 3, and the vertical distribution blades 33a, 33b, 33c on the plate along the rotation axis direction. ) Is installed. The vertical distribution blades 33a, 33b, 33c are provided with three corresponding to the cold air | gas discharge port 16, and the drive motor 35 is comprised by the stepping motor which can also control forward / backward rotation and a stop angle position. The cold air distribution device 50 according to the present embodiment having such a configuration is also operated by the same control method as described above.

That is, when the temperature deviation in the refrigerating chamber is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable value, the stepping motor 35 is driven in steps with a predetermined time interval, and when it is greater than or equal to the predetermined allowable value, the stepping motor 35 is rotated at a predetermined speed. As a result, the cold air discharged to the cold air discharge port 16 may be mixed in the refrigerating chamber to form a uniform temperature distribution.

On the other hand, the control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a horizontal air distributing blade 51 described with reference to FIG. 3 and a cold air distributing device having both vertical distributing wings 33a, 33b, and 33c described with reference to FIG. 6. The same applies to the refrigerator. Then, the vertical distributing blades 33a, 33b, 33c and the horizontal distributing blade 51 can be operated in combination with each other, thereby realizing more effective uniform cooling in the refrigerating chamber.

As described above, in the refrigerator and the control method of the refrigerator having the cold air distribution device according to the present invention, since the drive motor can be rotated intermittently according to the temperature state in the cooling chamber, uniform cooling and concentrated cooling in the cooling chamber can be achieved. In the cooling chamber, an excellent effect of maintaining an overall uniform temperature distribution is provided.

Claims (11)

In the refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, A cold air duct provided on one side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having a cold air discharge port opened toward the cooling chamber; At least one cold air distribution vane rotatably installed at the cold air discharge outlet; A rotation driving means of the cold air distribution blade; At least a pair of temperature sensing sensors disposed opposite to each other in the cooling chamber; Obtain the temperature deviation in the cooling chamber based on the temperature signal from the temperature sensor, and if the temperature deviation is more than the predetermined temperature, rotate the cold air distribution blade continuously, and if the temperature deviation is less than the predetermined temperature, the cold air distribution wing And a control unit for controlling the rotation driving means to rotate step by step at a predetermined time interval. The method of claim 1, Each cold air distribution wing is a vertical distribution wing having a parallel axis of rotation in the vertical direction, The cold air discharge port is characterized in that the refrigerator is installed in the central region of the rear wall surface. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor, Refrigerators, which are respectively provided on the left and right wall surfaces of the cooling chamber. The method of claim 1, Each cold air distribution wing is a horizontal distribution wing having a parallel axis of rotation in the horizontal direction, The cold air discharge port is characterized in that the refrigerator is installed in the central region of the rear wall surface. The method of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor, And a refrigerator provided on upper and lower wall surfaces of the cooling chamber, respectively. According to claim 1, wherein the rotation drive means, An interlocking member installed horizontally in the axial direction of each of the cold air distributing blades and movable horizontally in the axial direction and integrally rotating the respective cold air distributing wings; Refrigerator comprising an interlocking member driving means for moving the interlocking member. According to claim 6, The linkage member driving means, A rotating shaft rotatably installed in the axial direction on the rear side of the cold air distribution blade; A drive cam rotatably installed on the rotation shaft; An actuating part formed on the interlocking member and interacting with the driving cam, thereby elevating the interlocking member during rotation of the elevating driving cam; And a drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft. The method of claim 7, wherein the drive motor, A refrigerator characterized in that the stepping motor capable of controlling the stop angle position. In the control method of the refrigerator having a cold air distribution wing which is rotatably installed in the cold air discharge port provided on one side wall in the cooling chamber, Sensing a temperature in the cooling chamber; Obtaining a temperature deviation in the cooling chamber based on a temperature signal from the temperature sensor; And continuously rotating the cold air distribution wing when the temperature deviation is greater than or equal to a predetermined time, and rotating the cold air distribution wing in a predetermined time interval when the temperature deviation is less than or equal to the predetermined time interval. . The method of claim 9, The cold air distribution wing is at least one horizontal distribution wing having axes parallel to the horizontal direction; The temperature sensor is a control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that the cooling chamber is installed on the left and right wall respectively. The method of claim 9, The cold air distribution wing is at least one vertical distribution wing having axes parallel to the vertical direction; The temperature sensor is a control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that the cooling chamber is installed on the upper and lower walls respectively.

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