KR100213626B1 - Refrigerator having air distribution appratus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cooling chamber, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a wall surface of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having at least one cold air discharge port opened toward the cooling chamber; A plurality of upper and lower distribution blades having a plurality of axes parallel to each other in the horizontal direction to the cold air discharge port, each of which has support protrusions protruding downward from the lower surface and having an end contacting the upper surface adjacent to the lower surface; A rotating shaft rotatable in the vertical direction to the rear of the vertically distributing blade in the cold air duct; A drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft; The disk body is installed coaxially to form a predetermined inclination angle on the rotation axis, the circumferential edge includes a working plate in contact with the support projection of the lowermost vertically distributed blade of the plurality of vertically distributed blades. Thereby, the combined cold air distribution in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the cooling chamber can be achieved, and the combined centralized cooling can be achieved in a specific area if necessary, so that the inside of the cooling chamber is maintained at a uniform temperature distribution. Then, the vortex is removed around the cold air discharge port, thereby effectively distributing the cold air by the cold air distribution device having improved operating performance.

Description

Refrigerator with cold air distributor

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device capable of uniformly supplying cold air in a cooling chamber for storing food.

A general refrigerator has a main body having a pair of cooling chambers divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment partitioned by an intermediate partition, and a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing each cooling compartment. In the main body, a refrigeration system consisting of a compressor, a condenser (not shown), a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator is installed. The cold air generated in each evaporator flows along the cold air duct formed on the rear surface of the cooling chamber, and is supplied to each cooling chamber through the cold air discharge port provided in the cold air duct by blowing the blower fan.

However, in the conventional refrigerator, there is a region in which cold air discharged through the cold air discharge port is provided intensively and a relatively small area is provided. Accordingly, the temperature deviation in the cooling chamber is intensified, thereby preventing uniform cooling. There is this. Therefore, a refrigerator that performs a so-called three-dimensional cooling method has been proposed that improves this problem. The three-dimensional cooling method of the refrigerator provides a plurality of cold air discharge outlets on the rear wall and both side walls of the cooling chamber, respectively, so as to achieve intensive cooling air supply in a specific direction as needed, so that the cooling chamber can be uniformly cooled. One is a fridge.

By the way, in such a three-dimensional cooling method refrigerator, too, since the cold air is discharged in a predetermined direction through the cold air discharge port, a four-segment section in which no cold air is supplied is formed in the corner region, and in particular, the side wall of each cooling chamber Since the cold air duct must be provided, there is a problem that the food accommodation space is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is increased due to the increase of parts and manufacturing process. These problems are becoming a real problem in the refrigerator which is gradually increasing in size, and accordingly, in recent years, a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device that can maintain a uniform temperature distribution by eliminating four sections in the cooling chamber has been proposed.

A refrigerator having such a cold air distribution device is proposed in PCT application WO 95/27278 by the applicant of the present invention. 8 to 10 is a view of a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device. In the following, a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device which can be seen in the drawings will be described with reference to the PCT application WO 95/27278 disclosed above.

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 the conventional refrigerator 101 having such a cold air distribution device 110, although the cold air from the cold air duct can be distributed in the horizontal direction, it cannot be distributed in the vertical direction, so that the entire refrigerating chamber 23 is uniformly cooled. There is a limit to keeping it. In the conventional cold air distribution device, vortices may be formed around the cold air discharge port 16 by cold air flowing along the wings 117 and 119 having a gentle S-shaped cross section, and the vortices are cold air distribution. Since it acts as a load on the smooth operation of the device 110, it does not achieve uniform cold distribution in the cooling chamber.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cold air distribution device capable of distributing cold air in the cooling chamber not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction in consideration of these problems in the related art, thereby maintaining the inside of the cooling chamber in a uniform cooling state as a whole. To provide a refrigerator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device capable of achieving a combined cold air distribution in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction in a refrigerating compartment, and achieving a combined intensive cooling in a specific area if necessary. .

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device, in which no vortex is generated around the cold air discharge port, thereby operating more efficiently to effectively distribute cold air.

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

2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a cold air distribution device according to the present invention;

4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the coupling state of FIG. 3;

5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG.

6 and 7 is an operating state of FIG.

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

9 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 8;

10 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 12a, 12b: evaporator

13a, 13b: blower fan 15: cold air duct

16a, 16b, 16c: cold air outlet 20: duct housing

21: duct member 28, 45: flange portion

30: cold air distribution device 32: left and right distribution wings

33: rotating shaft 35: drive motor

37: connecting plate 39: connecting plate

51a, 51b, 15c: vertically distributed wings 53: pivot pin

57: front edge 58: rear edge

59: cutout 61: support protrusion

According to the present invention, a refrigerator having a cooling chamber, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a wall surface of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having at least one cold air discharge opening opened toward the cooling chamber; A plurality of upper and lower distribution blades having a plurality of axes parallel to each other in the horizontal direction to the cold air discharge port, each of which has support protrusions protruding downward from the lower surface and having an end contacting the upper surface adjacent to the lower surface; A rotating shaft rotatable in the vertical direction to the rear of the vertically distributing blade in the cold air duct; A drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft; It is achieved by a refrigerator, characterized in that the disk body is installed coaxially with a predetermined inclination angle on the rotating shaft, the circumferential edge includes a working plate in contact with the support projection of the lowermost vertically distributed blade of the plurality of vertically distributed blades. .

Here, the left and right distribution blades for distributing cold air from the cold air duct to the left and right are preferably formed in a predetermined length section in the axial direction, wherein the working plate is formed at the lower edge of the left and right distribution blades. In addition, the upper edge portion may be configured to further provide a connection plate parallel to the working plate.

On the other hand, the vertical distribution wing, the front edge on the partial arc; Rotating shafts each protruding from both side ends of the front edge in both directions; A rear edge connecting the rotating shafts on both sides; It includes a cutout to form a rotation space of the left and right distribution blades in the central region of the rear edge; It is possible to form a support protrusion projecting downward on the plate surface between the front edge and the rear edge.

The cooling chamber is partitioned into a plurality of storage zones arranged on upper and lower layers; The cold air outlet corresponds to each of the storage zones; A front surface of each of the cold air discharging openings is installed in parallel in a horizontal direction to install a grill which partitions the opening face up and down, and the upper and lower distributing wings are attached to each of the cold air discharging openings; It is preferable that the left and right distribution wings correspond to the rear of each of the cold air discharge ports.

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

1 is a front view of a refrigerator having a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device, and FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. As described with reference to Fig. 8, the refrigerator 1 having the present cold air distribution device is a pair of the refrigerator compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3 divided by the intermediate partition 5 in a substantially rectangular body. Cooling chambers are provided, and opening / closing doors 6 and 7 are provided on the opening fronts of the respective cooling chambers 2 and 3, respectively.

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. In the upper side of the refrigerating chamber 3, a special refrigerating chamber 18 for storing food suitable for a specific temperature range is formed, and the lower side of the refrigerating chamber 3 is provided with a vegetable chamber 19 for storing vegetables. 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. The duct housing 20 forms a cold air duct 15 to guide the cold air insulated, the front plate 23 attached to the front surface of the duct member 21, and the duct member 21. Seal plate 25 is bonded to the back of the, and the front plate 23 is composed of a partial cylindrical duct cover 40 is installed in a form surrounding the cold air distribution device (30). The duct cover 40 and the duct member 21 are coupled at a predetermined distance, and forms a cold air duct 15 for guiding the flow of cold air therebetween. The duct cover 40 is provided with cold air outlets 16 opened toward the refrigerating chamber 3 at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction thereof.

On the other hand, the cold air distribution device 30 is provided in the cold air duct 15. The cold air blown into the cold air duct 15 by the refrigerating chamber fan 13b is supplied into the refrigerating chamber 3 through the cold air distribution device 30, and at this time, the cold air distribution device 30 operating as described below in detail is Evenly distribute the cold air to the fridge. 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 through this circulation duct 15. As shown in FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a partially enlarged view of the assembled state of FIG. As can be seen in these figures, the duct cover 27 is provided with three cold air outlets 16a, 16b, 16c along the vertical direction, which correspond to three storage zones provided in the vertical direction in the refrigerating chamber, respectively. The cold air distributor 30 is vertically rotatable in the vertical air distributing blade 51 having an axis parallel to the cold air discharge port 16 in the horizontal direction, and in the rear side cold air duct of the vertical air discharging wing 51. A rotating shaft 33, a working plate 37 that interacts with the vertically distributing blade 51, and a drive motor 35 for rotating the horizontally distributing blade 32. In this embodiment, three up-and-down distribution wings 51a. 51b, 51c are provided in each cold air | gas outlet 16a, 16b, and 16c, and these are divided into upper and lower layers on the opening surface of cold air | gas outlet 16a, 16b, and 16c. Grill 46 is provided.

The up-and-down distributing blades 51a, 51b, and 51c are the front edge 57 on the partial arc, the rotation shaft 53 extending laterally from both side ends of the front edge 57, and both rotation shafts 53, respectively. It has a rear edge 58 that connects. The rear edge 58 is projected to the rear with respect to the axis to form a gentle curve, and the central region is cut in the same arc shape as the front edge 57 to form a rotation space of the left and right distribution wings 32. Both side rotation shafts 53 are rotatably installed on the rear surface of the duct cover 27 at a pair of flange portions 45 extending rearwardly along the two longitudinal longitudinal edges to face each other. Rotating shaft holes 47 are provided at both side flange portions 45 at predetermined intervals, and upper and lower distribution blades 51a and 51b each of which is rotatably accommodated in both of the rotating shaft holes 47. 51c) is rotatable in the up and down direction about the rotation shaft 53.

And the support protrusion 61 which protrudes downward is formed in the lower surface of each up-down distribution blade 51a, 51b, 51c. The support protrusion 61 has two upper and lower distributions except the upper and lower distribution blades 51c at the lowermost side among the three vertical distribution blades 51a, 51b, and 51c provided at each of the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, and 16c. It can also be provided only in the wings 51a and 51b. The ends of these support protrusions 61 are in contact with the upper surfaces of the upper and lower dispensing blades 51b and 51c disposed on the lower side, and thus, when the lower and upper distributing blades 51c rotate upward, they are parallel to the upper side thereof. The vertically distributed vanes 51a and 51b arranged are rotated integrally by the support protrusion 61.

On the other hand, although not shown in the present embodiment, a contact protrusion protruding to be in contact with the lower surface of the upper vertical distribution blade adjacent to the upper surface of the lower vertical distribution blade may be further formed. These contact protrusions may be provided in pairs on either side of the support protrusions or on either side, and at this time, serves to level the integral rotation of the vertically distributed wings.

On the other hand, the rotary shaft 33 has a working plate 37 which interacts with the lowermost upper and lower distribution blades 51c among the upper and lower distribution blades 51a, 51b, and 51c provided at the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, and 16c. It is provided at predetermined intervals along the axial direction. These working plates 37 are formed coaxially with a predetermined inclination angle on the rotation shaft 33 to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 33. At this time, the working plate 37 is accommodated in the cutouts of the vertically distributing blades 51a, 51b, and 51c, and rotates, and the support protrusion 61 of the lowermost vertically distributing blade 51c is seated on the circumferential edge thereof. It is supported upward. Thus, when the working plate 37 is rotated by the rotation of the rotary shaft 33, the support protrusion 61 of the lowermost vertically distributing blade 51c is moved up and down along the edge of the working plate 37 forming the inclination angle, Accordingly, the other vertically distributing blades 51a and 51b which are disposed in parallel to the upper side of the lowermost vertical distributing blade 51c and are in contact with each other by the supporting protrusion 61 are integrally rotated.

In the axial direction of the rotary shaft 33, left and right distributing wings 32 formed at predetermined intervals corresponding to the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, and 16c are provided. The left and right distributing blades 32 have a substantially rectangular plate-like body and are coaxially mounted on the rotation shaft 33, and the above-described working plate 37 is fixedly attached to the lower edge thereof. In addition, a connecting plate 39 attached to the upper edge portion in parallel with the working plate 37 is further provided. The left and right distribution vanes 32 distribute the flow cold air from the cold air duct 15 to the left and right when the rotary shaft 33 rotates.

The upper end 34 of the rotating shaft 33 is rotatably coupled to the driving shaft 36 of the driving motor 35, and the lower end 38 of the rotating shaft 33 is installed on the lower portion of the duct cover 27. It is rotatably supported by the branch 28. The flange portion 28 is provided in a substantially vertical direction from the rear surface of the duct cover 27, and the rotary shaft hole 29 is formed in the central region thereof, so that the rotary shaft 33 has a lower end portion thereof in the rotary shaft hole 29. Rotatable in the received state. The drive motor 35 is housed in a motor case (not shown) at the top of the duct cover 27. Such drive motor 35, it is preferable to use a stepping motor capable of forward and reverse rotation and control the stop angle position.

By this configuration, Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled state of Figure 3, Figure 6 and Figure 7 is a view showing the operating state of the cold air distribution device 30 according to the present invention. The drive motor 35 rotates the right and left distribution blades 360 degrees by a control signal of a controller (not shown). At this time, the cold air from the cold air duct 15 is distributed to the left and right by the rotating left and right distribution vanes 32 to flow. On the other hand, the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, 16c seated on the circumferential edge of the working plate 37 formed at a predetermined inclination angle along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 33, and are elevated during rotation of the rotary shaft 33. The support protrusion 61 of the lowermost vertically distributing blade 51c among the vertically distributing blades 51a, 51b, and 51c provided in the upper and lower blades vertically rotates the vertically distributing blade 51c integrally formed within a predetermined range. At this time, since the vertically distributing blades 51a, 51b, and 51c are in contact with each other by the support protrusion 61, they are rotated integrally by the rotation of the vertically distributing blade 51c on one side.

6 and 7 show rotational states of the vertically distributing wings 51a, 51b, and 51c. When the vertically distributed blades 51a, 51b, and 51c rotate by the rotation of the rotary shaft 33 as described above, the cold air first distributed in the left and right directions by the left and right distribution blades 32 in the cold air duct is vertically distributed blades 51a and 51b. , 51c) is distributed to the up and down direction in the refrigerating chamber and discharged. By the combined operation of the left and right distribution blades 32 and the vertical distribution blades (51a, 51b, 51c) it can be maintained a uniform temperature distribution in the refrigerating chamber as a whole.

On the other hand, in the refrigerating chamber, temperature sensing sensors 19a and 19b are provided in plural places. These sensors 19a and 19b sense the temperature in the refrigerating compartment and generate a detection signal to the control unit. The control unit applying the detection signal determines whether or not a temperature deviation occurs in the refrigerating compartment. Thus, when the temperature deviation is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the control signal is output to the drive motor 45, and the vertically distributing blades 51a, 51b, and 51c and the left and right distributing blades 32 are discharged so that cold air can be concentrated in the corresponding area. ). At this time, the cold air from the cold air duct 15 can be intensively cooled in the local region in the refrigerating chamber by the combined action of the upper and lower and left and right distribution wings.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to achieve a combined cold air distribution in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the cooling chamber through the vertically distributing wings and the left and right distributing wings, and to achieve the combined centralized cooling in a specific area if necessary. It is possible to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device in which the cooling chamber is maintained at a uniform temperature distribution. Then, the vortex is removed around the cold air discharge port generated in the refrigerator having the conventional cold air distribution device, so that the cold air distribution device can operate more efficiently, thereby effectively distributing the cold air in the cooling chamber.

Claims (6)

In the refrigerator having a cooling chamber, A cold air duct provided on a wall surface of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having at least one cold air discharge port opened toward the cooling chamber; A plurality of upper and lower distribution blades having a plurality of axes parallel to each other in the horizontal direction to the cold air discharge port, each of which has support protrusions protruding downward from the lower surface and having an end contacting the upper surface adjacent to the lower surface; A rotating shaft rotatable in the vertical direction to the rear of the vertically distributing blade in the cold air duct; A drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft; A disc body coaxially installed at a predetermined inclination angle on the rotating shaft, wherein the circumferential edge includes a working plate contacting the support protrusion of the lowermost vertically distributed blade among the plurality of vertically distributed blades. The method of claim 1, And the left and right distribution blades for distributing cold air from the cold air duct to the left and right sides are formed in a predetermined length section in the axial direction. The method of claim 2, The working plate is formed at the lower edge of the left and right distribution blades, the upper edge portion is further characterized in that the refrigerator further comprises a connecting plate parallel to the working plate. The method of claim 1, The upper and lower distribution wings, A front edge on the partial arc; Rotating shafts each protruding from both side ends of the front edge in both directions; A rear edge connecting the rotating shafts on both sides; It includes a cutout to form a rotation space of the left and right distribution blades in the central region of the rear edge; And a support protrusion protruding downward from the plate surface between the front edge and the rear edge. The method of claim 1, The cooling chamber is partitioned into a plurality of storage zones arranged above and below the floor; The cold air outlet corresponds to each of the storage zones; And a grill is installed at the front of each of the cold air discharging outlets in parallel in the horizontal direction and divides the opening surface up and down. The method of claim 5, The upper and lower distribution wings are attached to each of the cold air discharge ports; The refrigerator, characterized in that the left and right distribution wings corresponding to the rear of each cold air discharge port.

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