KR100389383B1 - Kimchi Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator for kimchi that can be suitably utilized as a kimchi ripening room or a kimchi storage room.

In the refrigerator for kimchi according to the present invention, the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 divided up and down by the barrier B in the refrigerator are provided. Heaters 17 and 27 are embedded in the bottoms of the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20, so that it is possible to transfer heat necessary for the ripening of kimchi. The refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 of the refrigerating cycle are provided on the rear surfaces 12 and 22 of the chambers, and the partitions 16 and 26 are provided in front of the rear surfaces 12 and 22. Cold air is generated by the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 in the heat exchange chambers 11 and 21 formed between the rear surfaces by the partitions 16 and 26, and the cold air is generated by the blower fans 13 and 23. Can be supplied to each chamber. Therefore, according to the refrigerator for kimchi according to the present invention, the first chamber or the second chamber can be selectively used for ripening or storage of kimchi.

Description

Kimchi Refrigerator

The present invention relates to a kimchi-only refrigerator, and more particularly, to a kimchi-only refrigerator configured to properly use two chambers formed therein for ripening and storing kimchi.

The kimchi storage device recently released is mostly comprised so that kimchi may be put into or taken out of a kimchi storage container by opening and closing the cover provided in the upper surface. And inside it is installed a heater that can provide a temperature suitable for the ripening temperature of kimchi, and an evaporator for maintaining a constant low temperature state when the kimchi is stored. Therefore, after soaking kimchi for the first time, open the cover installed on the upper surface of the kimchi storage device, put it inside, and then proceeds with a certain ripening process. This aging process proceeds by maintaining a temperature suitable for aging of kimchi by heating the heater. This ripening temperature is relatively high compared to the storage temperature required for the storage of kimchi.

When kimchi is matured in this way, the storage process by the operation of the evaporator installed in the evaporator proceeds. This storage process is a process in which the evaporator is kept at a low temperature state using a freezing cycle to continuously maintain the most appropriate temperature for storing kimchi.

In such a general kimchi storage device, the cover is provided on the upper surface is quite inconvenient for the user. In other words, all the operation to put or take out the kimchi, so that you have to lean back, the user will be uncomfortable. And in order to manufacture this type of kimchi storage device, there is a disadvantage that can not use the existing production line. In other words, the production burden is raised that a separate production line for manufacturing the existing kimchi storage device is required.

And the Republic of Korea Patent Publication 96-4503 discloses a kimchi-only refrigerator, Figure 1 shows the configuration of such a refrigerator. As shown, the refrigerator for kimchi is divided into a freezer compartment (2) and the refrigerating compartment (4), so that the kimchi can be matured and stored therein. In the freezer compartment (2) and the refrigerating compartment (4), each of the heaters (2a, 4a) used for the ripening of kimchi, and the blowing members (2b, 4b) for circulating the heat generated by the heaters (2a, 4a) Is installed. Therefore, during aging, heat generated by the heaters 2a and 4a is circulated by the air blowing members 2b and 4b in the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 4 to maintain a relatively high temperature for aging. do.

Although not shown, an evaporator is installed in the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, respectively, to maintain a low temperature state during storage of kimchi. The supply of the refrigerant to the pair of evaporators installed in the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment in the freezing cycle is controlled by the solenoid. In other words, if it is necessary to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment, the solenoid is used to guide the circulation path of the refrigerant in the freezing cycle to the refrigerating compartment evaporator. It is guiding.

However, looking at the configuration of such a refrigerator, it can be seen that there is virtually no difference from the configuration of a general refrigerator, but a heater is added. In such a configuration, only a heater for ripening kimchi is added. In addition, such a conventional configuration, which merely adds a heater in the configuration of a general refrigerator, there is a disadvantage that does not have a sufficient function as a kimchi-only refrigerator.

Looking at the drawbacks of the prior art as described above, the kimchi-only device is inconvenient for the user, there is a burden on the production line for the manufacturer. In addition, since the conventional Kimchi refrigerator only requires a separate component such as a solenoid to control the supply of the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, the composition is complicated and only a heater is added to the general refrigerator. There are a lot of points that are inadequate in composition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a kimchi refrigerator which is convenient for a user, and at the same time, to provide a kimchi refrigerator that allows a producer to use an existing production line.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a kimchi-only refrigerator which more simply configures an air flow structure for aging and storage of kimchi.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional kimchi refrigerator.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a refrigerator for kimchi according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating a storage state of the kimchi storage container.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the door and the kimchi storage container.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10 ..... 1st chamber 11, 21 ..... heat exchange chamber

12, 22 ..... Rear 13, 23 ..... Blower fan

14, 24 ..... Refrigerant line 15, 25 ..... Bottom

16, 26 ..... dividers 17, 27 ..... heaters

18, 28 ..... Door 20 ..... 2nd chamber

B ..... Barrier Ca, Cb ..... Kimchi Storage Container

Ra, Rb ..... Thermal Diffusion Sa, Sb ..... Sensor

Kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the first chamber and the second chamber is divided by the insulating barrier in the refrigerator; Heaters respectively installed on one side of the chamber to supply heat for kimchi ripening; A refrigerant pipe installed along another side of each chamber to generate cold air supplied to the chamber; A partition disposed in front of one side of each chamber in which the coolant tubes are installed, and forming a heat exchange chamber in which cold air is generated by the coolant tube; It is installed on one side of the heat exchange chamber formed by the partition, and comprises a blowing fan for supplying the generated cold air to each chamber.

According to the present invention, by selectively transferring the cool air generated in the refrigerant pipe installed in each of the chambers to the chamber by a blower fan, or by selectively operating the heater of each chamber, by selectively operating each chamber of kimchi Or it can be used to store kimchi.

And according to another embodiment of the present invention, in each of the chamber, it is configured to further include a kimchi storage container that is stored in the drawer type and stores kimchi. Moreover, the kimchi storage container is connected to the door that opens and closes each chamber, and shows an embodiment of opening and closing as the door is opened and closed. According to this embodiment, the usability of the kimchi storage container is configured to be convenient because it will be excellent.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerant pipe is provided in a state of being embedded in the rear surface of the rear wall of each chamber. That is, by embedding the refrigerant pipes inside the foam insulation layer between the inner case forming the interior of each chamber and the outer casing of the refrigerator, the fixing of the refrigerant pipes and the internal configuration of each chamber can be realized more simply. .

And according to another embodiment of the present invention, the heater is provided on the bottom of each chamber. By installing the heaters on the bottom of each chamber, the heat from the heaters can be supplied uniformly into the chamber as a whole.

And the kimchi storage container is provided on one side of the inner surface is provided with a heat diffusion plate for diffusing heat supplied from the heater, uniformly transfer the amount of heat supplied to the inside of the kimchi storage container, more efficiently maturing kimchi You can do it.

Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

2 shows the overall configuration of the kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown, the kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention is divided into a first chamber 10 and a second chamber 20. The first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 are storage spaces that can ripen or store kimchi, respectively, and are separated by an insulating barrier (B) inside the refrigerator.

The foam insulation is filled between the outer casing (A) and the inner casing (Ba, Bb), the insulation is also filled inside the insulation barrier (B). Therefore, it can be seen that the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 are each configured to provide sufficient thermal insulation to the outside.

Refrigerant tubes 14 and 24 are embedded in the rear surfaces 12 and 22 of the respective chambers 10 and 20. The refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 perform the same function as the evaporator of the refrigerating cycle. It is the part which evaporates by heat exchange with. Therefore, cold air is generated by heat exchange in the vicinity of the rear walls 12 and 22 around the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24.

Partitions 16 and 26 are provided in front of the rear walls 12 and 22, so that a substantially constant space is formed between the partitions 16 and 26 and the rear walls 12 and 22. As shown in FIG. These spaces are heat exchange chambers 11 and 21 in which cold air is generated by the coolant tubes 14 and 24. In addition, cold air supply holes 11a through which cooling air generated in the heat exchange chambers 11 and 21 are supplied to the respective chambers 10 and 20 by the blowing fans 13 and 23 are formed at upper ends of the partitions 16 and 26. 21a) is formed. The cold air discharged into the cold air supply holes 11a and 21a by the blowing fans 13 and 23 is circulated through the respective chambers 10 and 20. The air circulated in the chambers 10 and 20 is returned to the heat exchange chambers 11 and 21 through the cold air return holes 11b and 21b formed at the lower ends of the partitions 16 and 26. The coolant will be generated again by the coolant tubes 14 and 24 therein.

And heaters 17 and 27 are embedded in the bottom face 15 of the 1st chamber 10, and the bottom face 25 of the 2nd chamber 20, respectively. When the heaters 17 and 27 are aged kimchi in the chambers 10 and 20, the heaters 17 and 27 supply heat to provide a temperature suitable for ripening. Therefore, when heat is generated by operating the respective heaters 17 and 27, the heat is supplied into the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 to mature each of the chambers 10 and 20. It can be maintained at a predetermined temperature required for.

Since the heaters 17 and 27 according to the present invention are uniformly embedded in the bottoms 15 and 25 of the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 as a whole, the respective chambers 10 and 20. ) It generates heat evenly in large area inside. Therefore, in the process of ripening kimchi contained in the kimchi storage containers (Ca, Cb), there is a heat transfer characteristic that makes it possible to supply heat uniformly as a whole. This will also work more advantageously to ripen kimchi inside the kimchi storage containers (Ca, Cb), such as the configuration of the thermal diffusion plates (Ra, Rb) to be described later.

Inside the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20, kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) for containing the kimchi to be stored is built. The kimchi container (Ca, Cb) is to contain the kimchi to be aged or to store the kimchi to be stored at a predetermined storage temperature. And the kimchi container (Ca, Cb), it is preferable that the sliding method, that is, configured to be pulled out or pushed in each chamber (10,20).

As shown in the partial explanatory diagram of FIG. 3 showing the kimchi container Ca of the first chamber 10 by way of example, a support part Cs is provided on the sidewall of the kimchi container Ca, and the support part Cs is slidably supported by 11 s of rail members provided on both side walls of the first chamber 10. In addition, a plurality of rollers 11r may be provided between the support portion Cs and the rail member 11s for smoothly sliding the kimchi container Ca. Therefore, when the user takes out the kimchi container (Ca), the kimchi container (Ca) will come out while being supported by the rail member (11s). At this time, the roller 44 installed on the rail member 11s or the support part Cs will induce rolling contact, and the kimchi container Ca will be pulled forward more smoothly.

4, the kimchi containers Ca and Cb are connected to the doors 18 and 28 of the respective chambers 10 and 20 in the present embodiment, so that the door 18 By pulling forward 28, the kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) is also configured to come out together. That is, in the present embodiment, the kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) is opened and closed by being drawn out in a drawer forward, the extraction of such kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) by pulling the door (18, 28) Will be achieved. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the doors 18 and 28 may be configured to be rotatable around a hinge axis like a general refrigerator, and the kimchi containers Ca and Cb may be drawn out by a drawer type. Of course it is possible.

As shown in FIG. 2, the kimchi containers Ca and Cb corresponding to the heaters 17 and 27 provided on the lower surfaces 15 and 25 of the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20, respectively. On the bottom, thermal diffusion plates Ra and Rb are provided. The thermal diffusion plates (Ra, Rb), and serves to diffuse the heat transferred from the heater (17, 27) to the kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) to the entire kimchi container, molded with aluminum material excellent in thermal conductivity It is desirable to be.

As described above, according to the present invention, the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 can maintain the temperature necessary for the ripening of kimchi by supplying the amount of heat generated by the heaters 17 and 27. At the same time, it can be seen that the cold temperature generated in the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 is configured to maintain a low temperature state necessary for storing the aged kimchi. And in order to maintain the temperature required for aging and storage required for storage, the sensors (Sa, Sb) for sensing the internal temperature of the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 30 are respectively installed. Based on the temperature sensed by the sensors (Sa, Sb), it is possible to adjust the temperature required for the ripening of kimchi and the storage of the kimchi.

Next, look at the function of the kimchi-only refrigerator according to the present invention configured as described above. As described above, since the cold air can be supplied to the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 and heat from the heaters 17 and 27 can be transmitted, the kimchi and the kimchi are stored. It can be used together.

First, a case in which the first chamber 10 is used for ripening kimchi and the second chamber 30 is used for storing kimchi will be described. Since the heater 17 of the first chamber 10 needs to generate heat in order to ripen the kimchi in the first chamber 10, the heater 19 is supplied with power and adjusted to a temperature required for ripening. At this time, the heat supplied from the heater 17 will be supplied to the inside of the kimchi container (Ca) by the heat diffusion plate (Ra) installed at the lower end of the kimchi container (Ca). In order to store the kimchi in the storage state in the second chamber 20, since the refrigeration cycle must be driven, the compressor 32 operates, and cool air must be generated by the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24. Since the cool air generated here should be supplied only to the second chamber 20, only the blowing fan 23 of the second chamber 20 is driven. Since the blower fan 13 of the first chamber 10 is not driven, the cool air generated in the coolant pipe 14 of the first chamber 10 stays inside the heat exchange chamber 11.

Looking at such a state, the first chamber 10 is maintained by the heater 17 to maintain the appropriate temperature for the ripening of kimchi, the second chamber 20 uses the cold air supplied by the blowing fan (23). It is possible to store aged kimchi at an appropriate storage temperature. In this state, the temperature control of the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 will be performed based on the temperature sensed by the respective sensors Sa and Sb. That is, the first chamber 10 controls the amount of heat generated by the heater 17 on the basis of the temperature sensed by the sensors Sa and Sb, and whether the cold air is supplied, that is, whether the refrigeration cycle is driven or not, in the second chamber 20. Will be determined.

Next, a case in which the first chamber 10 is used to store kimchi and the second chamber 20 is used to ripen kimchi will be described. This usage will be reversed to the usage described above. First, in order to use the second chamber 20 for the aging of kimchi, the amount of heat generated by the heater 27 must be used. Therefore, by heating the heater 27, the internal temperature of the second chamber 20 is adjusted to be a temperature suitable for aging. In order to use the first chamber 10 to store kimchi, cold air must be supplied to the first chamber 10, so that the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 by driving the compressor 32. do. If cool air is supplied to the coolant pipes 14 and 24, the cool air will be generated in the heat exchange chambers 11 and 21, but since the cool air should be supplied only to the first chamber 10, the blowing fan of the first chamber 10 ( 13) Only the fan is driven, and the blower fan 23 of the second chamber 20 is not driven. Therefore, the cold air is supplied only to the first chamber 10 by driving only the blower fan 13, thereby maintaining the first chamber 10 at a low temperature suitable for storing kimchi.

As described above, when either side of the first chamber 10 or the second chamber 20 is used for storing kimchi, the refrigerant tubes 14 and 24 on both sides are driven by driving the compressor 32. Although cold air is generated, it can be seen that the cold air is controlled to be supplied to only one side of the first chamber 10 or the second chamber 20. That is, in the kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention, since the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 are connected in parallel in the refrigerating cycle, a complicated configuration such as a solenoid valve for changing the path of the refrigerant is required. Means none.

Next, the case where the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 are used for the storage of kimchi at the same time will be described. In order to simultaneously use the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 for storing kimchi, cold air must be supplied to the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 at the same time. Therefore, the heat generation of the heaters 17 and 27 is completely stopped, and the refrigeration cycle is driven. That is, by driving the compressor 32, cold air will be generated in both refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 on both sides, and the cold air generated in this manner will be driven by driving both blower fans 13 and 23 in the first chamber ( 10) and the second chamber 20 at the same time to supply the cold air Therefore, the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 at the same time can maintain a low temperature suitable for the storage of kimchi.

When the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 are to be used for the aging of kimchi at the same time, the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant pipes 14 and 24 by not driving the compressor 32. It is sufficient to stop the generation of cold air and heat the respective heaters 17 and 27. Accordingly, while a predetermined amount of heat is supplied to the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20 by the heat of the heaters 17 and 27, it is possible to maintain a relatively high temperature state necessary for the ripening of kimchi.

As described above, according to the present invention, the cool air generated by the coolant pipes 14 and 24 is supplied to the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 20, or heat from the heaters 17 and 27 is removed. By selectively adding, it can be seen that both can be selectively used for ripening and storage of kimchi.

According to such a configuration of the present invention, the following advantages are expected.

First, it can be seen that the kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention has two chambers 10 and 20 arranged up and down similarly to a general refrigerator. Therefore, the user is expected to be convenient in use to open and close the respective doors 18 and 28 of the chambers 10 and 20 to store or take out the kimchi therein. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, the kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) mounted in the respective chambers 10 and 20 can be installed more conveniently by opening and closing in a sliding manner. In addition, by configuring the kimchi containers (Ca, Cb) in conjunction with the doors (18, 28), it is obvious that the convenience of use will be further increased because each kimchi container is pulled out at the same time as the door is opened.

And in the kimchi-only refrigerator according to the present invention, it can be seen that the configuration of the basic outer casing and the configuration of the chamber is similar to the refrigerator. Therefore, in terms of producers, it is possible to expect an advantage in terms of productivity in that a kimchi refrigerator can be produced by a simple addition or change to an existing production line.

In addition, it can be seen that the kimchi refrigerator according to the present invention has a simpler structure than the conventional kimchi refrigerator in terms of its structure. That is, it does not require a component such as a solenoid valve for changing the path of the refrigerant circulating the refrigeration cycle as in the prior art, and the refrigerant pipes connected in series are buried on the back of the inner case (Ba, Bb) As a result, it is understood that the overall configuration is simpler. By this simple configuration, it is possible to expect not only to reduce the overall production cost but also to improve the productivity on the assembly line.

According to the present invention, the heaters 17 and 27 are uniformly embedded in the bottom of each of the chambers 10 and 20 adjacent to the kimchi containers Ca and Cb, and the heat diffusion inside the kimchi containers Ca and Cb. By installing the plates Ra and Rb, uniform and efficient heat transfer is possible as a whole, and further advantageous advantages are expected in the kimchi ripening process.

Claims (7)

A first chamber and a second chamber separated by an insulating barrier in the refrigerator; Heaters respectively installed on one side of the chamber to supply heat for kimchi ripening; A refrigerant pipe installed along another side of each chamber to generate cold air supplied to the chamber; A partition disposed in front of one side of each chamber in which the coolant tubes are installed, and forming a heat exchange chamber in which cold air is generated by the coolant tube; The refrigerator for kimchi is provided on one side of the heat exchange chamber formed by the partition, comprising a blower fan for supplying the generated cold air to each chamber. The refrigerator for kimchi according to claim 1, further comprising a kimchi storage container which is stored in a drawer type and stores kimchi in each chamber. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the kimchi storage container is connected to a door that opens and closes each chamber, and opens and closes as the door is opened or closed. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a sensor for sensing a temperature is installed in each of the chambers, and the refrigerant pipe and the heater operate based on the temperature detected by the sensor. The refrigerator for kimchi according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refrigerant pipe is installed in a state of being embedded in the rear surface of the rear wall of each chamber. The refrigerator for kimchi according to claim 5, wherein the heater is installed at the bottom of each chamber. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the kimchi storage container is provided at one side of an inner surface and has a heat diffusion plate for diffusing heat supplied from a heater.