KR102057057B1 - Sterilizer of refrigerator using uv lamp for generating ozone - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a sterilizer for a refrigerator using an ozone generation UV lamp, which can sterilize various types of microorganisms generated in the refrigerator, and can oxidize algae-related odor materials. The sterilizer for a refrigerator using an ozone generation UV lamp comprises: a housing installed in a vertical direction in the refrigerator, having a lower portion in which an air inlet is formed, having an upper portion in which an air outlet is formed, and having an air flow passage that connects that air inlet to the air outlet; and a UV lamp installed in the housing to generate ozone. Accordingly, heat generated from the UV lamp can be rapidly spread, an air flow using the heat can be induced, and production amounts of the ozone can be promoted. Moreover, the UV lamp is installed in the housing to prevent damage to the lamp or exposure of infrared rays harmful to a human body, thereby increasing stability.

Description

Sterilizer for refrigerator using UV lamp for ozone generation {STERILIZER OF REFRIGERATOR USING UV LAMP FOR GENERATING OZONE}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator sterilizer using ozone generated by installing ozone generating UV lamp kit in the refrigerator and UV sterilizing line UV (172 nm to 254 nm), and more specifically, sterilizing various microorganisms generated and propagated in the refrigerator. And relates to a sterilizer for a refrigerator capable of oxidizing the taste substance.

In general, a refrigerator is a device that enables low-temperature storage of food in order to keep food fresh for a long time. The refrigerator is stored by refrigeration or refrigeration by adjusting the state of cold air according to the state of the storage to be stored.

The cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is generated by the heat exchange action of the refrigerant, is continuously supplied into the refrigerator while repeatedly performing a cycle of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and the supplied refrigerant is supplied by convection. It is evenly distributed inside the refrigerator to store food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.

Such refrigerators may be classified into general refrigerators, side-by-side refrigerators, and bottom freezer type refrigerators according to structures of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment.

The general refrigerator has a structure in which a freezer compartment is located at the top and a refrigerating compartment is located at the bottom, and the double door refrigerator has a structure in which the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are adjacent to the left and right.

The bottom freezer type refrigerator is a type commonly used in the United States and Europe, etc., and has a structure in which a refrigerating chamber having a larger size than that of the freezing compartment is positioned at the top and the freezer compartment is located at the bottom.

On the other hand, the refrigerator is rotatably mounted to the body and the main body having at least one storage space for low temperature storage, and includes a door for selectively opening and closing the storage space.

In addition, the storage space of the refrigerator is generally divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment. In the rear of the storage space, an evaporator that generates heat by heat exchange with air in the storage space is introduced into the evaporator, and the cold exchanged air is introduced into the evaporator. A fan is provided for blowing back to the storage space.

In addition, in recent years, various functions have been added for convenience of use of the refrigerator, and in order to implement such a function, a home bar for easily storing and storing a certain amount of food or food containers is provided on the door, or a plurality of the rear surfaces of the door are provided. A basket of is prepared.

These refrigerators store not only vegetables and fruits but also meat, fish, various food ingredients and finished foods. However, when food is left in the refrigerator for a certain period of time, food decay starts, and various volatile organic compounds generated as the inherent aroma and microorganisms grow and die are the main causes of odors, resulting in severe discomfort to the user. . In addition, when the smell of a certain food is infiltrated into other food, the problem of discarding the food is lost due to the inherent smell of food. Likewise, if the storage space is not periodically cleaned, the smell generated from various foods contained in the refrigerator may vibrate, and mold, bacteria, and viruses may multiply, which may not be good for hygiene and may cause inconvenience to users. Occurs.

In addition, since bacteria generated in one food are transmitted to other foods or move inside the refrigerator according to the cold air circulation, a problem of poor hygiene inside the refrigerator occurs.

For this reason, most refrigerators are equipped with various kinds of deodorizers for the purpose of sterilizing various microorganisms while removing odors due to the smell of food itself or food decay, and preventing circulation of the odors.

Recently, in order to remove the odor generated in the refrigerator, a technology of deodorizing and sterilizing microorganisms by using ultraviolet rays of an ultraviolet lamp has been developed. Have

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2012-0011454 (2012.02.08 published) Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2000-0041599 (published Jul. 15, 2000) Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-1046185 (2011.07.04 announcement)

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to apply ozone generating UV lamp to produce ozone to oxidize and sterilize, and to sterilize using UV254 sterilizing line. In order to improve the efficiency of ozone generation, improve the internal air circulation using the heat of the UV lamp, apply heat-resistant tube and heat reflector, and use the internal structure of the kit in order to promote the rising air flow by heat. By using the applied UV lamp kit, UV ultraviolet rays do not leak out to provide safety to the human body and provide improved efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, in one embodiment of the present invention is installed in the up and down direction of the inside of the refrigerator, the air inlet is formed in the lower portion and the air outlet is formed in the upper connection between the air inlet and the air outlet Provided is a sterilizer for a refrigerator using ozone, including a housing in which an air flow path is formed, and a UV lamp installed inside the housing to generate ozone.

According to the present invention, it is possible to sterilize various low-temperature bacteria such as viruses, fungi, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. that survive in the refrigerator, oxidize various tastes existing in the interior of the refrigerator, and reduce odor. It decomposes ethylene gas, which promotes decay, to maintain the freshness of fruits and helps to store for a long time.

In addition, the present invention generates ozone for oxidizing toxic substances such as pesticides, thereby contributing to securing food safety.

In addition, the present invention by rapidly spreading the heat generated from the UV lamp can prevent the problem that the food is located in the vicinity of the UV lamp is exposed to a temperature outside the predetermined refrigeration temperature is damaged.

In addition, the present invention can improve the safety of the human body due to ozone generation rate and ultraviolet rays compared to the existing UV lamp, it can reduce the amount of power required for the generation and sterilization of ozone.

1 is a front view showing a refrigerator equipped with a sterilizer for a refrigerator according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a partial cutaway perspective view showing a sterilizer for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the sterilization apparatus for a refrigerator using ozone (hereinafter, abbreviated as "refrigerator sterilizer") according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a front view showing a refrigerator equipped with a sterilizer for a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a partial cutaway perspective view showing a sterilizer for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the sterilization apparatus 100 for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a housing 110 installed to stand in the refrigerator, and UV installed in the housing 110 to generate ozone. Lamp 120.

The housing 110 may be quickly discharged to the outside of the housing 110 when the air heated by the UV lamp 120 forms an upward flow with ozone generated by the UV lamp 120. The inside of the refrigerator is installed in the vertical direction. In other words, when the housing 110 is installed horizontally (horizontally) inside the refrigerator, even if the air passing through the interior of the housing 110 is heated by the UV lamp 120 because the air flow in the refrigerator is weak. The time required for the heated air to be discharged to the outside of the housing 110 is required more than when installed in the vertical direction.

Hereinafter, each component will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 and 2, the sterilizer for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a housing 110.

The housing 110 protects the UV lamp 120 from external shock and provides an appearance of the sterilization apparatus 100 for the refrigerator. The housing 110 blocks the direct exposure of heat generated by the UV lamp 120 to sterilize the refrigerator. Food located in the vicinity of the device 100 is prevented from being exposed to a temperature higher than the internal temperature of the refrigerator. To this end, the housing 110 may be made of a heat resistant material such as ceramic or heat resistant plastic.

In detail, the housing 110 has an air inlet 112 through which air in the refrigerator is introduced, and an air outlet 114 through which the air introduced through the air inlet 112 is discharged. In addition, an air flow passage 116 connecting the air inlet 112 and the air outlet 114 is formed. At this time, the air flow passage 116 is provided with a UV lamp 120 and provides a space for the air to pass around the UV lamp 120, the air heated by the UV lamp 120 is a rising air flow It is formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing 110 to be formed and discharged.

If necessary, the air inlet 112 is a housing (as shown in FIG. 2) so that the internal air of the refrigerator can be smoothly introduced even if the sterilization apparatus 100 for the refrigerator is installed on the refrigerator shelf, etc. 110) is formed on the side of the lower part.

In addition, the air inlet 112 is preferably composed of a plurality, preferably 5 to 20 intake holes communicated to the air flow passage 116 so that the inflow of the air flowing into the housing 110 does not occur. Do. In other words, when the air inlet 112 is composed of four or less intake holes, the inflow of air may occur only in a part of the intake holes, so that the air flow may not be smooth.

The housing 110 is applied to the ventilation principle of the anthill to form an upward flow in the air introduced from the bottom so that the heat generated from the UV lamp 120 can be circulated smoothly. To this end, the air inlet 112 of the housing 110 is preferably formed in the inlet area in which air is introduced from the outside is 1.1 to 1.3 times the outlet area from which the air is discharged from the air outlet 114. At this time, if the inlet area is formed to be less than 1.1 times the outlet area, since the speed of the air discharged to the outside of the housing 110 is reduced, the diffusion of air containing ozone is not smoothly made to a long distance from the sterilizer for refrigerators. Bacteria in distant foods can cause problems that are difficult to sterilize. In addition, when the inlet area is formed to exceed 1.3 times the outlet area, a problem may occur that the air flow is stagnant in the housing 110.

2, the venturi passage 118 may be formed at a portion of the air flow passage 116 as shown in FIG. 2. The venturi passage 118 serves to accelerate the air flow through the interior of the housing 110 so that ozone generated in the UV lamp 120 can be quickly diffused into the refrigerator.

The inside of the housing 110 may be provided with a photocatalyst coating layer for generating hydroxyl radical (OH ■), the photocatalyst coating layer is preferably provided in the venturi passage 118 to be located close to the UV lamp 120. Do. At this time, the photocatalyst coating layer may be composed of TiO ₂ .

In this case, the photocatalyst TiO electrons ₂ generated by absorbing light in the ultraviolet 400nm or less in the (e ■) and holes (h ■) is a superoxide anion on the TiO ₂ surface promotes the respective air layers of O ₂ and H ₂ O and the reaction ( O ₂ ■) and hydroxyl radicals (OH ■) are produced, and oxidative radicals with high oxidizing power are excellent for various odor purification and can sterilize over 99% of various bacteria and bacteria such as environmental hormones, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. .

The air outlet 114 of the housing 110 may be configured as a single exhaust hole communicated with the air flow passage 116.

As an embodiment, the housing 110 according to the present invention may be formed as a fixed housing that is pre-installed in the refrigerator at the time of manufacture of the refrigerator.

As another embodiment, the housing 110 according to the present invention may be formed as a portable housing that can be selectively detachable to the pre-fabricated refrigerator. As such, when the portable 110 is made of a portable type that can be detachably attached to the inside of the refrigerator, a vacuum suction pad (not shown) may be provided on the surface of the housing 110 so that the housing 110 can be easily attached to the inside of the refrigerator.

1 and 2, the sterilizer 100 for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a UV lamp 120.

The UV lamp 120 sterilizes various low-temperature bacteria such as viruses, fungi, and Staphylococcus aureus that survive in the refrigerator, and generates ozone to oxidize various tastes existing in the refrigerator. It is installed inside the housing 110 for management.

This ozone is at least a problem, but at least 0.03ppm is always exposed to daily life, and various kinds of sterilization and oxidation are very beneficial to life on earth. The health standard of domestic and foreign ozone is 0.06 ~ 0.08ppm and does not cause secondary pollution since it does not leave odor or chemical residue after reaction.

The UV lamp 120 may use any UV lamp as long as it can emit ozone (o ³ ). Preferably, the UV lamp 120 may use an ozone generating UV lamp (ultraviolet lamp).

The UV lamp is a lamp that generates an ultraviolet wavelength having a wavelength range of 172nm ~ 254nm, ultraviolet light having such a wavelength has a very strong bactericidal effect, but serious photo-injury to the microorganisms such as mutation or sterilization Causes At this time, since the UV lamp or ozone lamp is implemented by a known technique, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As one embodiment, the sterilization apparatus 100 for a refrigerator according to the present invention may be of a fixed type that is pre-installed inside the refrigerator at the time of manufacture of the refrigerator. At this time, the UV lamp 120 is connected to the power supply unit of the refrigerator operates by receiving power from the power supply unit.

As another embodiment, the sterilization apparatus 100 for a refrigerator according to the present invention may be configured as a portable type that can be selectively attached to and detached from a pre-fabricated refrigerator. At this time, the UV lamp 120 is connected to the replaceable battery provided in the sterilizer 100 for the refrigerator to operate by receiving power from the battery, or connected to a cable having a thickness of a degree that does not interfere with the closing of the refrigerator door. It operates by receiving power from commercial power supply.

The UV lamp 120 is coupled to the bulb socket provided inside the housing 110, the bulb socket can be used a one-touch bulb socket so that the user can easily replace and clean the UV lamp 120. At this time, the one-touch bulb socket is a known configuration, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

On the other hand, since the UV lamp 120 and the bulb socket is configured to be installed inside the refrigerator having high humidity, the UV lamp 120 and the bulb socket are preferably formed to have an IP68 rating or higher. In this case, the IP rating is a rating designated by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), and it means a protection level provided against invasive elements (body parts such as hands and fingers), dust, accidental contact, and moisture on the skin of electronic products. do.

1 and 2, the sterilization apparatus 100 for a refrigerator according to the present invention may further include a heat reflection layer 130.

The heat reflection layer 130 is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 110 in which the air flow passage 116 is formed so as to reflect the heat generated from the UV lamp 120 to the UV lamp 120. Is formed.

For example, the heat reflection layer 130 may be formed through spray coating of aluminum on the inner circumferential surface of the housing 110 in which the air flow passage 116 is formed, or may be formed through the attachment of an aluminum film.

The heat reflected by the UV reflector 120 by the heat reflection layer 130 serves to improve the ozone production rate by activating the oxygen molecules and lowering the humidity.

1 and 2, the sterilizer for a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a controller 140.

The controller 140 is connected to the UV lamp 120 to control the operation of the UV lamp 120, the UV lamp 120 is driven for a time set by the built-in timer when the door of the refrigerator is closed, the refrigerator It controls the ON / OFF of the UV lamp 120 so that ozone is emitted inside. In other words, when the controller 140 lights up once of the UV lamp 120, the UV lamp 120 generates 5 to 10 hours of ozone, preferably 5 to 10 minutes, by ozone. Turn on power for 10 minutes.

At this time, the UV lamp 120 does not operate when the door of the refrigerator is opened, when ozone generated by the UV lamp 120 leaks to the outside of the refrigerator, the sterilization and deodorizing power inside the refrigerator is reduced, and the user of the refrigerator This is because a problem of exposure to a slight ozone within the range may occur.

In addition, the controller 140 may be configured to control the ON / OFF of the UV lamp 120 so that the UV lamp 120 can be operated at a predetermined time interval when the UV lamp 120 is not operated for a predetermined time. have. For example, the controller 140 detects the ON / OFF of the UV lamp 120 and forcibly turns on the UV lamp 120 when it is not lit for 8 to 24 hours.

In addition, the controller 140 is connected to the touch pad 10 outside the refrigerator, and turns on the UV lamp 120 once for a specified time according to the user's UV lamp 120 ON signal input from the touch pad 10. UV lamp 120 can be controlled to be. As such, when food such as new fruit is stored in the refrigerator, the user inputs a control signal of the UV lamp 120 to the controller 140 through the touch pad 10 to immediately sterilize the bacteria remaining in the fruit. Can be.

The controller 140 is configured to include a sensor installed in the door to detect the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, according to the open state, the number of times or the opening time of the door based on the signal detected by the sensor. The operation of the UV lamp 120 may be controlled.

Although the above has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be able to variously modify and change the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. It will be appreciated.

100: refrigerator sterilizer 110: housing
112: air inlet 114: air outlet
116: airflow passage 118: venturi passage
120: UV lamp 130: heat reflection layer
140: controller

Claims (9)

The inlet area in which the air outlet is formed in the upper portion and installed in the up and down direction of the refrigerator and the air containing ozone is diffused into the refrigerator and the air is introduced from the outside in the lower portion of the outlet area is discharged from the air outlet. An air inlet formed at 1.1 to 1.3 times is formed, and an air flow path is formed between the air inlet and the air outlet, and a venturi passage is formed in the air flow path to accelerate the air flow therethrough. ;
An ozone generating UV lamp installed inside the housing and generating ozone by generating ultraviolet rays having a wavelength range of 172 nm to 254 nm;
A heat reflection layer formed of aluminum on an inner circumferential surface of the housing in which the air flow passage is formed and reflecting heat with the UV lamp;
A photocatalyst coating layer provided in the venturi passage so as to be located close to the UV lamp to generate superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical; And
It comprises a sensor installed in the opening door to detect the opening and closing state of the refrigerator opening door, the operation of the UV lamp according to the opening state, the number of times or the opening time of the opening door based on the signal detected by the sensor Sterilizer for refrigerators using a UV lamp for ozone generation comprising a controller for controlling the. delete delete The method of claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst coating layer
Sterilizer for refrigerators using a UV lamp for ozone generation, characterized in that consisting of TiO ₂ . delete The method of claim 1, wherein the air inlet is
The sterilizing apparatus for a refrigerator using an ozone generating UV lamp, characterized in that formed on the side of the housing lower side, consisting of a plurality of intake holes connected to the air flow passage. The air inlet of claim 1 or 6, wherein the air inlet is
Sterilizing apparatus for a refrigerator using an ozone generating UV lamp, characterized in that the inlet area from which air is introduced from the outside is formed 1.1 to 1.3 times the outlet area from which the air is discharged from the air outlet. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing
Sterilizing apparatus for a refrigerator using a UV lamp for ozone generation, characterized in that the fixed housing is pre-installed inside the refrigerator at the time of manufacture of the refrigerator. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing
A sterilizer for a refrigerator using a UV lamp for ozone generation, characterized in that the portable housing can be detachably attached to a prefabricated refrigerator.

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