KR102123614B1 - A refrigerator comprising a vacuum space - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a vacuum space portion, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of enhancing the insulation function of the refrigerator by forming a vacuum space portion between the outer case and the inner case constituting the main body.
A refrigerator having a vacuum space part of the present invention includes a body having a storage space in which a predetermined storage can be accommodated, wherein the main body includes an inner case in which the storage space is formed inward; An outer case in which the inner case is accommodated and disposed at a predetermined distance from the inner case; A vacuum space part provided between the inner case and the outer case, the inside of which is sealed and kept in a vacuum state to perform an insulating action between the inner case and the outer case; A first support plate provided on one surface of the inner case and the outer case facing each other; It is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spacers that are fixedly arranged on the first support plate to support the gap between the inner case and the outer case.

Description

A refrigerator comprising a vacuum space

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a vacuum space portion, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of enhancing the insulation function of the refrigerator by forming a vacuum space portion between the outer case and the inner case constituting the main body.

Refrigerators are electrical appliances that can store or store refrigerated or frozen foods by keeping the temperature of the storage room at an image or sub-zero temperature using a refrigerant cycle.

Looking at the general configuration of the refrigerator, it includes a main body in which a storage space for storing storage is formed, and a door that is rotatably or slideably disposed in the main body to open and close the storage space.

In the case of the main body, it includes an inner case in which a storage space is formed, and an outer case in which the inner case is accommodated. An insulating material is disposed between the inner case and the outer case.

It is suppressed that the temperature in the storage space is influenced by the external temperature by the heat insulating material.

As the heat insulating material, a urethane foam is often used, and liquid urethane is injected into a space between the inner case and the outer case to form a foam.

However, in order to realize the thermal insulation effect using a thermal insulation material, the thickness of the thermal insulation material must be secured to a certain extent, which means that the thermal insulation material becomes thicker, and naturally, the wall thickness between the inner case and the outer case becomes thicker, so the size of the refrigerator is the same. It will grow.

However, in recent years, the trend of the compactness of the refrigerator has emerged, and the necessity of a structure that can increase the volume of the internal storage space and reduce the external size than before has emerged.

United States Patent Publication US2000882 (1935.05.07.)

The present invention has been devised to solve the above-described conventional problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of forming a vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case to increase the heat insulation effect and to compact the external volume. have.

In addition, while providing a vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case, the inner case and the outer case are intended to provide a refrigerator having a support structure capable of maintaining a gap without being deformed by an external impact.

A refrigerator having a vacuum space part of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a body having a storage space in which a predetermined storage can be accommodated, wherein the body is an inner case in which the storage space is formed inward. Wow; An outer case in which the inner case is accommodated and disposed at a predetermined distance from the inner case; A vacuum space part provided between the inner case and the outer case, the inside of which is sealed and kept in a vacuum state to perform an insulating action between the inner case and the outer case; A first support plate provided on one surface of the inner case and the outer case facing each other; It is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of spacers that are fixedly arranged on the first support plate to support the gap between the inner case and the outer case.

Preferably, the main body further includes a second support plate provided on any other surface of the inner case and the outer case facing each other and disposed to face the first support plate.

It is preferable that the second support plate includes a plurality of grooves formed to insert end portions of the plurality of spaces on its inner surface.

The plurality of spacers are preferably arranged in a plurality of rows vertically and horizontally.

It is preferable that the ends of the plurality of spacers have a convex curved shape.

It is preferable that the plurality of groove portions of the second support plate have a concave curved shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of spacers.

The spacer, the first support plate and the second support plate are preferably made of any one of metal, ceramic, and reinforced plastic.

In addition, it is preferable that the main body further includes a metal coating part for blocking radiant heat transfer on at least one side of the outer surface of the first support plate and the inner surface of the second support plate.

In addition, a plurality of perforations may be formed between the plurality of spacers on the inside of the first support plate.

Further, the first support plate may include an edge portion, a perforation portion formed in a portion surrounded by a plurality of spacers disposed along the edge portion, and a plurality of first portions connecting the plurality of spacers in the first direction in the perforation portion. A rib and a plurality of second ribs formed to connect the plurality of spacers in the second direction at the perforation and cross the plurality of first ribs may be included.

Here, the first support plate may further include a plurality of reinforcing ribs connecting the plurality of spacers between the first rib and the second rib.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention described above, a vacuum space portion is formed between the inner case and the outer case, not a normal heat insulating material, and a heat insulating effect is suppressed by heat transfer between the inner case and the outer case by the vacuum space portion.

Since the insulating effect in a vacuum state is significantly superior to the insulating effect by a conventional insulating material, the refrigerator according to the present invention has an advantage of superior thermal insulation than a conventional refrigerator.

On the other hand, in the case of the vacuum space part, regardless of its thickness (interval between the inner case and the outer case), only the vacuum state is insulated, but in the case of a normal heat insulating material, the thickness of the heat insulating material must be thickened to increase the heat insulating effect. The increase in thickness soon leads to an increase in the size of the refrigerator.

Therefore, the refrigerator according to the present invention can reduce the size of the outer case portion while maintaining the same storage space as compared with the conventional refrigerator, thereby contributing to the compactness of the refrigerator.

In addition, according to the refrigerator of the present invention, a vacuum space is formed between the inner case and the outer case, and the gap between the inner case and the outer case is not deformed by an external impact, but the gap can be maintained.

By providing a structure for easily assembling the inner case and the outer case forming the vacuum space and supporting parts therebetween, workability is improved.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
2 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing an inner case and an outer case and supporting parts therebetween in a refrigerator according to the present invention.
3 is a perspective view illustrating assembling the first support plate and the spacer and the second support plate in FIG. 2.
4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first support plate and the spacer and the second support plate are assembled in FIG. 3.
5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the first support plate.
6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the first support plate.

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

1 shows an example of a refrigerator according to the present invention. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing the inner case and the outer case and supporting parts therebetween in the refrigerator according to the present invention.

1, the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a main body 1 in which a storage compartment is formed, a first door 4 rotatably provided on the left side of the main body 1, and the main body 1 It includes a second door (5) provided rotatably on the right side of.

Here, the first door 4 opens and closes the freezer compartment in the storage compartment, and the second door 5 functions to open and close the refrigerator compartment in the storage compartment, but the present invention is not limited to a refrigerator having such a structure.

That is, the refrigerator of FIG. 1 is a so-called side-by-side type refrigerator in which a freezer is disposed on the left side and a refrigerator room is disposed on the right side, but the refrigerator of the present invention is of any type regardless of how the refrigerator and freezer are disposed. It can be applied to the refrigerator. In addition, of course, it can be applied to a refrigerator including only a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber, or a refrigerator further including a separate cooling chamber in addition to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

Looking at the structure of the main body 1, the inner case 110 in which the storage space is formed inward; An outer case 120 in which the inner case is accommodated, and spaced apart from the inner case at a predetermined distance; A vacuum space part 130 provided between the inner case and the outer case, the inside of which is sealed and maintained in a vacuum state to perform adiabatic action between the inner case and the outer case; A first support plate 160 provided on one surface of the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 facing each other; It is fixed to the first support plate and includes a plurality of spacers 150 to support the gap between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

The outer case 120 and the inner case 110 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other, and a separate insulating material is not disposed in this space, but is maintained only in a vacuum state to insulate.

That is, a vacuum space part 130 is formed between the outer case 120 and the inner case 110 to remove a medium that mediates heat transfer between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120. To maintain.

In this way, heat of hot air outside the outer case 120 can be prevented from being transferred to the inner case 110 and the inside.

A plurality of spacers to maintain a gap between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 in order to maintain the shape of the vacuum space 130 between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 (spacer) 150 is disposed. A plurality of spacers 150 are arranged and supported to maintain a gap between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

A plurality of spacers 150 should be fixed between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120. As a structure for fixing the plurality of spacers 150, the plurality of spacers 150 are the first support plate 160. Is placed on.

The first support plate 160 may be provided to contact one surface of the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 facing each other.

In FIG. 2, the first support plate 160 is disposed to contact the outer surface of the inner case 110, but the first support plate 160 may be disposed to contact the inner surface of the outer case 120.

The main body 1 further includes a second support plate 170 provided on any other surface of the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 facing each other and disposed to face the first support plate. desirable.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second support plate 170 is disposed to contact the inner surface of the outer case 120, and the plurality of spacers 150 are fixedly disposed on the first support plate 160 to make The first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 are supported to maintain a gap.

Since the first support plate 160 is in contact with the outer surface of the inner case 110, and the second support plate 170 is in contact with the inner surface of the outer case 120, the plurality of spacers 150 are After all, it is to maintain the gap between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 are arranged to be spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. 1, but a plurality of spacers 150 are integrally fixed. Only the first support plate 160 disposed may be provided between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

In this way, when the second support plate 170 is not provided, the ends of the plurality of spacers 150 will be arranged to directly contact the inner surface of the outer case 120.

Meanwhile, FIG. 1 illustrates the inner case 110, the outer case 120, and the spacer 150 in a state where the first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 are omitted for convenience.

Returning to the case where the second supporting plate 170 is also provided, the second supporting plate 170 includes a plurality of grooves 175 formed to insert the ends of the plurality of spaces 150 into its inner surface. desirable.

The plurality of grooves 175 formed in the second support plate 170 are formed in the spacers 150 when the second support plate 170 is nested in a plurality of spaces 150 integrally formed in the first support plate 160. So that the relative position to is fixed.

Since the inner case 110 and the outer case 120 constituting the main body 1 must form a vacuum space 130 therebetween, for example, an inner case forming one side of the main body 1 ( 110) and the outer case 120 should be formed integrally to have a size corresponding to the size of one side.

On the other hand, the first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 produce a unit having a predetermined size smaller than the inner case 110 and the outer case 120, and then the first support plate 160 and the 2 A plurality of sets assembled by butting the support plate 170 with the spacer 150 therebetween may be manufactured and inserted into and assembled between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

Of course, the first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 may be manufactured and assembled in the same size as the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

FIG. 2 shows only a part of the stacked structure in order to show the assembly structure between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120.

Next, the structures and assembly methods of the first support plate, the spacer, and the second support plate will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 is a perspective view showing assembling the first support plate and the spacer and the second support plate, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the state in which the first support plate and the spacer and the second support plate are assembled.

As illustrated, it is preferable that the plurality of spacers 150 are arranged in a plurality of rows vertically and horizontally.

The plurality of spacers 150 integrally formed and disposed on the first support plate 160 are arranged in rows in the vertical and horizontal directions, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

By arranging a plurality of rows of spacers 150 in this way, not only is it easy to design and form, but also facilitates assembly work, and after assembly, the strength to withstand vacuum pressure or external shock in the vacuum space part 130 is improved. It can get bigger.

In addition, it is preferable that the ends of the plurality of spacers 150 have a convex curved shape.

As shown in the enlarged circle of FIG. 4, the end of each spacer 150 is assembled into a groove 175 formed in the second support plate 170 during assembly by forming an end of the spacer 150 in a convex curved shape. Because it is easily seated, assembly can be much easier.

In addition, the plurality of grooves 175 of the second support plate 170 is more preferably a concave curved shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of spacers 150.

Since the plurality of grooves 175 of the second support plate 170 are formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of spacers 150, positioning is easy during assembly and the second support plate 170 is also assembled after assembly. It can be fixed so as not to move in a direction parallel to the surface.

The spacer 150, the first support plate 160, and the second support plate 170 may be made of any one of metal, ceramic, and reinforced plastic.

The spacer 150 is provided in the vacuum space portion 130 between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120, and the first support plate 160 and the second support plate 170 are the inner case 110 And the outer case 120 respectively.

Accordingly, the heat transfer from the outside of the outer case 120 to the inside of the inner case 110 should be minimized. External heat is conducted through the second support plate 170, the spacer 150, and the first support plate 160. Can be.

So, the spacer 150, the first support plate 160, and the second support plate 170, which are provided to be in contact between the inner case 110 and the outer case 120, are metals and ceramics, each of which has low thermal conductivity. , It is preferably made of any one of the reinforced plastics.

Among them, since the spacer or the like is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity and excellent strength, it is more preferable to manufacture a ceramic or reinforced plastic than a metal having a high thermal conductivity but having a high thermal conductivity.

Meanwhile, the main body 1 may further include a metal coating part for blocking radiation heat transfer on at least one side of the outer surface of the first support plate 160 and the inner surface of the second support plate 170.

Although not shown in the drawing, the metal coating part is coated with metal on at least one side of the outer surface of the first support plate 160 and the inner surface of the second support plate 170, and the inner case 110 and the outer case ( 120) to minimize the heat transfer by radiation.

In the case of metal, since it has excellent properties to block radiant heat transfer, it is generally coated with a metal to minimize radiant heat transfer even though it has a relatively large thermal conductivity.

In order to minimize radiative heat transfer, the metal coating part may be preferably provided on both the outer surface of the first support plate 160 and the inner surface of the second support plate 170.

Hereinafter, two other embodiments of the first support plate will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

First, FIG. 5 shows a first support plate 260 in which a plurality of spacers 150 are integrally formed and disposed according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The difference from the first support plate 160 according to the first embodiment described above in this embodiment is that the first support plate 260 has a plurality of perforations 262 between the plurality of spacers 150 inside its edges. Is formed.

The reason for forming the plurality of perforations 262 in the first support plate 260 is that the fine atom on the surface of the first support plate 260 by the vacuum pressure in the first support plate 260 in the vacuum space 130 Or, it is to prevent outgassing of the molecules from protruding.

In other words, by reducing the surface area of the first support plate 260, the material itself that can cause outgassing is reduced.

Of course, by forming a plurality of perforations 262 on the first support plate 260, it is possible not only to reduce the material cost of forming the first support plate, but also to reduce its weight.

As shown in FIG. 5, since the plurality of spacers 150 are arranged in a plurality of rows vertically and horizontally, the plurality of perforations 262 have four vertices adjacent to the four spacers 150. It is made of a rectangular shape positioned to be.

Of course, the shape of the perforated portion 262 is not limited to such a rectangular shape, and may be formed in another shape such as a hexagon, an octagon, or an oval.

However, the plurality of perforations 262 consider the position where the plurality of spacers 150 are disposed, so that the first support plate 160 has sufficient strength to support the spacers 150 without interfering with them. Will have to form.

In addition, the plurality of perforations 262 formed in the first support plate 160 are arranged inside the edge portion 261 of the first support plate 160.

Between the plurality of perforations 262, a first rib 263 connecting the two spacers 150 in the horizontal direction and a second rib 264 connecting the two spacers 150 in the vertical direction are formed. have.

As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of spacers 150 are disposed at a point where the first rib 263 and the second rib 264 intersect or two ribs intersect the edge 261. desirable.

The edge portion 261 of the first support plate 160 is preferably formed to have a larger width than the width of the first rib 263 and the second rib 264.

This is because the edge portion 261 is a portion that provides basic strength while forming the entire skeleton of the first support plate 160.

In addition, the second support plate 170 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 may have a plurality of perforations formed as in the first support plate 260 illustrated in FIG. 5.

In this case, the second support plate 170 will preferably have the same shape as the first support plate 260. Of course, the plurality of grooves 175 described above may be formed on the second support plate 170.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows a first support plate 360 in which a plurality of spacers 150 are integrally formed and disposed according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The difference from the first support plate 260 according to the second embodiment described above in this embodiment is that the first support plate 360 is inside the perforated portion 362 surrounded by a plurality of ribs 363 and 364. It is to further include a reinforcing rib 365 connecting two or more spacers 150.

That is, in the third embodiment, the first support plate 360 includes an edge portion 361 and a perforated portion 362 formed in a portion surrounded by a plurality of spacers 150 disposed along the edge portion, and the fabric In the study, a plurality of first ribs 363 connecting the plurality of spacers in the first direction, and a plurality of spacers connected to the plurality of spacers in the second direction and formed to intersect the plurality of first ribs It includes a second rib 364, but may further include a plurality of reinforcing ribs 365 connecting the plurality of spacers between the first rib and the second rib.

For convenience, in the third embodiment, the perforated portion 362 is a rectangle formed in a portion surrounded by a plurality of spacers 150 arranged along the edge portion 361 unlike the perforated portion 262 in the second embodiment. It is defined as pointing to a portion and a rectangular portion formed by a virtual outline excluding the ribs 363, 364, and 365.

However, as a result, it will be understood that the first support plate 360 of the third embodiment is the same form as the first support plate 260 of the second embodiment, except for the reinforcing ribs 365.

The reinforcing rib 365 may be formed to connect between two spacers arranged diagonally among the plurality of spacers 150. Thus, the two reinforcing ribs 365 are formed to cross each other in the middle.

In addition, if the plurality of spacers 150 are in a form capable of reinforcing the strength of the first support plate 360 integrally formed, they are connected in a direction parallel to the first rib 363 or the second rib 364. Of course, it can be made in other forms.

Since the above-described first support plates 160, 260 and 360 and the second support plates 170 are formed integrally with each other, it is preferable that they are formed and molded at once in a molding frame manufactured in a predetermined shape.

According to the refrigerator according to the present invention, it is very easy to assemble and insert a plurality of spacers in the vacuum space between the inner case and the outer case, and can have a structure capable of sufficiently withstanding the vacuum pressure.

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and those skilled in the art can appropriately within the scope described in the claims of the present invention. Changes will be possible.

1: main body 4, 5: door
110: inner case (first embodiment) 120: outer case
130: vacuum space 150: spacer
160: first support plate 170: second support plate
175: groove 260: first support plate (second embodiment)
261: edge 262: perforated
360: first support plate (third embodiment) 361: edge
362: perforation 363: first rib
364: Second rib 365: Reinforcing rib

Claims (20)

It includes a body having a storage space in which a predetermined storage can be accommodated,
The main body,
An inner case in which the storage space is formed;
An outer case in which the inner case is accommodated and disposed at a predetermined distance from the inner case;
A vacuum space part provided between the inner case and the outer case, the inside of which is sealed and kept in a vacuum state to perform an insulating action between the inner case and the outer case; And
While the vacuum space is formed between the inner case and the outer case, the inner case and the outer case include a support structure provided to maintain the gap without being deformed by vacuum pressure or external impact,
The support structure,
A first support plate provided between the inner case and the outer case; And
It includes a plurality of spacers formed in a shape protruding in the thickness direction of the first support plate from one surface of the first support plate,
The first support plate and the plurality of spacers are integrally disposed between the inner case and the outer case,
A plurality of perforations are formed between the plurality of spacers on the first support plate,
The plurality of perforations are refrigerators, characterized in that formed in order to prevent outgassing from the surface of the first support plate due to vacuum pressure in the first support plate in the vacuum space portion. delete According to claim 1,
Each of the plurality of perforations is a refrigerator, characterized in that formed between the spacer and the spacer. According to claim 1,
The refrigerator is characterized in that the plurality of perforations are formed inside the edge of the first support plate. According to claim 1,
The plurality of spacers are arranged with a predetermined distance from each other and are fixedly arranged on the first support plate to be provided to support the gap between the inner case and the outer case. According to claim 1,
The first support plate is a refrigerator characterized in that a plurality of perforations are formed between the plurality of spacers inside the edge. According to claim 1,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of perforations and the plurality of spacers are not interfered with each other so that the first support plate has rigidity for supporting the plurality of spacers. According to claim 1,
The first support plate, the refrigerator comprising a plurality of ribs connecting the plurality of spacers. The method of claim 8,
The plurality of ribs,
A plurality of first ribs connecting the plurality of spacers in the first direction in the perforated portion; And
A refrigerator comprising a plurality of second ribs formed to cross the plurality of first ribs by connecting the plurality of spacers in the second direction in the perforated portion. The method of claim 9,
A refrigerator characterized in that one spacer among the plurality of spacers is provided at an intersection of the first rib and the second rib. The method of claim 8,
The refrigerator, characterized in that the first support plate has an edge. delete The method of claim 11,
The refrigerator is characterized in that the width of the edge portion is greater than the width of the rib so that the edge portion forms the entire frame of the first support plate and provides basic rigidity. The method of claim 8,
The first support plate is a refrigerator, characterized in that it comprises a reinforcing rib provided on the perforated portion. The method of claim 14,
The reinforcing rib, a refrigerator characterized in that it is formed to be surrounded by a plurality of ribs connecting the plurality of spacers. The method of claim 15,
Refrigerator, characterized in that the reinforcing ribs are formed to intersect the other reinforcing ribs. According to claim 1,
The first support plate and the plurality of spacers are refrigerators characterized in that the inner case is disposed integrally between the outer case and a predetermined distance apart. The method of claim 17,
The plurality of spacers are arranged with a predetermined distance from each other and are fixedly arranged on the first support plate to be provided to support the gap between the inner case and the outer case. The method of claim 17,
The refrigerator, characterized in that the first support plate and the plurality of spacers are produced as a unit, and the inner case is disposed at a predetermined distance from the outer case. The method of claim 19,
The unit body is manufactured to be the same size as the size of the inner case and the outer case forming one side of the body, or a plurality of sizes smaller than the inner case and the outer case forming one side of the body. Features a refrigerator.

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