KR19990018970A - Refrigerator with cold air distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having a cold air outlet opening toward the cooling chamber; A rotating shaft rotatable in the vertical direction at the rear, horizontally distributing wings coaxially installed along the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft, and vertically distributing vanes vertically displaceable on the plate surface of the horizontally distributing blade; It includes a drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be easily reduced with a relatively simple configuration, and the combined cold air distribution can be achieved in the cooling chamber in the horizontal and vertical directions. In addition, if necessary, the cool air is discharged intensively in a specific region, thereby maintaining the inside of the cooling chamber at a uniform temperature distribution.

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 configured to uniformly supply cold air into 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 outlet, a four-segment section is not formed in the corner region, and in particular, the cold air is also formed on the side walls of each cooling chamber. Since the duct should 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, a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device that can maintain a uniform temperature distribution by eliminating four sections in the cooling chamber has recently 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. 10 to 12 is a view of a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device. Hereinafter, a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device which can be seen in the drawings will be described with reference to the disclosed PCT application WO 95/27278.

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.

As shown in FIG. 12, 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 which has such a cold air distribution apparatus 110, since the structure of the cold air distribution apparatus 110 is complicated and manufacture is difficult, there exists a problem that manufacturing cost increases. In addition, vortices may be formed around the cold air discharge port 16 by cold air flowing along the wing portions 117 and 119 having a gentle S-shaped cross section of the cold air distribution wing 111, and the vortices are cold air distribution devices. It may act as a load on the smooth operation of 110 and may not achieve uniform cold distribution in the cooling chamber. Conventional cold air distribution device 110, but also can achieve a horizontal uniform distribution of cold air, there is a disadvantage that does not uniformly distribute cold air in the vertical direction. Thus, there is a limit to the uniform cooling of the entire refrigerating chamber 23.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention, in consideration of these problems in the prior art, can be easily manufactured in a relatively simple configuration, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the cold air distribution that can achieve a combined cold air distribution in the horizontal and vertical direction in the cooling chamber It is to provide a refrigerator having a device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device which allows the cold air to be discharged intensively in a specific area if necessary, so that the inside of the cooling chamber can be maintained at a uniform temperature distribution.

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;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the left and right distribution wings,

5 is an enlarged perspective view of the vertically distributing wing;

Figure 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view of Figure 3 showing a state in which the upper and lower distribution wings are coupled to the left and right distribution wings,

7 to 9 are cross-sectional views of the assembled state of Figure 3, showing the operating state of the cold air distribution device according to the present invention,

10 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator having a conventional cold air distribution device,

11 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 10;

12 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 30: cold air distribution device

31: rotating shaft 35: drive motor

41a, 41b, 41c: left and right distribution wings 45: fixed hole

47: moving groove 49: locking jaw

53a, 53b: vertically distributed wings 55a, 55b: fixed protrusion

59: set screw

According to the present invention, a refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having a cold air discharge opening opened toward the cooling chamber; And a rotating shaft rotatable in the vertical direction at the rear of the cold air discharging outlet, the left and right distributing wings coaxially installed along the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft, and vertically installed on the plate surface of the left and right distributing blades. It is achieved by a refrigerator comprising a distribution blade and a drive motor for rotating the rotary shaft.

Here, the vertically distributing wing has a front edge and a pair of fixing projections protruding from the rear edge on the partial arc, the fixing hole for rotatably fixing the fixing projection of one side to the plate surface of the left and right distribution blades and the other side fixed A projection can be provided with a pivoting movable groove.

At this time, each of the fixing projections of the vertical distribution blade can be simply configured to be coupled by a fixing screw from the rear side with the left and right distribution blades in between.

The left and right distribution blades preferably have a pair of wings facing each other around the rotation axis, and the upper and lower distribution blades are attached to each of the wing portions.

The cold air duct may include a duct cover having the cold air discharge port formed therein and a duct member coupled to each other at a predetermined distance so as to form a cold air flow path between the duct cover, and the cooling chamber has an upper and lower layer structure. The cold air duct is provided with a cold air outlet corresponding to the storage zone, and the left and right distribution wings are preferably configured to be attached to each of the cold air outlets.

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

1 is a front view of a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. As can be seen from these figures, the refrigerator 10 having the present cold air distribution device 30 is a pair divided into a freezer compartment 2 and a refrigerating compartment 3 by an intermediate partition 5 in a substantially rectangular main body. Cooling chambers are provided, and opening and closing doors 6 and 7 are respectively provided on the opening fronts of the 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. It consists of a seal plate 25 adhered to the rear surface of the portion, and a partial cylindrical duct cover 27 installed in a form surrounding the cold air distribution device 30 in front of the front plate 23. The duct cover 27 and the duct member 21 are coupled at a predetermined distance, and form a cold air duct 15 for guiding the flow of cold air therebetween. The duct cover 27 is provided with cold air discharge ports 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.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the left and right distribution blades, Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the vertical distribution blades, and Figure 6 and the left and right distribution wings and the vertical distribution blades of the combined state. Perspective view. As can be seen in these figures, the present cold air distribution device 30 is provided on the rear side of the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, 16c formed in the duct cover 27 in the cold air duct, and in the drawing, the duct cover 27. It is shown relatively large relative to. The cold air distributing device 30 has a rotating shaft 31 disposed along the longitudinal direction of the cold air duct 15 and a left and right distributing blade 41 which is coaxially installed on the rotating shaft 31 to distribute cold air from side to side, and a vertical direction. It has a vertical distribution blade 51 which distributes cold air, and the drive motor 35 which rotates the rotating shaft 31. As shown in FIG. The duct cover 27 is provided with three cold air | gas outlets 16a, 16b, 16c corresponding to the storage area in a refrigerator compartment along an up-down direction.

The cylinder shaft-shaped rotary shaft 31 has an upper end portion 33 coupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor 35, and the lower end portion 34 is a rotary shaft of the flange portion 28 provided at the lower edge of the duct cover 27. The ball 29 is rotatably received. The drive motor 35 is preferably composed of a stepping motor capable of controlling the stop angle position and the forward and reverse drive. In the axial direction of the rotary shaft 31, three left and right wing blades 41a, 41b, 41c are formed so as to correspond to the three cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, 16c formed in the duct cover 27. Each of the left and right distributing blades 41a, 41b, 41c has a pair of vanes 43a, 43b which are formed substantially parallel to both sides with respect to the rotation shaft 31 in a substantially rectangular plate shape. Each of the left and right distribution wings 41a, 41b, 41c rotates integrally when the rotary shaft 31 rotates, and serves to distribute the cold air from the cold air duct 15 to the left and right.

On the other hand, the upper and lower distribution blades 53a and 53b for distributing cold air in the vertical direction are coupled to the plate surfaces of the wing portions 43a and 43b of the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b and 41c so as to vertically flow. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the vertically distributing wings 53a and 53b includes a pair of fixing protrusions 55a and 55b protruding in parallel from the front edge 54 and the rear edge 56 on the partial arc. Have Correspondingly, on the plate surfaces of the left and right distribution wings 41a, 41b, 41c as shown in FIG. 4, a fixing hole 45 for rotatably fixing the fixing protrusion 55b on one side and the fixing protrusion 55a on the other side. There is provided a movable groove 47 that can swing. Each of the fixing protrusions 55a and 55b accommodated in the fixing hole 45 and the moving groove 47 is distributed left and right by the fixing screw 59 fastened from the other side with the left and right distributing wings 41a, 41b and 41c interposed therebetween. The plate surfaces of 41a, 41b, and 41c are fluidly held and held.

In addition, the locking grooves 49a, 49b, and 49c are formed in the moving grooves 47 formed on the plate surfaces of the left and right distribution wings 41a, 41b, and 41c in the upper, middle, and lower stages along the longitudinal direction thereof. . The fixing protrusion 55a of the other side which pivots the fixing protrusion 55b of one side is hold | maintained on either side of these latching jaws 49a, 49b, 49c. The vertically distributed blades 53a and 53b maintain arbitrary rotation angles on the plate surfaces of the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b, and 41c according to the positions of the fixing protrusions 55a stopped at the locking jaw on one side. As a result, the cold air from the cold air duct 15 is guided according to the rotation angle positions of the vertically distributed vanes 53a and 53b and discharged into the refrigerating chamber.

On the other hand, the pair of upper and lower distribution blades (53a, 53b) coupled to the plate surface of each pair of left and right distribution blades (41a, 41b, 41c) formed opposite to each other about the rotation axis 31, can be seen in FIG. As described above, the two sides face each other. Accordingly, the cold air flowing along the plate plates on both sides of the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b, and 41c is guided in the vertical direction by the vertical distribution blades 53a and 53b.

7 to 9 are cross-sectional views of the coupled state of FIG. 3, illustrating an operating state of the cold air distribution device according to the present invention. When power is supplied from the outside to operate the refrigeration system, and when cold air is formed around the evaporator 12b, the control unit (not shown) operates the scoop fan 13b to operate the cold air around the evaporator 12b. Blow into the air. At the same time, a control signal is output to the drive motor 35 to rotate the rotating shaft 31 by 360 degrees. Then, the cold air flowing through the cold air duct 15 and discharged to the cold air discharge ports 16a, 16b, 16c is guided by the left and right distributing blades 41a, 41b, 41c that rotate in conjunction with the rotary shaft 31. It is distributed in the left and right directions.

On the other hand, before the start of the operation of the cold air distribution device 30 or during the temporary stop during the cooling process, the user operates the upper and lower distribution blades 53a and 53b coupled to the plate surfaces of the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b and 41c. It can be stopped at the rotational position of. Then, the cold air left and right distributed by the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b, 41c is guided according to the vertical rotation angle positions of the vertical distribution blades 53a, 53b and supplied in the corresponding direction. 7 to 9 illustrate the flow states of the cold air distributed in the left and right and up and down directions by the combined operation of the left and right distributing blades 41a, 41b and 41c and the vertical distributing blades 53a and 53b, respectively.

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 becomes a predetermined value or more, the control signal is output to the drive motor 35, and the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b, and 41c are stopped to rotate so that cold air can be concentrated in the corresponding area. At this time, when the upper and lower distribution blades 53a and 53b coupled to the plate surfaces of the left and right distribution blades 41a, 41b and 41c are appropriately operated, effective intensive cooling can be performed in the local area in the refrigerating chamber.

As described above, in the refrigerator having the cold air distribution device according to the present invention, the production cost of the product is reduced by the cold air distribution device that can be easily manufactured with a relatively simple configuration, and the combined cold air in the horizontal and vertical directions in the cooling chamber. Distribution can be achieved. In addition, if necessary, the cool air is discharged intensively in a specific region, thereby maintaining the inside of the cooling chamber at a uniform temperature distribution.

Claims (6)

In the refrigerator having a cooling chamber for cooling and storing food, A cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having a cold air discharge opening opened toward the cooling chamber; A rotating shaft rotatable vertically to the rear of the cold air discharge port; A left and right distributing blade coaxially installed along the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft and integrally rotating; Up and down dispensing wing which is installed on the plate surface of the left and right dispensing wing so as to flow up and down, And a drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft. The method of claim 1, The vertically distributed wing has a front edge on a partial arc and a pair of fixing protrusions protruding from the rear edge, Refrigerator, characterized in that the plate surface of the left and right distribution blades is provided with a fixing hole for rotatably fixing the fixing projections on one side and a moving groove that can rotate the fixing projections on the other side. The method of claim 2, Each of the fixing projections of the upper and lower distribution blades is coupled by a fixing screw from the rear side with the left and right distribution blades interposed therebetween. The method of claim 1 The left and right distribution wings have a pair of wings facing left and right about the rotation axis, The said up-down distribution blade is attached to each said wing part, The refrigerator characterized by the above-mentioned. The method of claim 1, The cold air duct, A duct cover having the cold air outlet formed therein; And a duct member coupled to the duct cover at a predetermined distance so as to form a cold air passage therebetween. The method of claim 1, The cooling chamber is divided into a plurality of storage zones arranged in the upper and lower layers, The cold air duct is provided with a cold air outlet corresponding to the storage area, And the left and right distribution wings are attached to the respective cold air outlets.