KR19990018972A - Refrigerator with cold air distributor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cooling chamber, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air, the cold air duct having at least one cold air outlet opening toward the cooling chamber, and a horizontal direction at the cold air discharge port; A plurality of cold air distributing wings rotatably installed with a parallel axis of the plurality of cold air distributing wings, and being arranged to be movable in a transverse direction of the plurality of cold air distributing blades, constrained to integrally rotate the plurality of cold air distributing wings in conjunction with lifting and lowering And a driving unit for elevating the interlocking member. As a result, the cold air discharged into the cooling chamber can be evenly distributed, and if necessary, the cold air can be discharged intensively in a specific region. In addition, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and a cold air distribution device that does not generate vortices around the cold air discharge port is provided, thereby improving cold air distribution efficiency.

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 that distributes the cold air discharged into the cooling chamber evenly and, if necessary, to intensively supply the cold air to a specific region.

A refrigerator having a cold air distributor is proposed in PCT application WO 95/27278 by the applicant of the present invention, and FIGS. 7 to 9 show a refrigerator having such a conventional cold air distributor. As can be seen from these figures, the refrigerator 101 having the conventional cold air distribution device has a pair of coolings divided into a freezer compartment 2 and a refrigerating compartment 3 by an intermediate partition 5 in a substantially rectangular main body. A seal is provided, and the opening / closing doors 6 and 7 are provided in the opening front of each cooling chamber 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. In the rear wall of the refrigerating chamber 3, there is provided a cold air duct 15 through which cold air from the refrigerating chamber evaporator 12b is blown and flowed by the refrigerating chamber fan 13b, and within the cold air duct 15, cold air distribution is provided. The 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. 9, the conventional 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 and driving 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. The direction of the flow path is changed by the curved plate surface of the 111, spreading left and right in the refrigerating chamber and 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 and 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 refrigerator having the conventional cold air distribution device 110, the configuration of the cold air distribution device 110 for evenly distributing the cold air supplied into the cooling chamber is difficult to manufacture easily, and thus the refrigerator 101 ) Will increase the production cost. In addition, since the cold air distribution wing forms a smooth S-shaped bend, the cold air discharged through the cold air discharge port forms a vortex around the cold air discharge port. Such a vortex acts as a load on the operation of the cold air distribution device, and thus, the efficient operation of the cold air distribution device is lowered, and thus there is a limit to uniform cooling of the inside of the refrigerating chamber, which is on the increase in size.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention, in view of such a problem in the prior art, can evenly distribute the cold air discharged into the cooling chamber, and if necessary, the cold air can be intensively discharged in a specific region, and a relatively simple configuration It is to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device to reduce the production cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device, which does not generate vortex around the cold air discharge port, thereby improving operating performance and thus improving cold air distribution efficiency.

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

2 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG.

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

4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled state of FIG.

5 and 6 are side cross-sectional views of the coupled state of Figure 3, showing an operating state of the cold air distribution device according to the invention,

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

8 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7;

9 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: cold air outlet 20: duct housing

21: duct member 27: duct cover

28, 45: flange portion 30: cold air distribution device

41: interlocking member 42: action projection

43: hinge protrusion 49: support bracket

51: cold air distribution wing 52: front edge

56: rear edge 57: through hole

61 drive unit 63 drive motor

65: rotating cam 67: cam groove

According to the present invention, a refrigerator having a cooling chamber, comprising: a cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air and having at least one cold air discharge opening opened toward the cooling chamber; A plurality of cold air distributing blades rotatably installed at a cold air discharging outlet with a horizontal axis in a horizontal direction, and the plurality of cold air distributing blades are arranged to be movable in a horizontal direction of the plurality of cold air distributing blades, and the plurality of cold air distributing wings are interlocked with a lift. It is achieved by a refrigerator comprising an interlocking member for constraining to rotate integrally, and a driving unit for elevating the interlocking member.

The drive unit may be simply configured to include a drive motor fixed to the upper side of the interlocking member, and an electric cam that is coaxially coupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor to rotate integrally. In this case, the electric cam is to have a cam groove having a cylindrical cam body having a predetermined cross-sectional diameter and a camp groove that is continuously elevated along the cylindrical surface of the cam body, and the cam groove is interlocked with the cam groove. It is preferable that the upper end of the member is accommodated and configured to move up and down along the camp profile when the drive shaft of the drive motor rotates.

On the other hand, the interlocking member integrally penetrates the plurality of cold air distributing wings, couples the plurality of cold air distributing wings at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction so as to oscillate, and the plurality of cold air dispensing penetrating the interlocking member. It is preferable that the through hole of the blade is provided at a predetermined front side with respect to the axis line. At this time, the means for coupling the plurality of cold air distribution blades, the hinge pin is provided on one side edge of the through hole of each of the cold air distribution blades, and each of the cold air distribution wings from the longitudinal outer diameter surface of the interlocking member. It can be configured simply by including a plurality of hinge projections which are opposed to each other with the plate surface interposed therebetween, engaging the hinge pin.

On the other hand, the cooling chamber is partitioned into a plurality of storage zones arranged in the upper and lower layers, the cold air discharge port is attached to each of the storage zones, the plurality of horizontal distribution wings may be provided in each of the cold air discharge outlets. .

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

1 is a front view of a door open state 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 described with reference to FIG. 7 of the related art, the refrigerator 1 includes a pair of cooling chambers divided into a freezing chamber 2 and a refrigerating chamber 3 by an intermediate partition 5 in an almost rectangular main body. Opening / closing doors 6 and 7 are respectively provided on the opening fronts of the respective cooling chambers 2 and 3. The refrigerator compartment 3 is provided with a plurality of shelves 8 for placing food, and partitioned into a plurality of food storage zones parallel to each other. The special refrigeration chamber 18 used for storing the food suitable for a specific temperature range is formed in the upper side of the refrigerating chamber 3, and the vegetable chamber 19 for storing vegetables is formed in the lower side of the refrigerating chamber 3. As shown in FIG.

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 includes a duct member 21 for guiding the cold air insulated, a front plate 23 attached to the front surface of the duct member 21, and a seal plate bonded to the rear surface of the duct member 21. (25) and a duct cover (27) which is coupled to the front surface at a predetermined distance from the duct member (21) below the front plate (23). The duct cover 27 has a partial cylindrical shape protruding from the rear wall surface, and forms a predetermined cold air flow path, that is, a cold air duct 15, between the duct member 21 and the duct member 21. The duct cover 27 is provided with a cold air discharge port 16 opened toward the refrigerating chamber 3 in the central region thereof, and the cold air flowing along the flow path of the cold air duct 15 is connected to the cold air discharge port 16. It is discharged into the refrigerating chamber through.

The cold air discharging device 30 in the cold air duct is provided with a cold air distribution device 30 which will be described later in detail for uniformly distributing the discharged cold air into the refrigerating chamber. 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 by the duct housing 20. 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 discharge outlet 16, and the cold air discharged to cool the refrigerating chamber 3 is circulated duct 17. Through the return to the refrigerator compartment evaporator (12b).

3 is an exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled state of FIG. As can be seen in the figure, the cold air distribution device 30 is provided inside the duct cover 27, a plurality of rotatably installed in the cold air discharge port (16a, 16b) having a parallel axis in the horizontal direction. It consists of the cold air | distribution blade 51 and the drive part 61 which rotates the cold air | distribution wings 51 up and down, and simultaneously rotates the left-right distribution blades 33a and 33b. In the duct cover 27, the longitudinal central region of the duct cover 27 is protruded with respect to the reference plane, and two cold air discharge ports 16a and 16b are provided on the protruding plate surface. Accordingly, the cold air flowing through the cold air duct 15 and guided by the cold air distribution device 30 is distributed in the refrigerating chamber 3 at a large discharge angle range.

The cold air distribution blades 51 are rotatably provided at each of the cold air discharge ports 16a and 16b, respectively. These cold air distribution blades 51 are formed in a substantially plate-like body, and extend laterally from both side ends of the front edge portion 52 and the front edge portion 52 each having a shape corresponding to the plate surface protruding from the duct cover 27. It has a rotating shaft 58, and a rear edge 56 connecting the two rotating shafts 58 in a straight line. The plate surface of the cold air distribution wing 51 is preferably formed to be as large as possible to effectively guide the cold air flowing through the cold air duct 15, the front edge portion 52 is the rising portion 53, the flat portion 54, And it is cut off by the lower part 55. As shown in FIG. The plate surface is provided with a through hole 57 that allows passage through an interlocking member to be described later on a predetermined front side with respect to the axis line. On the other hand, the flange portions 45 which are opposed to each other along the longitudinal direction are provided at both rear edges of the duct cover 27, and the rotation shafts 58 of the cold air distribution blades 51 are provided on the flange portions 45. The rotating shaft hole 47 for accommodating) is formed at predetermined intervals. Both rotating shafts 58 of the cold air distribution blades 51 are rotatably received in these rotating shaft holes 47, respectively.

The driving unit 61 may include a driving motor 63, a rotation cam 65 rotatably coupled to the driving motor 63, and the cold air distribution wings 51 by interacting with the rotation cam 65. It has an interlocking member 41 which rotates up and down integrally. The drive motor 63 is fixedly mounted to a support bracket 49 fixed to an upper portion of the duct cover 27 to maintain a predetermined distance from the upper cold air discharge port 16a. The drive motor 63 is composed of a stepping motor capable of forward and reverse rotation and stop angle position control.

The rotation cam 65 is coupled to the drive shaft 64 of the drive motor 63 so as to be coaxially rotatable. The rotary cam 65 has a cylindrical cam body 66 having a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, and a cam groove 67 having a camp profile that continuously lifts up and down is formed on the circumferential surface of the cam body 66. have. In such a cam groove 67 is engaged with the working projection 42 of the interlocking member 41 to be described later to be moved along the camp profile during the rotation of the rotary cam (65).

The interlocking member 41 has a circular rod shape, and a plurality of hinge protrusions 43 hinged to the cold air distribution wings 51 rotatably installed at the cold air discharge ports 16a and 16b, respectively, and the rotary cam 65. Has a working projection 42 engaged with the cam groove 67 of the. The hinge protrusion 43 is composed of a pair of protrusions protruding from the outer diameter surface of the interlocking member 41 with the plate surface of the cold air distribution blade 51 interposed therebetween, and the pair of protrusions are interlocking members. A predetermined distance is formed along the longitudinal direction of the (41). On the other hand, the through-holes 57 of the cold air distribution blades 51 are provided with a hinge pin (not shown) engaged with the hinge protrusion 43 of the interlocking member 41. Accordingly, when the interlocking member 41 is raised and lowered, the cold air distribution blades 51 are integrally rotated within a predetermined limited range by the mutual hinge coupling of the hinge protrusion 43 and the hinge pin 59.

On the other hand, the upper end of the interlocking member 41 is bent and extended toward the circumferential surface of the electric cam 65, and the lower end of the interlocking member 41 is rotated by the flange portion 28 provided at the lower edge of the duct cover 27. Possibly supported. The flange portion 28 has a predetermined thickness, and the rotary shaft hole 29 is formed on the plate surface, so that the lower end of the interlocking member 41 can be rotatably received. And the rotation shaft hole 29 is formed in the long hole so that the interlocking member 41 can move along the axial direction. The upper end of the bent extension member 41 forms an action protrusion 42 to interact with the electric cam (65). That is, the end of the actuating protrusion 42 is accommodated in the cam groove 67 of the electric cam 65, and as described above, is moved up and down along the axial direction when the electric cam 65 is rotated. Since the 42 and the interlocking member 41 are integrally formed, the interlocking member 41 can be elevated. When the interlocking member 41 moves up and down, each of the cold air distribution blades hinged thereto is rotated in front of the cold air discharge ports 16a and 16b.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the coupled state of FIG. The motor 63 driven by the control signal of the control part which is not shown in figure rotates the rotating cam 65 by 360 degrees. Then, the actuating protrusion 42 of the interlocking member 41 is continuously raised and lowered along the cam body 66, that is, the cam groove 67, of the rotary cam 65. Then, the interlocking member 41 is raised and lowered, and each of the cold air distributing wings 51 hinged thereto is rotated in a predetermined limited vertical direction. The rotational state of the cold air distribution blade is shown in detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.

As such, when the cold air distributing wing 51 is rotated by the continuous driving of the driving motor 63, the cold air flowing through the cold air duct 15 is evenly distributed by the inside of the ash and is supplied into the refrigerating chamber. As a result, a uniform cooling state can be maintained in the refrigerating chamber.

On the other hand, when warm air is introduced from the outside due to the opening of the door 7, etc., a predetermined temperature deviation may occur in the refrigerating chamber. At this time, the control unit detects that a temperature deviation has occurred by applying a temperature signal from a temperature sensor not shown installed in the refrigerating chamber. At this time, the controller checks a region having a low temperature. Then, by sending a control signal to the drive motor 63, the cold air distribution wing 51 is stopped so that cold air can be concentrated in the corresponding area. In the cold air distribution device 30 according to the present invention, the drive motor 63 is composed of a stepping motor capable of controlling the stop angle position, so that the cold air distribution wing 51 stops the drive motor 63 so as to face a low temperature region. In this case, the cold air discharged through the cold air discharge ports 16a and 16b is guided toward the corresponding region. Through such intensive cooling, an area in which a temperature deviation has occurred can be quickly removed, thereby keeping the refrigerating chamber in a uniform temperature distribution.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device capable of evenly distributing the cold air discharged into the cooling chamber and, if necessary, discharging the cold air in a specific region. It can maintain a uniform temperature distribution. In addition, the present cold air distribution device has a relatively simple configuration can reduce the manufacturing cost, and also the operation performance is improved because the vortex is not generated around the cold air discharge port, the cold air distribution efficiency is improved accordingly excellent effect Is provided.

Claims (8)

In the refrigerator having a cooling chamber, A cold air duct provided on a side wall of the cooling chamber to guide the flow of cold air, the cold air duct having at least one cold air discharge port opened toward the cooling chamber; A plurality of cold air distributing vanes rotatably installed at the cold air discharge outlets with parallel axes in a horizontal direction; An interlocking member which is arranged to be movable up and down in the horizontal direction of the plurality of cold air distribution blades, and interlocks with the lifting member to constrain the plurality of cold air distribution wings to rotate integrally; And a driving unit for elevating the interlocking member. The method of claim 1, The driving unit, A driving motor fixed to an upper side of the interlocking member; And a motorized cam that is coaxially coupled to the drive shaft of the drive motor and integrally rotates. The method of claim 2, The electric cam, A cylindrical cam body having a predetermined cross-sectional diameter, And a cam groove having a camp profile that continuously lifts up and down along the cylindrical surface of the cam body. The method of claim 3, The cam groove is accommodated in the upper end of the interlocking member, the refrigerator characterized in that the lift along the camp profile during the rotation of the drive shaft of the drive motor, The method according to claim 1 or 4, The interlocking member passes through the plurality of cold air distribution blades integrally, and a refrigerator, characterized in that the plurality of cold air distribution wings to couple the spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The method of claim 5, The through-holes of the plurality of cold air distribution blades penetrating the interlocking member are provided at a predetermined front side with respect to the axis line. The method of claim 5, Means for oscillating the plurality of cold air distribution wings, Hinge pins provided on one side edge of the through hole of each cold air distribution blade; And a plurality of hinge protrusions protruding from the longitudinal outer diameter surface of the interlocking member with the plate surfaces of the cold air distribution wings interposed therebetween to engage the hinge pins. 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 outlet is attached to each of the storage zones, The plurality of horizontal distribution blades, characterized in that provided in the respective cold air discharge outlets.