KR20020045029A - Vacuum Control system of vacuum refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for controlling vacuum of each division of vacuum refrigerator is provided to prevent oxidation of food by keeping a food storage compartment vacuous and to keep each of divisions of the food storage compartment vacuous in order. CONSTITUTION: A vacuum refrigerator includes a vacuum chamber(30) and a vacuum control device. The vacuum chamber is placed on a cold air passage and is divided into a plurality of spaces(30a,30b,30c,30d,30e) by partitions(31). The vacuum control device discharges air in the spaces in order to keep vacuum. The vacuum control device includes a vacuum pump(40); a pressure control part(50); and valves(60). The vacuum pump is placed to be fluidically connected with one of the spaces to discharge air. The pressure control part is placed in one of the spaced most distant from the space where the vacuum pump is placed to turn on/off the vacuum pump according to pressure. The valves are placed on the partitions to open and close in order according to differences of pressure of the spaces.

Description

Vacuum Control System of Vacuum Refrigerator

The present invention relates to a vacuum refrigerator, and more particularly, it is possible to store food for a long time by keeping the food storage chamber in a vacuum state by evacuating the air in the food storage chamber so that food stored in the air is not oxidized. .

Conventional refrigerators are generally divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment to store food in a low temperature state by blowing cold air cooled in an evaporator into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment by driving a fan installed at the back of the freezer compartment. Due to the oxidation of the stored food is promoted there was a problem that can not be stored for a long time due to the food being stored.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, while maintaining the food storage chamber in a vacuum state by exhausting the air in the food storage chamber to prevent oxidation of the food stored by the oxygen in the air, inside the food storage room The purpose is to maintain a vacuum in each compartment by partitioning into a plurality of spaces.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum refrigerator and Kankan vacuum control apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the valve according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the vacuum refrigerator and Kankan vacuum control apparatus according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the vacuum refrigerator and Kankan vacuum control apparatus according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: cold flow path 10: cold storage room

20: freezing chamber 30: vacuum chamber

31: partition 31a: through-hole

40: vacuum pump 50: pressure control unit

60: valve 61: valve body

62: elastomer

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment on a cold air passage to refrigerated or frozen food, wherein the plurality of spaces are provided on the cold air passage and partitioned to accommodate the food. Provided is a vacuum refrigerator comprising a divided vacuum chamber and a vacuum control means for exhausting the air of the space portion, but by maintaining the vacuum state by sequentially exhausting the air for each compartment.

Referring to the drawings to describe the above content in more detail as follows.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of a vacuum refrigerator and Kankan vacuum control apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the valve according to the invention, Figure 3 is a vacuum refrigerator according to the present invention and 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the Kankan vacuum controller, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the vacuum refrigerator and the Kankan vacuum controller according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vacuum refrigerator according to the present invention includes a refrigerating chamber 10 and a freezing chamber 20 on the cold air flow path 1 so as to refrigerate or freeze food, on the cold air flow path. The vacuum chamber 30 is provided with a plurality of spaces partitioned by the partition 31 so as to accommodate the food, and the vacuum control means for exhausting the air in the space portion to exhaust the air sequentially in each compartment to maintain a vacuum state This is done by including.

At this time, the vacuum chamber 30, as shown in Figure 1, may be made of the entire refrigerating chamber 10, although not shown, provided in the refrigerating chamber 10 is formed integrally with the inner wall of the refrigerating chamber 10 Or may be detachably provided with an inner wall of the refrigerating compartment. In addition, the entire cold air flow path 1 including the freezing chamber 20 and the refrigerating chamber 10 may be a vacuum chamber 30.

And, the vacuum control means, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 are provided in communication with any one of the space portion of the space partitioned in the vacuum chamber 30 is a vacuum pump ( 40) and a pressure control part 50 which is provided in a space part located through the most space from the space part provided with the vacuum pump among the space parts partitioned in the vibration chamber to turn on / off the driving of the vacuum pump according to the pressure. And, it is preferable that the valve 60 is provided in each of the partitions to be opened and closed sequentially by the pressure difference of each space portion.

Here, the pressure control unit 50 may be formed of a pressure switch that opens and closes according to the pressure of the fifth space 30e.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve 60 includes a through hole 60a formed in each of the partitions 31, and a valve body 61 for opening and closing the through hole is provided in each of the through holes. An elastic body 62 having a predetermined modulus of elasticity may be provided between the through hole 60a and the valve body 61 to open and close the valve body by a pressure difference between the space parts.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the number of space portions partitioned in the vacuum chamber 30 is limited to five, and the first space portion 30a, the second space portion 30b, and the third space from the space located at the bottom thereof. The part 30c, the fourth space part 30d, and the fifth space part 30e will be described.

First, the vacuum control means according to the first embodiment, the vacuum pump 40 is provided in communication with the first space portion 30a of the vacuum chamber 30, as shown in Figure 1, the vacuum chamber The pressure switch 50 is provided in the fifth space portion 30e of the valve, and the valves 50 are provided in the partitions 31.

The vacuum refrigerator and the vacuum control means according to the first embodiment made as described above performs the following operation (see Figs. 1 and 2).

First, the air of the first space portion 30a partitioned in the vacuum chamber 30 by the vacuum pump 40 is exhausted to lower the pressure of the first space portion. Thereafter, a pressure difference is generated between the first space portion 30a in which the pressure is dropped and the second space portion 30b in the atmospheric pressure state, and the force Fp acts on the valve body 61. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, when the force Fp applied to the valve body 61 is greater than the elastic force Fk of the elastic body 62, the valve body opens the through hole 31a while compressing the elastic body. As the air in the space 30b moves through the through hole to the first space 30a, the driving of the vacuum pump 40 is continued.

As the operation continues, the vacuum pump 40 exhausts the air in the third space portion 30c and the fourth space portion 30d.

Finally, when the air continues to be exhausted while the operation continues to reach the predetermined pressure, the pressure switch 50 is closed to stop the driving of the vacuum pump 40. Therefore, each space portion in the vacuum chamber 30 is in a vacuum state, so that food can be stored for a long time.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, the valve 60 provided in the vacuum chamber 30 as a whole is connected in series through each space part based on the driving source of the vacuum pump 40, and the elastic body 62 constituting the valve. Moreover, since it is connected in series, in order for air to be exhausted continuously by a vacuum pump to the 5th space part 30e, all the valves must keep the open state by the pressure difference between each space part. Accordingly, if the pressure switch 50 provided in the fifth space portion 30e is assumed to be 50torr, and the pressure difference between the space portions in which the valve 60 can be opened is 10torr, When the pressure of the fourth space 30d is 40torr, the valve is kept open. The pressure of the third space 30c is 30torr to maintain the valve opened. Then, the pressure of the second space 30b is 20torr to keep the valve open, and the pressure of the first space 30a is 10torr to maintain the open valve.

That is, the vacuum degree of each space part has a different value, and when the vacuum degree of each space part is arranged in order from high order (low pressure order), the 1st space part 30a, the 2nd space part 30b, and the 3rd space It can be arranged as the part 30c, the 4th space part 30d, and the 5th space part 30e.

In addition, according to the size of the pressure switch 50 provided in the fifth space portion 30e can respond to the pressure of the fifth space portion, the vacuum degree order of each space portion already mentioned does not change, but only the vacuum degree size of each space portion. It can be adjusted differently. In addition, according to the elastic modulus value of the elastic body 62 provided in each valve 60, the vacuum order of the respective space portions mentioned above is not changed, and only the difference in the vacuum degrees between the space portions can be adjusted.

As a result, the present invention can keep the food in the vacuum chamber 30 in a vacuum state for long-term storage, and the vacuum degree of each space portion partitioned in the vacuum chamber is different from each other, the food is classified according to the rate of oxidation of the food Therefore, the food with the highest oxidation rate can be stored in the space with the highest degree of vacuum, so that food can be stored for a long time by type.

In other words, fish and seafood can be stored in the first space portion 30a having the highest degree of vacuum, and the meat can be vacuumed in the second space portion 30b having a high degree of vacuum. Next, vegetables and fruits may be vacuumed in the third space portion 30c having a high degree of vacuum, and instant foods may be stored in the fourth space portion 30d having a high degree of vacuum, followed by a high degree of vacuum. In the fifth space 30e, dried fish and spices can be stored.

On the other hand, the vacuum control means according to the second embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the vacuum pump 40 is provided in communication with the fifth space portion 30e of the vacuum chamber 30, the vacuum The pressure switch 50 is provided in the first space portion 30a of the chamber, and the valves 50 are provided in the partitions 31.

The vacuum refrigerator and the vacuum control means according to the second embodiment made as described above performs the following operation (see Figs. 3 and 2).

First, the air of the fifth space portion 30e partitioned in the vacuum chamber 30 by the vacuum pump 40 is exhausted to lower the pressure of the fifth space portion. Thereafter, a pressure difference is generated between the fifth space portion in which the pressure drops and the fourth space portion 30d in the atmospheric pressure state, and the force Fp acts on the valve body 61. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, when the force Fp applied to the valve body 61 is greater than the elastic force Fk of the elastic body 62, the valve body opens the through hole 31a while compressing the elastic body. As the air in the space portion 30d moves to the fifth space portion 30e through the through hole, the driving of the vacuum pump 40 is continued.

As the operation continues, the vacuum pump 40 exhausts the air in the fourth space portion 30d and the third space portion 30c.

Finally, if the air continues to be exhausted and reaches a predetermined pressure while the operation continues, the pressure switch is closed and the driving of the vacuum pump 40 is stopped. Therefore, each space portion in the vacuum chamber 30 is in a vacuum state, so that food can be stored for a long time.

As a result, as already mentioned in the vacuum control means according to the first embodiment, the vacuum control means according to the second embodiment, the valve 60 provided in the vacuum chamber 30 as a whole, the driving source of the vacuum pump 40 Since the elastic bodies 62 constituting the valve 60 are also connected in series as a reference, the degree of vacuum of each space partitioned in the vacuum chamber 30 is changed, so that the food is classified according to the rate at which the food is oxidized. Therefore, the food with the highest oxidation rate can be stored in the space with the highest degree of vacuum, so that food can be stored for a long time by type.

On the other hand, the vacuum control means according to the third embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the vacuum pump 40 is provided in communication with the third space portion 30c of the vacuum chamber 30, The pressure switch 50 may be provided in the first space portion 30a or the fifth space portion 30e of the vacuum chamber, and the valves 60 may be provided in the partitions 31.

So far, the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains to the detailed description of the present invention and other forms of embodiments within the essential technical scope of the present invention. Could be implemented. Herein the essential technical scope of the present invention is shown in the claims.

As described above, the present invention maintains a vacuum state by evacuating the air in the vacuum chamber for storing the food, thereby preventing the oxidation of the food stored by the oxygen in the air, which can be stored for a long time. have.

In addition, since the vacuum degree of each space partitioned in the vacuum chamber is different, the food is classified according to the oxidation rate of the food, and the food with the highest oxidation rate can be stored in the space with the strongest vacuum so that foods can be stored for a long time. Can be.

It also encompasses all the effects mentioned in the detailed description of the invention.

Claims (6)

In the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment are provided on the cold air flow path for refrigeration or freezing of food, A vacuum chamber provided on the cold air flow path and divided into a plurality of spaces by partitions to accommodate the food; And evacuating the air in the space part, and vacuum control means for maintaining the vacuum state by sequentially exhausting the air for each compartment. The method of claim 1, The vacuum control means; A vacuum pump provided to communicate with any one of the space portions partitioned in the vacuum chamber to exhaust air; A pressure control part which is provided in a space part located through the most space from the space part provided with the vacuum pump among the space parts partitioned in the vibration chamber to turn on / off the driving of the vacuum pump according to the pressure; And a valve provided in each of the partitions to be opened and closed sequentially by the pressure difference of each space part. The method of claim 2, The vacuum pump is provided in communication with the space portion located at the bottom of the space portion partitioned in the vacuum chamber, The pressure control unit is a vacuum refrigerator, characterized in that provided in the space portion located at the top of the space partitioned in the vacuum chamber. The method of claim 2, The vacuum pump is provided in communication with the space portion located at the top of the space portion partitioned in the vacuum chamber, The pressure control unit is a vacuum refrigerator, characterized in that provided in the space portion located in the lowest portion of the space partitioned in the vacuum chamber. The method of claim 2, The pressure control unit is a vacuum refrigerator, characterized in that made of a pressure switch that opens and closes in accordance with the pressure of the space. The method of claim 2, The valve; Through-holes are formed in each partition, The valve body for opening and closing the through hole is provided in each of the through parts, And an elastic body having a predetermined modulus of elasticity is provided between the through-hole and the valve body so that the valve body opens and closes due to the pressure difference between the space parts.