WO2005085725A1

WO2005085725A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2005085725A1
Application number: PCT/JP2005/002206
Authority: WO
Inventors: Masatoshi Sasaki; Keiichi Takase; Masayuki Tanaka
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-03-04
Filing date: 2005-02-15
Publication date: 2005-09-15
Also published as: JP4329815B2; CN100562699C; CN1906454A; JPWO2005085725A1

Abstract

A refrigerator, comprising a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment partitioned by an insulating partition wall, first and second coolers installed in the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, and a freezing device for cooling the coolers. Also, the refrigerator comprises a control part controlling the operation of at least the first cooler. The control part further comprises a refrigerating compartment cooling stop mode for stopping the cooling of the first cooler.

Description

Specification

Refrigerator

Technical field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a cooler in each of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment.

Background art

[0002] A conventional refrigerator having a refrigerator in each of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment and having an automatic ice maker is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-11-311476. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle of the conventional refrigerator.

In FIG. 5, the refrigerator main body 101 is vertically divided by heat-insulating partition walls 102 and 103. A refrigerating compartment 104 is provided at an upper portion, and a freezing compartment 105 is provided at a lower portion. A switching compartment 106 is provided between the refrigerating compartment 104 and the freezing compartment 105. A cooler 107 and a blower 108 for forcibly passing cool air are provided behind the freezing room 105. I have. Further, a cooler 110 and a blower 111 are provided behind the refrigerator compartment 104.

In FIG. 6, the refrigeration cycle has a refrigeration / refrigeration / cooling mode and a refrigeration / cooling mode. In the refrigeration / refrigeration / cooling mode, the compressor 112, the condenser 113, the switching valve 114, the decompressor 115 and the cooler 110 for the refrigerator compartment 104, and the decompressor 117 and the cooler 107 for the refrigerator compartment 105 are annularly arranged. Connected. In the refrigeration / cooling mode, the refrigeration cycle branches off from the switching valve 114, bypasses the cooler 110, and cools only the cooler 107 via the bypass pipe 116 that joins upstream of the pressure reducer 117. In this way, the refrigerating / freezing / cooling mode and the freezing / cooling mode are selected by the switching valve 114.

[0005] Further, an ice tray 118 and a driving device 119 for rotating the ice tray 118 are provided above the freezer compartment 105, and together with a water supply tank and a water supply pump (not shown) arranged in the refrigerator compartment 104. An automatic ice maker is formed in the country.

[0006] The operation of the above configuration will be described below. When the temperature detector (not shown) in the refrigerator compartment 104 is higher than the predetermined temperature, the refrigeration cycle is operated in the refrigerator / refrigeration / cooling mode by the switching valve 114 to cool the refrigerator compartment 104 to the predetermined temperature. Thereafter, the switching valve 114 operates. As a result, the refrigeration cycle enters a refrigeration / cooling mode via the binos tube 116, and only the freezing room 105 is cooled to a predetermined temperature. Then, when both the refrigerator compartment 104 and the freezer compartment 105 are cooled to a predetermined temperature, the compressor 112 stops operating. Further, the switching chamber 106 is also cooled by the cooler 107, the blower 108, and the damper device 109 to a predetermined temperature selected before refrigeration. By repeating the above operation, the refrigerator compartment 104, the freezer compartment 105, and the switching compartment 106 are cooled to a predetermined temperature, and an automatic ice maker including a water supply tank, a water supply pump, an ice tray 118, and a driving device 119, Ice is made automatically.

[0007] In the above configuration, the refrigerator compartment 104 and the freezer compartment 105 can be cooled to a predetermined temperature. The user cannot stop the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 104 if necessary.

[0008] The refrigerator of the present invention comprises a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment partitioned by heat-insulating partition walls, first and second coolers provided in the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, respectively, and cools these coolers. And a refrigeration unit for performing the operation. The control unit has at least a control unit for controlling the operation of the first cooler, and the control unit has a refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode for stopping the cooling of the first cooler. With this configuration, the user can stop cooling the refrigerator compartment as needed. Therefore, it is possible to save energy for the refrigerator according to the user's lifestyle.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a main part control block diagram of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle of a conventional refrigerator.

Explanation of symbols

[0010] 13 refrigerator

14 Inner box

15 Outer box Insulation material Insulation box Refrigerator Room Freezer compartment, 21 Opening / closing door Partition wall, 27 Cooler Cooler compartment Partition plate Fan Defrosting heater Refrigerator compartment Case Discharge port Automatic ice making equipment Ice tray driving device Water storage tank Water supply pump Water tank, 38 Water supply Pipe Opening nozzle Control board Compressor Condenser switching valve

, 45 decompressor bypass pipe microcomputer 48 Cold room cooling stop switch

49 Ice stop switch

50 Ice tray cleaning switch

51 Cold room cooling stop mode

52 Ice stop mode

53 Ice tray cleaning mode

54 Operation board

55 Display

56 Rotation support

101 Refrigerator body

102, 103 Insulated partition

104 Refrigerator

105 Freezer compartment

106 switching room

107, 110 cooler

108, 111 blower

109 Damper device

112 compressor

113 condenser

114 switching valve

115, 117 pressure reducer

116 Bypass pipe

118 Ice tray

119 drive

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a freezing room of the refrigerator, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part control of the refrigerator, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator. You. In FIG. 1, a refrigerator 13 is constituted by a heat insulating box 17 filled with a heat insulating material 16 between an inner box 14 and an outer box 15, and has a refrigerator compartment 18 and a freezer compartment 19 from above. . On the front side, an opening / closing door (hereinafter, a door) 20 for a refrigerator compartment 18 and an opening / closing door (hereinafter, a door) 21 for a freezer compartment 19 are provided. The refrigerator compartment 18 and the freezer compartment 19 are separated by a partition wall 22 having heat insulation.

[0013] On the rear side of the inner box 14 of the refrigerator compartment 18, a cooler 23 which is a tube-on-sheet-shaped first cooler provided with a cooling pipe in contact with the inner box 14 on the side of the heat insulating material 16 is arranged. Have been. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 18 is radiatively cooled by the cooler 23. A cooler room 24 provided on the inner surface of the freezing room 19 is partitioned from the inside of the refrigerator by a partition plate 25 having heat insulation. Inside the cooler room 24, a cooler 27 as a second cooler that also has a fin tube force, a fan 26, and a defrost heater 28 are arranged. The partition plate 25 has a discharge port 30 for discharging cool air discharged from the fan 26 to a freezer compartment case 29 for storing food in the freezer compartment 19.

An automatic ice making device 31 is provided near the partition wall 22 above the freezing compartment 19. The automatic ice making device 31 has an ice tray 32 and a driving device 33 having a plurality of gears and motors therein and rotating the ice tray 32. Below the ice tray 32, an ice storage container 34 is arranged so as to be able to be pulled out. A water supply tank 36, water supply pipes 37 and 38 for supplying water in the water supply tank 36 to the ice tray 32, and a water supply pump 35 are provided near the partition wall 22 at the lower part of the refrigerator compartment 18. I have. The water supply tank 36, the water supply pipes 37 and 38, and the water supply pump 35 are part of the automatic ice making device 31. The water supply pump 35 is a self-priming pump having a gear inside, and is connected to the water supply pipes 37 and 38 in a substantially hermetic manner. On the other hand, one end of the water supply pipe 38 is connected to an opening nozzle 39 disposed on the upper surface of the ice tray 32, and a predetermined amount of water is injected from the opening nozzle 39 into the ice tray 32.

[0015] The control board 40 is housed in a recess formed in the outer box 15 at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 18, and controls the operation of the cooling system and the automatic ice making device 31.

In FIG. 2, the refrigeration cycle has a refrigeration / refrigeration / cooling mode and a refrigeration / cooling mode. In the refrigeration / freezing / cooling mode, the compressor 41, the condenser 42, the switching valve 43, the pressure reducer 44 and the cooler 23 for the refrigerator compartment 18, the pressure reducer 45 and the cooler 27 for the refrigerator compartment 19 are formed in an annular shape. Connected. In the refrigeration / cooling mode, the refrigeration cycle is branched from the switching valve 43 and the cooler 23 is bypassed. Only the cooler 27 is cooled via the bypass pipe 46 which passes and merges upstream of the pressure reducer 45. In this way, the switching valve 43 selects the refrigeration / refrigeration cooling mode or the refrigeration cooling mode.

In FIG. 3, a microcomputer 47 as a control unit is mounted on the control board 40 and controls the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator 13 and the operation of the automatic ice making device 31. The microcomputer 47 receives inputs from a refrigerator compartment cooling stop switch (hereinafter, switch) 48, an ice making stop switch (hereinafter, switch) 49, and an ice tray washing switch (hereinafter, switch) 50. That is, each switch receives an input for entering the respective mode, and transmits the input to the microcomputer 47. The microcomputer 47 has a refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51, an ice making stop mode 52, and an ice tray washing mode 53 as output modes (control modes). In the refrigerating compartment cooling stop mode 51, the switching valve 43 is opened only to the bypass pipe 46 side by the input from the switch 48, and the refrigerant does not flow to the cooler 23 side. In the ice making stop mode 52, the state where the driving device 33 of the automatic ice making device 31 and the water supply pump 35 are not operated by the input from the switch 49 is maintained. In the ice tray washing mode 53, the water supply pump 35 and the drive unit 33 of the automatic ice making device 31 are forcibly operated by the input from the switch 50, and the water supply pipes 37, 38 and the ice tray 32 are filled with water in the water supply tank 36. Wash.

[0018] When the switch 48 is input, the microcomputer 47 preferably controls the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51, performs the ice tray washing mode 53, and then automatically enters the ice making stop mode 52. .

In the ice tray washing mode 53, if the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is not set, the water supply pump 35 supplies a predetermined amount of water for one ice making of the ice tray 32 for a predetermined time (normally). Operate during automatic ice making). Immediately thereafter, the driving device 33 inverts the ice tray 32 and flows water into the ice storage container 34. Three cycles are performed with this series of operations as one cycle. On the other hand, in the ice tray washing mode 53 performed after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 has been entered, the water supply pump 35 operates for a predetermined time sufficient to supply water when the water supply tank 36 is fully filled. At this time, the ice tray 32 is in the normal position, and after the operation of the water supply pump 35 is completed, the driving device 33 inverts the ice tray 32 and flows water into the ice storage container 34. Alternatively, the driving device 33 inverts the ice tray 32 before the operation of the water supply pump 35 so that the water supply pump 35 operates. Alternatively, the control may be such that water is stopped at a position where the water from the water supply nove 38 does not directly hit the ice tray 32. In this case, only the water supply path is washed.

In FIG. 4, switches 48, 49, and 50 are provided on the front surface of the rotary door 20 disposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 13, and the switches are centrally arranged on one operation board 54. It has been. The display device 55 is provided near each switch provided on the front surface of the door 20, and displays the temperature in the refrigerator 13 on a liquid crystal display or displays the operation state of each switch. The wire cords from the operation board 54 and the display device 55 are arranged on the main body of the refrigerator 13 through the rotation support 56 of the door 20.

In the above configuration, if the user does not need to cool the refrigerator compartment 18 in winter or due to the state of preservation of food, the user presses the switch 48 on the front surface of the door 20 to cool the refrigerator. The room cooling stop mode 51 is executed. That is, the switching valve 43 of the refrigeration cycle opens only to the bypass pipe 46 side, and no refrigerant flows to the cooler 23 side, and only the cooler 27 is cooled. The refrigerating compartment cooling stop mode 51 is released when the user presses the switch 48 again. The display device 55 displays the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 18 and the freezer compartment 19 independently in a liquid crystal display in the normal cooling operation.When the switch 48 is pressed, the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 18 side liquid crystal display is displayed. Cancel (do not display).

[0022] Thereby, the operating cost (electricity bill) of the refrigerator 13 is reduced by the user's selection. The uncooled refrigeration compartment 18 can be used as a storage space. Further, the display device 55 does not display the in-chamber temperature liquid crystal display on the side of the refrigerator compartment 18 when the switch 48 is pressed, so that it can be seen at a glance that the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is in the state. Further, since the automatic ice making device 31 is provided, it is possible to automatically make ice and store a large amount of ice before setting the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51.

When the user wants to wash the automatic ice making device 31, the water supply pump 35 and the driving device 33 of the automatic ice making device 31 are forcibly operated by pressing the switch 50. Therefore, the water supply pipes 37 and 38 and the ice tray 32 are washed with the water in the water supply tank 36, so that the cleanliness can be maintained. In particular, it is possible to wash the ice tray 32 and the water supply path after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is released, thus ensuring sanitation.

[0024] When the user wants to forcibly stop the automatic ice making device 31, the switch 49 is pressed. As a result, the driving device 33 of the automatic ice making device 31 and the water supply pump 35 are not operated, and the state is maintained. Therefore, the operation sound of the driving device 33 and the water supply pump 35 is eliminated, and the noise can be reduced.

When the user presses the switch 48 to stop cooling the refrigerator compartment 18, the refrigerator compartment stop mode 51 is entered, and then the ice making stop mode 52 is entered automatically. Therefore, the ice in the ice storage container 34 can be used with confidence without making ice while the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 18 is stopped. After entering the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51, the ice tray washing mode 53 is performed. Therefore, when the user selects the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51, the ice making tray 32 and the water supply path are washed at the same time, so that the sanitation around the automatic ice making machine 31 in the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is improved. In addition, since the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 18 is stopped after the ice tray washing mode 53 is performed, the sanitation around the automatic ice making device 31 during the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 and after the cancellation of the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is improved.

[0026] In addition, in the ice tray washing mode 53 that is performed after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode 51 is entered, the water supply pump 35 is operated for a predetermined time enough to supply water when the water tank 36 is fully filled. All the water in the water tank 36 is drained. Therefore, the water in the water supply tank 36 does not remain during the cooling room cooling stop mode 51, and the sanitary power S around the automatic ice making device 31 further increases.

[0027] Further, since the switches 48, 49, and 50 are provided on the front surface of the door 20 disposed on the front surface of the refrigerator 13, the operability and visibility of each switch are improved, and the usability is improved. In addition, by installing on the rotary door 20, the operation board 54, the display device 55, and the electric wire cord of the power can be processed by the rotary support portion 56 of the door 20, so that the assemblability and safety are improved.

[0028] Further, since the switches 48, 49, and 50 are centrally arranged on one operation board 54, it is possible to improve the assemblability and reduce the cost associated with each switch.

[0029] Further, since a self-priming pump having a gear inside is used as the water supply pump 35, sanitation is improved without the air in the water supply path coming into contact with the air.

In the present embodiment, it has been described that the switch 48 is not pressed to display the refrigerator temperature liquid crystal display on the side of the refrigerator compartment 18 of the display device 55. However, the display may be performed by turning on a lamp or the like. The notification may be made by voice or the like. [0031] In addition to the automatic ice making device 31, an ice making space and an ice making tray that can be manually made in the freezing room 19 may be arranged. In this case, ice can be produced even during the cold room cooling stop mode 51. In addition, a large amount of ice can be made in combination with the automatic ice making device 31.

[0032] In addition, although the freezing room 19 is described as being cooled by the cooler 27 having a fin tube force and the fan 26, a tube-on-sheet cooler provided with a cooling pipe or a roll bond type cooler may be used. .

Also, in the present embodiment, the refrigerating cycle has been described with a specification in which the cooler 23 and the cooler 27 are connected in series, and the cooler 23 is bypassed by the switching valve 43. Alternatively, the cooler 23 and the cooler 27 may be connected in parallel and cooled independently and alternately.

Industrial applicability

[0034] The refrigerator according to the present invention allows the user to stop the cooling of the refrigerator compartment as required while utilizing the automatic ice making function. The energy of the refrigerator can be adjusted accordingly. This refrigerator can also be applied to applications such as a cooling storage provided with a freezing device.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] Refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment partitioned by heat-insulated partition walls,

A first cooler provided in the refrigerator compartment, a second cooler provided in the freezer compartment, a refrigerating device for cooling the first cooler and the second cooler,

A control unit for controlling at least the operation of the first cooler,

The control unit has, as a control mode, a cooling room cooling stop mode for stopping cooling of the first cooler,

refrigerator.

[2] The apparatus further comprises a refrigerator compartment cooling stop switch for receiving an input to enter the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode and transmitting the input to the control unit.

The refrigerator according to claim 1.

[3] An ice tray provided in the freezer compartment, a driving device for driving the ice tray, a water supply tank provided in the refrigerator compartment, and water in the water supply tank provided in the refrigerator compartment with the ice tray A water supply pump and a water supply pipe for supplying water to the

The refrigerator according to claim 1.

[4] The control unit further includes, as a control mode, an ice tray washing mode in which after the water in the water supply tank is supplied to the ice tray by a predetermined amount, the ice tray is rotated by the driving device to wash the ice tray. ,

The refrigerator according to claim 3.

[5] An ice tray cleaning switch for receiving an input for entering the ice tray cleaning mode and transmitting the input to the control unit,

The refrigerator according to claim 4.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the control unit performs the ice tray washing mode after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode.

[7] The control unit further includes an ice making stop mode for stopping the water supply pump and the driving device as a control mode.

The refrigerator according to claim 3.

[8] An input for entering the ice making stop mode is received, and the input is transmitted to the control unit. Further equipped with an ice making switch

The refrigerator according to claim 7.

[9] The control unit further includes, as a control mode, an ice tray washing mode in which after the water in the water supply tank is supplied to the ice tray by a predetermined amount, the ice tray is rotated by the driving device to wash the ice tray. And

An ice tray cleaning switch for receiving an input to enter the ice tray cleaning mode and transmitting the input to the control unit;

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a door provided on a front surface of the refrigerator compartment cooling stop switch, the ice making stop switch, and the ice tray washing switch, and a door arranged on a front surface of the refrigerator.

[10] The apparatus further includes a substrate on which the refrigerator compartment cooling stop switch, the ice making stop switch, and the ice tray cleaning switch are centrally arranged.

The refrigerator according to claim 9.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the controller performs the ice making stop mode after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode.

12. The control unit, after the refrigerator compartment cooling stop mode, drains all the water in the water supply tank by the feed pump and the driving device, and then enters the ice making stop mode. Refrigerator.