WO2018188647A1

WO2018188647A1 - Air outlet apparatus and refrigerator having said air outlet apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2018188647A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/082943
Authority: WO
Inventors: 费斌; 程学丽; 尚亚洲; 刘金林
Original assignee: 青岛海尔股份有限公司
Priority date: 2017-04-14
Filing date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Also published as: CN106958979A; CN106958979B

Abstract

An air outlet apparatus, comprising a circumferential wall part (20), the circumferential wall part (20) having provided thereon multiple first air outlet openings (21); a regulating part (40), rotatably disposed relative to the circumferential wall part (20) so as to, at different rotational positions, fully shutter, partially shutter, or fully expose each first air outlet opening (21), thereby adjusting air outlet surface area of each of the multiple first air outlet openings (21). The present air outlet apparatus can perform unified regulation of cooling entering a storage room, can ensure cooling requirements of a cold room, and can also regulate temperatures of multiple different parts of a freezer in real time, ensuring nutrients of foodstuffs are not lost, decreasing electricity consumption and saving energy.

Description

Air outlet device and refrigerator having the air outlet device

The application claims the priority of the Chinese patent application entitled "Air outlet device and refrigerator having the air outlet device" on April 14, 2017, the application number is 201710245881.7, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. In this application.

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of refrigerated and frozen storage, and in particular to an air outlet device and a refrigerator having the same.

Background technique

In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standards and environmental awareness, the requirements for refrigerators have shifted from satisfying the preservation performance of low-temperature refrigeration to food. Therefore, air-cooled refrigerators are gradually favored by people. Currently, refrigerators on the market usually have two or more air supply ducts at the exit of the refrigerating compartment to supply air to the refrigerating compartment, the freezing compartment, and other storage compartments, respectively. Moreover, the airway is provided with a control device (such as an electric damper) to open and close the air passage entering each storage room, or to adjust the air volume entering each storage room. This structure is complicated and the control system is also brought. Very complicated.

Summary of the invention

The object of the first aspect of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the defects of the existing refrigerator, and to provide an air outlet device for a refrigerator to facilitate uniform adjustment of the flow path and/or flow rate of the cold air, and to achieve two levels. Out of the wind, to meet a variety of cold wind needs.

An object of the second aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having the above-described air outlet device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air outlet apparatus for a refrigerator, comprising:

a peripheral wall portion, wherein the peripheral wall portion is provided with a plurality of first air outlets for allowing at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device to flow out of the air outlet device from one or more of the plurality of first air outlets ;

a first axial end portion disposed at one end of the peripheral wall portion, and the first axial end portion is provided with at least one second air outlet to allow at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device from the One or more of the at least one second air outlets flow out of the air outlet device;

The adjusting portion is rotatably disposed relative to the peripheral wall portion to completely shield, partially shield or completely expose each of the first air outlets at different movement positions, thereby adjusting the plurality of first out The outlet area of each outlet.

Optionally, the number of the second air outlets is plural, and the plurality of the second air outlets are evenly disposed along a circumferential direction of the first axial end.

Optionally, the first axial end portion includes a central portion and an annular peripheral portion outside the central portion, and each of the second air outlets is disposed at the annular peripheral portion.

Optionally, each of the second air outlets has an annular segment shape extending in a circumferential direction of the first axial end portion.

Optionally, the annular peripheral portion comprises:

a flat plate portion on which at least one orifice is provided;

At least one guiding portion, each of the guiding portions extending from an edge of one of the apertures toward an inner side or an outer side of the first axial end portion, and each of the guiding portions is configured to define one of the first portions Two outlets.

Optionally, the air outlet device further includes:

a second axial end portion disposed at the other end of the peripheral wall portion, and the second axial end portion is provided with one or more air inlets; and

A fan configured to cause airflow from the one or more air inlets into the peripheral wall portion.

Optionally, the fan centrifugal fan or centrifugal impeller is disposed between the second axial end and the first axial end.

Optionally, the adjusting portion includes:

One or more obscuring portions spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the first axial end; and

At least one circulation portion, the shielding portion and the circulation portion are sequentially disposed along a circumferential direction of the first axial end portion, and the one or more shielding portions and the at least one circulation portion are enclosed by a tube Structure;

The adjusting portion is disposed at an inner side of the peripheral wall portion, and is rotated to a different rotating position, so that the one or more shielding portions completely, partially, or completely expose each of the first air outlets, Airflow is caused to enter the partially vented or fully exposed first air vent via the at least one flow.

Optionally, the air outlet device further includes:

a motor disposed on a radially outer side of the peripheral wall portion;

a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a rotational motion of the output of the motor to the adjustment portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides a refrigerator comprising:

a duct system comprising a plurality of cold air outlets;

In any of the above air outlet devices, each of the first air outlets and each of the second air outlets of the air outlet device communicate with at least one of the plurality of cold air outlets.

In the air outlet device and the refrigerator of the present invention, since the plurality of first air outlets, the at least one second air outlet, and the adjusting portion are included, the plurality of first air outlets can realize the first stage air supply, and the at least one second air outlet can be realized. The second stage of air supply can also be used in other types of classification. In particular, it is possible to regulate the first-stage air outlet, and the structure for satisfying various air supply requirements is particularly simple.

Further, for example, the first-stage air supply can adjust the control to supply air to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, and the second-stage air supply can supply air to the refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator, that is, the air outlet device and the refrigerator of the present invention can The cooling capacity entering a storage room is uniformly adjusted, and the cooling capacity can be entered into another storage room, which can be passed through another air volume requirement in a storage room (such as a freezing room). The outlet air outlet supplies air to another storage room (such as a refrigerating room), so as to ensure the cooling capacity of the refrigerating room, and adjust the temperature of many different parts in the freezing chamber in real time to ensure the loss of food nutrients. Reduce power consumption and save energy.

The above as well as other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the <

DRAWINGS

Some specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below by way of example, and not limitation. The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar parts. Those skilled in the art should understand that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the figure:

1 is a schematic structural view of an air outlet device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a schematic partial structural view of an air outlet device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

detailed description

1 is a schematic structural view of an air outlet device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic partial structural view of an air outlet device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention provides an air outlet device for a refrigerator. The air outlet device may include a peripheral wall portion 20, a first axial end portion 30, a second axial end portion, and an adjustment portion 40. The peripheral wall portion 20 is provided with a plurality of first air outlets 21 for allowing at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device to flow out of the air outlet device from one or more of the plurality of first air outlets 21. The first axial end portion 30 is disposed at one end of the peripheral wall portion 20, and the first axial end portion 30 is provided with at least one second air outlet 31 for at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device from at least one second One or more of the tuyes 31 flow out of the air outlet. The adjusting portion 40 is rotatably disposed with respect to the peripheral wall portion 20 to completely shield, partially shield or completely expose each of the first air outlets 21 at different moving positions, thereby adjusting respective ones of the plurality of first air outlets 21 Outlet area.

In this embodiment, the plurality of first air outlets 21 can be one level of air supply openings, and the at least one second air outlets 31 can be another level of air supply openings to achieve different air supply requirements. For example, in some embodiments, the plurality of first air outlets 21 can supply air to a plurality of portions of the freezer compartment, and the at least one second air outlet 31 can supply air to the refrigerator compartment. In particular, the adjusting portion 40 can adjust the freezing. The air supply volume at multiple parts of the room can be used to ensure the air volume of the refrigerating room by ensuring the air volume of the refrigerating room, thereby ensuring the cooling capacity of the refrigerating room and real-time adjustment. The temperature of many different parts in the freezer ensures the loss of food nutrients, reduces power consumption and saves energy.

In some embodiments of the invention, the peripheral wall portion 20 is preferably cylindrical in shape, and may be integrally formed with one of the first axial end portion 30 and the second axial end portion, and the other may be snapped to the peripheral wall portion 20. The overall structure of the peripheral wall portion 20, the first axial end portion 30 and the second axial end portion may also be referred to as the housing of the air outlet device. The adjustment portion 40 can be preferentially attached to the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 20, that is, inside the casing. One or more air inlets may be formed in the second axial end.

In some embodiments of the invention, the air outlet device may further include a blower 50 configured to cause airflow into the peripheral wall portion 20 from the one or more air inlets. Preferably, the fan 50 is a centrifugal fan 50 or a centrifugal impeller, which may also be referred to as a centrifugal impeller. The blower 50 draws airflow from its axial direction and blows airflow in its radial direction and/or circumferential direction to allow as much airflow as possible to enter the first level of air supply.

In some embodiments of the present invention, each of the second air outlets 31 may be an axial air outlet configured to flow out the airflow flowing therethrough in the axial direction of the peripheral wall portion 20. Further, the number of the second air outlets 31 is plural, and the plurality of second air outlets 31 are uniformly disposed along the circumferential direction of the first axial end portion 30. Further, the first axial end portion 30 includes a central portion and an annular peripheral portion on the outer side of the central portion. Each of the second air outlets 31 is disposed at the annular outer periphery for the purpose of facilitating the air outlet. Still further, the fan 50 can be mounted to the central portion. Preferably, each of the second air outlets 31 has an annular segment shape extending in the circumferential direction of the first axial end portion 30.

In order to make each of the second air outlets 31 axially ventilate as much as possible, that is, each of the second air outlets 31 is configured to be axially vented, the annular peripheral portion may be disposed to include a flat plate portion and at least one guide portion. The flat plate portion is provided with at least one opening, each guiding portion extending from the edge of one opening toward the inside or the outside of the first axial end portion 30, and each guiding portion is configured to define a second air outlet 31 . The central part can be flat.

In some embodiments of the invention, the adjustment portion 40 may include one or more obscurations spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the first axial end 30, and at least one flow-through portion. The shielding portion and the flow portion are sequentially disposed in the circumferential direction of the first axial end portion 30, and the one or more shielding portions and the at least one flow portion enclose a cylindrical structure. Moreover, the adjusting portion 40 is disposed on the inner side of the peripheral wall portion 20, and the one or more shielding portions are completely shielded, partially shielded or completely exposed to each of the first air outlets 21 when rotated to different rotational positions, so that the airflow is passed through At least one of the flow passages enters the first air outlet 21 that is partially or completely exposed.

Specifically, the shielding portion may be a shielding piece, and the interval, the notch or the hole between each two adjacent shielding pieces may be a flow portion. In particular, when there is only one shielding portion, there is only one corresponding flow portion. For example, the adjustment portion 40 may include a base, a shielding piece disposed on the base. For another example, the adjusting portion 40 may include a tubular member, and the tubular member is provided with a plurality of circulating portions. A base portion may be provided at both ends of the tubular member to increase strength. And the base is rotatably mounted to the first axial end 30 or the second axial end. The inner surface of the first axial end portion 30 or the second axial end portion is provided with an annular groove, and the base portion may be provided with an annular protrusion corresponding to the annular groove for inserting the annular groove for rotation.

In some embodiments of the invention, the air outlet device may further include a motor 60 and a transmission mechanism. The motor 60 may be disposed radially outward of the peripheral wall portion 20. The transmission mechanism is configured to transmit the rotational motion of the output of the motor 60 to the adjustment portion 40. For example, the transmission mechanism may preferably be a gear transmission mechanism, and the base portion of the adjustment portion 40 is provided with a ring gear (the ring gear can be integrally formed with the base portion), and the output end of the motor 60 can be mounted with a gear, and the gear meshes with the ring gear, thereby The motor 60 drives the ring gear to rotate, thereby driving the adjustment portion 40 to rotate. Further, the outer side of the peripheral wall portion 20 may be provided with a motor housing portion 70 for housing the motor 60.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the number of the first air outlets 21 may be three, and the number of the second air outlets 31 is also three.

The embodiment of the invention further provides a refrigerator, which is an air-cooled refrigerator, which may have one or more storage compartments in the cabinet body, and each storage compartment may also be a shelf/shelf The rack is divided into a plurality of storage spaces. Further, a duct system and an air outlet device in any of the above embodiments are provided in the casing.

Further, in some optional embodiments, the air duct system may have an intake air duct, a plurality of first air outlet ducts, and at least one second air outlet duct, each of the first air outlet ducts and Each of the second outlet ducts has one or more cold air outlets. The inlet air duct may be in communication with a cooling chamber of the refrigerator to receive the airflow cooled by the cooler in the cooling chamber. The air inlet of the air outlet device is connected to the air inlet duct. The plurality of first air outlets 21 of the air outlet device are respectively in communication with the plurality of first air outlet ducts such that the airflow from the air inlet ducts is controlled/distributable into the corresponding first air outlet ducts. At least one second air outlet 31 of the air outlet device is respectively connected to the at least one second air outlet duct to allow airflow from the air inlet duct to enter the corresponding second air outlet duct.

In other optional embodiments, the air duct system may have an intake air duct, a plurality of first air outlet ducts, and at least one second cold air outlet, each of the first air outlet ducts may have one or more The first cold air outlet. The inlet air duct may be in communication with a cooling chamber of the refrigerator to receive the airflow cooled by the cooler in the cooling chamber. The air inlet of the air outlet device is connected to the air inlet duct. The plurality of first air outlets 21 of the air outlet device are respectively in communication with the plurality of first air outlet ducts such that the airflow from the air inlet ducts is controlled/distributable into the corresponding first air outlet ducts. At least one second air outlet 31 of the air outlet device is respectively connected to the at least one second cold air outlet, for example, a plurality of second cold air outlets are disposed on the rear wall of the storage compartment communicating with the second air outlet 31, and the air outlet device Directly abutting against the rear side of the rear wall, each of the second air outlets 31 is aligned with a second cold air outlet.

In some preferred embodiments, the plurality of first air outlet ducts may be configured to allow airflow from the air duct system to enter the storage room from a plurality of locations on the partition wall of a storage compartment of the refrigerator, respectively. room. For example, the first air outlet 21 of the air outlet device may also be referred to as a radial air outlet, and the first air outlet 21 of the air outlet device may be three, such as a second radial air outlet, a first radial air outlet, and a second radial air outlet; the first air outlet air passage may be three, such as a first air passage communicating with the second radial air outlet, a second air passage communicating with the first radial air outlet, and a second a third air passage that is connected to the radial air outlet. The second air passage may have two or four cold air outlets symmetrically disposed at an upper portion of the rear wall of the storage compartment. The first air duct is located at one side of the second air duct and has a cold air outlet disposed in the middle of the rear wall of the storage compartment. Further, the upper end of the first air duct may have a bridge air duct to guide the cold air in the first air duct to the other side of the second air duct. The third air passage may be located on the other side of the second air passage, and has a cold air outlet disposed at a lower portion of the rear wall of the storage compartment. Further, the upper end of the third air duct has a bridge air duct to guide the cold air in the third air duct to the other side of the second air duct. Further, the two compartments can also be used to divide the storage compartment into three storage spaces, each of which is in communication with a storage space.

At least one second outlet plenum may be in communication with another storage compartment. For example, the second air outlet 31 of the air outlet device may also be referred to as an axial air outlet, and the second air outlet 31 of the air outlet device may be three, such as a first axial air outlet, a second axial air outlet, and The third axial air outlet may be in communication with another storage compartment at three locations of the other storage compartment. Preferably, the storage compartment that is in controllable communication with each of the first air outlets 21 is a freezing compartment, and the storage compartment that communicates with each of the second air outlets 31 is a refrigerating compartment.

In some alternative embodiments of the invention, each of the first air outlets 21 and each of the second air outlets 31 may be in communication with one of the storage compartments, respectively. In still other alternative embodiments of the present invention, a portion of each of the first air outlets 21 may be in communication with one of the storage compartments, and the remaining portion may be in communication with another storage compartment, and at least one of the second air outlets 31 may be It is in communication with the third storage compartment.

In this regard, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the <RTIgt;the</RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; The content directly determines or derives many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other modifications or modifications.

Claims

An air outlet device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a peripheral wall portion, wherein the peripheral wall portion is provided with a plurality of first air outlets for allowing at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device to flow out of the air outlet device from one or more of the plurality of first air outlets ;

a first axial end portion disposed at one end of the peripheral wall portion, and the first axial end portion is provided with at least one second air outlet to allow at least part of the airflow entering the air outlet device from the One or more of the at least one second air outlets flow out of the air outlet device;

The adjusting portion is rotatably disposed relative to the peripheral wall portion to completely shield, partially shield or completely expose each of the first air outlets at different movement positions, thereby adjusting the plurality of first out The outlet area of each outlet.
The air outlet device according to claim 1, wherein

The number of the second air outlets is plural, and the plurality of the second air outlets are evenly disposed along the circumferential direction of the first axial end.
The air outlet device according to claim 1, wherein

The first axial end portion includes a central portion and an annular peripheral portion outside the central portion, and each of the second air outlets is disposed at the annular peripheral portion.
The air outlet device according to claim 3, wherein

Each of the second air outlets has an annular segment shape extending in a circumferential direction of the first axial end portion.
The air outlet device according to claim 3, wherein the annular peripheral portion comprises:

a flat plate portion on which at least one orifice is provided;

At least one guiding portion, each of the guiding portions extending from an edge of one of the apertures toward an inner side or an outer side of the first axial end portion, and each of the guiding portions is configured to define one of the first portions Two outlets.
The air outlet device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second axial end portion disposed at the other end of the peripheral wall portion, and the second axial end portion is provided with one or more air inlets; and

A fan configured to cause airflow from the one or more air inlets into the peripheral wall portion.
The air outlet device according to claim 6, wherein

The fan centrifugal fan or centrifugal impeller is disposed between the second axial end and the first axial end.
The air outlet device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion comprises:

One or more obscuring portions spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the first axial end; and

At least one circulation portion, the shielding portion and the circulation portion are sequentially disposed along a circumferential direction of the first axial end portion, and the one or more shielding portions and the at least one circulation portion are enclosed by a tube Structure;

The adjusting portion is disposed at an inner side of the peripheral wall portion, and is rotated to a different rotating position, so that the one or more shielding portions completely, partially, or completely expose each of the first air outlets, Airflow is caused to enter the partially vented or fully exposed first air vent via the at least one flow.
The air outlet device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a motor disposed on a radially outer side of the peripheral wall portion;

a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a rotational motion of the output of the motor to the adjustment portion.
A refrigerator, comprising:

a duct system comprising a plurality of cold air outlets;

The air outlet device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of the first air outlets and each of the second air outlets of the air outlet device respectively communicate with at least one of the plurality of cold air outlets One.