WO2019029444A1

WO2019029444A1 - Refrigerator and manufacturing method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2019029444A1
Application number: PCT/CN2018/098491
Authority: WO
Inventors: 杨发林; 宋合喜; 阳军; 郑磊; 姚红雷
Original assignee: 青岛海尔股份有限公司
Priority date: 2017-08-09
Filing date: 2018-08-03
Publication date: 2019-02-14
Also published as: CN107388679A; CN107388679B

Abstract

A refrigerator and a manufacturing method therefor. The refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body (20), a door body (30), an ice-making apparatus, a water storage tank, and a water pipe connection system. The ice-making apparatus is mounted on the door body (30). The water storage tank is mounted within a storage compartment. The water pipe connection system comprises at least one door body water pipe (41), at least one refrigerator body water pipe (42), and at least one water pipe connector (43). Because the water pipe connector (43) is provided, a bottom docking function is implemented without having to turn the refrigerator upside down, docking is convenient, costs and time also are reduced. The water pipe connector (43) is provided at the bottom of the refrigerator and does not affect the appearance of the refrigerator.

Description

Refrigerator and method of manufacturing same

The present application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent Application Serial No. JP-A-----------

Technical field

The invention relates to the field of refrigerator storage, and in particular to a refrigerator and a manufacturing method thereof.

Background technique

At present, the refrigerator is a refrigeration device that maintains a constant low temperature, and is also a civilian product that keeps food or other articles at a constant low temperature and cold state. The cabinet has a compressor, a cabinet or box for the ice machine to freeze, and a storage box with a refrigeration unit. Refrigerators are becoming more popular due to their unique characteristics. In the current door-making ice refrigerator, since the door body and the box body are separately foamed, there is a problem of docking between the door body and the box water pipe. Generally, the end portion of the box water pipe is directly butt-joined to the end of the door body water pipe. There are generally two ways to dock the water pipes: First, docking in front of the lower front beam, people can dock in front of the refrigerator, the distance of the door from the ground is much higher than the ordinary, to allow the space used for docking; On the assembly line, after the door body is mounted on the cabinet, the entire refrigerator is turned over and down, so that it can be taken over at the bottom, and then the refrigerator is turned over after being connected. It is easy to dock when docking in front of the front front beam, but it can be seen from the front, the appearance is ugly, and the door body needs to avoid the distance of the docking space from the ground, which not only affects the appearance, but also many models of refrigerators cannot be used. Poor sex. When docking on the assembly line, after the door body is mounted on the box body, the whole refrigerator is turned over and down, so that it can be taken over at the bottom, but this requires a new turning process, which is costly, and the process only has a docking pipe. For refrigerators, most of them are not needed, which wastes time and labor costs.

Summary of the invention

An object of the first aspect of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the deficiencies of the prior art refrigerator, and to provide a novel refrigerator which does not require the cabinet and the door body to be turned over and down, and does not require a new opening process to realize the function of docking at the bottom. The docking is convenient, which greatly reduces the cost and time.

A further object of the first aspect of the present invention is to not only protect the water pipe connection system, but also to make the water pipe connection system not affect the overall appearance of the refrigerator and to ensure the aesthetics of the refrigerator.

An object of the second aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing the above refrigerator.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a door body, an ice making device, a water storage tank and a water pipe connection system;

a storage compartment is defined in the cabinet; the door body is mounted on the cabinet and configured to open or close the storage compartment;

The ice making device is installed in the door body; the water storage tank is installed in the storage room; the water pipe connecting system is connected to the water storage tank and the ice making device;

The water pipe connection system includes at least one door water pipe, at least one tank water pipe, and at least one water pipe joint;

Each door water pipe is connected to the ice making device, and each door body water pipe protrudes from the lower end surface of the door body;

Each tank water pipe is connected to the water storage tank, and each tank water pipe protrudes from the bottom end surface of the tank body;

Each water pipe joint is disposed below the bottom end surface of the tank, and two ends of each water pipe joint are respectively connected to a door water pipe and a tank water pipe.

Optionally, the utility model further comprises a water pipe cartridge, the water pipe cartridge has a box body and a box cover; the box body is mounted on the bottom end surface of the box body, and has a front side opening and two end openings; the front side opening and each end part The openings are connected such that in the connected door water pipe, a water pipe joint and a tank water pipe, the water pipe joint can enter the casing through the front side opening, the door body water pipe passes through one end opening, and the tank water pipe passes through the other One end is open; the cover is mounted to the case and is configured to close the front side opening.

Optionally, a bottom water pipe sheath is further included, which is installed on the bottom end surface of the tank, and a part of the pipe section of each tank water pipe is in the bottom water pipe sheath.

Optionally, the front end of the bottom end of the box has a lower front beam; the box body is mounted on the lower surface of the lower front beam, or the box body is integrally formed with the lower front beam.

Optionally, each water pipe joint is a quick joint; or, each water joint has a quick joint structure at both ends thereof.

Optionally, the water tube cartridge further includes at least one fall-preventing structure disposed on the box body to at least partially block the door body water pipe, the water pipe joint and the tank water pipe entering the box body from being separated from the box body;

Each anti-drop structure includes: a first curved piece extending forwardly and upwardly from the lower side of the casing, extending upward and rearward, rearwardly and downwardly, and moving forward and upward from the upper side of the casing a second curved piece extending downward, further downward and rearward, rearwardly rearward and upwardly extending; the second curved piece is disposed above the first curved piece.

Optionally, the bottom plate and the top plate of the box have at least one notch;

Each first curved piece extends from a notch of the bottom plate;

Each of the second bent pieces extends from a notch of the top plate.

Optionally, the number of the anti-shedding structures is two, and is disposed at two ends of the box body;

The back side of the cover has a plurality of buckles and two blocking members disposed at both ends of the cover;

a plurality of card holes are arranged on the bottom plate and the top plate of the box body, and each of the buckles is connected to a card hole;

Two blocking members are disposed between the two anti-drop structures, and each of the blocking members is in contact with the first bending piece and the second bending piece of the anti-shedding structure.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing the refrigerator of any of the above, comprising:

Door installation step: installing the door body in the box body;

Water pipe connection step: Install each door water pipe at one end of a water pipe joint, and install each tank water pipe at the other end of one water pipe joint.

Optionally, before the door body mounting step, or before the water pipe connecting step, further comprising a box body setting step: the box body of the water tube cartridge is disposed on the bottom end surface of the box body;

After the water pipe connection step, it also includes:

Pipe joint insertion step: in a connected door water pipe, a water pipe joint and a tank water pipe, the water pipe joint enters the box body through the front side opening, so that the door body water pipe passes through an end opening, the box body The water pipe passes through the other end opening;

Cap closure step: Mount the lid to the front side opening of the box.

The refrigerator of the present invention and the manufacturing method thereof have the water pipe joint, especially the quick-connect type water pipe joint, so that the docking between the tank water pipe and the door body water pipe is conveniently and quickly performed on the lower side of the bottom end surface of the tank body, in the refrigerator In the case of not flipping down (ie, without the need to newly assemble the wire body), the function of bottom docking is realized, and the docking is convenient, which greatly reduces the cost and time. The water pipe joint is disposed at the bottom of the refrigerator, and can not affect the appearance of the refrigerator, and can improve the versatility of the door body, the cabinet body, etc., so as to be applicable to various types of refrigerators.

Further, since the refrigerator of the present invention and the method of manufacturing the same have a water tube cartridge, the refrigerator is further improved in appearance, and components such as water pipe joints can be protected. In particular, due to the special structure of the water tube cartridge, not only the detachment of the water pipe joint can be prevented, but also the installation is convenient and firm.

In addition, the use of the water pipe joint in the refrigerator of the present invention and the manufacturing method thereof also facilitates the disassembly and installation of the refrigerator. In the process of transportation, home decoration and use of the refrigerator, when the door body needs to be disassembled, it is convenient and quick because the refrigerator does not need to be turned over. Carrying out, greatly improving the practicality and scope of use of the refrigerator.

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 will be described in detail, 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 a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic structural view showing a part of the structure of the refrigerator shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic enlarged view of A in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic structural view showing a part of the structure of the refrigerator shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic enlarged view of B in Figure 4;

Fig. 6 is a schematic structural view of a lid of a water tube cartridge in a refrigerator.

Detailed ways

1 is a schematic structural view of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 and referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator, which generally includes a box 20 , a door body 30 , and a refrigeration system and a storage room disposed in the box 20 . room. The door body 30 is mounted to the cabinet 20 and is configured to open or close the storage compartment. The refrigeration system is used to provide cooling to the storage compartment. Further, a storage tank may be disposed in the storage compartment of the casing 20. An ice making device may be disposed on the door body 30. A water pipe connection system 40 is disposed between the water storage tank and the ice making device. In particular, the water pipe connection system 40 includes at least one door water pipe 41, at least one tank water pipe 42 and at least one water pipe joint 43. Each door water pipe 41 is in communication with the ice making device, and each door body water pipe 41 projects from the lower end surface of the door body 30 to the door body 30. Each of the tank water pipes 42 communicates with the water storage tank, and each of the tank water pipes 42 protrudes from the bottom end surface of the tank body 20 from the tank body 20. Each water pipe joint 43 is disposed below the bottom end surface of the casing 20, and both ends of each water pipe joint 43 are used to connect a door water pipe 41 and a tank water pipe 42, respectively.

Further, each water pipe joint 43 is a quick connector. Or each of the water pipe joints 43 has a quick-connect structure at both ends. Or, each of the water pipe joints 43 has a quick-connecting structure at both ends, and each of the tank water pipes 42 and the end portion of the door water pipe 41 connected to the water pipe joint 43 also has a quick-connect structure.

Since the refrigerator of this embodiment has the water pipe joint 43, especially the quick-connect type water pipe joint 43, the docking between the tank water pipe 42 and the door water pipe 41 is conveniently and quickly performed on the lower side of the bottom end surface of the casing 20, in the refrigerator. In the case of not flipping down (that is, without newly opening the assembly line), the function of bottom docking is realized, and the docking is convenient, which greatly reduces the cost and time. The water pipe joint 43 is disposed at the bottom of the refrigerator, and does not affect the appearance of the refrigerator, and can improve the versatility of the door body 30, the casing 20, and the like, so as to be applicable to various types of refrigerators.

In some embodiments of the invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator further includes a water tube cartridge 50. The water tube cartridge 50 has a case 51 and a cover 52. The casing 51 is mounted on the bottom end surface of the casing 20 and has a front side opening and two end openings; the front side opening is in communication with each end opening such that a connected door water pipe 41 and a water pipe joint 43 are connected. And in a tank water pipe 42, the water pipe joint 43 can enter the casing 51 through the front side opening, the door body water pipe 41 passes through one end opening, and the tank water pipe 42 passes through the other end opening; the cover 52 is mounted to the casing 51, configured to close the front side opening. The water tube cartridge 50 can not only protect the water pipe joint 43 but also prevent the water pipe joint 43 from being exposed, so that only a flat surface is seen from the front of the refrigerator, which does not affect the appearance and ensures the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator.

In some further embodiments of the present invention, the bottom end of the casing 20 has a lower front beam 21; the casing 51 is mounted to the lower surface of the lower front beam 21, or the casing 51 is integrally formed with the lower front beam 21.

In order to prevent the installed water pipe from falling off and protecting the water pipe, the water pipe cartridge 50 further includes at least one fall-preventing structure 53 provided to the casing 51 to at least partially obstruct the door body water pipe 41, the water pipe joint 43 and the casing entering the casing 51. The water pipe 42 is separated from the casing 51. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, each of the anti-drop structure 53 includes: a first curved piece that extends forward and upward from the lower side of the casing 51, and then extends upward and rearward, rearward and downward, and extends downward. And a second curved piece extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper side of the casing 51, extending further downward and rearward, rearwardly rearward and upwardly; the second curved piece is disposed above the first curved piece.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the cover 52 and the case 51, the cover 52 is snapped to the case 51. Specifically, the number of the anti-shedding structures 53 is two, and is disposed at both ends of the casing 51. The rear side of the cover 52 has a plurality of snaps 57 and two blocking members 58 disposed at opposite ends of the cover 52, as shown in FIG. The bottom plate and the top plate of the casing 51 are provided with a plurality of card holes, and each of the buckles 57 is engaged with a card hole. Two blocking members 58 are disposed between the two anti-drop structures 53, and each of the blocking members 58 is in contact with the first bending piece and the second bending piece of the anti-drop structure 53.

In some embodiments of the present invention, since the pipe section of the tank water pipe 42 extending from the bottom end surface of the casing 20 is long, the refrigerator further includes a bottom water pipe sheath 60 installed on the bottom end surface of the casing 20, and each tank water pipe A portion of the pipe section 42 is in the bottom water pipe jacket 60. The refrigerator is preferably a side-by-side refrigerator, and the storage compartment may be two, including a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. The water storage tank is preferably disposed at a corner of the rear of the refrigerating compartment.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a method of manufacturing a refrigerator for use in any of the above embodiments. Specifically, the manufacturing method may include a door body 30 mounting step and a water pipe connecting step. The door body 30 is installed by mounting the door body 30 to the cabinet 20. The water pipe connecting step is to install each door water pipe 41 to one water pipe joint 43, and to install each of the tank water pipes 42 to one water pipe joint 43.

In some further embodiments of the present invention, prior to the step of installing the door body 30, or prior to the water pipe connection step, the casing 51 is further provided with the step of: arranging the casing 51 of the water tube cartridge 50 at the bottom of the casing 20. End face. Specifically, the case body 51 can be integrally formed with the case 51 when the lower front beam 21 of the case 20 is molded, so that the case 51 is placed at the bottom end surface of the case 20. Alternatively, the casing 51 is attached to the bottom end surface of the casing 20 by screws or the like.

A pipe joint insertion step and a lid closing step are further included after the water pipe connecting step. Pipe joint insertion step: in a connected door water pipe 41, a water pipe joint 43 and a tank water pipe 42, the water pipe joint 43 is inserted into the casing 51 through the front side opening, so that the door water pipe 41 passes through The end opening, the tank water pipe 42 passes through the other end opening. The cover 52 is closed by attaching the cover 52 to the front side opening of the casing 51.

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

A refrigerator, comprising: a box body, a door body, an ice making device, a water storage tank and a water pipe connecting system;

The storage compartment defines a storage compartment; the door is mounted to the enclosure and configured to open or close the storage compartment;

The ice making device is installed in the door body; the water storage tank is installed in the storage room; the water pipe connection system connects the water storage tank and the ice making device;

The water pipe connection system includes at least one door water pipe, at least one tank water pipe, and at least one water pipe joint;

Each of the door body water pipes is in communication with the ice making device, and each of the door body water pipes protrudes from the lower end surface of the door body;

Each of the tank water pipes is in communication with the water storage tank, and each of the tank water pipes protrudes from the bottom end surface of the tank body;

Each of the water pipe joints is disposed below a bottom end surface of the casing, and two ends of each of the water pipe joints are respectively used for connecting one of the door body water pipes and one of the tank water pipes.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a water tube cartridge having a case body and a case cover; the case body being mounted on a bottom end surface of the case body and having a front side opening And two end openings; the front side opening being in communication with each of the end openings such that one of the door body water pipes, one of the water pipe joints, and one of the tank water pipes are connected a water pipe joint can enter the casing through the front side opening, the door body water pipe passes through one of the end openings, and the tank water pipe passes through the other end opening; the cover is mounted on The casing is configured to close the front side opening.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a bottom water pipe jacket installed at a bottom end surface of the casing, and a portion of the pipe section of each of the tank water pipes is in the bottom water pipe jacket.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein

The bottom end of the box has a lower front beam; the case is mounted on a lower surface of the lower front beam, or the case is integrally formed with the lower front beam.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein

Each of the water pipe joints is a quick connector; or

Each of the water pipe joints has a quick joint structure at both ends thereof.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein

The water tube cartridge further includes at least one fall-preventing structure disposed on the casing to at least partially obstruct the door water pipe entering the casing, the water pipe joint, and the tank water pipe from being separated from the casing Box

Each of the fall prevention structures includes: a first curved piece extending forward and upward from the lower side of the case, extending upward and rearward, rearwardly and downwardly, and from the case a second curved piece extending forwardly and downwardly, extending further downward and rearward, rearwardly rearward and upwardly; the second curved piece is disposed above the first curved piece.
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein

The bottom plate and the top plate of the box body each have at least one notch;

Each of the first bent pieces extends from one of the notches of the bottom plate;

Each of the second bent pieces extends from one of the notches of the top plate.
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein

The number of the anti-shedding structures is two, and is disposed at two ends of the box body;

The back side of the cover has a plurality of buckles and two blocking members disposed at two ends of the cover;

a plurality of card holes are disposed on the bottom plate and the top plate of the casing, and each of the buckles is coupled to one of the card holes;

Two of the blocking members are disposed between the two anti-drop structures, and each of the blocking members is in contact with the first bending piece and the second bending piece of one of the anti-shedding structures.
A method for manufacturing a refrigerator according to claim 1, comprising:

Door installation step: installing the door body to the box body;

Water pipe connection step: each of the door water pipes is installed at one end of one of the water pipe joints, and each of the tank water pipes is installed at the other end of one of the water pipe joints.
The manufacturing method according to claim 9, wherein

Before the door body mounting step, or before the water pipe connecting step, further comprising a box body setting step of: disposing the box body of the water tube cartridge on a bottom end surface of the box body;

After the water pipe connecting step, the method further includes:

a pipe joint insertion step of causing the water pipe joint to enter the casing via the front side opening in one of the door water pipes, one of the water pipe joints, and one of the tank water pipes after the connection The door water pipe passes through one of the end openings, and the tank water pipe passes through the other end opening;

Cap closure step: The cover is mounted to the front side opening of the case.