WO2023148919A1

WO2023148919A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2023148919A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/004395
Authority: WO
Inventors: 毅山村; 恭輝西貝; 卓弥根本
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2022-02-04
Filing date: 2022-02-04
Publication date: 2023-08-10
Also published as: JPWO2023148919A1

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure comprises: a box having an opening in the front, and having a first storage compartment that is set in a refrigeration temperature zone and a second storage compartment that is located above the first storage compartment and set in a freezing temperature zone; a door that is attached to the front of the box and opens and closes the opening; a partition member that divides the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment into upper and lower sections; a third storage compartment that is provided at the uppermost part in the first storage compartment below the partition member and can be set in a negative temperature range; a first return air passage that is provided in the partition member and returns return cold air from the first storage compartment to a cooler compartment; and a second return air passage that is provided in the partition member and returns return cold air from the third storage compartment to the cooler compartment. The first return air passage and the second return air passage form independent air passages, and the first return air passage and the second return air passage are partitioned by a heat-insulating material. With this configuration, this refrigerator can suppress frost formation and blockage due to frost formation in the first return air passage and the second return air passage and can provide stable temperature control.

Description

refrigerator

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators having storage compartments capable of switching temperatures.

In recent years, along with changes in lifestyles due to an increase in double-income households and single-person households, there is a strong tendency to buy a large amount of foodstuffs at once and store them in refrigerators. Along with this, there is a demand for a refrigerator with a large capacity and a refrigerator capable of finely adjusting the temperature so that various foodstuffs can be stored at an appropriate temperature. As one of the products that meet such demands, a refrigerator is known that has a storage compartment (switchable compartment, temperature switchable compartment) capable of switching temperature zones in addition to a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment.

The following three temperature zones are known as temperature zones in which an object to be cooled is stored in a refrigerator.
The first temperature range is a temperature range of 0°C or more and less than 3°C, for example, a temperature range of around 1°C. It is known that when food such as meat and fish frozen in the storage room of the first temperature zone is thawed, the frozen water in the food is gradually thawed, so that the food can be thawed without significantly impairing its taste. ing.
In addition, as the second temperature zone, the temperature of the storage room is maintained at around 0°C, and the temperature inside the room is set to a negative temperature zone of around -3°C, thereby avoiding freezing of the moisture in the food. There is an example of use for the purpose of extending the storage period rather than storing in a normal refrigeration room.
Furthermore, as a third temperature zone, it has been proposed to set the temperature of the storage room to about -7 degrees.
A switchable compartment, which is a storage compartment in which the user can set the temperature range among the first, second, and third temperature ranges, has been proposed. The wider the width of the temperature zone that can be set in the switchable compartment, the more the user can save the trouble of taking out the food from the storage compartment and moving it to another storage compartment in order to match the temperature zone suitable for the food.

As an example of conventional refrigerators with switchable compartments, refrigerators in which a freezing compartment is provided in the upper part and a refrigerating compartment is provided in the lower part have been disclosed. A storage compartment separated from the refrigerating compartment by a wall is provided in the upper part of the refrigerating compartment, and on the ceiling of the refrigerating compartment, a cold air return passage for returning the cold air from the refrigerating compartment to the cold air introduction path and a cold air from the storage compartment to the cold air introducing path. A return passage is provided and communicates between the cool air return passage and the passage. Then, the cool air that has flowed into the refrigeration compartment returns to the cool air introduction path through the cool air return passage. The cold air that has flowed into the storage chamber returns to the cold air introduction passage through the passage and the cold air return passage. In some cases, the food stored in the storage chamber is rapidly cooled by this. (For example, see Patent Document 1.)

JP-A-5-187756

However, in the conventional method described above, the cold air return passage for returning cold air from the refrigerating chamber to the cold air introduction passage is connected to the passage for returning cold air from the storage chamber to the cold air introduction passage. When the cold air flowing through the cold air return passage and the cold air flowing through the passage join together, the temperature of the cold air changes abruptly, and frost is likely to occur at the junction. If the width of the cold air return passage or passage is narrowed or closed due to the occurrence of such frost, there is a problem that the cold air circulation in the refrigerator is hindered and the refrigerator as a whole does not get cold.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has a storage room for storing objects to be cooled, which is set in a refrigerating temperature zone and a storage room which can be set in a minus temperature zone. However, in the cold air return air passage that connects the storage room set in the refrigeration temperature zone and the cooler room, and the cold air return air passage that connects the storage room that can be set in the minus temperature zone and the cooler room, It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of suppressing frost or clogging due to frost formation and performing stable temperature control.

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure has a front opening, a first storage compartment set in a refrigerating temperature range, and a second storage compartment above the first storage compartment set in a freezing temperature range. , a door attached to the front side of the box for opening and closing the opening, a partition member for vertically partitioning the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, and below the partition member There is a third storage chamber that is provided at the top of the first storage chamber and can be set to a negative temperature zone, and a third storage chamber that is provided in the partition member and returns cool air returned from the first storage chamber to the cooler chamber. 1 return air passage and a second return air passage provided in the partition member for returning cold air returned from the third storage chamber to the cooler chamber, the first return air passage and the second return air passage The passages form independent air passages, and the first return air passage and the second return air passage are partitioned by a heat insulating material.

When the refrigerator according to the present disclosure is used, a cold air return air path connecting a conventional storage compartment and a cooler compartment set in the refrigerating temperature range, and a storage compartment and a cooler compartment that can be set in the minus temperature range are provided. A rapid temperature change caused by the merging of cold air, which occurs at the joint where the connected cold air return air passages are connected to each other, is suppressed, so the cold air return air that connects the storage compartment set in the refrigerating temperature zone and the cooler compartment is suppressed. Frost formation and blockage due to frost formation are suppressed in the passage and the cool air return passage that connects the storage chamber that can be set in the minus temperature range and the cooler chamber, and stable temperature control can be performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this indication. 1 is a perspective view showing an interior configuration of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, with a freezer compartment door and a refrigerator compartment door opened. FIG. 1 of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, showing a freezer compartment blow-out air path, a refrigerator compartment blow-out air path, and a switchable compartment blow-out air path. 1 of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, showing a freezer compartment return air path, a refrigerator compartment return air path, and a switchable compartment return air path. Fig. 2 is a top view of a box in the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along BB in FIG. 5 of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a CC cross-sectional view in FIG. 5 of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a CC cross-sectional view and a DD cross-sectional view in FIG. 5 of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal configuration of a partition member according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a top view of a box in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a PP cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a QQ cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a front view, an SS cross-sectional view, and a TT cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, with the freezer compartment door and the refrigerator compartment door opened. FIG. 10 is a YY cross-sectional view and a VV cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the internal configuration of a partition member according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a stacking shelf included in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure; FIG. 10 is a schematic top view showing a stack of shelves included in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure; FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a stacking shelf included in a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure;

A refrigerator according to the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present specification is not limited to only the following embodiments, and modifications or omissions can be made without departing from the scope of the present specification. Also, the drawings may represent the actual structure in a simplified manner. Furthermore, in the drawings, the size of each component and the positional relationship between components may differ from the actual one. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding parts, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. This is common throughout the specification.
Also, in the following description, terms representing directions (for example, "up", "upper", "lower", "lower", "left", "left", "right", " Right side", "front", "front side", "front", "back", "rear side", "back", "depth", "width", "inside", "outside", etc.) are used as appropriate. This is for the purpose of description and these terms are not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the above-mentioned directions are, in principle, when the box is viewed from the front with the opening of the storage compartment as the front (front) when the refrigerator is installed in a usable state. is the positional relationship of

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing the appearance of refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the interior configuration of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure with the freezer compartment door and the refrigerator compartment door opened.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 100 taken along line AA of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. 39 is a diagram showing 39. FIG. In FIG. 3, the air passages for returning cool air flowing from each storage compartment to the cooler compartment have been omitted for the sake of clarity.
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 100 taken along line AA of the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. Figure 43 shows 43; In FIG. 4, for the sake of simplification, the blow-off air passages through which cool air is supplied from the cooler compartment to each storage compartment are omitted.

[Configuration of refrigerator 100]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 100 of Embodiment 1 includes a box 1, which is a refrigerator main body, having a storage space 7 inside. The box body 1 is composed of an outer box 2 made of metal, an inner box 3 made of resin, and a heat insulating material 4 filled between the outer box 2 and the inner box 3. - 特許庁The heat insulating material 4 is made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the outer case 2 and the inner case 3, such as foam heat insulating material 4a (not shown) and vacuum heat insulating material 4b (not shown).
The box 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped structure, has an opening 6 in the front portion 1a, and has a storage space 7 formed therein. Further, when the front surface portion 1a of the box 1 is viewed from the front, the portion of the inner box 3 positioned above the storage space 7 is the upper surface portion 8a, and the portion of the inner box 3 positioned below the storage space 7 is the lower surface. The portion 8b, the portion of the inner box 3 positioned to the left of the storage space 7 is referred to as a left side portion 8c, and the portion of the inner case 3 positioned to the right of the storage space 7 is referred to as a right side portion 8d.

The storage space 7 of the box 1 is a space for storing objects to be cooled such as food. The storage space 7 is partitioned into a plurality of storage chambers by one or more partition members. In the refrigerator 100 of the present embodiment, the single partition member 9 divides the storage space 7 into two storage compartments, a refrigerating compartment 10 as a first storage compartment and a freezer compartment 11 as a second storage compartment. , divided into top and bottom. The freezer compartment 11 is above the refrigerator compartment 10 .

A front face portion 1a of the box 1 is provided with a refrigerator compartment door 14a for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 10 and a freezer compartment door 14b for opening and closing the freezer compartment 11 . The refrigerator compartment door 14a and the freezer compartment door 14b are rotatably attached to the box body 1 via

hinges

16a and 16b, respectively. The refrigerator compartment 10 and the freezer compartment 11 are opened and closed by a single-opening refrigerator compartment door 14a and a freezer compartment door 14b, respectively. In addition, the structure of the refrigerator compartment door 14a and the freezer compartment door 14b is not restricted to this, The structure which opens and closes one storage compartment with two double doors may be sufficient.

The refrigerator compartment 10 is set to a refrigerating temperature zone, which is the first temperature zone. The refrigeration temperature zone is, for example, a temperature zone of 3°C or higher and 5°C or lower.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the refrigerating compartment 10 is internally provided with a plurality of shelves 15 that divide the storage space 7 at different positions in the vertical direction. The plurality of shelves 15 includes, in order from the top, a top shelf 15a, a first shelf 15b, a second shelf 15c, a third shelf 15d and a bottom shelf 15e. The first shelf 15b, the second shelf 15c and the third shelf 15d are removable, and the left side portion 10c of the refrigerating chamber 10 constituted by a part of the left side portion 8c of the inner box 3 and the inner box 3 The height can be adjusted by the support portions 17 respectively provided on the right side portion 10d of the refrigerating compartment 10, which is formed by a part of the right side portion 8d. Furthermore, the first shelf 15b, the second shelf 15c, and the third shelf 15d are each composed of a plurality of shelves connected in the front and rear, and the shelf on the front side of the refrigerator compartment 10 among the plurality of shelves is placed backward. It may be slidable so that it can be installed overlapping the shelf on the back side of the refrigerating compartment 10 . Also, the number of shelves 15 in refrigerator 100 is not limited to this.

The freezer compartment 11 is set to the freezing temperature zone, which is the second temperature zone. The freezing temperature zone is a temperature zone lower than the refrigerating temperature zone. The freezing temperature zone is a temperature zone below 0°C, for example, a temperature zone between -20°C and -18°C.

The vegetable compartment 12 is a storage compartment set in a temperature range higher than that of the refrigerator compartment 10 (for example, about 3-7°C). The vegetable compartment 12 is a storage compartment suitable for refrigerating food, especially vegetables. The vegetable compartment 12 is separated from the refrigerating compartment 10 by a drawer-type container 18 and the lowermost shelf 15e, and is provided below the refrigerating compartment 10. As shown in FIG. The drawer-type container 18 is installed on the lower surface portion 8b of the inner box 3, and can be moved in the front-rear direction (depth direction) of the box 1. As shown in FIG.

The switching compartment 13 is a storage compartment (third storage compartment) in which the indoor temperature can be set within a range from the refrigerating temperature range to the freezing temperature range. In the switching chamber 13, the indoor temperature can be set in a suitable temperature range depending on the application. The switching compartment 13 is, for example, a storage compartment suitable for storing food such as meat, fish, or processed products thereof. In the present embodiment, the temperature of the switching chamber 13 can be mainly set in three temperature zones: a first temperature zone, a second temperature zone, and a third temperature zone. Note that the temperature is not limited to this, and the switching chamber 13 may be able to set the temperature in a temperature zone other than these three temperature zones. Also, the temperature of the switching compartment 13 can be freely set by the user of the refrigerator 100 . Therefore, the user can store the object to be cooled, such as food, in the switchable compartment 13 in the temperature zone that the user prefers, so that the convenience of the refrigerator 100 can be improved.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the switchable compartment 13 has a switchable compartment back part 13 c formed by a back panel (refrigerating compartment back panel 34 ) common to the refrigerating compartment 10 . The switching compartment 13 is separated from the refrigerating compartment 3 by the uppermost shelf 15 a installed in the refrigerating compartment 10 , the storage container 20 installed on the uppermost shelf 15 a , and the front door 19 . The storage container 20 is a drawer type storage container. A ceiling portion 10a of the refrigerator compartment 10 and a ceiling portion 13a of the switchable compartment 13 are configured by a partition member 9 . The ceiling portion 13 a of the switching compartment 13 is provided behind the ceiling portion 10 a of the refrigerator compartment 10 .

The storage container 20 is a container that stores an object to be cooled to be stored in the switching chamber 13 . As a material of the storage container 20, for example, polystyrene is used, like a storage container of a general refrigerator. However, the material of the container 20 is not limited to this. The storage container 20 is slid along guides (not shown) provided on the left side 8c and right side 8d of the inner box 3 between the uppermost shelf 15a and the partition member 9 to move the box. The body 2 is moved in the front-rear direction (depth direction). The storage container 20 is a rectangular parallelepiped container with an open upper surface. The side 20a2 is inclined forward, and the grip portion 21 is provided on the front side of the front portion 20a. By configuring the storage container 20 as described above, the storage container 20 is stored in the back of the uppermost shelf 15a, and the user puts a finger on the grip portion 21 to hold the storage container closed by the front door 19. When the door 20 is pulled out, the fins 22 are pushed up by the left and right side portions 20b, and the front door 19 rotates forward. As a result, the front door 19 is separated from the front portion 20a and the storage container 20 is opened, so that objects can be put in and taken out of the storage container 20.例文帳に追加

One end of the front door 19 is rotatably supported by a mounting portion 19 a provided on the bottom portion 9 c of the partition member 9 . The attachment portion 19a is a mechanism for attaching the front door 19 to the bottom portion 9c of the partition member 9, and the position provided on the bottom portion 9c corresponds to the attachment position for attaching the front door 19 to the bottom portion 9c of the partition member 9. .
The front door 19 is positioned in front of the storage container 20 when the storage container 20 is pushed into the uppermost shelf 15a, and contacts the front surface 20a of the storage container 20 to close the ceiling 13a of the switching chamber 13. , the left side 8c of the inner box 3, the right side 8d of the inner box 3 and the front face 20a. In this state, when the user puts a finger on the grip portion 21 and pulls out the storage container 20 forward, the fins 22 provided on the back surface of the front door 19 come into contact with the side portions 20b of the storage container 20, and the height increases from the front to the rear. Pushed up by the rising side portion 20b, the front door 19 rotates forward (the front door 19 rotates clockwise around the mounting portion 19a when the box 1 is viewed from the right side). In this manner, the front door 19 enables the storage container 20 to be drawn forward, and the front door 19 is formed by the partition member 9, the front surface portion 20a of the storage container 20, the left side surface 8c and the right side surface 8d of the inner box 3. The opening 13b of the switching chamber 13 is opened. When the opening 13b of the switching chamber 13 is closed by the front door 19, the storage container 20 is operated in the opposite direction (pushed backward) to when the opening 13b of the switching chamber 13 is opened by the front door 19. By the above operation, the front door 19 is formed by the partition member 9 (the ceiling 13a of the switching chamber 13), the front surface 20a of the storage container 20, the left side surface 8c of the inner box 3, and the right side surface 8d of the inner box 3. The opening 13b of the chamber 13 is opened and closed.
In addition, the configuration of the front door 19 of the present embodiment is not limited to this, and along the bottom surface portion 9c of the partition member 9, the mounting portion 19a is provided on the left side portion 8c of the inner box 3 and the right side portion 8d of the inner box 3. and the front door 19 may be pivotally supported by the mounting portion 19a. Alternatively, the front door 19 may contact the upper surface or the tip of the uppermost shelf 15 a to close the opening 13 b of the switching chamber 13 . In this case, the grip portion 21 is provided on the front side of the front door 19 .

The bottom surface portion 9c of the partition member 9 has a first portion, which is an area in front of the attachment portion 19a, facing the refrigerating compartment 10, and constitutes a ceiling portion 10a of the refrigerating compartment 10. As shown in FIG. A second portion of the bottom portion 9c, which is a region behind the mounting portion 19a, faces the switching chamber 13 and constitutes a ceiling portion 13a of the switching chamber 13. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a space 10f is provided between the door and the third storage room in front of the third storage room.
The ceiling portion 10a facing the space 10f is formed with a refrigerating chamber return air passage entrance 41a as a first return air passage entrance, and the ceiling portion 13a is formed with a switching chamber return air passage entrance as a second return air passage entrance. 42a is formed.
By arranging the refrigerating chamber return air passage entrance 41a and the switching chamber return air passage entrance 42a in front and behind the mounting portion 19a, the front door 19 flows into the switching chamber 13 while the opening portion of the switching chamber 13 is closed. Cold air is suppressed from flowing into the refrigerator compartment 10 by the front door 19 . The cold air that has flowed into the switchable chamber 13 flows out to the cooler chamber through a switchable chamber return air passage inlet 42a formed in the ceiling portion 13a of the switchable chamber 13 . Therefore, fluctuations in the temperature zone of the refrigerator compartment 10 due to the temperature control of the switching compartment 13 are suppressed by the front door 19 . In addition, the front door 19 prevents the odor of the object to be cooled stored in the switching compartment 13 from transferring to the refrigerating compartment 10 .

Temperature zones that can be selected in the switching chamber 13 will be described. A plurality of temperature zones including a first temperature zone, a second temperature zone and a third temperature zone can be selected in the switching chamber 13 .

The first temperature range is a temperature range of 0°C or higher and less than 3°C, for example, a temperature range of around 1°C. By setting the temperature in the switchable compartment 4 within this temperature range, the switchable compartment 13 can be used as a chilled compartment. Such a method of using the switchable compartment 13 is intended for users who have insufficient capacity of the refrigerator compartment 10 or users who consume a large amount of food on the day.

The second temperature zone is a negative temperature zone, which is lower in temperature than the refrigerator compartment 10 and is a temperature zone (supercooled temperature zone) in which food is supercooled. A supercooled state means that even if the temperature of the food reaches the freezing point (freezing temperature) or lower, the food does not start to freeze and the food maintains a non-freezing state. Such a supercooling temperature range is, for example, a temperature range of −3° C. or more and less than 0° C., which is below the freezing point of food. By setting the temperature in the switchable chamber 13 to this temperature range, the switchable chamber 13 can be used as a supercooled storage chamber for storing food in a supercooled state. In order to preserve food while maintaining its quality, it is desirable to maintain food at a temperature as low as possible without freezing, and such food preservation can be achieved with a supercooling storage chamber. By using the switchable compartment 13 as a supercooled storage compartment, the user can store fresh foods such as meat and fish and foods with short shelf life such as processed products thereof without freezing.

The third temperature zone is a temperature zone between -10°C and -5°C, for example, around -7°C. In this temperature range, even if the food is stored for a long time, the surface does not become too hard, so the food can be easily crushed or broken. Therefore, the user can use the food stored in the switching compartment 13 immediately.

In the present embodiment, the storage space 7 of the refrigerator 100 is partitioned into two storage compartments, the refrigerating compartment 10 and the freezing compartment 11, by one partition member 9, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. The freezer compartment 11 may be a storage compartment for a temperature zone other than the freezing temperature zone. Moreover, the box 1 may be divided into five storage compartments, a refrigerator compartment, an ice-making compartment, a switch compartment, a freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment, by a plurality of partition members. In such a case, the switchable compartment is partitioned within the refrigerating compartment, and the refrigerating compartment and the switchable compartment are partitioned from other storage compartments by one partition plate.

As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator 100 has a compressor 25 that compresses and discharges refrigerant, and a cooler 26 that functions as an evaporator and cools air, on the back side 1b side of the storage room of the box 1. , a blower 27 for moving cold air generated by a cooler 26, and a heater 28 (not shown). The compressor 25 is arranged in the machine room 30 provided below the cooler room 29 on the back surface 1b side of the box 1, as shown in FIG. Further, on the side of the rear surface 1b of the upper surface 1c of the box 1, a recessed substrate housing portion 32 for housing the control device 31 is formed. The control device 31 is, for example, dedicated hardware or a CPU (also called a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a processor) that executes a program stored in a memory. It is configured.

Compressor 25 and cooler 26 constitute a refrigeration cycle circuit together with a condensing device (not shown) and a pressure reducing device (not shown). In the refrigeration cycle circuit, a compressor 25, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator (cooler 26) are connected in this order by refrigerant pipes. The compressor 25 has a refrigerant discharge side connected to the condenser and a refrigerant suction side connected to the cooler 26 . The cooler 26 functions as an evaporator and exchanges heat between the refrigerant passing through it and the air flowing through the cooler chamber 29 to generate cool air.
A heater 28 (not shown) is provided below the cooler 26 so as not to contact the cooler 26 . The heater 28 is provided for defrosting the cooler 26 and is a defrosting device that heats and removes frost on the cooler 26 . Frost on the cooler 26 is heated by the heater 28 and discharged out of the cooler chamber 29 through a drain pipe opening 29b provided in the partition member 9 as drain water.

The box 1 has a cooler compartment 29 and a freezer compartment outlet air path 39 between the freezer compartment rear panel 33 forming the back surface of the freezer compartment 11 and the back surface 1 b of the box 1 . The cooler chamber 29 is arranged behind the freezer compartment 11 so as to at least partially overlap with the freezer compartment 11 when the box 1 of the refrigerator 100 is viewed from the front. A cooler 26 , a blower 27 and a heater 28 (not shown) are installed inside the cooler chamber 29 .
The box 1 has a refrigerating compartment outlet air path 37 and a switching compartment outlet air path 38 between the refrigerating compartment back panel 34 forming the backs of the refrigerating compartment 10 and the switchable compartment 13 and the back surface 1 b of the box 1 .

Furthermore, the refrigerator 100 has a cooling air passage 35 for flowing cool air from the cooler chamber 29 to each of the storage chambers (refrigerating chamber 10, vegetable chamber 12, and switching chamber 13) on the rear surface 1b side of the box 1.
The cooling air passage 35 is formed closer to the rear surface 1b of the box body 1 than the refrigerator compartment 10 and the freezer compartment 11, and is separated from the freezer compartment 11 by a freezer compartment back panel 33 forming the back surface of the freezer compartment 11. 11 and the rear part 36 of the box 1. As shown in FIG. A cooling air passage 35 is separated from the refrigerating chamber 11 by a refrigerating chamber back panel 34 forming a back surface 10 e of the refrigerating chamber 10 and formed between the refrigerating chamber 10 and the back surface portion 36 of the box 1 .
The cooling air passage 35 vertically penetrates the rear portion of the partition member 9 (immediately below the cooler chamber 29). 3 and 4, the cooling air passage 35 passing through the partition member 9 is indicated by broken lines. The cooling air passage 35 passing through the partition member 9 is indicated by a dashed line because it is positioned on the right (or left) of the line AA when viewing the refrigerator 100 from the front.
The cooling air passage 35 is connected to the cooler chamber 29 and is connected to the refrigerating chamber blow-out air passage 37 and the switching chamber blow-out air passage 38 .
In addition, in the present embodiment, the freezer compartment back panel 33 and the refrigerator compartment back panel 34 are configured by independent members, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. The freezer compartment back panel 33 and the refrigerator compartment back panel 34 may be configured by one panel member. In this case, the cooler chamber 29 is formed between one panel member and the back surface portion 36 forming the back surface 1b of the box 1, and the partition member 9 is arranged in front of the panel member.

The blower 27 blows the air (cold air) cooled by the cooler 26 to each storage compartment, ie, the refrigerator compartment 10 , the freezer compartment 11 , the vegetable compartment 12 and the switching compartment 13 . Cold air is supplied to the freezer compartment 11 from the cooler compartment 26 by the blower 27 via the freezer compartment outlet air path 39 . Cold air is supplied from the cooler chamber 26 to the refrigerating chamber 10 via the refrigerating chamber outlet air passage 37 by the blower 27 . In addition, cold air is supplied from the cooler chamber 26 to the switching chamber 13 through the switching chamber blowing air path 38 by the blower 27 .

Refrigerating compartment 10 has refrigerating compartment blow-out air duct outlet 37a in refrigerating compartment back panel 34 for supplying cold air from refrigerating compartment blowing-out air duct 37 to refrigerating compartment 10 .
The freezer compartment 11 has, on the freezer compartment back panel 33, a freezer compartment blow-out air duct outlet 39a for supplying cold air from the freezer compartment blow-out air duct 39 to the freezer compartment 11. As shown in FIG.
The switchable compartment 13 has a switchable compartment outlet 38 a for supplying cold air from the switchable compartment outlet air path 38 to the switchable compartment 13 on the refrigerating compartment back panel 34 . The switching compartment outlet 38a is located above the refrigerating compartment outlet 37a. A switching chamber outlet 38 a is provided between the uppermost shelf 15 a and the partition member 9 .

The cooler 26 heat-exchanges the refrigerant with the cooled air (cold air), and the air blower 27 forms an air flow. The arrows shown in FIG. 3 indicate the direction of flow of cold air flowing through each air passage by the blower 27 . Cold air directed to refrigerator compartment 10 flows into refrigerator compartment 10 from refrigerator compartment blow-out air passage 37 via refrigerator compartment blow-out air passage outlet 37a. In addition, the cold air directed to the switching chamber 13 flows into the switching chamber 13 from the switching chamber blowing air passage 38 through the switching chamber blowing air passage outlet 38a. In addition, cold air directed to the freezer compartment 11 flows into the freezer compartment 11 from the freezer compartment blow-out air path 39 via the freezer compartment blow-out air path outlet 39a.

A first damper 40a is provided upstream of the refrigerating compartment outlet air passage 37 . A second damper 40b is provided upstream of the switching chamber blow-out air path 38 . The first damper 40a adjusts the amount of cold air passing through the refrigerating compartment blowing air passage 37 by changing the degree of opening. The second damper 40 b adjusts the amount of cold air passing through the switching chamber blowing air passage 38 by changing the degree of opening.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4 , the cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment 10 flows into the cooler compartment 29 through the refrigerator compartment return air passage 41 . Cool air that has passed through the switching chamber 13 flows into the cooler chamber 29 through the switching chamber return air passage 42 . Also, the cold air that has passed through the freezer compartment 11 flows into the cooler compartment 29 through the freezer compartment return air passage 43 . The return cool air that has flowed into the cooler chamber 29 is cooled by the cooler 26 and sent to each storage chamber again.

The temperature of each storage compartment is detected by a temperature sensor (not shown) installed in each storage compartment. Control device 31 controls various devices in refrigerator 100 so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor becomes the temperature set in each storage compartment. For example, the control device 31 controls the degree of opening of the first damper 40a installed in the refrigerating compartment outlet air path 37 and the second damper 40b installed in the switching compartment outlet air path 38, the output of the compressor 26, the It controls the output, the blowing volume of the blower 27, and the like.
The temperature adjustment of the refrigerator compartment 3 is performed by the control device 31 controlling the opening degree of the first damper 40 a to adjust the amount of air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 . Further, the temperature adjustment of the switching chamber 13 is performed by the control device 31 controlling the opening degree of the second damper 40b to adjust the amount of air supplied to the switching chamber 13, and by the heater 61 (first heating (also referred to as a device).

[Configuration of partition member 9]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the partition member 9 is a wall provided between the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 10, and a wall provided between the freezer compartment 11 and the switching compartment 13. is. The partition member 9 vertically partitions the freezer compartment 11 and the refrigerator compartment 10 and vertically partitions the freezer compartment 11 and the switching compartment 13 . The partition member 9 includes an outer shell 45 manufactured by injection molding, and a heat insulating material 46 inside the outer shell 45 . Thermal insulation 46 suppresses heat transfer from refrigerating compartment 10 or switching compartment 13 to freezing compartment 11 .
When the freezer compartment door 14b and the refrigerator compartment door 14a are closed, the front part 9a of the partition member 9 is in contact with the gasket (not shown) provided on the back surface of the freezer compartment door 14b and the refrigerator compartment door 14a. The door 14b and the refrigerator compartment door 14a are separated from the outside of the box 1. - 特許庁In addition, the rear surface portion 9b of the partition member 9 constitutes a part of the side surface of the cooler chamber 29, and the rear surface portion 9b of the partition member 9 includes a refrigerating chamber return air passage outlet 41b and a switching chamber return air passage outlet 42b, which will be described later. is formed.

The partition member 9 passes through the heat insulating material 46 inside the outer shell part 45 and sends cold air flowing out of the refrigerator compartment 10 (return cold air of the refrigerator compartment 10 ) to the cooler compartment 29 . It has a room return air passage 41 . In addition, the partition member 9 is a second return air passage that passes through the heat insulating material 46 inside the outer shell 45 and sends cold air flowing out of the switching chamber 13 (return cold air from the switching chamber 13 ) to the cooler chamber 29 . It has a certain switching chamber return air passage 42 . The refrigerating-compartment return air passage 41 is connected to the refrigerating chamber 3 at a refrigerating-compartment return-air passage inlet 41a, and is connected to the cooler chamber 3 at a refrigerating-compartment return-air passage outlet 41b. The switchable chamber return air passage 42 is connected to the switchable chamber 13 at a switchable chamber return air passage inlet 42a, and is connected to the cooler chamber 29 at a switchable chamber return air passage outlet 42b.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of box 1 of refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 5, TT is a line passing through the refrigerating compartment return air passage 41 and dividing the box upper surface 1c. ZZ is a line passing through the switching chamber return air passage 42 and dividing the upper surface 1c of the box body.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line TT, showing the internal configuration of refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view showing a longitudinal section of the refrigerator 100 along the refrigerating compartment return air passage 41. As shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line ZZ, showing the internal configuration of refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view showing a longitudinal section of the refrigerator 100 along the switchable compartment return air passage 42. As shown in FIG.
FIG. 8(a) is an example of the interior of the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the box 1. UU indicates the refrigerating chamber return air passage 41 and the switching chamber return air passage 42. It is a line that divides the partition member 9 at a position where it passes.
FIG. 8(b) is an example of the refrigerator 100 according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the box 1 taken along line UU. A cooler chamber 29 and a cooling air passage 35 are formed behind the partition member 9 . The cooling air passage 35 is provided inside the cold air passage guide portion 53 .

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8B, the refrigerating compartment return air duct 41 and the switchable compartment return air duct 42 are not connected within the partition member 9 and are independent of each other. In other words, in the partition member 9 , the switchable compartment return air path 42 is not connected (connected) to the refrigerator compartment return air path 41 . As shown in FIG. 8( b ), the refrigerating compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42 are arranged in the partition member 9 so as to be divided into left and right sides when the box 1 is viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 8( b ), a plurality of pillars 48 are provided in the partition member 9 to connect the upper portion 45 a and the lower portion 45 b of the outer shell portion 45 . A heat insulating material 46 (not shown in FIG. 8B) is filled around the pillars 48, the refrigerating chamber return air passage 41, and the switching chamber return air passage 42 inside the outer shell portion 45. As shown in FIG. Further, a refrigerator compartment return air path 41 and a switching compartment return air path 42 are formed by the first partition wall 51a and the second partition wall 51b. A first partition wall 51a is provided between the refrigerator compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42, and the refrigerator compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42 are separated from each other by the first partition wall 51a. It is The refrigerating compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42 are separated from the heat insulating material 46 by the second partition wall 51b. The first partition wall 51a and the second partition wall 51b are made of foamed polystyrene, for example. The present embodiment is not limited to this, and refrigerating compartment return air duct 41 and switchable compartment return air duct 42 may be arranged in partition member 9 so as to overlap vertically. In addition, urethane foam may be provided between the refrigerating compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42 . In FIG. 8(b), 29a is an opening of a drain pipe for collecting drain water generated by defrosting the cooler 26. As shown in FIG. The air passage 35 is composed of an air passage forming portion 52 made of expanded polystyrene.
As indicated by broken lines in FIG. 8(b), the partition member 9 has a refrigerating chamber return air passage outlet 41b and a switchable chamber return air passage outlet 42b above the UU plane. The rear part of the refrigerating compartment return air path 41 and the rear part of the switchable compartment return air path 42 each have an upward curve and are connected to the refrigerating compartment return air path outlet 41b and the switchable compartment return air path outlet 42b, respectively. With such a structure, the cold air flowing out from the refrigerating chamber return air passage outlet 41b and the switching chamber return air passage outlet 42b into the cooler chamber 29 has an upward velocity component toward the cooler 26. flows along the cooler 26, and heat exchange with the refrigerant in the cooler 26 is facilitated. In FIG. 8B, the refrigerating compartment return air duct 41 has a smaller cross-sectional area on the refrigerating compartment return air duct outlet 41b side than on the refrigerating compartment return air duct inlet 41a side. The flow velocity of cool air flowing through the refrigerating compartment return air passage outlet 41b is made higher than that of the inlet 41a.

The refrigerating-compartment return air passage inlet 41a is formed in the outer bottom surface portion 49 (corresponding to the bottom surface portion 9c of the partitioning member 9) of the partition member 9 forming the ceiling portion 10a of the refrigerating chamber 10. The switchable chamber return air passage inlet 42 a is formed in the outer bottom surface portion 49 of the partition member 9 forming the ceiling portion 13 a of the switchable chamber 13 . An attachment portion 19a of the front door 19 is attached to the outer shell bottom portion 49 of the partition member 9, the area in front of the attachment portion 19a corresponds to the ceiling portion 10a of the refrigerator compartment 10, and the area behind the attachment portion 19a corresponds to the switching compartment. 13 corresponds to the ceiling portion 13a.

When the refrigerating chamber return air passage entrance 41a is provided in the floor surface portion 10b of the refrigerating chamber 10 (corresponding to the lower surface portion 8b of the inner box 3), if the refrigerating chamber 10 has the return air passage entrance on the front side, food juice such as meat juice Also, food waste and the like may spill out, which may clog the refrigerating compartment return air passage 41 . For this reason, in conventional refrigerators, when the return air passage entrance of the storage compartment is provided on the floor surface of the storage compartment, the return air passage entrance of the storage compartment is basically provided on the back side of the storage compartment. In this embodiment, the refrigerating-compartment return air passage entrance 41a is formed in the ceiling portion 10a of the refrigerating chamber 10, so that the phenomenon that the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 41 is clogged with food is less likely than in the case where it is provided in the floor surface portion 10b. can be suppressed. Therefore, the refrigerating chamber return air passage entrance 41a and the switchable chamber return air passage inlet 42a can be arranged in front of the refrigerating chamber 10 and the switchable chamber 13, respectively.

In the present embodiment, a refrigerating chamber return air duct 41 from a refrigerating chamber return air duct inlet 41a to the cooler chamber 29 and a switching chamber return air duct 42 from a switching chamber return air duct inlet 42a to the cooler chamber 29 are provided. , are not connected in the partition member 9 and form independent air paths. In such a structure, cold air flowing through the refrigerating chamber return air passage flows through the switchable chamber return air passage in the structure in which the refrigerating chamber return air passage and the switchable chamber return air passage are connected to each other, which is employed in conventional refrigerators. Since there is no sudden change in the temperature of the cold air that occurs when the cold air joins the cold air, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of frost in the vicinity of the connecting portion and blockage of the air passage due to frost. In addition, since the refrigerating compartment return air path 41 and the switchable compartment return air path 42 are not connected and are independent of each other, the smell of meat or fish stored in the switchable compartment 13 will be removed from the switchable compartment return air path 42 and the refrigerator compartment. Spreading into the refrigerator compartment 10 via the return air passage 41 is suppressed.

In addition, since the front door 19 is provided between the refrigerating compartment return air passage inlet 41a and the switchable chamber return air passage inlet 42a, when the opening 13b of the switchable chamber 13 is closed by the front door 19, the switchable chamber Cold air supplied to 13 is prevented from leaking into refrigerator compartment 10 . Therefore, it is possible to suppress the temperature change in the vicinity of the refrigerating-compartment return air passage entrance 41a due to the cold air passing through the switching chamber 13 reaching the vicinity of the refrigerating-compartment return air passage entrance 41a. As a result, frost formation is suppressed in the vicinity of the entrance of the return air passage of the refrigerating compartment.

Embodiment 2.
Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described below, but descriptions of parts that overlap with Embodiment 1 will be omitted, and parts that are the same as or correspond to those of Embodiment 1 will be given the same reference numerals. Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1 in that a first heating device is provided in partition member 9 . Further, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two switchable chamber return air passages are provided in the partition member instead of one switchable chamber return air passage.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing the internal configuration of outer shell portion 56 of partition member 55 in refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure. In addition, in FIG. 9, in order to show the air passage inside the partition member 55, the outer shell portion 56 and the heat insulating material 57 are omitted. The shape of outer shell portion 56 and the mounting position in refrigerator 101 are the same as outer shell portion 45 of partition member 9 of the first embodiment. Also, the material of the heat insulating material 57 is the same as that of the heat insulating material 46 of the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, taken along PP in FIG. A line PP is a line passing through the refrigerator compartment return air path 58 from the refrigerator compartment return air path inlet 58a to the refrigerator compartment return air path outlet 58b when the refrigerator 101 is viewed from above.
FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, taken along line QQ in FIG. When the refrigerator 101 is viewed from above, the line QQ passes through the first switchable chamber return air passage 59 from the first switchable chamber return air passage inlet 59a to the first switchable chamber return air passage outlet 59b. is a line.
FIG. 13(a) is a schematic front view of refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.
FIG. 13(b) is a cross-sectional view of the partition member taken along SS in FIG. 13(a). A line SS is a horizontal line overlapping the front projection plane of the first heating device when the refrigerator 101 is viewed from the front.
FIG. 13(c) is a cross-sectional view of the partition member taken along TT in FIG. 13(a). A line TT is a horizontal line overlapping the front projection plane of the refrigerator-compartment return air passage 59 above the first heating device when the refrigerator 101 is viewed from the front.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11 , in refrigerator 101 , heater 61 as a first heating device is provided inside outer shell 56 of partition member 55 . The heater 61 is used when frost formation in the cold air return air path cannot be suppressed only by the heat insulating material. The heater 61 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a heating wire such as a nichrome wire is embedded in a plate-like member made of metal in a zigzag manner. The heater 61 has an upper surface 61 a and a lower surface 61 b larger than the other surfaces, and is installed inside the outer shell 56 along the upper surface of the bottom 56 a of the outer shell 56 . The heater 61 is provided at a position overlapping the ceiling portion 13a of the switching chamber 13 when the box 1 is viewed from above.
As shown in FIGS. 9, 11 and 12, the partition member 55 cools cold air flowing out of the refrigerator compartment 10 (cold air returning from the refrigerator compartment 10) through the heat insulating material 57 inside the outer shell part 56. It has a refrigerating compartment return air path 58 which is a first return air path sent to the container room 29 . Moreover, the partition member 55 is a second return air passage that passes through the heat insulating material 46 inside the outer shell portion 56 and sends cold air flowing out of the switching chamber 13 (return cold air from the switching chamber 13 ) to the cooler chamber 29 . It has a certain first switchable chamber return air passage 59 and a second switchable chamber return air passage 60 that is a third return air passage. In Embodiment 2, the refrigerating compartment return air path 58, the first switchable compartment return air path 59, and the second switchable compartment return air path 60 are not connected within the partition member 9, but are independent air paths. to form As shown in FIG. 14B, which will be described later, a first heat insulating material 65a partitions the first switching chamber return air passage 59, the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, and the heater 61. As shown in FIG. The second switching chamber return air passage 59, the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, and the heater 61 are partitioned by the second heat insulating material 65b. The refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 59, the second switchable chamber return air passage 60, and the space inside the outer shell portion 56 are partitioned by the third heat insulating material 65c. The space inside the outer shell portion 56 is filled with foamed urethane, which is a heat insulating material. Although not shown, a fourth heat insulating material 65d is also provided between the refrigerating compartment return air path 58 and the heater 61 to separate the refrigerating compartment return air path 58 and the heater 61 from each other. The first heat insulating material 65a, the second heat insulating material 65b, the third heat insulating material 65c, and the fourth heat insulating material 65d may be formed continuously. The first heat insulating material 65a, the second heat insulating material 65b, the third heat insulating material 65c, and the fourth heat insulating material 65d are made of expanded polystyrene, for example.
In the second embodiment, a heat insulating material is arranged between the heater 61 and each return air passage. A heat insulating material is not provided between the heater 61 and each return air passage, and the heater 61 is in direct contact with the refrigerator compartment return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 59, and the second switchable chamber return air passage 60. may be configured.

The refrigerator compartment return air path 58, the first switchable compartment return air path 59, and the second switchable compartment return air path 60 will be described with reference to FIG. A refrigerating-compartment return air passage inlet 58a is provided at the bottom 56a of the outer shell 56 of the partition member 55 in front of the mounting portion 19a, that is, at the ceiling 10a of the refrigerating compartment 10, in front of the front surface 61c of the rectangular parallelepiped heater 61. A front refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58c extending upward continuously from the refrigerating-compartment return air passage entrance 58a is provided in front of the front surface 61c. A central refrigerating-compartment return air duct 58d is provided that is continuous with the front refrigerating-compartment return air duct 58c and extends rearward along the upper surface 61a of the heater 61 above the upper surface 61a. The central refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58d is connected to a refrigerating-compartment return air passage outlet 58b formed on a rear surface 56b of the outer shell 56 facing the cooler chamber 29 behind the partition member 55 . A refrigerating compartment return air path 58 is configured by the front refrigerating compartment return air path 58a and the central refrigerating compartment return air path 58b.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9 , at the bottom portion 56a of the outer shell portion 56 of the partition member 55, at the rear of the mounting portion 19a, that is, at the ceiling portion 13a of the switching chamber 13, at the right side of the right side surface 61d of the rectangular parallelepiped heater 61, the second One switching chamber return air passage entrance 59a is provided. A first switchable chamber return air passage 59 is provided that is continuous with the first switchable chamber return air passage inlet 59a and extends rearward along the right side 61c to the right of the right side 61d of the heater 61 . The first switching chamber return air passage 59 is connected to the first switching chamber return air passage outlet 59b formed on the rear surface 56b of the outer shell 56 facing the cooler chamber 29 behind the partition member 55. .

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 9, in the bottom portion 56a of the outer shell portion 56 of the partition member 55, in the rear side of the mounting portion 19a, that is, in the ceiling portion 13a of the switching chamber 13, in the left side of the left side surface 61e of the rectangular parallelepiped heater 61, A second switching chamber return air passage inlet 60a is provided. A second switching chamber return air passage 60 is provided to extend rearward along the left side 61 e of the heater 61 to the left of the left side 61 e of the heater 61 so as to be continuous with the second switching chamber return air passage inlet 60 a. The second switching chamber return air passage 60 is connected to a second switching chamber return air passage outlet 60b formed on the rear surface 56b of the outer shell 56 facing the cooler chamber 29 behind the partition member 55. .

As shown in FIGS. 13(b) and 13(c), the lateral width of the central refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58d is equal to or greater than the lateral width of the upper surface 61a of the heater 61. As shown in FIG.

In this way, along the four surfaces (upper surface 61a, front surface 61c, right side 61d, and left side 61e (not shown)) of the rectangular parallelepiped heater 61, the refrigerating chamber return air path 58 and the first switching chamber return air flow are arranged. A passage 59 and a second switching chamber return air passage 60 are provided. In the configurations shown in FIGS. 9, 13(b) and 13(c), two heaters are provided on either the left or right side of the heater 61 and along either the right side 61d or the left side 61e of the heater 61. Either of the switching chamber return air paths is provided within the partition member 9 . A refrigerator compartment return air passage 58 is provided in the partition member 9 so as to cover the upper surface 61 a of the heater 61 above the heater 61 . By providing one switchable chamber return air passage on each of the left and right sides of the heater 61 in this way, the heat released from the side surface of the heater 61 can be efficiently supplied to the return cool air from the switchable chamber 13 .
When the partition member 9 is viewed from above, the region S1 (shown in FIG. 14) where the upper surface 61a of the heater 61 and the refrigerator-compartment return air passage 58 overlap is located on either the left or right side surface of the heater 61 when the partition member 9 is viewed from the side. It is larger than the area S2 where either one of them overlaps with the second return air passage (the area where the cross section of the first switching chamber return air passage 59 overlaps with the heater 61 (indicated by the dashed line) shown in FIG. 12).
By adopting such a configuration, the heat emitted from the four surfaces of the heater 61 is efficiently transferred to the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switching chamber return air passage 59, and the second switching chamber return air passage 60. The cooling air can be transferred to the refrigerating compartment return air path 58 , the first switchable compartment return air path 59 and the second switchable compartment return air path 60 to prevent frost formation and freezing.
In addition, the area in which the heater 61 and the refrigeration compartment return air passage 58 overlap in the vertical direction is larger than the area in which the heater 61 and the first switching chamber return air passage 59 or the second switching chamber return air passage 60 overlap in the horizontal direction. big. With this configuration, the cold air flowing through the refrigerating compartment return air passage 58 is more likely to be generated by the heater 61 than the cold air flowing through the first switchable chamber return air passage 59 and the second switchable chamber return air passage 60. It can give you a lot of heat. By adopting such a configuration, the refrigerating compartment return air path 58, which has a higher temperature than the cold air passing through the first switchable compartment return air path 59 and the second switchable compartment return air path 60 and can contain more water vapor, can be used. The heater 61 can suppress frost formation and freezing of the passing cold air.

An example of the second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b). FIG. 14(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 101 along YY in FIG. FIG. 14(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the partition member taken along line VV of FIG. 14(a). A line VV is a horizontal line overlapping the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 59, and the second switchable chamber return air passage 60 above the heater 61 when the refrigerator 101 is viewed from the front. . As shown in FIG. 14(b), the refrigerating chamber return air passage inlet 58a is provided in front of the first switchable chamber return air passage inlet 59a and the second switchable chamber return air passage inlet 60a.

Furthermore, the heat emitted from the lower surface 61b, which is the remaining surface of the heater 61, is used to warm the cold air in the switchable chamber 13, and is used to switch the temperature zone of the switchable chamber 13 and control the temperature within the temperature zone. , used for temperature control. By providing the heater 61 in the partition member 55, the temperature of the air in the switching chamber 13 can be raised more quickly than when only temperature control is performed by opening and closing the damper 40b.

Refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 has refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, first switchable chamber return air passage 59, second switchable chamber return air passage 58, first switchable chamber return air passage 59, and second switchable chamber return air passage 59 inside partition member 9 that separates refrigerating chamber 10 from the freezing chamber. It has an air passage 60 and a first heating device. With such a configuration, the cold air flowing through the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 61, and the second switchable chamber return air passage 62 is heated by the first heating device, Frost formation and freezing can be suppressed. Also, the switching chamber 13 can be indirectly heated. The air in the switchable compartment 13 can be heated by the heater 61 when it is necessary to raise the temperature of the switchable compartment 13 for food preservation. From the above, the phenomenon that the storage compartment of the refrigerator 101 becomes difficult to cool due to frost formation or freezing of the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 59, and the second switchable chamber return air passage 60. can be suppressed.

Refrigerator 101 according to Embodiment 2 has refrigerator chamber return air passage 58 , first switching chamber return air passage 59 , second switching chamber return air passage 59 , and second switching chamber return air passage 58 inside partition member 9 that partitions refrigerator chamber 10 and freezer chamber 11 . It has a room return air passage 60 and a first heating device. In such a configuration, the first heating device can heat the return cool air in the return air passage and indirectly heat the switching chamber 13 . Therefore, since hot air is not directly blown onto the food, damage to the food is suppressed, and if frost occurs inside the duct, it is possible to heat and melt the food.

In the second embodiment, the heater 61 is a rectangular parallelepiped metal plate having excellent thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum plate or a copper plate, in which a heating wire is embedded, but the present embodiment is limited to this. not. As the heater 61, a metal sheet to which a heat transfer wire is attached may be used instead of the rectangular parallelepiped metal plate.

In the present embodiment, the overlapping area of the heater 61 and the refrigerating compartment return air passage 58 in the vertical direction is defined as the overlapping area of the heater 61 and the first switching chamber return air passage 59 in the horizontal direction, and the area of the heater 61 and the second switching chamber return air passage 59 is overlapped in the horizontal direction. By making the area of the switchable chamber return air passage 60 overlapping in the left-right direction larger than the area, frost formation in the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, the first switchable chamber return air passage 59, and the second switchable chamber return air passage 60 can be prevented. A configuration for suppressing blockage due to freezing has been described. Other configurations include the thickness of the heat insulating material provided between the heater 61 and the refrigerating chamber return air passage 58, and the thickness of the heat insulating material provided between the heater 61 and the first switching chamber return air passage 59. By varying the thickness of the heat insulating material provided between the heater 61 and the second switching chamber return air passage 60, heat transfer from the heater 61 to each air passage may be made different. good.
That is, let tR be the thickness of the heat insulating material between the heater 61 and the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58, and tS be the thickness of the heat insulating material between the heater 61 and the first switching-compartment return air passage 59, and let tR be be smaller than tS. The heat transfer from the heater 61 to each air passage depends on the area of the surface of the heater 61 facing each air passage and the heat insulating material between the surface of the heater 61 facing each air passage and each air passage. It is obtained by multiplying the reciprocals of the thickness t. Therefore, by setting the thickness t (tR, tS) of the heat insulating material between the surface of the heater 61 facing each air passage and each air passage, and making tR smaller than tS, the heat conduction from the heater 61 is reduced. As a result, it is possible to provide the refrigerating-compartment return-air passage 58 with more heat than the first switching-compartment return-air passage 59 . The same applies to the second switchable compartment return air path 60 and the refrigerating compartment return air path 58 .

In the present embodiment, the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58 is configured by the front refrigerating-compartment return-air passage 58a and the central refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58b, but the present embodiment is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 15, the refrigerating compartment return air path 58 is connected to the central refrigerating compartment return air path 58b, extends downward along the rear surface 57f of the heater 61, and is connected to the refrigerating compartment return air path outlet 58b. A room return air passage 58e may be provided. In such a structure, the heater 61 gives a large amount of heat to the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58, and the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58 is efficiently provided as compared with the structure in which the refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58 does not include the rear-refrigerating-compartment return air passage 58e. Heat from heater 61 can be applied to 58 .

Embodiment 3.
Hereinafter, the third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described, but the description of what overlaps with the first and second embodiments will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be given to the same or corresponding parts as those in the first and second embodiments. . In refrigerator 103 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure, uppermost shelf 15 a is configured with stacked shelf 210 .

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the configuration of stacked shelf 210 included in refrigerator 103 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.
FIG. 17 is a schematic top view showing the configuration of stacked shelf 210 included in refrigerator 103 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.
FIG. 18 is a longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram showing the configuration of stacked shelf 210 included in refrigerator 103 according to Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure.

The configuration of the stacking shelf 210 according to the third embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 16 to 18. FIG.
In refrigerator 103 according to Embodiment 3, stacked shelf 210 is provided on the bottom surface of switchable compartment 13 as uppermost shelf 15a. As shown in FIG. 16, the stacked shelf 210 is configured by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped shelf members 220 made of, for example, glass or resin with gaps therebetween. In addition, air is enclosed between the adjacent shelf members 220, and this air suppresses convection and the like even when heat fluctuations occur in the stacking shelves 210, and functions to maintain a stationary state. Therefore, the laminated shelf 210 has high heat insulation performance. Hereinafter, the portion where the air is enclosed between the adjacent shelf members 220 will be referred to as a still air layer 230 .

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 , a resin frame 240 is attached to the outer periphery of the shelf member 220 for assembling the stacking shelf 21 into the refrigerator 100 . In addition, after stacking a plurality of shelf members 220 with a gap therebetween, the stacked shelf 210 is sealed by covering the outer periphery with a rubber or silicon member to ensure the sealing performance, so that the still air layer 230 is protected from the outside. It is configured so that air from the inside does not flow in. Here, the air enclosed in the stationary air layer 230 may be dehumidified to enclose the air with a reduced moisture content in the stationary air layer 23 . If the stationary air layer 230 has a sealing property that does not allow external air to flow in, the resin frame 240 is attached directly to the shelf member 22 without covering the outer periphery of the shelf member 220 with a rubber or silicon member for sealing. may be

As shown in FIG. 18, in the stacking shelf 200 according to the third embodiment, the static air layer 230 between the shelf members 220 is provided with a rib member 260 that has a lattice shape in plan view. Although not particularly limited, the rib member 260 according to the third embodiment is assumed to have an inverted U-shaped vertical cross section in order to ensure stability. A wire heater 250 (also referred to as a second heating device) is housed in the rib member 260 . The wire heater 250, like the heater 61, serves as a heating device for temperature control that heats the food in the switching chamber 13 to raise the temperature. By storing the wire heater 250 in the rib member 260 in this manner, the heat generation density of the heater within the stacking shelf 210 can be increased, and the temperature rising performance can be improved.

It is assumed that the wire heater 250 has a diameter φ of about 2 to 3 mm. The thickness of the entire rib member 260 is preferably about 5 to 7 mm. In FIG. 18, the wire heaters 25 are provided only on the rib member 260 in the uppermost static air layer 230, but the static air layer 230 in which the wire heaters 250 are provided may not be limited to one layer.

In this way, by incorporating the wire heater 250 into the stacking shelf 210, it is possible to supply the amount of heat to the food in the switching chamber 13 to raise the temperature as the heater 61 assists. Condensation can be prevented.

In Embodiments 1 to 3, the controller 31 controls the temperature of the switching chamber 13 by controlling the first damper 40a, the heater 61, and the wire heater 250. However, the present invention is not limited to this. not something. For example, the control device 31 may control the temperature of the switching chamber 13 by controlling only the wire heater 250 without controlling the first damper 40a.

It should be noted that the gaps between the shelf members 220 may not be filled with air. For example, spacers (not shown) that maintain the spacing between the shelf members 220 and maintain durability may be provided in each or part of the gaps between the shelf members 220 . Also, instead of enclosing air between the adjacent shelf members 220, another transparent gas may be enclosed.

Also, an example has been described in which the heating device in the stacking shelf 210, which is the lower surface of the switching chamber 13, is the wire heater 250, but it is not limited to this. For example, a heat exchanger, a Peltier element, or the like may be used as a heating device within the rib member 260 .

It should be noted that appropriate combinations, modifications, and omissions of the embodiments are also included within the scope of the technical ideas shown in the embodiments.

In the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, a cool air return air path connecting the storage compartment set in the refrigerating temperature range and the cooler compartment, and a cool air return air path connecting the storage compartment and the cooler compartment set in the minus temperature range and are separated by a heat insulating material to form mutually independent air passages. It is possible to provide a refrigerator in which frost formation and blockage due to frost formation are suppressed in the cold air return air passage connecting the settable storage chamber and the cooler chamber, and stable temperature control is performed.

Claims

A box having a first storage compartment having an opening on the front and set in a refrigerating temperature zone, and a second storage compartment above the first storage compartment and set in a freezing temperature zone. ,
a door attached to the front side of the box for opening and closing the opening;
a partition member that vertically partitions the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber;
a third storage chamber provided at the top of the first storage chamber below the partition member and capable of being set to a minus temperature zone;
a first return air passage provided in the partition member for returning cool return air from the first storage chamber to the cooler chamber;
a second return air passage provided in the partition member and returning cold air returned from the third storage chamber to the cooler chamber;
The first return air passage and the second return air passage form independent air passages, and the first return air passage and the second return air passage are separated by a heat insulating material.
refrigerator.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the third storage compartment is switchable at least between a temperature range of 0-3°C, alternatively a temperature range of -3°C-0°C, alternatively a temperature range of -10--5°C. refrigerator.
The first storage room has a space in front of the third storage room,
The bottom surface of the partition member has a first portion facing the space between the door and the third storage chamber for guiding cold air in the first storage chamber to the first return air passage. 1 return air passage entrance is formed,
Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a second portion facing the third storage chamber is formed with a second return air passage inlet for guiding cold air in the third storage chamber to the second return air passage. Refrigerator as described.
The third storage room has a storage container and a front door that can be opened and closed on the front,
The front door is rotatably attached to the bottom surface of the partition member in front of the storage container,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-3.
the first storage compartment has a plurality of shelves;
The third storage room is formed by the uppermost shelf among the plurality of shelves, the front door, the side wall of the box, and the partition member.
The refrigerator according to claim 4.
The interior of the partition member is filled with foamed urethane,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-5.
The partition member has a heater,
The heater has a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
the area of the upper surface of the heater is larger than the area of the left and right side surfaces of the heater;
The second return air passage is provided in the partition member along either one of the left and right sides of the heater and along one of the left and right side surfaces of the heater,
the first return air passage is provided in the partition member so as to cover the upper surface of the heater above the heater;
A region where the upper surface and the first return air passage overlap when the partition member is viewed from above overlaps one of the left and right side surfaces and the second return air passage when the partition member is viewed from the side. larger than the area,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-6.
The partition member has a third return air passage for returning cold air from the third storage chamber to the cooler chamber,
The first return air path, the second return air path and the third return air path form independent air paths, and the first return air path, the second return air path and the each of the third return air passages are separated from each other by insulation;
The refrigerator according to claim 7.