WO2024029225A1

WO2024029225A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2024029225A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/023304
Authority: WO
Inventors: 豊志上迫; サギッシュサチャシーラン; アジャイデブプラパダティール; ベルサミーゴパル; ディナカランベル; ジャナルデャナンプラモスカラティール
Original assignee: パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社
Priority date: 2022-08-02
Filing date: 2023-06-23
Publication date: 2024-02-08
Also published as: JP2024020694A

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator having a defrosting water drainage structure suitable for a blower fan.　This refrigerator is provided with a storage compartment, wherein: a cooling chamber in which an evaporator is installed is formed on a rear surface side of the storage compartment; the refrigerator is provided with a partitioning portion that partitions the storage compartment and the cooling chamber, and a blower fan for blowing air in the cooling chamber into the storage compartment; the blower fan includes a rotating blade, and a fan casing for guiding air that flows by means of rotation of the rotating blade; a first partitioning plate is installed on a rear surface side of the partitioning portion; the fan casing is fixed to a rear surface side of the first partitioning plate; and a drainage channel that extends to an end portion on the rear surface side of the first partitioning plate is formed in a position in the first partitioning plate facing a lower surface portion of the fan casing.

Description

refrigerator

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

Patent Document 1 describes a refrigerator main body having an outer box and an inner box, a refrigerating compartment provided in the upper part of the refrigerator main body, a vegetable compartment provided in the lower part of the refrigerator main body, and the vegetable compartment and the refrigerating compartment. a freezer compartment provided between the freezer compartment, a storage compartment back member provided on the back of the freezer compartment, a cooler cover provided at the rear of the storage compartment back member, and a cooler cover and the interior a cooler chamber provided between the box, a cooler provided within the cooler chamber, a defrosting heater provided below the cooler, and a defrost heater provided below the storage chamber back member; A refrigerator is disclosed that includes a freezer compartment return port that communicates a freezer compartment with the cooler compartment.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-060188

The present disclosure provides a refrigerator having a defrost water drainage structure suitable for a blower fan.

This specification includes all contents of Japanese patent application/Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-123059 filed on August 2, 2022.
The refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes a storage chamber, a cooling chamber in which an evaporator is installed on the back side of the storage chamber, and a partition section that partitions between the storage chamber and the cooling chamber; a blower fan that blows air into the storage chamber, the blower fan having a rotating blade and a fan casing that guides air flowing by rotation of the rotating blade, and the blower fan has a rotating blade and a fan casing that guides air flowing by rotation of the rotating blade, and is provided with a first partition plate, the fan casing is fixed to the back side of the first partition plate, and the first partition plate has the first partition plate at a position facing the lower surface of the fan casing. 1. A drain groove is formed that extends to the end on the back side of the partition plate.

In the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, defrosting water generated in the blower fan can be easily drained to the back side of the first partition plate through the drain groove. Therefore, the refrigerator according to the present disclosure can efficiently drain defrost water generated in the blower fan.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the cooling chamber and duct in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the blower fan portion of the partition in Embodiment 1, seen from the cooling chamber side. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the partition section in Embodiment 1. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the partition section in Embodiment 1 seen from the freezer compartment side. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the partition section in Embodiment 1 seen from the cooling chamber side. FIG. 7 is a front view of the first partition plate of the partition section in Embodiment 1. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the molded heat insulating material of the partition section in Embodiment 1 seen from the front side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the molded heat insulating material of the partition section in Embodiment 1 seen from the back. FIG. 10 is a rear view of the molded heat insulating material of the partition section in Embodiment 1. FIG. 11 is a front view of the partition section in Embodiment 1.

(Findings, etc. that formed the basis of this disclosure)
At the time when the inventors came up with the present disclosure, it was equipped with a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment, each of which was connected to a cooler compartment by a duct, and the cold air generated from the cooler compartment was There was a technology that sent food to the refrigerator, vegetable room, and freezer.

In the prior art, the blower fan in a refrigerator is generally an axial fan, and the fan casing is open on both sides in the axial direction.
However, when a blower fan is used, the fan casing tends to have a structure that surrounds the blower fan. Therefore, when the blower fan is defrosted, the inventors discovered the problem that defrost water tends to accumulate inside the fan casing, and in order to solve this problem, the subject matter of the present disclosure is constituted. It's arrived.
Therefore, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that can efficiently drain defrost water generated within a fan casing of a blower fan.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially the same configurations may be omitted.
The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter recited in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
Embodiment 1 will be described below using FIGS. 1 to 11.
[1-1. composition]
[1-1-1. Refrigerator configuration]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator in Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the cooling chamber and duct in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the blower fan portion of the partition in Embodiment 1, viewed from the cooling chamber side. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the partition portion in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the partition section in Embodiment 1, viewed from the freezer compartment side. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the partition section in Embodiment 1, viewed from the cooling chamber side.
In the description of this specification, when referring to the refrigerator 10, front, rear, left and right are used with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. That is, the left and right sides of FIG. 1 will be described as corresponding to the front and rear of the refrigerator 10. Further, the left and right sides in FIG. 2 will be described as corresponding to the left and right sides of the refrigerator 10. Note that when referring to the front of the refrigerator 10, the term "front" may be used. Furthermore, when referring to the rear surface of the refrigerator 10, the term "back surface" may be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 includes a box-shaped casing 11 with an open front. A refrigerator compartment 12 of about 2°C to 4°C is formed above the casing 11 as a second storage compartment, and a freezing compartment 13 of about -18°C as a first storage compartment is formed below the casing 11. is formed. Between the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13, a low temperature chamber 60 with a temperature of about -5° C. to about 1° C. is formed as a third storage room.

In the refrigerator 10, a side-opening door 14 is provided at the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 12 so as to be openable and closable. A side-opening door 61 is provided at the front opening of the freezer compartment 13 so as to be openable and closable, and

multiple drawer cases

15, 16, and 17 for storing food are provided inside. Further, a drawer-type door 62 is provided at the front opening of the cold room 60 so as to be freely openable and closable, and a drawer case 63 is provided which interlocks with the opening and closing of the drawer-type door 62.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cooling chamber 20 is provided on the back side of the freezing chamber 13 of the refrigerator 10. A duct 21 that is located on the back side of the refrigerator compartment 12 and communicates in the vertical direction is connected above the cooling compartment 20 .
The duct 21 is provided with a refrigerating outlet (not shown) that communicates with the refrigerating chamber 12 .
A heat insulating wall 64 is provided between the freezing chamber 13 and the low temperature chamber 60. A cold air passage 64a that communicates between the cooling chamber 20 and the duct 21 is formed in the heat insulating wall 64. Thereby, the configuration is such that the cold air generated in the cooling chamber 20 is introduced into the duct 21 via the cold air passage 64a.

The cold air passage 64a is provided with a twin damper 65 that adjusts the amount of cold air flowing into the refrigerator compartment 12 and the cold room 60.
As shown in FIG. 2, the twin damper 65 includes a cold chamber damper 65a as a third storage chamber damper and a refrigerator chamber damper 65b as a first storage chamber damper, which are arranged adjacent to each other in the left and right width direction of the refrigerator 10. There is. The cold room damper 65a and the cold room damper 65b are controlled according to the indoor temperatures of the cold room 60 and the cold room 12, respectively, and open and close the dampers independently. Adjust the amount of cold air.

As shown in FIG. 1, the freezing chamber 13 and the cooling chamber 20 are separated by a thick plate-shaped partition 29. The partition part 29 has a first partition plate 30 arranged on the front side of the cooling chamber 20. Furthermore, the partition section 29 includes a second partition plate 40 arranged on the back side of the freezer compartment 13. A cold air passage 29a is formed between the first partition plate 30 and the second partition plate 40.
An inclined surface 35 is formed on the upper part of the first partition plate 30 and is inclined upwardly away from the second partition plate 40 . A blower fan 26 is attached to the back side of the inclined surface 35.

The blower fan 26 is a fan classified as one type of blower fan. Axial fans also exist as blower fans. Generally, an axial fan has a rotary blade attached to the center of a frame, sucks air from one end of the rotary blade in the direction of the rotation axis, and blows air out to the other end of the blade in the direction of the rotation axis. Traditional refrigerators often use axial fans to circulate cold air.

On the other hand, the blower fan 26 includes rotating blades 27 and a fan casing 28 that covers the rotating blades 27, sucks air from the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating blades 27, and sucks air from the radial direction of the rotating blades 27 (in this embodiment, , corresponding to the upper part in FIG. The fan casing 28 is formed into a casing shaped along an involute curve based on the rotation center C1 of the rotating blade 27, and is formed into a substantially spiral casing. Note that in the following description, the rotation center C1 may be referred to as the rotation axis direction C1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fan casing 28 is formed in a substantially spiral shape whose distance from the rotation center C1 gradually increases in the clockwise direction. A cold air intake port 28a for taking in cold air from the cooling chamber 20 into the fan casing 28 is formed in a central portion of the fan casing 28 facing the rotation center C1 of the blower fan 26. A second opening 28b is formed at the top of the fan casing 28 and communicates with the lower end of the cold air passage 64a. The fan casing 28 is provided with a connecting portion 28c that expands from the top toward both left and right sides of the fan casing 28 and is connected to the cold air passage 64a via a second opening 28b.

The wind flowing in the radial direction from the rotation center C1 due to the rotation of the rotary blade 27 flows along the inner surface of the fan casing 28, so that the openings provided on the sides of the fan casing 28, that is, in the radial direction (this embodiment The wind blows out from the second opening 28b (corresponding to the second opening 28b provided above).
Generally, the blower fan 26 tends to achieve higher static pressure than an axial fan of comparable size. Further, since the number of rotating blades 27 of the blower fan 26 is generally greater than the number of rotating blades of an axial fan, this also makes it easier to obtain a high static pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an evaporator 22 is installed below the blower fan 26 in the cooling chamber 20. As shown in FIGS. A compressor 23 is arranged at the rear upper part of the refrigerator compartment 12. The compressor 23, a condenser (not shown), an expansion mechanism, and the evaporator 22 are connected by refrigerant piping, and constitute a refrigeration cycle.
Then, by discharging the refrigerant from the compressor 23, the refrigerant is cooled to a predetermined temperature, and by exchanging heat with the evaporator 22 and the internal air of the cooling chamber 20, cold air is generated inside the cooling chamber 20. It is configured as follows.

Here, by rotationally driving the rotary blade 27, the cold air in the cooling chamber 20 is sucked into the blower fan 26 from the cold air intake 28a of the fan casing 28, and is blown out from the outer periphery of the blower fan 26 into the inside of the fan casing 28. Ru. The cold air blown into the fan casing 28 is guided along the inner circumferential surface of the fan casing 28 and sent to the duct 21 from the second opening 28b through the cold air passage 64a.

[1-1-2. Structure of partition section]
FIG. 7 is a front view of the first partition plate 30 of the partition section 29 in the first embodiment.
The first partition plate 30 of the partition section 29 has a substantially rectangular base section 31 . A partition wall portion 31a that projects rearward is formed at the left end portion of the base portion 31. The partition wall portion 31a extends in the vertical direction. A partition wall 51a (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of a molded heat insulating material 50 is attached to the partition wall portion 31a.

A fan plate portion 32 that protrudes forward in a pedestal shape is formed at a position of the base portion 31 corresponding to the fan casing 28 . The fan plate portion 32 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed from the front. In other words, the fan plate portion 32 has a substantially rounded rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The fan plate portion 32 has a substantially rounded rectangular shape with the left and right sides longer than the top and bottom. A planar cutout portion 32a is formed in the lower part of the fan plate portion 32. A rearwardly recessed recess 33 is formed on the front surface (seat surface) of the fan plate portion 32 . The recess 33 includes an inclined surface 35 corresponding to the bottom surface of the recess 33 and a peripheral wall 34 corresponding to the side surface of the recess 33 . The surrounding wall 34 connects the periphery of the inclined surface 35 and the front surface of the fan plate section 32.

A circular fan mounting portion 36 is formed on the inclined surface 35. A plurality of

fan support parts

36a, 36b, and 36c are formed around the fan attachment part 36. The fan support portions 36a to 36c are formed at approximately equal intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the fan support parts 36a to 36c are formed at three locations: above the fan mounting part 36, at the lower left, and at the lower right. The fan support portions 36a to 36c are formed as concave portions recessed forward from the back surface (see FIG. 6). A mounting portion of a fan frame (not shown), which rotatably supports the rotary blade 27, is fixed to each of the fan support portions 36a to 36c with screws (not shown). A rotating blade 27 is rotatably supported by a fan frame (not shown).

On the outer peripheral side of the fan mounting portion 36, a substantially arc-shaped first opening 38 along the fan casing 28 is formed between each of the

fan support portions

36a, 36b, and 36c. The first opening 38 is formed in the inclined surface 35. In this embodiment, three first openings 38 are formed. The three first openings 38 are defined as an upstream first opening 38a, a midstream first opening 38b, and a downstream first opening 38c, respectively, from the upstream side of the airflow by the blower fan 26 with the top as a reference. ing.

The opening areas of the first upstream opening 38a, the first midstream opening 38b, and the first downstream opening 38c are formed such that the opening width gradually increases from the upstream side to the downstream side of the airflow. ing. Further, the opening areas of the first upstream opening 38a, the first midstream opening 38b, and the first downstream opening 38c are formed to increase sequentially from the upstream side.
Thereby, the air volume to the freezer compartment 13 can be ensured, and cooling can be performed efficiently. Note that, as long as the air volume can be ensured, a configuration may be adopted in which at least only the first opening 38a on the upstream side gradually becomes larger.

Since the blower fan 26 is attached to the inclined surface 35 of the first partition plate 30, the rotation center C1 of the blower fan 26 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the front-rear direction (see FIG. 4). As a result, the blower fan 26 blows the cool air upward from the first opening 38, which facilitates the convection of the cool air.

A rectangular plate-shaped heat insulating material 39 is arranged below the fan plate section 32. The heat insulating material 39 insulates the cold air transmitted from the cooling chamber 20 to the first partition plate 30. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the condensed water flowing down from the recess 33 from freezing.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a second partition plate 40 is arranged in front of the first partition plate 30. A molded heat insulating material 50 made of, for example, expanded polystyrene is provided in close contact with the second partition plate 40 . The second partition plate 40 and the molded heat insulating material 50 have shapes corresponding to each other.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the molded heat insulating material 50 of the partition portion 29 in the first embodiment, viewed from the front side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the molded heat insulating material 50 of the partition portion 29 in the first embodiment, viewed from the back. FIG. 10 is a rear view of the molded heat insulating material 50 of the partition portion 29 in the first embodiment. Note that in FIG. 10, the fan plate portion 32 is shown with grid-like hatching for convenience of explanation.

The molded heat insulating material 50 has a plate-shaped base portion 51 that is thick in the front-rear direction. The base portion 51 is formed into a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The base portion 51 is formed with a duct portion 52 that protrudes from the front surface of the base portion 51 toward the freezer compartment 13 side. A duct space 52s (see FIG. 9) is formed in the duct portion 52 and is recessed toward the freezer compartment 13 side with respect to the rear surface of the base portion 51. A cold air passage 29a (see FIG. 4) is formed by the duct space 52s surrounded by the duct portion 52 and the first partition plate 30.

The duct portion 52 has a middle duct portion 53 at a position corresponding to the fan plate portion 32 of the first partition plate 30.
When viewed from the front, the middle duct portion 53 includes a front surface 53a having a rounded rectangular shape, side surfaces 53b and 53c provided on the left and right sides of the front surface 53a and extending in the vertical direction, and a lower surface provided below the front surface 53a and extending in the left-right direction. 53d, and

curved side surfaces

53e and 53f that connect between the side surfaces 53b and 53c and the lower surface 53d. The

curved side surfaces

53e and 53f curve inward in the left-right direction as they move downward.

A middle duct space (air path) 53s (see FIG. 9) forming a part of the duct space 52s is formed in the middle duct portion 53. The middle duct space 53s has an inner peripheral shape corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the fan plate portion 32, as shown in FIG. That is, the fan plate portion 32 can be fitted into the middle duct space 53s. The middle duct space 53s is formed in the rotation axis direction C1 of the blower fan 26. That is, the middle duct space 53s is provided on an extension of the rotation center C1 of the blower fan 26.

Front openings 53a1, 53a2, and 53a3 penetrating in the thickness direction are formed in the front surface 53a of the middle duct portion 53.
Specifically, a center front opening 53a1 extending in the left-right direction along the lower surface 53d is formed in the lower part of the front surface 53a. The center front opening 53a1 curves upward along the

curved side surfaces

53e and 53f at both left and right ends.
Furthermore, side front openings 53a2 and 53a3 extending along side surfaces 53b and 53c are formed at both left and right ends of the front surface 53a. Both left and right ends of the center front opening 53a1 are located below the side front openings 53a2 and 53a3.

Side openings 53b1 and 53c1 penetrating in the thickness direction are formed in side surfaces 53b and 53c of the middle duct portion 53.
Specifically, side openings 53b1 and 53c1 that extend in the vertical direction along the side surfaces 53b and 53c are formed in the side surfaces 53b and 53c. The lower ends of the side openings 53b1 and 53c1 extend to the

curved side surfaces

53e and 53f, and are curved along the

curved side surfaces

53e and 53f. Therefore, the side openings 53b1 and 53c1 open in the left-right direction (side surface direction) and in the downward direction.

Cold air is sent from the cold air passage 29a to the freezer compartment 13 through the front openings 53a1 to 53a3 and the side openings 53b1 and 53c1. That is, cold air is sent forward through the front openings 53a1 to 53a3. Further, cold air is sent from the cold air passage 29a to the left and right and downward through the side openings 53b1 and 53c1.

A top duct part 54 extending in the left-right direction is formed above the middle duct part 53. The top duct part 54 is formed so that the amount of protrusion from the front surface of the base part 51 is smaller than that of the middle duct part 53. The top duct portion 54 is formed to have a larger horizontal width than the middle duct portion 53. A top duct space 54s forming a part of the duct space 52s is formed in the top duct portion 54. The top duct space 54s extends left and right upward from the upper end on both the left and right sides of the middle duct space 53s.

On the front surface of the top duct portion 54,

top openings

54a and 54b are formed at both left and right end portions to penetrate in the thickness direction. Cool air is sent forward from the top duct space 54s through the

top openings

54a and 54b.

A lower duct portion (second duct portion) 55 is formed below the middle duct portion 53 and extends downward from the left and right center of the middle duct portion 53 . The lower duct portion 55 is formed so that the amount of protrusion from the front surface of the base portion 51 is smaller than that of the middle duct portion 53.
The lower duct portion 55 has a front surface 55a, side surfaces 55b and 55c provided on the left and right sides of the front surface 55a and extending in the vertical direction, and

curved side surfaces

55e and 55f extending downward from the lower ends of the side surfaces 55b and 55c. The

curved side surfaces

55e and 55f curve outward in the left-right direction as they move downward.

A connecting duct space (connecting air path) 55s that forms a part of the duct space 52s is formed in the lower duct portion 55. The connecting duct space 55s extends in the vertical direction. The connecting duct space 55s has, at its lower end, a connecting portion 55s1 that curves outward in the left-right direction as it moves downward, corresponding to the

curved side surfaces

55e and 55f. The connecting duct space 55s is formed according to the lower surface 53d (see FIG. 8), and has a larger opening width than the top duct space 54s. Cold air easily flows into the connecting duct space 55s from the middle duct space 53s.

A bottom duct portion (third duct portion) 56 is formed below the lower duct portion 55 and extends from side to side. The bottom duct portion 56 has a longer horizontal width than the middle duct portion 53, and a smaller horizontal width than the top duct portion 54. The bottom duct portion 56 is formed to have the same protrusion amount from the front surface of the base portion 51 as the lower duct portion 55 .

Upper surfaces

56b and 56c of the bottom duct portion 56 are smoothly connected to side surfaces 55b and 55c of the lower duct portion 55 via

curved side surfaces

55e and 55f.

A bottom duct space 56s forming a part of the duct space 52s is formed in the bottom duct portion 56. The bottom duct space 56s communicates with the connecting duct space 55s at the left and right center portions. The bottom duct space 56s extends in the left-right direction from the connection duct space 55s. The bottom duct space 56s is smoothly curved and connected to the connecting duct space 55s by a connecting portion 55s1.

A bottom opening 56a extending in the left-right direction is formed in the bottom duct portion 56. The bottom opening 56a is formed on the entire front surface of the bottom duct portion 56. The bottom opening 56a has a larger horizontal width than the connecting duct space 55s. The bottom opening 56a is longer than the center front opening 53a1 in the left and right directions.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second partition plate 40 is arranged in front of the molded heat insulating material 50. As shown in FIG. The second partition plate 40 is formed in a cover shape corresponding to the molded heat insulating material 50. The second partition plate 40 has a shape corresponding to the shaped heat insulating material 50.
The duct portion 42 of the second partition plate 40 is formed in the same shape as the duct portion 52 of the molded heat insulating material 50, except that the side openings 43b1, 43b2, 43c1, and 43c2 are divided into two vertically.

To explain the specific correspondence in detail, the second partition plate 40 includes the base portion 51 of the molded heat insulating material 50, the duct portion 52, the duct space 52s, the middle duct portion 53, the front surface 53a, the side surfaces 53b, 53c, the lower surface 53d, Curved side surfaces 53e, 53f, middle duct space 53s, front openings 53a1, 53a2, 53a3, top duct section 54, top duct space 54s, top openings 54a, 54b, lower duct section 55, front surface 55a, side surfaces 55b, 55c, curved side surface 55e , 55f, the connecting duct space 55s, the bottom duct part 56, the bottom duct space 56s, the bottom opening 56a, the top surfaces 56b and 56c, the base part 41, the duct part 42, the duct space 42s, the middle duct part (first duct part) 43, front surface 43a, side surfaces 43b, 43c, lower surface 43d, curved side surfaces 43e, 43f, middle duct space 43s, front openings 43a1, 43a2, 43a3, top duct section 44, top duct space 44s, top openings 44a, 44b, Lower duct part (second duct part) 45, front face 45a, side faces 45b, 45c, curved side faces 45e, 45f, connecting duct space 45s, bottom duct part (third duct part) 46, bottom duct space 46s, bottom opening (lower front It has an opening) 46a and upper surfaces 46b and 46c.
Further, the second partition plate 40 has side openings 43b1, 43b2, 43c1, and 43c2 divided into two vertically, corresponding to the side openings 53b1, 53c1 of the molded heat insulating material 50.

In the partition portion 29, the base portion 51 of the molded heat insulating material 50 is attached to the base portion 41 of the second partition plate 40 so as to be in close contact with the base portion 41 of the second partition plate 40. In other words, the duct portion 52 of the molded heat insulating material 50 is fitted into the duct space 42s of the second partition plate 40. Thereby, the duct space 52s of the molded heat insulating material 50 is divided into the openings 53a1 to 53a3, 53b1, 53c1, 54a, 54b, 56a of the molded heat insulating material 50 and the openings 43a1 to 43a3, 43b1, 43b2, 43c1 of the second partition plate 40, It communicates with the freezer compartment 13 through 43c2, 44a, 44b, and 46a.

Furthermore, the base portion 31 of the first partition plate 30 is attached to the base portion 51 of the molded heat insulating material 50 so as to be in close contact therewith. Thereby, the cold air passage 29a is formed by the duct space 52s surrounded by the inner surface of the duct portion 52 and the front surface of the first partition plate 30.

At this time, the fan plate portion 32 of the first partition plate 30 enters the middle duct space 53s so as to raise the bottom of the middle duct space 53s. Since the blower fan 26 can be placed close to the freezing compartment 13 by the fan plate portion 32, air can be blown in the front direction into the freezing compartment 13 with less air resistance.

Here, the fan plate portion 32 is located behind the side openings 53b1, 53c1, and 43b1 to 43c2. Therefore, the fan plate portion 32 does not reduce the opening area of the side openings 53b1, 53c1, 43b1 to 43c2. Further, the front surface of the fan plate portion 32 is shaped like a pedestal and is formed wide. Therefore, when the width of the front surface is small, for example, compared to when the front surface has an elongated rib shape, the cold air blown from the recess 33 is less likely to meander when trying to cross the fan plate section 32 in the radial direction. ing. Therefore, the pressure loss of cold air is easily suppressed.

A shutter 70 is arranged in the middle duct space 53s. The shutter 70 has a teardrop shape when viewed from the front. The shutter 70 is fixed to a shaft 71 that extends forward. The shaft 71 passes through the molded heat insulating material 50 and the second partition plate 40 and is rotatably supported. An operating knob 72 is fixed to the front end of the shaft 71. By rotating the operation knob 72, the shutter 70 is rotated.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the partition portion 29 in the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 11, when viewed from the front, the center front opening 43a1 and the first midstream opening 38b overlap. That is, the lower end of the midstream side first opening 38b is exposed from the center front opening 43a1. Further, in a front view, the right side front opening 43a3 and the downstream first opening 38c overlap. That is, the first downstream opening 38c is exposed from the right side front opening 43a2. Note that the left side front opening 43a2 and the first upstream opening 38a do not substantially overlap.

Here, by rotating the operation knob 72, the shutter 70 rotates around the shaft 71, and overlaps the front openings 43a1 and 43a2 and the side openings 43b1 and 43b2 in a front view and a side view. Thereby, by changing the opening areas of the front openings 43a1, 43a2 and the side openings 43b1, 43b2, it is possible to change the amount of cold air flowing out from the middle duct space 53s.

[1-1-3. Configuration for defrosting]
Water droplets that have condensed and adhered to the inside of the refrigerator 10 may freeze and form frost. The refrigerator 10 has a configuration in which frost adhering to the inside is melted into defrosting water, and the defrosting water is drained. Below, the defrosting structure of the refrigerator 10 and the drainage structure from inside the blower fan 26 and the duct portion 52, which are particularly susceptible to frost formation, will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the cooling chamber 20, a defrosting heater 25 is provided below the blower fan 26 and the evaporator 22. The heater 25 is, for example, an electric heating device, and melts frost attached to the evaporator 22 and the blower fan 26 by heating the air inside the cooling chamber 20 . Further, a defrosting water receiving tray 25a is provided below the heater 25 so as to cover the bottom surface of the cooling chamber 20. The defrosting water tray 25a receives the defrosting water dripping from the evaporator 22 and the defrosting water flowing along the back side of the first partition plate 30.

[1-1-3-1. Defrost water drainage structure from blower fan]
As shown in FIG. 4, when the blower fan 26 is attached to the inclined surface 35, the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28 is inclined downwardly toward the front side. The lower surface portion 28d is a part of the side surface of the fan casing 28 that guides air blown out in the radial direction from the rotary blade 27, and is a portion that covers the rotary blade 27 from below. Since the lower surface portion 28d is tilted forward and downward, the defrosting water generated inside the blower fan 26 tends to flow forward along the lower surface portion 28d toward the lower end 28e of the fan casing 28 due to the action of gravity. Note that, when viewed from the partition portion 29, the freezer compartment 13 side (storage compartment side) corresponds to the front side. Furthermore, when viewed from the blower fan 26, the freezer compartment 13 side corresponds to the front side.

The lower end 28e of the fan casing 28 is located near the lower end of the inclined surface 35 and is located further forward than the base portion 31. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the first partition plate 30 has a drainage groove 34b formed below the lower end 28e of the fan casing 28 so as to vertically overlap the lower end 28e. In other words, the drain groove 34b for draining defrosting water is formed in the first partition plate 30 at a position vertically facing the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28. The drain groove 34b is a groove extending in the front-rear direction, and is formed by recessing the bottom surfaces of the peripheral wall 34 and the second peripheral wall 34a downward. The second surrounding wall 34a is a portion of the first partition plate 30 that connects the base portion 31 with the lower end of the inclined surface 35 located forward of the back surface of the base portion 31 (see FIG. 6). The drain groove 34b is a groove that extends toward the rear surface of the base portion 31, that is, to the end of the rear side of the first partition plate 30, and opens toward the rear side. It is formed by sloping downward towards. A step portion 34d rising upward from the bottom surface 34c is formed at the front end of the drain groove 34b. In other words, a stepped portion 34d rising upward from the bottom surface 34c is formed at the end of the drain groove 34b on the freezer compartment 13 side. The defrosting water flowing through the drain groove 34b is drained by flowing down the back surface of the first partition plate 30.

[1-1-3-2. Drainage structure of defrosting water from the duct]
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, bottom surfaces 56d and 56e of the bottom duct portion 56 are inclined downward toward the center of the bottom duct portion 56 in the left-right direction. Further, a center portion 56f corresponding to the center portion in the left-right direction of the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e of the bottom duct portion 56 is recessed downward. Further, a drainage hole 56g for draining defrosting water generated inside the duct portion 52 is opened at the rear of the central portion 56f. The drainage hole 56g is a hole formed in the base portion 51 of the molded heat insulating material 50 and has a circular cross section that extends vertically. The drain hole 56g passes through the molded heat insulating material 50 below the center portion 56f of the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e of the bottom duct portion 56, and opens above the defrost water receiving tray 25a in the cooling chamber 20 (see FIG. 4). That is, the drain hole 56g communicates the bottom duct space 56s and the cooling chamber 20. Furthermore, a drainage hole 46g corresponding to the drainage hole 56g of the molded heat insulating material 50 is formed at the lower end of the second partition plate 40.

[1-2. motion]
Next, the operation of the refrigerator 10 in the first embodiment during the defrosting operation will be described using FIG. 4 and FIG. 11.
The refrigerator 10 performs a defrosting operation at predetermined intervals in order to defrost the frost attached to the evaporator 22, the blower fan 26, and the like. During the defrosting operation, in the refrigerator 10, the heater 25 is operated, thereby warming the air in the cooling chamber 20 and turning it into warm air. As shown by the white arrow in FIG. 4, the warm air rises while defrosting the cooling chamber 20. As a result, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, the frost adhering to the evaporator 22 melts and becomes defrosting water. The defrosting water generated in the evaporator 22 is dripped by the action of gravity and guided to the defrosting water receiving tray 25a.

Furthermore, warm air flows into the inside of the fan casing 28 via the cold air intake 28a. As a result, the frost adhering to the inner surfaces of the rotating blades 27 and the fan casing 28 is melted and becomes defrosting water. Defrosting water generated on the inner surfaces of the rotating blades 27 and the fan casing 28 flows into the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28 due to the action of gravity. The defrosting water that has flowed into the lower surface portion 28d flows toward the lower end 28e of the fan casing 28 along the lower surface portion 28d that is inclined forwardly downward due to the action of gravity. The defrosting water that has reached the lower end 28e is dripped toward the drain groove 34b located below due to the action of gravity. At this time, the defrosting water dripped into the drain groove 34b is blocked by the stepped portion 34d and its movement toward the front side is restricted.

The defrosting water dripped into the drain 34b flows toward the rear along the bottom surface 34c that slopes downward. After the defrosting water reaches the rear end of the drain groove 34b, it flows out from the open rear end of the drain groove 34b and flows along the back surface of the base portion 31 of the first partition plate 30. Thereafter, the defrosting water is guided to the defrosting water receiving tray 25a by the action of gravity.

In addition, a portion of the warm air flows from the inside of the fan casing 28 into the duct space 52s through the three first openings 38 due to the drive of the rotating blade 27. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the frost adhering to the inner surface of the duct portion 52 is melted and becomes defrosting water. The defrosting water generated inside the duct section 52 flows downward under the action of gravity and flows into the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e of the bottom duct section 56. The defrosting water that has flowed into the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e flows along the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e that are inclined downward toward the center in the left-right direction of the bottom duct portion 56, and flows to the center portion 56f. At this time, the defrosting water is pushed into the center portion 56f by the air flowing inside the bottom duct portion 56 along the bottom surfaces 56d and 56e. Since the central portion 56f is recessed downward, the defrosting water collects at the central portion 56f and flows into the drainage hole 56g provided at the rear of the central portion 56f.

The defrosting water that has flowed into the drain hole 56g flows downward through the drain hole 56g and flows into the cooling chamber 20 from the drain hole 46g. At this time, the defrosting water inside the drain hole 56g is pushed downward by the air flowing downward within the connecting duct space 55s and the bottom duct space 56s. The defrosting water that has flowed into the cooling chamber 20 through the drain holes 56g and 46g flows downward under the action of gravity and is guided to the defrosting water receiving tray 25a.

[1-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerator 10 includes the freezing compartment 13 as an example of a storage compartment, and the cooling compartment 20 in which the evaporator 22 is installed is formed on the back side of the freezing compartment 13. , a partition part 29 that partitions between the freezing compartment 13 and the cooling compartment 20, and a blower fan 26 that blows air from the cooling compartment 20 to the freezing compartment 13. The blower fan 26 includes a rotating blade 27 and a rotating blade. A first partition plate 30 is installed on the back side of the partition part 29, and the fan casing 28 is installed on the back side of the first partition plate 30. A drain groove 34b is formed in the first partition plate 30 at a position facing the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28, and extends to the rear end of the first partition plate 30.
Thereby, the defrosting water generated in the blower fan 26 is easily drained to the back side of the first partition plate 30 through the drainage groove 34b. Therefore, the defrosting water generated in the blower fan 26 can be efficiently drained.

As in the present embodiment, a step portion 34d rising upward may be formed at the end of the drain groove 34b on the freezer compartment 13 side.
Thereby, the defrosting water that has flowed into the drain groove 34b becomes difficult to move toward the freezer compartment 13 due to the stepped portion 34d, and is easily drained toward the back side of the first partition plate 30. Therefore, the defrosting water generated in the blower fan 26 can be efficiently drained.

As in this embodiment, the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28 may be sloped downward toward the freezer compartment 13, and the drain groove 34b may be sloped downward toward the back side.
Thereby, the defrosting water generated in the blower fan 26 easily flows through the lower surface portion 28d of the fan casing 28 and the drain groove 34b of the first partition plate 30 due to the action of gravity. Therefore, the defrosting water generated in the blower fan can be efficiently drained.

(Other embodiments)
As mentioned above, Embodiments 1 and 2 have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can also be applied to embodiments in which changes, replacements, additions, omissions, etc. are made.
Therefore, other embodiments will be illustrated below.

In the first embodiment, a configuration in which the storage compartment is the freezing compartment 13 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the storage compartment may be the refrigerator compartment 12, or the refrigerator may have only one of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13. Further, the storage room may be a cold room 60.

Further, in the first embodiment, the rotation center C1 of the blower fan 26 is arranged at an angle, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotation center C1 may be arranged so as to be substantially horizontal. Good too.

(Additional note)
The following techniques are disclosed by the description of the above embodiments.

(Technology 1) A storage room is provided, and a cooling room in which an evaporator is installed is formed on the back side of the storage room, and a partition part that partitions between the storage room and the cooling room, and an air in the cooling room is provided. a blower fan that blows air into the storage chamber, the blower fan has a rotating blade, and a fan casing that guides air flowing by rotation of the rotating blade, and on the back side of the partition part. , a first partition plate is installed, the fan casing is fixed to the back side of the first partition plate, and the first partition plate has the first partition plate at a position facing the lower surface of the fan casing. A refrigerator characterized in that a drain groove is formed that extends to the end of the back side of the plate.
With this configuration, defrost water generated in the blower fan is easily drained to the back side of the first partition plate through the drainage groove. Therefore, defrost water generated in the blower fan can be efficiently drained.

(Technique 2) The refrigerator according to Technique 1, wherein a stepped portion rising upward is formed at the end of the drain on the storage room side.
With this configuration, the defrosting water that has flowed into the drain becomes difficult to move toward the storage chamber due to the stepped portion, and is easily drained toward the back side of the first partition plate. Therefore, defrost water generated in the blower fan can be efficiently drained.

(Technique 3) According to technique 1 or 2, the lower surface portion of the fan casing is sloped downward toward the storage chamber, and the drain groove is sloped downward toward the rear side. Refrigerator as described.
With this configuration, defrost water generated in the blower fan easily flows through the lower surface of the fan casing and the drainage groove of the first partition plate due to the action of gravity. Therefore, defrost water generated in the blower fan can be efficiently drained.

The present disclosure can be used for refrigerators. Specifically, it can be suitably used in a refrigerator that blows cold air with a blower fan.

10 Refrigerator 13 Freezer room (storage room)
20 Cooling room 22 Evaporator 26 Blower fan 27 Rotating blade 28 Fan casing 28d Lower surface portion 29 Partition portion 30 First partition plate 34b Drain groove 34d Step portion

Claims

Equipped with a storage room,
forming a cooling chamber in which an evaporator is installed on the back side of the storage chamber;
A partition section that partitions between the storage chamber and the cooling chamber, and a blower fan that blows air from the cooling chamber to the storage chamber,
The blower fan includes a rotating blade and a fan casing that guides air flowing by rotation of the rotating blade,
A first partition plate is installed on the back side of the partition part,
The fan casing is fixed to the back side of the first partition plate,
The refrigerator is characterized in that the first partition plate is formed with a drain groove extending to a rear end of the first partition plate at a position facing the lower surface of the fan casing.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an upwardly rising step is formed at an end of the drain on the storage room side.
The lower surface portion of the fan casing is inclined downward toward the storage chamber, and
The drain groove slopes downward toward the back side.
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: