CN108286854B

CN108286854B - Refrigerator with a door

Info

Publication number: CN108286854B
Application number: CN201710976846.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中津哲史
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2017-01-10
Filing date: 2017-10-19
Publication date: 2021-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2037-10-19
Also published as: TW201825844A; JPWO2018131076A1; JP6752297B2; AU2017392447A1; CN108286854A; CN207515331U; HK1256702A1; AU2017392447B2; WO2018131076A1; TWI716636B; MY201770A

Abstract

The refrigerator of the present invention comprises: the heat insulation box body is provided with an inner box, an outer box and heat insulation materials arranged between the inner box and the outer box; a mechanical chamber formed by inwardly recessing the lower portion of the back surface of the heat insulation box body for the compressor to be disposed; a cooler chamber formed in the heat insulating box above the machine chamber and configured to accommodate a cooler; a water receiving part disposed below the cooler in the cooler chamber and receiving water of the cooler; a drain path having an inlet provided in the water receiving portion, penetrating a heat insulating wall interposed between the cooler chamber and the machine chamber so as to communicate the cooler chamber with the machine chamber, and having an outlet projecting toward the machine chamber; and a path heater provided on an inlet side of the drain path, the inlet having a cross-sectional shape of an elliptical shape or an oblong shape, the inlet side of the drain path having a shape in which a cross-sectional area becomes smaller as it advances toward the downstream side and a center position of the cross-sectional area approaches toward the rear side, the drain path being integrally configured from the inlet to the outlet. Thus, a refrigerator having both performance and quality can be obtained.

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a drain path.

Background

Some conventional refrigerators include a water receiving portion (a drip tray) provided below a cooler, and a water discharge path provided below the drip tray and penetrating a heat insulating wall (see, for example, patent documents 1 and 2). Patent document 1 discloses a drain path provided below a cooler on a vertical line, and patent document 2 discloses a drain path outlet projecting from a ceiling of a machine chamber provided below a cooler chamber. In a case where it is desired to secure the drainage path at the shortest distance, the configuration as in the above-mentioned patent document is applied.

However, the refrigerator requires space saving and large capacity, and energy saving. Therefore, for example, there is also a refrigerator using a vacuum heat insulating material having excellent heat insulating properties for a part of a heat insulating wall.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2003-56972

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2003-83668

In the refrigerator of patent document 2, since the machine chamber is provided in the lower portion of the back surface and the cooler chamber is disposed directly above the machine chamber, the heat insulating performance may be significantly deteriorated by the drainage path in the heat insulating wall that partitions the space having the largest temperature difference, thereby reducing the cooling capacity. In this case, the drainage path from the drip tray is greatly bent by avoiding the vacuum heat insulating material. Therefore, the drainage path needs to be provided with a connection portion inside the foamed heat insulating material filled around the vacuum heat insulating material. Further, even in a structure in which a drainage path is secured at the shortest distance as in patent document 1, for example, the drainage path may be formed by connecting a plurality of members for reasons such as ease of molding. In the structure in which the connection portion is provided in the middle of the drainage path as described above, when the foam heat insulating material is used for a long period of time, the molten water attached to the connection portion inside the drainage path gradually permeates into the foam heat insulating material due to the capillary phenomenon. Then, the swollen state of the foamed heat insulating material in which moisture is retained changes with the passage of time. The moisture in the heat insulating material does not spontaneously evaporate, and as a result, the heat capacity of the swollen foamed heat insulating material increases due to the moisture. Therefore, the swollen foamed heat insulating material has a temperature equal to the freezing temperature, and water adhering to the connection portion of the drainage path is frozen, and the frozen ice cubes grow as nuclei, thereby blocking the drainage path. As a result, the molten water produced by the defrosting operation may be discharged into the refrigerator instead of the machine chamber, and water in the refrigerator may leak.

In this way, in the drainage path in which the connection portion is provided in the heat insulating material, the molten water generated during defrosting permeates into the heat insulating material from the connection portion, and ice is generated in the drainage path. Further, when there is a drain path between the drip tray below the cooler and the machine room below the back surface of the refrigerator, it is impossible to arrange a vacuum heat insulating material inside the heat insulating material, and the heat insulating performance is lowered at the boundary between the cooler room and the machine room where heat insulation is most needed. As a result, the energy saving performance of the refrigerator is deteriorated, or dew condensation on the top surface of the machine chamber occurs.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator having both performance and quality.

The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises: a heat insulating box body having an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating material provided in a space between the inner box and the outer box; a machine chamber formed by inwardly recessing a lower portion of a back surface of the heat insulation box body and configured to accommodate a compressor; a cooler chamber formed in the heat insulating box above the machine chamber and configured to have a cooler for generating cold air; a water receiving portion provided below the cooler in the cooler chamber, the water receiving portion receiving water from the cooler; a drain path having an inlet provided in the water receiving portion, penetrating a heat insulating wall interposed between the cooler chamber and the machine chamber so as to communicate the cooler chamber with the machine chamber, and having an outlet projecting toward the machine chamber; and a path heater provided on the inlet side of the drain path, wherein the inlet of the drain path has an elliptical or oblong cross-sectional shape, the inlet side of the drain path has a shape in which a cross-sectional area decreases as the inlet advances downstream and a center position of the cross-sectional shape approaches the rear side, and the drain path is integrally formed from the inlet to the outlet.

Preferably, the drainage path has a wall surface extending in a vertical direction on the back surface side or a part of the back surface side in a plan view.

Preferably, the outlet of the drainage path has a depression angle of 7 ° or more with respect to the depth horizontal direction.

Preferably, the drain path is integrally formed with the water receiving portion.

Preferably, the refrigerator further includes a defrosting unit for melting frost of the cooler by a heater or a high-temperature refrigerant.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a water receiving pan provided below the outlet in the machine chamber,

the water receiving pan is internally provided with a heating pipe.

Preferably, the heat insulation box further comprises a 1 st storage chamber formed in the heat insulation box body,

the water receiving portion and the drain path are formed by extending the floor surface of the 1 st storage room toward the cooler room, and are disposed at a position lower than the floor surface.

Preferably, the storage device further comprises a second storage chamber 2 formed below the first storage chamber 1 and in front of the machine chamber and set to a temperature lower than that of the first storage chamber 1,

the heat insulating wall is a bottom wall of the 1 st storage room and a wall portion of the heat insulating box forming the machine room.

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, since the drain passage has a reduced inner diameter from the inlet toward the outlet and the center position approaches the rear side of the refrigerator, the region of the heat insulating wall between the cooler chamber and the machine chamber in front of the drain passage can be secured to be wider, and the vacuum heat insulating material can be provided in the secured region. Therefore, the refrigerator can increase the installation area of the vacuum insulation material to improve the insulation performance. Further, since the drain path is integrally formed from the inlet to the outlet, penetration of moisture from the drain path to the heat insulating material is suppressed, and the probability of occurrence of blockage of the drain path can be reduced. Thus, the refrigerator can maintain the heat insulation performance and improve the drainage performance.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerant circuit and an air circulation path of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a side sectional view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a machine room on the rear surface of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which components of the heat-insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention are fixed.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view showing a 2 nd example of the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a partial explanatory view showing a 3 rd example of the structure of the heat insulation box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view showing the periphery of the lower part of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, fig. 10 (a) is a front sectional view showing when the door is removed, and fig. 10 (b) is a side sectional view.

Fig. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 12 is a front cross-sectional view showing the rear wall as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory view showing a refrigerating compartment discharge air passage and a refrigerating compartment return air passage 2 of a refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, fig. 13 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator with a door removed, fig. 13 (b) is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the refrigerating compartment discharge air passage, and fig. 13 (c) is a partial side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator in the refrigerating compartment return air passage.

Fig. 14A is a front view showing an example of installation of the air path heater of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 14B is a front view showing another example of the arrangement of the air path heater of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory view showing an ice making compartment discharge air passage and an ice making compartment return air passage of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, fig. 15 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator with a door removed, and fig. 15 (b) is a perspective view of the inside of the ice making compartment.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory view showing a switch chamber discharge air passage and a switch chamber return air passage of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, fig. 16 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator with a door removed, and fig. 16 (b) is a partial side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory view showing a discharge air passage of a freezing chamber and a return air passage of the freezing chamber 6 in the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, fig. 17 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator with a door removed, and fig. 17 (b) is a partial side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

Fig. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the storage compartment spacer according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a storage compartment spacer according to embodiment 1 of the present invention in example 2.

Fig. 20 is a side sectional view showing an example 1 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 21 is a side sectional view showing an example 2 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 22 is a side sectional view showing an example 3 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 23A is a front cross-sectional view showing example 1 of the rear wall as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 23B is a front cross-sectional view showing an example 2 of the back wall as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the temperature maintaining heater of the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 25 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the heat pipes in the vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 26 is a schematic view showing a connection relationship between the heat pipe and the refrigerant circuit in the vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 27 is a diagram showing flow rate characteristics of the flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the present invention on the side of the outlet pipe not connected to the heat radiating pipe to the vegetable compartment.

Fig. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an explanatory view showing a flow path formation state with respect to a STEP (STEP) of a rotary gear in a flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the invention, FIG. 29 (a) is a view showing a 0-step state of the rotary gear, FIG. 29 (b) is a view showing a case where the flow path is closed in a 4-step state of the rotary gear, FIG. 29 (c) is a view showing a case where the throttle flow rate A is obtained in a 36-step state of the rotary gear, FIG. 29 (d) is a view showing a case where the throttle flow rate B is reached in a 73-step pitch state of the rotary gear, FIG. 29 (e) is a view showing a case where the throttle flow rate C is obtained in a 110-step pitch state of the rotary gear, FIG. 29 (f) is a view showing a case where the flow path is opened in a 177-step state of the rotary gear, fig. 29 (g) is a diagram showing a case where the unit process is performed in a 200-step state of the rotary gear.

Fig. 30 is a partial side sectional view showing a structure of a part of a cooler room and a machine room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 31A is a schematic plan view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the drip tray according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 31B is a schematic plan view showing a 2 nd example of the structure of the drip tray according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 32 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the machine room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 33 is a front view showing another configuration example of the rear wall as viewed from the vegetable room of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Fig. 34 is a partial side sectional view showing a structure of a part of a cooler room and a machine room according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals

A refrigerator; a cold room; an ice making chamber; a temperature switching chamber; a vegetable room; 6.. a freezing chamber; a refrigerant circuit; a compressor; 9.. air-cooled condenser; a heat dissipation pipe; a dew condensation preventing tube; a dryer; a pressure relief device; a cooler; a lower end; a blower; 16(16a, 16b, 16c, 16 d.) temperature sensors; a control substrate; 18(18a, 18b, 18 c.) air volume adjusting means; a thermally insulated box; a wall portion; an outer box; an inner box; an insulating material; a polyurethane foam; vacuum insulation material; a frame construction; a guide rail configuration; a support; a spacer; a cooler chamber; 28.. an air duct; 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e.. discharge air passage; 30a, 30b, 30c, 30e.. return air path; a back wall; a ceiling wall; 33a, 33b.. air path heaters; a wall portion; an upper surface; a lower surface; an insulating material; a bottom wall; a polyurethane foam; vacuum insulation material; an air circulation path; an insulating wall profile; vacuum insulation material; foamed insulation; a thermal wall profile; a discharge port; 45.. a return port; a thermal insulating heater; a heat dissipation tube; a flow path switching three-way valve; 49. an outlet tube; 51a, 51b.. capillary; 53.. a valve body; magnetizing the rotor; a sun gear; 56.. a rotary gear; a rotation pad; 58.. a valve seat; a contour housing; a bottom plate; 61... orifice; an orifice; 63... orifice; an outlet orifice; a defrost unit; an exhaust port; 71.. an ice making mechanism; a return port; a cold air return port; a refrigerated return port; 76.. return air path; 77... hole; 78... a slider; 80.. drip tray; a water receiving portion; 82. a drainage path; 82a, 182a.. upstream; 82b, 182b.. downstream; 83. an inlet; 84. an outlet; 85... path heaters; 89.. a metal tray; 90.. a machine room; a drain pan; 92.. heating piping; 95.. a machine room fan; 99.. an insulating wall; oa, Ob... section center; angle.

Detailed Description

Embodiment 1.

The structure of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is an external perspective view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerant circuit and an air circulation path of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side sectional view showing a refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a machine room on the rear surface of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 1 and 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a heat insulating box 19 formed in a vertically long cubic shape, and a plurality of storage compartments are formed in the heat insulating box 19. In the refrigerator 1, storage compartments are arranged in the order of a refrigerating compartment 2, an ice making compartment 3 on the left side, a temperature switching compartment 4 on the right side of the ice making compartment 3, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezing compartment 6 from top to bottom, and spacers are provided between the storage compartments.

The heat insulating box 19 is composed of an upper surface portion, a bottom surface portion, a right side surface portion, a left side surface portion, a back surface portion, and doors provided on the front surfaces of the storage compartments. As shown in fig. 3, a cooler chamber 27 is formed in the heat insulating box 19, and the cooler chamber 27 is located on the rear surface of the ice making chamber 3, the temperature switching chamber 4, and the vegetable chamber 5. Further, refrigerator 1 includes machine chamber 90 in a lower portion of a rear surface, and machine chamber 90 is formed outside heat-insulating box 19 by recessing a part of wall portion 19a of heat-insulating box 19 inward. Machine chamber 90 is located on the rear surface of freezing chamber 6, and a machine chamber cover, not shown, is provided on the rear surface side of machine chamber 90.

As shown in fig. 2, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 7 through which a refrigerant circulates and an air circulation path 36 through which air circulates, and cools the refrigerator 1 by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and the air. In fig. 2, solid arrows indicate the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 7, and broken arrows indicate the flow direction of the cold air flowing through the air circulation path.

Fig. 4 shows the inside of the machine room 90 when the machine room cover is removed and viewed from the rear. As shown in fig. 2 and 4, the refrigerant circuit 7 is configured by connecting a compressor 8, an air-cooled condenser 9, a heat radiation pipe 10, a dew condensation prevention pipe 11, a dryer 12, a decompressor 13, a cooler 14, and the like via pipes. The compressor 8 is a device that compresses a refrigerant and circulates the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 7, and is provided in the machine room 90. The machine room 90 is provided with a machine room fan 95, and the machine room fan 95 takes outside air into the machine room 90 and circulates the air in the machine room 90 to cool the compressor 8 and the like. The air-cooled condenser 9 is an air-cooled heat exchanger disposed in the machine room 90 and configured to emit heat of the refrigerant toward air blown by the machine room fan 95. The heat pipe 10 is a pipe provided inside polyurethane of the refrigerator 1 main body, and naturally releases heat of the refrigerant to the air outside the refrigerator 1. The dew condensation preventing tubes 11 are distributed around the respective storage compartments on the front surface of the refrigerator 1, and prevent dew condensation on the front surface. Thus, the air-cooled condenser 9, the heat radiating pipe 10, and the dew condensation preventing pipe 11 have a function of condensing the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 7. In addition, the dryer 12 removes moisture in the refrigerant to prevent freezing due to the moisture. The pressure reducing device 13 is configured to have a capillary tube or the like, for example, and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant. The cooler 14 is disposed in the cooler chamber 27, and a blower 15 for circulating air in the refrigerator 1 is further disposed in the cooler chamber 27. The cooler 14 is a heat exchanger for absorbing heat of the refrigerant in the air blown by the blower 15. That is, the cooler 14 has a function of evaporating the refrigerant.

The refrigerator 1 includes an air duct for introducing cool air cooled by the cooler compartment 27 into each storage compartment, air

volume adjusting devices

18a, 18b, and 18c (hereinafter, collectively referred to as air volume adjusting devices 18) provided in the air duct and adjusting the amount of cool air flowing into each storage compartment, and the like. The air volume adjusting device 18 is constituted by, for example, a damper with a variable opening degree. As shown in fig. 3, the refrigerator 1 includes a control board 17 and a plurality of temperature sensors. The

temperature sensors

16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d (hereinafter, may be collectively referred to as the temperature sensor 16) are each constituted by, for example, a thermistor or the like, and are provided in each storage chamber, and detect the air temperature or the temperature of the stored food in the storage chamber in which they are provided. In fig. 3, temperature sensor 16a is provided in refrigerating compartment 2, temperature sensor 16b is provided in temperature switching compartment 4, temperature sensor 16c is provided in vegetable compartment 5, and temperature sensor 16d is provided in freezing compartment 6. The control board 17 is built in the upper portion of the back surface of the refrigerator 1. The control board 17 includes, for example, a microcomputer and electronic components, and performs various controls of the refrigerator 1. For example, the control board 17 controls the opening of the air volume adjusting device 18 provided in the duct, the driving frequency of the compressor 8, the air volume of the blower 15, and the like, based on the temperature information input from the temperature sensor 16.

In the refrigerant circuit 7, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 8 passes through the air-cooled condenser 9, the heat radiation pipe 10, and the dew condensation preventing pipe 11 in this order, and is radiated and condensed while passing through. The refrigerant flowing out of the condensation prevention pipe 11 flows into the dryer 12, is dehydrated, and flows into the decompression device 13. The refrigerant flowing into the pressure reducing device 13 is reduced in pressure and flows into the cooler 14. In the cooler 14, the refrigerant absorbs heat from air circulating in the refrigerator 1 by the blower 15 and evaporates. At this time, the air around the cooler 14 is cooled. The refrigerant evaporated in the cooler 14 passes through a suction pipe connecting the cooler 14 and the compressor 8, exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the pressure reducing device 13 to increase in temperature, and then returns to the compressor 8.

On the other hand, the cool air generated by heat exchange between the air in the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerant flowing in the cooler chamber 27 is blown to the storage chambers through the air passage by the blower 15, thereby cooling the storage chambers. The temperature of each storage chamber is detected by a temperature sensor 16 provided in each storage chamber, and the control board 17 operates the air volume adjusting device 18 and the like so that the detected temperature becomes a preset temperature, thereby maintaining the temperature at an appropriate temperature. The cold air having cooled each storage room is returned to the cooler room 27 again through the air passage by the blower 15.

As shown in fig. 3, the cooler 14 is preferably disposed in the cooler chamber 27 such that the lower end 14a is located below the position F of the floor surface of the vegetable compartment 5. In the case of such a configuration, a larger space is secured above the cooler 14, and therefore, the degree of freedom in the size of the blower 15 that sends cold air to each storage compartment is increased, and a space for disposing the air volume adjusting device 18 is secured.

Next, the structure of heat-insulating box 19 of refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 9. Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which components of the heat-insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention are fixed. Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view showing a 2 nd example of the structure of the heat insulating box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a partial explanatory view showing a 3 rd example of the structure of the heat insulation box according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 5, the heat-insulating box 19 is composed of an outer box 21 and an inner box 22 constituting an outer shell, and a heat-insulating material 23 disposed between the outer box 21 and the inner box 22, and suppresses intrusion of heat from the outside. The inner box 22 is a part of the outer contour of the heat insulating box 19, and constitutes an inner wall of each storage compartment. For the heat insulating material 23, for example, a polyurethane foam material 23a or the like is used.

In addition, as shown in fig. 6, when the drawer type storage compartment door having the frame structure 25a is provided, a rail structure 25b for receiving the frame structure 25a is provided on the inner box 22 side of the heat insulating box 19. At the position where the stay 25c of the rail structure 25b is provided, the heat insulation box 19 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the stay 25c, and the stay 25c is fixed by the surrounding inner box 22 and the urethane foam material 23a. At other portions of the heat insulating box 19, various internal components such as a reinforcing member for correcting the deformation of the refrigerator 1, the components of the refrigerant circuit 7, and electric wiring components are fixed by the urethane foam material 23a.

As shown in fig. 7, the heat insulating material 23 of the heat insulating box 19 may be formed of a urethane foam material 23a and a vacuum heat insulating material 23b. In this case, the vacuum heat insulator 23b is disposed in a part of the space formed between the outer casing 21 and the inner casing 22, and the remaining space is filled with the urethane foam 23a. In fig. 7, the vacuum heat insulating material 23b is attached to the wall surface of the outer box 21. By using the vacuum heat insulator 23b in a part of the heat insulator 23 in this way, the amount of heat entering the refrigerator 1 into the heat insulating box 19 can be further reduced.

As shown in fig. 8, the vacuum heat insulating material 23b may be disposed at an intermediate position between the wall surface of the outer box 21 and the wall surface of the inner box 22 via a spacer 26 in accordance with a position provided inside the heat insulating box 19. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 9, the vacuum heat insulating material 23b may be attached to the wall surface of the inner box 22. In the configuration of fig. 9, the vacuum heat insulating material 23b is preferably provided so as not to interfere with the above-described built-in components. The position and range of the vacuum heat insulator 23b in the heat insulating box 19 are not limited to the above configuration, and may be set so as to secure the strength of the casing of the refrigerator 1. By mounting the vacuum heat insulating material 23b, the refrigerator 1 can reduce the distance (heat insulating thickness) between the outer box 21 and the inner box 22 and increase the internal volume.

Next, the air passage formed in the refrigerator 1 will be described. The air passage includes an air passage connected to the cooler compartment 27 and a part of the storage compartment air passage, a discharge air passage for discharging the cold air toward each storage compartment, a return air passage for returning the cold air from each storage compartment, and the like.

Fig. 10 is an explanatory view showing the periphery of the lower part of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 10 (a) is a front sectional view when the door is removed, and fig. 10 (b) is a side sectional view. As shown in fig. 10, a return air passage 30a from the refrigerating compartment 2 is formed on the right side of the cooler 14, and a return air passage 30c from the temperature switching chamber 4 and a discharge air passage 29d to the vegetable compartment 5 are formed in front of the return air passage 30 a. A rear wall 31 constituting a spacer for separating the space in the vegetable compartment 5 is formed in front of the cooler 14, the return air passage 30c, and the discharge air passage 29 d.

Fig. 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing a structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. A rear wall 31 for partitioning the vegetable compartment 5 from the cooler compartment 27 is formed on the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 5. The back wall 31 is a heat insulating wall, and is composed of a heat insulating wall outer shell 38 on the vegetable compartment 5 side, a heat insulating wall outer shell 42 on the cooler compartment 27 side, a vacuum heat insulating material 39, a foaming heat insulating material 40 disposed around the vacuum heat insulating material 39, and the like. Air passage 28 for sending cold air to the storage compartments such as freezer compartment 6 and refrigerator compartment 2 is provided in foamed heat insulating material 40 of back wall 31. Air passage 28 is arranged in the order of cooler 14, heat insulating wall outer casing 42, foamed heat insulating material 40 having air passage 28 formed therein, vacuum heat insulating material 39, and heat insulating wall outer casing 38 on the vegetable compartment 5 side from the rear. The foamed heat insulating material 40 having the air duct structure also has a function of holding the air volume adjusting device 18.

Ceiling wall 32 of vegetable compartment 5 serves as a spacer between vegetable compartment 5 and ice making compartment 3 and temperature switching compartment 4, and bottom wall 35 of vegetable compartment 5 serves as a spacer between vegetable compartment 5 and freezing compartment 6. The ceiling wall 32 and the bottom wall 35 are formed of heat insulating walls, and suppress heat transfer between the storage compartments having different set temperatures. The ceiling wall 32 and the bottom wall 35 are formed of, for example, an injection molded material, and the interior thereof is formed of a polyurethane foam material 35a and a vacuum insulation material 35b. By securing the viscosity and the flow path width of the urethane foam 35a, the vacuum heat insulator 35b is disposed in the middle of the spacer outer wall surface, and the entire space is covered with the urethane foam 35a, whereby further deterioration suppression can be achieved. As shown in fig. 11, when the vacuum heat insulating material 35b is disposed on the low-temperature storage compartment side, the temperature in the storage compartment set at the low temperature is easily maintained. In fig. 11, the vacuum heat insulator 35b is disposed on the ice making compartment 3 and the temperature switching compartment 4 side in the ceiling wall 32, and on the freezing compartment 6 side in the bottom wall 35.

Fig. 12 is a front cross-sectional view showing the rear wall portion as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in fig. 12, a discharge port 44 through which the cool air is discharged toward the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 is formed in the upper right portion of the inner wall of the rear wall 31 of the vegetable compartment 5. The cold air discharge port 44 is located outside the projection plane of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 provided on the back surface wall 31 in the front-rear direction. Further, a return port 45 through which the cooled air is returned from vegetable compartment 5 is formed in a lower left portion of rear wall 31 diagonally with respect to discharge port 44. The return port 45 is located outside the projection plane of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 in the front-rear direction. The discharge port 44 supplies the cold air generated by the cooler 14 via the air blower 15 disposed above the cooler 14 via the air volume adjusting device 18 (for example, the air volume adjusting device 18c) disposed above the cooler compartment 27. The cold air discharged from the discharge port 44 into the vegetable compartment 5 cools the vegetable compartment 5, and then is discharged from the cold air return port 45, guided to the cooler compartment 27, and cooled again by the cooler 14.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory view showing a refrigerating compartment discharge air passage and a return air passage of the refrigerating compartment 2 of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 13 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator 1 with the door removed, fig. 13 (b) is a side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 at the discharge air passage 29a of the refrigerating chamber, and fig. 13 (c) is a partial side cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 1 at the return air passage 30a of the refrigerating chamber 2.

As shown in fig. 13, the discharge duct 29a of the refrigerating compartment 2 is configured by connecting a plurality of ducts through which the cooled air passes after being discharged from the blower 15 provided above the cooler 14. The plurality of air passages are, for example, an air passage 28 in the back surface wall 31, an air passage in the foamed heat insulating material above the cooler chamber 27 toward the refrigerating chamber 2, an air passage in the heat insulating wall separating the refrigerating chamber 2 from the ice making chamber 3 and the temperature switching chamber 4, an air passage formed of a foamed heat insulating material provided on the back surface side of the refrigerating chamber 2, and the like. Further, an air volume adjusting device 18a for adjusting the amount of cold air supplied to refrigerating room 2 is provided, for example, in the middle of discharge duct 29a of refrigerating room 2. The return air passage 30a of the refrigerating compartment 2 is provided with a foamed heat insulating material at a portion on the right side of the cooler 14 to obtain a desired heat insulation. The discharge port of the return air passage 30a of the refrigerating compartment 2 is connected to a drip tray 80 that receives the melt water during defrosting from the lower right side of the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 27.

In the case where the required heat insulation is not secured in the return air passage 30a of the refrigerating compartment 2, it is preferable to provide an air passage heater for avoiding air passage blockage due to frost formation in the return air passage 30 a. Fig. 14A is a front view showing an example of installation of the air path heater of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 14B is a front view showing another example of the arrangement of the air path heater of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 14A and 14B show the lower periphery of the refrigerator when the door is removed.

In fig. 14A, the air path heater 33a is provided in the return air path 30a of the refrigerating compartment 2 and generates heat as necessary. The duct heater 33a is preferably provided at an arbitrary position in the return duct 30a in the duct longitudinal direction, for example, in a range of a size obtained by projecting the cooler 14 in the vertical direction or more. In fig. 14B, the air path heater 33B is provided near the drip tray 80. The duct heater 33b is preferably provided along the flow direction of the cool return air within a range of about 100mm from the top to the bottom, for example, around the joint between the return air duct 30a and the drip tray 80.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory view showing an ice compartment discharge air passage and an ice compartment return air passage of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 15 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator 1 with the door removed, and fig. 15 (b) is a perspective view of the inside of the ice making chamber 3.

As shown in fig. 15, the discharge air duct 29b of the ice making chamber 3 is configured by connecting a plurality of air ducts through which the cold air passes after being discharged from the blower 15 provided above the cooler 14. The plurality of air passages are, for example, an air passage in the foamed heat insulating material above the cooler chamber 27, an air passage formed by the foamed heat insulating material provided on the back surface side of the ice making chamber 3, and the like. Further, an unillustrated air volume adjusting device that adjusts the amount of cold air supplied to the ice making compartment 3 is provided, for example, in the middle of the discharge air duct 29b of the ice making compartment 3. In the ice making compartment 3, a cold air discharge port 70 is provided at an arbitrary position on the back surface of the ice making compartment 3, and the cold air discharged from the discharge port 70 flows into the ice making mechanism 71. Return air duct 30b of ice making compartment 3 is provided from the front surface of cooler 14 at a position closer to ice making compartment 3 than the center of refrigerator 1 within the entire width of cooler 14, and within the projected width of ice making compartment 3 in the front-rear direction. The return air duct 30b of the ice making compartment 3 includes a return opening 72 provided in a back wall of the ice making compartment 3, an inner side of an outer contour of a surface of the ice making compartment, a part of the foamed heat insulating material adjacent to the outer contour of the surface of the ice making compartment 3, and the like. The discharge ports of return air passages 30b of ice making compartment 3 merge near cold air return port 74 from freezing compartment 6. In order to avoid the joint pressure loss, the cold air return opening 74 from the freezer compartment 6 is preferably formed to have a dimension equal to or larger than the lateral width of the return air passage 30b of the ice making compartment 3 in the vicinity of the cold air discharge opening from the ice making compartment 3. The return air passage 30b of the ice making compartment 3 may be located above the cold air return opening 74 from the freezer compartment 6 and directly returned to the cooler compartment 27.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory view showing a switch room discharge air passage and a switch room return air passage of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 16 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator 1 with the door removed, and fig. 16 (b) is a partial side sectional view of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 16, the discharge duct 29c for the cold air to the temperature switching chamber 4 is formed by connecting a plurality of ducts through which the cold air discharged from the blower 15 provided above the cooler 14 passes. The plurality of air passages are an air passage in the foamed heat insulating material above the cooler chamber 27, an air passage formed by the foamed heat insulating material provided on the rear surface side of the temperature switching chamber 4, and the like. The air volume adjusting device 18b (see fig. 3) for adjusting the amount of cold air supplied to the temperature switching compartment 4 is provided, for example, in the middle of the discharge duct 29c of the temperature switching compartment 4. The return air passage 30c of the switching room is constituted by a cold air return port arbitrarily provided in the rear wall of the temperature switching room 4, the back side of the outer contour of the front surface of the temperature switching room 4, a part of the foamed heat insulating material adjacent to the outer contour of the front surface of the temperature switching room 4, and the like. The discharge port of return air passage 30c is provided on the right side of return air passage 30e from freezer compartment 6.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a freezer compartment discharge air duct and a freezer compartment 6 return air duct of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 17 (a) is a partial front view of the refrigerator 1 with the door removed, and fig. 17 (b) is a partial side sectional view of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 17, discharge air duct 29e of freezer compartment 6 is configured by connecting a plurality of air ducts through which cold air discharged from blower 15 provided above cooler 14 passes. The plurality of air passages are, for example, the air passage 28 in the back surface wall 31 and the air passage provided in the bottom wall 35 of the vegetable compartment 5. The cold air having passed through discharge air duct 29e of freezing chamber 6 is guided into the storage box stacked in multiple stages in freezing chamber 6 by the guide portion provided in the ceiling on the depth side of freezing chamber 6, thereby cooling the stored material in freezing chamber 6. Return air duct 30e of freezer compartment 6 is an air duct provided from the inside of freezer compartment 6 toward the rear of bottom wall 35 of vegetable compartment 5. The return air passage 30e is formed within the range of the left-right width of the cooler 14. Similarly to return air passage 30a of refrigerating room 2, the outlet of return air passage 30e of freezing room 6 is connected to drip tray 80 from the lower right side of cooler 14 in cooler compartment 27. The guide portion may include, for example, two guides arranged in the front-rear direction of refrigerator 1, a guide toward the discharge side in freezing chamber 6 being arranged at the front, and a guide toward the return side from the inside of freezing chamber 6 being arranged at the rear.

Fig. 18 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the storage compartment spacer according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a storage compartment spacer according to embodiment 1 of the present invention in example 2. In fig. 11 described above, the case where the vacuum heat insulating material 35b in the bottom wall 35 of the vegetable compartment 5 is disposed on the low-temperature storage compartment side (freezing compartment 6 side) has been described, but the vacuum heat insulating material 35b may be disposed at any position in the bottom wall 35 as shown in fig. 18 and 19. As shown in fig. 19, when the vacuum heat insulating material 35b is disposed on the vegetable compartment 5 side of the outer wall surface, the rate of coating the inner wall surface of the vegetable compartment 5 can be increased, and the amount of heat intrusion can be suppressed.

The vacuum heat insulator 39 can be disposed at any position in the rear wall 31 of the vegetable compartment 5. Fig. 20 is a side sectional view showing an example 1 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 21 is a side sectional view showing an example 2 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 22 is a side sectional view showing an example 3 of a wall surface structure around a vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In fig. 20, the rear wall 31 is configured in such a manner that the heat insulating wall outer casing 42, the foamed heat insulating material 40 in which the air passage 28 is formed, the vacuum heat insulating material 39, the foamed heat insulating material 40, and the heat insulating wall outer casing 38 on the vegetable compartment 5 side are arranged in this order from the rear side toward the front side close to the cooler 14. In fig. 21, the vacuum heat insulating material 39 is attached to the inner wall of the heat insulating wall outer shell 42 on the cooler 14 side in order to secure the effect of the vacuum heat insulating material 39. In the configuration example shown in fig. 21, the height dimension of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 may be reduced by the restriction of the outlet position or the outlet size of the cold air discharged from the blower 15. In addition, in the structure in which the foamed heat insulating material 40 is not disposed around the vacuum heat insulating material 39, there is a possibility that deterioration of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 is promoted, but as shown in fig. 22, the foamed heat insulating material 40 is provided between the heat insulating wall outer shell 42 and the vacuum heat insulating material 39, thereby protecting the vacuum heat insulating material 39. The size of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 is set to be larger than the area obtained by projecting the cooler 14 forward, so that the one-dimensional amount of heat movement through the back surface wall 31 is minimized.

The discharge port 44 and the return port 45 formed in the rear surface of the vegetable compartment 5 may be disposed on either the left side or the right side. Fig. 23A is a front cross-sectional view showing example 1 of the rear wall portion as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 23B is a front cross-sectional view showing an example 2 of the rear wall portion as viewed from inside the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

In the case of being disposed on the left side as shown in fig. 23A or on the right side as shown in fig. 23B, since there is no need to provide an air passage on the right side or the left side, the vacuum heat insulator 39 can be disposed so as to be expanded. In such a configuration, the coating rate of the vacuum heat insulating material 39 in the vegetable compartment 5 is increased, and the heat insulating property is enhanced. That is, the heat transfer from vegetable room 5 to another storage room or the cold and heat transfer from another storage room, cooler room 27, and the like to vegetable room 5 is suppressed. In addition, heat intrusion from the outside of the refrigerator 1 toward the vegetable compartment 5 is suppressed.

On the other hand, when the coating rate of the vacuum heat insulating material is set to be large, the average temperature of the vegetable compartment 5 tends to decrease. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 may have a structure for maintaining the indoor temperature of the vegetable compartment 5.

Fig. 24 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the temperature maintaining heater of the vegetable room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 24 shows an example in which a heat insulating heater 46 using a resistor is provided to maintain the indoor temperature of the vegetable compartment 5 as necessary. The heat insulating heater 46 is provided at any position on the floor surface, the back surface, the left side surface, and the right side surface of the vegetable room 5, for example, at any capacity of about 3W to 10W, and particularly at a point where the indoor temperature of the vegetable room 5 is relatively low. The temperature-maintaining heater 46 is energized by an energization rate (a ratio of an energization time to a reference time) based on a time reference in accordance with an outside air temperature and an indoor temperature of the vegetable compartment 5.

Fig. 25 is a schematic view showing the arrangement of the heat pipes in the vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 26 is a schematic view showing a connection relationship between the heat pipe and the refrigerant circuit in the vegetable compartment according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 25 shows a structure in which a heat radiation pipe 47 is disposed in place of the heat insulating heater 46 on the heat insulating material side inside the urethane foam 23a and the outer periphery of the bottom wall 35 on the left and right side walls of the vegetable compartment 5. Heat pipe 47 allows the refrigerant used in cooler 14 to flow therethrough and radiates heat into vegetable compartment 5. As shown in fig. 26, the pressure reducing device 13 of the refrigerant circuit 7 is configured by, for example, a flow path switching three-

way valve

48 and 2 capillaries (a capillary tube 51a, a capillary tube 51b, and the like). The refrigerant circuit 7 is connected to the dryer 12 via the dew condensation prevention pipe 11, and then the downstream side of the flow path switching three-way valve 48 is switched and connected. Of the 2

outlet pipes

49 and 50 on the downstream side of the flow path switching three-way valve 48, the outlet pipe 50 is connected to one end of the capillary tube 51a via the heat pipe 47. On the other hand, the outlet pipe 49 is connected to one end of the capillary 51b. The capillary tube 51b connected to the outlet tube 49 is preferably configured to be able to change the amount of pressure reduction.

In such a configuration, when heat pipe 47 radiates the heat of the refrigerant into vegetable compartment 5, the load on the air side increases, and the heat pipe acts in the direction in which the condensation capacity of the refrigerant increases on the refrigeration cycle side. As a result, the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle is improved, and the power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case of using the temperature-maintaining heater 46.

A configuration for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the heat pipe 47 will be described with reference to fig. 27 to 29. Fig. 27 is a diagram showing flow rate characteristics of the flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the present invention on the side of the outlet pipe not connected to the heat radiating pipe to the vegetable compartment. Fig. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow path formation state with respect to a STEP (STEP) of a rotary gear in the flow path switching three-way valve according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 28, the flow path switching three-way valve 48 adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the outlet pipe 49 connected to the capillary tube 51b in multiple stages by using an electronically controlled expansion valve such as a linear electronic expansion valve. The flow path switching three-way valve 48 is generally composed of a low-voltage four-phase stepping motor 52, a valve main body 53, and the like. The valve main body 53 includes a magnetized rotor 54, a sun gear 55, a rotary gear 56, a rotary pad 57, a valve seat 58, a housing case 59, a bottom plate 60, and the like as main components. The flow path switching three-way valve 48 drives the four-phase stepping motor 52 in a single stage by 1-2-phase excitation, thereby rotating the magnetized rotor 54. The magnetizing rotor 54 is directly coupled to the sun gear 55, and when the magnetizing rotor 54 rotates, the sun gear 55 rotates in the same direction as the magnetizing rotor 54 by the same amount.

Further, as shown in fig. 29, since the sun gear 55 is directly engaged with the rotary gear 56, the rotary pad 57 fixed to the rotary gear 56 is rotated by the rotation of the sun gear 55 with reference to the central axis provided on the valve seat 58. The rotating pad 57 is provided with 3

orifices

61, 62, 63 of different internal diameters. When any one of the

orifices

61, 62, 63 overlaps the outlet orifice 64 of the valve seat 58 by the rotating action of the rotating pad 57 at 3, a prescribed refrigerant flow rate flows out. Fig. 29 (a) to (g) show the flow path formation states at different pitches (STEP) with respect to the rotary gear 56. As shown in fig. 27, the outlet pipe 49 is configured to switch between the fully closed, throttle flow rate a, throttle flow rate B, throttle flow rate C, and fully open 5-stage flow rate control in the order of flow rate from small to large. In the flow path formation state of fig. 29, the state of (B) corresponds to fully closed, (C) corresponds to throttle flow rate a, (d) corresponds to throttle flow rate B, and (e) corresponds to throttle flow rate C, and (f) corresponds to fully open.

With such a configuration, the refrigerator 1 can reduce power consumption while ensuring the temperature of the vegetable compartment 5. In the case where the temperature-keeping heater 46 using the resistance is used for keeping the temperature of the vegetable compartment 5, a two-way valve may be used instead of the flow path switching three-way valve, the two-way valve having only one of the 2 outlets that is capable of flow rate control.

The drain path provided in the cooler chamber 27 and the machine chamber 90 will be described with reference to fig. 30 to 31B. Fig. 30 is a partial side sectional view showing a structure of a part of a cooler room and a machine room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 31A is a schematic plan view showing a 1 st example of the structure of the drip tray according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. Fig. 31B is a schematic plan view showing a 2 nd example of the structure of the drip tray according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 30, a defrosting unit 67 that melts frost adhering to the cooler 14 and a drip tray 80 that guides moisture such as melted water generated during a defrosting operation from the cooler chamber 27 to the machine chamber 90 are provided below the cooler chamber 27.

The defrosting unit 67 is constituted by a glass tube heater, for example. The glass tube heater is composed of a nichrome wire, a glass tube for protecting the nichrome wire, and the like, and the nichrome wire generates heat due to resistance when the cooler 14 is defrosted. The defrosting unit 67 is preferably provided in the cooler chamber 27 below the cooler 14 on a projection plane in the vertical direction of a drain path inlet described later.

The drip tray 80 is formed of a heat insulating wall 99 interposed between the vegetable compartment 5 and the machine compartment 90, and is provided at a position lower than the floor surface of the vegetable compartment 5. The heat insulating wall 99 indicates, for example, a rear portion of the heat insulating wall (hereinafter, referred to as a wall portion 34) constituting the bottom wall 35 of the vegetable compartment 5, and a wall portion 19a of the heat insulating box 19 forming the machine compartment 90. Wall 34 has an upper surface 34a formed integrally with the floor surface of vegetable compartment 5, and a lower surface 34b formed integrally with the ceiling surface of freezing compartment 6. An insulating material 34c is provided between the upper surface 34a and the lower surface 34b of the wall 34, and the lower surface 34b is formed to be offset from the upper surface 34a by a predetermined distance.

The drip tray 80 has: a water receiving portion 81 that receives water dripping from the cooler 14; and a pipe-shaped drainage path 82 through which water received by the water receiving portion 81 passes. The water receiving portion 81 is formed by the upper surface 34a of the wall portion 34, and is formed in a shape inclined downward toward the inlet 83 of the drain path 82 so as to guide the water to the drain path 82. The drainage path 82 penetrates the inside of the heat insulating material of the heat insulating wall 99, and the outlet 84 protrudes toward the machine chamber 90. The inner diameter of the drain path 82 becomes smaller at the outlet 84 than at the inlet 83. The drainage path 82 is formed integrally from the inlet 83 to the outlet 84 without providing a joint in the path inside the heat insulating wall 99. The drain path 82 is formed integrally with the water receiving portion 81 at the inlet 83. For example, when the water receiving portion 81 and the drain path 82 are formed by the outer contour, which is the upper surface 34a of the wall portion 34, the water is guided from the cooler chamber 27 to the machine chamber 90 without passing through the connection portion.

As shown in fig. 31A and 31B, the inlet 83 is disposed at a substantially central portion of the drip tray 80 in the left-right direction, for example, and is formed in a groove shape having a width of 50mm or less from an arbitrary position in the front toward the rear in the front-rear direction. The cross-sectional shape of the inlet 83 is, for example, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an oval shape, a combined shape of a semi-elliptical shape and a rectangular shape, or a combined shape of a semi-oval shape and a rectangular shape, and the rear side reaches substantially the rearmost portion of the water contact surface of the drip tray 80. The outlet 84 of the drainage passage 82 has an inner diameter of, for example, 20mm or less, and is formed in a substantially circular cross-sectional shape.

As shown in fig. 30, 31A, and 31B, the drain passage 82 is formed in a substantially funnel shape that gradually narrows in the depth direction as it goes from the inlet 83 of the drain passage 82 in the downward direction. That is, the inlet 83 side (hereinafter referred to as the upstream portion 82a) of the drainage passage 82 has a smaller cross-sectional area as it goes toward the downstream side, and the position on the front side of the cross-section is closer to the back side. The outlet 84 side of the drain path 82 (hereinafter, referred to as the downstream portion 82b) has a pipe shape having a substantially constant inner diameter and is formed to have a length protruding into the machine chamber 90. The cross section of the upstream portion 82a converges from the cross-sectional shape of the inlet 83 to the circular shape of the downstream portion 82b. As shown in fig. 30, the upstream portion 82a is formed to penetrate the wall 34, and the downstream portion 82b is formed to penetrate the wall 19a. Further, a cover structure may be provided at the outlet of the drain path 82 so as to prevent the high-humidity air in the machine chamber 90 from flowing backward into the refrigerator 1 through the drain path 82.

Fig. 31A and 31B show a cross-sectional center Oa of the upstream portion 82a and a cross-sectional center Ob of the downstream portion 82B, and the cross-sectional center Oa of the upstream portion 82a moves toward the rear of the refrigerator 1 as it advances toward the downstream side, and reaches the cross-sectional center Ob of the downstream portion 82B. The drain path 82 is disposed along the rear of the refrigerator 1 from the inlet 83 to the outlet 84 at the rearmost portion.

As shown in fig. 30, a urethane foam 23a and a vacuum heat insulator 23b are provided in the wall portion 19a. As described above, the drain path is provided so that the downstream portion 82b formed in the wall portion 19a has a smaller cross-sectional area than the upstream portion 82a, and the rearmost portion of the drain path is along the rear surface of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the vacuum heat insulator 23b can be disposed in the wall portion 19a in the vicinity of the rear surface of the refrigerator 1.

As shown in fig. 30, a path heater 85 may be further provided in the upstream portion 82a of the drain path 82. The path heater 85 is made of, for example, a flexible wire heater having a silicon coating layer, and is provided in the heat insulator 34c of the wall portion 34. The path heater 85 melts ice that has not been melted into water and has fallen to the inlet 83 of the drain path 82 by heat generation during defrosting, thereby suppressing clogging of the drain path 82.

Further, a metal tray 89 formed of metal is provided on a surface where the inlet 83 is formed. In fig. 30, a metal tray 89 is provided in the water receiving portion 81 and the upstream portion 82a of the drainage path 82, and transfers the radiation heat of the defrosting unit 67 to the surface of the drip tray 80 to easily melt the ice falling on the drip tray 80.

Preferably, the metal tray 89 has a dimension equal to or larger than the length of the defroster unit 67 provided above in the left-right direction and a dimension equal to or larger than one-half of the front-rear width of the drip tray 80 in the front-rear direction. The region of the drip tray 80 outside the region covered with the metal tray 89 may be covered with a metal tape or the like.

The metal tray 89 is formed along the water receiving portion 81 and the upstream portion 82a so as to substantially conform to the shape of the inlet 83 of the drainage passage 82, thereby promoting conduction of heat generated from the passage heater 85 provided inside the heat insulator 34c.

A part of the melted water melted by the defrosting unit 67 and dropped from the cooler 14 to the water receiving portion 81 of the drip tray 80 is introduced into the inlet 83 of the drain path 82 by the inclination of the water receiving portion 81. The molten water introduced into the inlet 83 flows into the drainage passage 82, is further melted by the passage heater 85 while passing through the upstream portion 82a, and flows into the downstream portion 82b having a small inner diameter. Since the water discharge path 82 is not provided with a connecting portion, the molten water passing therethrough is discharged from the outlet 84 protruding into the machine chamber 90 to the machine chamber 90 without penetrating the heat insulating wall 99.

Fig. 32 is a rear view showing the internal structure of the machine room according to embodiment 1 of the present invention. The machine chamber 90 is further provided with a water receiving tray (drain pan 91) that receives the water discharged from the outlet 84 of the drain path 82 to the machine chamber 90, and the drain pan 91 is provided with a heating pipe 92. The heating pipe 92 is constituted by, for example, a refrigerant pipe through which a high-temperature refrigerant flows.

The molten water having passed through the drain passage 82 is discharged from the outlet 84 to the drain pan 91 of the machine chamber 90, and is accumulated in the drain pan 91. The molten water accumulated in the drain pan 91 is promoted to evaporate by the heating pipe 92, the cooling air for cooling the air-cooled condenser 9, the compressor 8, and the like provided in the machine room 90, and the like. With this configuration, the evaporation of the molten water generated in the previous time is completed until the next defrosting operation is started.

The air passage, the discharge port, and the return port of the refrigerator 1 are not limited to the above configuration. Fig. 33 is a front view showing another configuration example of the rear wall of the refrigerator according to embodiment 1 of the present invention as viewed from the vegetable compartment. As shown in fig. 33, the returned cold air from refrigerating room 2 may flow into vegetable room 5. In this case, for example, a refrigerating return port 75, which is an outlet port through which the returned cold air from refrigerating room 2 is discharged into vegetable room 5, is formed in the upper right portion of the inner wall of rear wall 31 of vegetable room 5, and return port 45 from vegetable room 5 is formed in the substantially central portion of the lower rear portion of vegetable room 5. The return air passage of refrigerating room 2 and the vegetable room return air passage are configured to merge at the lower side of the back surface of vegetable room 5 and return to cooler room 27 from between return air passages 30e of freezing room 6 divided into left and right. The return air passage 76 of the refrigerating compartment 2 disposed in the rear wall 31 of the vegetable compartment 5 is partitioned from the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 by an inner wall surface which is formed by injection molding and has no heat insulating function. Therefore, in order to adjust the temperature in vegetable compartment 5, a plurality of holes 77 may be provided in an inner wall surface that separates return air passage 76 of refrigerating compartment 2 from the inside of vegetable compartment 5. Further, a slider 78 that can freely open and close the plurality of holes 77 may be provided. When the slider 78 slides in the vertical direction indicated by the arrow, the number of the closed holes 77 is adjusted, and therefore the user can arbitrarily adjust the temperature in the vegetable compartment 5 by moving the slider 78. In such a configuration, since the temperature can be adjusted in vegetable compartment 5, air volume adjusting device 18c for adjusting the amount of cold air supplied into vegetable compartment 5 need not be provided in the air duct.

As described above, in embodiment 1, the refrigerator 1 includes: a heat insulating box 19, the heat insulating box 19 having an inner box 22, an outer box 21, and a heat insulating material 23 provided in a space between the inner box 22 and the outer box 21; a machine chamber 90 formed by inwardly recessing a lower portion of a rear surface of the heat insulating box 19, and disposed for the compressor 8; a cooler chamber 27 formed in the heat insulating box 19 above the machine chamber 90, and in which a cooler 14 for generating cold air is disposed; a water receiving portion 81 provided below the cooler 14 in the cooler chamber 27, the water receiving portion 81 receiving water from the cooler 14; and a drain path 82, the drain path 82 having an inlet 83 provided in the water receiving portion 81, penetrating through a heat insulating wall 99 interposed between the cooler chamber 27 and the machine chamber 90 so as to communicate the cooler chamber 27 with the machine chamber 90, and having an outlet 84 projecting toward the machine chamber 90, the inlet 83 side of the drain path 82 having a shape such that the cross-sectional area thereof becomes smaller as it advances toward the downstream side and the center position of the cross-sectional area (cross-sectional center Oa) thereof approaches the rear side, the drain path 82 being integrally configured from the inlet 83 to the outlet 84.

Accordingly, since the drain passage 82 has a shape in which the inner diameter decreases from the inlet 83 toward the outlet 84 and the cross-sectional center Oa approaches the rear surface side of the refrigerator 1, the heat insulating wall 99 between the cooler chamber 27 and the machine chamber 90 can be provided with a vacuum heat insulating material (for example, the vacuum heat insulating material 23 b). Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can secure the heat insulating performance. Further, unlike the conventional structure having a connecting portion in the heat insulating material, the drain path 82 is integrally formed from the inlet 83 to the outlet 84, and therefore, permeation of moisture from the drain path 82 into the heat insulating wall 99 is suppressed. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can reduce the occurrence of water leakage or the like in the refrigerator due to the blockage of the drain path 82.

The drainage channel 82 has a wall surface extending in the vertical direction on the back surface side or a part of the back surface side in plan view. That is, the drain path 82 is provided so that a portion closest to the rear surface of the refrigerator 1 in a plan view is, for example, along the rear surface of the refrigerator 1 in the vertical direction of the refrigerator 1. Thus, the range in which the vacuum heat insulator (e.g., vacuum heat insulator 23b) is disposed can be expanded toward the rear surface side of the refrigerator 1 by the heat insulator 99 interposed between the cooler chamber 27 and the machine chamber 90. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can increase the coating area of the vacuum insulation material 23b particularly at a position where insulation is required. As a result, condensation on the top surface of the machine chamber 90 is reduced, and energy saving is improved.

The drainage path 82 is formed integrally with the water receiving portion 81. Accordingly, since no connection portion is provided on the path through which the molten water dropped from the cooler 14 passes, the reliability of the drainage of the molten water from the cooler 14 to the machine chamber 90 can be further improved.

The cross-sectional shape of the inlet 83 of the drain passage 82 is an elliptical shape or an oblong shape. Thereby, the drain path is easily integrated with the drip tray 80. However, conventionally, the inlet of the drain path provided on the water receiving surface of the drip tray has a substantially circular shape. In the case where the length of the water discharge path projecting toward the machine chamber is secured while maintaining such a shape, the inner diameter of the outlet of the water discharge path is extremely reduced in order to secure mold release performance in the product manufacturing and molding processes because the water discharge path has a long and thin shape. Therefore, in the conventional drainage path, the drainage performance is lowered, and the probability of occurrence of clogging or the like due to foreign matter is increased. On the other hand, since the inlet 83 of the drainage channel 82 is formed in the shape as described above, it is easy to integrally mold the water receiving portion 81 and the drainage channel 82. Therefore, the refrigerator 1 can obtain the drainage path 82 with stable quality.

The refrigerator 1 further includes a defrosting unit 67 for defrosting the cooler 14 by a heater or a high-temperature refrigerant. Thus, the defrosting unit 67 can melt the frost adhering to the cooler 14 and remove the frost from the cooler 14, and can maintain the performance of the cooler 14.

The refrigerator 1 further includes a drain pan 91 provided below the outlet 84 in the machine chamber 90, and a heating pipe 92 is disposed in the drain pan 91. This allows the water discharged into the machine chamber 90 to evaporate in the drain pan 91, thereby protecting equipment and the like installed in the machine chamber 90.

The refrigerator 1 further includes a 1 st storage chamber (for example, vegetable chamber 5) formed in the heat insulating box 19, and the water receiving unit 81 and the drain path 82 are formed by extending a floor surface of the 1 st storage chamber (vegetable chamber 5) toward the cooler chamber 27 and are disposed at a position lower than the floor surface. Thereby, the refrigerator 1 can obtain the following drip tray 80: the number of parts for separately forming the drip tray 80 is reduced, and a connecting portion is not provided on a path through which the molten water passes.

Further, refrigerator 1 includes second storage room 2 (for example, freezing room 6) formed below first storage room 1 (for example, vegetable room 5) and in front of machine room 90 and set to a temperature lower than that of first storage room 1 (vegetable room 5), and heat insulating wall 99 is bottom wall 35 of first storage room 1 (vegetable room) and wall 19a of heat insulating box 19 forming the machine room. Accordingly, refrigerator 1 can ensure heat insulation between second storage chamber 2 (freezing chamber 6) set at a low temperature and machine chamber 90 formed outside heat-insulated box 19, and thus can improve energy saving performance. In particular, since the downstream portion 82b of the drain path has a smaller inner diameter than the upstream portion 82a and is located on the rear side, the refrigerator 1 can improve the heat insulation between the machine chamber 90 and the second storage chamber 2 (freezing chamber 6) and the cooler chamber 27 by expanding the vacuum heat insulator 23b in the wall portion 19a.

Embodiment 2.

In embodiment 1, the drain path is provided with a rearmost portion from the inlet to the outlet along the rear surface of the refrigerator. In embodiment 2, a structure in which the drainage path is inclined on the outlet side will be described. Hereinafter, only the differences from embodiment 1 will be described, and other configurations have the same configuration.

Fig. 34 is a partial side sectional view showing a structure of a part of a cooler room and a machine room according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. The inlet 183 of the drain path 182 has, for example, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, an oblong shape, a combined shape of a semi-ellipse and a rectangle, or a combined shape of a semi-oblong and a rectangle, and reaches the rear side of the water receiving surface at substantially the rearmost portion. The outlet 184 is formed to have a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, for example. As shown in fig. 34, the inlet 183 side (hereinafter, referred to as the upstream portion 182a) of the drainage passage 182 has a smaller cross-sectional area as it goes to the downstream side, and the position on the front side of the cross-section approaches the back side. The outlet 184 side (hereinafter, referred to as the downstream portion 182b) of the drain path 182 has a pipe shape having a substantially constant inner diameter and is formed to have a length so as to protrude into the machine chamber 90. The drainage path 182 is integrally formed from the inlet 183 to the outlet 184, and the cross section of the upstream portion 182a is formed in a circular shape converging from the cross-sectional shape of the inlet 183 to the downstream portion 182b.

In embodiment 2, the downstream portion 182b of the drain passage 182 is formed to be inclined toward the rear surface side from a direction along the rear surface of the refrigerator 1 (for example, a vertically downward direction). That is, the downstream portion 182b is located closer to the outlet 184 and further to the rear side of the refrigerator 1. The angle at which the downstream portion 182b is formed is set to an angle at which foreign matter is not retained without impairing the formability of the drainage path 182 and the drainage of the molten water. For example, the inclination angle of the outlet 184 may be configured to have a depression angle (angle θ) of 7 ° or more, which is an angle at which the water droplets fall by their own weight, with respect to the depth horizontal direction of the refrigerator 1. The upper limit of the depression angle (angle θ) may be set to less than 90 ° so as not to obstruct the flow of the molten water from the upstream portion 182a of the drainage path 182, for example.

As described above, in embodiment 2, as in embodiment 1, the drain passage 182 is formed so that the inner diameter decreases from the inlet 183 toward the outlet 184 and the center position approaches the rear surface side of the refrigerator 1, and is integrally formed from the inlet 183 to the outlet 184. Therefore, as in the case of embodiment 1, the refrigerator 1 can avoid the blocking of the drainage path 182 while ensuring the heat insulating performance of the heat insulating wall 99, and can suppress the occurrence of water leakage or the like in the refrigerator.

The inclination angle of the outlet 184 of the drainage channel 182 is 7 ° or more in the depression angle (angle θ) with respect to the depth horizontal direction. Accordingly, since the outlet 184 of the drainage path 182 is formed toward the rear surface side of the refrigerator 1, a wide area can be secured in the heat insulating wall 99 in which the vacuum heat insulating material can be disposed, and the refrigerator 1 can increase the covering area of the vacuum heat insulating material to enhance the heat insulating performance.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, in embodiment 1, a heater that generates heat by energization is used as the defrosting unit 67, but instead of the heater, frost may be melted by a high-temperature refrigerant.

Claims

1. A refrigerator is characterized in that a refrigerator body is provided with a refrigerator door,

the disclosed device is provided with:

a heat insulating box body having an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating material provided in a space between the inner box and the outer box;

a machine chamber formed by inwardly recessing a lower portion of a rear surface of the heat insulating box body, and configured to accommodate a compressor;

a cooler chamber formed in the heat insulating box above the machine chamber and configured with a cooler for generating cold air;

a water receiving portion provided below the cooler in the cooler chamber, receiving water from the cooler;

a drain path having an inlet provided in the water receiving portion, penetrating through a heat insulating wall interposed between the cooler chamber and the machine chamber so as to communicate the cooler chamber with the machine chamber, and having an outlet projecting toward the machine chamber;

a path heater provided at the inlet side of the drain path;

a 1 st storage chamber formed in the heat-insulated box; and

a 2 nd storage chamber formed below the 1 st storage chamber and in front of the machine chamber and set to a temperature lower than that of the 1 st storage chamber,

the drain path is integrally formed from the inlet to the outlet,

the water receiving portion and the drain path are formed by extending a floor surface of the 1 st storage chamber to the cooler chamber, and are disposed at a position lower than the floor surface,

the heat insulating wall is a bottom wall of the storage chamber 1 and a wall of the heat insulating box forming the machine chamber, and a vacuum heat insulating material is provided in the vicinity of a back surface of the heat insulating box in the wall of the heat insulating box forming the machine chamber,

a portion on an inlet side of the drain path is formed to penetrate the bottom wall of the 1 st storage chamber,

a portion of the water discharge path on an outlet side is formed so as to penetrate the wall portion of the heat insulation box forming the machine chamber,

the cross-sectional shape of the inlet of the drain path is an elliptical shape or an oblong shape,

the inlet side portion of the drainage path has a shape in which the cross-sectional area becomes smaller as it goes toward the downstream side and the center position of the cross-sectional area approaches the rear side,

the portion of the outlet side of the drain path is formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the portion of the inlet side,

the path heater is provided in the heat insulating wall in the bottom wall of the 1 st storage chamber, and heats a portion of the inlet side of the drain path.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1,

the drainage path has a wall surface extending in a vertical direction on the back surface side or a part of the back surface side in a plan view.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1,

the outlet of the drainage path has a depression angle of 7 ° or more with respect to a depth horizontal direction.

4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the drainage path is integrally formed with the water receiving portion.

5. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the refrigerator further includes a defrosting unit for melting the frost of the cooler by a heater or a high-temperature refrigerant.

6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

further comprises a water receiving pan disposed below the outlet in the machine chamber,

the water receiving pan is internally provided with a heating pipe.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 4,

8. The refrigerator according to claim 4,

the water receiving pan is internally provided with a heating pipe.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 5,

the water receiving pan is internally provided with a heating pipe.