WO2012001849A1

WO2012001849A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2012001849A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/002019
Authority: WO
Inventors: 愼一堀井; 利幸森内; 綾一小野
Original assignee: パナソニック株式会社
Priority date: 2010-07-02
Filing date: 2011-04-05
Publication date: 2012-01-05
Also published as: CN102959350B; CN102959350A; JP2012013352A; JP5625551B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising a cooling compartment (35) in an upper section, a freezing compartment (37) in a lower section, and a fan (46) which is arranged in an upper section of a cooler (44) and forcibly blows generated cold air to each compartment. The refrigerator is provided with a cooling compartment duct apparatus (80) comprising a cooling compartment ventilation duct (48a) for blowing cold air to the cooling compartment (35), and a cooling compartment return duct (51a) for returning cold air to the cooler. A cooling compartment duct member (81) in the cooling compartment duct apparatus (80) is sealed in the downward direction and the rearward direction by means of a seal reinforcement structure.

Description

refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools a plurality of storage rooms having different temperature zones by forcibly circulating cool air generated by a cooler.

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

As shown in FIG. 18, the cabinet 1 is a refrigerator composed of a heat insulating box 5 in which a heat insulating material 4 is filled between an inner box 2 and an outer box 3. The refrigerator has a refrigerator compartment 6, a storage room 7, and a freezer compartment 8 from the top. On the front side of the refrigerator, a refrigerator compartment opening / closing door 9, a greenhouse holding door 10, and a freezer compartment opening / closing door 11 are arranged.

The refrigerating room 6 and the storage room 7 are partitioned by a partition plate 12 having heat insulating performance. The warm room 7 and the freezer compartment 8 are partitioned by a partition plate 13 having heat insulation performance. A duct 14 connected to the freezer compartment 8 is installed in the back of the partition plate 13.

In the refrigerator compartment 6, a refrigerator compartment shelf for storing food and a refrigerator compartment case are arranged. In addition, a tube-on-sheet 15 (evaporator) is disposed on the back surface of the inner box 2 of the refrigerator compartment 6 in contact with the wall surface. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 6 is directly cooled by the tube on sheet 15. A cooler 16 is disposed on the back of the freezer compartment 8, and a fan 17 is disposed above the cooler 16.

Also, in the thermal storage room 7, a thermal storage case for storing food is stored. A duct 18 having a damper 19 inside is disposed behind the warming chamber 7.

About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below.

The cooling of the refrigerator compartment 6 is mainly performed by the tube on sheet 15. The tube-on-sheet 15 is in contact with the back surface of the inner box 5 of the refrigerator compartment 6, and the surface of the inner box 5 corresponding to the refrigerator compartment 6 functions as a cooling wall surface. With the above configuration, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 6 is cooled by natural cooling.

On the other hand, the freezer compartment 8 is cooled by forcibly circulating the cool air of the cooler 16 in the cooling compartment by the fan 17. The cold air circulated in the freezer compartment 8 returns to the cooler 16.

Furthermore, the cooling chamber 7 is cooled by the fan 17, part of the cold air flows into the duct 14 and circulates to the duct 18 at the back of the chamber 7. The cold air that has flowed into the duct 18 passes through the damper 19, is discharged into the storage room case, exchanges heat with the air in the storage room case, and then is sucked into the return duct to the cooler 16 on the back surface. Returned to

As described above, the refrigerating room 6 and the storage room 7 are divided into upper and lower portions by the partition plate 12. That is, a passage through which cool air flows is not formed between the refrigerator compartment 6 and the storage room 7. The refrigerator compartment 6 is cooled to an appropriate temperature by cooling the tube-on-sheet 15. The warming chamber 7 is cooled by circulating the latent heat of evaporation of the cooler 16 into the warming chamber 7 by the fan 17. Furthermore, the temperature in the temperature-retaining chamber 7 is controlled to be constant by detecting the temperature in the temperature-retaining chamber 7 and controlling the amount of cool air circulating with a damper. Thereby, it becomes possible to keep the temperature of the foodstuff in the heat storage room 7 constant, and the freshness of foodstuff can be improved (for example, refer patent document 1).

JP 2005-195293 A

However, in the above-described conventional configuration, no air path is formed in the refrigerator compartment 6, and the temperature difference inside the chamber tends to be large between a location close to and far from the tube-on-sheet 15.

Further, in order to uniformly cool the inside of the warming chamber 7, the inside of the duct 18 is divided into a plurality of passages so as to be diverged in various ways, and communicates with a plurality of outlets 20 provided on the top surface of the warming chamber 7 to cool air. It has a structure for discharging. Therefore, the structure of the duct 18 becomes complicated, the air path resistance in the duct 18 increases, and even if it is guided by the fan 17 from the cooler 16, a predetermined amount of cold air cannot be discharged to the thermal storage chamber 7, and an appropriate temperature cannot be secured. There was a fear.

Further, it is necessary to increase the air passage area in order to reduce the air passage resistance of the duct 18, and therefore, there is a possibility that the depth dimension of the thermal storage chamber 7 is reduced and the internal volume of the thermal storage chamber 7 is reduced.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and while simplifying the cooling air passage while configuring a duct having a cold air passage for cooling the refrigerator compartment on the back surface, ensuring an appropriate air flow, It aims at providing the refrigerator which has a duct apparatus which maintained the depth dimension and secured the internal volume.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention includes a partition that divides a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment into upper and lower parts, and a cooling compartment disposed behind the freezer compartment, and the cooling compartment Includes a cooler that generates cold air and a fan that is disposed above the cooler and forcibly blows the generated cold air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. A refrigerator having a refrigerator air duct that guides to the refrigerator compartment and a duct device having a refrigerator return duct for returning the cool air discharged into the refrigerator compartment to the refrigerator chamber, wherein the cool air in the duct is A seal reinforcing structure that reinforces the seal is provided at a seal connecting portion that connects and seals the duct device and another member so as not to leak outside.

Thereby, the duct device is intended to strengthen the seal connection portion with the partition wall and the inner box, and the risk of cold air passing through the duct from the seal connection portion of the duct formed in the duct device can be reduced to the outside. It is possible to improve the reliability around the duct device and to ensure an appropriate air volume to each storage room.

The refrigerator of the present invention has improved the seal connection part with the main body side of the duct device, thereby reducing the cool air in the duct from leaking to the outside, improving the cooling efficiency, and ensuring the reliability of the duct device. Can provide.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the main body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an air passage in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a first exploded view of the duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a second exploded view of the duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a third exploded view of the duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an essential part exploded view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a main part perspective view according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a main part schematic diagram according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the refrigerator compartment duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the refrigerator compartment duct device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a first perspective view of the refrigerating chamber according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerating room duct device attached in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a second perspective view in the refrigerator compartment according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a partition seal connecting portion according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

The first invention is a refrigerator in the upper part, a freezer room in the lower part, a cooler that generates cold air behind the freezer room, and the generated cool air that is arranged in the upper part of the cooler is forcibly blown to each room A cooling chamber having a cooling chamber, a duct having a cooling chamber air duct that blows cool air to the refrigerating chamber by the fan, and a refrigerating chamber return duct that returns the cool air discharged into the refrigerating chamber to the cooler In the refrigerator provided with a device, the duct portion constituted by the duct device, the duct device and the peripheral member, and the seal connecting portion between the duct device and the partition body are provided with a seal reinforcing structure, thereby providing the inside of the duct device. The risk of cold air passing through the duct from the seal connection part of the formed duct can be reduced, and even when functional parts are embedded inside the duct device, the cold air from the seal connection part to the outside Le can be reduced, the reliability of the peripheral duct system improves, it is possible to secure a proper amount of air into the storage rooms.

In the refrigerator according to the first aspect of the invention, in the refrigerator according to the first aspect, the duct device vertical position stabilizing structure is provided on the back surface of the duct device, so that the vertical position when the duct device is installed and installed can be suppressed and stabilized. Therefore, the sealing performance of the seal joint portion is improved, and cold air leakage to the outside can be suppressed.

3rd invention is the refrigerator of 1st invention. WHEREIN: Since the fitting part between the members of the seal | sticker connection part comprised by multiple members was comprised by the zigzag, the clearance gap between the member junction parts which generate | occur | produces by component dispersion | variation Further, by preventing the cold air from leaking to the outside of the cold air flow duct, it is possible to improve the sealing performance of the seal joint portion and further reduce the cold air leakage to the outside.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the seal portion structure that requires connection of the seal portions is different in that the two seal portions are wrapped in parallel to increase the creepage distance. By suppressing the generation of a gap in the switching joint portion of the joint structure, the sealing performance of the seal joint portion can be secured, and cold air leakage to the outside can be suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the first aspect, in the seal connection portion between the duct device and the inner box, a step is provided in the seal connection portion of the inner box and emphasized from the peripheral portion. The accuracy of the jig pressing can be improved, the flatness of the sealing surface can be ensured, and the leakage of cold air to the outside can be further reduced by improving the sealing performance.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the conventional example or the embodiment described above may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof may be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a main body according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an air path according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 4 is a first exploded view of the duct device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a second exploded view of the duct device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a third exploded view of the duct device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the duct device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a main part perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a main part schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the refrigerator compartment duct apparatus in the form 1, FIG. 13 is embodiment of this invention FIG. 14 is a first perspective view of the refrigerator compartment according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view when the refrigerator compartment device is attached according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 17 is a second perspective view in the refrigerator compartment according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the partition seal connecting portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a heat insulating box 31 of a refrigerator 30 includes an outer box 32 mainly using a steel plate and an inner box 33 formed of a resin such as ABS, and a foam insulating material such as hard foamed urethane is contained therein. 34 is filled. The refrigerator 30 is insulated from the surroundings by the heat insulating box 31. The heat insulating box 31 is divided into a plurality of storage rooms. Among the plurality of storage rooms, the one disposed at the uppermost part functions as the refrigeration room 35, and the storage room disposed at the lower part of the refrigeration room 35 functions as the switching room 36 and is disposed at the lowermost part. Functions as the freezer compartment 37.

The refrigerator compartment door 38 opens and closes the front opening of the refrigerating room 35, the switching room door 39 opens the front opening of the switching room 36, and the freezing room door 40 opens and closes the front opening of the freezing room 37. It is freely pivoted.

The refrigerator compartment 35 is usually set to a temperature range of 1 ° C to 5 ° C with the lower limit of the temperature at which it does not freeze for refrigerated storage. The switching chamber 36 can be switched from a freezing temperature zone to a refrigeration temperature zone, and can be set from −18 to 4 ° C. at 1 ° C. intervals. The freezer compartment 37 is set in a freezing temperature zone, and is usually set in a temperature range of −22 ° C. to −15 ° C. for frozen storage. In order to improve the frozen storage state, the temperature may be set to a low temperature range of, for example, −30 ° C. or −25 ° C.

Further, the switching chamber 36 and the freezing chamber 37 are vertically partitioned by a first partition wall 41 that is a partition, and the refrigerator compartment 35 and the switching chamber 36 are vertically partitioned by a second partition wall 42 that is a partition. .

Further, a cooling chamber 43 for generating cold air is provided on the back of the freezing chamber 37. A cooler 44 is disposed inside the cooling chamber 43. The cooling chamber 43 is insulated from the freezing chamber 37 by a cover 45. Above the cooler 44, a fan 46 that forcibly blows the cool air generated by the cooler 44 is disposed. Below the cooler 44, a defrost heater 47 that defrosts frost and ice adhering to the cooler 44 is provided. The defrost heater 47 is specifically a glass tube heater or the like. In particular, when the refrigerant is a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant gas, a double glass tube heater in which glass tubes are formed in a double manner is employed as the defrost heater 47 for explosion prevention. The cover 45 is formed of a resin decorative plate 45a and an inscover 45b in which a holding portion of the fan 46 and a cool air passage are formed by a heat insulating material such as a styrene material.

In addition, on the back surface of the switching chamber 36, a refrigerating chamber 35 and a duct device 49 having a blower duct 48 for blowing cool air to the switching chamber 36 are provided. The air duct 48 includes a refrigerating room air duct 48 a that sends cool air to the refrigerating room 35 and a switching room air duct 48 b that blows cold air to the switching room 36. The refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b are respectively arranged in the duct device 49 so as to be arranged side by side in the left and right directions and vertically. A damper device 50 is embedded in the duct device 49 to adjust the amount of cold air to the refrigerator compartment 35 and the switching chamber 36. The damper device 50 is disposed in each of the refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b, and separately controls the amount of cold air passing through the refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b. Yes.

Further, the cold air discharged from the discharge port 35a of the refrigerating chamber 35 through the refrigerating chamber air duct 48a returns to the cooler 44 through the refrigerating chamber return duct 51a from the return port 35b provided in the lower back surface of the refrigerating chamber 35. The cold air discharged to the switching chamber 36 through the switching chamber air duct 48b returns to the cooler 44 from the switching chamber return port 36c provided in the lower part of the duct device through the switching chamber return duct 51b on the back surface of the switching chamber 36. To do.

The refrigerator compartment return duct 51a is arranged side by side with the air duct 48. The duct device 49 includes three ducts that extend in the vertical direction and are arranged side by side: a refrigerating room air duct 48a, a switching room air duct 48b, and a refrigerating room return duct 51a. The switching chamber return duct 51b is arranged next to the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a in the front-rear positional relationship, and the switching chamber return duct 51b is arranged in front of the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a.

The duct device 49 is formed to have a large back surface height and left and right width dimensions. The refrigerating room air duct 48 a and the switching room air duct 48 b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction in the left-right width direction of the switching room 36, that is, in the substantially central portion in the width direction of the duct device 49. The refrigerating room return duct 51a and the switching room return duct 51b are collectively arranged on one side of a duct device 49 centering on the refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b.

The duct device 49 includes two parts, an upper duct member 49a formed of foamed polystyrene and a lower duct member 49b formed of foamed polystyrene, and is made of a resin that integrally covers the front surfaces of the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b. A duct decorative plate 49c. The lower surface portion of the upper duct member 49a and the upper surface portion of the lower duct member 49b are connected in the vertical direction. The connection surface between the lower surface portion of the upper duct member 49a and the upper surface portion of the lower duct member 49b is sealed. The front surfaces of the connected upper duct member 49a and lower duct member 49b are entirely covered with a duct decorative plate 49c. Therefore, the refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b penetrating through the duct device 49 constitute a duct wall surface by connecting the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b.

The damper device 50 is embedded in the lower duct member 49b. Specifically, the damper device frame 50a of the damper device 50 is embedded so as to be positioned below the connection surface portion 49d of the lower duct member 49b that serves as a connection surface with the upper duct member 49a.

Further, a wiring storage portion 52 and a recess 56 are provided on the other side of the refrigerating chamber return duct 51a and the switching chamber return duct 51b of the duct device 49 centering on the refrigerating chamber air duct 48a and the switching chamber air duct 48b. Yes. The wiring storage part 52 is a part that stores wiring and connectors of the damper device 50. The concave portion 56 is a portion in which a water supply pipe 55 that connects a water supply tank 53 of an automatic ice making device disposed in the refrigerator compartment 35 and an ice tray 54 disposed in the freezer compartment 37 is accommodated.

Specifically, the wiring storage portion 52 is formed in a stepped portion 74 formed between the upper duct member 49a or the lower duct member 49b and the duct decorative plate 49c. The wiring storage portion 52 is formed across the seal connection surface portion 49d between the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b. The wiring storage portion 52 is formed in the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b in the forward direction, leaving a recess 56 for storing the water supply pipe 55. The outer peripheries of the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b are inclined so that the cross section of the connecting portion increases toward the seal connecting portion 49d.

Specifically, the side surface portion of the upper duct member 49a is formed with a gradient shape (taper) in which the distance between the opposing surfaces from the upper surface portion toward the lower surface portion gradually increases. Further, the side surface portion of the lower duct member 49b is formed with a gradient shape (taper) in which the interval between the opposed surfaces from the lower surface portion toward the upper surface portion gradually increases. For this reason, the seal area of the seal connecting portion 49d can be increased, and the sealing performance of the seal connecting portion 49d can be further improved. Therefore, the cold air leakage to the outside can be further reduced.

Further, a stepped portion 74 is easily secured between the seal connecting portion 49d and the duct decorative plate 49c, and a concave portion formed from the outside to the inside over the upper duct member 49a and the lower duct member 49b formed of styrene material. The wiring storage portion 52 can be used. As a result, the invalid space of the duct device can be effectively used as the wiring storage portion 52, water intrusion of the electrical wiring can be prevented, and the effective internal volume of the switching chamber 36 can be improved.

Further, the switching chamber 36 is provided with an upper drawer case 69 whose upper surface is open and a lower drawer case 70 whose upper surface is open so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The upper discharge port 36 a that discharges cold air to the switching chamber 36 is disposed above the upper surface opening 69 a of the upper drawer case 69. The lower discharge port 36 b that opens to the duct device 49 and discharges cool air to the switching chamber 36 is disposed above the upper surface opening 70 a of the lower drawer case 70 and between the bottom surface 69 b of the upper drawer case 69. .

Alternatively, the upper drawer case 69 may be configured such that the back wall 69c is inclined in the forward direction of the lower drawer case 70, and the lower discharge port 36b is disposed at a position facing the back wall 69c. Thus, the back wall 69c serves as a guide plate for cool air discharged from the lower discharge port 36b, and the cool air can be guided into the lower drawer case 70.

Further, the connection surface portion 49d of the lower duct member 49b, which is the connection surface with the upper duct member 49a, is disposed below the upper surface opening 70a of the lower drawer case 70 and above the bottom surface portion 70b. The duct device 49 is configured, and the connection surface portion 49 d is disposed at a position corresponding to the back wall 70 c of the lower drawer case 70.

Further, an aluminum foil heater 57 is attached to the duct surface in the refrigerating room return duct 51a adjacent to the switching room return duct 51b of the duct device 49. When the switching chamber 36 is set to a refrigeration temperature zone where the temperature is lower than the refrigeration temperature zone, or when the switching chamber 36 is at a low outside air temperature, the energization of the aluminum foil heater 57 is controlled. This is because the cold air passing through the refrigerating chamber return duct 51a is moisture after circulating through the refrigerating chamber 35, and thus contains moisture. The cold air passing through the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a has a higher temperature than the cold air led to the switching chamber return duct 51b. For this reason, there exists a possibility that the inner surface of the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a may condense or freeze. As described above, the aluminum foil heater 57 can be energized to prevent freezing.

The first partition wall 41 connected to the lower surface portion of the duct device 49 is provided with a refrigeration chamber return communication port 58 that communicates with the refrigeration chamber return duct 51a, and a switching chamber return communication port 59 that communicates with the switching chamber return duct 51b. Is provided. The refrigerating room return communication port 58 and the switching room return communication port 59 are opened in a front-rear state, the switching room return communication port 59 is disposed on the front side, and the refrigerating room return communication port 58 is provided on the rear side. Has been placed. The refrigerator compartment return communication port 58 and the switching chamber return communication port 59 communicate with the cooling chamber 43. The first partition wall 41 is assembled at a predetermined position before foaming of the heat insulating box 31, and the urethane filled in the heat insulating box 31 is also used for fixing the first partition wall 41 to enhance the heat insulating performance of the refrigerator. Yes.

Specifically, the first partition wall 41 covers a first partition wall 41a formed of foamed polystyrene, a first upper surface partition cover 41b that covers the upper surface of the first partition wall 41a, and a lower surface of the first partition wall 41a. It is comprised with the 1st lower surface division cover 41c. The first partition wall 41 is fixed to the heat insulating box 31 by filling urethane between the first upper surface partition cover 41b and the first lower surface partition cover 41c. Also, an aluminum foil heater 41d is affixed to the upper surface of the first partition wall 41. When the switching chamber 36 is set to a refrigeration temperature zone, the aluminum foil heater 41d is energized to achieve an appropriate temperature.

The cover 45 is provided side by side with the cooler 44, and a cool air return passage 71 partitioned by the cooler 44, the partition member 75, and the back wall of the cooling chamber 43 is formed. Cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment return communication port 58 and the switching chamber return communication port 59 of the first partition wall 41 is introduced into the cold air return passage 71.

The cold air return passage 71 is formed on the side of the cooler 44 by a partition member 75. On the upstream side of the cold air return passage 71, a branch duct 76 is arranged that is sealed and communicated with the first partition wall 41 and divides the cold chamber return cold air and the switching chamber return cold air so as not to merge. Specifically, a diversion duct 76 connected to the switching chamber return communication port 59 is formed so as to divert the switching chamber return cold air from the refrigeration chamber return cold air. In addition, the shunt duct 76 is formed only on the upstream side, and the cold room return cold air and the switching room return cold air are merged from the middle.

This is because when the cold air that has passed through the switching chamber return duct 51 b and the cold air that has passed through the cold room return duct 51 a merge through the cold air return passage 71, the first compartment wall 41 is switched to the cold room return communication port 58. Cold air flows backward through the room return communication port 59, and the cold room return cold air having a temperature higher than that of the switching room return cold air rises through the switching room return communication port 59 and flows back from the switching room return port 36c to the switching room 36. This is because the switching chamber 36 cannot be efficiently cooled to an appropriate temperature and causes condensation.

Therefore, cold air is divided into the upstream portion of the cold air return passage 71 so as not to be mixed. Therefore, in the shunt duct 76, the cold air that has passed through the refrigerating room return duct 51a does not flow downward, flows back to the switching chamber return communication port 59, and flows back into the switching chamber 36 from the switching chamber return port 36c of the duct device 49. It functions as a trap that prevents air flow and acts as a backflow prevention duct.

The shunt duct 76 is formed only in the upstream portion in order to secure the opening area of the return passage 71. However, if the opening area on the downstream side of the return passage 71 can be secured, it may be formed to extend to the downstream portion. .

Further, a cold air return port 77 through which the cold air passing through the cold air return passage 71 returns to the lower part of the cooler 44 is provided. That is, the cold air return port 77 is configured to open to the lower end portion 75 a of the partition member 75. The defrosting heater 47 disposed substantially horizontally below the cooler 44 has a projection surface at the end thereof, protrudes from one end of the cooler 44, passes through the cool air return port 77, and enters the cool air return passage 71. It is arranged to extend.

Thus, it is possible to prevent the chilled air in the cold air return passage 71 from being cooled by the cold air in the cooler 44 or the freezer compartment and freezing in the cold air return passage 71.

Also, the cover 45 is provided with a fan 46 and a cold air discharge port 72 for sending cold air to the refrigerator compartment 35 and the switching chamber 36. A cold air discharge port 72 is formed between the fan 46 and the cold air return passage 71. A partition member 75 is formed between the cold air discharge port 72 and the cold air return passage 71.

Next, the refrigerator compartment 35 will be described.

The refrigerator compartment 35 is divided into a plurality of compartments by a plurality of shelves 61 up and down. The refrigerating room air duct 48 a configured on the back surface of the refrigerating room 35 is formed in the vertical direction behind the plurality of shelves 61. On the back surface of the refrigerator compartment 35, a refrigerator compartment outlet 62 that opens corresponding to each shelf 61 is formed. The refrigerating room air duct 48a may include a branch path 63 that branches left and right in the space of the refrigerating room 35. By providing the branch path 63, the temperature distribution in the width direction of the space of the refrigerator compartment 35 can be made uniform.

The refrigerator compartment duct device 80 is disposed on the back surface of the refrigerator compartment 35, and the refrigerator compartment duct device 80 and the inner box 2 form an air path for the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator compartment duct device 80 is coupled to a second partition wall 42 that divides the refrigerator compartment 35 and the switching chamber 36 in the vertical direction, and discharges cold air from the refrigerator compartment 43 through the duct device 49 of the switching chamber 36. The return cold air is circulated to the temperature zone of the refrigerator compartment 35.

The refrigerator compartment duct device 80 is formed of a refrigerator compartment duct member 81 made of foamed polystyrene and a resin refrigerator compartment duct decorative plate 86 that covers the front surface of the refrigerator compartment duct member 81, and a seal portion of the refrigerator compartment duct device 80. A seal foam member 82 is attached.

In addition, the lower surface portion and the rear surface portion of the refrigerator compartment duct member 81 are sealed to the partition wall duct member 87, the partition wall plate member 88, and the foam member seal surface 84 of the inner box 2, which are the upper surface portions of the second partition wall 42. By closely contacting the member 82 in a compressed state, a seal reinforcing structure (seal reinforcing structure) is formed at the seal connecting portion of the refrigerator compartment duct device 80. With the above-described seal reinforcement structure, the refrigerator compartment duct member 81 is sealed and connected in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. Further, the refrigerator compartment pressure welding seal portion 83 a on the back surface of the refrigerator compartment duct member 81 is sealed and connected to the inner case pressure welding seal portion 83 b of the inner box 2. The front surface of the refrigerator compartment duct member 81 is covered with a refrigerator compartment duct decorative plate 86.

The lower surface portion of the refrigerator compartment duct device 80 is fixed to a duct device fixing portion 89 by a hook-shaped hook fixing provided at the front. Thereby, the adhesiveness of the refrigerator compartment duct apparatus 80 and the 2nd division wall 42 is ensured. Moreover, the position of the back side of the lower surface part of the refrigerator compartment duct apparatus 80 may not be stabilized only by fixing the duct apparatus fixing part 89. Thereby, the sealing property of the junction part of the lower surface part back side of the refrigerator compartment duct apparatus 80 and the partition wall board member 88 may become unstable.

Here, a floating prevention portion 85 that is formed integrally with the inner box 2 and stabilizes the vertical position of the refrigerator compartment duct device 80 is provided. By joining the floating prevention portion 85 and the refrigerator compartment duct member 81, the lower surface portion of the refrigerator compartment duct device 80 does not rise and the position of the joint portion is stabilized. Therefore, the sealing performance between the refrigerator compartment duct device 80 and the box 2 can be improved, and the leakage of cold air to the outside can be reliably prevented. The floating prevention portion 85 is disposed in the vicinity of the seal portion.

The connecting portion of the partition wall duct member 87 and the partition wall plate member 88 forming the refrigerating chamber air duct 48a of the second partition wall 42 is not brought into contact with a straight surface, but as shown in FIG. By causing the fitting portion between the members to contact with each other on the surface of the stepped portion shape, it is possible to suppress a gap generated due to component variation between the contact surfaces of the partition wall duct member 87 and the partition wall plate member 88. Further, by increasing the contact area between the components, the cold air leaking out of the duct can be more reliably blocked, and the sealing performance can be ensured.

In order to make the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 35 uniform, the shape of the refrigerating chamber duct pressure seal portion 83a of the refrigerating chamber duct member 81 is uneven. Cold air is discharged so as to wrap up the entire refrigerator compartment due to the uneven shape of the pressure-contact seal portion 83a. Refrigeration chamber duct pressure contact seal portion 83a and seal foam member 82 for sealing structure foam member seal portion 84 switching is not connected on the same line, but each seal portion is arranged in parallel and then switched by wrapping in parallel. A sufficient contact distance can be ensured between parts, and variations in parts and assembly can be absorbed, so that the sealing performance can be improved.

Further, by providing a step in the inner box pressure contact seal portion 83b of the inner box 2, it can be emphasized that the surface is different from the peripheral portion, and it is easy to ensure the planar accuracy of the seal portion during molding. . Thereby, the sealing performance by contact with the refrigerator compartment duct pressure seal part 83a can be improved.

Note that each of the various structures described above is a seal reinforcement structure. In the present embodiment, the seal reinforcing structure has been described by the form of the cold room duct device 80 disposed in the back of the cold room and the portion of the inner box 2 corresponding to the cold room duct device 80, but the structure is not limited to this. Absent. You may use the said seal reinforcement structure in the back part of a switching chamber.

Also, a vegetable room 64 is formed in the lower part of the refrigerator room 35. The vegetable compartment 64 has an open / close lid 64a on the front surface and a vegetable case 64b that can be pulled out in the front-rear direction. In addition to this configuration, the vegetable compartment 64 may include a box case 65 having an opening on the upper surface and sealed with an upper surface lid.

Moreover, although the vegetable compartment 64 may be formed according to the full width dimension of the refrigerator compartment 35, in the case of a present Example, the vegetable compartment 64 is formed in the dimension smaller than the full width dimension of the refrigerator compartment 35. FIG. A water supply tank 53 for storing water for automatic ice making is detachably stored next to the vegetable compartment 64. A water supply pipe 55 connected to the water supply tank 53 extends from the refrigerator compartment 35 to the freezer compartment 37 through the switching chamber 36. The water in the water supply tank 53 is sucked up by a motor (not shown) and guided into the water supply pipe 55.

The switching chamber 36 can be set in a freezing temperature zone, and there is a possibility that water in the water supply pipe 55 arranged in the vicinity will freeze. For this reason, a freezing prevention heater (not shown) is wound around the outer periphery of the water supply pipe 55. Further, since the water supply pipe 55 is disposed between the inner box 33 and the duct device 49, the water supply pipe 55 is embedded in a concave portion 56 formed on the back surface of the duct device 49 so as to insulate the switching chamber 36. Yes. Further, the wiring storage portion 52 that stores the wiring and connectors of the damper device 50 may be stored by providing the storage portion 52 on the back surface of the duct device 49.

By forming the concave portion 56 and the wiring storage portion 52, the storage space in the front-rear direction necessary for the water supply pipe 55 and wiring can be reduced, and the internal volume of the switching chamber 36 can be secured. Moreover, the recessed part 56 and the wiring accommodating part 52 are comprised by the other side so that it may not wrap to the part in which the refrigerator compartment ventilation duct 48a of the duct apparatus 49, the switching chamber ventilation duct 48b, and the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a are formed. Therefore, it prevents the heat insulation from being impaired.

In the outer box 32, a control board 66 for controlling the entire refrigerator 30 is disposed at a position corresponding to the back surface of the switching chamber 36.

A refrigerator temperature sensor 67 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 35 is installed in the refrigerator compartment return port 35b, and a switching chamber temperature sensor 68 for detecting the temperature of the switching chamber 36 is installed in the switching chamber return port 36c. .

About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

A part of the cold air generated by the cooler 44 in the cooling chamber 43 is forcibly blown forward by the fan 46. The freezer compartment 37 is cooled by the cold air discharged from the discharge port of the cover 45. The cold air is led to the lower part of the cooler 44 through a return port opened at the lower part of the cover 45, heat exchange is performed by the cooler 44, and fresh cold air is again circulated by the fan 46. As a result, the freezer compartment 37 is cooled to an appropriate temperature under the control of a freezer sensor (not shown).

Further, the cold air discharged above the fan 46 is guided to the duct device 49 from the cold air discharge port 72 of the cover 45 through the communication hole of the first partition wall 41. When the room temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 67, the refrigerating room damper 50a of the damper device 50 is opened so that the cold air discharged to the refrigerating room 35 passes through the refrigerating room air duct 48a. Is discharged from the discharge port 35a to cool the room. The circulated cold air is converted into air in the refrigerator compartment 35 or humid air contained in the stored product, and is led to the return port 35b. Then, the cold air passes through the cold air return passage 71 constituted by the cover 45 and the back wall of the cooling chamber 43 through the cold room return duct 51 a of the duct device 49. Next, the cool air is led from the cool air return port 77 to the lower part of the cooler 44 and exchanges heat with the cooler 44, and fresh cool air is forcibly blown by the fan again.

The fan 46 forcibly blows cold air to the refrigerating room air duct 48 a communicating with the cooler 44, discharges the cold air to the refrigerating room 35 through the refrigerating room air duct 48 a in the duct device 49, and the refrigerating room temperature sensor 67 Since the opening and closing of the refrigerator compartment damper 50a is controlled, the interior of the refrigerator compartment 35 can be controlled to the set temperature even at a position away from the cooler 44.

Further, when the room temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature by the switching room temperature sensor 68, the switching room damper 50b of the damper device 50 is opened and provided at a position higher than the upper surface opening of the upper drawer case 69 through the switching room air duct 48b. Cold air is discharged from the discharge port 36 a of the switching chamber into the switching chamber 36, and the cold air is guided into the upper drawer case 69. Cold air is also discharged from the discharge port 36b provided at a position higher than the upper surface opening of the lower drawer case 70, and the back wall of the upper drawer case 69 acts as a guide for regulating the flow of cold air, thereby lowering the inside of the lower drawer case 70. Introduce cold air. The cold air circulated in the switching chamber 36 is guided to the return port 36 c, passes through the switching chamber return duct 51 b, passes through the switching chamber return communication port 59, passes through the shunt duct 76 formed in the cover 45, and returns to the cold air return port 77. To the lower part of the cooler 44 to exchange heat with the cooler 44, and the cold air after the heat exchange is forcibly blown by the fan again.

The fan 46 forcibly blows cool air to the switching chamber air duct 48 b communicating with the cooler 44 to discharge the cool air to the switching chamber 36 through the duct device 49, and the switching chamber temperature sensor 68 opens and closes the switching chamber damper 50 b. Therefore, even in the position away from the cooler 44, the interior of the switching chamber 36 can be controlled to the set temperature.

In the duct device 49, a refrigerating room air duct 48a, a switching room air duct 48b, and a refrigerating room return duct 51a extend in the vertical direction and are arranged side by side. The switching room return duct 51b is disposed in front of the refrigerating room return duct 51a. Is formed.

Accordingly, the refrigerating room air duct 48a and the switching room air duct 48b are arranged at substantially the center position in the width direction of the duct device 49, and the refrigerating room return duct 51a and the switching room return duct 51b are disposed on one side with respect to the heat insulating box 31. Since it is arranged in the front-rear direction, the water supply pipe 55 connected to the water supply tank 53 and the wiring storage part 52 are arranged on the other side, so the distance between the duct device 49 that becomes an invalid space behind the switching chamber 36 and the inner box 33 is set. The depth of the switching chamber 36 can be secured large.

In addition, since the refrigeration chamber air duct 48a is formed in a substantially vertical direction from the inside of the duct device 49 of the switching chamber 36 to the branch path 63 in the refrigeration chamber 35, the air path resistance in the duct is reduced and the refrigeration is performed. The air volume to the chamber 35 can be secured.

Also, the foam insulating material 34 is filled so that the first partition wall 41 and the second partition wall 42 are formed in the heat insulating box 31, and then the switching chamber between the first partition wall 41 and the second partition wall 42. By arranging the duct device 49 on the back surface of 36, the duct configuration of the switching chamber 36 can be easily formed.

The switching chamber 36 can switch the set temperature from a freezing temperature zone of −18 ° C. to a refrigeration temperature zone of 4 ° C. This can be realized by controlling the opening rate of the switching chamber damper 50b according to the set temperature.

In particular, when the set temperature of the switching chamber 36 is set to a temperature range lower than the refrigeration temperature, the cool air discharged from the

discharge ports

36a and 36b of the switching chamber is guided into the switching chamber return duct 51b through the return port 36c. It is burned. Since the cold air passing through the refrigerating room return duct 51a has a higher temperature than the cold air passing through the switching room return duct 51b, condensation may occur on the duct surface of the refrigerating room return duct 51a. May freeze. Further, there is a possibility that the condensed water flows in the refrigerating room return duct 51 a and freezes in the return passage 71. For this reason, the dew condensation water generated by heating with the aluminum foil heater 57 attached to the refrigerating room return duct 51a can be evaporated and freezing in the duct can be prevented.

Further, by dividing the cold air by the diverting duct 76 in the upstream portion of the cold air return passage 71 so as not to be mixed, the cold air that has passed through the refrigerating room return duct 51a does not flow downward but flows back to the switching room return communication port 59. The trap function for preventing the reverse flow from the switching chamber return port 36c of the duct device 49 into the switching chamber 36 can be exhibited, acting as a backflow prevention duct, and the cold room return cold air is switched through the switching chamber return communication port 59. Backflow from the chamber return port 36c to the switching chamber 36 can be prevented, the switching chamber 36 can be efficiently cooled to an appropriate temperature, and condensation can be prevented.

Moreover, since the edge part of the defrost heater 47 is a projection surface, it protrudes from the one end part of the cooler 44, passes through the inside of the cold air return port 77 and extends into the cold air return passage 71, and therefore, at the time of defrosting. Since the inside of the return passage 71 can be heated by heater heat, condensation and freezing can be improved and prevented, and reliability can be enhanced.

The refrigerating room return duct 51a and the switching room return duct 51b communicate with the lower part of the cooler 44 through the freezing room 37 region having a temperature range lower than that of the switching room 36 and the refrigerating room 35. If the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a having the highest return cold air temperature is arranged at a position away from the freezer compartment 37, the inside of the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a is cooled to cause dew condensation, and further, the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a may be frozen. Can be reduced.

Therefore, the switching chamber return duct 51b of the switching chamber 36 that can be set from a temperature close to the temperature of the freezer compartment 37 to a temperature close to the refrigerator compartment temperature is disposed in front of the refrigerator compartment return duct 51a, so that the inside of the refrigerator compartment feedback duct 51a is arranged. Condensation and freezing can be reduced.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can also be applied to household or commercial refrigerators.

30 Refrigerator 35 Refrigeration room 36 Switching room 37 Freezing room 41 First partition wall 44 Cooler 45 Cover 46 Fan 47 Defrosting heater 48 Air duct 48a Refrigeration room air duct 48b Switching room air duct 49 Duct device 50 Damper device 51a Return to refrigeration room Duct 51b Switching chamber return duct 58 Refrigeration chamber return communication port 59 Switching chamber return communication port 71 Return passage 76 Dividing duct 80 Refrigeration chamber duct device 81 Refrigeration chamber duct member 82 Seal foam member 83a Refrigeration chamber duct pressure seal part 83b Inner box pressure seal Part 84 foam member seal part 85 floating prevention part 86 refrigerator compartment duct decorative plate 87 partition wall duct member 88 partition wall plate member 89 duct device fixing part

Claims

A partition that divides the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment into upper and lower parts, a cooling compartment disposed behind the freezer compartment, a cooler that generates cool air in the cooler compartment, and an upper part of the cooler A fan that forcibly blows the generated and cooled air to the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is housed, a refrigerator air duct that guides the cool air blown by the fan to the refrigerator compartment, and the refrigerator compartment A refrigerator having a duct device having a refrigerating chamber return duct for returning discharged cold air to the cooling chamber,
A refrigerator comprising a seal reinforcing structure that reinforces a seal at a seal connecting portion that connects and seals the duct device and another member so that cold air in the duct does not leak to the outside.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the seal reinforcing structure is a vertical position stabilization structure that is provided on a back surface of the duct device and stabilizes the duct device at a vertical position.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the seal reinforcing structure has a structure in which a fitting portion between members of a seal connecting portion constituted by a plurality of members is formed in a stepped portion shape.
The said seal reinforcement structure is a structure which wraps the seal connection part using a sealing member and the seal connection part by press contact in parallel in the seal connection part of a duct apparatus and an inner box. refrigerator.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the seal reinforcing structure is a structure in which a step portion is provided in the seal connection portion of the inner box in the seal connection portion of the duct device and the inner box.