U.S. patent application number 14/385123 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for refrigerator and operating method thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD, HAIER GROUP CORPORATION, QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jyunichi Kubota, Hiroshi Tajima.
Application Number | 20150033773 14/385123 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49258220 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150033773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tajima; Hiroshi ; et
al. |
February 5, 2015 |
REFRIGERATOR AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
A refrigerator, where warm air is prevented from flowing into a
storage chamber during defrosting or when cooling starts, heat
transfer from a cooling chamber to the storage chamber is
prevented, and the temperature rise in the storage chamber is
constrained to a low level. A separator is used to divide a part of
an air supply passage, to form a space portion in communication
with a cooling chamber through an air supply opening portion. A
first freely controllable opening portion is disposed in a
separating area between the space portion and the divided air
supply passage, and a second freely controllable opening portion is
disposed in a separating area between the space portion and an air
return passage or the cooling chamber. By setting the first and
second opening portions in closed and open states, respectively, a
condenser performs cooling and an air blower supplies air.
Inventors: |
Tajima; Hiroshi; (Osaka-shi,
JP) ; Kubota; Jyunichi; (Osaka-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HAIER GROUP CORPORATION
HAIER ASIA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
QINGDAO HAIER JOINT STOCK CO., LTD. |
Qingdao, Shandong
Gunma
Qingdao, Shandong |
|
CN
JP
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
49258220 |
Appl. No.: |
14/385123 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
March 26, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2013/073215 |
371 Date: |
September 12, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/80 ; 62/407;
62/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/045 20130101;
F25D 17/065 20130101; F25D 21/06 20130101; F25D 21/08 20130101;
F25D 17/04 20130101; F25D 11/00 20130101; F25D 2317/067
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/80 ; 62/407;
62/89 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00; F25D 17/04 20060101 F25D017/04; F25D 21/06 20060101
F25D021/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2012 |
JP |
2012-069008 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage compartment; a supply air
passage, adapted for enabling air to flow into the storage
compartment; a return air passage, adapted for enabling the air
from the storage compartment to flow through; a cooling
compartment, having an air supply opening portion adapted for
enabling the air to flow out from the supply air passage and a
return air opening portion for enabling the air from the return air
passage to flow in; a condenser, disposed inside the cooling
compartment adapted for cooling the air that flows in from the
return air opening portion; and an air supply device, disposed on
the air supply opening portion, wherein, in the refrigerator, the
exterior of the cooling compartment comprises: a separator, at
least dividing a part of the supply air passage to form a space
portion, the space portion being connected to the cooling
compartment through the air supply opening portion; a freely
controllable first opening portion, disposed in a separating region
between the space portion and the divided supply air passage; and a
freely controllable second opening portion, disposed in a
separating region between the space portion and the return air
passage or between the space portion and the cooling
compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage
compartment is at least divided into a refrigerator compartment and
a freezer compartment, and the supply air passage is at least
provided with a freezer supply air passage used for enabling the
air to flow to the freezer compartment; the separator is configured
to divide the freezer supply air passage and the idle portion; and
the first opening portion is through enabled to be in a closed
state, and the second opening portion is enabled to be in an open
state, so that the space portion becomes an air path used for the
air that flows out from the air supply opening portion of the
cooling compartment to flow from the return air opening portion to
the cooling compartment.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the supply air
passage is provided with a refrigerator supply air passage for
enabling the air to flow to the refrigerator compartment; and the
refrigerator supply air passage is connected to the space portion,
and an air passage control device is provided in the refrigerator
supply air passage.
4. A operating method of a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator
comprises: a storage compartment; a supply air passage, adapted for
enabling air to flow into the storage compartment; a return air
passage, adapted for enabling the air from the storage compartment
to flow through; a cooling compartment, having an air supply
opening portion adapted for enabling the air to flow out from the
supply air passage and a return air opening portion used for
enabling the air from the return air passage to flow in; a
condenser, disposed inside the cooling compartment, and used for
cooling the air that flows in from the return air opening portion;
and an air supply device, disposed on the air supply opening
portion, wherein, in the refrigerator, the exterior of the cooling
compartment comprises: a separator, at least dividing a part of the
supply air passage to form a space portion, the space portion being
connected to the cooling compartment through the air supply opening
portion; a freely controllable first opening portion, disposed in a
separating region between the space portion and the divided supply
air passage; and a freely controllable second opening portion,
disposed in a separating region between the space portion and the
return air passage or between the space portion and the cooling
compartment; and wherein, in operation, the first opening portion
is set to a closed state, the second opening portion is set to an
open state, the space portion is used as an air path for
circulation of the air to the cooling compartment, the condenser
performs cooling, and the air supply device supplies air, so as to
adjust the temperature of the air inside the space portion and the
cooling compartment.
5. The operating method of the refrigerator according to claim 4,
wherein after the temperature of the air inside the space portion
and the cooling compartment are adjusted, the first opening portion
is set to an open state, the second opening portion is set to a
closed state, and the supply air passage provides the air that
undergoes the adjustment of temperature to the storage
compartment.
6. The operating method of the refrigerator according to claim 5,
wherein the refrigerator is provided with a defrosting unit for
defrosting the cooling compartment; and the first opening portion
and the second opening portion are both set to a closed state, the
defrosting unit performs defrosting, and after the defrosting
stops, the second opening portion is set to an open state, so as to
adjust the temperature of the air inside the space portion and the
cooling compartment.
7. The operating method of the refrigerator according to claim 4,
wherein, in the refrigerator, the storage compartment is at least
divided into a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment,
the supply air passage is at least provided with: a freezer supply
air passage, adapted for enabling the air to flow into the freezer
compartment, and being separated by the separator and the space
portion; and a refrigerator supply air passage, adapted for
enabling the air to flow into the refrigerator compartment,
connected to the space portion, and an air passage control device
being provided inside the refrigerator supply air passage, wherein
the first opening portion is set to a closed state, the second
opening portion is set to an open state, and the refrigerator
supply air passage is set to a closed state by using the air
passage control device, so as to adjust the temperature of the air
inside the space portion and the cooling compartment.
8. The operating method of the refrigerator according to claim 7,
wherein after the temperature of the air inside the space portion
and the cooling compartment is adjusted, the first opening portion
is set to an open state, the second opening portion is set to a
closed state, the refrigerator supply air passage is set to an open
state by using the air passage control device, and the freezer
supply air passage or the refrigerator supply air passage provides
the air that undergoes the adjustment of temperature to the freezer
compartment or the refrigerator compartment, respectively.
9. The operating method of the refrigerator according to claim 8,
wherein the refrigerator is provided with a defrosting unit for
defrosting the cooling compartment; and the first opening portion
and the second opening portion are both set to a closed state, the
refrigerator supply air passage is set to a closed state by using
the air passage control device, the defrosting unit performs
defrosting, and after the defrosting stops, the second opening
portion is set to an open state, so as to adjust the temperature of
the air inside the space portion and the cooling compartment.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator that cools
and preserves food and the like inside a storage compartment, and
more particularly to a refrigerator that can reduce temperature
rise inside a storage compartment to be small during defrosting or
when cooling starts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Such a refrigerator has the following problems: During
defrosting on a condenser in which a defrosting heater is used as a
heat source, warm air around the condenser flows into a storage
compartment, resulting in a temperature rise inside the storage
compartment. Therefore, as a method for preventing warm air in
defrosting from entering a storage compartment, in a known method,
a shielding plate is disposed in a cooling air passage and the
shielding plate is closed during defrosting, and in another known
method, an air gate is disposed for a fan and the air gate is
closed (for example, Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application
Publication No. 2009-250476 (pp. 5, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5)).
[0003] FIG. 9(A) shows a structure of an air passage of a
refrigerator 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the
refrigerator 100 in the related art, air inlets 105, 106, 107, and
108 are provided in cool-air supply air passages 101, 102, 103, and
104 for conveying air cooled by a condenser to a storage
compartment, respectively. In addition, air discharges 113, 114,
and 115 are provided in cool-air return air passages 109, 110, and
111 for air to return from the storage compartment to the portion
of the condenser, respectively. In addition, an air discharge 116
is provided in a cool-air return air passage (not shown) of a
freezer compartment 112. Moreover, during defrosting, all or a part
of the air inlets 105 to 108 and the air discharges 113 to 116 are
closed.
[0004] FIG. 9(B) shows the surrounding of a fan 117 of the
refrigerator 100. In the refrigerator 100, an air gate 118 is
disposed in the fan 117, and the air gate 118 is closed during
defrosting to prevent warm air from flowing into the cool-air
supply air passages 101 to 104.
[0005] In addition, as another example in the related art, it is
known that after defrosting ends, an air supply device is delayed
to start work after a condenser starts cooling (for example, Patent
Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-195729
(p. 4)).
[0006] As disclosed in Patent Document 2, after defrosting ends,
only a compressor is enabled to work in a state of keeping a fan
stopped to lower the temperature of the condenser, so as to cool
warm air that fills a cooling compartment, and after delay of a
period of time from when the compressor works, the fan is enabled
to rotate to convey cool air. In this way, a temperature rise in a
freezer compartment caused by the defrosting is reduced.
[0007] However, as shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerator having an air
gate or a regulating plate in the related art has the following
problems: during defrosting, warm air for defrosting can be
prevented from flowing into a storage compartment; however, after
defrosting ends and cooling starts, the temperature inside the
storage compartment rises. That is, in the refrigerator in the
related art, when defrosting ends and cooling starts, air that
becomes warm from defrosting inside the cooling compartment or the
air passage flows into the storage compartment, and the temperature
inside the storage compartment rises.
[0008] In addition, after defrosting ends, a condenser starts
cooling in a state in which an air supply device stops working In a
method of cooling air inside the cooling compartment, the
temperature rise inside the storage compartment after the cooling
starts may be restricted to a minimum; however, the effect is still
insufficient. That is, in a state of stopping the air supply
device, the condenser is enabled to cool air around and below the
condenser; however, because thermal conduction from the condenser
to air takes place in natural convection, it is difficult to cool
air that accumulates above the condenser or inside the air passage.
Therefore, when cooling starts, warm air above the cooling
compartment or inside the air passage flows inside the storage
compartment.
[0009] In addition, the method of performing cooling by using the
condenser and stopping the work of the air supply device further
has the following problem: on an air side, thermal conduction takes
place in a condition of natural convection; therefore, the thermal
conduction has low efficiency and cooling time (pre-cooling time)
till air supply starts becomes longer. Therefore, in this period of
time, cooling cannot be performed inside the storage compartment,
and heat intrusion from outside or heat transfer from the side of
the condenser results in a temperature rise inside the storage
compartment.
[0010] When the temperature rise inside such a storage compartment
causes a large temperature change inside the storage compartment,
especially, in the freezer compartment, when a temperature
difference is generated between frozen food and the storage
compartment, water sublimation occurs because of a vapor pressure
difference and results in a problem of drying of food (so-called
freezer burn). In addition, when a large temperature change inside
the storage compartment causes the food to thaw and to freeze
again, ice crystals inside the food become larger, causing damages
to cells of food (so-called dryness).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is accomplished in view of the
foregoing problems, and the objective is to provide a refrigerator,
which can prevent warm air from flowing into a storage compartment
during defrosting or when cooling starts, and prevent heat transfer
from a cooling compartment to the storage compartment, thereby
restricting a temperature rise inside the storage compartment to a
minimum.
[0012] The present invention provides a refrigerator, having: a
storage compartment; a supply air passage, used for enabling air to
flow to the storage compartment; a return air passage, used for
enabling the air from the storage compartment to flow through; a
cooling compartment, having an air supply opening portion used for
enabling the air to flow out from the supply air passage and a
return air opening portion used for enabling the air from the
return air passage to flow in; a condenser, disposed inside the
cooling compartment, and used for cooling the air that flows in
from the return air opening portion; and an air supply device,
disposed on the air supply opening portion, where, in the
refrigerator, the exterior of the cooling compartment is provided
with: a separator, at least dividing a part of the supply air
passage to form a space portion, the space portion being connected
to the cooling compartment through the air supply opening portion;
a freely controllable first opening portion, disposed in a
separating region between the space portion and the divided supply
air passage; and a freely controllable second opening portion,
disposed in a separating region between the space portion and the
return air passage or between the space portion and the cooling
compartment.
[0013] In the refrigerator according to the present invention, the
separator is used to divide the part of the supply air passage, and
the space portion is formed outside, that is, in front of the
cooling compartment, so as to reduce heat transfer from the cooling
compartment to the storage compartment. That is, the space portion
and the divided supply air passage are arranged between the freezer
compartment and the storage compartment; therefore, compared with a
case in which only a separating wall is used to separate the
cooling compartment and the storage compartment, heat resistance
between the cooling compartment and the storage compartment can be
increased. The result is that, for example, during defrosting and
the like, the temperature rise inside the storage compartment can
be restricted to be minimum in a case in which the temperature of
the cooling compartment is high.
[0014] In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present
invention, because the freely controllable first opening portion is
provided in the separating region between the space portion and the
divided supply air passage, the first opening portion can be closed
to prevent warm air inside the cooling compartment from flowing
into the storage compartment. The result is that the temperature
rise inside the storage compartment caused when warm air flows in
can be prevented.
[0015] In addition, in the refrigerator of the present invention,
because the freely controllable second opening portion is provided
in the separating region between the space portion and the return
air passage or between the space portion and the cooling
compartment, in a case in which the temperature of the air in the
space portion or cooling compartment is high, the air is enabled to
return to the cooling compartment without flowing into the storage
compartment. That is, the first opening portion is set to a closed
state, the second opening portion is set to an open state, and the
air supply device is enabled to work, so that air that flows out
from the air supply opening portion of the cooling compartment
flows through the space portion and returns to the cooling
compartment through the second opening portion.
[0016] Moreover, as discussed above, in a state of using the space
portion as an air path to enable air circulation in the cooling
compartment, the condenser performs cooling; in this way, air in
the space portion and the cooling compartment can be effectively
cooled. The result is that, the temperature of the air in the space
portion and the cooling compartment can be adjusted without causing
the temperature rise inside the storage compartment.
[0017] Moreover, subsequently, the first opening portion is set to
an open state, and the second opening portion is set to a closed
state; as discussed above, the air that is cooled and adjusted to a
preset temperature can be provided to the storage compartment. The
result is that a temperature change inside the storage compartment
can be restricted to a minimum.
[0018] In addition, the divider related in the present invention is
arranged to divide a freezer supply air passage and the space
portion. Therefore, for the freezer compartment that has a very low
refrigeration temperature and is very susceptible to heat from the
cooling compartment, the temperature change in the freezer
compartment can be restricted to a minimum, and the freezer supply
air passage is used for enabling cool air to flow to the freezer
compartment.
[0019] In addition, in the refrigerator of the present invention,
an air passage control device is provided in a refrigerator supply
air passage used for enabling cool air to flow to a refrigerator
compartment; therefore, the air passage control device can be set
to a closed state to prevent warm air from flowing into the
refrigerator compartment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a general structure of
the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a cooling air passage of the refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the structure of a
periphery of a cooling compartment of the refrigerator according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing a variation of the
refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention,
where (A) is a side sectional view of a periphery of a first
opening portion, and (B) is a side sectional view of a periphery of
a second opening portion.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a control timing diagram representing control of
defrosting work of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view representing the structure
of a periphery of a cooling compartment of the refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a control timing diagram representing control of
defrosting of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 9 represents an example of a refrigerator in a related
art, where (A) is a main view, and (B) is a view showing a
periphery of a fan.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] A refrigerator related in a first embodiment of the present
invention is described below in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a general structure of a refrigerator 1
according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
side sectional view of the refrigerator 1. FIG. 3 is a view
schematically showing a cooling air passage of the refrigerator 1.
FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a structure of a periphery of a
cooling compartment 13 of the refrigerator 1. FIG. 5 is a side
sectional view showing a variation of the refrigerator 1, where (A)
shows a periphery of a first opening portion 19, and (B) shows a
periphery of a second opening portion 20. FIG. 6 is a general
control timing diagram representing control of defrosting control
of the refrigerator 1.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to one
embodiment is provided with an insulating case 2 serving as a body,
and a storage chamber for storing food and the like is formed
inside the insulating case 2. The storage chamber is divided into a
plurality of storage compartments according to the preservation
temperature or useage, and the arrangement of the storage
compartments is as follows: the uppermost layer is a refrigerator
compartment 3, an ice-making compartment 4 is at a left side of a
next layer under the refrigerator compartment 3, an upper layer
freezer compartment 5 is at a right side of the next layer under
the refrigerator compartment 3, a freezer compartment 6 is at a
further next layer under the refrigerator compartment 3, and the
lowermost layer is a vegetable compartment 7.
[0032] An opening is provided in the front of the insulating case
2, and freely controllable insulating doors 8a, 8b, 9, 10, 11, and
12 are provided at opening portions corresponding to the storage
compartments 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. The refrigerator
compartment doors 8a and 8b cover the front of the refrigerator
compartment 3, upper and lower left portions of the refrigerator
compartment door 8a and upper and lower right portions of the
refrigerator compartment door 8b are supported on the insulating
case 2 in a freely rotatable manner. In addition, the ice-making
compartment door 9, the freezer compartment door 10, the freezer
compartment door 11, and the vegetable compartment door 12 are
integrally assembled to following storage containers, respectively,
and the insulating case 2 is supported at the front of the
refrigerator 1 in a freely slidable manner.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the insulating case 2 serving as the
body of the refrigerator 1 is formed by an outer layer 2a, an inner
layer 2c, and an insulating layer 2b, where the outer layer 2a is
provided with an opening portion in the front and is made of steel
plates, the inner layer 2c is arranged inside the outer layer 2a
and having a gap from the outer layer 2a, is provided with an
opening portion in the front, and is made of synthetic resin, and
the insulating layer 2b is filled and foamed in the gap between the
outer layer 2a and the inner layer 2c and is made of polyurethane
foam. In addition, a vacuum insulating layer 2d is provided at a
back wall part of the insulating case 2.
[0034] As discussed above, the storage chamber is divided into a
plurality of storage compartments. The refrigerator compartment 3
is separated by an insulating separating wall 34 from the
ice-making compartment 4 and the upper layer freezer compartment 5
located at a next layer under the refrigerator compartment 3. In
addition, the ice-making compartment 4 and the upper layer freezer
compartment 5 are separated from each other by a separating wall
(not shown) formed with an air vent for free circulation of cool
air. Moreover, the ice-making compartment 4 and the upper layer
freezer compartment 5 are separated by a separating wall 35 formed
with an air vent for free circulation of cool air from the freezer
compartment 6 disposed at a next layer under the ice-making
compartment 4 and the upper layer freezer compartment 5. Moreover,
the freezer compartment 6 and the vegetable compartment 7 are
separated from each other by an insulating separating wall 36.
[0035] Moreover, a shelf 42 or a storage container 43 used for
storage food and the like is provided inside the refrigerator
compartment 3. In addition, storage shelves 44 and 45 for storing
beverage containers and the like are provided at inner sides of the
refrigerator compartment doors 8a, 8b. Moreover, storage containers
46, 47a, 47b, 48 that can be integrally drawn with the insulating
layer doors 9, 10, 11, and 12 are provided in other storage
compartments 4, 5, 6, and 7. In addition, a storage container
disposed in the ice-making compartment 4 is not shown. In addition,
the storage compartments 3 to 7 inside the storage chamber are
further provided with other storage shelves and storage containers
that are not shown. For example, the refrigerator compartment 3 is
further arranged with a container for storing water for making
ice.
[0036] In addition, a mechanical chamber 49 is further provided at
a lower portion in the rear of the refrigerator compartment 1. The
mechanical chamber 49 is arranged with members such as a compressor
31 for compressing refrigerant, a heat sink (not shown), and a heat
sink fan (not shown). The compressor 31, the heat sink, a capillary
that serves as a decompression unit and is not shown, and a
condenser 32 are sequentially connected through refrigerant piping,
so as to form a vapor compression refrigeration circuit. In
addition, in the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment,
isobutane (R600a) is used as a refrigerant. Furthermore, a
decompression unit in another form such as a temperature-type
expansion valve, an electronic expansion valve, and a constant
pressure expansion valve may also be used in place of capillary to
serve as a decompression unit.
[0037] A supply air passage 15 serving as a refrigerator supply air
passage is formed at a rear surface and a top surface of the
refrigerator compartment 3. The supply air passage 15 serving as
the refrigerator supply air passage guides air cooled by using the
condenser 32 inside the refrigerator compartment 3. The supply air
passage 15 is a space sandwiched between an air passage separating
wall 38 made of synthetic resin and the inner layer 2c of the
insulating case 2. In addition, a blowing vent 21 used for
providing cool air that circulates inside the supply air passage 15
to the refrigerator compartment 3 is formed on the air passage
separating wall 38.
[0038] Similarly, a supply air passage 16 serving as a freezer
supply air passage is formed on rear surfaces and top surfaces of
the ice-making compartment 4 and the upper layer freezer
compartment 5 and a rear surface of the freezer compartment 6. The
supply air passage 16 is separated from the storage compartments 4
to 6 by an air passage separating wall 39 made of synthetic resin.
Moreover, a blowing vent 22 that enables cool air to flow to the
ice-making compartment 4, a blowing vent 23 that enables cool air
to flow to the upper layer freezer compartment 5, and a blowing
vent 24 that enables cool air to flow to the freezer compartment 6
are formed on the air passage separating wall 39. In addition, the
blowing vents 22 to 24 are arranged at positions where cool air can
be effectively provided to food and the like received in the
storage containers 46, 47a, and 47b.
[0039] In addition, a space portion 14 separated from the supply
air passage 16 is formed in the back surface, that is, the rear
side of the supply air passage 16. The supply air passage 16 and
the space portion 14 are separated from each other by a separator
40 made of synthetic resin.
[0040] In addition, the supply air passage 15 and the space portion
14 are connected through an air passage control device 18. The air
passage control device 18 is a motorized shielding plate formed of
a plate body of a control cover with one side being axially
supported in a freely rotatable manner and a drive motor. In
addition, the air passage control device 18 is not limited to the
foregoing manner, and for example, a control apparatus in another
form such as an air passage control device using a slide control
board may also be used as the air passage control device 18. By
opening and closing the air passage control device 18, it can be
adjusted whether to enable air to flow from the space portion 14 to
the supply air passage 15. In addition, through enabling the air
passage control device 18 to perform a suitable open/close action,
a flow amount of cool air provided to the refrigerator compartment
3 can be adjusted.
[0041] In addition, a return air port 27 used for enabling air to
return to the cooling compartment 13 is provided in the freezer
compartment 6. For a similar objective, a return air port 28 is
provided in the vegetable compartment 7.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the supply air passage 15 providing cool
air to the refrigerator compartment 3 is arranged to convey cool
air to the uppermost portion at a central portion of the
refrigerator compartment 3 and subsequently enable cool air to drop
from two sides. In this way, cool air can be provided entirely and
effectively into the refrigerator compartment 3.
[0043] In addition, the supply air passage 15 and a blowing vent 21
formed near an upper portion of the storage container 43 (referring
to FIG. 2) are correspondingly provided with branch air passages
that are from the central portion to left and right branches. In
this way, the interior of the storage container 43 can be
effectively cooled.
[0044] In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment
is provided with a connecting air passage 17 used for enabling cool
air to flow from inside the refrigerator 1 to the vegetable
compartment 7. A return air port 26 used for cool air in the
refrigerator compartment 3 to flow in is formed at a side of the
refrigerator compartment 3 of the connecting air passage 17, and a
blowing vent 25 for providing cool air to the vegetable compartment
7 is provided at a side of the vegetable compartment 7.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, inside the insulating case 2, the
cooling compartment 13 is disposed at a rear side of the space
portion 14. Moreover, the cooling compartment 13 and the space
portion 14 are separated from each other by a cooling compartment
separating wall 37 made of synthetic resin.
[0046] The condenser 32 used for cooling circulated air is arranged
inside the cooling compartment 13. The condenser 32 according to
this embodiment is a so-called fin tube heat exchanger in which the
interior of a round tube serving as a heat conduction tube is
disposed to be a refrigerant flow path, and the exterior of the
tube is disposed to be an air flow path. In the condenser 32, a
liquid refrigerant inside the heat conduction tube evaporates. In
this way, air outside the tube is cooled; in addition, a heat
exchanger in other forms, for example, a heat exchanger in which an
elongated porous tube or an irregularly-shaped tube is used may
also be used as a condenser.
[0047] In addition, below the condenser 32, a defrosting heater 33
is provided to serve as a defrosting unit for melting and removing
frost attached on the condenser 32. The defrosting heater 33 is a
resistance heating-type heater using a glass tube for protection.
In addition, other defrosting manners in which no electrical heater
is used, for example, warm-air defogging, may also be used for the
defrosting unit.
[0048] In addition, an air supply opening portion 13a used for
sending out cool air obtained through cooling by the condenser 32
is formed in front above the cooling compartment 13, that is, on a
surface of a side of the space portion 14. In another embodiment, a
return air opening portion 13b used for sucking return cool air
from the storage compartment into the cooling compartment 13 is
formed below the cooling compartment 13. Moreover, the return air
opening portion 13b is connected to the return air port 27 of the
freezer compartment 6 and the return air port 28 of the vegetable
compartment through the return air passage 29 (29a, 29b).
[0049] In addition, an air supply device 30 used for enabling
circulation of cool air is installed on the air supply opening
portion 13a. The air supply device 30 is an axial-flow air supply
device having rotatable propeller blades, a fan motor (not shown),
and a shell (not shown) formed with an air hole. In addition, other
forms of an air supply device such as a combination of a fan in a
form without a housing and a motor or a multiple-blade fan may also
be used as the air supply device 30.
[0050] Here, as discussed above, the separator 40 divides a part of
the supply air passage 16, so as to form the space portion 14
connected to the cooling compartment 13 through the air supply
opening portion 13a. Specifically, the separator 40 made of
synthetic resin is installed in front of the cooling compartment
separating wall 37 such that a circumference portion abuts the
cooling compartment separating wall 37, and the separator 40 made
of synthetic resin is formed into a preset shape such that a
surface opposite the cooling compartment 13 has a concave
shape.
[0051] Moreover, the air passage separating wall 39 that is formed
into a preset shape and made of synthetic resin is installed in
front of a separator 14 so that the circumference portion abuts the
cooling compartment separating wall 37.
[0052] In this way, the supply air passage 16 is formed on rear
surfaces of the storage compartments 4 to 6 in a manner of being
sandwiched between the air passage separating wall 39 and the
separator 40. Moreover, on the rear surfaces of the storage
compartments 4 to 6, the space portion 14 is formed in a manner of
being sandwiched between the separator 40 and the cooling
compartment separating wall 37. In this way, in the refrigerator 1
according to this embodiment, because the divide supply air passage
16 and space portion 14 are provided between the storage
compartments 4 to 6 and the cooling compartment 13, heat transfer
from the cooling compartment 13 to the storage compartments 4 to 6
can be reduced.
[0053] In addition, there are many variations to the abutting
positions or joining methods of the separator 40, the cooling
compartment separating wall 37, and the air passage separating wall
39. For example, a structure in which the circumference portions of
the separating members 37, 39, and 40 abut the inner side the inner
layer 2c of the insulating case 2 (as shown in FIG. 2) or a lower
surface of the insulating separating wall 34 may also be
adopted.
[0054] In addition, an insulating member (not shown) such as a
polystyrene foam (PS) sheet or a polyethylene foam (PE) sheet may
also be added on the separator 40, the cooling compartment
separating wall 37, and the air passage separating wall 39. In this
way, heat resistance between the cooling compartment 13 and the
storage compartments 4 to 6 can be increased, and heat transfer
from the cooling compartment 13 to the storage compartments 4 to 6
can further be reduced.
[0055] In addition, the freely controllable first opening portion
19 is provided on the separator 40 serving as the separating region
between the supply air passage 16 and the space portion 14. In
addition, the freely controllable second opening portion 20 is
provided in the separating region between the space portion 14 and
the return air passage 29. In this embodiment, similar to the air
passage control device 18, the so-called motorized shielding plate
is used as the first opening portion 19 and the second opening
portion 20. In addition, definitely, a control apparatus in another
form may also be used as the first opening portion 19 and the
second opening portion 20.
[0056] In this way, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment
is provided with the space portion 14, the first opening portion
19, and the second opening portion 20. Therefore, when the first
opening portion 19 and the second opening portion 20 are both set
to a closed state, the air supply opening portion 13a can be
blocked relative to the supply air passage 16, so as to prevent
warm air of the cooling compartment 13 from flowing into the
storage compartments 4 to 6.
[0057] In addition, in the refrigerator 1 according to this
embodiment, the air passage control device 18 is provided in the
supply air passage 15 connected to the space portion 14. Therefore,
when the air passage control device 18 is set to a closed state,
the supply air passage 15 can be blocked, so as to prevent warm air
of the cooling compartment 13 from flowing into the refrigerator
compartment 3.
[0058] In addition, the first opening portion 19 and the air
passage control device 18 are both set to a closed state, and the
second opening portion 20 is set to an open state; in this way, air
that flows out from the air supply opening portion 13a sequentially
flows through the space portion 14, the second opening portion 20,
the return air passage 29, and the return air opening portion 13b,
so as to form an air path for the return to the cooling compartment
13, that is, the space portion 14 becomes an air path used for
enabling circulation of air of the cooling compartment 13 without
flowing into the storage compartments.
[0059] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5(A), the air passage control
device 18 can also be disposed at the separating region between the
space portion 14 and the supply air passage 15 rather than being
disposed inside the supply air passage 15. In this case, the
separator 40 or a part of the cooling compartment separating wall
37 may also be processed and formed into a preset shape to form the
separating region. In addition, a separating member may also be
used.
[0060] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the second opening
portion 20 may also be disposed on the cooling compartment
separating wall 37 serving as the separating region between the
space portion 14 and the cooling compartment 13. By using such a
structure, the second opening portion 20 may also be set to an open
state to enable air to flow from the space portion 14 to the
cooling compartment 13.
[0061] In addition, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment
is provided with a control apparatus that is programmed to control
all components and is not shown in the accompanying drawings, and
other various sensors, displays, and lighting that are not shown in
the accompanying drawings.
[0062] Next, the actions of the refrigerator 1 according to this
embodiment are described. First, cooling a storage compartment is
described. During cooling, the first opening portion 19 is set to
an open state, the second opening portion 20 is set to a closed
state, and the air passage control device 18 is suitably opened and
closed according to a cooling load of the refrigerator
compartment.
[0063] First, the vapor compression freezer circuit is used to cool
air that flows through the cooling compartment 13. That is, the
compressor 31 as shown in FIG. 2 is used to compress a
low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vapor into a
high-temperature, high-pressure state, a heat sink (not shown) is
used to release heat from the refrigerant vapor, and subsequently,
a capillary that serves as a decompression unit (also not shown) is
used to perform throttling expansion on a liquid refrigerant that
is obtained through heat release and condensation by using the heat
sink to enable the liquid refrigerant to flow to the condenser 32.
In the condenser 32, the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid
refrigerant performs heat exchange with the air to evaporate. The
result is that air inside the cooling compartment 13 is cooled for
latent heat in evaporation of the refrigerant. The vapor
refrigerant through evaporation by using the condenser 32 is sucked
into the compressor 31 again for compression. The described actions
are continuously repeated, and the condenser 32 in the freezer
circuit is used to cool the air.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, air cooled by using the
condenser 32 is discharged by the air supply device 30 from the air
supply opening portion 13a of the cooling compartment 13 to the
space portion 14.
[0065] Moreover, a part of cool air discharged to the space portion
14 is adjusted by the air passage control device 18 to a suitable
flow amount, flows to the supply air passage 15, and is provided
from the blowing vent 21 to the refrigerator compartment 3. In this
way, food and the like stored inside the refrigerator compartment 3
is cooled and preserved at a suitable temperature.
[0066] Cool air provided inside the refrigerator compartment 3
flows from the return air port 26 to the connecting air passage 17,
and is provided from the blowing vent 25 to the vegetable
compartment 7. Moreover, cool air circulated in the vegetable
compartment 7 returns inside the cooling compartment 13 from the
return air port 28 through the return air passage 29b and the
return air opening portion 13b of the cooling compartment 13. Here,
the condenser 32 performs cooling again.
[0067] In another aspect, a part of cool air that is discharged to
the space portion 14 flows to the supply air passage 16 through the
first opening portion 19, and is provided to the ice-making
compartment 4 and the upper layer freezer compartment 5 through the
blowing vents 22, 23, respectively. Moreover, the cool air flows to
the freezer compartment 6 through the opening portion formed on the
separating wall 35.
[0068] Moreover, a part of cool air that flows to the supply air
passage 16 through the first opening portion 19 is provided by the
blowing vent 24 to the freezer compartment 6. Moreover, air from
inside the freezer compartment 6 flows inside the cooling
compartment 13 from the return air port 27 through the return air
passage 29a and the return air opening portion 13b of the cooling
compartment 13. As described above, food and the like are cooled
and preserved through circulation of air cooled by the condenser 32
inside the storage compartment.
[0069] Next, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, defrosting is
described according to the control timing diagram in FIG. 6. When
cooling continues, frost accumulates on a heat conduction surface
on an air side of the condenser 32, which hinders thermal
conduction and blocks the air flow path. Therefore, the control
apparatus not shown determines frosting according to a drop of an
evaporation temperature of a refrigerant and the like, or performs
determination by using a defrosting timer, so as to start
defrosting for removing frost accumulated on the condenser 32.
[0070] The time T0 in FIG. 6 represents the moment when defrosting
starts. In a case of performing defrosting, the control apparatus
(not shown) stops the compressor 31, and the air supply device 30,
sets both the first opening portion 19 and the second opening
portion 20 to a closed state, and sets the supply air passage 15 to
a closed state by using the air passage control device 18.
Moreover, the defrosting heater 33 is powered.
[0071] In this way, with the heating of the defrosting heater 33,
frost attached inside the condenser 32 or the cooling compartment
13 melts. Water melted from the frost flows and drops to an
evaporation plate that is disposed inside the mechanical chamber 49
and is not shown through a water discharge pipe that is disposed
below the cooling compartment 13 and is not shown. Subsequently,
the water in the evaporation plate evaporates with the heat from
the compressor 31 and the like.
[0072] The heat generated by the defrosting heater 33 warms the air
inside the cooling compartment 13. However, in the refrigerator 1
according to this embodiment, as discussed above, the separator 40
divides a part of the supply air passage 16, the first opening
portion 19 and the second opening portion 20 are set to a closed
state, and the supply air passage 15 is set to a closed state by
using the air passage control device 18; in this way, warm air can
be prevented from flowing out to the supply air passages 15, and
16. Therefore, warm air for defrosting can be prevented from
warming the interior of the supply air passages 15, and 16.
[0073] The time T1 represents the moment when defrosting stops. The
control apparatus detects whether a temperature detected by using a
temperature sensor (not shown) installed on the piping of the
condenser 32 is at a preset value, so as to determine whether
defrosting is complete. In addition, a timer and the like may also
be used to perform defrosting at a preset time interval.
[0074] When defrosting of the condenser 32 is complete (time T1),
the control apparatus (not shown) stops supplying power to the
defrosting heater 33, and stays on standby without performing a
next action till preset time (till time T2). In this way, standby
time is set to reduce residual frost and cool air inside the
condenser.
[0075] Next, at the time T2, the control apparatus starts the
compressor 31. In this case, the air supply device 30 is still
stopped. In this way, air around the condenser 32 and whose
temperature rises because the defrosting heater 33 becomes warm can
be effectively cooled without having the air flow outside the
cooling compartment 13 (a first pre-cooling step).
[0076] Next, at time T3, the control apparatus sets the second
opening portion 20 to an open state, and the air supply device 30
starts to supply air. In this way, the space portion 14 can be used
as an air circulation path to enable air circulation inside the
cooling compartment 13, and the condenser 32 performs cooling and
adjusts the temperature of air inside the space portion 14 and the
cooling compartment 13 (a second pre-cooling step).
[0077] Here, in the second pre-cooling step, heat exchange between
the heat conduction surface on the air side of the condenser 32 and
air is forced-convection heat transfer. Therefore, efficient heat
exchange can be performed, and air inside the space portion 14 and
the cooling compartment 13 can be effectively cooled within a short
time.
[0078] Time T4 represents a moment when the second pre-cooling step
ends. Here, the control apparatus detects whether a temperature
detected by using a temperature sensor (not shown) disposed inside
the cooling compartment 13 is at a preset value (a target cooling
temperature), and determines whether the adjustment of the
temperature of the air is complete, that is, determines whether the
second pre-cooling step ends. In addition, a timer and the like may
also be used to perform the second pre-cooling step at a preset
time interval.
[0079] When the second pre-cooling step ends (time T4), the control
apparatus sets the first opening portion 19 to an open state, sets
the second opening portion 20 to a closed state, sets the air
passage control device 18 to an open state, and sends the air that
undergoes the adjustment of temperature into the supply air
passages 15, 16. Subsequently, cooling is performed.
[0080] In addition, a suitable preferred value may be set for the
target cooling temperature in the second pre-cooling step according
to a cooling load. Moreover, timing of opening and closing the
first opening portion 19, the second opening portion 20, and the
air passage control device 18 may also be suitably changed in
association with the target cooling temperature. For example, after
the cooling is performed to a first target cooling temperature that
is set to a high temperature, the first opening portion 19 may also
be kept in a closed state, the second opening portion 20 is set to
a closed state, and the air passage control device 18 is set to an
open state; in this way, the supply air passage 15 enables cool air
to flow to the refrigerator compartment 3 only.
[0081] Moreover, when the temperature is further lowered and the
cooling is performed to a second target cooling temperature that is
lower than the first target cooling temperature, the first opening
portion 19 may also be set to an open state, and the supply air
passage 16 provides cool air to the ice-making compartment 4, the
upper layer freezer compartment 5, and the freezer compartment 6.
In this way, efficient cooling may be performed.
[0082] Next, a refrigerator related in a second embodiment of the
present invention is described in detail according to the
accompanying drawings.
[0083] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view representing the structure
of a periphery of a cooling compartment 13 of the refrigerator 1
according to another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a general control timing
diagram representing control of defrosting of the refrigerator 1.
In addition, for structural elements having the same or similar
effects and efficacy as the described refrigerator 1 related in the
first embodiment, same reference numerals are marked in FIG. 7 and
FIG. 8, and the description of these structural elements are
omitted.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 7, in the refrigerator 1 according to this
embodiment, inside a return air passage 29a of a freezer
compartment 6, an air passage control device 50 is provided at an
upstream side of a second opening portion 20, that is, at a side of
the freezer compartment 6.
[0085] The air passage control device 50 according to this
embodiment and an air passage control device 18 disposed in a
supply air passage 15 are both a motorized air gate. In addition,
the present invention is not limited thereto, and various other
control apparatuses can be used as the air passage control device
50.
[0086] Next, an open/close action of the air passage control device
50 is described according to FIG. 8 and by properly referring to
FIG. 7. First, during cooling (after time T4), a control apparatus
(not shown) sets the air passage control device 50 to an open
state. In this way, air inside the freezer compartment 6 flows
through the return air passage 29a and returns to the cooling
compartment 13.
[0087] In another aspect, from when defrosting starts (the time T0)
to when the second pre-cooling step ends (the time T4), the control
apparatus sets the air passage control device 50 to a closed state
and blocks the return air passage 29a. In this way, air inside the
cooling compartment 13 in which a defrosting heater is used as a
heat source can be prevented or air that is in adjustment of
temperature and uses a space portion 14 as an air path from flowing
into (flowing back) the freezer compartment 6. The result is that a
temperature rise in storage compartments 4 to 6 caused by
defrosting can be restricted.
[0088] In addition, in the second embodiment described above, the
structure of the air passage control device 18 or the second
opening portion 20 may also be implemented as the variation shown
in FIG. 5.
[0089] As set forth above, the refrigerator 1 according to the
embodiments of the present invention is described. However, the
present invention is not limited thereto, and various changes may
be made without departing from the scope of the concept of the
present invention.
* * * * *