JPH07305937A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a refrigerator in which a vegetable chamber temperature is always stable even under any using condition, to prevent flowing of wet air into a damper unit due to stop of a fan and to ensure the function of the unit. CONSTITUTION:The refrigerator comprises a special purpose damper unit 32 for returning cooling air from a cooler 9 to the cooler 9 via a vegetable chamber return passage 35 for returning the air fed to a vegetable chamber 6 via a special purpose vegetable chamber forward passage and controlling the supply of the air from the cooler 9 to the forward passage. The unit 32 for the vegetable chamber is so controlled as to be forcedly closed when a fan 8 is stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment above the freezer compartment and a vegetable compartment below the freezer compartment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, refrigerators having a refrigerating chamber provided at a height that allows easy access to the refrigerator are becoming mainstream in terms of frequency of use.

A conventional refrigerator is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-2884.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 66.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. 8, in the heat-insulating box body 1, the heat-insulating partition walls 2 and 3 are vertically arranged in two stages.
Is provided and partitioned. And these partition walls 2,
3, a refrigerating chamber 4 is formed in the upper stage, a freezing chamber 5 is formed in the middle stage, and a vegetable chamber 6 is formed in the lower stage.

A cooler chamber 7 is formed at the back of the freezing chamber 5. In the cooler chamber 7, a fan device 8 and a cooler 9 are arranged in a vertical positional relationship. A duct cover 10 is provided at the back of the freezer compartment 5, and the discharge port 1
It has 0a. On the back side of this duct cover 10,
The first duct 11 is provided, and the blower port 12a formed in the front heat insulating wall 12 of the cooler chamber 7 communicates with the first duct 11, and the second duct provided in the partition wall 2 penetrates vertically. The lower end entrance of the duct 13 and the first duct 11 communicate with each other. One upper end outlet is opened to a lower portion of the damper chamber 15 of the heat insulating cover 14 arranged at the lower end portion of the back of the refrigerating chamber 4. A damper device 16 is attached to the heat insulating cover 14. This damper device 16 is used in the refrigerator compartment 4.
A temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the internal temperature is configured to perform the opening operation and the closing operation when the opening set temperature and the closed set temperature are detected.

A heat insulating panel 17 is disposed above the heat insulating cover 14, and a third duct 18 extending upward is formed in the heat insulating panel 17. The lower end of the third duct 18 is communicated with the damper chamber 15, and the upper end of the third duct 18 is provided with the discharge port 17a opening to the refrigerating chamber 4 in the heat insulation panel 17.
The first and second ducts 13, the damper chamber 15, and the third duct 18 constitute a refrigerating chamber outward path 19 for supplying the cool air in the cooler chamber 7 to the refrigerating chamber 4.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a refrigerating compartment return passage formed on the partition wall 2, one of which opens to the refrigerating compartment 4 and the other of which opens to the vegetable compartment 6. Reference numeral 21 is a return path for the vegetable compartment formed in the partition wall 3, one of which opens to the vegetable compartment 6 and the other communicates with the lower portion of the cooler compartment 7. Reference numeral 22 is a freezer compartment return path formed in the duct cover 10 and the heat insulating wall 12, one of which is the freezer compartment 5
To the lower part of the cooler chamber 7.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a branch passage formed in the heat insulating cover 14, one of which is opened to the damper chamber 15 and the other is communicated with the refrigerating compartment return passage 20.

Reference numeral 24 is a compressor of the cooling system. In the above configuration, when the temperature of the freezer compartment 5 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature (at this time, the damper device 16 is in an open state), a temperature sensor (not shown) detects this, whereby the compressor 24 and the fan device. 8 starts. Then, the cool air cooled by the cooler 9 is sent to the first duct 11 from the blower port 12a.

After that, in the case of the freezer compartment 5, the cold air blown out from the discharge port 10a provided in the duct cover 10 is supplied into the freezer compartment 5, returned to the cooler compartment 7 through the freezer compartment return path 22, and cooled again. It is cooled by the container 9.

In the case of the refrigerating compartment 4 and the vegetable compartment 6, after that, they are sent to the damper compartment 15 through the second duct 13 and partly branched to the branch passage 23, but most of them flow into the third duct 18 and the discharge port. The cold air blown out from 17a is supplied into the refrigerating compartment 4, flows into the refrigerating compartment return passage 20, is mixed with the cold air supplied from the branch passage 23, and is supplied into the vegetable compartment 6.

The cold air supplied into the vegetable compartment 6 is
It is returned to the cooler room 7 through the return path 21 for the vegetable room and is circulated so as to be cooled by the cooler 9 again.
When the temperature becomes lower than a predetermined temperature, the temperature is detected by a temperature sensor (not shown), and the compressor 24 and the fan device 8 are stopped.

[0013]

However, in the above configuration, cold air is supplied to the vegetable compartment through the refrigerator compartment,
Since the amount of cold air supplied is adjusted by the damper device according to the usage condition of the refrigerating room, the temperature of the vegetable room may be higher or lower than the target temperature. The problem is that when the temperature in the freezer falls below a specified temperature, the fan device stops, the air with low temperature drops, the air with high temperature rises, and especially humid air such as vegetable rooms is refrigerated. There were two problems: the reverse flow in the return path and the branch path, and the flow into the well-cooled damper device, resulting in frost and icing, and the stop of the function.

The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the temperature of the vegetable compartment is always stable regardless of the use conditions of the refrigerator compartment, and to prevent the fan unit from stopping and humid air to flow into the damper unit. However, the present invention provides a refrigerator in which the function of the damper device can be ensured.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, the refrigerator of the present invention forms a refrigerating compartment above the freezing compartment by partitioning the inside of the heat insulating box with a heat insulating partition wall.
The vegetable compartment is formed below the freezer compartment, and the air cooled by the cooler is circulated by the fan device to cool each compartment, and the air is sent to the refrigerating compartment via the outward path for the refrigerating compartment. Return to the cooler via the cold room return path for returning the cold air, and return to the cooler via the vegetable room return path for returning the cold air sent to the vegetable room via the vegetable room outward path And a damper device for controlling the supply of cold air from the cooler to the outward path for the refrigerating room and a damper device for controlling the supply of cool air from the cooler to the outward path for the vegetable compartment, and the damper device for the vegetable room. Is controlled so that the fan device is forcibly closed when the fan device is stopped.

[0016]

According to the present invention, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is controlled by the cooler via the return path for returning the cold air sent from the cooler to the vegetable compartment via the dedicated outward path to the vegetable compartment. A damper device is installed to control the supply of cold air from the cooler to the outward path for the vegetable compartment, so that it can be used to open and close the door during actual use, change in stored food, change in external temperature, etc. And stable. Also, by controlling the damper device for the vegetable compartment to be forced to close when the fan device is stopped, a part of the air passage is closed on the outward and return paths for the vegetable compartment, so that air movement in the air passage does not occur. No, humid air in the vegetable compartment does not flow into the damper device.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A freezer-refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The same components as those in the prior art are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted. 1, 2, and 3 show a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, heat insulating partition walls 26, 27 are provided in upper and lower two stages in the heat insulating box 25 to be partitioned. And by these partition walls 26 and 27, the refrigerating room 4,
The freezer compartment 5 is formed in the middle section, and the vegetable compartment 6 is formed in the lower section.

Reference numeral 28 is a second tact provided on the partition wall 25 and penetrating vertically, and the lower end inlet and the first duct 11 communicate with each other. One upper end outlet is opened to the lower part of the damper chamber 30 of the heat insulating cover 29 arranged at the lower end of the back of the refrigerating chamber 4. The damper device 3 is provided in the heat insulating cover 29.
1, 32 are attached.

The damper device 31 is constructed to open and close when a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 4 detects the open set temperature and the closed set temperature. The damper device 32 is configured to open and close when a temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 4 detects the open set temperature and the closed set temperature.

A heat insulating panel 17 is arranged above the heat insulating cover 29, and a third duct 18 extending upward is formed in the heat insulating panel 17. The lower end of the third duct 18 is communicated with the damper chamber 30, and the upper end of the third duct 18 is provided with the discharge port 17a opening to the refrigerating chamber 4 in the heat insulating panel 17.
The first and second ducts 28, the damper chamber 30, and the third duct 18 constitute a refrigerating chamber outward path 33 for supplying the cool air in the cooler chamber 7 to the refrigerating chamber 4.

Reference numeral 34 is a return path for the refrigerating chamber formed in the partition wall 26, the heat insulating box 25, and the partition wall 27, one of which is open to the refrigerating chamber 4 and the other is connected to the lower portion of the cooler chamber 7. There is.
Reference numeral 35 denotes a vegetable chamber outward path formed on the partition wall 26, the heat insulating box 25, and the partition wall 27, one of which communicates with the damper chamber 30 and the other of which opens to the vegetable chamber 6. Reference numeral 36 denotes a vegetable chamber return path formed on the partition wall 27, one of which opens to the vegetable chamber 6 and the other communicates with the lower portion of the cooler chamber 7.

In the above structure, when the temperature of the freezer compartment 5 reaches or exceeds the predetermined temperature (at this time, the damper devices 32, 33).
Is in an open state), and the temperature sensor (not shown) detects this, and the compressor 24 and the fan unit 8 are activated. Then, the cool air cooled by the cooler 9 is sent to the first duct 11 from the blower port 12a.

After that, in the case of the freezer compartment 5, the cold air blown from the discharge port 10a provided in the duct cover 10 is supplied into the freezer compartment 5, returned to the cooler compartment 7 through the freezer compartment return path 22, and cooled again. It is cooled by the container 9.

In the case of the refrigerator compartment 4, the second duct 28 is then installed.
The cold air sent to the damper chamber 30 through the third duct 18 and discharged from the discharge port 17a is supplied into the refrigerating chamber 4, returned to the cooler chamber 7 through the refrigerating chamber return path 34, and again by the cooler 9. To be cooled.

In the case of the vegetable compartment 6, the second duct 28 is then used.
Through the damper chamber 30 to the vegetable chamber outward path 35, the cold air blown out is supplied into the vegetable chamber 6, is returned to the cooler chamber 7 through the vegetable chamber return path 36, and is cooled again.
Is cooled by. When the cool air circulates and the temperature of the freezer compartment 5 becomes a predetermined temperature or lower, a temperature sensor (not shown) detects this and the compressor 24 and the fan device 8 stop.

Further, in FIG. 5 showing an electric configuration, an operation control means such as a microcomputer 37 is
A program having a function of controlling the entire operation of the refrigerator is stored in the internal memory.

This microcomputer 37 includes a freezer compartment sensor 38 for detecting the temperature in the freezer compartment 5, and a refrigerator compartment 4.
A temperature detection signal is received from a cold room sensor 39 that detects the temperature inside and a cold vegetable sensor 40 that detects the temperature inside the vegetable room 6.

Then, the microcomputer 37 is
The compressor 24, the fan unit 8, the refrigerator unit damper unit 31, and the vegetable compartment damper unit 32 are connected to drive circuits 41 and 4.
It is configured to control driving via 2, 43, and 44.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart schematically showing the control contents of the program stored in the microcomputer 37.

In FIG. 4, first, when the temperature in the freezer compartment 5 is higher than the set temperature, "YE" is selected in step S1.
S ”, the operation of the compressor 24 and the fan device 8 is started, the temperature in the freezing compartment 5 decreases, and if the temperature in the freezing compartment 5 is lower than the set temperature,“ N ”is determined in step S1.
When the operation of the compressor 24 and the fan device 8 is stopped and the damper device 32 for the vegetable compartment is in the open state, the operation is closed. Next, if the temperature in the vegetable compartment 6 is higher than the set temperature, the process proceeds to “YES” in step S2, and if the vegetable compartment damper device 32 is in the closed state, the opening operation is performed.
If the temperature inside is lower and the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 6 is lower than the set temperature, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S2, and the damper device 32 for the vegetable compartment is closed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the temperature of the vegetable compartment is the cold air from the cooler 9 and the return path for the vegetable compartment for returning the cold air sent to the vegetable compartment 6 via the dedicated outward path 35 for the vegetable compartment. Three
Since it is returned to the cooler 9 via 6, and a dedicated damper device 32 for controlling the supply of cool air from the cooler 9 to the vegetable chamber outward path 35 is provided, opening and closing of the door for actual use and storage It is stable against changes in food and changes in external temperature.

By controlling the damper device 32 for the vegetable compartment to be forced to close when the fan device 8 is stopped, a part of the air passage is closed in the outward passage 35 for the vegetable compartment and the return passage 36 for the vegetable compartment. Therefore, the air in the air passage does not move, and the humid air in the vegetable compartment does not flow into the damper device, so there is no frost or icing, and the function of the damper device can be ensured.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inside of the heat insulating box is partitioned by the heat insulating partition wall to form the refrigerating compartment above the freezing compartment and the vegetable compartment below the freezing compartment. Air cooled by a cooler is circulated by a fan device to cool the room, and a refrigerating room return path for returning the cold air sent to the refrigerating room via the refrigerating room outward path is returned. To return to the refrigerator, and to return the cooler sent to the vegetable compartment via the vegetable compartment outward route, to return the cooler to the vegetable compartment return path, and to cool the refrigerator compartment outward route. It consists of a heat insulating cover that covers the damper device that controls the supply and the damper device that controls the supply of cool air from the cooler to the outward path for the vegetable compartment, and controls the vegetable compartment damper device to forcibly close when the fan device stops. Refrigerated by letting Also vegetable compartment temperature is always stable a but any use condition, air humidity fan unit stops is prevented from flowing into the damper device, it is possible to function securing of the damper device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a refrigerator that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is different from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a part of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the parts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the conventional refrigerator different from FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Refrigerator Room 5 Freezer Room 6 Vegetable Room 8 Fan Device 9 Cooler 25 Insulation Box Body 26, 27 Insulation Partition Wall 29 Insulation Cover 31, 32 Damper Device 33 Outgoing Route for Refrigerating Room 35 Return Route for Refrigerating Room 35 Outgoing Route for Vegetable Room 36 Vegetables Room return

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. The inside of the heat-insulating box is partitioned by a heat-insulating partition wall to form a refrigerating compartment above the freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment below the freezer compartment, and a cooler for cooling each compartment. Cooled air is circulated by a fan device and is returned to the cooler via a refrigerating chamber return path for returning cold air sent to the refrigerating room via the refrigerating room outward path. In order to return the cold air sent to the vegetable compartment to the cooler via the vegetable compartment return path via the vegetable compartment outward path, the cool air is supplied from the cooler to the refrigerating room outward path. A refrigerator provided with a damper device for controlling and a damper device for controlling the supply of cold air from the cooler to the outward path for the vegetable compartment. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the vegetable compartment damper device is controlled so as to be forcibly closed when the fan device is stopped.