JPH0749341Y2 - Machine room structure such as refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Field of the Invention This invention is designed to allow outside air at room temperature to circulate around an electrical equipment box containing various electrical parts, and to generate air by contacting the heat generating portion of the refrigeration mechanism and raising the temperature. The present invention relates to a machine room structure for a refrigerator or the like, which can prevent the electric component box from being heated and can effectively prevent overheating of the electric components and failure of the components accompanying the electric components.

Prior Art Vegetables, fruits, and other fresh foods such as meat and fish (hereinafter referred to as "ingredients") are stored as refrigerators or freezers (hereinafter simply referred to as "refrigerators") for a long period of time, for example, as shown in FIG. A horizontal refrigerator having a horizontally long gabinet is known. Inside this horizontally long box-shaped main body (cabinet) 10, a storage box (not shown) for cooling and storing foodstuffs is adjacent to the storage box with a wall between them. A machine room 12 accommodating a refrigerating mechanism 18 for cooling the arranged cooler (not shown) is defined.

An opening (not shown) for loading and unloading foodstuffs is provided on the front surface of the storage in the main body 10, and a heat insulating door 14 for opening and closing the opening is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an opening 17 is formed in the front surface of the machine room 12, and the opening 17 is closed by a front cover 16.

On the bottom plate 28 of the machine room 12, the condenser 22 and the compressor 20 that constitute the refrigeration mechanism 18 are sequentially arranged in series. A fin-and-tube type is generally used as the condenser 22, and a cooling fan arranged between the condenser 22 and the compressor 20.
By the operation of 24, the heat generating portions such as the condenser 22 and the compressor 20 are forcedly cooled by air.

In the refrigerator including the air-cooled condenser described above, the front cover 16 that generally closes the front surface of the machine room 12 has a condenser 22
A plurality of suction ports 16a for sucking in air are provided at a position facing each other. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine room
The side plate 26, the bottom plate 28, and the back plate 30 that define 12 are each provided with a discharge port 32, and the rotation of the cooling fan 24 causes the suction port 16a.
The air sucked from the air comes into contact with the condenser 22 to cool it, and then is discharged to the outside from each air outlet 32 as warm air.

Above the condenser 22 arranged in the machine room 12, as shown in FIG. 4, a microcomputer and a compressor for controlling the refrigeration mechanism 18 are provided.
An electrical equipment box 34 in which electric components such as 20 start-up capacitors and fuses, other various switches and thermostats (none of which are shown) are built in is arranged. Further, an adjustment window 16b is opened in the front cover 16 at a position corresponding to the front surface of the electrical equipment box 34, and the switches and thermostats arranged in the electrical equipment box 34 can be operated and adjusted through the adjustment window 16b. Configured.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The electrical equipment box 34 arranged in the machine room 12 has a closed structure in order to prevent insects, dust, and the like from entering the inside. However, because of this, when various electric parts housed in the electrical equipment box 34 generate heat as the refrigerator operates, the temperature inside the box rises and the electric parts become overheated, causing malfunctions and failures. . Therefore, conventionally, the electrical equipment box is cooled by the ambient temperature air sucked from the outside to cool the condenser 22.
34 is also cooled.

However, in the conventional refrigerator configured to suck the external air only from the suction port 16a formed on the front surface of the condenser 22, the suction is performed from the suction port 16a, and the condenser 22 and the compressor 20 of the refrigeration mechanism 18 and the like. The air, which comes into contact with a member that generates heat and causes a temperature rise due to heat exchange, convects into the machine room 12 and comes into contact with the electrical equipment box 34, thereby being cooled. Therefore, the electrical equipment box 34 cannot be cooled sufficiently, and there is a problem in that various electrical components housed inside may malfunction or malfunction.

In addition, when the refrigerator related to the machine room structure is used in a limited space such as a kitchen, the refrigerator is abbreviated as other cooking equipment or kitchen equipment such as a sink according to the recent trend of the system kitchen. In most cases, they are installed in close contact with each other, and the back surface thereof is usually installed in close contact with the wall surface at the installation site. That is, since the outlets 32 opened on the side and the back of the refrigerator are blocked by the kitchen equipment and the wall surface, the smooth discharge of the external air sucked from the suction port 16a is often obstructed. It was In this case, since the internal temperature of the machine room 12 becomes high, there is a problem that the electrical equipment box 34 is not further cooled. Further, the temperature-increased air in the machine room 12 is exhausted to the outside from the adjustment window 16b of the front cover 16, and this warm air is blown to the operator who operates the switch and thermostat of the electrical equipment box 34. It is also pointed out that there are difficulties that make people feel uncomfortable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the mechanical room structure of a refrigerator, the present invention has been proposed to suitably solve this problem, and effectively overheats the electrical equipment box housed in the mechanical room. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for avoiding the above-mentioned problems and preventing malfunctions and failures of the electrical components accompanying this.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, the present invention is provided with a refrigeration mechanism inside, and external air is supplied by rotation of a fan provided adjacent to the refrigeration mechanism. In a machine room such as a refrigerator configured to suck and perform an air-cooling action and to discharge the air after heat exchange to the outside, a box type having an opening opening to the front above the refrigeration mechanism arranged in the machine room The cover is placed with its opening close to the front cover that closes the front of the machine room, and the electrical box containing various electrical parts is placed inside the cover to create the required space. And a plurality of suction ports for air suction are provided at a position facing the opening of the cover in the front cover,
The outside air sucked into the machine room through the suction port is made to flow into a space defined between the cover and the electrical equipment box.

[Embodiment] Next, a machine room structure of a refrigerator or the like according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a schematic configuration of a machine room structure according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of the machine room structure according to the present embodiment. It is a figure. The same members as those described in the related art with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In the drawing, a condenser 22, a cooling fan 24, and a compressor 20 are sequentially arranged in series on a bottom plate 28 of a machine room 12. A plurality of lower suction ports 16a for sucking air are provided in a front cover 16 that closes an opening 17 formed in the front surface of the machine room 12 in correspondence with the position of the condenser 22. Then, by rotating the cooling fan 24, the lower suction port 16a
The air sucked from the cooler is brought into contact with the condenser 22 and the compressor 20 to cool them, and then is discharged to the outside from each discharge port 32 formed in the side plate 26, the bottom plate 28 and the back plate 30 as warm air. .

As shown in FIG. 1, a cover 36 having a rectangular opening 36a opening to the front side is provided above the condenser 22 arranged in the machine chamber 12, and the opening 36a is provided on the front cover 16. They are arranged so as to face each other and be close to each other. Inside the cover 36, the inner wall and a required space 38 are held, and the electrical equipment box is held.
34 are stored. That is, the electrical equipment box 34 is
Are spatially separated from each other. As a result, as described below, the air whose temperature has risen due to contact with the heat generating portion of the refrigeration mechanism 18
Can be prevented from contacting. Also, the bottom plate 36b of the cover 36
A through hole 36c that opens downward is formed in the through hole 36c.
Serves to guide the air passing through the space 38 to the condenser 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, an adjustment window 16b is opened above the lower suction port 16a of the front cover 16 and facing the electrical equipment box 34. The adjustment window 16b is provided in the electrical equipment box 34 through the adjustment window 16b. The switches and thermostats are operated. Further, on the front cover 16 further above the opening position of the adjustment window 16b, and on the inner surface of the upper part of the cover 36 and the electrical equipment box 34
A plurality of different upper suction ports 16c for sucking air are provided at a position facing the space 38 between the upper suction port 16c and the upper surface. Therefore, the outside air at room temperature sucked from the upper suction port 16c is the electrical equipment box 3
It flows into the space 38 defined between the cover 4 and the cover 36.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a shielding member 40 which projects in the direction of the electrical equipment box 34 and extends in the width direction of the cover 36 is disposed below the adjustment window 16b in the front cover 16, and the shielding member 40 is provided. Is set so that the protruding end thereof faces the lower end of the electrical equipment box 34 with a slight gap. That is, the shielding material
The 40 prevents the air sucked in through the upper suction port 16c from flowing down the front surface of the electrical equipment box 34 and being directly guided to the condenser 22, and the hot air warmed by the condenser 22 or the like, It also has a function of preventing discharge from the adjustment window 16b.

Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the machine room structure according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described. Figure 1 shows the machine room that houses the refrigeration mechanism 18.
The flow of air inside 12 is indicated by arrows. Machine room 12
When the cooling fan 24 is rotated, the front cover
External air is sucked through suction ports 16a and 16c formed in the lower part and the upper part of 16, respectively. That is, the upper suction port
The air sucked from 16c passes through a space 38 defined between the electrical equipment box 34 and the cover 36, at which time heat is exchanged with the electrical equipment box 34 to cool the electrical equipment box 34. . Also,
The heat-exchanged air is passed through the through holes 36c formed in the cover 36.
Is sucked into the condenser 22 via. Since the temperature of the air that rises due to the heat exchange with the electrical equipment box 34 is small, it is possible to cool the condenser 22 by bringing this air into contact with the condenser 22.

On the other hand, the air sucked from the lower suction port 16a is directly sucked into the condenser 22 to perform heat exchange, and is then discharged to the outside via the respective discharge ports 32 formed in the side plate 26, the bottom plate 28 and the back plate 30. Exhausted to. Even when the air whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange convection in the machine room 12, since the electrical equipment box 34 is covered by the cover 36, the air contacts the electrical equipment box 34 and heats up. Can be reliably prevented.

That is, the electrical equipment box 34 is cooled by the outside air at room temperature sucked from the outside, and it is possible to reliably avoid contact with the heat-generating portion of the refrigerating mechanism 18 and contact with the air whose temperature has risen. It is possible to effectively prevent the occurrence of malfunction and failure of the.

Here, as described above, the shielding member 40 is disposed between the lower suction port 16a of the front cover 16 and the adjustment window 16b with its tip being slightly spaced from the front surface of the electrical equipment box 34. Therefore, the air sucked from the upper suction port 16c can be prevented from flowing down only the front surface of the electrical equipment box 34 and being sucked into the condenser 22, so that the air is always kept in the space 38.
Be led to. Further, the presence of the shielding member 40 reliably prevents the air, which has come into contact with the heat generating portion of the refrigerating mechanism 18 and whose temperature has risen due to heat exchange, from being exhausted from the adjustment window 16b.

Effect of the Invention As described above, according to the machine room structure such as the freezer according to the present invention, the electrical equipment box is spatially separated from the machine room, and
Since the outside air at room temperature is always circulated around the electrical equipment box, the electrical equipment box can be sufficiently cooled. Therefore, it is possible to suppress overheating of various electric components housed in the electrical component box and effectively prevent malfunction or failure due to overheating of the electric components. Further, there is also an advantage that it is possible to prevent the situation where the air whose temperature has risen due to contact with the heat generating portion of the refrigeration mechanism is exhausted from the adjustment window.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view showing a machine room structure of a refrigerator or the like according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the machine room structure of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of the refrigerator, and FIG. 4 is a transverse side view showing the machine room structure of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 12 …… Machine room, 16 …… Front cover 16c …… Upper suction port, 18 …… Refrigeration mechanism 24 …… Cooling fan, 34 …… Electrical box 36 …… Cover, 36a …… Opening 38 …… Space

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A refrigerating mechanism (18) is provided inside, and a fan (24) provided adjacent to the refrigerating mechanism (18) sucks external air to perform an air-cooling action, and the air after heat exchange is removed. In a machine room such as a refrigerator configured to discharge to the outside, above the refrigeration mechanism (18) arranged in the machine room (12),
Box-shaped cover (3) having an opening (36a) that opens to the front
6) with its opening (36a) facing the front cover (16) that closes the front of the machine room (12) so as to face each other. An electrical equipment box (34) accommodating electrical parts is housed through a required space (38), and a space for air intake is provided at a position facing the opening (36a) of the cover (36) in the front cover (16). Suction port (16c)
A space (38) in which a plurality of holes are formed, and external air sucked into the machine room (12) through the suction port (16c) is defined between the cover (36) and the electrical equipment box (34). A structure of a machine room such as a refrigerator, which is configured to be circulated in a room. 2. A suction port (16) in the front cover (16).
A shielding member (4) projecting toward the electrical component box (34) at a position below the perforated position of a) and facing the electrical component box (34).
0) is provided so as to project, and the shielding member (40) is configured to prevent the air sucked from the suction port (16a) from passing downward through the front surface of the electrical equipment box (34). Machine room structure such as refrigerator.