JPH11101552A - Refrigerator with cold air distribution blades that can supply concentrated cold air to specific parts - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a refrigerator having cold air distribution blades. SOLUTION: A cool air distribution blade is rotatably provided in a region adjacent to a cool air discharge port in a duct. The cool air distribution blade is driven by a drive motor capable of controlling a stop angle position. A plurality of temperature sensors are provided in the refrigerator compartment.
The microprocessor controls the drive motor based on the temperature sensed from the temperature sensor. When the temperature of the specific part is high, the cool air is concentratedly discharged by the cool air distribution blade stopped toward the part, and when the temperature difference in the refrigerator is small, the cool air distribution blade is continuously driven to rotate. As a result, the temperature-raised portion is centrally cooled, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is maintained uniformly.

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 cool air distribution device for uniformly distributing cool air into a cooling room, and more particularly to a refrigerator having cool air distribution blades capable of supplying cold air to a specific portion intensively. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a refrigerator is composed of a pair of cooling chambers separated by an intermediate partition wall, that is, a cabinet forming a freezing room and a refrigerator room, a freezing room door for opening and closing each cooling room, a refrigerator room door, and a refrigerator. A refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator for supplying cool air to the chamber and the refrigerator compartment is provided. Cool air generated from the evaporator flows along a supply duct formed in a rear wall of each cooling chamber, and is supplied to each cooling chamber through a cool air discharge port toward the cooling chamber by a blower fan.

However, in such a conventional refrigerator, there are a region where the cool air discharged through the cool air discharge port is provided in a concentrated manner and a region where the cool air is supplied in a relatively small amount. And there is a problem that uniform cooling cannot be performed due to the temperature difference. Then, a so-called three-dimensional cooling type refrigerator that has solved such problems has been proposed. In the three-dimensional cooling refrigerator, a large number of cooling air discharge ports are provided on the rear wall surface and both side wall surfaces of the cooling chamber, respectively, so as to uniformly supply the cool air.

However, even in such a three-dimensional cooling type refrigerator, since cooling discharge is performed in a certain direction through a cool air discharge port, there may be a dead zone in a corner region where cooling air supply is insufficient. In particular, since the supply duct is provided not only on the rear wall but also on the side wall of the cooling chamber, there is a problem that the space for accommodating food and drink is reduced, and the number of components and the number of steps increase, thereby increasing the manufacturing cost. The uniform distribution of cool air in the cooling room has become a very important problem in connection with the trend of refrigerators becoming larger. To this end, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a refrigerator having a cool air distribution device in WO 95/27278. 1 to 3 are a side sectional view, a partially enlarged sectional view, and an exploded perspective view of main components of a refrigerator having the cold air distribution device.

[0005] In the refrigerator having the conventional cool air distributing device, a pair of cooling chambers 2 and 3 separated by an intermediate partition 5 are provided in a cabinet 1 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
Each of the cooling chambers 2 and 3 is divided into a relatively low-temperature freezing chamber 2 and a relatively high-temperature refrigerator chamber 3. Opening doors 6 and 7 are provided at the front openings of the cooling chambers 2 and 3, respectively. In the cabinet 1, a refrigeration system including a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), and a freezer evaporator 12a and a freezer evaporator 12b is provided. Each evaporator 12a,
The cold air generated in 12b is supplied to the cooling chambers 2 and 3 by the freezing chamber fan 13a and the refrigerating chamber fan 13b.

The inner wall plate 2 forming the rear inner wall surface of the refrigerator compartment 3
A partially cylindrical duct plate 9 having a cool air discharge port 16 opened toward the refrigerator compartment 3 is attached to the refrigerator compartment 3. A seal plate is provided between the duct plate 9 and the rear wall 4 of the cabinet 1. Supply duct 1 isolated by 25
5 and a return duct 17 are provided. Supply duct 15
Inside, a duct member 21 for guiding cool air from the refrigerator compartment fan 13b downward is provided. Cold room evaporator 12b
The cold air generated from the cooling air is transferred by the refrigerating room fan 13b and supplied to the refrigerating room 3 through the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge port 16.

In the supply duct 15, a cold air distribution device 130 is provided.
Is provided. The cool air distribution device 130 includes a rotating shaft 131 having a vertical axis and a cool air distribution blade 132 and a rotating shaft 1 coupled to the rotating shaft 131 corresponding to each cool air outlet 16.
31 is provided with a drive motor 135 for driving the rotation. Each cool air distribution blade 132 is composed of three disks 136, 137, 138 arranged in parallel along the axial direction, and the disks 13
6, 137, 138, the first blade 133
And the second blade portion 134. Each wing 133,
134 is curved so as to have a gentle S-shaped cross section, and the respective blade portions 133 and 134 are bent in directions opposite to each other.

With such a configuration, the drive motor 135
If the rotating shaft 131 rotates at a low speed, the supply duct 15
The direction of the flow of the cool air moved along is changed by the bent plate surface of the cool air distribution blade 132, and the cold air spreads right and left into the refrigerator compartment 3 and is dispersed right and left. However,
Each blade 133, 13 of such a cool air distribution device 130
4 is curved in a gentle S-shape,
Depending on the rotation direction of 1, the cold air may not be sufficiently supplied to one of the right and left sides of the refrigerator compartment 3, and a vortex may be formed around the cold air discharge port 16 to impede a smooth cold air flow. is there.

In addition, such a conventional cold air distribution device 13
A value of 0 can achieve a certain degree of uniform distribution of cool air in the refrigerator compartment, but has a problem that it is difficult to maintain a uniform temperature in the refrigerator compartment 3 when the temperature of one part of the refrigerator compartment 3 changes in a short time. That is, when new food is stored in the refrigerator compartment 3 and the temperature of a specific part rises, sufficient cold air supply to that part is not performed. Therefore, incomplete cooling occurs in a specific portion, or supercooling occurs in other portions by a cool air supply operation for appropriately cooling this portion. As described above, the conventional cool air distribution device 130 has a limit in achieving uniform cooling of the entire refrigerator compartment 3.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a convection cooler for a specific portion where the temperature is increased without generating a vortex, taking into consideration such conventional problems. To provide a refrigerator having a cold air distribution device capable of effectively achieving a uniform distribution of the cold air.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a cooling chamber for storing food, and a cold air passage formed in a side wall of the cooling chamber to form a cold air passage toward the inside of the cooling chamber. A refrigerator having a duct having at least one cool air discharge port which is opened in a refrigerator, wherein the cool air discharged through the cool air discharge port is rotatably provided in an area adjacent to the cool air discharge port in the duct and has an angular position. A horizontal distributing blade that adjusts the discharge direction in a substantially horizontal direction, a rotating shaft connected to the horizontal distributing blade and extending along a vertical axis, and rotating the rotating shaft to control an angular position. The drive motor, a plurality of temperature sensors provided in the cooling chamber, and the drive motor such that cold air is supplied to a high-temperature portion based on the temperature in the cooling chamber detected by the temperature sensor. It is achieved by a refrigerator, which comprises a control unit for controlling the stop angle position of the motor.

Here, the controller controls the driving motor such that the horizontal distribution blade is continuously rotated when a difference between the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined value. Preferably, the refrigerator according to the present invention further includes a plurality of vertical distribution blades having a horizontal rotation axis, and means for rotating the vertical distribution blades in a substantially vertical direction.

Here, the vertical turning means has a plurality of hinge connecting portions each hinged to each of the vertical distribution blades, and is provided with a vertically movable vertically movable interlocking member; And lifting drive means. The elevating drive means is provided on the rotating shaft and rotates together with the rotating shaft, and is formed integrally with the interlocking member and interacts with the elevating cam to thereby rotate the elevating cam. Including an action portion for transmitting to the elevating movement of the interlocking member. It is preferable that the driving motor is constituted by a stepping motor. According to the present invention, vortex flow is not generated, and intensive cooling is performed on a specific portion where the temperature has increased. Therefore, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is kept uniform.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIGS. 1 to 3 related to the prior art and the drawings related to the embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, in each embodiment, the overlapping description is omitted for the substantially same part.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a refrigerator according to the present invention. This refrigerator has a cabinet forming an upper freezer compartment 2 and a lower refrigerating compartment 3 separated by an intermediate partition wall 5, similarly to the conventional refrigerator described with reference to FIGS. Opening doors 6 and 7 are provided at the front openings of the freezer compartment 2 and the refrigerator compartment 3, respectively. In the refrigerator compartment 3, shelves for stacking and storing foods are provided to divide the refrigerator compartment 3 into three upper, middle and lower layered storage areas. A special cold storage room 18 for storing foods suitable for a specific temperature is formed on the upper side of the refrigerator compartment 3, and a vegetable compartment 19 for storing vegetables is formed on the lower side of the refrigerator compartment 3. Have been.

In the cabinet 1, a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), a freezer evaporator 12a and a refrigerator evaporator 1 are provided.
2b is provided. The cool air generated in each of the evaporators 12a and 12b is supplied to the freezer compartment fan 13a.
And it is supplied to the said cooling chambers 2 and 3 by the refrigerator compartment fan 13b. A supply duct 15 and a return duct 17 are provided behind the refrigerator compartment 3. The cool air generated in the cool room evaporator 12b is transferred by the cool room fan 13b and supplied to the cool room 3 through the supply duct 15 and the cool air discharge port 16. A horizontal distribution device for cool air is provided in the supply duct 15.

The refrigerator compartment 3 has a pair of temperature sensors 9a, 9
b is provided. Temperature sensors 9a, 9b
Is provided with a first temperature sensor 9a provided on the upper left side and a second temperature sensor 9b provided on the lower right side.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device of FIG. The refrigerator according to the present invention has a horizontal distribution device 30 for distributing cool air in a horizontal direction and a vertical distribution device 40 for distributing cool air in a vertical direction.

The horizontal distribution device 30 has a rotary shaft 31 having a vertical axis, three flat horizontal blades 33, and a drive motor 35 for driving the rotary shaft 31 to rotate. Three horizontal distribution blades 33 are arranged in the axial direction adjacent to each cool air discharge port 16 formed in the duct plate 9. A coupling 39 for coupling with the drive shaft 36 of the drive motor 35 is provided at an upper portion of the rotating shaft 31, and is inserted into a bearing hole 9 g formed in a lower region of the duct plate 9 at a lower portion. And a journal portion 32 that is rotatably supported. The drive motor 35 is desirably a stepping motor whose stop angle position can be controlled.

Then, when the drive motor 35 rotates,
The horizontal distribution blades 33 rotate through the rotation shaft 31 to distribute the cool air discharged through the cool air discharge ports 16 in the horizontal direction. The vertical distribution device 40 is disposed adjacent to the cool air discharge port 16 in the supply duct 15 and is provided with a number of vertical distribution blades 57 rotatably provided with respect to the horizontal rotation axis. And an elevating cam 63 for moving the interlocking member 61 up and down.

The vertical distribution blade 57 is formed of an arc-shaped flat plate so as to accommodate the horizontal distribution blade 33, and has a horizontal rotating shaft 53 extending along a horizontal axis at both left and right ends thereof. Correspondingly, the duct plate 9 has
Flanges 9e extending rearward from the back surface of the both side edges are provided facing each other, and a large number of shaft holes 9f for accommodating and supporting the horizontal rotating shaft 53 in the flange 9e are provided. Is formed. The vertical distribution blade 57 can be turned up and down inside the cool air discharge port 16 with the horizontal rotation shaft 53 inserted into the shaft hole 9f.

The interlocking member 61 is arranged in parallel with the rotating shaft 31. The interlocking member 61 is formed in a long bar shape, and has a number of hinge joints 62 projecting in a partial ring shape toward each vertical distribution blade 57. Corresponding to the hinge connecting portion 62, a cylindrical hinge portion 55 arranged along the horizontal direction is provided in a central region inside each of the vertical distribution blades 57. The hinge connecting portion 62 meshes with the hinge portion 55 so as to be relatively rotatable.

The elevating cam 63 is provided on the rotating shaft 31 of the horizontal distribution device 30. The elevating cam 63 includes a cylindrical cam body 66 and a cam groove 65 formed on the outer surface of the cam body 66. The cam groove 65 has a closed-loop cam profile that moves up and down along the cylindrical surface of the cam body 66. The interlocking member 61 is provided with an action portion 67 projecting perpendicularly to its longitudinal direction, and a free end of the action portion 67 is engaged with the cam groove 65 of the elevating cam 63.

The interlocking member 61 also has a guide piece 69 protruding toward the duct plate 9, and this guide piece 69 is a lifting guide 49 formed on the inner wall surface of the duct plate 9.
To be housed. The elevating guide portion 49 accommodates the guide piece 69 so as to be able to move up and down, and prevents the interlocking member 61 from rotating around its axis.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the cold air distribution device. The cool air distribution device is controlled by the microprocessor 70. The microprocessor 70 receives signals from the first and second temperature sensors 9a and 9b, thereby sensing the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 3, and calculates a temperature distribution based on the sensed temperature. The microprocessor 70 controls the drive motor 35 according to the calculated temperature distribution. Although not shown in FIG. 7, the microprocessor 70 is
1 and the fans 13a and 13b are controlled to control the generation and supply of cool air.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are cross-sectional views showing a state in which cool air is discharged by the rotation of the horizontal distribution blade 33. FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 8, when the horizontal distribution blades 33 are positioned parallel to the front surface, the cool air in the supply duct 15 is discharged to the front along both side surfaces of the horizontal distribution blades 33. Then, when the horizontal distribution blade 33 is rotated leftward or rightward as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cool air is discharged toward the leftward or rightward.

When the horizontal distribution device 30 is operated and the rotating shaft 31 is rotated, the lifting cam 63 is also rotated, and the lifting cam 63 is rotated.
The interlocking member 61 is moved up and down by the action portion 67 meshing with the cam groove 65. The vertical movement of the interlocking member 61 causes the vertical distribution blade 57 to move up and down with respect to the horizontal rotation shaft 53 through the hinge joint 62 and the hinge 55 of the vertical distribution blade 57. On the other hand, the raising and lowering of the interlocking member 61 is guided vertically by the guide piece 69 and the vertical guide unit 49. Accordingly, the interlocking member 61 reciprocates in the vertical direction without rotating when the elevating cam 63 rotates.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are side sectional views showing the vertical movement of the vertical distribution blade 57 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 31. As shown in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 11, when the vertical distribution vanes 57 are positioned horizontally, cool air is discharged in the horizontal direction. When the rotating shaft 31 rotates about 90 degrees, the vertical distribution blade 57 is positioned at an upward inclination as shown in FIG. 10, and at this time, cool air is discharged upward to supply cool air to the upper region of the refrigerator compartment 3. At the position shown in FIG.
When further rotated by 90 degrees, the vertical distribution blade 57 returns to the horizontal position of FIG. 11, and when further rotated by about 90 degrees, the vertical distribution blade 57 is positioned at a downward inclination as shown in FIG. At this time, the cool air is discharged downward.

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The microprocessor 70 checks whether the refrigerator compartment fan 13b is in the ON state (S
1). When the refrigerator compartment fan 13b is on, the microprocessor 70 measures the temperature distribution in the refrigerator compartment 3 first to realize the centralized cooling according to the present invention.

More specifically, the microprocessor 70 measures the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 3 using the first and second temperature sensors 9a and 9b (S2), and calculates the temperature difference between the measured parts. (S3). Based on whether or not the calculated temperature difference is greater than or equal to the predetermined value X, the microprocessor 70 determines the degree of the temperature deviation due to the location of the refrigerator compartment 3. Here, the predetermined value X differs for each model in consideration of the type, size, cooling amount, etc. of the refrigerator.
° C to 3 ° C.

If the temperature difference is smaller than the predetermined value X, the microprocessor 70 drives the rotating shaft 31 to rotate at a constant speed (S4). Thereby, the cool air is uniformly distributed in the horizontal direction by the rotating horizontal distribution blades 33 and supplied. Cool air is evenly distributed in the horizontal and vertical directions as it operates with the vertical distributor 40 while the horizontal distributor 30 is in operation. Further, since the horizontal distribution blades 33 are formed in a flat plate shape, the vortex phenomenon by the horizontal distribution blades 33 does not occur during the cool air dispersion operation.

On the other hand, when the temperature difference is larger than the predetermined value X, the microprocessor 70 sets the first temperature sensor 9a
The temperature of the first area detected by the second temperature sensor 9b is compared with the temperature of the second area detected by the second temperature sensor 9b (S5). 35 is stopped. As a result, centralized cooling in which cool air is intensively discharged to a high-temperature portion is realized. That is, when the temperature of the first area is higher than the temperature of the second area, the microprocessor 70 controls the drive motor 3 so that the horizontal distribution blade 33 is rotated rightward as shown in FIG.
5 is controlled (S6). At this time, the vertical distribution blade 57 is in an upwardly rotated state as shown in FIG. Thereby, the cool air is intensively discharged to the first region.

When the temperature of the second region is higher than the temperature of the first region, the microprocessor 70 drives the horizontal distribution blade 33 so that the horizontal distribution blade 33 is turned to the left as shown in FIG. The motor 35 is controlled (S7). At this time, the vertical distribution blade 57 is turned downward as shown in FIG. Thereby, the cool air is intensively discharged to the second area. As described above, by intensively supplying the cool air to the portion having a high temperature, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 3 is maintained uniformly. In the present embodiment, each cold air discharge port 16
Are arranged, but one horizontal distribution blade may be extended to all the cool air discharge ports 16.

In the present embodiment, the vertical distribution blades 57 are configured to interlock with the horizontal distribution blades 33, but are independently driven by providing another driving means for driving the vertical distribution blades 57. can do. That is,
By providing an additional drive motor controlled by the microprocessor 70 and driving the interlocking member 61 by the additional drive motor without the elevation cam 63, the stop angle position can be controlled even in a substantially vertical direction. Accordingly, in a similar manner as described above, it is possible to perform centralized cooling of a specific portion or dispersion of cold air by continuous reciprocating rotation in a substantially vertical direction based on the temperatures sensed by the temperature sensors 9a and 9b.

In this case, it is desirable to provide a number of temperature sensors arranged at a number of positions. Using a number of temperature sensors, a portion having a high temperature can be measured in a number of locations in the horizontal and substantially vertical directions. Independently controlled vertical distribution vanes 57 and horizontal distribution vanes 33 perform the supply of cool air to this hot spot.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform concentrated cooling to a specific portion that has risen without generating a vortex. Therefore, the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is kept uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a conventional refrigerator having cool air distribution blades.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of main elements of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of FIG. 4;

6 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the cold air distribution device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a control block diagram of the cold air distribution device.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which cold air is discharged by horizontal distribution blades.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state of discharging cold air by the horizontal distribution blade.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state of discharging cold air by the horizontal distribution blade.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged side sectional view showing cold air distribution by elevating a vertical distribution blade.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side sectional view showing cold air distribution by elevating a vertical distribution blade.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged side sectional view showing cold air distribution by elevating a vertical distribution blade.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating steps of controlling a refrigerator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cabinet 2 Freezer compartment 3 Refrigerator compartment 6, 7 Opening / closing door 11 Compressor 12a, 12b Evaporator 13a, 13b Fan 15 Supply duct 16 Cold air discharge port 17 Return duct 30 Horizontal distribution device 31 Rotation axis 32 Journal part 33 Horizontal distribution blade 35 Drive motor 39 Coupling part 40 Vertical distribution device 55 Hinge part 57 Vertical distribution blade 61 Interlocking member 62 Hinge connection part 63 Elevating cam 65 Cam groove

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A cooling chamber for storing food, and a duct provided in a side wall of the cooling chamber to form a cool air passage and having at least one cool air discharge port opened toward the inside of the cooling chamber. In the refrigerator, a flat horizontal distribution member is provided in the duct so as to be rotatable in an area adjacent to the cool air discharge port, and adjusts a discharge direction of the cool air discharged through the cool air discharge port in a substantially horizontal direction according to an angular position thereof. A blade, a rotating shaft connected to the horizontal distribution blade and extended along a vertical axis, a drive motor that rotates the rotating shaft and can control an angular position, a plurality of temperature sensors provided in the cooling chamber, And a control unit that controls a stop angle position of the drive motor based on a temperature in the cooling chamber detected by the temperature sensor so that cool air is supplied to a high-temperature portion. Refrigerator and butterflies. 2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the driving motor such that the horizontal distribution blade continuously rotates when a deviation between the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor is less than a predetermined value. The refrigerator as described. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vertical distribution blades having a horizontal rotation axis, and means for rotating the vertical distribution blades in a substantially vertical direction.
A refrigerator according to claim 1. 4. The vertical rotating means includes a plurality of hinged portions hingedly connected to the respective vertical distribution blades, and an interlocking member which is provided so as to be able to move up and down in a vertical direction, and drives the interlocking member up and down. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a lifting drive means. 5. The lifting cam provided on the rotating shaft and rotating together with the rotating shaft, and the lifting driving unit is formed integrally with the interlocking member and interacts with the lifting cam to thereby form the lifting cam. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising an operation unit that transmits the rotational motion of the interlocking member to the elevating motion of the interlocking member. 6. The elevating cam includes a cylindrical cam main body provided coaxially with the rotation shaft, and a cam groove having a closed-loop cam profile that moves up and down on an outer surface of the cam main body. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the refrigerator projects from the interlocking member and meshes with the cam groove. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising guide means for guiding the interlocking member so that the interlocking member can be vertically raised and prevented from rotating. 8. The guide means includes a guide piece protruding along an axis of the interlocking member, and a guide portion formed on an inner wall surface of the duct and into which the guide piece is inserted so as to be able to move up and down. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: 9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the drive motor is a stepping motor.