Connector, air outlet structure and refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a joint, an air outlet structure and a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an air outlet structure, and the air outlet structure includes a joint. The joint includes: a joint body, the joint body is provided with a ventilation channel, the joint body is used to be inserted into the air outlet channel of the air outlet duct, and the ventilation channel is connected with the air outlet channel, and the joint body is located at the outlet of the air outlet channel after being inserted into the air outlet channel; wherein the joint body is used for installation of a heating element, and the heating element is used to heat the material in the ventilation channel. In the above-mentioned joint, air outlet structure and refrigerator, the joint body can provide a larger installation area for the heating element, and the heating element can be installed on the joint body and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel of the joint body. The heating area of ​​the ventilation channel by the heating element is large, and the defrosting efficiency is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and in particular to a joint, an air outlet structure and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] In a refrigerator, if the freezing air duct is a foam component, an aluminum foil auxiliary heater is usually installed at the freezing air outlet on the freezing air duct mask assembly to achieve defrosting of the freezing air duct. However, installing the aluminum foil auxiliary heater in the freezing air duct mask assembly will result in low defrosting efficiency due to its small heating area for the freezing air duct. Summary of the invention

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a joint, an air outlet structure and a refrigerator that can improve the defrosting efficiency.

[0004] The technical solution is as follows:

[0005] A joint, comprising: a joint body, wherein a ventilation channel is provided through the joint body, the joint body is used to be inserted into an air outlet channel of an air outlet duct and to make the ventilation channel communicate with the air outlet channel, and the joint body is located at the outlet of the air outlet channel after being inserted into the air outlet channel;

[0006] Wherein, the joint body is used for installing a heating element, and the heating element is used to heat the substance in the ventilation channel.

[0007] In the above-mentioned joint, the joint body can provide a larger installation area for the heating element. The heating element can be installed on the joint body and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel of the joint body. The heating element has a large heating area for the ventilation channel and a high defrosting efficiency.

[0008] The technical solution is further described below:

[0009] In one embodiment, the connector body includes a first mounting portion for installing the heating element, the first mounting portion is located outside the air outlet duct after the connector body is inserted into the air outlet duct, the ventilation duct includes a frost-prone channel formed by the first mounting portion, and the heating element is used to heat the substance in the frost-prone channel.

[0010] In one embodiment, the connector body further includes a second mounting portion connected to the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion being located in the air outlet channel after the connector body is inserted into the air outlet channel, the ventilation channel including an air guide channel formed by the second mounting portion, the air guide channel being connected to the frost-prone channel, the second mounting portion being used for installing a seal, and the seal being used to abut between an inner wall of the air outlet channel and an outer wall of the connector body.

[0011] In one of the embodiments, the joint body is also used for installing a sealing member, and the sealing member is used to abut between the inner wall of the air outlet duct and the outer wall of the joint body.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the connector further comprises a positioning portion disposed on the connector body, and the positioning portion is used for positioning and cooperating with the heating element.

[0013] In one embodiment, the positioning portion is a reinforcing rib disposed on the outer surface of the joint body.

[0014] The present technical solution also provides an air outlet structure, including: an air outlet duct, which is provided with an air outlet channel; a joint as described above, wherein the joint body is inserted into the air outlet channel to connect the air outlet channel with the ventilation channel, and the joint body is located at the outlet of the air outlet channel; and a heating element, which is arranged on the joint body and is used to heat the substance in the ventilation channel.

[0015] In the above-mentioned air outlet structure, the joint body can provide a larger installation area for the heating element. The heating element can be installed on the joint body and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel of the joint body. The heating element has a large heating area for the ventilation channel and a high defrosting efficiency.

[0016] In one embodiment, the connector body includes a first mounting portion for the heater to be wrapped around, the first mounting portion is located outside the air outlet duct after the connector body is inserted into the air outlet duct, the ventilation duct includes a frost-prone channel formed by the first mounting portion, and the heater is used to heat the substance in the frost-prone channel.

[0017] In one embodiment, the air outlet structure further includes a sealing member, and the sealing member is supported between the inner wall of the air outlet duct and the outer wall of the joint body.

[0018] The technical solution also provides a refrigerator, comprising the air outlet structure as described above.

[0019] In the above-mentioned refrigerator, the joint body can provide a larger installation area for the heating element. The heating element can be installed on the joint body and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel of the joint body. The heating element has a large heating area for the ventilation channel and a high defrosting efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an air outlet structure in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of a joint in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Description of reference numerals:

[0023] 100. Connector, 110. Connector body, 111. First mounting portion, 112. Second mounting portion, 113. Ventilation passage, 114. Frost-prone passage, 115. Air guide passage, 120. Positioning portion, 130. Assembly portion, 200. Air outlet duct, 210. Air outlet passage, 300. Box lining. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods. It should be understood that the specific implementation methods described herein are only used to explain the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0025] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation method.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0027] The “first” and “second” mentioned in the present invention do not represent specific quantities and orders, but are merely used to distinguish names.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment relates to an air outlet structure, which includes a joint 100, an air outlet duct 200, a heating element (not shown) and a sealing element (not shown).

[0029] Specifically, the connector 100 includes a connector body 110, and the connector body 110 is provided with a ventilation channel 113, and the connector body is used to be inserted into the outlet channel 210 of the outlet duct 200, and the ventilation channel 113 is connected with the outlet channel 210, and the connector body 110 is located at the outlet of the outlet channel 210 after being inserted into the outlet channel 210. The outlet duct 200 is used to discharge cold air, and the cold air flows from the outlet channel 210 to the ventilation channel 113, and then flows out from the ventilation channel 113. Since the connector body 110 is located at the outlet of the outlet channel 210, if the cold air meets the hot air (the hot air only refers to the air with a temperature higher than the cold air) coming from the outside in the ventilation channel 113, it is very easy to cause frost inside the ventilation channel 113.

[0030] The joint body 110 is used for installing a heating element, and the heating element is used to heat the material in the ventilation channel 113. In this way, when frost forms inside the ventilation channel 113, the heating element can play a role in defrosting.

[0031] In the above-mentioned air outlet structure, the connector body 110 can provide a larger installation area for the heater. The heater is installed on the connector body 110 and can directly heat the frost in the ventilation passage 113 of the connector body 110. The heater has a large heating area for the ventilation passage 113 and a high defrosting efficiency.

[0032] Optionally, the heating element mentioned above can be a deformable heating element such as an aluminum foil auxiliary heater, which can be wound around the joint body 110 and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel 113 of the joint body 110. Of course, the heating element can also include multiple non-deformable heating elements, which are arranged at intervals along the circumference of the joint body 110 and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel 113 of the joint body 110.

[0033] In one embodiment, the joint body 110 includes a first mounting portion 111 for mounting a heating element. The first mounting portion 111 is located outside the air outlet duct 200 after the joint body is inserted into the air outlet duct 200. The ventilation duct 113 includes an easy-to-frost channel 114 formed by the first mounting portion 111. The heating element is used to heat the material in the easy-to-frost channel 114. When the joint body 110 is inserted into the air outlet duct 200, the first mounting portion 111 is located outside the air outlet duct 210. The easy-to-frost channel 114 formed by the first mounting portion 111 is also located outside the air outlet duct 210. External hot air can easily enter the easy-to-frost channel 114. Therefore, when cold air enters the easy-to-frost channel 114, it is easy to frost the inside of the easy-to-frost channel 114. By arranging the heating element on the first mounting portion 111, the distance between the heating element and the easy-to-frost channel 114 can be reduced, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0034] In one embodiment, the heating element is an aluminum foil auxiliary heater, which is wound around the outside of the first mounting portion 111 and wraps around the first mounting portion 111, so that the heating element can heat the frost in the frost-prone channel 114 more evenly, and can increase the heated area of ​​the frost-prone channel 114, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0035] In another embodiment, the heating element includes a plurality of heaters, and the plurality of heaters are disposed along the circumference of the first mounting portion 111 to heat the frost in the frost-prone passage 114 .

[0036] In one embodiment, the air outlet duct 200 is a foam component. By setting the first mounting portion 111 outside the air outlet channel 210, when the heating element is installed on the first mounting portion 111, the heating element can be prevented from directly heating the air outlet duct 200, thereby preventing the air outlet duct 200 from being damaged.

[0037] In one embodiment, the connector 100 further includes a positioning portion 120 disposed on the connector body 110, and the positioning portion 120 is used to position and cooperate with the heating element. When assembling the heating element, the positioning portion is used to position the heating element, which is beneficial to the installation of the heating element.

[0038] Specifically, the positioning portion 120 is a reinforcing rib disposed on the outer surface of the joint body 110. In this way, the positioning portion 120 not only plays a positioning role, but also plays a reinforcing role, achieving a multi-purpose effect.

[0039] In one embodiment, the joint body 110 is also used for installing a seal, which is used to abut between the inner wall of the air outlet duct 200 and the outer wall of the joint body. The seal plays a sealing role to prevent cold air from flowing out through the gap between the air outlet duct 200 and the joint body.

[0040] Optionally, the sealing member is sponge or rubber.

[0041] Furthermore, the joint body 110 further includes a second mounting portion 112 connected to the first mounting portion 111. The second mounting portion 112 is located in the air outlet channel 210 after the joint body is inserted into the air outlet channel 210. The ventilation channel 113 includes an air guide channel 115 formed by the second mounting portion 112. The air guide channel 115 is connected to the easy-to-frost channel 114. The second mounting portion 112 is used for installing a seal. The seal is used to abut between the inner wall of the air outlet channel 200 and the outer wall of the joint body. The cold air in the air outlet channel 210 will first enter the air guide channel 115, and then enter the easy-to-frost channel 114.

[0042] Specifically, the sealing member is a sponge, which is wound around the outside of the second mounting portion 112 and is held between the inner wall of the air outlet duct 200 and the outer wall of the joint body.

[0043] Furthermore, the positioning portion 120 is also used to position the seal to facilitate installation of the seal.

[0044] In one embodiment, the connector 100 further includes an assembly portion 130 connected to the connector body 110 , and the assembly portion 130 is used to be connected to the air outlet duct 200 to achieve structural fixation.

[0045] Furthermore, the assembly portion 130 is clamped between the air outlet duct 200 and the box liner 300, and the assembly portion 130 and the box liner 300 are also sealed by a sealing member such as sponge or rubber.

[0046] One embodiment also relates to a refrigerator, comprising the air outlet structure as described above.

[0047] In the above-mentioned refrigerator, the joint body 110 can provide a larger installation area for the heating element. The heating element can be wrapped around the joint body 110 and directly heat the frost in the ventilation channel 113 of the joint body 110. The heating area of ​​the ventilation channel 113 by the heating element is large and the defrosting efficiency is high.

[0048] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0049] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A joint, characterized in that: include: A joint body, wherein the joint body is provided with a ventilation channel therethrough, the joint body is used to be inserted into an air outlet channel of an air outlet duct and to connect the ventilation channel with the air outlet channel, and the joint body is located at the outlet of the air outlet channel after being inserted into the air outlet channel; Wherein, the joint body is used for installing a heating element, and the heating element is used to heat the substance in the ventilation channel; the joint body includes a first mounting portion for installing the heating element, and the first mounting portion is located outside the air outlet duct after the joint body is inserted into the air outlet duct, and the ventilation channel includes a frost-prone channel formed by the first mounting portion, and the heating element is used to heat the substance in the frost-prone channel.

2. The joint according to claim 1, characterized in that The connector body also includes a second mounting portion connected to the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion being located in the air outlet channel after the connector body is inserted into the air outlet channel, the ventilation channel including an air guide channel formed by the second mounting portion, the air guide channel being connected to the frost-prone channel, the second mounting portion being used for installing a sealing member, the sealing member being used to abut between an inner wall of the air outlet channel and an outer wall of the connector body.

3. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: The joint body is also used for installing a sealing member, and the sealing member is used to abut between the inner wall of the air outlet duct and the outer wall of the joint body.

4. The joint according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that: It also includes a positioning portion arranged on the joint body, and the positioning portion is used for positioning and cooperating with the heating element.

5. The joint according to claim 4, characterized in that The positioning portion is a reinforcing rib arranged on the outer surface of the joint body.

6. An air outlet structure, characterized in that: include: An air outlet duct, wherein the air outlet duct is provided with an air outlet passage; The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connector body is inserted into the air outlet channel so that the air outlet channel is connected to the ventilation channel, and the connector body is located at the outlet of the air outlet channel; and A heating element is arranged on the joint body and is used to heat the material in the ventilation channel.

7. The air outlet structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: The connector body includes a first mounting portion for the heater to be wrapped around, the first mounting portion is located outside the air outlet duct after the connector body is inserted into the air outlet duct, the ventilation duct includes a frost-prone channel formed by the first mounting portion, and the heater is used to heat the substance in the frost-prone channel.

8. The air outlet structure according to claim 6, characterized in that: It also includes a sealing member, which is held between the inner wall of the air outlet duct and the outer wall of the joint body.

9. A refrigerator, characterized in that: It comprises the air outlet structure as described in any one of claims 6 to 8 above.

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