Air-cooled refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides an air-cooled refrigerator. The air-cooled refrigerator includes a box body, an air duct cover plate, and a heating unit. The box body defines a storage compartment, and the storage compartment is divided into a heating area and at least one storage area. The air duct cover plate is arranged in the storage compartment and forms a compartment air duct together with the vertical side wall of the storage compartment. The heating unit includes a cylinder body arranged in the heating area and used for placing objects to be processed. Among them, the air duct cover plate is provided with at least one air supply port and an air return port arranged at intervals, and at least one air supply port and / or the air return port is arranged in the heating area, so as to utilize the original refrigeration system of the refrigerator to dissipate heat for the cylinder body, which not only has a simple structure and reduces production costs, but also has a high cylinder body heat dissipation efficiency, avoids the occurrence of uneven temperature of the objects to be processed due to heat accumulation in the cylinder body, and improves user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of refrigeration and freezing, and in particular to an air-cooled refrigerator with a heating unit. Background Art

[0002] During the freezing process of food, the quality of the food is maintained, but the frozen food needs to be heated before processing or eating. In order to facilitate users to freeze and heat food, the prior art generally thaws food by arranging an electromagnetic wave heating unit in the refrigerator.

[0003] However, the electromagnetic wave generating system of the heating unit will generate a lot of heat during operation, which will not only cause temperature fluctuations in the storage room and affect the preservation quality of food in the storage room, but also reduce the working efficiency of the electromagnetic wave generating system itself. If it is in a high temperature state for a long time, it will also seriously reduce the service life of electrical components. Summary of the invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to overcome at least one technical defect of the prior art and provide an air-cooled refrigerator with a heating unit.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to reduce the effect of heating on the temperature of the storage area.

[0006] Another further object of the present invention is to improve the temperature uniformity of the object to be treated.

[0007] In particular, the present invention provides an air-cooled refrigerator, characterized in that it comprises:

[0008] The box body defines a storage compartment, and the storage compartment is divided into a heating area and at least one storage area;

[0009] an air duct cover plate, which is disposed in the storage compartment and forms a compartment air duct together with the vertical side wall of the storage compartment; and

[0010] The heating unit comprises a cylinder disposed in the heating area and used for placing the object to be processed; wherein

[0011] The air duct cover is provided with at least one air supply port and one air return port arranged at intervals; and

[0012] At least one of the air supply outlet and / or the air return outlet is arranged in the heating zone.

[0013] Optionally, one of the air supply port and the air return port is arranged in the heating zone; and

[0014] The heating device of the heating unit is at least partially arranged on the return air path from the at least one air supply port to the return air port.

[0015] Optionally, at least one of the air supply ports is disposed in the heating area, and the air return port is disposed in one of the storage areas; and

[0016] The heating device of the heating unit is at least partially arranged on an air supply path from the air supply port to the air return port.

[0017] Optionally, the air-cooled refrigerator further comprises:

[0018] An evaporator and a fan are arranged in the air duct of the compartment and are configured to start or maintain a working state when the heating unit is working; and

[0019] The air supply port for supplying air to the heating area is configured to communicate with the return air port when the heating unit is working.

[0020] Optionally, the fan is configured to operate at a preset first speed when the temperature of one of the storage areas is greater than or equal to the preset cooling temperature, and to operate at a preset second speed when the temperature of each of the storage areas is less than the cooling temperature and the heating unit is operating; wherein

[0021] The first rotation speed is greater than the second rotation speed.

[0022] Optionally, the at least one air supply port is respectively arranged in the at least one storage area, and the return air port is arranged in the heating area; and

[0023] The heating device of the heating unit is at least partially arranged on the return air path from the at least one air supply port to the return air port.

[0024] Optionally, the heating unit further comprises:

[0025] An electromagnetic wave generating system, at least a part of which is disposed in the cylinder, to generate electromagnetic waves in the cylinder to heat the object to be processed; and

[0026] The cylinder is formed with a heat dissipation duct, and the part is arranged in the heat dissipation duct.

[0027] Optionally, the electromagnetic wave generating system comprises:

[0028] An electromagnetic wave generating module configured to generate an electromagnetic wave signal; and

[0029] The radiation antenna is arranged in the heat dissipation duct and is electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave generating module to generate electromagnetic waves of corresponding frequencies according to the electromagnetic wave signal.

[0030] Optionally, the electromagnetic wave generating system further includes:

[0031] The signal processing and measurement and control circuit is arranged in the heat dissipation duct and is located downstream of the radiation antenna.

[0032] Optionally, the cylinder is made of metal; and / or

[0033] Metal meshes are respectively arranged at the air inlet and the air outlet of the heat dissipation air duct.

[0034] The air-cooled refrigerator of the present invention arranges at least one air supply port and / or air return port of the compartment air duct in the heating zone where the cylinder is located, and utilizes the original refrigeration system of the refrigerator to dissipate heat for the cylinder. This not only has a simple structure and reduces production costs, but also has a high cylinder heat dissipation efficiency, thereby avoiding the occurrence of uneven temperature of the object to be processed due to heat accumulation in the cylinder, and improving user experience.

[0035] Furthermore, the present invention arranges the heating device part of the heating unit on the return air path from at least one air supply port to the return air port, thereby avoiding the heat generated by the heating from interfering with the temperature of the storage area, ensuring the preservation quality of the food in the storage area, and in particular, while the refrigeration system supplies air to cool any storage area, it can dissipate the heat of the heating device of the heating unit, thereby improving the utilization rate of the cold capacity and further improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the heating device.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention arranges the radiation antenna and the signal processing and measurement and control circuit in the heat dissipation duct of the cylinder, and arranges the signal processing and measurement and control circuit downstream of the radiation antenna, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiation antenna, thereby reducing the heat radiation of the radiation antenna to the object to be processed, effectively improving the temperature uniformity of the object to be processed, and avoiding the occurrence of local overheating.

[0037] Based on the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will become more aware of the above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Hereinafter, some specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in an exemplary and non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the accompanying drawings indicate the same or similar components or parts. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the accompanying drawings:

[0039] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a flow path of a cold air flow for cooling a storage area;

[0040] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator is shown, showing the flow path of the cold air flow for dissipating heat in the heating zone;

[0041] Figure 3is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a flow path of a cold air flow for cooling a storage area;

[0042] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator is shown, showing the flow path of the cold air flow for dissipating heat in the heating zone;

[0043] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a compartment air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view of the heating unit is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a flow path of a cold air flow for cooling a storage area 112; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator 100, which shows the flow path of the cold air flow for dissipating heat in the heating area 111. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air-cooled refrigerator 100 may include a cabinet 110 , a refrigeration system, an air duct cover plate 150 , and a heating unit 200 .

[0047] The box body 110 may define a storage compartment. A box door may be disposed at the forward opening of the storage compartment for opening and closing the storage compartment.

[0048] The refrigeration system may be a vapor compression refrigeration system, including a compressor, a condenser, a throttling element, an evaporator 120 and an air supply fan 130 .

[0049] The air duct cover 150 can be arranged in the storage room and form a compartment air duct together with the vertical side wall of the storage room. The evaporator 120 and the air supply fan 130 can be arranged in the compartment air duct. The air duct cover 150 can be provided with at least one air supply port 151 and one air return port 152 arranged at intervals to deliver cold air to the storage room.

[0050] In the present invention, at least one is one, two, or more than two. The vertical side wall can be a rear side wall or a lateral side wall. In the illustrated embodiment, the air duct cover plate 150 is sandwiched with the rear side wall of the storage compartment to form a compartment air duct.

[0051] At least one partition 140 extending horizontally may also be provided in the storage compartment to separate the storage compartment into a heating area 111 and at least one storage area 112 .

[0052] The heating unit 200 may include a cylinder 210 for placing the object to be processed and having a take-in and put-out opening, and a door for opening and closing the take-in and put-out opening. The cylinder 210 may be disposed in the heating zone 111 .

[0053] In particular, at least one air supply port 151 and / or air return port 152 may be disposed in the heating zone 111. That is, the compartment air duct is configured to blow air to the heating zone 111, and / or the air in the storage room needs to pass through the heating zone 111 before returning to the compartment air duct.

[0054] The air-cooled refrigerator 100 of the present invention sets at least one air supply port 151 and / or return air port 152 of the compartment air duct in the heating zone 111 where the barrel 210 is located, and uses the original refrigeration system of the refrigerator 100 to dissipate heat for the barrel 210. It not only has a simple structure and reduces production costs, but also has a high heat dissipation efficiency for the barrel 210, avoiding the occurrence of uneven temperature of the object to be processed due to heat accumulation in the barrel 210, thereby improving user experience.

[0055] In some embodiments, an air supply port 151 and an air return port 152 may be provided in the heating area 111. The heating device of the heating unit 200 may be at least partially provided on the return air path from at least one air supply port 151 to the return air port 152 to prevent the heat generated by heating from interfering with the storage temperature of the storage area 112, thereby ensuring the preservation quality of the food in the storage area 112, and independently dissipating the heat from the heating area 111, thereby improving the heat dissipation efficiency of the heating device. In the present invention, the return air path from at least one air supply port 151 to the return air port 152 is the overlapping portion of the air flow path from each air supply port 151 to the return air port 152.

[0056] In other embodiments, at least one air supply port 151 may be respectively provided in at least one storage area 112, and the return air port 152 may be provided in the heating area 111. The heating device of the heating unit 200 may be at least partially provided on the return air path from at least one air supply port 151 to the return air port 152, so as to avoid the heat generated by heating interfering with the storage temperature of the storage area 112, thereby ensuring the preservation quality of the food in the storage area 112, and the refrigeration system can dissipate the heat of the heating device of the heating unit 200 while supplying air and cooling any storage area 112, thereby improving the utilization rate of the cooling capacity.

[0057] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a flow path of a cold air flow for cooling a storage area 112; Figure 4 yes Figure 3FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an air-cooled refrigerator 100, which shows the flow path of the cold air flow for dissipating heat in the heating area 111. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some other embodiments, at least one air supply port 151 may be provided in the heating area 111, and the return air port 152 may be provided in a storage area 112. The heating device of the heating unit 200 may be at least partially provided on the air supply path from the air supply port 151 to the return air port 152 in the heating area 111, so as to independently dissipate heat from the heating area 111 and improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the heating device.

[0058] In some further embodiments, the heating unit 200 may further include a cover 230 to separate the inner space of the barrel 210 into a heating chamber 211 and a heat dissipation duct 212. The heating device of the heating unit 200 may be at least partially disposed in the heat dissipation duct 212.

[0059] The heat dissipation duct 212 may be disposed at the lower portion of the barrel 210 to improve the stability of the heating device and facilitate the user to place objects to be processed of appropriate sizes into the heating chamber 211 .

[0060] In some further embodiments, the heating device of the heating unit 200 may be disposed at the upper portion, the lower portion of the cylinder 210, or inside the door.

[0061] In an embodiment where a return air vent 152 is provided in the heating zone 111 , the heating zone 111 may be provided below the storage zone 112 , that is, the return air vent 152 is provided below the storage zone 112 , so as to improve the cooling efficiency of the storage zone 112 and accurately cool each storage zone 112 independently.

[0062] In the embodiment where the air outlet 151 is provided in the heating zone 111, the heating chamber 211 may be provided with a vent to receive the cold air flow blown out by the air outlet 151. For example, in the embodiment where the heating device is provided on the air supply path, the number of the air outlet 151 in the heating zone 111 may be two, and the cold air flow may be blown to the heating chamber 211 and the heating device respectively.

[0063] When the temperature of the object to be processed or the heating time of the object to be processed is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the air supply port 151 that blows cold air to the heating chamber 211 can be configured to be connected to the return air port 152 to avoid external overheating of the object to be processed and improve the temperature uniformity of the object to be processed.

[0064] The evaporator 120 and the fan 130 may be configured to start or maintain an operating state when the heating unit 200 is working. The air supply port 151 for supplying air to the heating area 111 may be configured to communicate with the return air port 152 when the heating unit 200 is working.

[0065] In some further embodiments, the air supply fan 130 may be configured to operate at a preset first speed when the temperature of one storage area 112 is greater than or equal to the preset cooling temperature, and to operate at a preset second speed when the temperature of each storage area 112 is less than the cooling temperature and the heating unit 200 is operating. The first speed is greater than the second speed. For example, the first speed may be the rated speed of the fan 130, and the second speed may be 50-70% of the rated speed of the fan 130.

[0066] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a compartment air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 In some embodiments, the air duct cover 150 can be sandwiched with the side wall of the storage compartment to form a return air portion of the compartment air duct, and the evaporator 120 can be disposed in the return air portion. The air duct cover 150 can form at least one air supply portion of the compartment air duct, and each air supply portion can be provided with at least one air supply port 151 and an air inlet.

[0067] The air supply fan 130 may be disposed downstream of the evaporator 120, and includes a volute and an impeller disposed in the volute. The volute is configured to be rotatable and its air outlet is docked with an air inlet of an air supply unit, so as to transport the cold air flow after refrigeration by the evaporator 120 to an air supply unit and blow it out from the air supply port 151 of the air supply unit.

[0068] In other embodiments, the air duct cover 150 may be sandwiched with the side wall of the storage compartment to form a compartment air duct. A damper may be provided at at least one air supply port 151 to communicate with the return air port 152 in a controlled manner.

[0069] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a heating unit 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 In some embodiments, the heating unit 200 may further include an electromagnetic wave generating system. At least a portion of the electromagnetic wave generating system may be disposed in the barrel 210 or connected to the barrel 210 to generate electromagnetic waves in the barrel 210 to heat the object to be processed. That is, in this embodiment, the heating device of the heating unit 200 is the electromagnetic wave generating system.

[0070] The cylinder 210 and the door body may be provided with electromagnetic shielding features respectively, so that the door body is conductively connected to the cylinder 210 when in a closed state, so as to prevent electromagnetic leakage.

[0071] In some embodiments, the electromagnetic wave generating system may include an electromagnetic wave generating module 261 , a power supply module 262 , and a radiation antenna 250 .

[0072] The electromagnetic wave generating module 261 may be configured to generate an electromagnetic wave signal. The power supply module 262 may be configured to be electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 to provide electrical energy to the electromagnetic wave generating module 261, thereby enabling the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 to generate an electromagnetic wave signal.

[0073] The radiation antenna 250 may be disposed in the cylinder 210 and electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 to generate electromagnetic waves of corresponding frequencies according to the electromagnetic wave signal to heat the object to be processed in the cylinder 210 .

[0074] In some further embodiments, the cylinder 210 may be made of metal to serve as a receiving pole of the radiating antenna 250. In this embodiment, the cylinder 210 itself is the electromagnetic shielding feature of the cylinder 210.

[0075] In some further embodiments, the electromagnetic wave generating system further comprises a receiving plate arranged opposite to the radiating antenna 250 and electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave generating module 261. In this embodiment, the inner wall of the cylinder 210 may be coated with a metal coating or attached with a metal mesh, etc., to serve as an electromagnetic shielding feature of the cylinder 210.

[0076] In some further embodiments, the electromagnetic wave generating system may further include a signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270. Specifically, the signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270 may include a control unit 271, a matching unit 272 and a detection unit 273.

[0077] The matching unit 272 can be connected in series between the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 and the radiation antenna 250, and is configured to adjust the load impedance of the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 by adjusting its own impedance, thereby improving the load matching degree of the electromagnetic wave generating module 261, so that foods with different fixed properties (type, weight, volume, etc.) or foods with different temperature properties (such as temperature) can have more electromagnetic wave energy absorbed by the processed objects, thereby improving the heating rate.

[0078] The detection unit 273 may be connected in series between the matching unit 272 and the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 , and may be configured to detect the forward power signal output by the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 and the reverse power signal returned to the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 .

[0079] The control unit 271 may be configured to receive a heating instruction input by a user, determine the matching degree of impedance matching according to the forward power signal and the reverse power signal, and control the electromagnetic wave generating module 261 to work according to the impedance value of the matching unit 272 that realizes the optimal load matching of the electromagnetic wave generating module 261. The smaller the ratio of the power of the reverse power signal to the power of the forward power signal, the higher the matching degree.

[0080] The signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270 can be integrated into a circuit board to facilitate the installation and maintenance of the signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270 .

[0081] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A schematic cross-sectional view of the heating unit 200 is shown. Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some further embodiments, the radiating antenna 250 and the signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270 may be disposed in the heat dissipation duct 212 to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiating antenna 250 and the signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270, reduce the amount of heat radiation to the object to be processed, and avoid local overheating of the object to be processed.

[0082] The signal processing and measurement and control circuit 270 may be disposed downstream of the radiation antenna 250 to further improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiation antenna 250 and further improve the temperature uniformity of the object to be processed.

[0083] Metal meshes 280 may be provided at the air inlet and the air outlet of the heat dissipation air duct 212 respectively, so as to be conductively connected with the electromagnetic shielding feature of the cylinder 210 to prevent electromagnetic wave leakage.

[0084] In other embodiments, the heating device of the heating unit 200 may also be a heating tube.

[0085] In some embodiments, the cabinet may further define another storage compartment, and another one or more cabinet doors may be disposed at the forward opening of the storage compartment. The refrigeration system may further include another evaporator connected in series or in parallel with the evaporator 120, disposed in the other storage compartment.

[0086] At this point, those skilled in the art should recognize that, although multiple exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications that conform to the principles of the present invention can still be directly determined or derived based on the content disclosed in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and recognized as covering all these other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. An air-cooled refrigerator, characterized in that: include: The box body defines a storage compartment, and the storage compartment is divided into a heating area and at least one storage area; An air duct cover plate is arranged in the storage room and forms an air duct in the storage room together with the vertical side wall of the storage room; as well as The heating unit comprises a cylinder disposed in the heating area and used for placing the object to be processed; wherein The air duct cover is provided with at least one air supply port and one air return port arranged at intervals; and At least one of the return air vents is disposed in the heating zone; wherein, The inner space of the cylinder is divided into a heating chamber and a heat dissipation duct, the heating chamber is used to place the object to be processed, and the heat dissipation duct is used to place at least part of the heating device of the heating unit; The air inlet and the air outlet of the heat dissipation air duct are distributed in a direction perpendicular to the air duct cover plate, and at least part of the heat generating components are located on the return air path from the at least one air supply port to the return air port.

2. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: One of the air supply port and the air return port is arranged in the heating zone.

3. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: An evaporator and a fan are arranged in the air duct of the compartment and are configured to start or maintain a working state when the heating unit is working; and The air supply port for supplying air to the heating area is configured to communicate with the return air port when the heating unit is working.

4. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The fan is configured to operate at a preset first speed when the temperature of one of the storage areas is greater than or equal to the preset cooling temperature, and to operate at a preset second speed when the temperature of each of the storage areas is less than the cooling temperature and the heating unit is operating; in The first rotation speed is greater than the second rotation speed.

5. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one air supply port is respectively arranged in the at least one storage area, and the return air port is arranged in the heating area.

6. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating unit further comprises: The electromagnetic wave generating system is at least partially arranged in the heat dissipation duct to generate electromagnetic waves in the cylinder to heat the object to be processed.

7. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electromagnetic wave generating system comprises: An electromagnetic wave generating module configured to generate an electromagnetic wave signal; and The radiation antenna is arranged in the heat dissipation duct and is electrically connected to the electromagnetic wave generating module to generate electromagnetic waves of corresponding frequencies according to the electromagnetic wave signal.

8. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: The electromagnetic wave generating system also includes: The signal processing and measurement and control circuit is arranged in the heat dissipation duct and is located downstream of the radiation antenna.

9. The air-cooled refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cylinder is made of metal; and / or Metal meshes are respectively arranged at the air inlet and the air outlet of the heat dissipation air duct.

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