refrigerator

Abstract

This invention provides a refrigerator. It includes a cabinet, a door, a refrigeration system, and a heat source. The refrigeration system includes a cabinet side portion, a door side portion, a first connecting pipe, and a second connecting pipe. The cabinet side portion is installed in the cabinet and has a compressor. The door side portion is installed in the door and has a first throttling device and a first evaporator. The inlet of the first evaporator is connected to the outlet of the first throttling device. One end of the first connecting pipe and one end of the second connecting pipe are respectively connected to the cabinet side portion at two locations on the cabinet side portion. The other end of the first connecting pipe is connected to the inlet of the first throttling device, and the other end of the second connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the first evaporator. The heat source is configured to heat part or all of the first connecting pipe. Heating the first connecting pipe with the heat source reduces the risk of condensation on the exposed portions of the high / low pressure connecting hoses.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of frozen and refrigerated storage technology, and in particular to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, there is a strong market demand for ice-making functions integrated into refrigerator doors. The inventors discovered that a common method for cooling within the refrigerator door space is to draw cold air from inside the refrigerator cabinet into the door. However, this method suffers from the drawback of cross-contamination of odors between the door and the cabinet spaces, causing significant annoyance to users. Another method involves drawing cold air from the refrigerator cabinet into the door's ice-making space. Besides the possibility that the ice produced in the door may contain the smell of food from inside the refrigerator, this method often requires cold air to travel from the freezer evaporator through long ducts into the door (especially the refrigerator door), resulting in significant airflow resistance and cold air loss (the ducts are often buried within the cabinet's insulation layer), leading to low cooling efficiency. For example, when making ice or cooling water on the refrigerator door, or when creating a separate cooling compartment on the door, existing technologies (such as LG) often use ducts connecting to an evaporator inside the cabinet to provide cooling. However, these ducts are typically long, affecting the cabinet's insulation performance when located within the insulation layer, and also exhibiting high airflow resistance, resulting in low cooling efficiency. Another technology (such as Daewoo in South Korea) involves directly connecting the low-temperature refrigerant from the evaporator inside the refrigerator to the door via a flexible hose. However, the corresponding pipes need to be insulated before entering the door, resulting in thick pipes that take up a lot of space and are aesthetically unappealing. At the same time, it is difficult to ensure the consistency of the insulation effect of the pipes in different refrigerators. Another technology (such as Midea's) uses flexible capillary tubes to draw refrigerant from the refrigerator body into the door. However, in refrigerators, for the capillary tube to function as a throttling device, its inner diameter should be ≤0.8mm. Flexible capillary tubes with this inner diameter are prone to deformation when the door is opened and closed. Even slight changes in the inner diameter can lead to deviations in refrigeration performance and poor consistency. In addition, the tolerance between the inner and outer diameters of flexible tubes with an outer diameter of 5mm or less is usually ±0.1mm. Since the capillary tube plays a throttling role in refrigerators and is an important component of the four major parts of the refrigeration system, its flow accuracy requirements are extremely high. An inner diameter error of ±0.1mm can lead to significant differences in flow rate or performance, making mass production difficult and resulting in poor control consistency. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to overcome at least one defect of existing refrigerator door icing, and to provide a novel refrigerator that can reduce the risk of condensation without the need to insulate the high-pressure pipeline between the door and the cabinet.

[0004] Specifically, the present invention provides a refrigerator, including a cabinet, a door and a refrigeration system, wherein the door is installed in the cabinet, and the refrigerator further includes a heat source capable of releasing heat for heating;

[0005] The refrigeration system includes a cabinet side portion, a door side portion, a first connecting pipe, and a second connecting pipe; the cabinet side portion is installed on the cabinet and has a compressor; the door side portion is installed on the door and has a first throttling device and a first evaporator; the inlet of the first evaporator is connected to the outlet of the first throttling device;

[0006] One end of the first connecting pipe and one end of the second connecting pipe are respectively connected to the side portion of the housing at two locations on the side portion of the housing. The other end of the first connecting pipe is connected to the inlet of the first throttling device, and the other end of the second connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the first evaporator, so that the refrigerant in the side portion of the housing enters the first evaporator through the first connecting pipe and the first throttling device to absorb heat and vaporize, and then returns to the side portion of the housing through the second connecting pipe.

[0007] The heat source is configured to heat the first connecting pipe.

[0008] Optionally, the refrigerator further includes an ice-making device installed in the door; the first evaporator is disposed in the door or in the ice-making device and configured to provide cooling capacity to the ice-making device.

[0009] Optionally, the heat source is an electric heating device.

[0010] Optionally, a portion of the first connecting pipe is located on the housing, and the heat source is configured to heat part or all of the portion of the first connecting pipe located on the housing.

[0011] Optionally, the heat source is configured to heat the first connecting pipe a preset time before the inlet of the first connecting pipe is closed.

[0012] Optionally, the refrigerator further includes a humidity detection device configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located, so as to control the heat source to heat the first connecting pipe according to the humidity.

[0013] Optionally, the housing side portion further includes a condensing device, the inlet of which is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor; the first connecting pipe is connected to the pipeline between the inlet and outlet of the condensing device, or the first connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the condensing device.

[0014] Optionally, the first throttling device includes a capillary tube, or the first throttling device includes a capillary tube and a throttling valve connected in series with the capillary tube, the throttling valve being disposed on the downstream side of the capillary tube;

[0015] The door body has an insulation layer, and the capillary tube is disposed within the insulation layer.

[0016] Optionally, the first throttling device includes a capillary tube, and the door-side portion further includes a door-side return pipe. The outlet of the first evaporator is connected to the inlet of the door-side return pipe, the door-side return pipe is thermally connected to the capillary tube, and the inlet of the second connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the door-side return pipe.

[0017] Optionally, the casing side portion further includes a second throttling device and a refrigeration evaporation device, wherein the inlet of the first connecting pipe and the inlet of the second throttling device are controlled to be connected to the outlet of the condensing device via a valve device;

[0018] The outlet of the second connecting pipe and the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator are both connected to the air inlet of the compressor;

[0019] The second connecting pipe is equipped with a first control valve that prevents the refrigerant from flowing to the first evaporator;

[0020] A second control valve is provided on the pipeline between the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the inlet of the compressor to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigeration evaporator from flowing to the compressor when the first evaporator is working alone;

[0021] The first connecting pipe includes a first flexible hose, and the second connecting pipe includes a second flexible hose. The first flexible hose and the second flexible hose are disposed between the box body and the door body.

[0022] In the refrigerator of this invention, the risk of condensation on the exposed portion of the high / low pressure connecting hose is reduced by heating the first connecting pipe with a heat source. Specifically, this prevents condensation from forming on the first connecting pipe when the inlet is suddenly cut off while the compressor continues to operate. In such cases, the refrigerant in the first connecting pipe would continue to pass through the first throttling device into the first evaporator, causing it to evaporate and cool. The section of the first connecting pipe between the refrigerator body and the door would be several degrees Celsius (approximately 5°C) lower than the ambient temperature, still posing a risk of condensation in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. Heating with the heat source reduces this risk. After heating with the heat source, the temperature of the first connecting pipe, especially the first flexible hose, is very close to or even not lower than the ambient temperature, virtually eliminating the risk of condensation. Even when the door is cooling, such as during ice-making, there is no risk of condensation regardless of whether the first connecting pipe is heated by the heat source.

[0023] Furthermore, the best effect is achieved when the heat source is turned on to heat the first connecting pipe a certain time before the door is closed for cooling (e.g., 20s to 120s, preferably 60s or 30s). The heating of the first connecting pipe can also be controlled according to the humidity of the environment described in the refrigerator description.

[0024] Furthermore, this can also prevent condensation on the second connecting pipe, or reduce the heat exchange length between the capillary tube of the first throttling device and the return gas pipe on the door side. When the ice-making system is working, because the refrigerant at the inlet of the first connecting pipe is subcooled (below the condensing temperature, about 2-5°C lower), appropriate heat is transferred to the first connecting pipe through the heat source (controlling the temperature of the first connecting pipe to be slightly lower than the condensing temperature, such as 1°C lower), the outlet temperature of the first connecting pipe increases, so the temperature of the first hose increases, and thus the temperature of the second hose also increases slightly (slightly lower than the temperature of the first hose, because the ice-making capillary tube transfers heat to the ice-making return gas pipe, and the outlet temperature of the ice-making return gas pipe is lower than the inlet temperature of the ice-making capillary tube), greatly reducing the risk of condensation on the second hose. Alternatively, due to the increased temperature of the first connecting pipe, the heat exchange length of the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe can be appropriately reduced without causing condensation on the second connecting pipe, especially the second flexible tube. After the heat exchange length of the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe is reduced, it is easier to install them inside the door, because the area where the door insulation layer is thick is limited, and the area where the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe can be installed for heat exchange is limited.

[0025] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention incorporates a first throttling device located on the door. This first throttling device, which includes a capillary tube, avoids the issues encountered in flexible capillary tube designs, where the flexible capillary tube may have cooled down before entering the door, leading to condensation and loss of cooling capacity. This allows the use of commonly used copper capillary tubes for ice making, offering high precision and ease of implementation. Since the first throttling device is entirely located within the door, the ice-making capillary tube is not subjected to force or deformation when the door is opened or closed, thus maintaining its refrigeration performance. The capillary tube's flow rate and performance do not vary significantly, facilitating mass production and ensuring good control consistency. Moreover, the capillary tube exchanges heat with the door-side return pipe, fully utilizing the heat generated during capillary throttling. This raises the temperature of the refrigerant in the second connecting pipe, preventing condensation in the section between the cabinet and the door due to lower temperatures, and also improves the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

[0026] Furthermore, the capillary tube of the first throttling device can be installed inside the insulation layer of the door, which can make full use of the insulation and fixing properties of the insulation layer, and enable the refrigerator to have better door cooling and ice-making functions.

[0027] Furthermore, the first throttling device is located within the door body, and the first flexible hose can be a pressure-resistant hose, eliminating the need for pipe insulation. This prevents bulky pipes from taking up space and avoids cold air loss. The thinner pipe facilitates installation; for example, it can directly enter the door body from the top through the hinge axis, resulting in a neat appearance and good consistency. In other words, the first flexible hose fully utilizes the hinge structure, facilitating installation without affecting door rotation or the overall appearance of the refrigerator. The structural changes of the first connecting pipe, especially the first flexible hose, are minimal, preventing pipe blockages or abrupt changes and having virtually no impact on the refrigerator's performance.

[0028] Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present invention, the first evaporator can be used directly to make ice, cool water, or supply cooling to the door space. Compared to drawing cold air through a long air duct to cool the door, the present invention has better insulation (no air duct for ice making), no air resistance loss, and high cooling efficiency. Compared to drawing low-temperature refrigerant to cool the door, there is no need to insulate the pipes (insulating the pipes would make them thicker and take up more space, making it difficult to pass through the door hinge), and there is no loss of cooling capacity. The pipes are thin and can directly enter the door from the top of the refrigerator through the door hinge, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing and consistent design.

[0029] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in a detailed manner by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic partial structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic partial structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic partial structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figures 6 to 8 These are schematic diagrams of a refrigerator's refrigeration system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown and referenced Figures 2 to 8This invention provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet 10, a door 20, and a refrigeration system. The cabinet 10 has storage compartments, such as a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment, and a third storage compartment. The first storage compartment can be a refrigerator compartment, with a storage temperature generally between 2°C and 10°C, preferably between 3°C and 8°C. The second storage compartment can be a freezer compartment, with a temperature range generally between -14°C and -22°C. The third storage compartment can be a variable temperature compartment, whose temperature can be adjusted according to needs to store suitable food. The door 20 is configured to open and close the first storage compartment. The refrigerator also has a second storage compartment door for opening and closing the second storage compartment, and a third storage compartment door for opening and closing the third storage compartment. Both the second and third storage compartment doors can be drawer end covers.

[0038] The refrigeration system includes a cabinet-side portion, a door-side portion, a first connecting pipe 41, and a second connecting pipe 46. The cabinet-side portion is installed on the cabinet 10 and includes a compressor 31 and a condenser 32. The inlet of the condenser 32 is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor 31. The door-side portion is installed on the door 20 and includes a first throttling device 42 and a first evaporator 43. The inlet of the first evaporator 43 is connected to the outlet of the first throttling device 42. The first connecting pipe 41 is connected to the pipe between the inlet and outlet of the condenser 32. For example, the condenser 32 includes a condenser 321 and a decondensation pipe 322, and the first connecting pipe 41 connects between the condenser 321 and the decondensation pipe 322. Optionally, the first connecting pipe 41 may also be located within the condenser 321. In some other embodiments, the first connecting pipe 41 is connected to the outlet of the condenser 32. In some embodiments, the condensing device 32 includes a series-connected air-cooled condenser 321, an internal condenser 323, and a decondensation pipe 322. The air-cooled condenser 321 may be disposed inside the compressor compartment 31, and the internal condenser 323 may be disposed inside the housing and dissipate heat using the housing. A first connecting pipe 41 may be connected between the internal condenser 323 and the decondensation pipe 322, or the first connecting pipe 41 may be connected between the air-cooled condenser 321 and the internal condenser 323.

[0039] The other end of the first connecting pipe 41 is connected to the inlet of the first throttling device 42. One end of the second connecting pipe 46 is connected to the side of the cabinet, and the other end of the second connecting pipe 46 is connected to the outlet of the first evaporator 43, so that the refrigerant in the first evaporator 43 flows back to the side of the cabinet. That is, when the compressor 31 of the refrigeration system is working, the part connected to the second connecting pipe 46 allows the refrigerant to flow from the door side back to the side of the cabinet.

[0040] In the refrigerator of this embodiment, the first evaporator 43 can be used directly on the door 20 for ice making, cooling water, or supplying cooling to the space of the door 20. Compared to supplying cooling to the door 20 through a long air duct, the refrigerator body 10 of this invention has better insulation (no air duct for ice making) and no air duct resistance loss, resulting in higher cooling efficiency. Compared to supplying cooling to the door 20 with low-temperature refrigerant, there is no need to insulate the pipes (insulating the pipes would make them thicker and take up more space), and the pipes are thinner, making installation easier. The first throttling device 42 is located on the door 20, avoiding the situation in the flexible capillary tube scheme where the flexible capillary tube may have cooled down by the time it enters the door 20, easily leading to condensation and loss of cooling capacity. This allows the ice-making capillary tube to use the most commonly used copper capillary tube, which has high precision and is easy to implement. The first throttling device 42 is entirely located inside the door 20, so the ice-making capillary tube is not subjected to force / deformation when the door is opened or closed, and the cooling performance is not affected. There is no significant difference in capillary flow rate or performance, making mass production easy and ensuring good control consistency.

[0041] Specifically, the refrigerator also includes a heat source 39 capable of releasing heat for heating, which heats at least a portion of the first connecting pipe 41. For example, the heat source 39 is an electric heating device. Preferably, a portion of the first connecting pipe 41 is located on the cabinet 10, and the heat source 39 heats part or all of the portion of the first connecting pipe 41 located on the cabinet 10. Further, the first connecting pipe 41 includes a first flexible hose 411, which is disposed between the cabinet 10 and the door 20.

[0042] In the refrigerator of this embodiment, the risk of condensation on the exposed portion of the high / low pressure connecting hose is reduced by heating the first connecting pipe 41 with heat source 39. Specifically, this prevents the refrigerant in the first connecting pipe 41 from being suddenly cut off while the compressor 31 continues to operate. In such cases, the refrigerant in the first connecting pipe 41 would continue to pass through the first throttling device 42 into the first evaporator 43, causing it to evaporate and cool. The section of the first connecting pipe between the cabinet and the door, i.e., the first flexible hose 411, would be a few degrees Celsius (approximately 5°C) lower than the ambient temperature. Even in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, there is still a risk of condensation. Heating with heat source 39 reduces this risk. After heating with heat source 39, the temperature of the first connecting pipe 41, especially the first flexible hose 411, is very close to the ambient temperature and may not even be lower than the ambient temperature, resulting in almost no risk of condensation. When the door is cooling, such as during ice making, there is no risk of condensation regardless of whether heat source 39 heats the first connecting pipe.

[0043] For optimal heating, the heat source 39 should be turned on a certain time (e.g., 60 seconds or 30 seconds) before the door closes to allow cooling at the inlet of the first connecting pipe 41. Specifically, the heat source 39 is configured to heat the first connecting pipe 41 a preset time before the inlet closes. Heating of the first connecting pipe 41 by the heat source 39 can also be controlled based on the humidity of the refrigerator's environment. Specifically, the refrigerator also includes a humidity detection device configured to detect the humidity of the refrigerator's environment and control the heat source 39 to heat the first connecting pipe 41 based on the humidity. For example, the electric heating device can be turned on in a high-humidity environment.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerator further includes an ice-making device 50, which is mounted on the door 20. A first evaporator 43 is disposed within the door 20 or the ice-making device 50 and configured to provide cooling capacity to the ice-making device 50. In some alternative embodiments, an ice-making water device can be used instead of the ice-making device 50. In other alternative embodiments, a door storage space provided on the door 20 can be used instead of the ice-making device 50, that is, the first evaporator 43 is used to provide cooling capacity to the door storage space. Of course, two or three of the following can be simultaneously provided on the door 20: the ice-making device 50, the ice-making water device, and the door storage space.

[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first connecting pipe 41 is entirely a flexible hose. Alternatively, the first connecting pipe 41 may further include a first rigid pipe 412 disposed at one or both ends of the first flexible hose 411, with the portion of the first rigid pipe 412 near the housing side being heated by the condenser 32. The second connecting pipe 46 includes a second flexible hose 461, which is disposed between the housing 10 and the door 20. For example, the second connecting pipe 46 is entirely a flexible hose. As another example, the second connecting pipe 46 may further include a second rigid pipe 462 disposed at one or both ends of the second flexible hose 461. The flexible hose facilitates the opening and closing of the door 20. The first flexible hose 411 may be referred to as a high-pressure hose, a pressure-resistant hose, etc., and the second flexible hose 461 may be referred to as a low-pressure hose.

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first throttling device 42 includes a capillary tube. In some optional embodiments, the first throttling device 42 further includes a throttling valve connected in series with the capillary tube, the throttling valve being disposed downstream of the capillary tube. Further, the door body 20 has an insulation layer, and the capillary tube is disposed within the insulation layer. The capillary tube of the first throttling device 42 can be disposed within the insulation layer of the door body 20, which can fully utilize the insulation and fixing properties of the insulation layer, enabling the refrigerator to have better door body 20 cooling and ice-making functions. The inner diameter of the capillary tube is less than or equal to 0.8 mm. For example, the inner diameter of the capillary tube is between 0.65 mm and 0.75 mm. Preferably, the inner diameter of the capillary tube is about 0.66 mm or 0.70 mm, which can ensure mass production consistency and prevent easy bending and collapse.

[0047] In some embodiments of the present invention, a door-side return pipe 45 is provided between the second connecting pipe 46 and the first evaporator 43. The door-side return pipe 45 is thermally connected to the capillary tube. The capillary tube exchanges heat with the door-side return pipe 45, making full use of the heat generated during capillary throttling, which can increase the temperature of the pipe flowing out of the door-side return pipe 45, prevent condensation in the section of the second connecting pipe 46 between the cabinet 10 and the door 20 due to low temperature, and also improve the energy efficiency of the refrigerator. Further, both the capillary tube and the door-side return pipe 45 are made of metal. The capillary tube is disposed inside the door-side return pipe 45, or the capillary tube is in contact with the door-side return pipe 45. The capillary tube is made of copper, and the door-side return pipe 45 is made of aluminum or copper, preferably copper. Further, the number of capillary tubes in the first throttling device 42 can be at least two, and at least two capillary tubes are arranged in parallel and both are thermally connected to the door-side return pipe 45. The simultaneous heat exchange between the two channels and the return air pipe 45 on the door side can also reduce the heat exchange length of the return air pipe 45 on the door side.

[0048] In this embodiment of the invention, the following issues are avoided: In the flexible capillary tube design, the flexible capillary tube may have cooled down before entering the door 20, leading to condensation and heat loss. Furthermore, because the flexible capillary tube enters the door 20 at a low temperature, the second connecting pipe 46 exits the door 20 at a low temperature, also potentially causing condensation and heat loss. In this invention, the first connecting pipe 41 is above the ambient temperature, so the exposed portion between the door 20 and the housing 10 will not condense and will not suffer heat loss. Due to the sufficient heat exchange between the door-side return pipe 45 and the capillary tube, the refrigerant in the second connecting pipe 46 is very close to or even higher than the ambient temperature, so the exposed portion between the door 20 and the housing 10 will not condense and will not suffer heat loss.

[0049] The capillary tube and the door-side return vent pipe 45 exchange heat within the door body 20, and both are made of metal, resulting in high heat exchange efficiency. A heat exchange length of approximately 1.5 meters (1-2 meters) is sufficient to ensure adequate heat exchange, keeping the second connecting pipe 46 very close to or even above the ambient temperature. However, the flexible capillary tube solution uses a non-metallic material (metallic materials, when made flexible, are prone to breakage after numerous door openings and closings; refrigerators typically require 100,000 door openings and closings). Its heat exchange efficiency with the return vent pipe is extremely low, requiring a much longer length (estimated at 20-100 meters) to ensure adequate heat exchange. The flexible capillary tube solution only exchanges heat at the door hinge, rendering it essentially ineffective. Currently, the door body 20 with ice-making function has a very thin insulation layer (30-35mm) in the main body (middle area), with only slightly thicker insulation layers (approximately 80mm) on the sides (viewed from above, with each side less than 10cm in size). Even assuming the flexible capillary design allows the flexible capillary section to extend from the door hinge into the door body 20 for heat exchange between non-metallic materials, achieving near-ambient temperature at the return pipe output would require a heat exchange length far exceeding 2 meters, potentially even 20 meters. The heat exchange section between the flexible capillary and the return pipe would need to be housed within a thick insulation layer (placing it in a thin layer would lead to condensation on the door body 20 and cold leakage). Space is limited, making a heat exchange length exceeding 2 meters difficult. This would require making the door thicker, unnecessarily increasing the refrigerator's size and resulting in a bulky door that is unacceptable to users. Furthermore, the contact between the flexible capillary and the flexible suction pipe loosens before and after entering the door hinge and door hinge when the door is opened and closed, affecting heat exchange efficiency and cooling performance. In this embodiment of the invention, the capillary heat exchange is independent of door opening and closing.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, when the ice-making system is working, since the refrigerant at the inlet of the first connecting pipe 41 is subcooled and about 2 to 5°C lower than the condensation temperature, appropriate heat is transferred to the first connecting pipe 41 through the heat source 39 (controlling the temperature of the first connecting pipe to be slightly lower than the condensation temperature, such as 1°C lower), thereby raising the temperature of the heated section of the first connecting pipe 41. Therefore, the temperature of the first hose 411 downstream of the heated section is raised, and the temperature of the second hose 461 is also slightly raised (slightly lower than the temperature of the first hose 411, because the ice-making capillary transfers heat to the ice-making return gas pipe, and the outlet temperature of the ice-making return gas pipe is lower than the inlet temperature of the ice-making capillary). The risk of condensation in the low-pressure connecting hose, i.e., the second hose 461, is greatly reduced. Alternatively, due to the increased temperature of the first connecting pipe 41, the heat exchange length between the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe can be appropriately reduced without causing condensation on the second connecting pipe 46, especially the second flexible hose 461. Reducing the heat exchange length between the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe makes it easier to install within the door body 20, as the area with the thick insulation layer of the door body 20 is limited, and the space for installing the ice-making capillary tube and the ice-making return pipe for heat exchange is also limited. The door-side return pipe 45 is the aforementioned ice-making return pipe, and the capillary tube of the first throttling device 42 is the aforementioned ice-making capillary tube.

[0051] In some embodiments of the present invention, the cabinet side portion is also used for refrigeration of the internal space of the cabinet 10. For example, the cabinet side portion further includes a second throttling device 33 and a refrigeration evaporation device 34. The inlet of the first connecting pipe 41 and the inlet of the second throttling device 33 are controlled to be connected to the outlet of the condensing device 32 via a valve device 36. The outlet of the second connecting pipe 46 and the outlet of the refrigeration evaporation device 34 are both connected to the air inlet of the compressor 31. For example, the outlet of the refrigeration evaporation device 34 is connected to the air inlet of the compressor 31 via a cabinet side return air pipe 38; the outlet of the second connecting pipe 46 is connected to the cabinet side return air pipe 38. The refrigerator also includes a defrosting device for heating the refrigeration evaporation device 34.

[0052] Furthermore, the second throttling device 33 includes a first throttling structure 331 and a second throttling structure 332. The inlet of the first throttling structure 331 and the inlet of the second throttling structure 332 are respectively connected to the two outlets of the valve device 36. The refrigeration evaporation device 34 includes a second evaporator 341 for supplying cooling to the first storage compartment and a third evaporator 342 for supplying cooling to the second storage compartment. The inlet of the second evaporator 341 is connected to the outlet of the first throttling structure, and the outlets of both the second evaporator 341 and the second throttling structure are connected to the inlet of the third evaporator 342. The outlet of the third evaporator 342 is connected to the air inlet of the compressor 31. Both the first throttling structure 331 and the second throttling structure 332 are capillary tubes. The outlet of the third evaporator 342 is connected to the inlet of the compressor 31 through the casing-side return air pipe 38. The casing-side return air pipe 38 can exchange heat with the first throttling structure 331 and / or the second throttling structure 332. The defrosting device is used to heat the third evaporator 342 and to defrost the third evaporator 342.

[0053] Valve device 36 is a one-inlet, three-outlet electrically operated switching valve. In an optional embodiment, valve device 36 includes a solenoid valve and a switching valve. The inlet of both the solenoid valve and the switching valve is connected to the outlet of the decondensation pipe 322, and the outlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the first connecting pipe 41. The switching valve can be a one-inlet, two-outlet electrically operated switching valve, with the inlet of the first throttling structure 331 and the inlet of the second throttling structure 332 respectively connected to the two outlets of the switching valve.

[0054] In some embodiments of the present invention, the door 20 is rotatably mounted to the housing 10 via a hinge, which may be located at the upper end of the door 20. The lower end of the door 20 may be mounted to the housing 10 via another hinge. The hinge includes a hinge hole and a hinge shaft 11 inserted into the hinge hole, one of which is mounted to the housing 10, and the other is mounted to the door 20. The hinge shaft 11 has a through hole extending along its axial direction. For example, the hinge shaft 11 is mounted to the housing 10 via a horizontal mounting plate, and the door 20 has a hinge hole. The first flexible hose 411 and the second flexible hose 461 both pass through the through hole. There is no need to insulate the pipes (insulation would make the pipes thicker and take up more space, making it difficult to pass through the door hinge), and there is no loss of cold air. The pipes are thin and can directly enter the door 20 from the top of the housing 10 via the hinge shaft of the door 20, resulting in a neat appearance and good consistency. The installation of the first hose 411 and the second hose 461 does not affect the rotation of the door 20 and will not affect the overall appearance of the refrigerator. The structural changes of the first connecting pipe 41, especially the first hose 411, are small and will not cause pipe blockage or sudden changes, and will have almost no impact on the performance of the refrigerator.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first hose 411 is a pressure-resistant hose, also known as a high-pressure hose. The material of the first hose 411 is nylon, Teflon, PTFE, or PFA, preferably Teflon. The outer diameter of the first hose 411 is less than or equal to 8 mm, and the inner diameter is less than or equal to 6 mm. Preferably, the outer diameter of the first hose 411 is less than or equal to 6 mm, and the inner diameter is less than or equal to 4 mm. For example, the outer diameter of the first hose 411 is less than or equal to 4.5 mm, and the inner diameter is less than or equal to 2.5 mm. Preferably, the outer diameter of the first hose 411 is 4 mm, and the inner diameter is 2 mm. It should be noted that the above diameters do not include the portions where the first hose 411 connects to the connectors, and the connectors may need to be flared. The temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the first hose 411 remains essentially constant, and the first hose 411 may not require heat exchange with the second hose 461, which facilitates installation and manufacturing. The second hose 461 can be referred to as a low-pressure hose. The first flexible hose 411 has an appropriate inner diameter to ensure smooth refrigerant flow and high refrigeration efficiency. The first flexible hose 411 has an appropriate outer diameter, which allows it to have an appropriate wall thickness, providing suitable deformation and recovery capabilities, as well as sufficient and appropriate pressure resistance.

[0056] In some embodiments of the present invention, the inventors have discovered that after the first evaporator 43 is installed on the door 20, the section of the second connecting pipe 46 exposed between the door 20 and the cabinet 10 is prone to condensation, especially when the compressor 31 restarts after the third evaporator 342 for the freezer compartment has defrosted. The reason for this phenomenon is that during defrosting of the third evaporator 342, due to the electric heating effect of the freezer compartment defrosting, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the third evaporator 342 gradually increase, causing the refrigerant to migrate into the second connecting pipe 46 and the first evaporator 43. This results in an increase in the amount of refrigerant stored in the second connecting pipe 46 and the first evaporator 43. When the compressor 31 restarts after defrosting, the low-pressure connecting hose at the hinge shaft and the portion at the top of the cabinet 10 (which can contact ambient air) has a lower temperature, leading to condensation. Therefore, a first control valve 48 is provided on the second connecting pipe 46 to prevent the flow of refrigerant to the first evaporator 43. The first control valve 48 is preferably a one-way valve. Furthermore, a section of the second connecting pipe 46 is located on the housing 10, and a first control valve 48 is installed on the section of the second connecting pipe 46 located on the housing 10. That is, a first control valve 48 is installed on the pipe between the second flexible hose 461 and the air inlet of the compressor 31. Specifically, a one-way valve is installed on the second rigid pipe 462 of the second connecting pipe 46 near the housing side to prevent refrigerant from flowing to the first evaporator 43. This prevents refrigerant from migrating from the housing side to the first evaporator 43, prevents the accumulation of refrigerant in the second connecting pipe 46 and the first evaporator 43, and thus prevents condensation from forming on the second connecting pipe 46 at the hinge shaft and the top of the housing 10 (which may be in contact with ambient air) when the compressor 31 is restarted. The first control valve 48 prevents condensation or frosting on the second connecting pipe 46 when the temperature is low at startup, especially preventing condensation or frosting on the second flexible hose 461 when cooling is first started.

[0057] In some embodiments of the present invention, a second control valve 40 is provided on the pipeline between the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator 34 and the inlet of the compressor 31 to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigeration evaporator 34 from flowing to the compressor 31 when the first evaporator 43 is operating alone. That is, a second control valve 40 is provided on the return gas pipeline 38 on the housing side to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigeration evaporator 34 from flowing to the compressor 31. The second control valve 40 can be a shut-off valve, a solenoid valve, or a flow regulating valve. The second control valve 40 can be located on the upstream or downstream side of the heat exchange section of the return gas pipeline 38 on the housing side, preferably on the downstream side. Further, the second control valve 40 can be located inside the compressor compartment of the housing 10. A first liquid storage tank 351 can also be provided at the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator 34, that is, a first liquid storage tank 351 is provided at the outlet of the third evaporator 342, that is, the first liquid storage tank 351 is located between the return gas pipeline 38 on the housing side and the third evaporator 342.

[0058] In this embodiment of the invention, the inventors discovered that when refrigeration / freezing reaches a suitable temperature without requiring further cooling, but the ice-making circuit requires cooling, the refrigerant in the refrigeration / freezing evaporators (i.e., the second evaporator 341 and the third evaporator 342) is still drawn into the compressor 31 and enters the ice-making cycle circuit (i.e., the door side portion) because the compressor 31 is still working. This results in an increasing amount of refrigerant in the ice-making cycle circuit, causing the refrigeration system to deviate from normal operation: for example, condensation / frost on the second hose 461, or even liquid being drawn into the compressor 31. Although this can be improved by adding a second liquid reservoir 44 at the outlet of the first evaporator (i.e., the first evaporator 43), the second liquid reservoir 44 needs to be large enough to accommodate the excess refrigerant (the first evaporator is very small compared to the refrigeration evaporator, especially the freezing evaporator), while the space inside the door 20 is very limited, making it difficult to accommodate a second liquid reservoir 44 of sufficient size. When the refrigeration or freezing system re-cools, if the ice-making circuit is also operating simultaneously, the excess refrigerant stored in the second liquid reservoir 44 at the outlet of the first evaporator will be difficult to release, resulting in a refrigerant shortage in the refrigeration or freezing cycle, significantly reducing cooling efficiency and causing slow cooling. Conversely, if the ice-making circuit is not operating, the excess refrigerant stored in the second liquid reservoir 44 at the outlet of the first evaporator can slowly re-enter the refrigeration or freezing cycle, but this will still result in slow cooling and repeated refrigerant migration, unnecessarily increasing power consumption and reducing energy efficiency.

[0059] However, this application provides a second control valve 40, such as a solenoid valve, on the return gas line 38 on the cabinet side. During refrigeration or freezing, the solenoid valve is always open and connected, which does not affect the operation of the refrigeration or freezing cycle. When refrigeration or freezing is not in operation and the ice-making cycle is running, the solenoid valve is closed to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigeration or freezing evaporator from migrating to the ice-making cycle. When the compressor 31 is stopped, the solenoid valve is connected.

[0060] Compared to adding a second liquid storage tank 44 at the outlet of the first evaporator, this application can reduce the size / volume of the second liquid storage tank 44, making it easier to place within the door 20; or the second liquid storage tank 44 can be eliminated, eliminating the need to consider how to place it within the limited space of the door 20; when the refrigeration or freezing circuit is refrigerated again, if the ice-making circuit is also working at the same time, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved, and the cooling speed of the refrigeration or freezing circuit can be increased; when the refrigeration or freezing circuit is refrigerated again, if the ice-making circuit is not working, the cooling speed of the refrigeration or freezing circuit can also be improved; the whole process almost does not require the refrigerant to move back and forth repeatedly, saving energy.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present invention, a third liquid storage tank 352 may be provided between the condenser 321 and the decondensation pipe 322 of the condensing device 32. The first liquid storage tank 351 and the second liquid storage tank 44 may be referred to as low-pressure liquid storage tanks, and the third liquid storage tank 352 may be referred to as high-pressure liquid storage tanks. In other embodiments of the present invention, the condensing device 32 includes an air-cooled condenser 321, an internal condenser 323, and a decondensation pipe 322 connected in series. The high-pressure liquid storage tank 352 may also be provided between the air-cooled condenser 321 and the internal condenser 323. That is, the third liquid storage tank 352 may be provided at the outlet of the condenser 321. When the refrigeration / freezing reaches the appropriate temperature and refrigeration is not required, but the ice-making circuit requires refrigeration, the refrigerant in the second evaporator 341 and the third evaporator 342 will still be drawn into the compressor 31 and enter the first connecting pipe 41 because the compressor 31 is still working. This results in an increasing amount of refrigerant in the ice-making cycle circuit. It is possible that the refrigerant in the inner condenser 323 and the anti-condensation pipe 322 is completely liquid and cannot be contained (at this time, the inner condenser 323 and the anti-condensation pipe 322 are both subcooled sections). At this time, the third liquid storage tank 352 can contain the excess refrigerant. This prevents the inner condenser 323 and the anti-condensation pipe 322 from being unable to contain the excess refrigerant. In this case, there is too much subcooling in the air-cooled condenser 321, so that the part actually used for condensation (gas condenses into liquid) is too little, which ultimately leads to too high pressure and a large increase in energy consumption.

[0062] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first evaporator 43 may include an ice-making section and a temperature-maintaining section. The ice-making section may contact an ice box for ice making, and the temperature-maintaining section may have fins and can be forced to circulate cooling to the ice-making chamber through an ice-making chamber fan to maintain the chamber temperature. For example, the upper two copper tubes of the first evaporator 43 contact the ice box for ice making; the lower two copper tubes of the first evaporator 43 are finned and need to be forced to circulate cooling to the ice-making chamber through an ice-making chamber fan to maintain the chamber temperature. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first filter dryer 37 is provided on the outlet pipe of the condenser 32, and a second filter dryer 47 may be provided between the first connecting pipe 41 and the first throttling device 42.

[0063] In this embodiment of the refrigerator, during ice making, the compressor 31 operates, the solenoid valve of the valve device 36 opens, and the gaseous refrigerant is output from the compressor 31, condensed by the condenser 321, and then enters the third liquid storage tank 352. It then enters the internal condenser 323 (closely located inside the rear shell of the cabinet 10) for further condensation, and then enters the anti-condensation pipe 322 for further cooling, becoming a room-temperature, high-pressure, subcooled liquid refrigerant. It then enters the first dryer filter 37 and the section of the first connecting pipe 41 located on the cabinet 10 (exchanging heat with the heat source 39), and then enters the first flexible hose 411 (the first flexible hose 411, i.e., the high-pressure hose, enters the door through the hinge shaft 11 at the top of the cabinet 10 and the top of the door 20). The refrigerant (body 20) then enters the first throttling device 42 for throttling (the capillary of the first throttling device 42 is located in the insulation layer of the door body 20 and exchanges heat with the door-side return pipe 45 in the door body 20), becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant. It then enters the first evaporator 43 for cooling. After being output from the first evaporator, it enters the door-side return pipe 45 (the return pipe is located in the insulation layer of the door body 20 and exchanges heat with the ice-making capillary in the door body 20). After being output from the door-side return pipe 45, it becomes a room-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant, then enters the second hose 461 (the second hose 461 passes through the hinge shaft at the top of the door body 20 and the top of the housing 10 to enter the housing 10), and then enters the compressor 31 through the one-way valve and pipeline.

[0064] When the ice-making circuit is not working, i.e., the first evaporator 43 is not working, and the first connecting pipe 41 is just disconnected, this section of the first connecting pipe 41 is connected to the low-pressure part of the system through the first throttling device 42. Especially when the first connecting pipe 41 is just disconnected but the compressor 31 is still working (refrigeration or freezing is still cooling), the refrigerant in the first connecting pipe 41 will still enter the first evaporator 43 (low-pressure part) through the first throttling device 42, causing the refrigerant in the first connecting pipe 41 to evaporate and cool down. As a result, the first hose 411 will be a few degrees Celsius (about 5°C) lower than the ambient temperature, and there is still a risk of condensation in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment. After being heated by the heat source 39, the temperature of the first connecting pipe 41, especially the first hose 411, is very close to the ambient temperature or even not lower than the ambient temperature, and there is almost no risk of condensation.

[0065] In this application, those skilled in the art should recognize that the term "hose" as used refers to a flexible tube that has a certain deformation and recovery capability when subjected to external force, so as to ensure that it can undergo elastic deformation (e.g., a certain degree of torsion) as a whole when the door rotates, without substantially changing the cross-sectional area of ​​the fluid flow inside the tube. The first hose 411 is a pressure-resistant hose, capable of withstanding pressure above a first preset pressure value provided by the fluid inside it, and the second hose 461 is also capable of withstanding pressure above a second preset pressure value provided by the fluid inside it. The first preset pressure value can be greater than the second preset pressure value. For different refrigerants used in the refrigeration system, the first preset pressure value and the second preset pressure value can be different; for example, for R600a refrigerant, the first preset pressure value can be 2 MPa, and the second preset pressure value can be 1.5 MPa. Because the pressure generated by the refrigerant in the first hose 411 is greater than the pressure generated in the second hose 461, the first hose 411 can also be called a high-pressure hose, and the second hose 461 can also be called a low-pressure hose. The term "rigid tubing" is used in contrast to "flexible tubing." Rigid tubing does not undergo substantial deformation and will not exhibit any visible deformation that affects its function.

[0066] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet, a door body and a refrigerating system, the door body being installed to the cabinet, characterized in that, It also includes heat sources that can release heat for heating; The refrigeration system includes a cabinet side portion, a door side portion, a first connecting pipe, and a second connecting pipe; the cabinet side portion is installed on the cabinet and has a compressor; the door side portion is installed on the door and has a first throttling device and a first evaporator; the inlet of the first evaporator is connected to the outlet of the first throttling device; One end of the first connecting pipe and one end of the second connecting pipe are respectively connected to the side portion of the housing at two locations on the side portion of the housing. The other end of the first connecting pipe is connected to the inlet of the first throttling device, and the other end of the second connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the first evaporator, so that the refrigerant in the side portion of the housing enters the first evaporator through the first connecting pipe and the first throttling device to absorb heat and vaporize, and then returns to the side portion of the housing through the second connecting pipe. The heat source is configured to heat part or all of the first connecting pipe section.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes ice-making equipment. The ice-making device is installed in the door; the first evaporator is disposed in the door or in the ice-making device and configured to provide cooling to the ice-making device.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat source is an electric heating device.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A portion of the first connecting pipe is located on the housing, and the heat source is configured to heat part or all of the portion of the first connecting pipe located on the housing.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat source is configured to heat the first connecting pipe a preset time before the inlet of the first connecting pipe is closed.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a humidity detection device configured to detect the humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located, so as to control the heat source to heat the first connecting pipe according to the humidity.

7. The refrigeration and freezing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The casing side portion also includes a condensing device, the inlet of which is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor; the first connecting pipe is connected to the pipeline between the inlet and outlet of the condensing device, or the first connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the condensing device.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first throttling device includes a capillary tube, or the first throttling device includes a capillary tube and a throttling valve connected in series with the capillary tube, the throttling valve being disposed on the downstream side of the capillary tube; The door body has an insulation layer, and the capillary tube is disposed within the insulation layer.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first throttling device includes a capillary tube, and the door-side portion also has a door-side return pipe. The outlet of the first evaporator is connected to the inlet of the door-side return pipe, and the door-side return pipe is thermally connected to the capillary tube. The inlet of the second connecting pipe is connected to the outlet of the door-side return pipe.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The casing side portion also includes a second throttling device and a refrigeration evaporation device, wherein the inlet of the first connecting pipe and the inlet of the second throttling device are controlled to be connected to the outlet of the condensing device via a valve device; The outlet of the second connecting pipe and the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator are both connected to the air inlet of the compressor; The second connecting pipe is equipped with a first control valve that prevents the refrigerant from flowing to the first evaporator; A second control valve is provided on the pipeline between the outlet of the refrigeration evaporator and the inlet of the compressor to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigeration evaporator from flowing to the compressor when the first evaporator is working alone; The first connecting pipe includes a first flexible hose, and the second connecting pipe includes a second flexible hose. The first flexible hose and the second flexible hose are disposed between the box body and the door body.

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