Air duct assembly for a refrigerator and refrigerator having the same

By installing an angled damper and an electric heating element inside the refrigerator's air duct assembly, the problems of reducing size and preventing damper freezing are solved, thereby increasing the effective volume of the refrigerator and improving the air delivery effect.

CN114659331BActive Publication Date: 2026-05-12QINDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO LTD +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
QINDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
Filing Date
2022-03-31
Publication Date
2026-05-12

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

How to reduce the size of the air duct assembly without affecting its inherent function, thereby increasing the effective volume of the refrigerator, while reducing or avoiding problems such as air resistance and damper freezing.

Method used

An angled damper is installed inside the housing of the air duct assembly. The angled damper is used to open and close the air duct. An installation section and clearance groove are formed in the air duct. The positioning component makes the damper angled at a preset angle relative to the installation section. An electric heating component is installed on the damper to prevent freezing.

Benefits of technology

It effectively reduces the vertical dimensions of the air duct assembly, maintains good air delivery, reduces wind resistance, and prevents the damper from freezing, thereby improving the reliability of the air duct assembly and the effective volume of the refrigerator.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The application provides an air guide duct assembly for a refrigerator and the refrigerator with the same. The air guide duct assembly comprises a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet and an air duct connected between the air inlet and the air outlet; and a damper obliquely arranged in the air duct and configured to be controllably opened and closed to open and close the air duct. By arranging the obliquely arranged damper in the housing of the air guide duct assembly and using the obliquely arranged damper to open and close the air duct, the vertical space occupied by the damper can be reduced to a certain extent, the vertical dimension of the housing is reduced, and the volume of the air guide duct assembly is reduced without affecting the inherent functions of the air guide duct assembly, so that the refrigerator can maintain a high rated effective volume.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to refrigeration equipment, and more particularly to an air duct assembly for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of refrigeration equipment, the exhaust duct assembly is used to guide the heat exchange airflow passing through the evaporator to a specific storage compartment in order to regulate the temperature of the storage compartment.

[0003] The rated effective volume of a refrigerator is one of the key indicators that consumers pay close attention to when making a purchase. Many factors affect the rated effective volume of a refrigerator, and the volume of the air duct assembly is one of them.

[0004] The inventors recognized that, in order to maximize the effective volume of the refrigerator, it was obviously necessary to minimize the size of other components such as the air duct assembly. Therefore, how to reduce the size of the air duct assembly without affecting its inherent function became a technical problem that urgently needed to be solved by those skilled in the art.

[0005] The information disclosed in this background section is only intended to enhance the understanding of the background technology of this application, and therefore may include prior art that is not known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to overcome at least one technical defect in the prior art and to provide an air duct assembly for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same.

[0007] A further objective of the present invention is to reduce the volume of the air duct assembly without affecting its inherent function, thereby maintaining a high rated effective volume of the refrigerator.

[0008] Another further objective of the present invention is to reduce or avoid wind resistance while reducing the volume of the air duct assembly.

[0009] Another further object of the present invention is to reduce or avoid the inability to open or close the dampers of the air duct assembly due to freezing.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, an air duct assembly for a refrigerator is provided, comprising: a housing defining an air inlet and an air outlet and an air duct connecting the air inlet and the air outlet; and an air damper, obliquely disposed within the air duct and configured to be controllably openable and closable to open or close the air duct.

[0011] Optionally, an installation section is formed within the duct, and a positioning element and a clearance groove are provided within the installation section; the positioning element is configured to place the damper at a preset angle relative to the cross-section of the installation section, and the clearance groove is configured to provide the movement space required for the controlled opening process of the damper.

[0012] Optionally, the positioning element is configured to form an angle of 15 to 60° between the damper and the cross-section of the installation section, in order to reduce the size of the housing and reduce the wind resistance of the damper.

[0013] Optionally, the air duct assembly further includes: a damper frame defining an air vent and a door frame body enclosing the air vent, the damper being pivotally mounted on the door frame body to open or close the air vent, thereby opening or closing the air duct; and the installation section being a horizontal air duct section within the air duct; the door frame body extending inclined from bottom to top toward the inside of the air duct, such that the damper mounted thereon is inclined synchronously with it.

[0014] Optionally, the positioning member includes a lower protrusion protruding downward from the top of the housing and a sloping groove recessed downward from the bottom of the housing; wherein the lower protrusion has a lower protruding inclined surface for the top of the door frame body to abut against it to achieve an inclined position, and the sloping groove has a lower recessed inclined groove for at least a portion of the bottom of the door frame body to be inserted into it to achieve an inclined position; the lower protruding inclined surface and the lower recessed inclined groove have the same degree of inclination and together define the degree of inclination of the door frame body.

[0015] Optionally, the door frame body has a shaft hole for the pivot shaft of the damper to be inserted into, thereby achieving a rotatable fit; the central axis of the pivot shaft is inclined at a preset angle and parallel to the length direction of the door frame body; the damper is plate-shaped and is configured to be set at a preset angle relative to the vertical plane when the vent is closed, and rotates around the pivot shaft toward the inside of the air duct during the process of opening the vent.

[0016] Optionally, the air inlet is located at the lateral end of the housing, and the air outlet is located at the bottom of the housing, below the door frame body and the damper, and connected to the clearance groove.

[0017] Optionally, a confluence section is also formed within the installation section, located below the door frame body and the damper. The confluence section connects to the clearance groove and has multiple confluence surfaces extending downward toward the clearance groove. The confluence surfaces are configured such that condensate dripping onto them flows into the clearance groove and is discharged from the air outlet into the housing.

[0018] Optionally, electric heating components are provided on the door frame body and the damper respectively. The electric heating components are configured to generate heat in a controlled manner to heat the door frame body and the damper.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is also provided, comprising: an air duct assembly for a refrigerator as described in any of the above claims.

[0020] The present invention provides an air duct assembly for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same. By providing an obliquely positioned damper inside the housing of the air duct assembly and using the obliquely positioned damper to open and close the air duct, the vertical space occupied by the damper can be reduced to a certain extent, and the vertical dimension of the housing can be reduced. Thus, the volume of the air duct assembly can be reduced without affecting its inherent function, so that the refrigerator can maintain a high rated effective volume.

[0021] Furthermore, the air duct assembly for refrigerators and the refrigerator having the present invention, when the air damper is tilted at a preset angle of 15 to 60°, can effectively reduce the vertical dimension of the shell and keep the wind resistance at the air damper within a reasonable range. Thus, while reducing the volume of the air duct assembly, wind resistance is reduced or avoided, so that the miniaturized air duct assembly still has a good air delivery effect.

[0022] Furthermore, the air duct assembly for a refrigerator and the refrigerator having the present invention, by tilting the damper, allow condensation on the damper to flow downwards and collect at a designated location, preventing any moisture retention on the damper and thus preventing freezing. By employing the solution of the present invention, the inability of the damper of the air duct assembly to open or close due to freezing can be reduced or avoided, which improves the reliability of the air duct assembly.

[0023] 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

[0024] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail 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:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air duct assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded schematic view of the air duct assembly used in a refrigerator.

[0027] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The front view of a partial structure of the air duct assembly for a refrigerator is shown.

[0028] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The front view of a partial structure of the air duct assembly for a refrigerator is shown.

[0029] Figure 5This is a schematic structural diagram of the damper frame of an air duct assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of the damper of an air duct assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of the rear housing of an air duct assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of the front housing of an air duct assembly for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic structural diagram of a portion of the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] The air duct assembly 210 in this embodiment is used for guiding air, for example, it can be used to guide the heat exchange airflow flowing through the evaporator to a specific storage room to regulate the temperature of the storage room.

[0037] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded schematic view of the air duct assembly 210 for the refrigerator 10.

[0038] The air duct assembly 210 generally includes a housing 211 and an air damper 213. The housing 211 defines an air inlet 218 and an air outlet 212, as well as an air duct connecting the air inlet 218 and the air outlet 212.

[0039] Air inlet 218 allows external airflow to flow into the air duct. Air outlet 212 allows airflow flowing through the air duct to exit the air duct. Air inlet 218 can be connected to a cooling supply, such as a heat exchange chamber or evaporator mounting chamber for generating heat exchange airflow. Air outlet 212 can be connected to a cooling receiver, such as a storage compartment.

[0040] The damper 213 is obliquely placed inside the air duct and configured to be controllably openable and closable to open or close the air duct. For example, when the damper 213 is in the closed state, it can block the air duct and cut off the air duct. When the air duct needs to be ventilated, the damper 213 can be switched to the open state by adjusting its attitude or changing its position, thereby opening the air duct.

[0041] It should be noted that the term "tilted" is relative to either a vertical or horizontal orientation. "Offset" can refer to a deviation from the vertical orientation setting within a certain range, or a deviation from the horizontal orientation setting within a certain range.

[0042] By setting an oblique damper 213 inside the housing 211 of the air intake duct assembly 210, and using the oblique damper 213 to open and close the air duct, the vertical space occupied by the damper 213 can be reduced to a certain extent, and the vertical dimension of the housing 211 can be reduced. Thus, the volume of the air intake duct assembly 210 can be reduced without affecting its inherent function, so that the refrigerator 10 can maintain a high rated effective volume.

[0043] When the vertical dimension of the housing 211 is reduced, more space can be freed up above or below the air duct assembly 210. This space can be used to install other components of the refrigerator 10, making the installation layout of several components of the refrigerator 10 more compact, thereby freeing up more space for storage.

[0044] The housing 211 may include a front housing 211a and a rear housing 211b that are assembled with each other. The front housing 211a and the rear housing 211b can clamp the damper frame 215 in the front-rear direction, further improving the assembly stability of the damper frame 215.

[0045] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 The figure shows a front view of a portion of the structure of the air duct assembly 210 for the refrigerator 10, with the front housing 211a omitted. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The figure shows a front view of a portion of the structure of the air duct assembly 210 for the refrigerator 10, with the damper frame 215 and damper 213 omitted.

[0046] In some optional embodiments, an installation section is formed within the duct, and a positioning element 280 and a clearance groove 290 are provided within the installation section. The positioning element 280 is used to position the damper 213 at a preset angle relative to the cross-section of the installation section. The clearance groove 290 provides the necessary space for the controlled opening of the damper 213. The preset angle can refer to any angle within the range of 0 to 90°.

[0047] In other words, the positioning member 280 is used to install the damper 213. The damper 213 can be directly or indirectly fixedly connected to the positioning member 280, or directly or indirectly assembled to the positioning member 280 to be tilted and positioned at a preset angle. The clearance groove 290 is used to allow the damper 213 to perform opening and closing actions therein, avoiding mechanical interference during the opening and closing process of the damper 213.

[0048] The cross-section of an installation section refers to its cross-sectional surface. For example, when the section to which the installation section belongs within the duct extends horizontally, the cross-section of the installation section can be approximately a vertical plane. When the section to which the installation section belongs within the duct extends vertically, the cross-section of the installation section can be approximately a horizontal plane.

[0049] By improving the molding die, the mounting section can be directly formed within the housing 211. Using the mounting section to position the damper 213 and providing sufficient movement space for it simplifies the assembly structure of the damper 213 and ensures that the damper 213 can still function normally when tilted.

[0050] In some alternative embodiments, the mounting section is configured such that the damper 213 forms an angle of 15 to 60° with the cross-section of the mounting section, thereby reducing the size of the housing 211 and lowering the wind resistance of the damper 213. For example, the angle between the damper 213 and the cross-section of the mounting section may be 20°, 30°, or 45°, but is not limited thereto.

[0051] When the damper 213 is tilted at a preset angle of 15 to 60°, it can effectively reduce the vertical dimension of the housing 211 and keep the wind resistance at the damper 213 within a reasonable range. This reduces or avoids wind resistance while reducing the volume of the air duct assembly 210, so that the miniaturized air duct assembly 210 still has a good air supply effect.

[0052] In some alternative embodiments, the mounting section is a horizontal air duct section within the air duct. The damper 213 extends obliquely upward toward the inside of the air duct. For example, the air inlet 218 may be located at one lateral end of the housing 211. The mounting section may be located within a horizontal air duct section adjacent to the air inlet 218. And the damper 213 may extend obliquely inward along the air duct from bottom to top.

[0053] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the damper frame 215 of the air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In some alternative embodiments, the air duct assembly 210 may further include a damper frame 215 defining an air vent 215a and a frame body 215b enclosing the air vent 215a. A damper 213 is pivotally mounted to the frame body 215b to open or close the air vent 215a, thereby opening or closing the air duct. Through assembly, the damper frame 215 and the damper 213 form a damper assembly.

[0055] By pivotally mounting the damper 213 to the door frame body 215b, the space required for the opening and closing of the damper 213 can be minimized as much as possible, while ensuring the airtightness of the air duct.

[0056] The positioning member 280 includes a lower protrusion 281 that protrudes downward from the top of the housing 211, and the lower protrusion 281 has a lower protruding inclined surface 281a on which the top of the door frame body 215b abuts to achieve an inclined position.

[0057] For example, in some optional embodiments, the plane containing the lower inclined surface 281a can be parallel to the plane containing the damper 213 in the closed state. The degree of inclination of the lower inclined surface 281a can be the same as the degree of inclination of the damper 213 and the degree of inclination of the door frame body 215b.

[0058] The tilt angle of the lower protruding inclined surface 281a determines the tilt angle of the door frame body 215b, and thus the tilt angle of the damper 213. When it is necessary to adjust the tilt angle of the damper 213, the tilt angle of the lower protruding inclined surface 281a can be changed.

[0059] The positioning member 280 also includes a downwardly recessed groove 282 from the bottom of the housing 211, the groove 282 having a downwardly recessed inclined groove 282a into which at least a portion of the bottom of the door frame body 215b is inserted at an angle to achieve an inclined position. The downwardly protruding inclined surface 281a and the downwardly recessed inclined groove 282a have the same degree of inclination and together define the degree of inclination of the door frame body 215b.

[0060] For example, an annular protrusion can be formed on the outer surface of the door frame body 215b, and the size of the recessed inclined groove 282a can be adapted to the shape of the annular protrusion, so that the bottom of the annular protrusion can be inserted into the recessed inclined groove 282a to fix the door frame body 215b and make the door frame body 215b inclined at a preset angle.

[0061] By using the protruding inclined surface 281a and the recessed inclined groove 282a to position and fix the top and bottom of the door frame body 215b respectively, the door frame body 215b can be stably placed obliquely inside the housing 211, which helps to improve the stability of the door frame body 215b. In the process of assembling the door frame body 215b, it is only necessary to "insert" (i.e., insert the bottom of the annular protrusion of the door frame body 215b obliquely into the recessed inclined groove 282a) and "rest" (i.e., let the top of the door frame body 215b rest against the protruding inclined surface 281a), which is simple, convenient, time-saving and labor-saving.

[0062] In some optional embodiments, the door frame body 215b has a shaft hole 215c for the pivot shaft 213a of the damper 213 to be inserted therein for rotatable engagement. The central axis of the pivot shaft 213a is inclined at a predetermined angle and parallel to the length direction of the door frame body 215b.

[0063] For example, the pivot shaft 213a of the damper 213 can be provided on the damper 213 and extend along the length of the damper 213 and be provided at one end of the damper 213.

[0064] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of a damper 213 in an air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The damper 213 may be plate-shaped and is configured to be at a predetermined angle relative to the vertical plane when the vent 215a is closed, and to rotate about a pivot axis 213a toward the inside of the air duct during the opening of the vent 215a. The inside of the air duct refers to the side away from the air inlet 218.

[0065] Since the inner space of the air duct is relatively sufficient, the damper 213 can rotate toward the inner side of the air duct around the pivot axis 213a during the opening of the vent 215a. The damper assembly can be arranged near the air inlet 218, and mechanical interference during the rotation of the damper 213 can be avoided as much as possible.

[0066] It should be emphasized that by tilting the damper 213, the condensation on the damper 213 can flow downwards and collect at a designated location, and the damper 213 will hardly retain any moisture, thus preventing freezing. The various solutions in the above embodiments can reduce or avoid the damper 213 of the air duct assembly 210 from being unable to open or close due to freezing, thus also improving the reliability of the air duct assembly 210.

[0067] In some alternative embodiments, the air inlet is located at the lateral end of the housing 211, and the air outlet 212 is located at the bottom of the housing 211, below the door frame body 215b and the damper 213, and communicates with the clearance groove 290.

[0068] Within the installation section, a confluence section is also formed below the door frame body 215b and the damper 213. The confluence section connects to the clearance groove 290 and has multiple confluence surfaces extending downward toward the clearance groove 290. The confluence surfaces are configured such that condensate dripping onto them flows toward the clearance groove 290 and is discharged from the outlet 212 into the housing 211.

[0069] Figure 7 This is a schematic structural diagram of the rear housing 211b of the air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing multiple converging surfaces of the converging section.

[0070] The connection method between the confluence surface and the clearance groove 290 can be set according to actual needs, as long as the condensate flowing through the confluence surface can flow into the clearance groove 290. In this embodiment, the clearance groove 290 may include the bottom wall and top wall of the installation section and the space between them.

[0071] Figure 8 This is a schematic structural diagram of the front housing 211a of an air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the clearance groove 290.

[0072] In some optional embodiments, the confluence surface includes a first confluence surface 231, a second confluence surface 232, a third confluence surface 233, and a fourth confluence surface 234. The first confluence surface 231 can be a vertical surface and is formed on the outer wall of the recessed inclined groove 282a to reduce or prevent condensate from accumulating in the housing 211. The second confluence surface 232 is an inclined surface, its plane perpendicular to the plane of the damper 213 in the closed state. This second confluence surface 232 contacts the bottom of the door frame body 215b, allowing condensate formed on the door frame body 215b to flow along its surface and be discharged. The third confluence surface 233 is an inclined surface with an inclination greater than any value within the range of 4 to 10°. This third confluence surface 233 connects the ends of the first confluence surface 231 and the second confluence surface 232, guiding the condensate discharged from the first and second confluence surfaces 231 and 232 to the bottom wall of the clearance groove 290, and then out of the housing 211 through the air outlet 212. The fourth confluence surface 234 is an inclined surface, and its plane is parallel to the plane of the damper 213 in the closed state. The top end of the fourth confluence surface 234 is connected to the bottom of the door frame body 215b, and the bottom end of the fourth confluence surface 234 is connected to the bottom wall of the clearance groove 290, allowing the condensate formed on the door frame body 215b to flow along its surface and be discharged into the clearance groove 290. The condensate flowing to the air outlet 212 can flow downwards from the air outlet 212 out of the housing 211.

[0073] In some optional embodiments, the air outlet 212 of the exhaust duct assembly 210 can be connected to the airflow inlet of another exhaust duct assembly 210. The condensate discharged from the housing 211 through the air outlet 212 can flow downward into the duct of the other exhaust duct assembly 210. Under the action of the airflow, the evaporation of the condensate can be accelerated, thereby completing the discharge and treatment of the condensate.

[0074] The clearance groove 290 not only provides clearance space for the opening and closing of the inclined damper 213, but also allows condensate to flow into its recessed area, and then flow downward through the air outlet 212, and evaporate and dissipate naturally during the flow process. This can reduce or avoid the condensate from freezing again and affecting the opening and closing of the damper 213.

[0075] To prevent the clearance groove 290 from interfering with the opening and closing of the damper 213, the minimum distance between the bottom wall of the clearance groove 290 and the damper 213 must be greater than or equal to any value within the range of 1 to 10 mm.

[0076] In some alternative embodiments, electric heating components (not shown in the figure) are respectively provided on the door frame body 215b and the damper 213. The electric heating components are configured to generate heat in a controlled manner to heat the door frame body 215b and the damper 213.

[0077] For example, the electric heating element can be a heating wire. The heating wire can be wound around the door frame body 215b or the damper 213, or it can be embedded in the door frame body 215b or the damper 213.

[0078] By arranging an electric heating element on the damper assembly, the damper assembly can be defrosted periodically, keeping the damper 213 in optimal condition so that it can perform its opening and closing functions normally.

[0079] Based on the textual description of this embodiment, those skilled in the art should easily understand the structure of the electric heating component and the connection method between the electric heating component and the door frame body 215b or the damper 213. Therefore, it is not shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0080] Figure 9 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 10 generally includes an air duct assembly 210 as described in any of the above embodiments. The air duct assembly 210 is used for guiding airflow, for example, it may be disposed inside an inner liner, and is used to guide heat exchange airflow from outside the inner liner to the storage compartment defined by the inner liner to regulate the temperature of the storage compartment.

[0081] Figure 10 This is a schematic structural diagram of a portion of the structure of a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 may further include an inner liner 320 for assembly with the outer shell of the refrigerator 10 to form a cabinet 110. Figure 10The inner liner 320 is shown, which is equipped with the air duct assembly 210.

[0082] The inner liner 320 has an air duct installation area for installing the air duct assembly 210 and a low-temperature storage area 322 located in front of the air duct installation area.

[0083] Under the action of the exhaust duct assembly 210, the low-temperature storage area 322 of the inner liner 320 can receive heat exchange airflow from the outside. For example, the heat exchange airflow can come from another inner liner adjacent to the inner liner 320 and share the cooling capacity of the evaporator installed in the adjacent inner liner. The inner liner 320 equipped with the exhaust duct assembly 210 does not need to have a separate evaporator installed, which can increase the effective storage volume of the inner liner 320 to a certain extent.

[0084] The present invention relates to an air duct assembly 210 for a refrigerator 10 and a refrigerator 10 having the same. By providing an obliquely positioned damper 213 within the housing 211 of the air duct assembly 210 and utilizing the obliquely positioned damper 213 to open and close the air duct, the vertical space occupied by the damper 213 can be reduced to a certain extent, and the vertical dimension of the housing 211 can be reduced. This reduces the volume of the air duct assembly 210 without affecting its inherent function, allowing the refrigerator 10 to maintain a high rated effective volume. Simultaneously, it can reduce or prevent the damper 213 of the air duct assembly 210 from freezing and becoming unable to open or close, which is beneficial to improving the reliability of the air duct assembly 210.

[0085] 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. An air duct assembly for a refrigerator, characterized in that, include: A housing that defines an air inlet and an air outlet, and an air duct connecting the air inlet and the air outlet; and An air damper is placed obliquely inside the air duct and is configured to be controllably openable and closable to switch the air duct on and off. An installation section is formed within the air duct, and a positioning element and a clearance groove are provided within the installation section; and The positioning element is configured to position the damper at a predetermined angle relative to the cross-section of the mounting section, and the clearance groove is configured to provide the movement space required for the controlled opening process of the damper; The air duct assembly also includes: A damper frame defines an air vent and a frame body that encloses the air vent. The damper is pivotally mounted on the frame body to open or close the air vent, thereby opening or closing the air duct. The positioning element includes a lower protrusion protruding downward from the top of the housing and a sloping groove recessed downward from the bottom of the housing; wherein the lower protrusion has a lower protruding inclined surface on which the top of the door frame body abuts to achieve an inclined position, and the sloping groove has a lower recessed inclined groove in which at least a portion of the bottom of the door frame body is inserted at an angle to achieve an inclined position. The air outlet is located at the bottom of the housing, below the door frame body and the damper, and is connected to the clearance groove; The installation section also forms a converging part located below the door frame body and the damper. The converging part is connected to the clearance groove and has multiple converging surfaces extending downward and toward the clearance groove. The converging surfaces are configured such that condensate dripping onto them flows into the clearance groove and is discharged from the air outlet of the housing. The merging surface includes a first merging surface, a second merging surface, a third merging surface, and a fourth merging surface; wherein, The first confluence surface is a vertical surface and is formed on the outer wall of the recessed inclined groove; The second confluence surface is an inclined plane, and its plane is perpendicular to the plane of the damper in the closed state. The second confluence surface is in contact with the bottom of the door frame body. The third confluence surface is an inclined surface and connects the ends of the first confluence surface and the second confluence surface. It is used to guide the condensate discharged from the first confluence surface and the second confluence surface to the bottom wall of the clearance groove and flow out of the housing through the air outlet. The fourth confluence surface is an inclined plane, and its plane is parallel to the plane of the damper in the closed state; the top of the fourth confluence surface is connected to the bottom of the door frame body, and the bottom of the fourth confluence surface is connected to the bottom wall of the clearance groove, so that the condensate formed on the door frame body flows along its surface and is discharged into the clearance groove.

2. The air duct assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning element is configured to form an angle of 15 to 60 degrees between the damper and the cross-section of the installation section, thereby reducing the size of the housing and lowering the wind resistance of the damper.

3. The air duct assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The installation section is a horizontal air duct section within the air duct; the door frame body extends inclined from bottom to top toward the inside of the air duct, so that the air door assembled thereon is tilted synchronously with it.

4. The air duct assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The downward protruding inclined surface and the downward recessed inclined groove have the same degree of inclination and together define the degree of inclination of the door frame body.

5. The air duct assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The door frame body has a shaft hole for the pivot shaft of the damper to be inserted into, thereby achieving a rotatable fit; the central axis of the pivot shaft is inclined at the preset angle and parallel to the length direction of the door frame body; The damper is plate-shaped and is configured to be set at the preset angle relative to the vertical plane when the vent is closed, and to rotate about the pivot axis toward the inside of the air duct when the vent is opened.

6. The air duct assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The air inlet is located at the lateral end of the housing.

7. The air duct assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, Electric heating components are respectively provided on the door frame body and the damper. The electric heating components are configured to generate heat in a controlled manner by energizing the door frame body and the damper.

8. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The air duct assembly for a refrigerator as described in any one of claims 1-7.