Pipeline structure and refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention discloses a pipe structure and a refrigerator. The pipe structure includes a drain pipe and an exhaust pipe. The first pipe opening of the drain pipe is connected to the inner container of the refrigerator. The second pipe opening of the drain pipe has a smaller diameter than the first pipe opening of the drain pipe. The first pipe opening of the exhaust pipe is connected to the wall of the drain pipe and the exhaust pipe is connected to the drain pipe. The second pipe opening of the exhaust pipe is openable and closable. The sum of the areas of the second pipe opening of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe opening of the drain pipe is greater than the area of the first pipe opening of the drain pipe. The pipe structure proposed by the present invention, by providing an exhaust pipe connected to the drain pipe and providing a baffle and a support member at the second pipe opening of the exhaust pipe, thereby controlling the opening or closing of the second pipe opening of the exhaust pipe, can perfectly solve the problem of whistling noise generated by the reduced pipe diameter of the drain pipe in the prior art. It also ensures that heat exchange with the outside world is reduced during normal operation of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refrigerators, and particularly to a pipeline structure and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Currently in the refrigerator industry, in order to meet the heat preservation requirements during the operation of the refrigerator, the diameter of the drain pipe outlet is usually set as small as possible to reduce the heat exchange between the inner liner of the refrigerator and the outside world during operation. However, the following problems arise: First, for large-capacity refrigerators, especially side-by-side refrigerators, when the temperature inside the inner liner reaches equilibrium, there will be a pressure difference with the external environment. Under the action of the pressure difference, it is difficult to open the door of the refrigerator. Second, during the process of closing the refrigerator door, a large amount of air needs to be released from the drain pipe. However, due to the reduction of the diameter of the drain pipe outlet, noises similar to whistles will occur. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In order to solve the technical problem of noise generation during the closing process of the refrigerator in the above-mentioned prior art, the present invention provides a pipeline structure and a refrigerator.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0005] The present invention provides a pipeline structure and a refrigerator, wherein the pipeline structure includes: a drain pipe and an exhaust pipe. The first pipe orifice of the drain pipe is connected to the inner liner of the refrigerator. The diameter of the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is smaller than that of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe. The first pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe wall of the drain pipe and the exhaust pipe is communicated with the drain pipe. The second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can be opened and closed. The sum of the areas of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is larger than the area of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe.

[0006] Furthermore, a rotatable baffle and a telescopic support member are provided on the exhaust pipe. The support member controls the baffle to close or open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe through telescoping.

[0007] Preferably, when the support member extends naturally, it supports the baffle to close the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe. When the support member contracts, it separates from the baffle to open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe.

[0008] Preferably, the support member includes an electromagnetic spring. The electromagnetic spring contracts when energized and extends naturally when de-energized.

[0009] Preferably, a rotating shaft is provided in the exhaust pipe. The baffle is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. When the baffle is only affected by gravity, it is in an inclined state to open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe.

[0010] A refrigerator includes the pipeline structure described above.

[0011] Further, it further includes a controller and a door light. When the door of the refrigerator is opened, the door light lights up, and when the door is closed, the door light goes out.

[0012] Further, when the door light goes out, the controller controls the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe to be closed.

[0013] Further, when the door light lights up, the controller controls the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe to be opened.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the pipe structure proposed by the present invention controls the opening or closing of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe by providing an exhaust pipe communicated with the drain pipe and arranging a baffle and a support member at the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe, which can perfectly solve the problem of the drain pipe in the prior art generating a whistling sound due to the reduction of the pipe diameter, and at the same time ensure that the refrigerator reduces the heat exchange with the outside world during normal operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions. Obviously, the drawings in the following descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the pipe structure in the embodiment of the present invention (the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed);

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the pipe structure in the embodiment of the present invention (the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened);

[0018] Figure 3 It is a control flow chart of the pipe structure in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] 1. Drain pipe; 11. First pipe orifice of the drain pipe; 12. Second pipe orifice of the drain pipe; 2. Exhaust pipe; 21. Second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe; 3. Baffle; 4. Support member; 5. Refrigerator inner liner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by the present invention more clearly understood, the following further describes the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention.

[0021] Currently, in the refrigerator industry, in order to meet the heat preservation requirements during the operation of the refrigerator, the diameter of the drain pipe outlet is usually set as small as possible to reduce the heat exchange between the inner liner of the refrigerator and the outside world during operation. However, the following problems arise: First, for large-capacity refrigerators, especially side-by-side refrigerators, when the temperature inside the inner liner reaches equilibrium, there will be a pressure difference with the external environment. Under the action of the pressure difference, it is difficult to open the refrigerator door. Second, during the process of closing the refrigerator door, a large amount of air needs to be released from the drain pipe. However, due to the reduction in the diameter of the drain pipe outlet, noises similar to whistles will occur.

[0022] Therefore, in order to solve the technical problem in the prior art that during the refrigerator door closing process, due to the relatively small diameter of the drain pipe outlet, the air inside the refrigerator inner liner cannot be discharged in time, resulting in noise, the present invention proposes a pipeline structure, including:

[0023] A drain pipe and an exhaust pipe. The first pipe orifice of the drain pipe is connected to the refrigerator inner liner. The second pipe orifice of the drain pipe has a smaller diameter than the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe. The first pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe wall of the drain pipe and the inside of the exhaust pipe communicates with the inside of the drain pipe. The second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can be opened and closed. The sum of the areas of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is greater than the area of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe.

[0024] It can be seen from this that when the refrigerator is operating normally, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed, and only the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is left for drainage to prevent heat exchange between the refrigerator inner liner and the outside world. During the process of closing the refrigerator door, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened, and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe exhaust simultaneously, and there will be no problem of whistling noises caused by the reduction in the pipe orifice diameter.

[0025] The principle and structure of the present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0026] As Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown in the figure, the present invention proposes a pipeline structure, which includes a drain pipe 1 and an exhaust pipe 2 that are interconnected inside. Among them, the diameter of the second pipe orifice 12 of the drain pipe is smaller than the diameter of the first pipe orifice 11 of the drain pipe, and the first pipe orifice 11 of the drain pipe is connected to the refrigerator inner liner 5. The first pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe wall of the drain pipe, and the second pipe orifice 21 of the exhaust pipe can be opened and closed. The sum of the areas of the second pipe orifice 21 of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe orifice 12 of the drain pipe is greater than the area of the first pipe orifice 11 of the drain pipe, and the second pipe orifice 12 of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice 21 of the exhaust pipe are arranged downward. Therefore, when the gas in the refrigerator inner liner is discharged to the external environment, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened, and both the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can discharge gas, so that the problem of whistling caused by the reduction of the pipe diameter will not occur. At the same time, in order to meet the requirement of reducing the heat exchange between the refrigerator inner liner and the outside during the normal operation of the refrigerator, when the refrigerator door is closed and the refrigerator is operating normally, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed.

[0027] Specifically, in this embodiment, a rotatable flap 3 and a telescopic support member 4 are provided on the exhaust pipe. The support member 4 controls the flap 3 through telescoping to close or open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe. Specifically, a rotating shaft is provided on the inner wall of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe, and the flap is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. The shape and size of the flap are adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the second pipe orifice, and when the flap is only affected by gravity, the flap is in an inclined state, and at this time the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is open. The support member includes a hollow support column fixed on the inner wall of the exhaust pipe and an electromagnetic spring arranged inside the support column. When the electromagnetic spring is energized, the electromagnetic spring contracts. At this time, there is no contact between the electromagnetic spring, the support column and the flap, and the flap is only affected by gravity and is in an inclined state, and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is open; when the electromagnetic spring is de-energized, the electromagnetic spring is in a natural extended state. At this time, the electromagnetic spring supports the flap upward, and the flap is in a horizontal position under force, and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed.

[0028] Therefore, the pipeline structure proposed by the present invention solves the problem of whistling caused by the reduction of the pipe diameter of the drain pipe in the prior art by setting an exhaust pipe communicated with the drain pipe and arranging a flap and a support member at the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe, and at the same time ensures that the refrigerator reduces heat exchange with the outside during the normal operation process.

[0029] The present invention also provides a refrigerator, which includes an inner container, a door lamp, a door body, the above-mentioned pipeline structure, and a controller for controlling the pipeline structure. The door lamp indicates the opening and closing state of the door body by lighting up and extinguishing. When the door lamp is lit, the door body is open, and when the door lamp is extinguished, the door body is closed. Specifically, the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe in the pipeline structure is connected to the inner container, the diameter of the second pipe orifice of the water pipe is smaller than that of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe, the first pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe wall of the drain pipe, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can be opened and closed, and the sum of the areas of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is larger than the area of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe. The second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe are arranged downward. Therefore, when the gas in the inner container is discharged to the external environment, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened, and both the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can discharge gas, so that the problem of whistling caused by the reduction of the pipe diameter will not occur. At the same time, when the refrigerator door body is closed and operating normally, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed, reducing the heat exchange between the inner container and the outside. Specifically, a rotating shaft is provided on the inner wall of the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe, and the baffle is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. The shape and size of the baffle are adapted to the cross-sectional shape of the second pipe orifice, and the baffle is in an inclined state under the action of gravity without external force, and at this time the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is open. The support member includes a hollow support column fixed on the inner wall of the exhaust pipe and an electromagnetic spring arranged in the support column. When the electromagnetic spring is energized, the electromagnetic spring contracts. At this time, there is no contact between the electromagnetic spring, the support column and the baffle, and the baffle is only in an inclined state under the action of gravity and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is open. When the electromagnetic spring is de-energized, the electromagnetic spring is in a natural extended state. At this time, the electromagnetic spring supports the baffle upward, the baffle is in a horizontal position under force, and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed.

[0030] Further, as Figure 3As shown, when the door of the refrigerator is closing, the controller determines whether the door is in the open state or the closed state based on the on and off of the door light. If the controller detects that the door light is on, it means that the door is open at this time. The controller controls the electromagnetic spring to be energized. At this time, the baffle is in an inclined state, and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened, increasing the total area of the exhaust port. Therefore, during the closing process of the door, the gas in the inner liner can be discharged in time from the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe, preventing the generation of whistling sounds. If the controller detects that the door light is off, it means that the door of the refrigerator is in the closed state at this time. The controller controls the electromagnetic spring to be de-energized. At this time, the baffle is in a horizontal position, and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is closed, reducing the heat exchange between the inner liner and the outside. The process of the refrigerator door closing and operating normally is a dynamic balance process: when the refrigerator is operating normally, the electromagnetic spring naturally extends to support the baffle in a horizontal state, closing the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe. The inner liner gradually generates negative pressure. When the air pressure in the inner liner reaches a certain critical value, the outside air will lift the baffle under the action of the pressure difference, causing the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe to open until the negative pressure in the inner liner is eliminated and the baffle falls to close the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe, and then the above process is repeated. Therefore, the air pressure in the inner liner will not continuously decrease, resulting in the door being unable to be opened. The baffle will continuously balance the pressure difference between the inner liner and the outside under the action of the pressure difference, reducing the opening stress of the door.

[0031] It should be noted that the terms used above are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments according to the present application. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is also intended to include the plural form. In addition, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0032] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangements of components and steps, numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application. At the same time, it should be understood that for the convenience of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship. Technologies, methods, and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, the technologies, methods, and devices should be regarded as part of the authorized specification. In all the examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as a limitation. Therefore, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

[0033] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by orientation words such as "front, rear, upper, lower, left, right", "lateral, vertical, perpendicular, horizontal" and "top, bottom", etc. is usually based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description. Without contrary explanation, these orientation words do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the protection scope of the present application; the orientation words "inside, outside" refer to the inside and outside relative to the contour of each component itself.

[0034] In addition, it should be noted that the use of words such as "first", "second", etc. to limit components is only for the convenience of distinguishing the corresponding components. Without additional statement, the above words have no special meaning. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the protection scope of the present application.

[0035] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various modifications and changes. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Pipeline structure, comprising: A drain pipe and an exhaust pipe. The first pipe orifice of the drain pipe is connected to the refrigerator inner liner. The diameter of the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is smaller than that of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe. The first pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is connected to the pipe wall of the drain pipe and the exhaust pipe is communicated with the drain pipe. The second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe can be opened and closed. It is characterized in that the sum of the areas of the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe is larger than the area of the first pipe orifice of the drain pipe. During the process of closing the refrigerator door, the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe is opened, and the second pipe orifice of the drain pipe and the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe exhaust simultaneously.

2. The pipeline structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A rotatable baffle and a telescopic support member are provided on the exhaust pipe. The support member controls the baffle to close or open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe through telescoping.

3. The pipeline structure according to claim 2, wherein When the support member extends naturally, it supports the baffle to close the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe. When the support member contracts, it separates from the baffle to open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe.

4. The pipeline structure according to claim 2, wherein, The support member includes an electromagnetic spring. The electromagnetic spring contracts when electrified and extends naturally when de-energized.

5. The pipeline structure according to claim 3, characterized in that A rotating shaft is provided in the exhaust pipe. The baffle is rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. When the baffle is only affected by gravity, it is in an inclined state to open the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe.

6. Refrigerator, characterized in that, It includes the pipe structure according to any one of claims 1-5.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, It further includes a controller and a door light. When the door body of the refrigerator is opened, the door light lights up. When the door body is closed, the door light goes out.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the door light goes out, the controller controls the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe to be closed.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the door light lights up, the controller controls the second pipe orifice of the exhaust pipe to be opened.

Images