refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator can purify the air in a box without hindering the flow of cold air circulating in the refrigerator. The refrigerator (1) of this embodiment comprises: a refrigerator body (2) forming a storage chamber (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) and a cooler chamber (31, 51) inside; a cooler (36, 56) arranged in the cooler chamber (31, 51) to generate cold air; an air path (33, 52, 53, 54) connecting the storage chamber (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) and the cooler chamber (31, 51) to allow air to circulate in the storage chamber (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) and the cooler chamber (31, 51); and a catalyst film body (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) comprising a film body and a catalyst layer arranged on the surface of the film body, the catalyst film body (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) being adhered to a flat portion facing the air path (33, 52, 53, 54).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] In order to maintain the freshness of stored items in a refrigerator, it has been proposed to install a purification device in a cold air duct or the like in the refrigerator to purify the air circulating in the refrigerator by sterilizing or deodorizing it.

[0003] Such a purification device includes a porous body carrying a catalyst and a light-emitting device that outputs light such as ultraviolet rays. By irradiating the porous body with light output from the light-emitting device, bacteria and odor components contained in the air in the cold air path are decomposed and removed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5251229

[0005] However, in the above-mentioned purification device, since the thickness of the porous body is large in order to increase the surface area of ​​the porous body, the porous body is likely to hinder the flow of cold air circulating in the refrigerator. Summary of the invention

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of purifying the air in a refrigerator without hindering the flow of cold air circulating in the refrigerator.

[0007] A refrigerator in one embodiment comprises: a refrigerator body, in which a storage chamber and a cooler chamber are formed; a cooler, which is arranged in the above-mentioned cooler chamber and generates cold air; an air path, which connects the above-mentioned storage chamber with the above-mentioned cooler chamber so that air circulates in the above-mentioned storage chamber and the above-mentioned cooler chamber; and a catalyst film body, which has a film body and a catalyst layer formed on the surface of the above-mentioned film body and having a catalyst, and the above-mentioned catalyst film body is pasted on a flat portion facing the above-mentioned air path.

[0008] Effects of the Invention

[0009] The refrigerator of the present invention can purify the air in the refrigerator without hindering the flow of cold air circulating in the refrigerator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view showing a schematic structure of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 It is a front view showing the main parts of the refrigerator body in an enlarged manner.

[0012] Figure 3 It is a magnified representation Figure 1 A longitudinal section of the main parts.

[0013] Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the freezing partition components.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a front view of the ice-making room, the first freezer room, and the second freezer room with the doors omitted.

[0015] Explanation of symbols:

[0016] 1: refrigerator; 2: refrigerator body; 3: outer box; 4: inner box; 4a: back of inner box; 20: refrigerator compartment; 22: vegetable compartment; 26: first freezer compartment; 28: second freezer compartment; 30: refrigerated partition; 31: first cooler compartment; 32: supply flow path; 33: supply flow path; 34: return flow path; 35: return flow path; 36: refrigerated cooler; 37: refrigerated blower; 38: flow path assembly; 39: back part; 40: blow-out port; 41: catalyst film body; 42: catalyst film body; 43: catalyst film body; 44: catalyst film body; 45: catalyst film body; 50: frozen partition; 51: second cooler compartment; 52: cold air flow path; 53: cold air flow path; 54: cold air flow path; 55: return flow path; 56: frozen cooler; 57: frozen blower. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The embodiments are described based on the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. The following embodiments can be implemented in various other ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the main purpose of the invention. The following embodiments and their variations are included in the invention described in the technical solution and the scope equivalent thereto.

[0018] In the following description, the left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction refer to directions when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, and the left-right direction is equivalent to the width direction of the refrigerator. In addition, right, left, top, bottom, back, and front refer to positions, sides, etc. when the refrigerator is viewed from the front unless otherwise specified. In addition, the side of the inner box 4 of the refrigerator 1 facing the storage space is set as the inner side of the refrigerator, and the side opposite to the outer box 3 through the insulation material is set as the insulation space side.

[0019] (1) Configuration of Refrigerator 1

[0020] First, the overall structure of the refrigerator 1 will be described. Figure 1 Refrigerator 1 of the embodiment is shown in FIG. Refrigerator body 2 of refrigerator 1 is composed of an outer box 3 forming the outer contour of refrigerator 1 and an inner box 4 having a storage space formed therein, and an insulating material 5 such as a foam insulating material, a plate-shaped insulating material, etc. is provided in the insulating space formed between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4.

[0021] The interior of the refrigerator body 2 is divided into upper and lower parts by a heat-insulating partition wall 6. The upper side of the heat-insulating partition wall 6 is a refrigerated space. The refrigerated space is maintained at a temperature suitable for refrigerated storage, i.e., a refrigerated temperature. The lower side of the heat-insulating partition wall 6 is a freezer space. The freezer space is maintained at a temperature suitable for frozen storage, i.e., a frozen temperature. A plurality of storage rooms for storing food are respectively provided in the refrigerated space and the freezer space. Each storage room has an opening at the front, and a user can take out or put in food from the opening.

[0022] The refrigerated space is divided into front and rear by a refrigerated partition component 30. A refrigerated storage space for storing stored items is formed in front of the refrigerated partition component 30, and a refrigerated cooler chamber 31, supply air paths 32, 33, return air paths 34, 35 and other air paths are formed behind the refrigerated partition component 30.

[0023] A refrigeration cooler 36 and a refrigeration blower 37 are accommodated in the refrigeration cooler chamber 31. The refrigeration cooler 36 cools the air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 31 to generate cold air, and supplies the generated cold air to the refrigerated storage space through the refrigeration blower 37.

[0024] The refrigerated storage space is divided into upper and lower parts by a partition wall 7. A refrigerated room 20 is provided above the partition wall 7, and a vegetable room 22 is provided below the partition wall 7. A connecting passage 7a connecting the refrigerated room 20 and the vegetable room 22 is provided at the rear of the partition wall 7. The refrigerated room 20 is maintained at a refrigerated temperature within a range of, for example, 2 to 5°C, and the vegetable room 22 is maintained at a refrigerated temperature within a range of, for example, 4 to 7°C.

[0025] A plurality of placement shelves 8 are provided vertically and spaced apart in the refrigerating chamber 20. Below the lowest placement shelf 8 is a chilling chamber maintained at a particularly low temperature in the refrigerating chamber 20.

[0026] On the top wall of the refrigerator body 2 forming the top surface of the refrigerating chamber 20, a lighting device 9 for lighting the inside of the refrigerating chamber 20 is provided inside the refrigerator.

[0027] The front opening of the refrigerator compartment 20 is opened and closed by a pair of French-style left and right refrigerator compartment doors 21. The refrigerator compartment door 21 is opened and closed by a door sensor provided at the front end of the refrigerator compartment 20.

[0028] The front opening of the vegetable compartment 22 is opened and closed by a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 23. A drawer-type storage container is installed inside the refrigerator of the vegetable compartment door 23. When the user opens the vegetable compartment door 23, the storage container is pulled out of the refrigerator together with the vegetable compartment door 23, and when the vegetable compartment door 23 is closed, the storage container is stored in the vegetable compartment 22 together with the vegetable compartment door 23.

[0029] The freezing space is divided into front and rear by a freezing partition component 50. A freezing storage space for storing stored items is formed in front of the freezing partition component 50, and a freezing cooler chamber 51, supply air paths 52, 53, 54, return air path 55 and other cold air paths are formed behind the freezing partition component 50.

[0030] The freezer cooler room 51 houses a freezer cooler 56 and a freezer blower 57. The freezer cooler 56 cools the air in the freezer cooler room 51 to generate cold air, and supplies the generated cold air to the frozen storage space through the freezer blower 57.

[0031] The frozen storage space is provided with an ice making room 24 as a storage room (see Figure 5 ), the first freezing chamber 26 and the second freezing chamber 28. The ice making chamber 24 and the first freezing chamber 26 are arranged side by side in the upper part of the freezing space. The second freezing chamber 28 is arranged below the ice making chamber and the first freezing chamber 26. The inside of the ice making chamber and the second freezing chamber 28 is maintained within a freezing temperature range of, for example, -20 to -18°C. In addition, the inside of the first freezing chamber 26 is maintained within a freezing temperature range of, for example, -18 to -16°C.

[0032] The front opening of the first freezer compartment 26 is opened and closed by a drawer-type first freezer compartment door 27. A drawer-type storage container is installed on the surface of the first freezer compartment door 27 on the inner side of the refrigerator. In addition, the front opening of the second freezer compartment 28 is opened and closed by a drawer-type second freezer compartment door 29. A drawer-type storage container is fixed on the surface of the second freezer compartment door 29 on the inner side of the refrigerator. In addition, the front opening of the ice making compartment 24 is opened and closed by a drawer-type ice making compartment door (not shown).

[0033] A machine room 10 is provided at the lower rear of the refrigerator body 2. The machine room 10 accommodates a compressor 11, a condenser (not shown), etc. The compressor 11, the condenser, the refrigeration cooler 36, the freezing cooler 56, etc. constitute a well-known refrigeration cycle device. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 flows alternately to the refrigeration cooler 36 and the freezing cooler 56, and when the refrigerant flows, cold air is generated in each cooler.

[0034] A control substrate 12 for controlling the refrigerator 1 is provided at the rear end of the upper wall of the refrigerator body 2. The control substrate 12 includes a control unit composed of a microcomputer and a readable and writable storage unit such as a flash memory, and is connected to various devices such as various sensors, the lighting device 9, the compressor 11, the refrigeration blower 37, and the freezing blower 57. The control unit provided in the control substrate 12 controls all operations of the refrigerator 1, such as the rotation speed of the refrigeration blower 37 and the freezing blower 57, the operating frequency of the compressor 11, and the lighting operation of the lighting device 9, based on the detection signals of various sensors.

[0035] (2) Refrigeration partition member 30

[0036] The refrigerated storage partition member 30 provided at the rear portion of the refrigerated storage space includes an air duct assembly 38 and a rear surface partition member 39 .

[0037] The air duct assembly 38 is disposed at the rear of the quenching chamber arranged at the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 20 and the upper part of the vegetable chamber 22, and forms a refrigerating cooler chamber 31 between the quenching chamber and the back surface 4a of the inner box 4. In addition, the air duct assembly 38 is provided with a first supply air duct 32 connecting the refrigerating cooler chamber 31 and the quenching chamber, a first return air duct 34 connecting the refrigerating chamber 20 and the refrigerating cooler chamber 31, and a second return air duct 35 connecting the vegetable chamber 22 and the refrigerating cooler chamber 31.

[0038] The back partition member 39 is disposed on the upper side of the air duct assembly 38 to partition the refrigerated space front and back. The back partition member 39 forms a second supply air duct 33 extending upward from the refrigerated cooler chamber 31 between the back partition member 39 and the back surface 4a of the inner box 4. The second supply air duct 33 connects the refrigerated cooler chamber 31 with the refrigerated chamber 20.

[0039] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 As shown, a catalyst thin film 41 having a catalyst supported on its surface is attached to a flat portion of the back surface 4a of the inner case 4 defining the back surface of the second air supply passage 33. The specific structure of the catalyst thin film 41 will be described in detail later.

[0040] The refrigerated cooler chamber 31 is provided with a fin-tube type refrigerated cooler 36 and a refrigerated air blower 37. When the refrigerated cooler 36 cools the air flowing in the refrigerated cooler chamber 31, the refrigerated air blower 37 supplies the air in the refrigerated cooler chamber 31 cooled by the refrigerated cooler 36 to the quenching chamber via the first supply air passage 32, and supplies the air to the second supply air passage 33 formed between the back partition member 39 and the back surface 4a of the inner box 4. The cold air introduced into the second supply air passage 33 is blown out from the blow-out port 40 provided in the back partition member 39 to the refrigerated chamber 20 while flowing upward.

[0041] The air supplied to the quenching chamber and the refrigerating chamber 20 flows while being cooled in the quenching chamber and the refrigerating chamber 20. In addition, a part of the air flowing through the quenching chamber and the refrigerating chamber 20 flows into the first return air passage 34 from the suction port provided at the rear of the partition wall 7 and returns to the refrigerating cooler chamber 31, and the remaining air flows into the vegetable chamber 22 through the connecting passage 7a provided at the rear of the partition wall 7.

[0042] The air flowing into the vegetable chamber 22 is cooled while flowing inside the vegetable chamber 22, and then flows into the second return air duct 35 from the intake port provided at the lower end of the air duct assembly 38, and then returns to the refrigerated cooler chamber 31 together with the air flowing into the first return air duct 34, and is then cooled again by the refrigerated cooler 36.

[0043] (3) Freezing partition member 50

[0044] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 to Figure 5 As shown, the freezing partition member 50 includes a front partition member 61 , a rear partition member 62 provided behind the front partition member 61 , and a heat insulating molded body 63 provided between the front partition member 61 and the rear partition member 62 .

[0045] The front partition member 61 is composed of a plate-like member provided at a distance in front of the rear partition member 62, and constitutes the back of the ice making chamber 24, the first freezing chamber 26, and the second freezing chamber 28. Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, the front partition member 61 is provided with an air outlet 58 opened in the ice making chamber 24 , an air outlet 59 opened in the first freezing chamber 26 , and an air outlet 60 opened in the second freezing chamber 28 .

[0046] The rear partition member 62 is composed of a plate-shaped member covering the front surface of the freezer cooler 56, and divides the front side of the freezer cooler chamber 51, and forms the freezer cooler chamber 51 between the rear surface 4a of the inner box 4. In addition, the rear partition member 62 divides the back side of the supply air passages 52, 53, 54, and forms the supply air passages 52, 53, 54 between the rear partition member 62 and the heat insulation molded body 63.

[0047] The refrigerating blower 57 is mounted to a mounting hole 64 of the rear partition member 62 provided above the refrigerating cooler 56. The refrigerating blower 57 sucks air from the refrigerating cooler chamber 51 and sends air to the supply air passages 52, 53, 54.

[0048] like Figure 4 as well as Figure 5 As shown, on the front side of the rear partition member 62, the catalyst thin film bodies 42, 43 are attached to the flat portion on the side of the mounting hole 64 so as to face the supply air passages 52, 53, 54. In addition, although not shown in the figure, the catalyst thin film body may also be attached to the flat portion on the rear side (the side of the refrigeration cooler chamber 51) of the rear partition member 62.

[0049] The heat insulating molded body 63 is formed by, for example, molding foam plastic into a predetermined shape, and is fixed by being sandwiched between the front partition member 61 and the rear partition member 62 .

[0050] An ice supply air passage 52 is provided between the front partition member 61 and the rear partition member 62 (see Figure 3 )、The first refrigeration supply air passage 53 (refer to Figure 4 ) and the second refrigeration supply air passage 54 (refer to Figure 3 ), the cold air blown out from the refrigeration blower 57 is supplied to the blowing outlets 58, 59, 60 via the air paths 52, 53, 54.

[0051] Ice supply air passage 52 is an air passage connecting the outlet side of refrigeration blower 57 and outlet 58 opened in ice making chamber 24. A part of the cold air blown out from refrigeration blower 57 is supplied to ice making chamber 24 from outlet 58 through ice supply air passage 52.

[0052] The first refrigeration supply air passage 53 is an air passage connecting the outlet side of the refrigeration blower 57 and the outlet 59 opened in the first freezing chamber 26. A part of the cold air blown out from the refrigeration blower 57 is supplied to the first freezing chamber 26 from the outlet 59 through the first refrigeration supply air passage 53.

[0053] The second refrigeration supply air passage 54 is an air passage connecting the outlet side of the refrigeration blower 57 and the outlet 60 opened in the second freezing chamber 28. A part of the cold air blown out from the refrigeration blower 57 is supplied to the second freezing chamber 28 from the outlet 60 through the second refrigeration supply air passage 54.

[0054] The second refrigeration supply air passage 54 is connected to a protruding supply air passage 54a extending from the back side of the second freezing chamber 28 toward the front side at the downstream side of the flow direction of the cold air in the second refrigeration supply air passage 54. A part of the cold air flowing in the second refrigeration supply air passage 54 is blown out to the second freezing chamber 28 from the blowout port 60 provided at the back side of the second freezing chamber 28, and the remaining part flows into the protruding supply air passage 54a and is blown out to the second freezing chamber 28 from the blowout port 60a located at the front side of the back side of the second freezing chamber 28.

[0055] The lower end of the front partition member 61 and the lower end of the rear partition member 62 form a return air passage 55 between the back surface 4a of the inner box 4. The return air passage 55 opens at the lower back surface of the second freezing chamber 28, and draws air from the second freezing chamber 28 and returns it to the freezing and cooling chamber 51.

[0056] like Figure 3 to Figure 5 As shown, the catalyst thin film body 44 is attached to the flat portion of at least one of the front partition member 61 and the rear partition member 62 forming the protruding supply air path 54a so as to face the protruding supply air path 54a. In addition, the catalyst thin film body 45 is attached to the flat portion of the front partition member 61 forming the return air path 55 so as to face the protruding supply air path 54a.

[0057] The refrigeration cooler chamber 51 formed at the rear of the rear partition member 62 contains a fin-tube type refrigeration cooler 56 for cooling the air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 51, and a refrigeration blower 57 for blowing the cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler 56 to the freezing space. When the refrigeration cooler 56 cools the air flowing in the refrigeration cooler chamber 51, the refrigeration blower 57 supplies the air in the refrigeration cooler chamber 51 cooled by the refrigeration cooler 56 to the ice making chamber 24, the first freezing chamber 26, and the second freezing chamber 28 through the supply air passages 52, 53, 54, 54a. The air supplied to the ice making chamber 24, the first freezing chamber 26, and the second freezing chamber 28 flows while being cooled in each storage chamber, and then returns to the refrigeration cooler chamber 51 through the return air passage 55, and is cooled again by the refrigeration cooler 56.

[0058] (4) Catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45

[0059] Among the catalyst thin film bodies 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , and 45 , the catalyst thin film body 41 in which a catalyst is supported on the surface of the thin film body includes a thin film body and a catalyst layer provided on the surface of the thin film body.

[0060] Specifically, the film body is formed by a film-like member made of resin or paper such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PP (polypropylene) and having a thickness of 100 μm to 300 μm. The film body is preferably colored in a color different from the color of the members forming the various air ducts provided in the refrigerator 1, for example, in a color, black or gray, preferably in a color other than white.

[0061] The catalyst layer is a coating composed of a catalyst formed on a thin film. For example, it can be formed by applying or spraying a mixed liquid prepared by mixing catalyst powder with a volatile liquid containing alcohol such as propanol and water on the surface of the thin film and drying the liquid.

[0062] The catalyst constituting the catalyst layer includes a first catalyst powder that performs a catalytic action to decompose harmful substances without being irradiated with light. The first catalyst is composed of, for example, a metal such as platinum, gold, silver, copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, chromium, zinc, or a phosphoric acid catalyst powder.

[0063] In addition, the catalyst constituting the catalyst layer may also have a second catalyst powder that exerts a catalytic effect of decomposing harmful substances such as bacteria, odor components, and ethylene gas in the air when irradiated with light. The second catalyst is composed of, for example, a metal oxide powder such as titanium dioxide, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, iron oxide, copper oxide, silver oxide, tungsten oxide, zirconium oxide, bismuth oxide, indium oxide, germanium oxide, nickel oxide, cobalt oxide, chromium oxide, manganese oxide, vanadium oxide, niobium oxide, antimony oxide, and strontium oxide.

[0064] Such catalyst thin films 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are attached to the flat portions facing the air passages 33, 52, 53, 54 by double-sided tape or adhesive. The flat portion refers to a portion without a step of 5 mm or more, including not only a flat portion but also a curved portion.

[0065] (5) Effect

[0066] In the refrigerator 1 of the above embodiment, catalyst film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 having catalyst layers on the surfaces of the thin film bodies are arranged facing the air paths 33, 52, 53, 54 for circulating air in the storage chambers 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and the cooler chambers 31, 51. Therefore, the air circulating in the refrigerator as a whole can easily come into contact with the catalyst layers, and can effectively decompose harmful substances contained in the air in the refrigerator.

[0067] In the present embodiment, the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 have a catalyst layer formed on the surface of the thin film body, so even if they are arranged in the air passages 33, 52, 53, 54, the air flow is hardly hindered. In refrigerators, there are many flat air passages that are wider in the width direction than in the front-back direction, but as long as the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are used as in the present embodiment, the catalyst layer can be arranged in a wide range without hindering the circulation of air in the refrigerator, and a high catalytic effect can be exerted.

[0068] The catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are attached to the flat portions facing the air passages 33, 52, 53, 54, so that the attachment work is easy and the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are unlikely to be unintentionally peeled off after attachment.

[0069] In the present embodiment, when the thin film bodies constituting the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are colored in color, black, or gray, since the color of the thin film bodies is different from that of the catalyst layer, it is possible to easily visually discern that the catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the thin film bodies. In addition, if the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 are affixed to the flat portion facing the air passages 33, 52, 53, 54, it is easy to attract attention, and it is possible to prevent forgetting to affix the catalyst thin film bodies 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 during assembly work.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: A refrigerator body having a storage compartment and a cooler compartment formed therein; A cooler is disposed in the cooler chamber to generate cold air; an air passage connecting the storage chamber and the cooler chamber so that air circulates in the storage chamber and the cooler chamber; and The catalyst thin film body comprises a thin film body and a catalyst layer provided on the surface of the thin film body, and the catalyst thin film body is adhered to a flat portion facing the air passage.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The film body is formed of PET resin having a thickness of 100 μm to 300 μm.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The film body is colored in color, black or gray.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The refrigerator body includes an inner box, an outer box, and a heat insulating material disposed between the inner box and the outer box. The catalyst thin film body is attached to a portion of the inner box that defines the air path.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The refrigerator includes: a partition member that partitions the front side of the cooler chamber; and a blower installed in a mounting hole provided in the partition member. The catalyst thin film is bonded to a flat portion of the partition member on the side of the mounting hole.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The air passage includes a return air passage for returning air from the storage room to the cooler room. The catalyst thin film body is attached to a flat portion facing the return air passage.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The air passage includes a supply air passage, which is provided on a partition member constituting the back side of the storage chamber and supplies air from the cooler chamber to the storage chamber. The catalyst thin film body is attached to a flat portion facing the air supply passage.

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