Refrigerator and control method of vacuum drawer of refrigerator

Abstract

The invention discloses a refrigerator and a control method of a vacuum drawer of the refrigerator, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body, a refrigerating system, the vacuum drawer and a controller, and the vacuum drawer comprises a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure release valve; the controller is configured to obtain the actual vacuum degree, detected by the vacuum pressure sensor, of the vacuum drawer when it is detected that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed; if the actual vacuum degree is smaller than the central value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, a vacuum pump is started; if the actual vacuum degree is not smaller than the central value, whether the actual vacuum degree is larger than an upper limit value of a preset vacuum degree threshold range or not is judged; if the actual vacuum degree is larger than the upper limit value, a pressure release valve is opened; and if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value, closing the vacuum pump, and entering a vacuum pressure maintaining state. According to the refrigerator, the pressure of the vacuum drawer can be automatically detected and controlled in real time, different vacuum degree threshold values can be preset according to different food materials, and the fresh-keeping effect and the use experience of the refrigerator are effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and in particular to a refrigerator and a control method for a vacuum drawer thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the development of science and technology and the improvement of people's living standards, the intelligence of household appliances has become a trend. As an indispensable appliance in the home, the intelligence level of refrigerators has been widely improved. However, the refrigerators currently on the market often need to be manually vacuumed and pressure-maintained or achieved through a pressure-maintaining timer when in use, which not only increases the difficulty of use for users, but also reduces the efficiency of refrigerator use. In addition, the vacuum degree requirements of refrigerators in the current market are single, with only one vacuum degree, which is difficult to meet the diverse vacuum degree requirements of diverse food ingredients. Summary of the invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a control method for a refrigerator and a vacuum drawer thereof, which can automatically detect and control the pressure of the vacuum drawer in real time, and can pre-set different vacuum thresholds according to different ingredients, thereby effectively improving the preservation effect and user experience of the refrigerator.

[0004] A refrigerator provided in a first embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0005] The box body, which serves as the supporting structure of the refrigerator, has several compartments inside;

[0006] A refrigeration system, which is arranged in the box, includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan;

[0007] A vacuum drawer is arranged in the compartment, comprising a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve; the vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer; the vacuum pump is used to evacuate the vacuum drawer; the pressure relief valve is used to relieve pressure on the vacuum drawer;

[0008] The controller is configured to, when detecting that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtain the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor; if the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turn on the vacuum pump to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, determine whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; if the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turn on the pressure relief valve to relieve pressure; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turn off the vacuum pump and enter the vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0009] In the refrigerator provided by the second embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer further includes a magnetic switch, and the magnetic switch is disposed in the drawer body, and the controller is further configured as follows:

[0010] When the vacuum drawer is closed, judging whether the vacuum drawer is sealed by the state of the magnetic switch;

[0011] If the magnetic switch is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is sealed;

[0012] If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

[0013] In the refrigerator provided in the third embodiment of the present invention, the controller is further configured as follows:

[0014] If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate;

[0015] If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0016] In the refrigerator provided by the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer further comprises a locking device, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body tightly against the box body to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state.

[0017] In the refrigerator provided by the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

[0018] A control method for a refrigerator vacuum drawer is provided in a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The method is applied to a refrigerator including a cabinet, a refrigeration system and a vacuum drawer. The cabinet is provided with a plurality of compartments, and the refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan. The vacuum drawer is provided in the compartment and includes a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve. The vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer. The vacuum pump is used to perform a vacuum operation on the vacuum drawer. The pressure relief valve is used to perform a pressure relief operation on the vacuum drawer. The control method for the refrigerator vacuum drawer includes:

[0019] When it is detected that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtaining the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor;

[0020] If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range;

[0021] If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release pressure; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is closed to enter the vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0022] In the control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer provided by the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer further includes a magnetic sensitive switch, and the magnetic sensitive switch is arranged in the drawer body, and the method further includes:

[0023] When the vacuum drawer is closed, judging whether the vacuum drawer is sealed by the state of the magnetic switch;

[0024] If the magnetic switch is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is sealed;

[0025] If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

[0026] In the control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer provided in the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes:

[0027] If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate;

[0028] If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0029] In the control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer provided by the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer also includes a locking device, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body close to the box body to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state.

[0030] In the control method of a refrigerator vacuum drawer provided in the tenth embodiment of the present invention, the preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of a refrigerator and a control method for its vacuum drawer provided by an embodiment of the present invention is that: by installing a vacuum pressure sensor in the vacuum drawer, the pressure in the vacuum drawer is detected in real time, and the detection result is transmitted to the controller. When the controller detects that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor is obtained; if the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on for vacuuming; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; if the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is turned on for pressure relief; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter the vacuum pressure holding state. The embodiment of the present invention can automatically detect and control the pressure of the vacuum drawer in real time, and different vacuum degree thresholds can be pre-set according to different food ingredients, effectively improving the fresh-keeping effect and user experience of the refrigerator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator body provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a single refrigeration system of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a dual refrigeration system of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 5 is a front view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 is a rear view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 is a side view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the position of a locking device in a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Fig. 9 is an exploded view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Fig.10It is a flow chart of a method for controlling a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Fig.11 The present invention is a flowchart of sealing detection in a method for controlling a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0045] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0046] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0047] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 : is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in one embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator provided in the embodiment of the present invention comprises:

[0048] The box body 10, which serves as the supporting structure of the refrigerator, is provided with a plurality of compartments inside;

[0049] A refrigeration system 20, which is arranged in the box, includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan;

[0050] The compressor is used to provide power for the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator, compressing the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas;

[0051] The condenser is used to condense and dissipate heat of high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas, and cool the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas into a normal-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid;

[0052] The evaporator is used to evaporate and absorb heat from a normal temperature and high pressure refrigerant liquid, and vaporize the normal temperature and high pressure refrigerant liquid into a low temperature and low pressure gas;

[0053] The fan is used to allow air to enter the evaporator of the refrigerator for heat exchange and to send the heat-released air into the refrigerator compartment;

[0054] The vacuum drawer 30 is arranged in the compartment, and comprises a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve; the vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer; the vacuum pump is used to evacuate the vacuum drawer; the pressure relief valve is used to relieve the pressure of the vacuum drawer;

[0055] The controller 40 is configured to, when it is detected that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtain the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor; if the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turn on the vacuum pump to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, determine whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; if the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, open the pressure relief valve to relieve pressure; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turn off the vacuum pump and enter the vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0056] Specifically, a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 10, a refrigeration system 20, a vacuum drawer 30, and a controller 40. Figure 2 , Figure 2It is a structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator body provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator in this embodiment has an approximately rectangular shape, and the refrigerator includes a body 10 that defines a storage space. The body 10 serves as a supporting structure of the refrigerator, and is provided with a chamber inside, wherein the chamber includes a component storage cavity for placing components in the refrigerator, such as a compressor, etc., and also includes a storage space for storing food, etc. The storage space can be divided into a plurality of storage rooms (i.e., compartments), and the storage rooms can be configured as a refrigeration room, a freezing room, and a temperature-changing room (also called a fresh-keeping room) according to different uses. One or more door bodies 200 are provided at the opening of each storage room, for example, Figure 2 The upper storage room is a cold storage room, which is provided with a double-opening door body. The door body 200 includes a door body outer shell 210 located outside the box body 10, a door body inner liner 220 located inside the box body 10, an upper end cover 230, a lower end cover 240, and an insulation layer located between the door body outer shell 210, the door body inner liner 220, the upper end cover 230, and the lower end cover 240; usually, the insulation layer is filled with foam material. The door body can be pivotally arranged at the opening of the box body, and can also be opened in a drawer-like manner to achieve drawer-like storage.

[0057] The refrigerator performs refrigeration operation through the refrigeration system, providing cold energy to the compartment so as to maintain the compartment at a constant low temperature. Specifically, the refrigeration system of the refrigerator in this embodiment can be a single refrigeration system or a dual refrigeration system. Figure 3 , Figure 3 The single refrigeration system of a refrigerator provided in one embodiment of the present invention is a schematic diagram of the structure. The single refrigeration system of the refrigerator described in the embodiment of the present invention comprises a compressor 1, a condenser 2, an anti-condensation tube 3, a drying filter 4, a capillary tube 5, an evaporator 6 and a gas-liquid separator 7, and the working structure of the refrigeration system includes a compression process, a condensation process, a throttling process and an evaporation process.

[0058] The compression process is as follows: plug in the power cord of the refrigerator, and when the refrigerator needs to be cooled, the compressor 1 starts to work, and the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant is sucked into the compressor, compressed into high-temperature and high-pressure superheated gas in the cylinder of the compressor 1, and then discharged to the condenser 2;

[0059] The condensation process is as follows: the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 2, the temperature continues to drop, and is gradually cooled to a saturated vapor at room temperature and high pressure, and further cooled to a saturated liquid, the temperature no longer drops. The temperature at this time is called the condensation temperature, and the pressure of the refrigerant remains almost unchanged during the entire condensation process;

[0060] The throttling process is as follows: the condensed refrigerant saturated liquid is filtered through the drying filter 4 to remove moisture and impurities and then flows into the capillary 5, through which the throttling and pressure reduction are carried out, and the refrigerant becomes wet steam at room temperature and low pressure;

[0061] The evaporation process is as follows: the refrigerant begins to absorb heat and vaporize in the evaporator 6, which not only reduces the temperature of the evaporator and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. The refrigerant coming out of the evaporator 6 passes through the gas-liquid separator 7 and returns to the compressor 1 again. The above process is repeated to transfer the heat in the refrigerator to the air outside the box, thereby achieving the purpose of refrigeration.

[0062] The fan allows air to continuously enter the fins of the evaporator 6 for heat exchange, and at the same time sends the air that becomes cold after the evaporator 6 releases heat to the refrigerator room through the air duct, so that the air in the room continuously circulates and flows, achieving the purpose of lowering the temperature.

[0063] See also Figure 4 , Figure 4 : is a structural schematic diagram of a dual refrigeration system of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The dual refrigeration system of the refrigerator described in the embodiment of the present invention includes a compressor 21 for compressing the refrigerant, a first capillary tube 14a and a second capillary tube 14b for decompressing the refrigerant, a refrigeration evaporator 15a and a freezing evaporator 15b as heat absorption mechanisms, a three-way valve 17 for controlling the refrigerant flow path, a one-way valve 18 for preventing the refrigerant from flowing back, a dryer 19 for removing moisture in the refrigeration cycle, and a refrigerant junction 13 for connecting the refrigerant flow path, which are connected by a pipe 20 to circulate the refrigerant to form a refrigeration cycle. In this process, the fans 12a and 12b respectively provided for each storage room are used to speed up the air flow rate, thereby speeding up the speed at which the refrigeration evaporator and the freezing evaporator absorb heat and improving the refrigeration speed of the storage room. Among them, the three-way valve 17 has a first outflow port 17a and a second outflow port 17b. When the three-way valve 17 is controlled to open the first outflow port 17a, the refrigerant flows sequentially through the first capillary tube 14a, the refrigeration evaporator 15a, the gas-liquid separator 16a, and the refrigerant junction 13, and then returns to the compressor 21. After passing through the first capillary tube 14a, the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flows through the refrigeration evaporator 15a, performs heat exchange with the refrigeration evaporator 15a and the air in the refrigeration chamber 110, and refrigerates the refrigeration chamber 110. Similarly, when the three-way valve 17 is controlled to open the second outflow port 17b, the refrigerant flows sequentially through the second capillary tube 14b, the freezing evaporator 15b, the gas-liquid separator 16b, and the refrigerant junction 13, and then returns to the compressor 21. After passing through the second capillary tube 14b, the low-pressure and low-temperature refrigerant flows through the freezing evaporator 15b, performs heat exchange with the freezing evaporator 15b and the air in the freezing chamber 120, and refrigerates the freezing chamber 120.

[0064] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 is a front view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6It is a rear view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer 30 is arranged in the compartment, and includes a drawer body 301, a vacuum pressure sensor 302, a vacuum pump 303 and a pressure relief valve 304. Among them, the vacuum pump 303 is arranged outside the drawer body 301, connected to the air pipe 305, and is used to perform a vacuum operation on the vacuum drawer 30 to form a vacuum environment. The pressure relief valve 304 is arranged outside the drawer body 301, connected to the air pipe 305, and is used to perform a pressure relief operation on the vacuum drawer when the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drawer is greater than the set value, and to remove part of the pressure in the vacuum drawer so that the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drawer 30 reaches the set range. The vacuum pressure sensor 302 is arranged in the vacuum drawer 30, and is used to detect the pressure in the vacuum drawer in real time, and transmit the detection result to the controller 40. When the controller 40 detects that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, it obtains the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is turned on to release the pressure to prevent the pressure in the vacuum drawer from being too high, resulting in a decrease in the preservation effect; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter the vacuum pressure holding state.

[0065] As one of the optional embodiments, the preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

[0066] Specifically, the preset vacuum threshold range in the embodiment of the present invention can be set according to the different types of food, and the size of the preset vacuum threshold range is proportional to the shelf life of the food. For example, for food that needs long-term preservation, the controller will appropriately increase the vacuum threshold to extend the shelf life of the food. For food that needs short-term preservation, the controller will appropriately lower the vacuum threshold to accelerate the maintenance of the freshness of the food. At the same time, the user can also view and adjust the control parameters through the mobile phone APP or the touch screen on the refrigerator door.

[0067] The embodiment of the present invention utilizes components such as a controller, a vacuum pressure sensor, and a vacuum pump to realize intelligent control of a vacuum drawer, thereby improving the intelligence level of the refrigerator; the controller accurately controls the vacuum pump through a preset control logic according to the detection result, thereby avoiding errors and uncertainties in human operation, realizing automatic detection and pressure control of the vacuum drawer, and improving the use efficiency; by setting and controlling the pressure value, accurate control of the vacuum drawer pressure is realized; according to the personalized needs of the user and the preservation requirements of the food, the vacuum pressure threshold is automatically adjusted to automatically control the start of the vacuum pump, thereby improving the preservation effect of the refrigerator. The embodiment of the present invention can automatically detect and control the pressure of the vacuum drawer in real time, and can pre-set different vacuum thresholds according to different food ingredients, thereby effectively improving the preservation effect and user experience of the refrigerator.

[0068] As one of the optional embodiments, the vacuum drawer 30 further includes a magnetic switch 306, and the magnetic switch 306 is disposed in the drawer body 301, and the controller is further configured as follows:

[0069] When the vacuum drawer 30 is closed, whether the vacuum drawer 30 is sealed is determined by the state of the magnetic switch 306;

[0070] If the magnetic switch 306 is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer 30 is sealed;

[0071] If the magnetic switch 306 is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer 30 is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

[0072] For details, please refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 It is a side view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer 30 also includes a magnetic switch 306, which is arranged in the drawer body 301. When the vacuum drawer 30 is closed, the vacuuming mode is set and the vacuuming system starts to work. At this time, the state of the magnetic switch 306 is used to determine whether the vacuum drawer 30 is sealed. If the magnetic switch 306 is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer 30 is sealed, and the signal is transmitted to the controller 40. The controller 40 determines whether the vacuum pump 303 needs to be turned on according to the preset control logic, and vacuumizes according to the preset vacuum threshold range. It should be noted that if the vacuum threshold range is not set, vacuumization and pressure maintenance are performed according to the last vacuum degree. If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and the cumulative timing t1 is started at this time. When t1 reaches the preset drawer unclosed alarm time T1, an alarm message is issued to remind the user to close and lock the vacuum drawer.

[0073] As one of the optional embodiments, the controller is further configured to:

[0074] If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate;

[0075] If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0076] Specifically, when the vacuum drawer is detected to be closed and sealed, the embodiment of the present invention obtains the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor, and compares the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer with the vacuum degree threshold range preset in the database. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release the pressure to prevent the pressure in the vacuum drawer from being too high, resulting in a decrease in the preservation effect; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off and the vacuum pressure holding state is entered. At the same time, the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer is continuously detected and compared with the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off and the vacuum pressure holding state is entered.

[0077] It should be noted that the center value of the preset vacuum threshold range in the embodiment of the present invention may also be slightly smaller than the upper limit value, and does not have to be the middle value. The embodiment of the present invention considers making a hysteresis through the middle value to avoid entering the following similar scenarios.

[0078] For example, if the system is set to stop when the pressure reaches the maximum value P3 and start vacuuming when the pressure is less than the minimum value P1, then the system must be controlled to be at the P3 value. If the pressure is slightly higher, the pressure relief valve will be needed to release the pressure until it is exactly equal to P3. If the vacuum pump is unstable or the product is different over time, the system may not be at the P3 value, but always greater than or slightly greater than P3, resulting in a continuous cycle.

[0079] As one of the optional embodiments, the vacuum drawer 30 further includes a locking device 307, which is disposed at the bottom of the drawer body 301 and is used to hold the drawer body 301 close to the box body 10 to keep the vacuum drawer 30 in a sealed state.

[0080] For details, please refer to Figure 8 and Fig. 9 , Figure 8is a schematic diagram of the position of a locking device in a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 9 3 is an exploded view of a vacuum drawer of a refrigerator provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum drawer 30 in the embodiment of the present invention further includes a locking device 307, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body 301 and is used to hold the drawer body 301 close to the inner liner of the box body 10 and the drawer frame 308, so as to keep the vacuum drawer 30 in a sealed state, so that the drawer will not leak during subsequent vacuuming, and the pressure holding time can be extended as much as possible.

[0081] See also Fig.10 , Fig.10 It is a flow chart of a control method of a refrigerator vacuum drawer provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer provided in the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a refrigerator including a cabinet, a refrigeration system and a vacuum drawer; wherein, a plurality of compartments are arranged inside the cabinet, and the refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan; the vacuum drawer is arranged in the compartment, and includes a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve; the vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer; the vacuum pump is used to perform a vacuum operation on the vacuum drawer; the pressure relief valve is used to perform a pressure relief operation on the vacuum drawer, and the control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer includes:

[0082] S1, when it is detected that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtaining the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor;

[0083] S2, if the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, start the vacuum pump to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, determine whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range;

[0084] S3, if the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release pressure; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is closed to enter the vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer is arranged in the compartment, and includes a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve. Among them, the vacuum pump is arranged outside the drawer body, connected to the air pipe, and is used to perform a vacuum operation on the vacuum drawer to form a vacuum environment. The pressure relief valve is arranged outside the drawer body, connected to the air pipe, and is used to perform a pressure relief operation on the vacuum drawer when the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drawer is greater than the set value, and to remove part of the pressure in the vacuum drawer so that the vacuum pressure in the vacuum drawer reaches the set range. The vacuum pressure sensor is arranged in the vacuum drawer, and is used to detect the pressure in the vacuum drawer in real time and transmit the detection result to the controller. When the controller detects that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor is obtained. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is judged whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release the pressure to prevent the pressure in the vacuum drawer from being too high, resulting in a decrease in the preservation effect; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off and the vacuum pressure maintenance state is entered.

[0086] The embodiment of the present invention utilizes components such as a controller, a vacuum pressure sensor, and a vacuum pump to realize intelligent control of a vacuum drawer, thereby improving the intelligence level of the refrigerator; the controller accurately controls the vacuum pump through a preset control logic according to the detection result, thereby avoiding errors and uncertainties in human operation, realizing automatic detection and pressure control of the vacuum drawer, and improving the use efficiency; by setting and controlling the pressure value, accurate control of the vacuum drawer pressure is realized; according to the personalized needs of the user and the preservation requirements of the food, the vacuum pressure threshold is automatically adjusted to automatically control the start of the vacuum pump, thereby improving the preservation effect of the refrigerator. The embodiment of the present invention can automatically detect and control the pressure of the vacuum drawer in real time, and can pre-set different vacuum thresholds according to different food ingredients, thereby effectively improving the preservation effect and user experience of the refrigerator.

[0087] As one of the optional embodiments, the vacuum drawer further includes a magnetic switch, and the magnetic switch is arranged in the drawer body, and the method further includes:

[0088] When the vacuum drawer is closed, judging whether the vacuum drawer is sealed by the state of the magnetic switch;

[0089] If the magnetic switch is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is sealed;

[0090] If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

[0091] For details, please refer to Fig.11 , Fig.11 It is a flow chart of sealing detection in a control method of a refrigerator vacuum drawer provided by an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum drawer also includes a magnetic switch, which is arranged in the drawer body. When the vacuum drawer is closed, the vacuuming mode is set and the vacuuming system starts to work. At this time, whether the vacuum drawer is sealed is judged by the state of the magnetic switch. If the magnetic switch is closed, the vacuum drawer is judged to be sealed, and the signal is transmitted to the controller. The controller judges whether the vacuum pump needs to be turned on according to the preset control logic, and vacuumizes according to the preset vacuum threshold range. It should be noted that if the vacuum threshold range is not set, vacuuming and pressure maintenance are performed according to the last vacuum degree. If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is judged that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and the cumulative timing t1 starts at this time. When t1 reaches the preset drawer unclosed alarm time T1, an alarm message is issued to remind the user to close and lock the vacuum drawer.

[0092] As an optional embodiment, the method further includes:

[0093] If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate;

[0094] If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

[0095] Specifically, when the vacuum drawer is detected to be closed and sealed, the embodiment of the present invention obtains the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor, and compares the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer with the vacuum degree threshold range preset in the database. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release the pressure to prevent the pressure in the vacuum drawer from being too high, resulting in a decrease in the preservation effect; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off and the vacuum pressure holding state is entered. At the same time, the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer is continuously detected and compared with the preset vacuum degree threshold range. If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off and the vacuum pressure holding state is entered.

[0096] It should be noted that the center value of the preset vacuum threshold range in the embodiment of the present invention may also be slightly smaller than the upper limit value, and does not have to be the middle value. The embodiment of the present invention considers making a hysteresis through the middle value to avoid entering the following similar scenarios.

[0097] For example, if the system is set to stop when the pressure reaches the maximum value P3 and start vacuuming when the pressure is less than the minimum value P1, then the system must be controlled to be at the P3 value. If the pressure is slightly higher, the pressure relief valve will be needed to release the pressure until it is exactly equal to P3. If the vacuum pump is unstable or the product is different over time, the system may not be at the P3 value, but always greater than or slightly greater than P3, resulting in a continuous cycle.

[0098] As one of the optional embodiments, the vacuum drawer further includes a locking device, which is disposed at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body tightly against the box body to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state.

[0099] Specifically, the vacuum drawer in the embodiment of the present invention also includes a locking device, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body close to the inner liner of the box body and the drawer frame to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state so that the drawer will not leak during subsequent vacuuming, thereby extending the pressure holding time as much as possible.

[0100] As one of the optional embodiments, the preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

[0101] Specifically, the preset vacuum threshold range in the embodiment of the present invention can be set according to the different types of food, and the size of the preset vacuum threshold range is proportional to the shelf life of the food. For example, for food that needs long-term preservation, the controller will appropriately increase the vacuum threshold to extend the shelf life of the food. For food that needs short-term preservation, the controller will appropriately lower the vacuum threshold to accelerate the maintenance of the freshness of the food. At the same time, the user can also view and adjust the control parameters through the mobile phone APP or the touch screen on the refrigerator door.

[0102] The embodiment of the present invention provides a control method for a refrigerator and a vacuum drawer thereof, which detects the pressure in the vacuum drawer in real time by installing a vacuum pressure sensor in the vacuum drawer and transmits the detection result to the controller. When the controller detects that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, it obtains the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor; if the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on for vacuuming; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; if the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is turned on for pressure relief; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter the vacuum pressure holding state. The embodiment of the present invention can automatically detect and control the pressure of the vacuum drawer in real time, and different vacuum degree thresholds can be pre-set according to different food ingredients, effectively improving the fresh-keeping effect and user experience of the refrigerator.

[0103] It should be noted that the system embodiment described above is merely illustrative, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the scheme of this embodiment. In addition, in the drawings of the system embodiment provided by the present invention, the connection relationship between the modules indicates that there is a communication connection between them, which may be specifically implemented as one or more communication buses or signal lines. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand and implement it without paying any creative effort.

[0104] The above is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be pointed out that a person skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principle of the present invention. These improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: The box body, which serves as the supporting structure of the refrigerator, has several compartments inside; A refrigeration system, which is arranged in the box, includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan; A vacuum drawer is arranged in the compartment, comprising a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve; the vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer; the vacuum pump is used to evacuate the vacuum drawer; the pressure relief valve is used to relieve pressure on the vacuum drawer; The controller is configured to, when detecting that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtain the actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor; If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate; If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, determining whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, opening the pressure relief valve to release pressure; If the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuum drawer further includes a magnetic switch, which is disposed in the drawer body. The controller is further configured as follows: When the vacuum drawer is closed, judging whether the vacuum drawer is sealed by the state of the magnetic switch; If the magnetic switch is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is sealed; If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller is also configured to: If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate; If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The vacuum drawer further comprises a locking device, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body close to the box body to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state.

5. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

6. A method for controlling a refrigerator vacuum drawer, characterized in that: The method is applied to a refrigerator including a box, a refrigeration system and a vacuum drawer; wherein the box is provided with a plurality of compartments, the refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a fan; the vacuum drawer is provided in the compartment and includes a drawer body, a vacuum pressure sensor, a vacuum pump and a pressure relief valve; the vacuum pressure sensor is used to detect the vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer; the vacuum pump is used to perform a vacuum operation on the vacuum drawer; the pressure relief valve is used to perform a pressure relief operation on the vacuum drawer, and the control method of the vacuum drawer of the refrigerator includes: When it is detected that the vacuum drawer is closed and sealed, obtaining the current actual vacuum degree of the vacuum drawer detected by the vacuum pressure sensor; If the actual vacuum degree is less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned on to evacuate; if the actual vacuum degree is not less than the center value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, it is determined whether the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range; If the actual vacuum degree is greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the pressure relief valve is opened to release pressure; if the actual vacuum degree is not greater than the upper limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is closed to enter the vacuum pressure maintaining state.

7. The control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer according to claim 6, characterized in that: The vacuum drawer further includes a magnetic switch, and the magnetic switch is disposed in the drawer body. The method further includes: When the vacuum drawer is closed, judging whether the vacuum drawer is sealed by the state of the magnetic switch; If the magnetic switch is closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is sealed; If the magnetic switch is not closed, it is determined that the vacuum drawer is not sealed, and a reminder message is sent to the user.

8. The control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer according to claim 7, characterized in that: The method further comprises: If the actual vacuum degree is less than the lower limit of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, turning on the vacuum pump to evacuate; If the actual vacuum degree is not less than the lower limit value of the preset vacuum degree threshold range, the vacuum pump is turned off to enter a vacuum pressure maintaining state.

9. The control method of the refrigerator vacuum drawer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The vacuum drawer further comprises a locking device, which is arranged at the bottom of the drawer body and is used to hold the drawer body close to the box body to keep the vacuum drawer in a sealed state.

10. The control method for a refrigerator vacuum drawer according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that: The preset vacuum degree threshold range is set according to the type of food, and the size of the preset vacuum degree threshold range is proportional to the preservation time of the food.

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