Refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigerator capable of suppressing breakage of a vacuum heat insulation material and having high heat insulation performance. A refrigerator (1) is provided with: a metal outer box (10); an inner box (20) fitted in a recess (13) formed in the outer box (10); and a vacuum insulation material (30) disposed adjacent to the recess (13) between the outer box (10) and the inner box (20), the outer box (10) being formed from a metal plate (11) bent so as to form the recess (13), the portion of the metal plate (11) constituting the recess (13) having: a front end (12) of the metal plate (11); and a curved portion (14) disposed closer to the side wall (16) side of the refrigerator (1) than the front end (12) and disposed on the vacuum heat insulation material (30) side. The inner box (20) abuts or substantially abuts between the front end (12) of the metal plate (11) and the curved portion (14) within the recess (13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cold storage. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 states: "A cold storage comprising: an outer box; an inner box arranged on the inner side of the outer box; a vacuum insulation member arranged on the inner wall side of the side of the outer box; and a rigid polyurethane foam insulation member filled between the inner box and the vacuum insulation member. The cold storage is characterized in that it comprises: a front flange, which is formed continuously with the front edge of the outer box and is bent inward; a back flange, which is formed continuously with the front flange on the back side of the front flange, is bent in a manner to form a fitting recess together with the front flange, and is formed to extend in the depth direction of the cold storage; an inner box flange, which is formed continuously with the front edge of the inner box and is bent outward, and is engaged in the fitting recess to fix the outer box and the inner box; and a buffer member, which is provided between the front side of the cold storage of the vacuum insulation member and the back flange."

[0003] Prior art literature

[0004] Patent Literature

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-029235 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical problem to be solved by the invention

[0007] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the inner box is in contact with the metal plate between a bent portion adjacent to the front end of the metal plate and another bent portion on the opposite side of the front end of the metal plate when viewed from the bent portion ( Figure 8 ). Therefore, the front end of the metal plate is arranged on the side opposite to the side that contacts the inner box. Therefore, the front end of the metal plate contacts the vacuum insulation material, which may damage the vacuum insulation material.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can suppress damage to a vacuum insulation panel and has high thermal insulation performance.

[0009] Technical solutions to problems

[0010] A cold storage comprising:

[0011] Metal outer box;

[0012] an inner box capable of fitting into a recess formed in the outer box; and

[0013] a vacuum insulation material disposed between the outer box and the inner box adjacent to the recessed portion;

[0014] The outer box is formed of a metal plate bent in such a manner as to form the recessed portion.

[0015] The portion of the metal plate forming the recess has:

[0016] a front end of the metal plate; and

[0017] a curved portion disposed closer to the side wall of the refrigerator than the front end and on the side of the vacuum insulation material;

[0018] The inner box abuts or substantially abuts against a portion of the metal plate between the front end and the bent portion inside the recess. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 It is a front view of the refrigerator of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 This is an enlarged view showing the portion where the inner box fits into the outer box.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a diagram showing a fitting portion where an inner box is fitted to an outer box of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing a fitting portion where an inner box is fitted to an outer box of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a side view of the cold storage, illustrating the installation locations of protective components.

[0024] Figure 6 It is a top view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment, and shows a state where a protective member is attached.

[0025] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged view of the protective component is shown.

[0026] Figure 8 Yes Figure 6 The diagram shows a state where the protective member is in contact with the vacuum insulation panel.

[0027] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing a state in which a protective member and a vacuum insulation panel are in contact with each other according to another embodiment.

[0028] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing a portion where an inner box is fixed to an outer box in a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0029] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing a portion where an inner box is fixed to an outer box in a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0030] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing a portion where an inner box is fixed to an outer box in a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0031] Figure 13 This is a diagram showing a fitting portion where an inner box is fitted to an outer box of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0032] Description of Reference Signs

[0033] 1 cold storage

[0034] 10 outer boxes

[0035] 11 Metal Plate

[0036] 12Front End

[0037] 121 bending part

[0038] 13 recesses

[0039] 14 bending part

[0040] 15 front side edge

[0041] 16 sidewalls

[0042] 17Inner surface

[0043] 18 Edge

[0044] 19 Joint

[0045] 2 doors

[0046] 20 inner boxes

[0047] 21 end

[0048] 22 front-end

[0049] 23 end

[0050] 24 parts

[0051] 25 sides

[0052] 3 doors

[0053] 30 vacuum insulation components

[0054] 31 side

[0055] 32 sides

[0056] 33 corner

[0057] 34 faces

[0058] 35 inclined surface

[0059] 4 doors

[0060] 40 insulation layers

[0061] 5 doors

[0062] 50 protective components

[0063] 51 contact surface

[0064] 52 gap

[0065] 53 plane part

[0066] 54 curved face

[0067] 55 connection part

[0068] 56 plane part

[0069] 57 plane part

[0070] 58 plane part

[0071] 59 seals

[0072] 6 doors

[0073] 60 bonding layers

[0074] 61 adhesive layer

[0075] 62 protective component (second protective component)

[0076] 621 Protection Department

[0077] 622 Protection Department

[0078] 7Piping

[0079] 70 protective component (first protective component)

[0080] 8 Storage Room

[0081] 80 gaps

[0082] 81 Space

[0083] F flange surface

[0084] L1 distance

[0085] L2 distance. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0086] Hereinafter, a method for implementing the present invention (referred to as an embodiment) will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of one embodiment below, descriptions of other embodiments that can be applied to one embodiment are also appropriately made. The present invention is not limited to the following one embodiment, and different embodiments can be combined with each other or arbitrarily deformed within the scope that does not significantly damage the effect of the present invention. In addition, the same figure marks are marked on the same parts, and repeated descriptions are omitted. Moreover, the same names are marked on parts with the same functions. The contents of the drawings are merely schematic diagrams. For the sake of convenience, sometimes the actual structure is changed within the scope that does not significantly damage the effect of the present invention, or the illustration of some parts between the drawings may be omitted or deformed. In addition, in the same embodiment, it is not necessary to have all the structures.

[0087] Figure 1 This is a front view of a cold storage 1 according to the present invention. Cold storage 1 has doors 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Door 2 is rotatable about rotation axes (not shown) provided on the left and right sides of cold storage 1, and cold storage 1 is a double-opening (French door) type. Furthermore, doors 3, 4, 5, and 6 are drawer-type doors. By opening doors 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively, storage compartments 8 (hereinafter referred to as refrigerator compartments, freezer compartments, quick freezer compartments, ice making compartments, and vegetable compartments) formed within cold storage 1 are exposed to the outside.

[0088] Figure 2 This is an enlarged view showing the portion where the inner box 20 is fitted into the outer box 10. Figure 2 The above is viewed from above Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a diagram of the vicinity of portion A of the cold storage 1. Portion A is the joint between the pull-out doors 3, 4, 5, 6 (door 5 in the example shown) and the front end face of the cold storage 1. In addition, portion A is also the fitting portion of the inner box 20 to the outer box 10. In the following example, the fitting portion on the right side when the cold storage 1 is viewed from the front is described. However, the following description can also be applied to the fitting portions on the left side, top side, and bottom side when the cold storage 1 is viewed from the front.

[0089] Refrigerator 1 includes an outer box 10 , an inner box 20 , and a vacuum insulation panel 30 .

[0090] The outer box 10 is, for example, a structure made of metal such as steel. The outer box 10 can also be called a shell. The outer box 10 is a structure that constitutes the outer contours of the left and right side walls 16, the rear wall, the top surface, etc. of the cold storage 1 and is exposed to the outside. The outer box 10, in particular, the fitting portion (joining portion) with the inner box 20 is formed by bending a metal plate 11 such as a steel plate, for example. The "bent portion" is a portion where the extension direction of the metal plate 11 changes direction. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the same description has the same meaning. The end of the metal plate 11 constituting the outer box 10 includes, for example, the front end 12 of the metal plate 11, and a portion (such as the above-mentioned fitting portion) that is close to the front end 12 to a certain extent in the extension direction of the metal plate 11 when viewed from the front end 12. In the example of the present invention, by bending the end of the metal plate 11, a recess 13 is formed in the outer box 10 that fits the end 21 of the inner box 20.

[0091] The recess 13 is formed continuously by bending the metal plate 11 and is an integral part of the metal plate 11. In the illustrated example of the cold storage 1, the metal plate 11 forming the side wall 16 on the right side is bent to the left on the front side. The seal (packing) 59 arranged on the inner side of the door 5 is in contact with the metal plate 11 extending on the front side by bending. That is, the outer box 10 is in contact with the seal 59. The metal plate 11 arranged on the front side has approximately the same size (length) as the seal 59, and is folded back at the end of the seal 59 on the opposite side of the side wall 16, that is, the front side edge 15. The folded back metal plate 11 reaches the inner side of the metal plate 11 constituting the side wall 16 along the metal plate 11 on the front side and goes to the rear side.

[0092] The metal plate 11 that goes to the rear side is bent into a convex shape (mountain shape) on the side of the vacuum insulation member 30 arranged between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20. Thus, a bent portion 14 is formed in the convexly bent portion. At the bent portion 14, the metal plate 11 is bent at an acute angle, and the bent portion 14 protrudes toward the vacuum insulation member 30. However, on the side of the vacuum insulation member 30 that is the outer side of the bent portion 14, the metal plate 11 is bent in an R-shaped manner, that is, without sharp corners. Therefore, the bent portion 14 contacts the vacuum insulation member 30 with a surface having a certain degree of width. Thus, damage to the vacuum insulation member 30 caused by the contact of the bent portion 14 can be suppressed.

[0093] The metal plate 11, whose direction has been changed by the bent portion 14, further changes direction near the front end 12 of the metal plate 11 so as to extend in the left-right direction of the refrigerator 1. Furthermore, a recess 13 is formed between the front end 12 and the portion of the metal plate 11 that faces the front end 12 on the front side of the refrigerator 1. In other words, the outer box 10 is formed from the metal plate 11 that is bent so as to form the recess 13.

[0094] The metal plate 11 has a flat shape near the front end 12. That is, near the front end 12, the flat shape has no bends, and the front end 12 of the metal plate 11 is opposite to the inner box 20. As a result, the heat capacity near the front end 12 can be suppressed to be small, and the so-called "heat accumulation effect, heat cage" can be suppressed. By suppressing the accumulation of heat, the heat conduction from the front end 12, which is a part of the metal plate 11 forming the outer box 10, to the inner box 20 can be suppressed, and the heat conduction to the storage room 8 formed inside the inner box 20 can be suppressed. In particular, the outside of the outer box 10 is at the temperature of the environment where the cold storage 1 is placed (for example, room temperature), which is usually higher than the temperature of the storage room 8. Therefore, the heat existing in the environment where the cold storage 1 is placed can be suppressed from being transferred to the storage room 8 inside the inner box 20, and the storage room 8 can be suppressed from accidentally heating up.

[0095] Furthermore, the distance from the joining surface between the vacuum insulation material 30 and the outer box 10 (the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16) to the front end 12 is shorter than the thickness of the vacuum insulation material 30. This allows the front end 12 to be spaced away from the inner box 20, thereby suppressing heat transfer from the front end 12 to the inner box 20.

[0096] There is a bent portion 14 between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30. Therefore, even if the bent portion 14 contacts the vacuum insulation member 30, the front end 12 can be prevented from contacting the vacuum insulation member 30. The front end 12 is usually sharp, so if the front end 12 contacts the vacuum insulation member 30, the vacuum insulation member 30 may be damaged. In addition, the front end 12 is formed by, for example, cutting a metal plate, so burrs may remain on the front end 12. Therefore, if the burrs contact the vacuum insulation member 30, the vacuum insulation member 30 may also be damaged by the burrs. However, as shown in the present invention, the contact between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30 can be suppressed, so the damage to the vacuum insulation member 30 caused by the contact of the front end 12 can be suppressed.

[0097] The portion of the metal plate 11 that forms the recess 13 includes: the front end 12 of the metal plate 11; and a bent portion 14 that is arranged on the side of the side wall 16 (the inner surface 17) of the cold storage 1 relative to the front end 12 and is arranged on the side of the vacuum insulation member 30. The portion of the metal plate 11 that forms the recess 13 is opposite to the front end 12 on the front side of the cold storage 1 and extends in the left-right direction of the cold storage 1. The portion of the metal plate 11 that forms the recess 13 extends in the front-to-back direction of the cold storage 1 and is arranged on the opposite side of the opening connected to the recess 13 (the opening into which the inner box 20 is first inserted).

[0098] Inside the recess 13, a pipe 7 (e.g., a heat pipe) for the refrigerant flowing through a refrigeration cycle device (not shown) installed in the cold storage 1 is arranged. The pipe 7, for example, allows hot gas from the refrigerant to flow, and can function as part of a condenser. The pipe 7 is formed on the front side of the cold storage 1 and is arranged around an opening (not shown) closed by doors 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. As a result, the vicinity of the opening is heated by the refrigerant flowing in the pipe 7, suppressing condensation near the opening.

[0099] The inner box 20 is a structure forming the storage chamber 8 inside the inner box 20. The inner box 20 is made of, for example, resin, formed by injection molding, etc. When a user opens the doors 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, the user can see the inner box 20.

[0100] The inner box 20 fits into the recess 13 formed in the outer box 10. The end 21 (edge) of the inner box 20 fits into the recess 13. The end 21 has a curved shape. The end 21 is positioned in the recess 13 so as to enter the gap between the pipe 7 and the front end 12. The end 21 is slightly larger than the entrance of the recess 13. Therefore, when the inner box 20 is fitted into the recess 13 by inserting the end 21 into the recess 13, the front end 22 of the resin member (resin plate) constituting the inner box 20 is inserted into the gap between the pipe 7 and the front end 12. While maintaining this position, the end 22 is pressed in, causing the curved portion 14 to function like a leaf spring. As a result, the gap between the front end 12 and the pipe 7 is slightly widened, and the curved portion of the inner box 20 enters the gap between the pipe 7 and the front end 12. At the same time, the front end 22 of the inner box 20 is positioned outside the pipe 7. Furthermore, at the curved portion, on the side opposite to the side where the outer box 10 and the inner box 20 abut or substantially abut, the end 21 contacts, for example, the circular pipe 7. Furthermore, the front end 22 of the inner box 20 abuts against the metal plate 11 of the outer box 10. This also generates frictional force, securing the inner box 20 to the outer box 10.

[0101] The inner box 20 abuts or substantially abuts between the front end 12 and the curved portion 14 of the metal plate 11 within the recess 13. In the illustrated example, the curved portion of the end 21 of the inner box 20 abuts the inner wall surface of the metal plate 11 between the front end 12 and the curved portion 14. This abutment generates friction between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20, and the frictional force secures the inner box 20 to the outer box 10.

[0102] However, the situation is not limited to abutment; approximate abutment is also possible. Approximate abutment as mentioned herein includes, for example, a situation where the design abuts but does not abut due to tolerances, or a situation where the design abuts but is accidentally released (i.e., detached) due to, for example, injection pressure during the injection of the polyurethane foam described later, and the polyurethane solidifies in the released state. Approximate abutment can also include a situation where there is no abutment. However, even in the case of no abutment, as described above, the inner box 20 is fixed to the outer box 10, for example, by abutment (contact) between the inner box 20 and the piping 7.

[0103] The vacuum heat insulating material 30 is a heat insulating material arranged adjacent to the recessed portion 13. Here, the vacuum heat insulating material 30 will be described.

[0104] The vacuum insulation component 30 is composed of a core material, an outer covering material covering the core material, and an adsorbent material that absorbs internal gas and gas invading from the outside. The core material is, for example, inorganic glass wool containing glass. As glass wool, short fibers, long fibers, and the like are used, but it is not particularly limited to these materials. As an adsorbent material capable of adsorbing internal and external gases, quicklime, synthetic zeolite, and the like are used. The outer covering material wraps the core material and maintains the interior in a reduced pressure state (the so-called vacuum state). That is, the outer covering material constitutes the outer packaging of the vacuum insulation component 30.

[0105] As the outer covering material, a laminate film having gas barrier properties and capable of heat fusion can be suitably used. As the laminate film, a laminate film having a four-layer structure of a surface protection layer, a first gas barrier layer, a second gas barrier layer, and a heat fusion layer can be preferably used.

[0106] As the surface protective layer, it is preferable to use a resin film which has a function as a protective material and has low hygroscopicity.

[0107] As the first gas barrier layer, a metal vapor-deposited layer is preferably provided on a resin film. As the second gas barrier layer, a metal vapor-deposited layer is preferably provided on a resin film having high oxygen barrier properties. Furthermore, the first gas barrier layer and the second gas barrier layer are preferably formed by laminating the metal vapor-deposited layers provided on the two resin films so that the metal vapor-deposited layers face each other.

[0108] As the heat-sealing layer, it is also preferable to use a resin film having low hygroscopicity, similarly to the surface protection layer.

[0109] Specifically, biaxially stretched films of polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, and the like are preferably used as the surface protective layer. A biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate film with aluminum vapor deposition is preferably used as the first gas barrier layer. A biaxially stretched ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer film with aluminum vapor deposition, a biaxially stretched polyvinyl alcohol film with aluminum vapor deposition, or aluminum foil is preferably used as the second gas barrier layer. Unstretched films of polyethylene, polypropylene, and the like are preferably used as the heat-sealing layer.

[0110] As described above, the vacuum insulation member 30 is disposed between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20. However, a polyurethane foam (not shown), for example, foamed in situ, can also be disposed between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20 as a thermal insulation material. The polyurethane foam is also disposed within the recess 13. Therefore, the vacuum insulation member 30 and the thermal insulation layer 40 composed of polyurethane foam are disposed between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20. Furthermore, the thermal insulation layer 40 (polyurethane foam) is also disposed between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30.

[0111] Figure 3 1 is a diagram showing a fitting portion where the inner box 20 of the refrigerator 1 is fitted into the outer box 10 according to another embodiment. Figure 3 In the example, the metal plate 11 is bent in the direction away from the vacuum insulation member 30 near the front end 12. The bent portion 121 is formed by the bending. Thus, a portion of the metal plate 11 is arranged between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30. The portion of the metal plate 11 arranged is the metal plate 11 arranged between the portion (the bent portion 121) bent near the front end 12 and the bent portion 14. As described above, when the inner box 20 is fitted into the recess 13, the bent portion 14 functions as a leaf spring, so that the front end 12 is tilted toward the vacuum insulation member 30. Therefore, by configuring in such a manner, even if the front end 12 is tilted toward the vacuum insulation member 30, the front end 12 can be prevented from contacting the vacuum insulation member 30, and the bent portion 121 can be in contact instead, thereby preventing damage to the vacuum insulation member 30. In addition, near the front end 12, the metal plate 11 is bent toward the side opposite to the vacuum insulation member 30, thereby ensuring the distance between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30.

[0112] Figure 4 1 is a diagram showing a fitting portion where the inner box 20 of the refrigerator 1 is fitted into the outer box 10 according to another embodiment. Figure 4 In the example, the vicinity of the front end 12 of the metal plate 11 has a flat plate shape.

[0113] The front end 12 is positioned closer to the side wall 16 of the outer box 10 (outside the cold storage 1) than the flange surface F of the outer box 10 in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation material 30 (the length of the cold storage 1 in the left-right direction). The flange surface F of the outer box 10 is a surface extending in the front-to-back direction of the cold storage 1 through the front side edge 15 of the outer box 10 (the portion obtained by folding back the metal plate 11 at the front). The protective member 50, described later, is also positioned closer to the side wall 16 of the outer box 10 than the flange surface F.

[0114] The distance L1 from the front end 12 to the vacuum insulation material 30 is shorter than the distance L2 from the front end 12 to the side wall 16 of the outer box 10. This allows the front end 12 to be closer to the vacuum insulation material 30. Therefore, the heat conduction from the front end 12 to the inner box 20 can be suppressed by utilizing the heat insulating effect of the vacuum insulation material 30. Furthermore, the front end 12 is positioned closer to the side wall 16 than the side surface 31 of the vacuum insulation material 30 on the inner box 20 side. Therefore, the front end 12 can be spaced apart from the inner box 20, and the heat conduction from the front end 12 to the inner box 20 can be suppressed by utilizing the heat insulating effect of the heat insulating layer 40 (particularly, polyurethane foam).

[0115] From the inner box 20 toward the side wall 16 of the outer box 10, the outer box 10, the vacuum insulation material 30, and the metal plate 11 are arranged in the order of the flange surface F of the outer box 10, the side surface 31 of the vacuum insulation material 30 on the inner box 20 side, and the portion of the metal plate 11 closest to the inner box 20, such as the front end 12. This configuration allows the portion of the metal plate 11 closest to the inner box 20 (such as the front end 12) to be sufficiently separated from the inner box 20, thereby suppressing heat conduction to the inner box 20. The flange surface F extends through the front edge 15 of the outer box 10 in the front-to-back direction of the cold storage 1. Furthermore, the surface 36 faces the outer surface 25 of the inner box 20.

[0116] The front end 12 of the metal plate 11 has a protective member 50. The protective member 50 is a member that prevents the front end 12 from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation material 30. In other words, the protective member 50 is a member that protects the vacuum insulation material 30. By having the protective member 50, when the inner box 20 is fitted into the recess 13, Figure 4 As shown by the two-dot chain line, even if the metal plate 11 including the front end 12 temporarily tilts toward the vacuum heat insulating panel 30 , the front end 12 can be prevented from contacting the vacuum heat insulating panel 30 .

[0117] Additionally, jump to Figure 13 As shown, even when the front end 12 does not have a protective component 50, it can also be used with Figure 4 In the same manner, the heat insulation effect of the vacuum insulation material 30 is utilized to suppress heat conduction from the front end 12 to the inner box 20. In addition, since the protective member 50 is not required, the number of parts is reduced, which facilitates assembly and reduces costs.

[0118] The specific shape of the protection member 50 is as follows Figures 6 to 9 In addition to the shapes shown, there are no particular restrictions as long as the shape can cover the front end 12. Figure 4 In the example shown, the protective member 50 has a cylindrical shape with a portion of the circumference cut away. The protective member 50 can be attached to the front end 12 by inserting (fitting) the cut away portion into the front end 12.

[0119] In the protective component 50, the contact portion (the portion that may come into contact) with the vacuum insulation material 30 preferably has a surface (a flat surface or a curved surface). That is, the protective component 50 preferably has a surface that comes into contact with the vacuum insulation material 30 when the protective component 50 comes into contact with the vacuum insulation material 30, namely a contact surface 51 (for example, a flat surface or a curved surface). Thus, by the surfaces being in contact with each other, the damage to the vacuum insulation material 30 caused by the protective component 50 can be sufficiently suppressed. That is, the contact pressure in the contact surface can be made lower than the penetration strength of, for example, the outer covering material of the vacuum insulation material 30. In addition, in order to achieve contact between the surfaces, it is possible to achieve this by designing the protective component 50 so that the contact portion does not have corners, or by chamfering the contact portion that originally has corners.

[0120] As described above, the protective member 50 preferably has a contact surface 51, which is the contact portion between the protective member 50 and the vacuum insulation material 30, that is, a contact area that is larger than the contact area of ​​the contact portion when the front end 12 is assumed to be in contact with the vacuum insulation material 30. This can prevent damage to the vacuum insulation material 30.

[0121] The material of the protective member 50 is preferably a material with a lower thermal conductivity than the metal plate 11 (e.g., steel plate) constituting the outer box 10. For example, by using a polyurethane foam thermal insulation material, the same material as that constituting the thermal insulation layer 40, heat conduction to the inner box 20 can be suppressed. When forming the protective member 50 from polyurethane foam, for example, a molded article previously molded into the shape of the protective member 50 using a separate mold can be used. By using such a molded article, both protection and thermal insulation properties can be achieved.

[0122] The protective member 50 may also be made of resin. Usable resins are not particularly limited, and examples thereof include polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer), and PVC resin (polyvinyl chloride). Furthermore, the protective member 50 may also be made of hot melt adhesives, foamed plastics, mirror mats, or elastomers.

[0123] Figure 5 It is a side view of refrigerator 1 and is a diagram illustrating the installation location of protective member 50 . Figure 5In order to simplify the illustration, a portion of the outer box 10 that is exposed to the outside of the cold storage 1 is omitted. As described above, the protective member 50 is attached to the front end 12 of the outer box 10. However, the protective member 50 may be disposed on the entire front end 12 adjacent to the vacuum insulation member 30, or may be disposed on only a portion.

[0124] When the protective component 50 is only arranged in a portion, it is preferred that the protective component 50 be arranged at least at the front end 12 of the metal plate 11, the front end 12 that is closest to the vacuum insulation member 30. This is because when the vacuum insulation member 30 is manufactured, the outer covering material that is excess to the core material is folded back, so the overlapping end of the folded portion is most likely to become larger. By configuring in this way, the contact between the front end 12 that is the shortest distance and most likely to come into contact with the vacuum insulation member 30 and the vacuum insulation member 30 can be suppressed. In addition, the metal plate 11 hardly shrinks and is more difficult to bend, so by protecting the closest front end 12, the contact between the other front ends 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30 can also be suppressed.

[0125] Furthermore, when only a portion of the storage compartments are provided, a plurality of protective components 50 may be provided at equal intervals, for example. In the illustrated example, three protective components 50 are provided at equal intervals on the side wall of the cold storage 1, at the top, in the center in the vertical direction, and at the bottom. Furthermore, since partitions are provided between the storage compartments 8 (compartments) of the cold storage 1 to separate the compartments, the protective components 50 can be provided in locations that avoid these partitions. Furthermore, the protective components 50 may also be provided on the entire front end 12 adjacent to the vacuum insulation member 30.

[0126] Figure 6 It is a plan view of refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment, and shows a state where protective member 50 is attached. Figure 6 The protective member 50 shown has the same Figure 4 The protective member 50 is shown in different shapes.

[0127] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged view of the protective component 50 is shown. Figure 7 The protective member 50 is formed of a flexible material (e.g., elastomer) such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The protective member 50 has a gap 52 for inserting the front end 12, a flat surface portion 53, and a curved surface portion 54. The flat surface portion 53 and the curved surface portion 54 are connected by the front end 12 ( Figure 6 ) is connected to the connection portion 55. The portion of the curved surface portion 54 that contacts the vacuum insulation material 30 has the contact surface 51 as described above.

[0128] Figure 8 Yes Figure 6The figure shows a situation in which the protective component 50 is in contact with the vacuum insulation component 30. When the gap 52 expanded by bending the protective component 50 is inserted into the metal plate 11, the inner wall surface 531 of the flat portion 53 contacts the metal plate 11. As a result, the metal plate 11 can support the protective component 50. In particular, since friction is generated between the inner wall surface 531 and the metal plate 11, it is possible to support it firmly to a certain extent. In addition, when the metal plate 11 is inserted deep, the front end 12 is arranged near the connecting portion 55 on the inner side of the protective component 50. On the other hand, a space (gap) is formed between the inner wall surface 541 of the curved portion 54 arranged on the side opposite to the flat portion 53 in the inserted metal plate 11 and the metal plate 11.

[0129] As described above, when the inner box 20 is inserted into the recess 13, the front end 12 can approach the vacuum insulation member 30 due to the bent portion 14 functioning as a leaf spring. In addition, depending on the situation, the protective component 50 can contact the side surface 31 of the vacuum insulation member 30 (the surface opposite to the protective component 50). As described above, the contact surface 51 is composed of a surface. Thereby, the size of the contact portion, that is, the contact area, can be increased, and damage to the vacuum insulation member 30 can be suppressed. The surface constituting the contact surface 51 can be a curved surface or a flat surface as described above, but is a curved surface in the example shown in the figure.

[0130] Figure 9 : This is a diagram showing the contact between the protective component 50 and the vacuum insulation member 30 in another embodiment. As described above, the contact surface 51 provided on the protective component 50 is preferably a surface, but the contact surface 51 may also be an angle. That is, if the pressure on the contact surface 51 is smaller than the pressure at which the protective component 50 breaks the vacuum insulation member 30, the vacuum insulation member 30 will not break. Qualitatively speaking, the vacuum insulation member 30 will not break to the extent that the protective component 50 and the vacuum insulation member 30 are slightly in contact. Therefore, in Figure 9 In the example shown, the contact surface 51 is a corner of the protective component 50 .

[0131] exist Figure 9 In the example, the protective component 50 has a flat portion 56 instead of the curved portion 54. The flat portion 56 is connected to the flat portion 53 at the connecting portion 55. The flat portion 56 has a flat portion 57 connected to the upper end of the flat portion 53 at a right angle, and a flat portion 58 connected to the flat portion 57 at the end portion of the flat portion 57 on the side of the vacuum insulation member 30. The flat portion 58 is opposite to the flat portion 53 when the metal plate 11 is not inserted. The distance between the flat portion 53 and the flat portion 58 is approximately the same as the plate thickness of the metal plate 11. Even if the protective component 50 is formed into such a shape, damage to the vacuum insulation member 30 caused by the contact between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30 can be suppressed.

[0132] Figure 101 is a diagram showing a portion where the inner box 20 of the refrigerator 1 is fixed to the outer box 10 according to another embodiment. Figure 10 and later Figure 11 、 Figure 12 In the embodiment shown, the damage of the vacuum insulation material 30 caused by the contact between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation material 30 can be suppressed. Figure 10 In the illustrated embodiment, the inner box 20 is fixed to the inner surface 17 of the outer box 10 by bonding using, for example, an adhesive. The inner box 20 fits inside the front edge 15 of the outer box 10 , so that the inner box 20 fits into the outer box 10 .

[0133] As described above, the vacuum insulation member 30 is arranged between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20. At least a portion of the vacuum insulation member 30 is bonded to the outer box 10. In the example shown in the figure, the surface 32 of the vacuum insulation member 30 on the side of the side wall 16 is bonded (adhered) to the metal plate 11 as a whole through the adhesive layer 60. The adhesive layer 60 is bonded to the inner surface 17 of the inner side of the metal plate 11 of the portion forming the side wall 16 in the outer box 10. The adhesive layer 60 can be formed, for example, by applying a heated hot melt adhesive to the metal plate 11, arranging the vacuum insulation member 30 so as to adhere to the hot melt adhesive, and then solidifying it (cooling by natural cooling, etc.). The hot melt adhesive is an adhesive that is solid at room temperature but becomes liquid by heating.

[0134] The front end 12 of the metal plate 11 is provided on a surface that is orthogonal to the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation member 30 (the left-right direction of the cold storage 1), that is, the inner surface 17. However, since the front end 12 and the inner surface 17 are different parts, it can also be said that the front end 12 is provided in a manner that is directly adjacent to the inner surface 17 near the inner surface 17 and directly opposite to the inner surface 17. Moreover, the front end 12 overlaps with the vacuum insulation member 30 when viewed in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation member 30. Therefore, a portion of the metal plate 11 including the front end 12 is arranged between the vacuum insulation member 30 and the portion of the metal plate 11 that forms the side wall 16. In addition, the adhesive layer 60 is formed in a manner that covers a portion of the metal plate 11 including the front end 12.

[0135] The adhesive layer 60 is a protective component 70 (first protective component) that protects the vacuum insulation component 30. The protective component 70 as the adhesive layer 60 is arranged between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation component 30. The vacuum insulation component 30 is in contact (bonded, joined) with the protective component 70. As described above, the front end 12 is formed by cutting the metal plate. Therefore, there is a possibility that burrs accompanying the cutting process may remain on the front end 12. Therefore, by providing the adhesive layer 60 in a manner covering the front end 12, the burrs can be prevented from contacting the surface 32 of the vacuum insulation component 30. As a result, damage to the vacuum insulation component 30 caused by the contact between the front end 12 (especially the burrs that may remain) and the vacuum insulation component 30 can be suppressed.

[0136] If the thickness of the adhesive layer 60 (the length in the left-right direction of the cold storage 1) is longer than the thickness of the metal plate 11, the front end 12 can be buried in the adhesive layer 60. As a result, burrs that may be present at the front end 12 can be prevented from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation component 30. However, even in the case where the thickness of the adhesive layer 60 is shorter than the thickness of the metal plate 11, by providing the adhesive layer 60 in a manner covering the front end 12, burrs that may be present at the front end 12 can be prevented from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation component 30. That is, burrs are generally smaller than the thickness of the metal plate 11, and therefore, by covering the front end 12 with the adhesive layer 60, burrs can be prevented from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation component 30.

[0137] The protective member 70 is arranged to cover at least the side of the front end 12 of the metal plate 11 where the vacuum insulation material 30 is disposed. As described above, the protective member 70 serves as an adhesive for bonding the vacuum insulation material 30 to the outer box 10. This configuration allows for the adhesive to be applied to the outer box 10 while the vacuum insulation material 30 is being bonded to the outer box 10, thereby reducing the effort required to address burrs.

[0138] The outer box 10 is formed of a metal plate 11 that is bent in such a manner as to have a joint portion 19 for joining to the inner box 20. The joint portion 19 is formed on the metal plate 11 that is arranged on the rear side of the metal plate 11 that is exposed to the outside on the front side of the cold storage 1. At the joint portion 19, the metal plate 11 and the end portion 23 connected to the front end 22 of the inner box 20 are joined (bonded) by an adhesive layer 61. The end portion 23 is formed in a flat plate shape. The adhesive layer 61 can be formed, for example, by applying a heated hot melt adhesive to the joint portion 19 (metal plate 11), arranging the inner box 20 in such a manner as to adhere to the hot melt adhesive, and then curing it. The arrangement can be implemented by inserting the end portion 23 of the inner box 20 into the gap 80 (gap) formed between the front side edge 15 of the outer box 10 and the vacuum insulation member 30.

[0139] Thus, the edge 18 on the front side of the refrigerator 1 in the metal plate 11 is bonded to the inner box 20 (particularly, the end 23 on the front side of the inner box 20). By bonding at this position, the inner box 20 can be fixed to the outer box 10.

[0140] A gap 80 is formed between the side surface 31, which is the front side of the cold storage 1 in the vacuum insulation member 30, and the outer box 10. The end 23 of the inner box 20 is inserted into the gap 80. The side surface 31 is a surface that is arranged near the front end 12 (on the front end 12 side) among the surfaces constituting the vacuum insulation member 30, and is a surface opposite to the end 23 of the inner box 20 when the inner box 20 is set. However, there is a case where a protective component 62 is arranged between the side surface 31 and the end 23, and the details will be described later. By forming the gap 80, the end 23 of the inner box 20 can be inserted into the gap 80 and the inner box 20 can be joined.

[0141] As described above, for example, hot melt adhesive is applied to the outer box 10, and the end portion 23 is inserted into the gap 80 to secure the inner box 20. To improve the thermal insulation effect, the vacuum insulation material 30 is positioned near the front edge 15 of the outer box 10. This reduces the size of the gap 80 (the length of the refrigerator 1 in the front-to-back direction). Therefore, when the inner box 20 is inserted into the gap 80, the end portion 23 can contact the vacuum insulation material 30.

[0142] Therefore, to protect the vacuum insulation panel 30, a protective member 62 (second protective member) is provided. This member covers at least the corners 33 of the vacuum insulation panel 30, which form the opening of the gap 80, on the side surfaces 31 of the vacuum insulation panel 30 that define the gap 80. This prevents the end 23 from coming into contact with the vacuum insulation panel 30 when the end 23 is inserted into the gap 80, thereby preventing damage to the vacuum insulation panel 30. In particular, when the end 23 is inserted into a narrow gap 80, the end 23 is most likely to come into contact with the corners 33 of the vacuum insulation panel 30. Therefore, by covering at least the corners 33, damage to the vacuum insulation panel 30 near the corners 33 can be prevented.

[0143] In the example of the present invention, the protective component 62 has protective portions 621 and 622, both of which are flat-plate-shaped. The protective portion 621 is a component that extends along the surface 34 of the vacuum insulation member 30 extending from the corner 33 in the front-to-back direction of the cold storage 1. The protective portion 622 is a component that extends along the side 31 of the vacuum insulation member 30 extending from the corner 33 in the left-to-right direction of the cold storage 1. The protective portion 621 and the protective portion 622 are joined near the corner 33 along the side 31 and the surface (upper surface) of the vacuum insulation member 30. The protective portion 621 is opposite to the component 24 in the inner box 20 that is exposed to the storage chamber 8. The protective portion 622 is opposite to the end 23 in the inner box 20.

[0144] The protective member 62 may be formed of any material that can prevent the end portion 23 from directly contacting the vacuum insulation member 30. Examples of the material include adhesive tapes such as double-sided tape and single-sided tape, hot-melt adhesives, polyurethane, and resin materials.

[0145] Figure 111 is a diagram showing a portion where the inner box 20 is fixed to the outer box 10 in the refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment. Figure 11 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the protective component 70 is a pipe 7 disposed near the front end 12 of the metal plate 11. As described above, the pipe 7 is a pipe for the refrigerant flowing in the refrigeration cycle (not shown) provided in the cold storage 1. The pipe 7 is provided between the vicinity of the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation member 30. This prevents damage to the vacuum insulation member 30 caused by burrs on the front end 12.

[0146] Figure 12 1 is a diagram showing a portion where the inner box 20 is fixed to the outer box 10 in the refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment. Figure 12 In the example, a plurality of piping 7 are arranged along the side wall 16. In addition, the vacuum insulation part 30 has a structure (step shape) that is bent in a manner to avoid the piping 7. Specifically, the vacuum insulation part 30 has an inclined surface 35 that is bent in a manner to have a space 81 relative to the outer box 10 as it goes from the adhesive layer 60 to the front end 12 side of the metal plate 11. The adhesive layer 60 is a bonding portion between the vacuum insulation part 30 and the side wall 16 of the outer box 10. In the space 81, the piping 7 is provided in a manner that abuts against the vacuum insulation part 30. With such a structure, the contact between the front end 12 and the vacuum insulation part 30 can also be suppressed.

[0147] Pipe 7 Figure 12 In the example of , a plurality of pipes are provided. In the space 81 , one pipe 7 is provided near the inclined surface 35 . In addition, in the space 81 , one pipe 7 is provided near the front end 12 . The one pipe 7 provided near the front end 12 also functions as the protective member 70 .

[0148] The space 81 may be filled with polyurethane foam or not. In addition, the cold storage 1 may also have an exhaust pipe (not shown) connected to the space 81. The exhaust pipe is a pipe that connects the space 81 (the space between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20) with the outside of the cold storage 1. By having the exhaust pipe, the pressure in the space between the outer box 10 and the inner box 20 can be made the same as the external pressure, and deformation of the structures of the cold storage 1 such as the outer box 10 and the inner box 20 caused by the gas remaining in the space 81 can be suppressed.

[0149] The present invention includes the following technical ideas 1 and 2.

[0150] [Technical Thought 1]

[0151] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the inner box is in contact with the metal plate between a bent portion adjacent to the front end of the metal plate and another bent portion on the opposite side of the front end of the metal plate when viewed from the bent portion ( Figure 8). Therefore, the front end of the metal plate is arranged on the side opposite to the side that contacts the inner box. Therefore, the front end of the metal plate contacts the vacuum insulation material, which may damage the vacuum insulation material.

[0152] The problem to be solved by the first technical idea is to provide a refrigerator that can suppress damage to a vacuum insulation panel and has high thermal insulation performance.

[0153] [Supplementary Note 1-1] A cold storage, characterized by having:

[0154] Metal outer box;

[0155] an inner box capable of fitting into a recess formed in the outer box; and

[0156] a vacuum insulation material disposed between the outer box and the inner box adjacent to the recessed portion;

[0157] The outer box is formed of a metal plate bent in such a manner as to form the recessed portion.

[0158] The portion of the metal plate forming the recess has:

[0159] a front end of the metal plate; and

[0160] a curved portion disposed closer to the side wall of the refrigerator than the front end and on the side of the vacuum insulation material;

[0161] The inner box abuts or substantially abuts against a portion of the metal plate between the front end and the bent portion inside the recess.

[0162] [Notes 1-2]

[0163] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-1 is characterized in that:

[0164] The front end of the metal plate is bent in a direction away from the vacuum insulation member.

[0165] A portion of the metal plate is arranged between the front end and the vacuum insulation panel.

[0166] [Notes 1-3]

[0167] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-1 is characterized in that:

[0168] The front end is arranged at a position closer to the side wall of the outer box than the flange surface of the outer box in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation panel.

[0169] A heat insulating layer is arranged between the front end and the vacuum heat insulating member.

[0170] A distance from the front end to the vacuum insulation panel is shorter than a distance from the front end to the side wall of the outer box.

[0171] [Notes 1-4]

[0172] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-1 is characterized in that:

[0173] The outer box, the vacuum insulation material and the metal plate are arranged in the order of the flange surface of the outer box, the surface of the vacuum insulation material on the inner box side, and the portion of the metal plate closest to the inner box, from the inner box to the side wall of the outer box.

[0174] [Appendix 1-5]

[0175] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-1 is characterized in that:

[0176] The metal plate has a flat plate-shaped portion near the front end.

[0177] [Appendix 1-6]

[0178] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-1 is characterized in that:

[0179] A protection component is provided at the front end of the metal plate.

[0180] [Appendix 1-7]

[0181] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-6 is characterized by:

[0182] The protection member is a member that prevents the front end from coming into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

[0183] [Notes 1-8]

[0184] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-6 is characterized by:

[0185] The protective member is provided at least at a front end of the metal plate, where the distance between the front end of the metal plate and the vacuum insulation panel is shortest.

[0186] [Notes 1-9]

[0187] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-6 is characterized by:

[0188] The contact portion of the protection member when the protection member is in contact with the vacuum heat insulating material has a contact area larger than a contact area of ​​the contact portion when the front end is assumed to be in contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

[0189] [Notes 1-10]

[0190] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 1-6 is characterized by:

[0191] The protection member has a surface that comes into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material when the protection member comes into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

[0192] [Technical Thought 2]

[0193] In the technology described in Patent Document 1, the front end of the metal plate forming the outer box is exposed. Therefore, the front end may come into contact with the vacuum insulation material, which may be damaged.

[0194] The problem to be solved by the second technical idea is to provide a refrigerator that can suppress damage to a vacuum insulation panel and has high thermal insulation performance.

[0195] [Note 2-1]

[0196] A cold storage, characterized by having:

[0197] Metal outer box; and

[0198] A vacuum insulation member is disposed between the outer box and the inner box,

[0199] The outer box is formed of a metal plate bent so as to have a joint portion to be joined with the inner box.

[0200] The front end of the metal plate is provided on a surface perpendicular to the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation material and overlaps with the vacuum insulation material when viewed in the thickness direction.

[0201] At least a portion of the vacuum insulation material is joined to the outer box.

[0202] The vacuum heat insulating material contacts a first protective member disposed between the front end and the vacuum heat insulating material.

[0203] [Note 2-2]

[0204] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-1 is characterized in that:

[0205] An edge portion of the metal plate on the front side of the refrigerator is bonded to the inner box.

[0206] [Notes 2-3]

[0207] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-1 is characterized in that:

[0208] The first protective member is arranged to cover at least the side of the front end of the metal plate where the vacuum heat insulating material is arranged, and is an adhesive for bonding the vacuum heat insulating material and the outer box.

[0209] [Notes 2-4]

[0210] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-1 is characterized in that:

[0211] The first protective member is disposed near the front end of the metal plate and is a pipe for a refrigerant flowing in a refrigeration cycle provided in the refrigerator.

[0212] [Notes 2-5]

[0213] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-1 is characterized in that:

[0214] A gap is formed between a surface of the vacuum heat insulating panel on the front side of the refrigerator and the outer box.

[0215] [Appendix 2-6]

[0216] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-5 is characterized in that:

[0217] The end of the inner box is inserted into the gap,

[0218] A second protective member is provided that covers at least a corner portion of the vacuum heat insulating material forming an opening of the gap, among the surfaces of the vacuum heat insulating material defining the gap.

[0219] [Appendix 2-7]

[0220] The cold storage according to Supplementary Note 2-5 is characterized in that:

[0221] The vacuum insulation material has an inclined surface that curves toward the front end of the metal plate from a bonding portion between the vacuum insulation material and the side wall of the outer box so as to create a space with respect to the outer box.

[0222] In the space, a pipe for a refrigerant flowing in a refrigeration cycle provided in the refrigerator is provided so as to abut against the vacuum heat insulating material.

Claims

1. A cold storage, characterized in that: have: Metal outer box; an inner box capable of fitting into a recess formed in the outer box; and a vacuum insulation material disposed between the outer box and the inner box adjacent to the recessed portion; The outer box is formed of a metal plate bent in such a manner as to form the recessed portion. The portion of the metal plate forming the recess has: a front end of the metal plate; and a curved portion disposed closer to the side wall of the refrigerator than the front end and on the side of the vacuum insulation material; The inner box abuts or substantially abuts against a portion of the metal plate between the front end and the bent portion inside the recess.

2. The cold storage according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end of the metal plate is bent in a direction away from the vacuum insulation member. A portion of the metal plate is arranged between the front end and the vacuum insulation panel.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The front end is arranged at a position closer to the side wall of the outer box than the flange surface of the outer box in the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation panel. A heat insulating layer is arranged between the front end and the vacuum heat insulating member. A distance from the front end to the vacuum insulation panel is shorter than a distance from the front end to the side wall of the outer box.

4. The cold storage according to claim 1, wherein: The outer box, the vacuum insulation material and the metal plate are arranged in the order of the flange surface of the outer box, the surface of the vacuum insulation material on the inner box side, and the portion of the metal plate closest to the inner box, from the inner box to the side wall of the outer box.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The metal plate has a flat plate-shaped portion near the front end.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: A protection component is provided at the front end of the metal plate.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that: The protection member is a member that prevents the front end from coming into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein: The protective member is provided at least at a front end of the metal plate, where the distance between the front end of the metal plate and the vacuum insulation panel is shortest.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein: The contact portion of the protection member when the protection member is in contact with the vacuum heat insulating material has a contact area larger than a contact area of ​​the contact portion when the front end is assumed to be in contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein: The protection member has a surface that comes into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material when the protection member comes into contact with the vacuum heat insulating material.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The outer box is formed of a metal plate bent so as to have a joint portion to be joined with the inner box. The front end of the metal plate is provided on a surface perpendicular to the thickness direction of the vacuum insulation material and overlaps with the vacuum insulation material when viewed in the thickness direction. At least a portion of the vacuum insulation material is joined to the outer box. The vacuum heat insulating material contacts a first protective member disposed between the front end and the vacuum heat insulating material.

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