Refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, and discloses a refrigerator which comprises a shell, a refrigerating chamber container and a freezing chamber container are both arranged in the shell, and the freezing chamber container is provided with a container opening and a rear wall opposite to the container opening; the separator is arranged in the freezing chamber box liner, an equipment space is formed between the separator and the rear wall, and a freezing storage space is formed between the separator and the liner opening; the freezing evaporator is arranged in the equipment space; the freezing air supply channel is connected between the equipment space and the freezing storage space; the freezing chamber fan is arranged on the separator; the ice maker is mounted in the refrigerating chamber liner; the ice-making fan is detachably mounted on the surface, facing the equipment space, of the rear wall; and the ice-making air duct is detachably mounted in the refrigerating chamber liner and the freezing chamber liner. According to the refrigerator, the freezing chamber fan is arranged on the partition piece, the ice making fan is arranged on the rear wall of the refrigerator container, the freezing chamber fan and the ice making fan are independent, the partition piece with the freezing chamber fan is suitable for most refrigerators with the freezing function, and the universality of the freezing air duct component is enhanced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of household appliances, and in particular to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] The field of household appliance technology encompasses a wide range of product categories, including but not limited to refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The technological development trends of these products primarily focus on intelligence, energy conservation and environmental protection, optimized user experience, and the application of new materials. This optimized user experience is achieved through design innovation and enhanced functionality to meet consumer demands for health, convenience, and personalization.

[0003] Among them, refrigerators, as core equipment for maintaining food freshness and storage, have become essential appliances for modern families. Existing refrigerators usually include a freezer fan, which is used to send the air cooled by the freezer evaporator into the freezer. For refrigerators with an ice-making function, an ice-making fan needs to be provided. The ice-making fan is used to send the air cooled by the freezer evaporator into the ice-making machine. During the production process, the air duct structures such as the ice-making fan and the freezer fan are usually provided together in the same component to form a freezer air duct component for subsequent installation by staff. Therefore, for refrigerators without ice-making function and refrigerators with ice-making function, two types of freezer air duct components need to be produced, one is a freezer air duct component with only a freezer air duct fan, and the other is a freezer air duct component with both a freezer air duct fan and an ice-making fan, resulting in a high production cost of the freezer air duct component and a lack of versatility. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An embodiment of the present application discloses a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment fan is arranged on a partition and an ice-making fan is arranged on the rear wall of the box, and the two are independent. The partition with the freezer compartment fan is suitable for most refrigerators with freezing function, thereby enhancing the versatility of the freezing air duct components.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention discloses a refrigerator comprising:

[0006] case;

[0007] A refrigerator compartment liner is arranged in the shell;

[0008] A freezer compartment liner is disposed in the shell, and the freezer compartment liner has a liner opening and a rear wall opposite to the liner opening;

[0009] A partition is provided in the freezer compartment, wherein an equipment space is formed between the partition and the rear wall, and a frozen storage space is formed between the partition and the compartment opening;

[0010] A freezing evaporator is arranged in the equipment space;

[0011] a refrigerated air supply channel connected between the equipment space and the refrigerated storage space;

[0012] a freezer compartment fan, disposed on the partition, the freezer compartment fan being used to deliver cold air in the equipment space into the frozen storage space;

[0013] An ice maker, installed in the refrigerator compartment;

[0014] an ice-making fan, detachably mounted on the surface of the rear wall facing the equipment space;

[0015] The ice-making air duct is detachably mounted on the refrigerator compartment liner and the freezer compartment liner to connect the ice maker and the equipment space.

[0016] Due to the complex structure of the fan, both the freezer fan and the ice-making fan need to be installed by workers after production on the production line. In the existing production technology, there are only two types of partitions. For refrigerators without ice-making functions, when producing the air duct component, only one freezer fan impeller is set inside the partition. This air duct component cannot be used on refrigerators with ice-making functions. For refrigerators with ice-making functions, the partition serves as the volute of the two fans (freezer fan and ice-making fan), and the impellers and motors of the two motors are all set inside the partition, forming an integrated air duct component. This air duct component cannot be used on refrigerators without ice-making functions. These two air duct components are selected and assembled by workers, so two different partitions need to be made during the production process. This not only increases production costs, but also has great limitations in the use of each type of partition. Since the two partitions are similar in appearance, workers are prone to assembly errors.

[0017] The divider for refrigerators without ice-making functions only integrates the freezer fan (impeller + volute), making it impossible to expand the ice-making function. The divider for refrigerators with ice-making functions must integrate both the freezer fan and the ice-making fan (dual impellers + dual volutes), resulting in a complex structure. Due to their different internal structures (single fan vs. dual fan), the two types of dividers cannot be used interchangeably and must be produced separately, doubling the cost of divider molds and inventory management.

[0018] This embodiment places only the freezer fan on the partition, while the ice-making fan is separately manufactured and removably mounted on the rear wall of the freezer compartment, facing the equipment space. This eliminates the need for dual-fan separator molds, eliminating the need for standardized production of the ice-making fan as a separate component. This reduces customized parts and production costs, making the partition universal (suitable for both ice-making and non-ice-making refrigerators). Furthermore, workers do not need to distinguish between the two types of partitions; they only need to confirm whether to install the ice-making module. The ice-making fan is installed on the rear wall of the compartment, which does not affect the partition assembly process and can be operated in parallel.

[0019] As an optional embodiment, the freezing chamber liner further includes:

[0020] A recessed portion is provided on a surface of the rear wall facing the equipment space, and at least a portion of the ice-making blower is installed in the recessed portion.

[0021] This recessed portion partially embeds the fan into the rear wall of the liner, reducing its footprint within the equipment space and leaving more space for other components such as the evaporator and air duct. As part of the liner, the recessed portion provides precise positioning for the ice-making fan, facilitating installation. It also streamlines the layout within the equipment space, ensuring more uniform airflow around the evaporator, avoiding dead zones caused by the protruding fan, and enhancing heat exchange.

[0022] As an optional embodiment, the ice-making blower includes:

[0023] a volute, the volute being detachably connected to the rear wall;

[0024] an impeller rotatably mounted in the volute;

[0025] The motor is arranged in the volute and connected to the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate.

[0026] The volute is connected to the rear wall of the freezer compartment via a removable mechanism (such as clips or screws), allowing the entire ice-making blower to be installed or removed independently. This eliminates the need to integrate the blower components with the freezer compartment during production; they can be installed separately, reducing assembly complexity. If the blower malfunctions, the user or maintenance personnel can simply remove the volute for inspection or replacement, improving maintenance efficiency.

[0027] As an optional embodiment, the refrigerator further includes:

[0028] a first positioning portion, the first positioning portion being disposed in the recessed portion;

[0029] A second positioning portion is provided on the volute, and the second positioning portion cooperates with the first positioning portion to prevent the volute from rotating relative to the freezer compartment.

[0030] The coordination of the first and second locating features ensures that the volute fits into the recessed area in the correct position during installation, reducing the time workers spend adjusting the fan's installation position. During operation, the rotational torque generated by the motor-driven impeller may cause the volute to loosen or slightly rotate relative to the casing. The coordination of the first and second locating features provides additional anti-torsion force, ensuring the volute is securely fixed.

[0031] As an optional embodiment, one of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion is a positioning protrusion, and the other is a positioning groove, and the first positioning portion is integrally formed with the freezer compartment casing.

[0032] In this way, the first positioning portion and the casing are integrally formed through injection molding or compression molding. Compared to traditional "post-installation" positioning structures (such as gluing or bolting), this eliminates the risk of loosening due to long-term vibration. The shape and size of the positioning protrusion and groove can be designed to have a unique correspondence (such as a non-circular cross-section), forcing workers to install in the correct direction. During installation, the groove guides the protrusion, automatically aligning the volute to the optimal position, eliminating the need for manual calibration and shortening assembly time.

[0033] As an optional embodiment, the ice-making air duct includes:

[0034] An ice-making air supply pipe, the ice-making air supply pipe is detachably mounted on the freezer compartment, the inlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe is connected to the ice-making blower, and the outlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe is connected to the ice-making machine;

[0035] The ice-making return air duct is detachably arranged on the freezer compartment liner, the inlet end of the ice-making return air duct is connected to the ice maker, and the outlet end of the ice-making return air duct is connected to the equipment space.

[0036] In this way, the supply air duct delivers cold air directly to the ice maker, and the return air duct brings the air that has been heated after ice making back to the equipment space, forming a closed-loop circulation. The ice-making supply air duct and return air duct form a hot and cold circulation path independent of the freezer compartment, allowing the ice maker to obtain low-temperature and stable airflow. Compared with the traditional solution (the ice maker and the freezer compartment share the air duct), this design avoids the interference of hot air backflow on the ice-making process when the freezer door is opened. The supply air duct and return air duct are detachably connected to the box shell through buckles, sealing rings, etc., which is convenient for production line assembly and after-sales maintenance.

[0037] As an optional embodiment, the freezing chamber fan is arranged above the freezing evaporator, and the ice-making fan is arranged above the freezing evaporator;

[0038] The outlet end of the ice-making return air pipe is connected to the bottom of the freezing evaporator.

[0039] The ice-making return air duct outlet is located below the evaporator, allowing the relatively hot air returning from the ice maker to naturally rise and fully contact the evaporator surface. The cold air cooled by the evaporator is then delivered to the freezer compartment and ice maker by the freezer fan and ice-making fan above, respectively, forming a vertical airflow path with "bottom-in, top-out."

[0040] As an optional embodiment, a refrigerated storage space is formed inside the refrigerator compartment, and the refrigerator further includes:

[0041] a refrigerating chamber air supply pipe, wherein the inlet end of the refrigerating chamber air supply pipe is connected to the equipment space, and the outlet end of the refrigerating chamber air supply pipe is connected to the refrigerated storage space, so as to send the cold air in the equipment space into the refrigerating chamber for circulation;

[0042] a refrigerated compartment return air duct, wherein the inlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct is connected to the refrigerated storage space, and the outlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct is connected to the equipment space, so as to return the hot air circulated in the refrigerated compartment to the equipment space;

[0043] A temperature sensor is provided at the inlet end of the return air duct of the refrigerating chamber, and is used to detect the temperature of the inlet end of the return air duct of the refrigerating chamber. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the ice-making blower.

[0044] In this way, when the ice maker is not making ice and stops working, the wind pressure inside the ice maker will be too low. At this time, the wind pressure in the refrigerated storage space is greater than the wind pressure inside the ice maker. If there is a gap at the connection between the ice maker and the refrigerator liner, the air in the refrigerated storage space will flow back into the ice maker and then flow back into the ice-making air supply duct. Since the refrigerator compartment return air duct is connected to the refrigerated storage space, the gas in the refrigerator compartment return air duct will be drawn into the refrigerated storage space, and then the refrigerator compartment return air duct draws the gas in the equipment space. Since the equipment space is connected to the frozen storage space, the cold air in the frozen storage space will be drawn into the equipment space, and then flow into the refrigerated storage space from the inlet end of the refrigerator compartment return air duct, causing the refrigerator room temperature to be too low (reaching sub-zero temperature).

[0045] Therefore, a temperature sensor is installed at the inlet end of the return air duct of the cold storage room to sense the temperature there. When the temperature here is lower than the preset value, the alarm signal is transmitted to the control unit to control the intermittent rotation of the ice-making fan, increase the wind pressure in the ice-making air supply duct and the ice-making machine, and thus prevent the backflow of cold air, thus solving the above problem.

[0046] As an optional embodiment, the air outlet of the ice-making blower is provided with a damper, and the ice-making machine is electrically connected to the damper so that when the ice-making machine stops making ice, the damper can block the air outlet of the ice-making blower.

[0047] In this way, the ice maker is electrically connected to the damper. When the ice maker stops working, the damper automatically closes to prevent the gas in the refrigerated storage space from entering the first space through the ice-making blower, thereby preventing the gas in the equipment space from flowing back into the refrigerated storage space through the refrigerated room return air duct, causing the refrigerated room temperature to be too low.

[0048] As an optional implementation, the freezer compartment fan and the ice-making fan are staggered along the depth direction of the refrigerator.

[0049] In this way, the staggered arrangement makes the outlet directions or positions of the two fans staggered, and the installation positions of the freezer fan and the ice-making fan do not interfere with each other in the width direction and depth direction of the refrigerator, avoiding head-on collision of airflow.

[0050] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0051] The refrigerator provided in the embodiment of the present application has a freezer compartment fan mounted on a partition, which together with the partition forms a freezer air duct component. This makes it suitable not only for refrigerators without ice-making functions but also for refrigerators with ice-making functions. Refrigerators without ice-making functions can directly use the partition of this embodiment, which only contains the freezer compartment fan. Refrigerators with ice-making functions can, on top of the partition, add an ice-making fan and air duct to the freezer compartment. The same partition is compatible with both models, reducing mold development costs for the partition and enhancing the versatility of the partition. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the refrigerator disclosed in an embodiment of the present application from a first perspective;

[0054] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the refrigerator disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a second viewing angle;

[0055] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a refrigerator (excluding the housing) disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0056] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making blower, ice-making air supply pipe, ice-making air return pipe and ice-making machine disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0057] Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the freezer compartment liner disclosed in an embodiment of the present application from a first perspective;

[0058] Figure 6 This is a schematic structural diagram of the freezer compartment liner disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a second viewing angle;

[0059] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A partial enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0060] Figure 8This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making motor disclosed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0061] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the ice-making motor disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0062] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the freezer compartment liner, ice-making blower, mounting shell, freezer compartment blower, and partition disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0063] Figure 11 The structural intention of the partition disclosed in the embodiment of this application;

[0064] Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of a refrigerator disclosed in an embodiment of the present application;

[0065] Figure 13 for Figure 12 A partial enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0066] Figure 14 Another cross-sectional view of the refrigerator disclosed in the embodiment of the present application;

[0067] Figure 15 for Figure 14 A partial enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0068] Description of reference numerals:

[0069] 100 - refrigerator; 11 - housing; 12 - refrigerator compartment liner; 12a - refrigerator storage space; 13 - freezer compartment liner; 13a - freezer storage space; 131 - recessed portion; 132 - first communication port; 133 - second communication port; 14 - partition; 141 - partition; 142 - mounting housing; 1421 - mounting port; 16 - refrigeration air supply duct; 17 - freezer compartment fan; 18 - ice maker; 19 - ice maker fan; 191-volute; 1911-first mounting hole; 192-impeller; 195-second flange; 20-ice-making air duct; 201-ice-making air supply duct; 2011-first flange; 20111-second mounting hole; 202-ice-making return air duct; 2021-abutment portion; 21-first positioning portion; 22-second positioning portion; 23-refrigerator compartment air supply duct; 24-refrigerator compartment return air duct; 25-temperature sensor; 26-fastener. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0071] In this application, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "vertical," "horizontal," "transverse," and "longitudinal" indicate positions or locations based on the positions or locations shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily intended to better describe this application and its embodiments and are not intended to limit the devices, elements, or components indicated to having a specific orientation, or to being constructed or operated in a specific orientation.

[0072] Furthermore, some of the above terms may be used to express other meanings besides indicating a position or location. For example, the term "on" may also be used to indicate a dependency or connection in certain circumstances. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0073] Furthermore, the terms "installed," "disposed," "provided with," "connected," and "connected" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, removable connections, or integral structures; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediary, or internal communication between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of these terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0074] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are primarily used to distinguish between different devices, elements, or components (which may or may not be of the same type and configuration), and are not intended to indicate or imply the relative importance or quantity of the devices, elements, or components indicated. Unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0075] The field of household appliance technology encompasses a wide range of product categories, including but not limited to refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The technological development trends of these products primarily focus on intelligence, energy conservation and environmental protection, optimized user experience, and the application of new materials. This optimized user experience is achieved through design innovation and enhanced functionality to meet consumer demands for health, convenience, and personalization.

[0076] Among them, refrigerators, as core equipment for maintaining food freshness and storage, have become essential appliances for modern families. Existing refrigerators usually include a freezer fan, which is used to send the air cooled by the freezer evaporator into the freezer. For refrigerators with an ice-making function, an ice-making fan needs to be provided. The ice-making fan is used to send the air cooled by the freezer evaporator into the ice-making machine. During the production process, the air duct structures such as the ice-making fan and the freezer fan are usually provided together in the same component to form a freezer air duct component for subsequent installation by staff. Therefore, for refrigerators without ice-making function and refrigerators with ice-making function, two types of freezer air duct components need to be produced, one is a freezer air duct component with only a freezer air duct fan, and the other is a freezer air duct component with both a freezer air duct fan and an ice-making fan, resulting in a high production cost of the freezer air duct component and a lack of versatility.

[0077] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application discloses a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment fan is arranged on a partition and an ice-making fan is arranged on the rear wall of the box body. The two are independent. The partition with the freezer compartment fan is suitable for most refrigerators with freezing function, thereby enhancing the versatility of the freezing air duct components.

[0078] The technical solution of the present application will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and drawings.

[0079] See also Figures 1 to 4 , Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of the refrigerator 100 disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a first viewing angle; Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the refrigerator 100 disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a second viewing angle;

[0080] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigerator 100 (excluding the housing 11) disclosed in the embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making blower 19, the ice-making air supply pipe 201, the ice-making air return pipe 202 and the ice-making machine 18 disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. The embodiment of the present application discloses a refrigerator 100.

[0081] The refrigerator 100 includes a housing 11 as the outer structure of the refrigerator 100, which is usually made of metal or plastic and is used to protect and provide stable support for the internal components of the refrigerator 100. The housing 11 is designed with durability, heat dissipation performance, safety, and maintainability in mind.

[0082] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator compartment 12 disposed within the housing 11 to form an independent refrigerated storage space 12a, maintaining a refrigerated temperature of 0-10°C for storing perishable foods such as fruits, vegetables, and beverages.

[0083] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 100 includes a freezer compartment 13 disposed in the housing 11 . The freezer compartment 13 has an opening and a rear wall opposite to the opening.

[0084] In some embodiments, a foaming cavity is formed between the box liner and the shell 11, and the foaming cavity is filled with foaming material. The refrigerator 100 needs to maintain an internal low-temperature environment. The foaming material is filled in the foaming cavity between the box liner and the shell 11. Its porous structure can effectively prevent heat transfer and reduce external heat from entering the interior of the refrigerator 100. In addition, the foaming material has a certain strength and hardness after curing, and can fill the gap inside the refrigerator 100 box, so that the box liner and the shell 11 are tightly combined, thereby enhancing the stability and firmness of the overall structure of the refrigerator 100, and improving the durability of the refrigerator 100, so that it is not easily damaged by external forces during transportation and use.

[0085] In some embodiments, combined Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the freezer compartment liner 13, ice-making fan 19, mounting shell 142, freezer compartment fan and partition 141 disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. The refrigerator 100 includes a partition 14, which is arranged in the freezer compartment liner 13. An equipment space is formed between the partition 14 and the rear wall, and a frozen storage space 13a is formed between the partition 14 and the container opening, which provides an installation base for the freezer compartment fan 17 and serves as a physical isolation barrier between the cold and hot areas.

[0086] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 100 includes a freezer evaporator (not shown in the figure), which is arranged in the equipment space. The freezer evaporator serves as the core component of the refrigeration cycle. It absorbs heat through the evaporation of liquid refrigerant and cools the air in the equipment space. It is the source of the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 100 and determines the low temperature environment of the freezer and ice maker 18.

[0087] In some embodiments, combined Figure 1 The refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerated air supply channel 16, which is connected between the equipment space and the frozen storage space 13a, guiding the cold air cooled by the refrigerated evaporator to flow into the frozen storage space 13a, and after circulating in the frozen storage space 13a, guiding the gas that has absorbed the heat of the items in the space to flow back to the equipment space for cooling by the evaporator, forming a cold air circulation path in the frozen storage space 13a.

[0088] In some embodiments, combined Figure 10 The refrigerator 100 includes a freezer compartment fan 17, which is arranged on the partition 14. The freezer compartment fan 17 is used to provide power to accelerate the air flow and send the cold air in the equipment space (after being cooled by the evaporator) into the frozen storage space 13a through the freezing air supply channel 16.

[0089] In some embodiments, combined Figure 4The refrigerator 100 includes an ice maker 18, which is installed in the refrigerator compartment 12 (usually located on the top or side), and uses low-temperature air to make ice cubes from water to meet the user's ice making needs.

[0090] In some embodiments, combined Figure 4 Refrigerator 100 includes an ice-making fan 19 and an ice-making duct 20. Ice-making fan 19 is removably mounted on the rear wall facing the equipment space. Ice-making duct 20 is removably mounted on the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13 to connect ice-making machine 18 with the equipment space. Ice-making fan 19 draws low-temperature air (cooled by the evaporator) from the equipment space and delivers it to ice-making machine 18 through ice-making duct 20, providing a cooling source for the ice-making process. After ice-making is completed, the hot air, which has been heat-exchanged in ice-making machine 18, flows back into the equipment space.

[0091] In this way, part of the cold air cooled by the freezing evaporator enters the freezing storage space 13a to provide a cold source, and the other part enters the refrigerator to provide a cold source. The gas after heat exchange will flow back to the equipment space again for the freezing evaporator to cool again, forming an air circulation.

[0092] Due to the complex fan structure, both the freezer fan 17 and the ice-making fan 19 must be assembled on the production line by workers after they are completed. In conventional production, there are only two types of partitions 14. For refrigerators 100 without an ice-making function, only one impeller 192 for the freezer fan 17 is installed inside the partition 14 during production of the air duct component. This air duct component cannot be used in refrigerators 100 with an ice-making function. For refrigerators 100 with an ice-making function, the partition 14 serves as the volute 191 for both fans (the freezer fan 17 and the ice-making fan 19). The impellers 192 and the motors of both motors are installed inside the partition 14, forming a single integrated air duct component. This air duct component cannot be used in refrigerators 100 without an ice-making function. Workers select and assemble these two air duct components, requiring the production of two different types of partitions 14. This not only increases production costs but also imposes significant limitations on the use of each type of partition 14. Because the two types of partitions 14 have similar appearances, workers are prone to assembly errors.

[0093] The divider 14 of a refrigerator without an ice-making function only integrates the freezer fan 17 (impeller 192 + volute 191), making it impossible to expand the ice-making function. The divider 14 of a refrigerator with an ice-making function must integrate both the freezer fan 17 and the ice-making fan 19 (dual impellers 192 + dual volutes 191), resulting in a complex structure. Due to their different internal structures (single fan vs. dual fan), the two types of dividers 14 cannot be interchangeable and must be produced separately, doubling the mold cost and inventory management costs for the divider 14.

[0094] In this embodiment, only the freezer fan 17 is installed on the partition 14, while the ice-making fan 19 is separately manufactured and removably installed on the rear wall of the freezer liner 13, facing the equipment space. This requires only one set of molds for the partition 14 (including the installation position for the freezer fan 17), eliminating the dual-fan partition 14 mold. The ice-making fan 19, as an independent component, can be produced in a standardized manner, reducing customized parts and lowering production costs. This makes the partition 14 universal (it can be used in both refrigerators 100 with ice-making functions and refrigerators without ice-making functions 100). Furthermore, workers do not need to distinguish between the two types of partitions 14; they only need to confirm whether to install the ice-making module. The ice-making fan 19 is installed on the rear wall of the liner, which does not affect the assembly process of the partition 14 and can be operated in parallel.

[0095] In some embodiments, combined Figures 5 to 7 , Figure 5 This is a schematic structural diagram of the freezer compartment 13 disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a first viewing angle; Figure 6 This is a structural schematic diagram of the freezer compartment liner 13 disclosed in an embodiment of the present application at a second viewing angle; Figure 7 for Figure 6 The freezer compartment 13 further includes a recessed portion 131 , which is disposed on the rear wall surface facing the equipment space, and at least a portion of the ice-making blower 19 is installed in the recessed portion 131 .

[0096] Recessed portion 131 partially embeds the fan into the rear wall of the liner, reducing its footprint within the equipment space and leaving more space for other components such as the evaporator and air duct. As part of the liner, recessed portion 131 provides precise positioning for the ice-making fan 19, facilitating installation. This also streamlines the layout within the equipment space, ensuring more uniform airflow around the evaporator, avoiding dead zones caused by the fan protruding, and enhancing heat exchange.

[0097] In some embodiments, combined Figure 8 and Figure 9 , Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ice-making motor disclosed in the embodiment of the present application; Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the ice-making motor disclosed in an embodiment of the present application. Ice-making blower 19 includes a volute 191, an impeller 192, and a motor. Volute 191 is detachably connected to the rear wall, and impeller 192 is rotatably mounted within volute 191. The motor is disposed within volute 191 and connected to impeller 192 to drive its rotation.

[0098] In this way, the volute 191 is connected to the rear wall of the freezer compartment 13 through a removable method (such as clips, screws, etc.), allowing the ice-making blower 19 to be independently installed or removed. During assembly, the blower components do not need to be integrated with the compartment during production and can be installed separately, reducing assembly complexity. If the blower malfunctions, the user or maintenance personnel can directly remove the volute 191 for inspection or replacement, improving maintenance efficiency.

[0099] In some embodiments, a first mounting hole 1911 is provided on the volute 191, and the corresponding position of the rear wall is recessed in the direction away from the partition 14 to form a mounting portion. A fixing seat is provided on the side of the mounting portion facing away from the partition 14. The fixing seat is connected by an adhesive with a sealing function. The fixing seat has multiple prefabricated holes. The refrigerator 100 also includes a self-tapping screw. The self-tapping screw first passes through the first mounting hole 1911 on the volute 191 and is threadedly engaged with the first mounting hole 1911. Since the box core is relatively thin, the self-tapping screw will then penetrate the box core and then enter the prefabricated hole and have an interference fit with the prefabricated hole. In the process of tightening the screw, the screw will cut the inner wall of the prefabricated hole into a matching thread, achieving a tight fit while having a simple structure and easy operation.

[0100] In some embodiments, combined Figures 7 to 9 The refrigerator 100 also includes a first positioning portion 21 and a second positioning portion 22. The first positioning portion 21 is arranged in the recessed portion 131, and the second positioning portion 22 is arranged in the volute 191. The second positioning portion 22 cooperates with the first positioning portion 21 to prevent the volute 191 from rotating relative to the freezer compartment 13.

[0101] The cooperation of the first and second positioning portions 21, 22 ensures that when installing the ice-making blower 19, the volute 191 fits into the recess 131 in the correct position, reducing the time workers spend adjusting the blower's installation position. During operation, the rotational torque generated by the motor-driven impeller 192 may cause the volute 191 to loosen or slightly rotate relative to the bladder. The cooperation of the first and second positioning portions 21, 22 provides additional anti-torsion force, ensuring that the volute 191 is securely fixed.

[0102] In some embodiments, combined Figures 7 to 9 One of the first positioning portion 21 and the second positioning portion 22 is a positioning protrusion, and the other is a positioning groove, and the first positioning portion 21 is integrally formed with the freezer compartment liner 13.

[0103] The first positioning portion 21 is integrally formed with the casing through injection molding or compression molding. Compared to traditional "post-installation" positioning structures (such as gluing or bolting), this eliminates the risk of loosening due to long-term vibration. The shape and size of the positioning protrusion and groove can be designed to uniquely correspond (e.g., non-circular cross-section), forcing workers to install in the correct direction. During installation, the groove guides the protrusion, automatically aligning the volute 191 to the optimal position, eliminating the need for manual calibration and shortening assembly time.

[0104] In some embodiments, combined Figure 3 and Figure 4 The ice-making air duct 20 includes an ice-making air supply pipe 201 and an ice-making return air pipe 202. The ice-making air supply pipe 201 can be detachably arranged in the freezer compartment 13. The inlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe 201 is connected to the ice-making fan 19, and the outlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe 201 is connected to the ice-making machine 18. The ice-making return air pipe 202 can be detachably arranged in the freezer compartment 13. The inlet end of the ice-making return air pipe 202 is connected to the ice-making machine 18, and the outlet end of the ice-making return air pipe 202 is connected to the equipment space.

[0105] The supply air duct delivers cold air directly to the ice maker 18, and the return air duct brings the air that has been heated after ice making back to the equipment space, forming a closed-loop circulation. The ice-making supply air duct 201 and the return air duct form a hot and cold circulation path independent of the freezer compartment, so that the ice maker 18 can obtain low-temperature and stable airflow. Compared with the traditional solution (the ice maker 18 and the freezer compartment share the air duct), this design avoids the interference of hot air backflow on the ice-making process when the freezer door is opened. The supply air duct and the return air duct are detachably connected to the box shell by means of buckles, sealing rings, etc., which is convenient for production line assembly and after-sales maintenance.

[0106] In some embodiments, combined Figure 5 、 Figure 12 and Figure 13 , Figure 12 This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 100 disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 13 for Figure 12 In the partial enlarged view at point B, the inlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe 201 is provided with a first flange 2011, the first flange 2011 is provided with a second mounting hole 20111, and the freezer compartment 13 is provided with a third mounting hole; the refrigerator 100 also includes a fastener 26, which is detachably connected between the second mounting hole 20111 and the third mounting hole; the outlet end of the ice-making fan 19 is provided with a second flange 195, the second flange 195 abuts against the freezer compartment 13, and the freezer compartment 13 is provided with a first connecting port 132, which is located above the ice-making fan 19 to connect the inlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe 201 and the outlet end of the ice-making fan 19.

[0107] Since the ice-making blower 19 is modified to the rear wall of the box liner by the partition 14, the entire ice-making air supply pipe 201 needs to be pre-buried in the position between the box liner and the back panel. The connection between the improved ice-making air supply pipe 201 and the blower in this embodiment is closer to the back panel of the shell 11, so the ice-making air supply pipe 201 has smaller bends, smaller air supply resistance, and higher air supply efficiency.

[0108] In some embodiments, a second connecting port 133 is provided on the freezer compartment 13, and the outlet end of the freezing return air duct is passed through the second connecting port 133. The refrigerator 100 also includes a connecting piece, which is detachably connected between the outlet end of the freezing return air duct and the freezer compartment 13; an abutting portion 2021 is provided on the ice-making return air duct 202, and the abutting portion 2021 abuts against the shell 11 along the depth direction of the refrigerator 100.

[0109] In some embodiments, the connecting member is a sealing member with double-sided adhesive, which not only serves as a connection but also can seal the gap at the communication port.

[0110] In some embodiments, the ice-making supply air duct 201 includes multiple first sub-segments, which are detachably connected to each other, and the ice-making return air duct 202 includes multiple second sub-segments, which are detachably connected to each other. In this way, the multiple sub-segments can be spliced ​​into air ducts of different lengths and can be adapted to different connection distances.

[0111] It should be noted that the supply air duct and return air duct in this application are both made by injection molding process, which enhances the strength of the supply air duct and return air duct, and prevents the air duct from being squeezed during the foaming process of the foaming material after pre-embedding, causing the air duct to deform and the air duct diameter to be reduced, thereby affecting the air circulation.

[0112] In some embodiments, combined Figure 3 and Figure 4 The freezer compartment fan is arranged above the freezing evaporator, the ice-making fan 19 is arranged above the freezing evaporator, and the outlet end of the ice-making return air duct 202 is connected to the bottom of the freezing evaporator.

[0113] The outlet of the ice-making return air duct 202 is located below the evaporator, allowing the relatively hot air returning from the ice-maker 18 to naturally rise and fully contact the evaporator surface. The cold air cooled by the evaporator is then delivered to the freezer compartment and ice-maker 18 by the freezer fan 17 and ice-making fan 19 above, respectively, forming a vertical airflow path that flows from bottom to top.

[0114] In some embodiments, combined Figure 10 、 Figure 11 、 Figure 14 and Figure 15 , Figure 11 The structural intention of the partition 141 disclosed in the embodiment of this application is: Figure 14 This is another cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 100 disclosed in the embodiment of the present application. Figure 15 for Figure 14A partial enlarged view of point C in the center. Divider 14 includes a partition 141 and a mounting shell 142. Along the depth of refrigerator 100, mounting shell 142 is located between partition 141 and the rear wall of freezer compartment 13, dividing the equipment space into a first equipment chamber and a second equipment chamber. The evaporator is located in the second equipment chamber, dividing it into a first space above and a second space below. The second space communicates with frozen storage space 13a, allowing warmer air within frozen storage space 13a to enter the second space. The evaporator cools the hot air in the second space and then returns it to the first space. The first equipment cavity communicates with the frozen storage space 13a. The impeller 192 of the freezer compartment fan 17 is located within the first equipment cavity. A portion of the mounting housing 142, facing the partition 14, is recessed to form a volute 191 for the freezer compartment fan 17. This recessed portion is provided with a mounting opening 1421. The impeller 192 of the freezer compartment fan is located within this opening 1421, directing cold air from the first space into the first equipment cavity and, subsequently, into the frozen storage space 13a. The warmer air, after circulating within the freezer compartment, flows back into the second space.

[0115] In some embodiments, combined Figure 3 A refrigerated storage space 12a is formed inside the refrigerated compartment box 12. The refrigerator 100 also includes a refrigerated compartment air supply duct 23, a refrigerated compartment return air duct 24 and a temperature sensor 25 (not shown in the figure). The inlet end of the refrigerated compartment air supply duct 23 is connected to the first equipment cavity, and the outlet end of the refrigerated compartment air supply duct 23 is connected to the refrigerated storage space 12a to deliver the cold air in the equipment space into the refrigerated storage space 12a; the inlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct 24 is connected to the refrigerated storage space 12a, and the outlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct 24 is connected to the second space to deliver the hot air circulated in the refrigerated compartment back to the equipment space; the temperature sensor 25 is arranged at the inlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct 24, for detecting the temperature of the inlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct 24, and the temperature sensor 25 is electrically connected to the ice-making blower 19.

[0116] The higher temperature gas in the second space is cooled by the freezing evaporator and then enters the first space. Driven by the freezer fan 17, part of the gas enters the refrigerated storage space 12a. The higher temperature gas after circulating in the refrigerated storage space 12a flows back to the second space through the refrigeration chamber return air duct 24 for cooling by the evaporator.

[0117] When the ice maker 18 is not making ice and stops working, the wind pressure inside the ice maker 18 will be too low. At this time, the wind pressure inside the refrigerated storage space 12a is greater than the wind pressure inside the ice maker 18. If there is a gap at the connection between the ice maker 18 and the refrigerator liner, the air in the refrigerated storage space 12a will flow back into the ice maker 18 and then flow back into the ice-making air supply duct 201. Since the refrigerator compartment return air duct 24 is connected to the refrigerated storage space 12a, the gas in the refrigerator compartment return air duct 24 will be drawn into the refrigerated storage space 12a, and then the refrigerator compartment return air duct 24 draws the gas in the second space. Since the second space is connected to the frozen storage space 13a, the cold air in the frozen storage space 13a will be drawn into the second space, and then flow into the refrigerated storage space 12a from the inlet end of the refrigerator compartment return air duct 24, causing the refrigerator room to be too low (reaching sub-zero temperature).

[0118] Therefore, a temperature sensor 25 is provided at the inlet end of the return air duct 24 of the cold storage room, which can sense the temperature there. When the temperature there is lower than the preset value, an alarm signal is transmitted to the control unit to control the intermittent rotation of the ice-making fan 19, thereby increasing the wind pressure in the ice-making air supply duct 201 and the ice-making machine 18, thereby preventing the backflow of cold air and solving the above-mentioned problem.

[0119] In some embodiments, the air outlet of the ice-making blower 19 is provided with an air damper, and the ice-making machine 18 is electrically connected to the air damper so that when the ice-making machine 18 stops making ice, the air damper can block the air outlet of the ice-making blower 19.

[0120] The ice maker 18 is electrically connected to the damper. When the ice maker 18 stops working, the damper automatically closes to prevent the gas in the refrigerated storage space 12a from entering the first space through the ice-making blower 19, thereby preventing the gas in the equipment space from flowing back into the refrigerated storage space 12a through the refrigerated room return air duct 24, causing the refrigerated room temperature to be too low.

[0121] In some embodiments, the freezer compartment fan and the ice-making fan are staggered along the depth direction of the refrigerator 100 .

[0122] The staggered arrangement makes the air outlet directions or positions of the two fans staggered, and the installation positions of the freezer fan and the ice-making fan 19 do not interfere with each other in the width direction and the depth direction of the refrigerator 100, avoiding head-on collision of airflow.

[0123] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: case; A refrigerator compartment liner is arranged in the shell; A freezer compartment liner is disposed in the shell, and the freezer compartment liner has a liner opening and a rear wall opposite to the liner opening; A partition is provided in the freezer compartment, wherein an equipment space is formed between the partition and the rear wall, and a frozen storage space is formed between the partition and the compartment opening; A freezing evaporator is arranged in the equipment space; a refrigerated air supply channel connected between the equipment space and the refrigerated storage space; a freezer compartment fan, disposed on the partition, the freezer compartment fan being used to deliver cold air in the equipment space into the frozen storage space; An ice maker, installed in the refrigerator compartment; an ice-making fan, detachably mounted on the surface of the rear wall facing the equipment space; The ice-making air duct is detachably mounted on the refrigerator compartment liner and the freezer compartment liner to connect the ice maker and the equipment space.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: The freezing chamber box also includes: A recessed portion is provided on a surface of the rear wall facing the equipment space, and at least a portion of the ice-making blower is installed in the recessed portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that The ice-making blower comprises: a volute, the volute being detachably connected to the rear wall; an impeller rotatably mounted in the volute; The motor is arranged in the volute and connected to the impeller to drive the impeller to rotate.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein: The refrigerator further comprises: a first positioning portion, the first positioning portion being disposed in the recessed portion; A second positioning portion is provided on the volute, and the second positioning portion cooperates with the first positioning portion to prevent the volute from rotating relative to the freezer compartment.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that One of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion is a positioning protrusion, and the other is a positioning groove, and the first positioning portion is integrally formed with the freezer compartment casing.

6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The ice-making air duct comprises: An ice-making air supply pipe, the ice-making air supply pipe is detachably mounted on the freezer compartment, the inlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe is connected to the ice-making blower, and the outlet end of the ice-making air supply pipe is connected to the ice-making machine; The ice-making return air duct is detachably arranged on the freezer compartment liner, the inlet end of the ice-making return air duct is connected to the ice maker, and the outlet end of the ice-making return air duct is connected to the equipment space.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that The freezing chamber fan is arranged above the freezing evaporator, and the ice-making fan is arranged above the freezing evaporator; The outlet end of the ice-making return air pipe is connected to the bottom of the freezing evaporator.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein A refrigerated storage space is formed inside the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator further comprises: a refrigerating chamber air supply pipe, wherein the inlet end of the refrigerating chamber air supply pipe is connected to the equipment space, and the outlet end of the refrigerating chamber air supply pipe is connected to the refrigerated storage space, so as to send the cold air in the equipment space into the refrigerating chamber for circulation; a refrigerated compartment return air duct, wherein the inlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct is connected to the refrigerated storage space, and the outlet end of the refrigerated compartment return air duct is connected to the equipment space, so as to return the hot air circulated in the refrigerated compartment to the equipment space; A temperature sensor is provided at the inlet end of the return air duct of the refrigerating chamber, and is used to detect the temperature of the inlet end of the return air duct of the refrigerating chamber. The temperature sensor is electrically connected to the ice-making blower.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The air outlet of the ice-making blower is provided with an air damper, and the ice-making machine is electrically connected to the air damper so that when the ice-making machine stops making ice, the air damper can block the air outlet of the ice-making blower.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein: Along the depth direction of the refrigerator, the freezing chamber fan and the ice-making fan are staggered.

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