A vehicle-mounted refrigerator and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicles, in particular to a vehicle-mounted refrigerator and a vehicle. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator comprises a box body and a built-in box cover. The box body is arranged in the front compartment of the vehicle, and the built-in box cover is arranged on the engine compartment cover of the vehicle. The built-in box cover is configured to press the box body and block the opening of the box body when the engine compartment cover is in a closed state. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator has the following advantages: it does not occupy the passenger compartment or storage area, thereby improving the space utilization and practicality of the vehicle; the box body can be pressed into the front compartment and the built-in box cover and the box body can be pressed together by using the pressing force of the engine compartment cover. In this way, on the one hand, the sealed connection between the built-in box cover and the box body is ensured, effectively isolating the influence of the harsh environment inside the front compartment on the internal environment of the refrigerator; on the other hand, the structural stability of the vehicle-mounted refrigerator is improved, avoiding the problem that the vehicle-mounted refrigerator is affected by the environment and vibrates or shakes, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the long-term operation of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular to a vehicle-mounted refrigerator and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Car refrigerators, as devices that can significantly improve the quality of life while driving, are increasingly favored by consumers. Currently, most mainstream car refrigerators are permanently placed in the trunk or passenger compartment, a design that permanently occupies the passenger space or storage area, sacrificing the vehicle's spatial flexibility and practicality. Some vehicles have attempted to place refrigerators in the front cabin; however, the insulation, heat dissipation, and structural stability of current car refrigerators cannot meet the harsh environment of high temperatures and vibrations in the engine compartment, thus affecting their performance and lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The first objective of this invention is to provide a vehicle refrigerator that solves the technical problem that the heat insulation, heat dissipation, and structural stability of existing vehicle refrigerators cannot meet the harsh environment of high temperature and vibration in the engine compartment, thus affecting the performance and lifespan of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] A vehicle refrigerator includes a body and an inner lid. The body is installed in the front compartment of a vehicle, and the inner lid is installed on the hood of the vehicle. The inner lid is configured to press against the body and seal the opening of the body when the hood is closed.

[0006] In some embodiments, the system further includes a heat exchange device connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system, the air conditioning system including a refrigerant output port, a refrigerant input port, and a condenser;

[0007] The heat exchange device includes a heat exchanger, a first tee pipe, and a second tee pipe, wherein: the heat exchanger is disposed on the housing and has a first inlet and a second inlet; the three ports of the first tee pipe are respectively connected to the refrigerant input port, the outlet of the condenser, and the first inlet; the three ports of the second tee pipe are respectively connected to the refrigerant output port, the inlet of the condenser, and the second inlet.

[0008] In some embodiments, a first solenoid valve is provided between the first tee pipe and the refrigerant inlet port;

[0009] And / or, a second solenoid valve is provided between the first tee pipe and the heat exchanger;

[0010] And / or, a third solenoid valve is provided between the second three-way pipe and the refrigerant output port.

[0011] In some embodiments, the housing includes an outer shell fixed within the front compartment and an inner liner retractably disposed within the outer shell, both the outer shell and the inner liner having an opening at the top;

[0012] The built-in cover is configured to press against the outer shell when the engine hood is closed to form a sealed space for accommodating the inner liner.

[0013] In some embodiments, a heat exchange device is also included, the heat exchange device comprising:

[0014] A heat exchanger is disposed on the inner liner;

[0015] Two quick-connect female connectors are respectively located at the first inlet and the second inlet of the heat exchanger;

[0016] Two quick-connect male connectors are both mounted on the housing and connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system. Two quick-connect female connectors can be respectively aligned and plugged into the two quick-connect male connectors.

[0017] In some embodiments, both the female and male quick-connect connectors are self-locking connectors.

[0018] And / or, the heat exchanger is embedded on the outer surface of the inner liner, and includes a meandering pipe structure, both ends of which extend to the bottom of the inner liner, and each end of the pipe structure is provided with a quick-connect female connector, and both quick-connect male connectors are fixedly mounted on the bottom wall of the outer shell.

[0019] In some embodiments, one of the outer shell and the inner liner is provided with a guide rail and the other is provided with a guide groove or slider adapted to the guide rail;

[0020] And / or, in the outer shell and the inner liner, one of them is provided with a positioning pin and the other is provided with a positioning hole adapted to the positioning pin;

[0021] And / or, a lifting elastic element is connected between the outer shell and the inner liner, the lifting elastic element being configured to provide an elastic force that drives the inner liner to move upward relative to the outer shell;

[0022] And / or, the bottom of the inner liner has multiple support legs;

[0023] And / or, the outer surface of the inner liner is covered with a layer of thermal insulation material;

[0024] And / or, a temperature sensor is provided on the inner liner.

[0025] In some embodiments, the positioning pin is provided on the bottom wall of the inner liner, and the positioning pin is a push-type quick-release locking pin. The positioning protrusion is provided on the inner bottom surface of the outer shell, and the positioning protrusion has the positioning hole.

[0026] Alternatively, the inner liner may be provided with a positioning pin on its side wall, the positioning pin being a ball-head plunger, and the outer shell may be provided with a positioning hole on its side wall.

[0027] In some embodiments, an outer carrying case lid is also included, wherein a buckle is machined on the periphery of the outer carrying case lid and a handle is machined on its top surface, and the outer carrying case lid can be installed on the inner liner by means of the buckle and block the opening of the inner liner;

[0028] And / or, it also includes a sealing ring disposed on the periphery of the inner cover or the periphery of the outer cover, the sealing ring being configured to be clamped between the inner cover and the outer cover when the engine hood is closed.

[0029] A second object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle comprising the vehicle-mounted refrigerator described in any of the preceding claims.

[0030] The beneficial effects of this invention are:

[0031] The present invention provides a vehicle refrigerator and a vehicle having the vehicle refrigerator. The vehicle refrigerator includes a box body and an inner box cover. The box body is installed in the front compartment of the vehicle, and the inner box cover is installed on the engine hood of the vehicle. The inner box cover is configured to press against the box body and seal the opening of the box body when the engine hood is closed.

[0032] Compared with existing technologies, the vehicle refrigerator provided in this application has the following advantages: First, the vehicle refrigerator is integrated into the front compartment of the car, without occupying the passenger compartment or storage area, thus improving the space utilization and practicality of the vehicle; Second, the built-in lid of the vehicle refrigerator is integrated into the engine hood, so that the engine hood opens and closes relative to the front compartment, which simultaneously drives the built-in lid to open and close relative to the refrigerator body. When the user opens / closes the engine hood, the built-in lid is also opened / closed at the same time, making the vehicle refrigerator more convenient to use; Third, when the engine hood is closed, the downward pressure of the engine hood can press the refrigerator body tightly into the front compartment and press the built-in lid and the refrigerator body together. This ensures a sealed connection between the built-in lid and the refrigerator body, effectively isolating the harsh environment inside the front compartment (such as high temperature, odor, etc.) from affecting the internal environment of the refrigerator. On the other hand, it improves the structural stability of the vehicle refrigerator, avoids the problem of vibration or shaking caused by environmental influences, and ensures the long-term stability and reliability of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 A three-dimensional assembly diagram of a vehicle refrigerator with the engine hood open, provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the forward assembly of a vehicle refrigerator with the engine hood closed, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a side cross-sectional view of a vehicle refrigerator with the engine hood closed, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection between the vehicle refrigerator and the vehicle air conditioning system provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a vehicle-mounted refrigerator in the first cooling mode, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the working principle of a vehicle-mounted refrigerator in the second refrigeration mode, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 7 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the outer shell and its components provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 8 A three-dimensional perspective view of the inner liner and its components provided for an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 9 A schematic diagram of one embodiment of the present invention for realizing the plug-in connection between the outer shell and the inner liner;

[0043] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the plug-in connection between the outer shell and the inner liner provided by the present invention.

[0044] icon:

[0045] 1-Box body; 11-Outer shell; 111-Outer shell body; 112-Flanged edge; 12-Inner liner; 121-Support leg; 13-Guide rail; 14-Guide groove; 15-Positioning pin; 16-Positioning protrusion; 17-Lifting elastic element;

[0046] 2- Built-in lid;

[0047] 3-Heat exchange device; 31-Heat exchanger; 32-First tee pipe; 33-Second tee pipe; 34-First solenoid valve; 35-Second solenoid valve; 36-Third solenoid valve; 37-Quick-connect female connector; 38-Quick-connect male connector;

[0048] 4-Outer case lid; 41-Handle;

[0049] 5-Sealing ring;

[0050] 100 - Engine hood;

[0051] 200 - Air conditioning system; 210 - Condenser;

[0052] 300 - Forward cabin crossbeam;

[0053] 400 - Mounting bracket. Detailed Implementation

[0054] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0055] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0056] It should be noted that in the description of this invention, the terms "connection" and "installation" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or a connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0057] Existing vehicle refrigerators cannot meet the stringent requirements of high temperature and vibration in the engine compartment due to their inadequate insulation, heat dissipation, and structural stability. Consequently, the performance and lifespan of vehicle refrigerators are affected when placed in the front compartment of a vehicle.

[0058] In view of the above-mentioned problems existing in the prior art, a first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, as described below. Figures 1 to 3 The vehicle refrigerator includes a body 1 and an internal cover 2. The body 1 is installed in the front compartment of the vehicle, and the internal cover 2 is installed on the engine hood 100 of the vehicle. The internal cover 2 is configured to press against the body 1 and seal the opening of the body 1 when the engine hood 100 is closed. Figure 1 As shown, when the engine hood 100 is in the open position, the inner cover 2 is pulled away from the housing 1 by the engine hood 100. At this time, the user can retrieve items stored in the housing 1 through the opening of the housing 1. Figure 3 As shown, when the engine hood 100 is in the closed state, the inner cover 2 presses against the housing 1 under the action of the engine hood 100 and seals the opening of the housing 1.

[0059] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of the vehicle refrigerator provided in this application are as follows: First, the vehicle refrigerator is integrated into the front compartment of the car, without occupying the passenger compartment or storage area, thus improving the space utilization and practicality of the vehicle; Second, the built-in lid 2 of the vehicle refrigerator is integrated into the engine hood 100. Therefore, when the engine hood 100 opens and closes relative to the front compartment, it simultaneously drives the built-in lid 2 to open and close relative to the refrigerator body 1. Thus, when the user opens / closes the engine hood 100, they also open / close the built-in lid 2, making the vehicle refrigerator more convenient to use. It is more convenient; thirdly, when the engine hood 100 is closed, the downward pressure of the engine hood 100 can press the box 1 tightly into the front compartment and press the inner box cover 2 together with the box 1. In this way, on the one hand, the sealed connection between the inner box cover 2 and the box 1 is guaranteed, effectively isolating the harsh environment inside the front compartment (such as high temperature, odor, etc.) from the refrigerator's interior. On the other hand, it improves the structural stability of the vehicle refrigerator, avoids the problem of vibration or shaking caused by environmental influences, and ensures the long-term stability and reliability of the refrigerator.

[0060] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the vehicle refrigerator further includes a heat exchange device 3 connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system 200. The air conditioning system 200 includes a refrigerant output port, a refrigerant input port, and a condenser 210. The heat exchange device 3 includes a heat exchanger 31, a first three-way pipe 32, and a second three-way pipe 33. The heat exchanger 31 is mounted on the housing 1 and has a first inlet and a second inlet. The three ports of the first three-way pipe 32 are respectively connected to the refrigerant input port, the outlet of the condenser 210, and the first inlet. The three ports of the second three-way pipe 33 are respectively connected to the refrigerant output port, the inlet of the condenser 210, and the second inlet.

[0061] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 The main circuit of the vehicle's air conditioning system 200 mainly consists of components such as a compressor, condenser 210, and evaporator. The compressor drives the refrigerant to circulate in the main circuit. The condenser 210, typically installed at the front of the vehicle, dissipates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas, turning it into a liquid. The evaporator, connected in series between the refrigerant inlet and outlet ports, is usually installed inside the vehicle and evaporates the refrigerant into gas to absorb heat and lower the interior temperature. The heat exchanger 31 of the vehicle refrigerator provided in this application is connected to the air conditioning system 200 via a first three-way pipe 32 and a second three-way pipe 33. The heat exchanger 31 is connected in parallel with the evaporator, thus utilizing the powerful cooling capacity of the air conditioning system 200 to cool the interior environment of the cabinet 1.

[0062] Existing vehicle refrigerators typically use independent semiconductor refrigerators for cooling. This method suffers from low cooling efficiency, slow speed, significant performance degradation at high temperatures, and the heat generated during cooling exacerbates the heat load in the front compartment. Unlike existing technologies, this application integrates the heat exchange device 3 of the vehicle refrigerator into the vehicle's air conditioning system 200, solving the problems of low efficiency and slow speed of traditional semiconductor refrigerators. This achieves a balance between high-efficiency cooling and low system energy consumption, while also preventing the heat generated during refrigerator cooling from accumulating in the front compartment, thus resolving the problem of traditional vehicle refrigerators aggravating the heat load in the front compartment.

[0063] Continue to refer to Figures 4 to 6 In some embodiments, a first solenoid valve 34 is provided between the first three-way pipe 32 and the refrigerant input port. The first solenoid valve 34 can be used to connect and disconnect the first three-way pipe 32 and the refrigerant input port, and can also control the refrigerant flow into the refrigerant input port.

[0064] In some embodiments, a second solenoid valve 35 is provided between the first three-way pipe 32 and the heat exchanger 31. The second solenoid valve 35 can be used to connect and disconnect the first three-way pipe 32 and the heat exchanger 31, and can also control the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger 31.

[0065] In some embodiments, a third solenoid valve 36 is provided between the second three-way pipe 33 and the refrigerant output port, and the third solenoid valve 36 can be used to connect and disconnect the second three-way pipe 33 and the refrigerant output port.

[0066] In the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings of this application (hereinafter collectively referred to as this embodiment), a first solenoid valve 34 is provided between the first three-way pipe 32 and the refrigerant input port, and a second solenoid valve 35 is provided between the first three-way pipe 32 and the heat exchanger 31. A temperature sensor for monitoring the temperature inside the box is provided on the box body 1, and each solenoid valve and temperature sensor is signal connected to the vehicle's control unit. The vehicle's control unit is the core of the air conditioning system 200. On one hand, the control unit is connected to the temperature sensor and various solenoid valves on the housing 1. It is configured to precisely adjust the opening of the second solenoid valve 35 based on the difference between the actual temperature monitored by the temperature sensor and the set temperature to achieve constant temperature control of the refrigerator. On the other hand, the control unit is connected to the air conditioning controller of the air conditioning system 200. It is configured to automatically control the second solenoid valve 35 to close or reduce its opening when it receives a signal from the air conditioning controller indicating that the system is closed or in a maximum load state (such as in extremely hot weather) to prioritize the needs of the passenger compartment. In addition, when the vehicle refrigerator needs to work alone, the control unit is also configured to control the first solenoid valve 34 to close and control the second solenoid valve 35 to remain open to achieve self-circulating cooling of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0067] Using the above technical solution, the vehicle-mounted refrigerator has a first cooling mode, a second cooling mode, and a heat preservation mode. The working principles of each mode are as follows:

[0068] The vehicle refrigerator is in the first cooling mode, refer to Figure 5 Both the first solenoid valve 34 and the second solenoid valve 35 are in the open state (if there is a third solenoid valve 36, then the third solenoid valve 36 is also in the open state). The main circuit of the air conditioning system 200 (condenser 210-compressor-evaporator) is in a circulating state. When the refrigerant in the main circuit passes through the first three-way pipe 32, a refrigerant branch is split off. This refrigerant branch enters the heat exchanger 31 through the second solenoid valve 35. Through the heat exchanger 31, heat exchange occurs with the casing 1, thereby absorbing heat from the casing 1 and reducing the internal temperature of the casing 1. The refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 31 merges with the refrigerant in the main circuit through the second three-way pipe 33, and then enters the condenser 210 for condensation, completing the refrigeration cycle.

[0069] If the user does not turn on the air conditioning but still needs to use the vehicle refrigerator for cooling, they can issue a command through the refrigerator control panel (or the control unit can automatically issue a command based on the temperature signal from compartment 1) to adjust the vehicle refrigerator to the second cooling mode. When the vehicle refrigerator is in the second cooling mode, refer to... Figure 6The first solenoid valve 34 is in the closed state and the second solenoid valves 35 are both in the open state (if there is a third solenoid valve 36, the third solenoid valve 36 is in the closed state). The refrigerant circulates in a closed loop consisting of the first three-way pipe 32, the heat exchanger 31, the second three-way pipe 33 and the condenser 210 to achieve a refrigeration cycle.

[0070] When the vehicle's air conditioning controller determines that the air conditioning is under maximum load (i.e., the passenger compartment temperature exceeds the set temperature), the air conditioning controller sends a "maximum air conditioning load" signal to the control unit. Upon receiving the signal, the control unit immediately outputs a "shut down refrigerator cooling" signal to control the second solenoid valve 35 to close, causing the vehicle refrigerator to adjust to the heat preservation mode. When the vehicle refrigerator is in heat preservation mode, the refrigerant branch flowing through the refrigerator is cut off, and all the refrigerant in the air conditioning main circuit is used for cooling the passenger compartment.

[0071] When the temperature in the passenger compartment drops below the set temperature, the air conditioning load decreases to a safe range. At this time, the air conditioning controller sends a "normal air conditioning load" signal to the control unit. The control unit then controls the opening and degree of the second solenoid valve 35 according to the internal temperature of the compartment 1, so that the vehicle refrigerator resumes cooling.

[0072] Through the above three working modes, the vehicle refrigerator and air conditioning system 200 can work together efficiently, and the vehicle refrigerator and passenger compartment air conditioning can be started and stopped independently.

[0073] It should be noted that although a fourth solenoid valve can be installed between the second three-way pipe 33 and the heat exchanger 31, it is generally not installed. This is to ensure that at least one inlet / outlet of the heat exchanger 31 remains connected to the main refrigerant circuit.

[0074] In some embodiments, the refrigerator body 1 is located at one end of the front compartment near the front of the vehicle. This arrangement facilitates the user's access to items inside the refrigerator and brings the heat exchanger 31 closer to the condenser 210 (which is installed at the front of the vehicle). This shortens the length of the connecting pipe between the heat exchanger 31 and the condenser 210, allowing the refrigerant discharged from the heat exchanger 31 after absorbing heat to quickly enter the condenser 210 for heat dissipation, further preventing the refrigerator's heat from exacerbating the heat load inside the compartment.

[0075] Continue to refer to Figure 3In some embodiments, the housing 1 includes an outer shell 11 fixed within the front compartment and an inner liner 12 retractably disposed within the outer shell 11. Both the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12 have openings at their tops. The internal cover 2 is configured to press against the outer shell 11 when the engine hood 100 is closed, forming a sealed space for accommodating the inner liner 12. By configuring the inner liner 12 to be retractable and retractable relative to the outer shell 11, it facilitates the retrieval of items, improving the user experience, and increases the portability of the inner liner 12, thereby expanding the refrigerator's usage scenarios.

[0076] Furthermore, the inner liner 12 is covered with an insulation material layer. In this embodiment, the inner liner 12 is made entirely of food-grade plastic, and an insulation material layer (such as polyurethane foam) is provided on the outer surface of the inner liner 12 and the inner end face of the inner lid 2 (i.e. the side facing the box body 1), which effectively reduces cold loss.

[0077] Optionally, the insulation material layer may be made of one of the following: polyurethane foam, insulation cotton, rubber (such as PVC), or PE foam. Food-grade materials are preferred for the insulation material layer.

[0078] In this embodiment, refer to Figure 7 The outer casing 11 includes an outer casing body 111, the top of which has an opening, and the top periphery of the outer casing body 111 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 112. The flange 112 is provided with a mounting structure for fixed installation on the forward cabin crossbeam 300, the mounting structure including bolt through holes and / or snap-fit ​​holes. Figure 1 The outer casing 11 is positioned within the gap between the two front compartment crossbeams 300. The upper surface of the outer casing 11 slopes upwards from the front to the rear of the vehicle, such that the opening of the outer casing 11 faces the user when the engine hood 100 is open, facilitating the user's access to items inside the compartment 1. The front side of the outer casing 11 is fixed to one of the front compartment crossbeams 300 via bolt holes on the flange 112, and the rear side of the outer casing 11 is fixed to the other front compartment crossbeam 300 via bolt holes on the flange 112 and mounting bracket 400. Furthermore, the various solenoid valves in the heat exchange device 3 are also fixed to one of the front compartment crossbeams 300 with screws.

[0079] Optionally, the temperature sensor on the housing 1 can be fixed to the outer shell 11 or the inner liner 12. It is understood that when the temperature sensor is fixed to the inner liner 12, especially the inner side of the inner liner 12, the temperature data monitored by the temperature sensor is more accurate. Therefore, preferably, the temperature sensor is located on the inner side of the inner liner 12 and fixed to the top of the side wall of the inner liner 12.

[0080] In the embodiment where the temperature sensor is fixed to the inner liner 12: the temperature sensor is equipped with a wireless communication module, and the temperature sensor and the control unit transmit signals via the wireless communication module (such as Bluetooth). Alternatively, the temperature sensor on the housing 1 transmits signals to the control unit via wired contacts; specifically, the outer shell 11 is provided with a first contact connected to the control unit, and the inner liner 12 is provided with a second contact connected to the temperature sensor. The first and second contacts are in contact with each other and electrically connected when the engine hood 100 is closed. Both of these arrangements prevent the signal connection between the temperature sensor and the control unit from affecting the removal and retraction of the inner liner 12.

[0081] To limit the movement trajectory of the inner liner 12 relative to the outer shell 11, in some embodiments, one of the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12 is provided with a guide rail 13, and the other is provided with a guide groove 14 or a slider adapted to the guide rail 13. (See also...) Figure 7 and Figure 8 In this embodiment, a ball-type guide rail 13 is provided on each of the two opposite inner sidewalls of the outer shell 11, and a guide groove 14 is provided on each of the two opposite outer sidewalls of the inner liner 12. The lower end of the guide groove 14 penetrates the outer sidewall of the inner liner 12, so that the inner liner 12 can be completely pulled out from the outer shell 11. The ball-type guide rail 13 can both restrict the position of the inner liner 12 and improve the smoothness of the inner liner 12 when it is pulled out.

[0082] In some embodiments, one of the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12 is provided with a positioning pin 15 and the other is provided with a positioning hole adapted to the positioning pin 15. The relative position of the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12 is limited by the insertion and engagement of the positioning pin 15 and the positioning hole.

[0083] This application provides two implementation schemes for achieving the plug-in mating of the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12, as follows:

[0084] Reference Figure 9In the first embodiment, the bottom wall of the inner liner 12 is provided with a plurality of (specifically two) positioning pins 15, which are push-button quick-release locking pins. The inner bottom surface of the outer shell 11 is provided with a plurality of (specifically two) positioning protrusions 16, each with a positioning hole. The push-button quick-release pin can be a ball-head locking pin (existing technology). Specifically, the ball-head locking pin includes a lock body shell fixed to the bottom of the inner liner 12, a pin rod that can slide up and down inside the lock body shell, a steel ball disposed between the pin rod and the lock body shell, a button fixed to the upper end of the pin rod and inserted into the inner liner 12, and a spring connecting the button and the lock body shell. The lock body shell has a through hole for the steel ball to protrude outward, and the pin rod has an annular groove with a bevel. The positioning hole has an annular groove for the steel ball to be inserted. When the relative position between the outer shell 11 and the inner cylinder 12 is locked, the shoulder of the pin, under the action of the spring, contacts the steel ball, causing the steel ball to protrude out of the lock body and insert into the annular groove on the positioning hole. When it is necessary to remove the inner cylinder 12, the user presses the button on the positioning pin 15, causing the steel ball to fall into the annular groove on the pin and disengage from the annular groove on the positioning hole. At this time, the relative position between the outer shell 11 and the inner cylinder 12 is unlocked, and the user can grab the lock body to pull the inner cylinder 12 out of the outer shell 11, making the process convenient and effortless.

[0085] Reference Figure 10 In the second embodiment, the positioning pin 15 is a ball-head plunger. Two positioning pins 15 are respectively located on the left and right side walls of the inner liner 12. Correspondingly, positioning holes are provided on the left and right side walls of the outer shell 11. When the relative position between the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12 is locked, the ball head of the ball-head plunger is inserted into the positioning hole on the same side. To facilitate the ball head of the ball-head plunger being ejected from the positioning hole, an ejector shaft is inserted into each positioning hole. One end of the ejector shaft abuts against the ball head of the ball-head plunger, and the other end extends through the positioning hole to the outside of the outer shell 11, where a nut is screwed. When the inner liner 12 needs to be removed, the user presses the nut, pushing the ejector shaft to eject the ball head of the ball-head plunger from the positioning hole, thus releasing the position lock between the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12.

[0086] In some other embodiments, the positioning pin 15 may also be a protrusion provided on the outer bottom surface of the inner liner 12.

[0087] In some embodiments, continue to refer to Figure 10A lifting elastic element 17 is connected between the outer shell 11 and the inner liner 12. The lifting elastic element 17 is configured to provide a spring force that drives the inner liner 12 upward relative to the outer shell 11. When the engine hood 100 is in the open position and the position lock between the inner liner 12 and the outer shell 11 is released, the lifting elastic element 17 can provide a spring force that drives the inner liner 12 out of the outer shell 11, so that the user can pull out the inner liner 12. Figure 10 In the illustrated embodiment, the lifting elastic element 17 is specifically a compression spring with a base at one end. The lower end of the compression spring is fixed to the bottom of the outer casing 11 via the base, and the upper end of the compression spring can abut against the inner liner 12. In other embodiments, the lifting elastic element 17 can be a ball-head plunger. The fixed part of the lifting elastic element 17 is screwed to the bottom wall of the outer casing 11, and the ball-head extension end of the lifting elastic element 17 is arranged facing upward.

[0088] Continue to refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the heat exchanger 31 of the heat exchange device 3 is disposed on the inner liner 12. Since the inner liner 12 is a retractable structure relative to the outer shell 11, the heat exchange device 3 also includes two quick-connect female connectors 37 and two quick-connect male connectors 38. The two quick-connect female connectors 37 are respectively disposed at the first inlet and the second inlet of the heat exchanger 31, and the two quick-connect male connectors 38 are disposed on the outer shell 11 and connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system 200. The two quick-connect female connectors 37 can be aligned and plugged into the two quick-connect male connectors 38 respectively.

[0089] Compared to the embodiment where the heat exchanger 31 is fixed to the outer casing 11, the embodiment where the heat exchanger 31 is fixed to the inner liner 12 has a better cooling effect on the inner liner 12. Furthermore, when the inner liner 12 is used externally, the refrigerant inside the heat exchanger 31 can improve the heat preservation effect of the inner liner 12.

[0090] In this embodiment, a self-locking quick-connect female connector 37 is provided at the first and second inlets / outlets of the heat exchanger 31, and two self-locking quick-connect male connectors 38 are provided on the outer casing 11. Each self-locking connector has a self-locking valve inside, which automatically closes the internal flow channel of the connector after the male and female connectors are separated. When the inner liner 12 is pushed into the outer casing 11, the two quick-connect female connectors 37 automatically engage and lock with the two quick-connect male connectors 38, respectively, allowing the two inlets / outlets of the heat exchanger 31 to connect with the first tee pipe 32 and the second tee pipe 33, respectively. When the inner liner 12 is pulled out of the outer casing 11, the quick-connect female connectors 37 and quick-connect male connectors 38 separate, and the valve cores of the self-locking valves inside each connector spring up under spring pressure, closing the internal flow channel of the connector.

[0091] In this embodiment, the heat exchanger 31 is embedded on the outer surface of the inner liner 12. It includes a meandering pipe structure, with both ends of the pipe structure extending to the bottom of the inner liner 12. A quick-connect female connector 37 is provided at each end of the pipe structure, and two quick-connect male connectors 38 are fixedly mounted on the bottom wall of the outer shell 11. Furthermore, a portion of the pipe structure near its two ends is embedded in the outer bottom surface of the inner liner 12 to prevent the ends of the pipe structure from wobbling and to improve the positional stability of the two quick-connect female connectors 37 relative to the inner liner 12.

[0092] The heat exchanger 31 can be embedded in one or more side walls of the inner liner 12, or it can be arranged in a semi-enclosed or surrounding manner around the periphery of the inner liner 12. The distribution of the heat exchanger 31 on the inner liner 12 can be adjusted according to the cooling requirements. The outer surface of the inner liner 12 has a contoured groove in the position directly opposite the heat exchanger 31. The heat exchanger 31 can be fixed and embedded in the contoured groove on the inner liner 12 by one or a combination of welding, interference fit, screw connection, etc.

[0093] Based on the above structure, the outer surface of the inner liner 12 is covered with a thermal insulation material layer, and the heat exchanger 31 is covered within the thermal insulation material layer.

[0094] In some embodiments, the bottom of the inner liner 12 has multiple support feet 121. In this embodiment, a support foot 121 is provided at each of the four corners of the bottom of the inner liner 12. The support feet 121 have the following functions: firstly, they separate the outer bottom surface of the inner liner 12 from the inner bottom surface of the outer shell 11 by a certain distance, thereby protecting the quick-connect male and female connectors and the press-type quick-release locking pins at the bottom of the inner liner 12 from damage when the inner liner 12 is placed; secondly, when the inner liner 12 is carried to another location, the inner liner 12 can be stably placed in a specific area by the multiple support feet 121.

[0095] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the vehicle refrigerator also includes an outer carrying case cover 4, with buckles machined around its periphery and a handle 41 machined on its top surface. Correspondingly, the inner liner 12 is provided with snap-fit ​​holes that are adapted to the buckles on the outer carrying case cover 4. The outer carrying case cover 4 can be installed on the inner liner 12 by the buckles and block the opening of the inner liner 12.

[0096] This car refrigerator is equipped with an internal lid 2 and an external carrying lid 4. The internal lid 2 is fixedly installed on the engine hood 100, while the external carrying lid 4 can be stored in the front compartment (or other locations inside the vehicle). The top surface of the external carrying lid 4 has an ergonomically recessed handle 41 formed in-mold. When the user needs to temporarily carry the inner liner 12 elsewhere (e.g., from the parking lot to a picnic spot), simply cover the opening of the inner liner 12 with the external carrying lid 4, and secure it to the inner liner 12 using the clips on the external carrying lid 4. The inner liner 12 can then be easily carried using the handle 41, and the external carrying lid 4 effectively maintains a low temperature inside the liner. In addition, when maintenance is required on components in the front compartment, the opening of the inner liner 12 can be sealed with the external carrying lid 4 to prevent debris from entering the inner liner 12.

[0097] Based on the above structure, a storage slot is provided on one side of the outer shell 11. For example, the gap between the outer shell 11 and one of the front cabin crossbeams 300 forms the storage slot. The outer carrying case cover 4 can be stored in the storage slot on the side of the outer shell 11 when not in use. With this design, the outer carrying case cover 4 does not occupy extra space and will not be lost when needed. The outer carrying case cover 4 and the inner liner 12 can also be connected by a rope to further prevent the problem of the outer carrying case cover 4 being lost.

[0098] Based on the above structure, an insulating material layer is attached to the side of the outer carrying case lid 4 near the inner liner 12 to keep the inner liner 12 warm when it is carried outside. A sealing gasket can be glued and fixed to the side of the outer carrying case lid 4 near the inner liner 12; when the outer carrying case lid 4 is fixed to the inner liner 12, the sealing gasket is clamped between the outer carrying case lid 4 and the inner liner 12, thereby forming a sealed space inside the inner liner 12.

[0099] Continue to refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the vehicle refrigerator further includes a sealing ring 5 disposed on the periphery of the inner cover 2. The sealing ring 5 is configured to be clamped between the inner cover 2 and the outer casing 11 when the hood 100 is closed. When the hood 100 is closed, the sealing ring 5 is tightly compressed between the inner cover 2 and the top of the outer casing 11, thereby forming an effective sealing barrier to effectively isolate the harsh environment of the front compartment. The sealing ring 5 can be fixed to the peripheral surface or inner end surface of the inner cover 2, and there can be one or more of them. In addition, in some other embodiments, the sealing ring 5 can also be disposed on the periphery of the outer casing 11.

[0100] In this embodiment, a sealing ring 5 is adhered and fixed to the circumference of the inner cover 2. When the engine hood 100 is closed, the inner cover 2 is inserted into the outer shell 11 through the opening at the top of the outer shell 11 and abuts against the upper end face of the inner liner 12. Through the above arrangement, a reliable barrier that is waterproof, dustproof, heat-insulating, and odor-proof is formed at the connection position between the outer shell 11 and the inner cover 2. At the same time, the inner liner 12 can be pressed and fixed to the outer shell 11 by the inner cover 2, avoiding the problem of the inner liner 12 shaking. A layer of heat-insulating material with a certain degree of resilience (such as a food-grade rubber layer) can be attached to the inner end face of the inner cover 2. The resilience of the heat-insulating material layer can both seal the inner liner 12 and press the inner liner 12 tightly into the outer shell 11.

[0101] A second aspect of this application provides a vehicle that includes the vehicle-mounted refrigerator provided in any of the above embodiments. This vehicle possesses at least all the technical features and effects of the aforementioned vehicle-mounted refrigerator, which will not be repeated here.

[0102] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes a housing (1) and an internal cover (2), the housing (1) being installed in the front compartment of the vehicle, and the internal cover (2) being installed on the engine hood (100) of the vehicle, the internal cover (2) being configured to press against the housing (1) and block the opening of the housing (1) when the engine hood (100) is closed; The housing (1) includes an outer shell (11) fixed in the front compartment and an inner liner (12) that is pulled out and disposed in the outer shell (11). The top of both the outer shell (11) and the inner liner (12) has an opening. The inner cover (2) is configured to press against the outer shell (11) to form a sealed space for accommodating the inner liner (12) when the engine hood (100) is closed. In the outer shell (11) and the inner liner (12), one is provided with a guide rail (13) and the other is provided with a guide groove (14) or slider adapted to the guide rail (13), one is provided with a positioning pin (15) and the other is provided with a positioning hole adapted to the positioning pin (15), and the inner liner (12) is provided with a temperature sensor; The vehicle refrigerator also includes a heat exchange device (3), which includes a heat exchanger (31), two quick-connect female connectors (37) and two quick-connect male connectors (38), both of which are self-locking connectors. The heat exchanger (31) is embedded on the outer surface of the inner liner (12), and includes a meandering pipe structure. Both ends of the pipe structure extend to the bottom of the inner liner (12), and a quick-connect female connector (37) is provided on each end of the pipe structure. Both quick-connect male connectors (38) are fixedly mounted on the bottom wall of the housing (11) and connected to the vehicle's air conditioning system (200). The two quick-connect female connectors (37) can be aligned and plugged into the two quick-connect male connectors (38) respectively.

2. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning system (200) includes a refrigerant input port, a refrigerant output port, and a condenser (210). The heat exchange device (3) further includes a first three-way pipe (32) and a second three-way pipe (33), wherein: the heat exchanger (31) has a first inlet and a second inlet; the three ports of the first three-way pipe (32) are respectively connected to the refrigerant input port, the outlet of the condenser (210) and the first inlet; the three ports of the second three-way pipe (33) are respectively connected to the refrigerant output port, the inlet of the condenser (210) and the second inlet.

3. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first solenoid valve (34) is provided between the first three-way pipe (32) and the refrigerant inlet port. And / or, a second solenoid valve (35) is provided between the first three-way pipe (32) and the heat exchanger (31). And / or, a third solenoid valve (36) is provided between the second three-way pipe (33) and the refrigerant output port.

4. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, A lifting elastic element (17) is connected between the outer shell (11) and the inner liner (12), the lifting elastic element (17) being configured to provide an elastic force that pushes the inner liner (12) out of the outer shell (11); And / or, the bottom of the inner liner (12) has a plurality of legs (121); And / or, the outer surface of the inner liner (12) is covered with a layer of thermal insulation material.

5. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the inner liner (12) is provided with the positioning pin (15), the positioning pin (15) is a press-type quick-release locking pin, and the inner bottom surface of the outer shell (11) is provided with a positioning protrusion (16), the positioning protrusion (16) has the positioning hole. Alternatively, the inner liner (12) may be provided with a positioning pin (15) on its side wall, the positioning pin (15) being a ball-head plunger, and the outer shell (11) may be provided with a positioning hole on its side wall.

6. The vehicle-mounted refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an outer carrying case cover (4), which has a buckle on its periphery and a handle (41) on its top surface. The outer carrying case cover (4) can be installed on the inner liner (12) by the buckle and block the opening of the inner liner (12). And / or, it also includes a sealing ring (5) disposed on the periphery of the inner cover (2) or the periphery of the outer shell (11), the sealing ring (5) being configured to be clamped between the inner cover (2) and the outer shell (11) when the engine hood (100) is closed.

7. A vehicle, characterized in that, Including the vehicle refrigerator as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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