Refrigeration equipment

Abstract

The invention discloses refrigeration equipment, and relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment. The refrigeration equipment comprises a box body, a drawer assembly and a fan assembly, the box body is provided with an installation cavity and an air inlet channel, the drawer assembly is arranged in the installation cavity, an unfreezing air channel is formed between a first drawer of the drawer assembly and a shell, and an inner cavity of the first drawer communicates with the unfreezing air channel through a first air hole. Air flow is guided into the unfreezing air channel through the air inlet channel to generate heat exchange with the bottom wall of the first drawer, heat exchange with the bottom of food is facilitated, and then the air flow enters the inner cavity of the first drawer through the first air holes to generate heat exchange with the upper surface of the food in the first drawer. Therefore, according to the scheme of the embodiment, heat exchange with the upper surface and the lower surface of the food can be achieved at the same time, and unfreezing uniformity and unfreezing efficiency are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular to a refrigeration device. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigeration equipment such as refrigerators and freezers can be equipped with functional compartments, which typically contain drawers. Users can place food that needs to be defrosted into the drawers. However, existing defrosting methods usually use airflow from the top of the drawer towards the food surface. Since the airflow can only enter from the top of the food, the upper surface of the food is directly subjected to the airflow, resulting in faster defrosting. However, the lower surface of the food, because it is in contact with the bottom of the drawer, defrosts more slowly. This leads to significant differences in the degree of defrosting across different parts of the food, resulting in low defrosting efficiency and poor uniformity. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a refrigeration device that can improve the efficiency and uniformity of defrosting food.

[0004] A refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a housing having an installation cavity and an air inlet channel; A drawer assembly, disposed within the mounting cavity and configured to be removable from the mounting cavity, includes a first drawer and a housing. The first drawer is disposed within a cavity enclosed by the housing. A defrosting air duct is formed between the outer wall of the first drawer and the inner wall of the housing, and the defrosting air duct communicates with the air inlet channel. A first air hole is provided on the side wall of the first drawer, and the inner cavity of the first drawer communicates with the defrosting air duct through the first air hole. A fan assembly is connected to the housing. The fan assembly includes a fan located in the air inlet channel. The fan assembly is used to guide airflow from the air inlet channel to the defrosting air duct and flow through the bottom wall of the first drawer. The airflow in the defrosting air duct can enter the inner cavity of the first drawer through the first air hole.

[0005] The refrigeration device according to embodiments of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: By providing an installation cavity and an air inlet channel within the housing, the drawer assembly is positioned within the installation cavity. A defrosting air duct is formed between the first drawer and the outer shell of the drawer assembly. The inner cavity of the first drawer is connected to the defrosting air duct via a first air hole. Therefore, when the fan of the blower assembly operates, the airflow is guided through the air inlet channel to the defrosting air duct, where it exchanges heat with the bottom wall of the first drawer. This facilitates heat exchange with the bottom of the food. The airflow then enters the inner cavity of the first drawer through the first air hole, where it exchanges heat with the upper surface of the food inside the first drawer. Thus, the solution in this embodiment can simultaneously exchange heat with both the upper and lower surfaces of the food, improving defrosting uniformity and efficiency.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom wall of the first drawer is constructed as a first heat exchange plate.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange plate is made of a thermally conductive metal material.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the box body is further provided with a refrigerator compartment, one end of the air inlet channel is connected to the refrigerator compartment, and the other end of the air inlet channel is connected to the defrosting air duct.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the two opposite side walls of the first drawer are respectively provided with a plurality of the first air holes.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the fan is located on the rear side of the first drawer, and a plurality of first air holes are respectively provided on the left and right side walls of the first drawer, and the plurality of first air holes are arranged in a direction away from the fan.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the drawer assembly further includes a second drawer disposed inside the first drawer, and the bottom wall of the second drawer and the bottom wall of the first drawer are spaced apart.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the side wall of the second drawer is provided with a second air hole, through which the airflow in the first drawer can enter the inner cavity of the second drawer.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cabinet is further provided with a refrigerator compartment, the front side wall of the second drawer is provided with a plurality of second air holes, the cabinet is provided with a return air vent, and along the front-rear direction of the cabinet, the return air vent is located on the rear side of the second drawer, and the return air vent connects the inner cavity of the second drawer and the refrigerator compartment.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom wall of the second drawer is constructed as a second heat exchange plate.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the fan assembly further includes a heating element located on the air outlet side or air inlet side of the fan.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the fan assembly further includes a bracket connected to the housing, the bracket having an air outlet communicating with the outlet end of the air inlet channel, the fan being installed inside the air outlet, and the heating element being connected to the bracket and covering the air outlet.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cabinet is further provided with a freezing air duct and a freezing compartment, the two ends of the freezing air duct are respectively connected to the freezing compartment and the drawer assembly, the freezing air duct is provided with an air damper for opening or closing the freezing air duct, and the freezing air duct is configured to guide the cold air from the freezing compartment to the drawer assembly.

[0018] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein: Figure 1 This is a simplified schematic diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a partial structural cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a drawer assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is an exploded view of a drawer assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a partial top view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Sectional view at point AA; Figure 8 yes Figure 6 Partial structure of the cross-sectional view at point BB; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a baffle and fan assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is an exploded view of a wind turbine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention at another location.

[0020] Figure label: Refrigerator 1000; Cabinet body 100; refrigerator compartment 110; mounting cavity 120; freezer compartment 130; air inlet channel 140; freezer air duct 150; first air inlet 151; second air inlet 152; partition 160; back panel 170; baffle 180; Drawer assembly 200; First drawer 210; First heat exchange plate 211; First air vent 212; Second drawer 220; Second heat exchange plate 221; Second air vent 222; Outer shell 230; Defrost duct 240; Fan assembly 300; fan 310; heating element 320; bracket 330; air outlet 331. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0024] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0025] In existing refrigeration systems, drawers are installed in the functional compartments for defrosting food. However, the defrosting airflow typically blows only from the top of the drawer onto the food surface. With this airflow method, the top surface of the food is directly exposed to the airflow, resulting in a faster temperature rise. Meanwhile, the bottom surface, being in contact with the drawer bottom wall, is relatively enclosed, leading to insufficient heat exchange and a slower temperature rise. This temperature difference between the top and bottom of the food causes uneven defrosting progress; while the top surface may have already begun to soften or even leak juice, the bottom surface and center remain frozen. This uneven defrosting not only affects the food's texture and nutrient retention but also prolongs the overall defrosting time.

[0026] To solve the above problems, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, this invention provides a refrigeration device according to one embodiment. The refrigeration device can be a refrigerator 1000, freezer, wine cabinet, medicine cabinet, etc. Subsequent examples of refrigeration devices will use the refrigerator 1000 as an example. The refrigerator 1000 of this embodiment includes a cabinet 100, a drawer assembly 200, and a fan assembly 300. A mounting cavity 120 is provided inside the cabinet 100 to accommodate the drawer assembly 200. The drawer assembly 200 can be pulled out from the mounting cavity 120 for convenient food storage and retrieval. The cabinet 100 also has an air inlet channel 140, for example, formed on the back panel 170 of the cabinet 100. The air inlet channel 140 can communicate with the refrigerator compartment 110 of the refrigerator 1000 or with the external space of the refrigerator 1000, thereby providing an airflow source with a temperature higher than that of the frozen food during the defrosting process. When the air inlet duct 140 is connected to the refrigerator compartment 110, it introduces air with a relatively high temperature from inside the refrigerator compartment 110; when the air inlet duct 140 is connected to the outside space, it introduces air at ambient temperature. Regardless of the connection method, the temperature of the introduced airflow is higher than the temperature of the frozen food, thus enabling heat exchange with the food.

[0027] The drawer assembly 200 has a double-layer structure, including a first drawer 210 and an outer shell 230. The first drawer 210 is located inside the cavity enclosed by the outer shell 230 and is used to directly place food that needs to be thawed. There is a gap between the outer wall of the first drawer 210 and the inner wall of the outer shell 230, which together form a thawing air duct 240. The thawing air duct 240 is connected to the air inlet channel 140, allowing the airflow guided by the fan 310 to flow into the thawing air duct 240. The side wall of the first drawer 210 is provided with a first air hole 212, and the inner cavity of the first drawer 210 is connected to the thawing air duct 240 through the first air hole 212. The first air hole 212 is located on both side walls of the first drawer 210, allowing the airflow in the thawing air duct 240 to enter the inner cavity from both sides of the first drawer 210, thereby forming an airflow distribution pattern that surrounds the food from both sides.

[0028] The fan assembly 300 is connected to the housing 100, and the fan assembly 300 includes a fan 310, which is located within the air inlet channel 140. (See reference...) Figure 3 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, Figure 3 , Figure 7 and Figure 8The dashed arrows indicate the direction of airflow. When the fan 310 is working, airflow is drawn in from the air inlet channel 140 and guided into the defrosting air duct 240. The airflow first flows through the bottom wall area of ​​the first drawer 210. Since the upper surface of the bottom wall of the first drawer 210 directly supports the food, the airflow exchanges heat with the bottom wall as it flows over it. The heat is conducted through the bottom wall to the lower surface of the food, achieving the first stage of heat exchange at the bottom of the food. In this process, the bottom wall acts as a heat-conducting medium, transferring the heat carried by the airflow in the defrosting air duct 240 to the bottom of the food, thus compensating for the deficiency of insufficient heat exchange on the lower surface of the food in traditional solutions.

[0029] After passing the bottom wall of the first drawer 210, the airflow continues to flow along the defrosting air duct 240 to both sides of the first drawer 210, and enters the inner cavity of the first drawer 210 through the first air hole 212 on the side wall. The airflow entering the inner cavity comes into direct contact with the upper surface and sides of the food, carrying out a second stage of heat exchange. For example, the airflow can enter the inner cavity from both sides of the first drawer 210 simultaneously, forming a flow field distribution that converges from both sides of the food towards the middle, so that all areas of the food surface can be affected by the airflow.

[0030] Employing the aforementioned dual heat exchange mechanism, the lower surface of the food gains heat through heat conduction from the bottom wall, while the upper and sides gain heat through direct contact with airflow. All parts of the food participate in the heat exchange process. Compared to traditional defrosting methods that only supply air from above, this embodiment ensures a more uniform rate of temperature recovery on both sides of the food, reducing temperature differences between different parts and thus improving defrosting uniformity. Simultaneously, because more of the food's surface area participates in heat exchange, the total heat transferred per unit time increases, resulting in a corresponding improvement in overall defrosting efficiency.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the first drawer 210 is used to directly place food that needs to be defrosted, and the lower surface of the food is in contact with the bottom wall of the first drawer 210. When the airflow in the defrosting duct 240 flows past the outside of the bottom wall of the first drawer 210, heat needs to pass through the bottom wall to be transferred to the lower surface of the food.

[0032] Therefore, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the first drawer 210 is constructed as a first heat exchange plate 211. The first heat exchange plate 211 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, and its thermal conductivity is higher than that of the plastic material used in ordinary drawer walls. After the bottom wall is constructed as the first heat exchange plate 211, when the airflow passes through the outside of the bottom wall, heat can be transferred to the lower surface of the food at a faster rate through the first heat exchange plate 211. The heat obtained by the lower surface of the food increases, the temperature rises faster, thereby shortening the defrosting time of the bottom of the food. Throughout the defrosting process, the first heat exchange plate 211 continuously functions as a heat conduction medium, which improves the efficiency of heat exchange at the bottom, thereby improving the overall defrosting efficiency.

[0033] It should be noted that the first drawer 210 can be made entirely of a material with good thermal conductivity, or only the bottom wall can be made of a material with good thermal conductivity, while the other structures of the first drawer 210 can be made of plastic. The appropriate solution can be selected according to the actual situation.

[0034] In embodiments of the present invention, the first heat exchange plate 211 is made of a thermally conductive metal material. Metal materials have high thermal conductivity; for example, aluminum has a thermal conductivity of approximately 237 W / (m·K), and copper has a thermal conductivity of approximately 401 W / (m·K). Making the first heat exchange plate 211 of a metal material allows the heat from the airflow within the defrosting duct 240 to quickly pass through the first heat exchange plate 211 and be transferred to the lower surface of the food, reducing the thermal resistance of the bottom wall of the first drawer 210 and increasing the rate of heat exchange at the bottom wall.

[0035] Besides metallic materials, the first heat exchange plate 211 can also be made of other non-metallic materials with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum nitride ceramics, silicon carbide ceramics, or carbon-based thermal conductive materials such as graphite sheets and graphene composites. These non-metallic materials also have higher thermal conductivity than ordinary plastics, which can improve the heat transfer efficiency of the bottom wall to a certain extent. The appropriate material should be selected based on the specific circumstances.

[0036] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet 100 is further provided with a refrigerator compartment 110, which is isolated from the mounting cavity 120 by a partition 160. The mounting cavity 120 is located below the refrigerator compartment 110. One end of the air inlet duct 140 is connected to the refrigerator compartment 110, and the other end of the air inlet duct 140 is connected to the defrosting air duct 240. Connecting the air inlet duct 140 to the refrigerator compartment 110 rather than to the external environment has advantages in terms of air quality. The refrigerator compartment 110 is located in the sealed cavity of the refrigerator 1000. The indoor air is circulated by the refrigeration system, and the temperature and humidity are relatively stable, and it will not mix with pollutants such as dust, odors, and bacteria from the external environment. Therefore, when the air introduced from the refrigerator compartment 110 comes into direct contact with food, the impact on the hygiene and safety of the food is small, which is beneficial to maintaining the quality of the food during the defrosting process.

[0037] Meanwhile, although the air temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 110 is higher than the temperature of the frozen food, the overall temperature remains within a relatively low range, which makes the thawing process gentle. During thawing, the food will not experience problems such as excessively rapid surface warming, increased juice loss, or rapid microbial growth due to excessively high temperatures.

[0038] Reference Figure 5As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the two opposite side walls of the first drawer 210 are respectively provided with a plurality of first air holes 212. It can be understood that airflow enters the inner cavity simultaneously from both sides of the first drawer 210, forming a flow field distribution that converges from both sides to the center within the inner cavity. Since there are multiple first air holes 212 on both sides as air inlets, the airflow distribution within the inner cavity of the first drawer 210 is more uniform, preventing the airflow from concentrating at a single location. Instead, it enters simultaneously at multiple locations along the length of the side walls, expanding the area of ​​airflow covering the food surface. By providing multiple first air holes 212 on the two opposite side walls, the total amount of airflow entering the inner cavity increases, and the spatial distribution of the airflow within the inner cavity becomes more balanced, thereby improving the uniformity of airflow and making the defrosting degree of different parts of the food more consistent.

[0039] Reference Figure 5 As shown, in this embodiment of the invention, the fan 310 is located at the rear of the first drawer 210, and a plurality of first air holes 212 are respectively provided on the left and right side walls of the first drawer 210, with the plurality of first air holes 212 arranged in a direction away from the fan 310. The fan 310 is installed at the rear of the first drawer 210. Airflow from the air inlet channel 140 is sent into the defrosting air duct 240 via the fan 310, first reaching the rear region of the bottom wall of the first drawer 210, and then flowing forward along the outer side of the bottom wall, exchanging heat with the bottom wall during the flow. While the airflow flows from back to front along the outer side of the bottom wall, it needs to enter the inner cavity of the first drawer 210 through the first air holes 212.

[0040] Multiple first air vents 212 are respectively located on the left and right side walls of the first drawer 210, and arranged in a direction away from the fan 310, that is, the multiple first air vents 212 are arranged sequentially on the left and right side walls in a back-to-forward direction. This arrangement allows the airflow to pass through the positions of each first air vent 212 in sequence as it flows from back to front along the bottom wall within the defrosting air duct 240. On the one hand, the airflow continuously exchanges heat with the bottom wall on the outer side, heating the bottom of the food; on the other hand, it enters the inner cavity through each first air vent 212, exchanging heat with the upper surface and sides of the food.

[0041] Understandably, as the airflow moves from rear to front, a portion of the airflow enters the inner cavity through each first air vent 212, while the remaining airflow continues forward to the next first air vent 212. This arrangement allows the heat exchange process on the outer side of the bottom wall and the inner side of the inner cavity to occur simultaneously. During the same travel distance, the airflow heats both the bottom of the food and the upper part of the food as it enters the inner cavity from the side wall. This temporal and spatial synchronicity between bottom and inner cavity heat exchange facilitates a synchronized temperature rise on both the top and bottom sides of the food, ensuring that the heat exchange process inside and at the bottom of the first drawer 210 is synchronized, further improving the uniformity of defrosting.

[0042] In actual use of the Refrigerator 1000, users sometimes need to store different types or batches of food simultaneously. If only one drawer is provided, different foods can easily come into contact with each other, and food categorization and storage are inconvenient. Therefore, referring to... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the drawer assembly 200 further includes a second drawer 220, which is disposed inside the first drawer 210, and the bottom wall of the second drawer 220 and the bottom wall of the first drawer 210 are spaced apart.

[0043] The first drawer 210 and the second drawer 220 form a two-tiered storage space, allowing users to place different types of food in the first drawer 210 and the second drawer 220 respectively, achieving layered food storage. The two drawers increase the storage capacity of the drawer assembly 200, enabling it to hold more food within the same mounting cavity 120.

[0044] It is understood that the bottom wall of the second drawer 220 and the bottom wall of the first drawer 210 are spaced apart, meaning there is a certain gap between them and they are not directly in contact. This gap allows the airflow entering the interior of the first drawer 210 from the first vent 212 to flow below the bottom wall of the second drawer 220, exchanging heat with it. As the airflow flows below the bottom wall of the second drawer 220, heat is conducted through the bottom wall to the lower surface of the food inside the second drawer 220, heating the bottom of the food. Therefore, the wraparound air intake defrosting scheme of this embodiment is applicable not only to single-layer drawer structures but also to this two-layer drawer scheme, allowing food in both the first drawer 210 and the second drawer 220 to defrost.

[0045] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the side wall of the second drawer 220 is provided with a second air hole 222, and the airflow in the first drawer 210 can enter the inner cavity of the second drawer 220 through the second air hole 222. For example, the second air hole 222 is provided on the front side wall of the second drawer 220 and there are multiple second air holes 222, which are arranged at intervals along the left and right direction of the box body 100. The box body 100 is provided with a return air vent, which is located on the rear side of the second drawer 220 along the front and rear direction of the box body 100. The return air vent connects the inner cavity of the second drawer 220 and the refrigerator compartment 110, which is conducive to the airflow in the mounting cavity 120 flowing back to the refrigerator compartment 110 through the return air vent. The airflow in the refrigerator compartment 110 then enters the defrosting air duct 240 through the air inlet channel 140 to complete the circulation. It should be noted that the return air vent is not shown in the figure. The return air vent being located at the rear of the second drawer 220 can be understood as the return air vent being directly behind the second drawer 220, meaning that on the projection plane in the front-to-back direction, the projection of the second drawer 220 completely or partially covers the projection of the return air vent. In other embodiments, the return air vent may not be directly behind the second drawer 220; instead, on the projection plane in the front-to-back direction, the second drawer 220 and the return air vent may be spaced apart. The return air vent connects to the inner cavity of the second drawer 220, which can be a direct or indirect connection. For example, the upper opening of the second drawer 220 may not be completely closed but may connect to the mounting cavity 120, which in turn connects to the return air vent, meaning the return air vent can indirectly connect to the inner cavity of the second drawer 220.

[0046] Understandably, the airflow entering the inner cavity of the first drawer 210 through the first vent 212 can flow below the bottom wall of the second drawer 220 and exchange heat with the bottom wall, heating the bottom of the food inside the second drawer 220. Then, another portion of the airflow inside the first drawer 210 enters the inner cavity of the second drawer 220 through the second vent 222 on the side wall of the second drawer 220. The airflow entering the inner cavity of the second drawer 220 directly contacts the upper surface and sides of the food inside the second drawer 220, exchanging heat.

[0047] Since the second air vent 222 is located on the front side of the second drawer 220 and the return air vent is located on the rear side of the second drawer 220, the airflow can flow from front to back after entering the second air vent 222, pass through the inner cavity of the second drawer 220 and exit from the top opening of the second drawer 220, and finally enter the rear return air vent.

[0048] Using the above scheme, the lower surface of the food in the second drawer 220 receives heat through heat conduction from the bottom wall of the second drawer 220, while the upper surface and sides of the food receive heat directly from the airflow entering the inner cavity through the second air vent 222. All parts of the food participate in the heat exchange process, improving the thawing uniformity and thawing efficiency of the food in the second drawer 220.

[0049] Reference Figure 5As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall of the second drawer 220 is constructed as a second heat exchange plate 221. The second heat exchange plate 221 is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum alloy, copper, or stainless steel, or a non-metallic material with high thermal conductivity. With the bottom wall constructed as the second heat exchange plate 221, when the airflow flows below the second heat exchange plate 221, heat can pass through the second heat exchange plate 221 at a faster rate and be transferred to the lower surface of the food. The temperature of the lower surface of the food rises more quickly, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency at the bottom of the food in the second drawer 220 and shortening the defrosting time. The second heat exchange plate 221 cooperates with the first heat exchange plate 211 on the bottom wall of the first drawer 210, so that the bottom walls of both drawers in the drawer assembly 200 have high thermal conductivity, improving the overall defrosting efficiency.

[0050] Reference Figure 7 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the fan assembly 300 further includes a heating element 320, which is located on the air outlet side or air inlet side of the fan 310. When the heating element 320 is located on the air outlet side of the fan 310, after the fan 310 sends out the airflow, the airflow is heated by passing through the heating element 320 before entering the defrosting air duct 240. When the heating element 320 is located on the air inlet side of the fan 310, the airflow is heated by passing through the heating element 320 before being drawn into the fan 310, and then sent into the defrosting air duct 240 with the fan 310. Regardless of whether the heating element 320 is located on the air outlet side or the air inlet side, its function is to heat the airflow passing through it, thereby increasing the temperature of the airflow entering the defrosting air duct 240. After the airflow temperature increases, the temperature difference between the airflow and the food increases, the heat exchange rate between the airflow and the food is improved, the temperature recovery of various parts of the food is accelerated, the overall defrosting time is shortened, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0051] The heating element 320 can be in the form of a resistance heating element, which heats the airflow by energizing it. In actual use, the user can choose whether to turn on the heating element 320 as needed. When the user selects the normal defrost mode, the fan 310 works while the heating element 320 is not energized. The airflow exchanges heat with the food using its own temperature, resulting in a gentle defrost process. When the user selects the accelerated defrost mode, the fan 310 and the heating element 320 work simultaneously. The airflow temperature rises after passing through the heating element 320, accelerating the defrost rate and shortening the defrost time to meet the user's immediate cooking needs. The operating status of the heating element 320 can be controlled by a timed heating temperature control method, that is, the power is turned on and off according to a preset time interval and temperature threshold to prevent the airflow temperature from being too high and causing the food surface to heat up too quickly.

[0052] Reference Figure 10As shown, in an embodiment of the present invention, the fan assembly 300 further includes a bracket 330 connected to the housing 100. The housing 100 also includes a baffle 180 and a back plate 170, forming an air inlet channel 140 between the baffle 180 and the back plate 170. The baffle 180 is located on the side of the back plate 170 facing the drawer assembly 200, and the bracket 330 can be fixedly connected to the baffle 180. The bracket 330 has an air outlet 331 communicating with the outlet end of the air inlet channel 140. The fan 310 is installed inside the air outlet 331, and the heating element 320 is connected to the bracket 330 and covers the air outlet 331.

[0053] Understandably, the fan 310 is installed inside the air outlet 331. When the fan 310 is working, it generates airflow driving force at the air outlet 331, continuously sending the airflow in the air inlet channel 140 into the defrosting air duct 240. The heating element 320 is connected to the bracket 330 and covers the air outlet 331. The heating element 320 covers the outside of the air outlet 331, so that the airflow sent by the fan 310 is heated by the heating element 320 after passing through the air outlet 331, and then enters the defrosting air duct 240.

[0054] The bracket 330 integrates the fan 310 and the heating element 320 into a single structure. During installation, the fan 310 is first inserted into the air outlet 331 of the bracket 330, then the heating element 320 is connected to the bracket 330 to cover the air outlet 331, and finally the bracket 330 is installed and fixed to the housing 100. This integrated installation method ensures that the relative position between the fan 310 and the heating element 320 is determined by the structure of the bracket 330. During assembly, simply fixing the bracket 330 to the housing 100 completes the positioning of the two components, reducing installation steps.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 11 As shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet 100 is further provided with a freezing air duct 150 and a freezing chamber 130. The two ends of the freezing air duct 150 are respectively connected to the freezing chamber 130 and the drawer assembly 200. For example, the freezing air duct 150 has a first air inlet 151 and a second air inlet 152. The first air inlet 151 and the second air inlet 152 are respectively connected to the first drawer 210 and the second drawer 220 of the drawer assembly 200 to improve the uniformity of air intake. The freezing air duct 150 is provided with a damper for opening or closing the freezing air duct 150. The freezing air duct 150 can guide the cold air from the freezing chamber 130 to the drawer assembly 200.

[0056] In real-world applications, users' food storage needs extend beyond thawing to include short-term preservation of foods like meat. Microcrystal preservation is a method that precisely controls food temperature near its freezing point (around -3°C). At this temperature, the moisture inside the food forms tiny ice crystals instead of large ice crystals. These large ice crystals prevent the food's cellular structure from being punctured, thus preserving the food's original texture and nutritional components and extending the shelf life of foods like meat.

[0057] Therefore, in this embodiment, a freezing air duct 150 is added to the cabinet 100, utilizing the existing freezer compartment 130 of the refrigerator 1000. The freezer compartment 130 is the cavity in the refrigerator 1000 used for freezing food, and its internal temperature is usually maintained below -18°C. The two ends of the freezing air duct 150 are connected to the freezer compartment 130 and the drawer assembly 200, respectively, and a damper is provided inside the freezing air duct 150. The damper is used to control the opening and closing state of the freezing air duct 150. When the damper is open, the freezing air duct 150 is in the open state, and the cold air in the freezer compartment 130 can be guided through the freezing air duct 150 to the mounting cavity 120 where the drawer assembly 200 is located, cooling the food in the drawer assembly 200. When the damper is closed, the freezing air duct 150 is in the closed state, and the cold air in the freezer compartment 130 will not enter the space where the drawer assembly 200 is located.

[0058] Through the design of the freezer air duct 150 and the air door, the refrigerator 1000 can switch between defrost mode and microcrystal preservation mode. When the user selects microcrystal preservation mode, the air door opens, and the cold air from the freezer compartment 130 is guided through the freezer air duct 150 to the drawer assembly 200, lowering the temperature inside the drawer assembly 200 and maintaining it within the microcrystal preservation temperature range of approximately -3℃. The fan assembly 300 does not operate, and food is stored under microcrystal preservation at this temperature, maintaining its freshness and extending its shelf life. When the user selects defrost mode, the air door closes, and the cold air from the freezer compartment 130 no longer enters the space where the drawer assembly 200 is located. The fan assembly 300 starts working, guiding the warmer airflow in the air intake channel 140 to the defrost air duct 240, where food is defrosted through a dual heat exchange method of bottom wall heat conduction and direct contact between the airflow and the interior cavity. The user can also select an accelerated defrost mode, which activates the heating element 320 while the fan assembly 300 is operating, further increasing the defrost rate.

[0059] Through the above design, the same drawer component 200 can realize two functions, microcrystalline preservation and defrosting, in different modes. Users can select the corresponding working mode through the control panel of the refrigerator 1000 or the touch button in the drawer according to their actual needs, so as to meet the storage and defrosting needs in different usage scenarios.

[0060] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device, characterized in that, include: The enclosure is equipped with an installation cavity and an air inlet channel; A drawer assembly, disposed within the mounting cavity and configured to be removable from the mounting cavity, includes a first drawer and a housing. The first drawer is disposed within a cavity enclosed by the housing. A defrosting air duct is formed between the outer wall of the first drawer and the inner wall of the housing, and the defrosting air duct communicates with the air inlet channel. A first air hole is provided on the side wall of the first drawer, and the inner cavity of the first drawer communicates with the defrosting air duct through the first air hole. A fan assembly is connected to the housing. The fan assembly includes a fan located in the air inlet channel. The fan assembly is used to guide airflow from the air inlet channel to the defrosting air duct and flow through the bottom wall of the first drawer. The airflow in the defrosting air duct can enter the inner cavity of the first drawer through the first air hole.

2. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the first drawer is constructed as a first heat exchange plate.

3. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first heat exchange plate is made of a thermally conductive metal material.

4. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The enclosure is also equipped with a refrigerator compartment. One end of the air inlet channel is connected to the refrigerator compartment, and the other end of the air inlet channel is connected to the defrosting air duct.

5. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first drawer has multiple first air vents on its two opposite side walls.

6. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The fan is located at the rear of the first drawer, and a plurality of first air holes are respectively provided on the left and right side walls of the first drawer, with the plurality of first air holes arranged in a direction away from the fan.

7. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drawer assembly further includes a second drawer, which is disposed inside the first drawer, and the bottom wall of the second drawer and the bottom wall of the first drawer are spaced apart.

8. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The side wall of the second drawer is provided with a second air vent, through which the airflow in the first drawer can enter the inner cavity of the second drawer.

9. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 8, characterized in that: The cabinet is also provided with a refrigerator compartment. The front side wall of the second drawer is provided with a plurality of second air holes. The cabinet is provided with a return air vent. Along the front-rear direction of the cabinet, the return air vent is located on the rear side of the second drawer. The return air vent connects the inner cavity of the second drawer and the refrigerator compartment.

10. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom wall of the second drawer is constructed as a second heat exchange plate.

11. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fan assembly also includes a heating element located on the air outlet side or air inlet side of the fan.

12. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 11, characterized in that: The fan assembly also includes a bracket connected to the housing. The bracket has an air outlet that communicates with the outlet end of the air inlet channel. The fan is installed inside the air outlet, and the heating element is connected to the bracket and covers the air outlet.

13. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cabinet is also provided with a freezing air duct and a freezing compartment. The two ends of the freezing air duct are respectively connected to the freezing compartment and the drawer assembly. The freezing air duct is provided with an air damper for opening or closing the freezing air duct. The freezing air duct is configured to guide the cold air from the freezing compartment to the drawer assembly.

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