A refrigerator

Abstract

This invention discloses a refrigerator, relating to the field of household appliance technology. It includes a first housing and a second housing. A first air duct is formed between the first housing and the air outlet of a fan. The second housing is disposed at the rear of the first and second compartments, and a second air duct is formed between the second housing and the inner liner, as well as between the second housing and the inner liner and the first housing, communicating with the first air duct. The second air duct has a first airflow channel and a second airflow channel. The first airflow channel extends upward and is equipped with a first damper; the second airflow channel extends downward and is equipped with a second damper. By providing the first and second dampers, this refrigerator can control the opening and closing of the first and second airflow channels respectively, achieving independent airflow to the first and second compartments. Furthermore, the first and second airflow channels make efficient use of the relatively small space at the rear of the second compartment, improving the utilization rate of the refrigerator's internal space.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Refrigerators are a common household appliance. For user convenience, refrigerators are typically equipped with a freezer compartment to freeze food and maintain its freshness. Because temperature fluctuations accelerate protein degradation and promote microbial growth, temperature fluctuations in the freezer directly affect the shelf life of frozen meat. They can also cause ice cream to melt and be refrozen, thus affecting its taste and texture.

[0003] A frost-free refrigerator is a type of refrigerator that uses air-cooling technology. It achieves cooling by circulating cold air through a fan, avoiding the problems of high humidity and ice buildup inside traditional refrigerators caused by direct frost formation on the cooling pipes. However, during defrosting of the evaporator in a frost-free refrigerator, the heat generated can easily be conducted to the freezer compartment via the fan, causing significant temperature fluctuations and resulting in problems such as melting ice cream and frost buildup on food surfaces.

[0004] Currently, to address this issue, some frost-free refrigerators have added a shielding device to the fan. For example, Chinese patents with publication numbers CN106247741A, CN106642974A, CN106766532A, and CN108362066A employ this method. A fan shroud is added around the centrifugal fan, and this shroud rises to the outer periphery of the centrifugal fan during defrosting of the evaporator, thus cutting off the airflow path and preventing heat generated during evaporator defrosting from being conducted to the freezer compartment via the fan. However, this type of shielding device has a relatively complex structure and requires lifting space. This inevitably causes the air duct to protrude into the freezer compartment, occupying some space. This not only affects the overall aesthetics of the refrigerator but also reduces the freezer compartment's volume ratio. Moreover, this type of shielding device can only shield centrifugal fans. For axial fans, since the airflow direction of axial fans is axial inflow and axial outflow, the existing shielding devices cannot achieve the shielding function. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator that solves the problem of temperature fluctuations in the freezer compartment caused by the hot air generated during evaporator defrosting in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] A refrigerator, comprising:

[0008] The container liner has at least a first compartment and a second compartment;

[0009] An evaporator is used to cool the airflow supplied to the first and second chambers;

[0010] A fan, located at the rear of the first or second compartment, has an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet is used to introduce airflow cooled by the evaporator, and the air outlet is used to output the airflow introduced into the fan; and,

[0011] The first housing is located on the outside of the air outlet, and a first air duct is formed between the first housing and the air outlet;

[0012] The second shell is disposed at the rear side of the first and second compartments to form the rear sidewalls of the first and second compartments. A second air duct is formed between the second shell and the inner liner, and between the second shell and the inner liner and the first shell. The second air duct is connected to the first air duct. The second air duct has a first airflow channel and a second airflow channel. The first airflow channel extends upward to connect to the first compartment, and the second airflow channel extends downward to connect to the second compartment.

[0013] The first damper is installed inside the first airflow channel to open and close the first airflow channel;

[0014] The second damper is installed inside the second airflow channel to open and close the second airflow channel.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following advantages: By using the first damper and the second damper to control the opening and closing of the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel respectively, independent air supply control of the first compartment and the second compartment can be achieved. Furthermore, when the evaporator is defrosting, the first damper and the second damper close the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel, which can block the hot air generated by the evaporator defrosting from entering the first compartment and the second compartment, thus preventing temperature fluctuations in the first compartment and the second compartment. In addition, the first airflow channel extends upward through the partition block, which allows the airflow output from the first air duct to enter the first airflow channel in the same direction. The first airflow channel and the second airflow channel extend in opposite directions, which can make reasonable use of the relatively narrow space at the rear of the second compartment, allowing the second air duct to be arranged in a relatively narrow space, thereby improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel are arranged in a front-to-back direction; or,

[0017] The first and second airflow channels are arranged in a left-right direction.

[0018] The above technical solution has the following advantages: arranging the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel in the front-to-back direction, or arranging them in the left-to-right direction, can effectively utilize the rear space of the second housing, making the airflow channel arrangement more reasonable.

[0019] In some implementations, the first damper and the second damper are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0020] The above technical solution has the following advantages: the first and second air doors are arranged adjacent to each other, which is beneficial to the wiring of the two air doors and improves the utilization rate of the refrigerator space.

[0021] In some embodiments, the first chamber is positioned above the second chamber, the fan is arranged at the rear of the second chamber, and the outlet of the first air duct faces upwards.

[0022] The second housing is connected to a partition block, which is located at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct and extends toward the outlet of the first air duct to separate the internal partition of the second air duct, forming a first airflow channel and a second airflow channel.

[0023] The above technical solution has the following advantages: the outlet of the first air duct is set upward, which enables the airflow output by the fan to flow in the first chamber in the forward direction. Furthermore, by setting a partition block at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct, the airflow output by the first air duct can be diverted in the forward direction to the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel, thus avoiding a significant loss of the kinetic energy of the airflow.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first housing is a volute structure, and the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct is located between the first compartment and the second compartment in the height direction of the refrigerator.

[0025] The above technical solution has the following advantages: the first housing adopts a volute structure, which can increase the flow velocity and kinetic energy of the airflow output through the first air duct, so that the airflow output through the first air duct can flow to the first chamber. Furthermore, the connection between the second air duct and the first air duct is located between the first chamber and the second chamber, which can bring the fan and the first air duct closer to the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel, thereby reducing the kinetic energy loss of the airflow before entering the second air duct and ensuring that the airflow can reach the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second housing is spaced apart from the first housing, and a downwardly extending first channel is formed between the second housing and the first housing.

[0027] A second channel extending forward is formed between the second housing and the partition block. The second channel communicates with the first channel to form a second airflow channel.

[0028] The above technical solution has the following advantages: by using the second channel and the first channel to form a second airflow channel, the space behind the second shell can be used more rationally, allowing the airflow to turn in a relatively small space and achieve air supply to the second chamber.

[0029] In some embodiments, the second housing is provided with a rearwardly extending blocking portion, which is located above the first housing; a partition block is connected to the blocking portion and forms a second channel with the blocking portion.

[0030] The above technical solution has the following advantages: by using the partition block to extend to the rear, the space on the rear side of the second shell can be used reasonably, improving the space utilization rate of the refrigerator. Furthermore, by using the partition block and the partition block to form a second channel, it is beneficial for the second channel to connect with the first channel along the second shell, forming a second airflow channel.

[0031] In some embodiments, the first air damper and the second air damper are located at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct, and are situated between the first compartment and the second compartment.

[0032] The above technical solution has the following advantages: the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct is the area with the fastest airflow velocity in the second air duct. The first air damper and the second air damper are set at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct, which is conducive to the distribution of airflow into the second air duct by the first air damper and the second air damper, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0033] In some embodiments, there are multiple first chambers, and all of the multiple first chambers are connected to a first airflow channel; and / or,

[0034] There are multiple second chambers, and all of them are connected to the second airflow channel.

[0035] The above technical solution has the following advantages: multiple first chambers are connected to a first airflow channel, and multiple second chambers are connected to a second airflow channel, which is beneficial for controlling the temperature of multiple first chambers and multiple second chambers.

[0036] The present invention also provides a refrigerator, comprising:

[0037] The container has a first compartment and a second compartment, with the first compartment located above the second compartment;

[0038] A refrigeration system is installed inside the cabinet, and the refrigeration system includes an evaporator located behind the second compartment, and a volute is provided in front of the evaporator. The volute has a volute air inlet facing the evaporator and a vertically upward volute air outlet.

[0039] A fan is housed within the volute casing, thus forming a first air duct between itself and the volute casing. The fan's air inlet side faces the volute casing's air inlet to draw air from the evaporator.

[0040] The air outlet of the volute is branched, connecting the air inlet of the first airflow channel and the air inlet of the second airflow channel.

[0041] The first airflow channel is controlled to open and close by the first damper, and the first airflow channel extends upward from the air inlet end of the first airflow channel to the first room;

[0042] The second airflow channel is controlled to open and close by the second damper, and the second airflow channel extends downward from the air inlet end of the second airflow channel to the rear of the second chamber, and enters the second chamber from multiple air outlets, so that the second airflow channel, volute, and evaporator are arranged in the following order from rear to rear in the second chamber.

[0043] The above technical solution has the following advantages: By using the first damper and the second damper to control the opening and closing of the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel respectively, it is possible to achieve independent air supply control for the first and second compartments. Furthermore, when the evaporator is defrosting, the first damper and the second damper close the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel, which can block the hot air generated by the evaporator defrosting from entering the first and second compartments and causing temperature fluctuations in the first and second compartments. In addition, the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel extend in opposite directions, which can make reasonable use of the relatively narrow space at the rear of the second compartment, allowing the second air duct to be arranged in a relatively narrow space, thereby improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator.

[0044] Compared with the prior art, the refrigerator of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0045] This refrigerator, by incorporating a first air damper and a second air damper, can independently control the opening and closing of the first and second airflow channels, enabling independent airflow to the first and second compartments. Furthermore, during evaporator defrosting, the refrigerator can close the first and second airflow channels via the first and second air dampers, thus preventing the hot air generated during evaporator defrosting from entering the first and second compartments and causing temperature fluctuations. Moreover, the first airflow channel extends upwards via a partition, allowing the airflow output from the first duct to enter it in a forward direction. The first and second airflow channels extend in opposite directions, making efficient use of the relatively narrow space at the rear of the second compartment, allowing the second airflow channel to be arranged within a confined space and improving the utilization rate of the refrigerator's internal space.

[0046] Furthermore, by improving the air duct structure, this refrigerator positions the fan between or close to the first and second compartments, and adopts a volute structure for the first casing to appropriately reduce the airflow velocity, converting the kinetic energy of the airflow into static pressure energy. This ensures that all the airflow output by the fan enters the second air duct through the first air duct, and the overall airflow of the fan can meet the airflow requirements of both the first and second compartments. Attached Figure Description

[0047] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the box body in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the box liner in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the structure shown;

[0051] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of A in the middle;

[0052] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the airflow path along the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0053] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the cooperation between the fan and the first housing in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0054] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the first damper and the second damper in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0055] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of the evaporator, volute, and second chamber in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the volute in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] In the diagram, 100 is the refrigerator; 1 is the cabinet; 1a is the cabinet shell; 1b is the cabinet liner; 2 is the loading / unloading port; 3 is the door; 4 is the first compartment; 5 is the second compartment; 6 is the evaporator; 7 is the fan; 7a is the air inlet; 7b is the air outlet; 8 is the first housing; 9 is the first air duct; 10 is the second housing; 10a is the obstruction part; 11 is the second air duct; 11a is the first airflow channel; 11b is the second airflow channel; 110b is the first channel; 111b is the second channel; 12 is the first air damper; 13 is the second air damper; 14 is the evaporator chamber; 15 is the partition block; 16 is the air outlet of the second compartment; 17 is the air inlet of the volute; 18 is the air outlet of the volute. Detailed Implementation

[0058] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0059] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other element. The terms "mounted," "connected," and "attached" should be interpreted broadly, for example, referring to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or a connection within two elements or an interaction between two elements. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0060] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "height," "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer" used in this invention to indicate orientation or positional relationships are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0061] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0062] See Figure 1-2As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator 100, including a cabinet 1 and a door 3. The cabinet 1 has a take-out opening 2. The door 3 is connected to the cabinet 1 and can move relative to the cabinet 1 to open and close the take-out opening 2.

[0063] The cabinet 1 is generally a rectangular frame structure, including a shell 1a and a liner 1b. The liner 1b is located inside the shell 1a, and a foamed space (not shown in the figure) is formed between the liner 1b and the shell 1a. The foamed space is used to install other components of the refrigerator 100 and to form a foamed insulation layer. The shell 1a provides protection and support for the liner 1b. A refrigeration compartment is formed inside the liner 1b for storing food. An access port 2 is located on one side of the refrigeration compartment for easy access to items inside. A door 3 is rotatably connected to the shell 1a of the cabinet 1; for example, the door 3 and the shell 1a can be rotatably connected or slidably connected.

[0064] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 100 further includes a refrigeration system (not shown) and an air supply system (not shown), which are electrically connected to a power supply component. The power supply component is used to supply power to the various components of the refrigeration system and the air supply system, thereby ensuring the normal operation of the refrigeration system and the air supply system.

[0065] The refrigeration system is installed inside the cabinet 1 and is used to supply cold air to the refrigeration compartment inside the cabinet 1b. A refrigeration system typically refers to a closed system composed of components such as a compressor, evaporator 6, condenser, dryer filter, return pipe, and throttling device, as well as refrigerant. Each component is distributed in different positions within the cabinet 1 according to its structural characteristics to meet its corresponding functional requirements. The working process of the refrigeration system mainly includes compression, condensation, throttling, and evaporation. The compression process is as follows: After the power cord of the refrigerator 100 is plugged in, with the thermostat contacts closed, the compressor starts working. Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant from the evaporator 6 is drawn into the compressor and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas before being discharged into the condenser. The condensation process is as follows: The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas exchanges heat with the external environment through the condenser, its temperature decreases, and it is gradually cooled into room-temperature, high-pressure saturated refrigerant vapor, and then further cooled into saturated refrigerant liquid. The throttling process is as follows: The condensed saturated liquid refrigerant is filtered through a dryer to remove moisture and impurities before flowing into the throttling device. The device reduces pressure and transforms the refrigerant into low-pressure, room-temperature wet vapor. The evaporation process: This low-pressure, room-temperature wet vapor enters the evaporator 6, where it absorbs heat and vaporizes, lowering the temperature of the evaporator 6 and its surroundings, thus achieving refrigeration. This process also transforms the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. The refrigerant exiting the evaporator 6 returns to the compressor, repeating the above process. Through the change in the refrigerant's state, energy is converted, transferring heat from inside the refrigerator 100 to the outside air, thereby achieving the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator 100.

[0066] An air supply system is installed inside the housing 1 to provide power for the flow of cold air. The air supply system generally includes a fan 7 and an air supply duct defined within the housing 1. In some embodiments, the air inlet of the air supply duct is located close to the fan 7, and the air outlet of the air supply duct is located away from the fan 7. In other embodiments, the air outlet of the air supply duct is located close to the fan 7, and the air inlet of the air supply duct is located away from the fan 7. An air duct cavity is also defined within the housing 1. The air duct cavity is connected to the air supply duct and the refrigeration chamber inside the housing liner 1b, so that the air supply duct is connected to the refrigeration chamber through the air duct cavity. It should be noted that the housing liner 1b has an air outlet 7b, which is used to connect the air duct cavity and the refrigeration chamber. The cold air generated by the refrigeration system is drawn into the air duct cavity by the operation of the fan 7, and flows to the refrigeration chamber through the air outlet 7b to cool the refrigeration chamber. It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the air outlet 7b is located on the side wall opposite to the refrigeration compartment 1b and the refrigeration compartment 2 or on the side wall adjacent to the refrigeration compartment 1b and the refrigeration compartment 2. It should also be noted that the refrigeration system and the air supply system are common knowledge in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0067] See Figure 1-10 As shown, in this embodiment, the side of the refrigerator 100 facing the user when in use is called the front side, and the opposite side is called the rear side. The top and bottom sides of the refrigerator 100 during normal operation are used to distinguish between upper and lower. The left and right sides of the refrigerator 100 when the user faces it are used to distinguish between left and right. The refrigerator 100 has two refrigeration compartments inside its liner 1b, namely the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. In this embodiment, the first compartment 4 is the refrigerator compartment, and the second compartment 5 is the freezer compartment. The evaporator 6 is located at the rear of the liner 1b and is used to cool the airflow supplied to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. It should be noted that the refrigerator 100 in this embodiment is a single-system refrigerator 100, that is, the refrigerator 100 in this embodiment has only one evaporator 6.

[0068] The refrigerator 100 of this embodiment is equipped with an air supply system inside the cabinet 1. The fan 7 of the air supply system has an air inlet 7a and an air outlet 7b. The air inlet 7a is used to introduce airflow cooled by the evaporator 6, and the air outlet 7b is used to output the airflow introduced into the fan 7. By operating the fan 7, the cold air at the evaporator 6 is drawn in by the fan 7 and delivered to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 through the air outlet 7b.

[0069] For the refrigerator 100 of this embodiment, the fan 7 can be either a centrifugal fan 7 or an axial fan 7, and the type of fan 7 can be determined according to the performance of the refrigerator 100. The following description will continue with an embodiment where the fan 7 is a centrifugal fan 7.

[0070] See Figure 4-7As shown, a first housing 8 is provided on the outside of the air outlet 7b of the fan 7. The first housing 8 is spaced apart from the fan 7 and fixed relative to the fan 7, thereby forming a first air duct 9 between the first housing 8 and the air outlet 7b. Under the constraint of the first housing 8, when the cold air drawn in by the fan 7 is output through the air outlet 7b, it will all enter the first air duct 9 and flow along the first air duct 9.

[0071] A second shell 10 is provided at the rear of the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, forming the rear sidewalls of the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5. A second air duct 11 is formed between the second shell 10 and the inner chamber 1b, and between the second shell 10 and the inner chamber 1b and the first shell 8. The second air duct 11 communicates with the first air duct 9, and the interior of the second air duct 11 has a first airflow channel 11a and a second airflow channel 11b. The first airflow channel 11a communicates with the first chamber 4, and the second airflow channel 11b communicates with the second chamber 5.

[0072] It should be noted that the second air duct 11 extends to the area where the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 are located, while the first air duct 9, as the casing of the fan 7, is usually arranged only around the fan 7. That is, the length of the first air duct 9 is usually less than the length of the second air duct 11. Therefore, in the refrigerator 100 of this embodiment, the structure of the second air duct 11 will be somewhat different in different areas. For example, in the area where the fan 7 is located, the second air duct 11 is formed by the second shell 10, the first shell 8 and the inner liner 1b, while outside the area where the fan 7 is located, the second air duct 11 is formed by the second shell 10 and the inner liner 1b.

[0073] See Figure 4-7 As shown, a first damper 12 is provided in the first airflow channel 11a to open and close the first airflow channel 11a. A second damper 13 is provided in the second airflow channel 11b to open and close the second airflow channel 11b. It can be understood that by controlling the operation of the first damper 12 and the second damper 13, the refrigerator 100 of this embodiment can achieve independent air supply control of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. Furthermore, when the evaporator 6 of this refrigerator 100 is defrosting, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 can respectively close the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b, thereby blocking the hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 from entering the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, thus preventing the hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 from entering the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 and causing temperature fluctuations in the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5.

[0074] It should be noted that after configuring the first damper 12 and the second damper 13, the refrigerator 100 forms three airflow paths: a first air duct 9, a first airflow channel 11a, and a second airflow channel 11b. In the operation of the refrigerator 100, these three airflow paths cooperate to achieve temperature control of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. (See reference...) Figure 4-8 As shown, as an example of this embodiment, the refrigerator 100 can perform the following working process:

[0075] After the refrigerator 100 is powered on, it first monitors the status of the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 to determine whether they are open. If the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are closed, the refrigerator controls the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 to open, ensuring that both the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are in the air supply state. Therefore, after the refrigerator 100 is powered on, it usually performs a reset action on the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 to ensure that both the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are open.

[0076] Temperature sensors are typically installed in the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 to collect the temperature inside them. Based on the temperatures in the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, the refrigerator 100 determines the appropriate airflow scheme to be implemented.

[0077] If neither the first compartment 4 nor the second compartment 5 reaches the preset temperature, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are opened, and the fan 7 is driven to operate. The refrigerator 100 executes the cooling mode, and the fan 7 delivers the cold air from the evaporator 6 to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, so that the temperature of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 is reduced to the preset temperature.

[0078] If the first compartment 4 does not reach the preset temperature, the first damper 12 is opened and the second damper 13 is closed, and the fan 7 is driven to operate. The refrigerator 100 executes the cooling mode, and the fan 7 delivers the cold air from the evaporator 6 to the first compartment 4, so that the temperature of the first compartment 4 is reduced to the preset temperature.

[0079] If the second compartment 5 does not reach the preset temperature, the second damper 13 is opened and the first damper 12 is closed, and the fan 7 is driven to operate. The refrigerator 100 executes the cooling mode, and the fan 7 delivers the cold air from the evaporator 6 to the second compartment 5, so that the temperature of the second compartment 5 is reduced to the preset temperature.

[0080] When both the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 reach the preset temperature, the system monitors whether the evaporator 6 meets the defrosting conditions. If the evaporator 6 does not meet the defrosting conditions, the current operation ends. If the evaporator 6 meets the defrosting conditions, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are closed, and the defrosting heating wire is activated to defrost the evaporator 6 until the system detects that the evaporator 6 meets the preset conditions for stopping defrosting. At this point, the defrosting heating wire is stopped, and the defrosting of the evaporator 6 ends. Subsequently, the fan 7 is activated, and after the refrigerator 100 operates in cooling mode for a period of time, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are opened again, ending the current operation.

[0081] Clearly, through the cooperation of the first damper 12 and the second damper 13, the refrigerator 100 can independently supply air to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, and independently control the temperature of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. In this way, once one of the first compartment 4 or the second compartment 5 reaches the preset temperature, the refrigerator 100 can close the corresponding damper to stop supplying air to that compartment, thus allowing the fan 7 to supply air only to the other compartment, reducing the operating energy consumption of the fan 7, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the refrigerator 100. Furthermore, through the cooperation of the first damper 12 and the second damper 13... In a coordinated manner, the refrigerator 100 can isolate the hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 outside the first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13 when the evaporator 6 is defrosting. The hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 cannot flow into the first compartment 4 or the second compartment 5. In this way, the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 will not experience large temperature fluctuations when the evaporator 6 is defrosting. This can effectively ensure the freshness of the food inside both compartments and avoid the situation where the refrigerator 100's cooling time is prolonged due to large temperature fluctuations in the first compartment 4 or the second compartment 5, which would lead to an increase in the refrigerator 100's energy consumption.

[0082] It is understandable that, as a single-system refrigerator 100, the internal structural space of the cabinet 1 is relatively compact. To configure a double-layer air duct structure, namely the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b, between the cabinet liner 1b and the cabinet shell 1a, the air duct structure needs to be optimized.

[0083] See Figure 4-7 As shown, as an example of this embodiment, the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are arranged in the front-to-back direction, or the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are arranged in the left-to-right direction.

[0084] The second shell 10 serves as the rear sidewall of the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, and a certain space is reserved between it and the rear sidewall of the inner shell 1b as a space for the arrangement of the air supply duct. When the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are arranged in this space, they can be arranged in a front-to-back or left-to-right manner, which can make full use of this space. In particular, when the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are arranged in a front-to-back direction, they can be aligned with the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 in the left-to-right direction. In this way, when the airflow flows through the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b to the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, the airflow filling the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b can enter the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 more evenly, so as to achieve uniform air supply to the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5.

[0085] It is understandable that the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 are electrically driven, which requires wiring to be arranged inside the refrigerator body 1 so that the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 can be connected to an external power source. To facilitate wiring and improve the utilization of the internal space of the body 1, arranging the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 adjacent to each other is one feasible solution. The structure of the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 can adopt existing damper structures, which will not be described in detail here.

[0086] As another feasible arrangement for the first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13, see [reference needed]. Figure 4-7 As shown, the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 can be located at the connection between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11, and between the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. The connection between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11 is the area with the fastest airflow velocity in the second air duct 11. Positioning the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 at this connection facilitates the distribution of airflow into the second air duct 11, reducing energy consumption of the refrigerator 100. Alternatively, the refrigerator 100 can also employ either of these two schemes, placing the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 at the connection between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11, between the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, and arranging them adjacent to each other.

[0087] It is understandable that the freezer and refrigerator compartments of the refrigerator 100 are typically arranged along the vertical direction. Of course, there is no inherent limitation on the relative positions of the freezer and refrigerator compartments; the freezer compartment can be located above or below the refrigerator compartment. The following description of the refrigerator 100 in this embodiment will continue with the example of the first compartment 4 being located above the second compartment 5.

[0088] See Figure 4-7As shown, as an example of this embodiment, the evaporation chamber 14 is located behind the second chamber 5, the evaporator 6 is installed inside the evaporation chamber 14, and the fan 7 is installed between the evaporation chamber 14 and the second chamber 5, located behind the second chamber 5. It should be noted that the fan 7 in this embodiment is a centrifugal fan 7, and the air outlet 7b of the fan 7 is located on the outer periphery of the fan 7. Therefore, the first housing 8 is wrapped around the outer periphery of the fan 7 to ensure that the airflow output by the fan 7 converges in the first air duct 9.

[0089] Since the fan 7 is arranged behind the second compartment 5, in the refrigerator 100 of this embodiment, the fan 7 is farther away from the first compartment 4 than the second compartment 5. Therefore, the outlet of the first air duct 9 is set upward, so that the airflow output through the first air duct 9 can flow in the same direction to the first compartment 4, avoiding uneven air supply between the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5.

[0090] Of course, when air is supplied to both the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 simultaneously, since the second chamber 5 is closer to the fan 7, the airflow entering the second air duct 11 from the first air duct 9 is more likely to enter the second airflow channel 11b, which can easily lead to uneven airflow between the two chambers. Therefore, refer to... Figure 4-7 As shown, as an example of this embodiment, a partition block 15 may be connected inside the second housing 10. The partition block 15 is disposed at the connection between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11 and extends toward the outlet of the first air duct 9 to divide the interior of the second air duct 11, forming a first airflow channel 11a and a second airflow channel 11b.

[0091] The airflow entering the second airflow duct 11 from the first airflow duct 9 will be blocked by the partition block 15 and enter the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b respectively. According to the distance between the outlet of the first airflow duct 9 and the first compartment 4, and the attenuation of the airflow velocity, the refrigerator 100 can adjust the relative position between the partition block 15 and the outlet of the first airflow duct 9 to make the airflow reaching the first compartment 4 and the airflow reaching the second compartment 5 basically equal, so that the airflow of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5 is uniform.

[0092] It is important to note that after the airflow from fan 7 is collected by the first air duct 9, the airflow from fan 7 only has one channel, the first air duct 9, before reaching the second air duct 11. If the airflow velocity is insufficient, it can easily affect the overall air volume. Therefore, when a centrifugal fan 7 is used, the first housing 8 can adopt an involute-shaped volute structure. This allows the volute profile to appropriately reduce the airflow velocity, converting the kinetic energy of the airflow into static pressure energy, ensuring that the airflow from fan 7 is sufficient to meet the airflow requirements of the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5.

[0093] Of course, the location of the fan 7 will also affect the airflow in the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5. When the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5 are arranged vertically, placing the fan 7 close to the space between them is a feasible solution. Considering that the first housing 8 uses a volute structure, the output port size of the volute structure will not be too long. Therefore, the connection point between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11 will be close to the location of the fan 7. Thus, the connection point between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11 can also be placed between the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, placing the fan 7 in a suitable position.

[0094] It should be noted that the use of a volute structure in the first housing 8 is merely one example of adapting to the centrifugal fan 7. The refrigerator 100 in this embodiment can also operate using an axial fan 7. In this case, the first housing 8 needs to adopt a structure that cooperates with the axial fan 7 to avoid insufficient airflow output by the axial fan 7.

[0095] Understandably, when fan 7 is positioned close to the top of second chamber 5, near the first chamber 4 and the second chamber 5, the airflow from the first duct 9 will flow upwards into the second duct 11, reaching the first chamber 4, while the remaining airflow will flow downwards to reach the second chamber 5. For guidance on airflow direction within the second duct 11, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4-7 As shown in the example of this embodiment, the first airflow channel 11a extends upward to connect to the first compartment 4; the second airflow channel 11b extends downward to connect to the second compartment 5. Thus, airflow along the first airflow channel 11a can enter the first compartment 4 in the forward direction; while airflow along the second airflow channel 11b can reach the second compartment 5. Furthermore, since the fan 7 is closer to the second compartment 5 than the first compartment 4, the outlet of the second airflow channel 11b is arranged in the opposite direction to that of the first airflow duct 9, which can appropriately reduce the gas velocity within the second airflow channel 11b, making the gas distribution between the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b more uniform. Moreover, the fact that the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b extend in opposite directions allows for efficient use of the relatively small space behind the second compartment 5, enabling the second airflow duct 11 to be arranged within a relatively small space, thereby improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator 100.

[0096] For the positional relationship of the integrated fan 7, the first air duct 9, and the second air duct 11, as well as the coordination relationship between the first air duct 9 and the second air duct 11, please refer to [reference needed]. Figure 4-7As shown in Figures 9-10, this embodiment also provides a refrigerator 100, which includes a cabinet 1, a refrigeration system, and a fan 7. The cabinet 1 has a first compartment 4 and a second compartment 5, with the first compartment 4 located above the second compartment 5. The refrigeration system is disposed inside the cabinet 1, and the evaporator 6 of the refrigeration system is located behind the second compartment 5. A volute, i.e., a first housing 8, is disposed in front of the evaporator 6. The volute has a volute air inlet 17 facing the evaporator 6 and a vertically upward volute air outlet 18. The fan 7 is disposed inside the volute, thereby forming a first air duct 9 between the fan 7 and the volute. The air inlet side of the fan 7 faces the volute air inlet 17 to draw air from the evaporator 6.

[0097] Furthermore, the refrigerator 100 has a branch at the volute air outlet 18 that connects to the air inlet of the first airflow channel 11a and the air inlet of the second airflow channel 11b. The first airflow channel 11a is controlled to open and close by the first damper 12, and extends upward from the air inlet of the first airflow channel 11a to the first compartment 4. The second airflow channel 11b is controlled to open and close by the second damper 13, and extends downward from the air inlet of the second airflow channel 11b to the rear of the second compartment 5, and enters the second compartment 5 from multiple second compartment air outlets 16, so that the second airflow channel 11b, the volute (first housing 8), and the evaporator 6 are arranged sequentially from rear to rear in the second compartment 5.

[0098] With the cooperation of the fan 7 and the volute, the airflow output by the fan 7 can be output through the air outlet 18 of the volute to the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b. The opening and closing of the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b are controlled by the first damper 12 and the second damper 13 respectively, realizing independent air supply control for the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. Furthermore, by arranging the second airflow channel 11b on the rear side of the second compartment 5, and making the rear side of the second compartment 5 consist of the second airflow channel 11b, the volute, and the evaporator 6, the refrigerator 100 can make full use of the space on the rear side of the second compartment 5, and the air passage, the fan 7, and the evaporator 6 can be integrated on the rear side of the second compartment 5, improving the internal space utilization rate of the refrigerator 100.

[0099] To ensure that the second airflow channel 11b extends downwards and connects with the first air duct 9, allowing airflow to enter the second airflow channel 11b via the first air duct 9, see [reference needed]. Figure 4-7 As shown, as an example of this embodiment, the second housing 10 is spaced apart from the first housing 8, and a first channel 110b extending downward is formed between the second housing 10 and the first housing 8. Furthermore, a second channel 111b extending forward is formed between the second housing 10 and the partition block 15. The second channel 111b communicates with the first channel 110b to form a second airflow channel 11b.

[0100] It is understandable that the fan 7 is located on the rear side of the second chamber 5, and the second housing 10 forms the rear sidewall of the second chamber 5. Therefore, the fan 7 is also located on the rear side of the second housing 10. Furthermore, the partition block 15 connected to the second housing 10 is positioned opposite to the air outlet 7b of the first air duct 9, which will create a certain distance between the partition block 15 and the rear sidewall of the second chamber 5. Thus, with the cooperation of the second housing 10 and the partition block 15, a second channel 111b extending forward can be formed between them, allowing the airflow output from the first air duct 9 to enter the second channel 111b, and then enter the first channel 110b, flowing to the second chamber 5.

[0101] It should be noted that the fan 7 is typically mounted on a vertically arranged fixed plate, which is positioned between the second housing 10 and the evaporator chamber 14 and usually does not have vents. Therefore, when a first channel 110b is formed between the second housing 10 and the first housing 8, a first channel 110b will also be formed between the second housing 10 and the fixed plate. The first channel 110b connects to the air outlet 7b of the second housing 10, delivering cold air to the second chamber 5.

[0102] The formation of a second channel 111b between the second housing 10 and the partition block 15 can be implemented in various ways. See [reference needed] Figure 4-7 As shown in the example of this embodiment, the second housing 10 is provided with a rearwardly extending blocking portion 10a, which is located above the first housing 8. A partition block 15 is connected to the blocking portion 10a and forms a second channel 111b with the blocking portion 10a. The partition block 15 is arranged on the rearwardly extending blocking portion 10a so that the arrangement of the partition block 15 can be adapted to the structural layout of the cabinet liner 1b, so as to make reasonable use of the space on the rear side of the second housing 10 and improve the space utilization rate inside the refrigerator 100. Furthermore, the second channel 111b formed by the blocking portion 10a and the partition block 15 facilitates the connection between the second channel 111b and the first channel 110b along the second housing 10, forming a second airflow channel 11b.

[0103] In some refrigerators 100, the number of refrigerator compartments and freezer compartments may be multiple, such as in a double-door refrigerator 100. In this type of refrigerator 100, the aforementioned air duct structure, along with the cooperation of the first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13, can be used to achieve airflow to multiple first compartments 4 and multiple second compartments 5. Of course, when there are multiple first compartments 4, the multiple first compartments 4 are connected to the first airflow channel 11a, which facilitates the refrigerator 100's controller to synchronously control the temperature of multiple first compartments 4. Similarly, when there are multiple second compartments 5, the multiple second compartments 5 are connected to the second airflow channel 11b, which is a feasible solution to save control costs.

[0104] In summary, the refrigerator 100 provided in this embodiment of the invention can control the opening and closing of the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b respectively by setting the first air damper 12 and the second airflow channel 13, so as to achieve independent air supply to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. Furthermore, when the evaporator 6 is defrosting, the refrigerator 100 can close the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b through the first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13, thereby blocking the hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 outside the first air damper 12 and the second air damper 13, and preventing the hot air generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 6 from entering the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, causing temperature fluctuations in the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5. Moreover, the first airflow channel 11a extends upward through the partition block 15, allowing the airflow output from the first air duct 9 to enter the first airflow channel 11a in the forward direction; the first airflow channel 11a and the second airflow channel 11b extend in opposite directions, which can make reasonable use of the relatively small space behind the second compartment 5, so that the second air duct 11 can be arranged in a relatively small space, thereby improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the refrigerator 100.

[0105] Furthermore, the refrigerator 100 of this embodiment improves the air duct structure so that the fan 7 is arranged between the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, or close to the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5, and the first casing 8 adopts a volute structure to appropriately reduce the airflow velocity and convert the kinetic energy of the airflow into the static pressure energy of the airflow. After all the airflow output by the fan 7 enters the second air duct 11 through the first air duct 9, the overall airflow of the fan 7 can meet the airflow requirements of the first compartment 4 and the second compartment 5.

[0106] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and substitutions without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and substitutions should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The container liner has at least a first compartment and a second compartment; An evaporator for cooling the airflow supplied to the first and second chambers; A fan, disposed at the rear of the first compartment or the second compartment, has an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet is used to introduce airflow cooled by the evaporator, and the air outlet is used to output the airflow introduced into the fan; and, A first housing is disposed outside the air outlet, and a first air duct is formed between the first housing and the air outlet; A second housing is disposed at the rear side of the first compartment and the second compartment to form the rear sidewall of the first compartment and the second compartment. A second air duct is formed between the second housing and the inner box, and between the second housing and the inner box and the first housing. The second air duct communicates with the first air duct. The second air duct has a first airflow channel and a second airflow channel. The first airflow channel extends upward to communicate with the first compartment, and the second airflow channel extends downward to communicate with the second compartment. A first damper is provided within the first airflow channel to open and close the first airflow channel; The second damper is located within the second airflow channel to open and close the second airflow channel.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first airflow channel and the second airflow channel are arranged in a front-to-back direction; or, the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel are arranged in a left-to-right direction.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first damper and the second damper are arranged adjacent to each other.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that, The first air damper and the second air damper are located at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct, and are situated between the first compartment and the second compartment.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first compartment is positioned above the second compartment, the fan is located at the rear of the second compartment, and the outlet of the first air duct faces upwards. A partition block is connected inside the second housing. The partition block is located at the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct and extends toward the outlet of the first air duct to separate the internal partition of the second air duct, forming the first airflow channel and the second airflow channel.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first housing is a volute structure, and in the height direction of the refrigerator, the connection between the first air duct and the second air duct is located between the first compartment and the second compartment.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second housing is spaced apart from the first housing, and a downwardly extending first channel is formed between the second housing and the first housing. A second channel extending forward is formed between the second housing and the partition block, and the second channel communicates with the first channel to form the second airflow channel.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second housing is provided with a rearwardly extending blocking portion, which is located above the first housing; the partition block is connected to the blocking portion and forms the second channel with the blocking portion.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of first chambers is multiple, and each of the multiple first chambers is connected to the first airflow channel; and / or, the number of second chambers is multiple, and each of the multiple second chambers is connected to the second airflow channel.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The container has a first compartment and a second compartment, with the first compartment located above the second compartment; A refrigeration system is installed inside the housing, and the refrigeration system includes an evaporator located behind the second compartment, and a volute is provided in front of the evaporator. The volute has a volute air inlet facing the evaporator and a vertically upward volute air outlet. A fan is disposed inside the volute, thereby forming a first air duct between the fan and the volute, and the air inlet side of the fan faces the air inlet of the volute to draw air from the evaporator; as well as, The air outlet of the volute is branched and connected to the air inlet of the first airflow channel and the air inlet of the second airflow channel, wherein... The first airflow channel is controlled to open and close by the first damper, and the first airflow channel extends upward from the air inlet end of the first airflow channel to the first room; The second airflow channel is controlled to open and close by the second damper, and the second airflow channel extends downward from the air inlet end of the second airflow channel to the rear of the second chamber, and enters the second chamber from multiple air outlets, so that the rear of the second chamber is, in order, the second airflow channel, the volute, and the evaporator.

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