Defrosting heater and refrigeration equipment
By using deformation parts of shape memory alloy material in the defrost heater, the problem of insufficient heat dissipation capability of the defrost heater in the air-cooled refrigerator is solved, and faster defrost effect and more stable air-cooling effect are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202420257361.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-01
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-02-01
AI Technical Summary
The defrost heater in the air-cooled refrigerator has a small size, a small surface area, and a weak heat dissipation ability, which leads to poor defrost effect and requires a long time to defrost, resulting in large fluctuations in the temperature of the refrigeration room.
The first deformation member made of shape memory alloy material with deformation function is connected to the heating member. The deformation member is unfolded after being heated to increase the heat dissipation area, improves the defrost effect, and resumes the retraction after cooling to reduce air flow resistance. Ensure air cooling effect.
Improve the defrost effect, shorten the defrost time, reduce the impact on the temperature of the refrigeration room, and maintain a good airflow circulation effect during air cooling.
Smart Images
Figure CN222210924U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, in particular to a defrosting heater and refrigeration equipment. Background Art
[0002] At present, in air-cooled refrigerators, a defrost heater is generally used to defrost the evaporator. In the related art, the defrost heater is arranged near the evaporator. The defrost heater can generate heat when powered on, and transfer the heat to the evaporator by natural convection and heat radiation. Since the air-cooled refrigerator uses air cooling, that is, the cold air from the evaporator is sent to the refrigeration room by a fan, in order to reduce the resistance to the air flow and ensure the air cooling effect, the volume of the defrost heater is required to be smaller, but it also leads to a smaller surface area of the defrost heater, weaker heat dissipation capacity, poorer defrosting effect, and a long time of defrosting, which leads to large temperature fluctuations in the refrigeration room. Utility Model Content
[0003] The utility model aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the utility model provides a defrosting heater, which can improve the defrosting effect, shorten the defrosting time and reduce the impact on the air cooling effect.
[0004] The utility model also provides refrigeration equipment with the defrosting heater.
[0005] The defrost heater according to the first embodiment of the utility model includes: a heating element; a first deformable element connected to the heating element, the first deformable element having a first expanded state and a first retracted state, when the first deformable element is heated, the first deformable element is in the first expanded state to increase the heat dissipation area, when the first deformable element is cooled, the first deformable element is in the first retracted state.
[0006] The defrost heater according to the first embodiment of the utility model has at least the following beneficial effects: under natural conditions, the first deformable member is in a first retracted state to reduce the resistance to airflow and ensure a better air cooling effect. When defrosting is needed, the heating member generates heat. Since the heating member is connected to the first deformable member, the heat of the heating member will be transferred to the first deformable member. The first deformable member will be deformed after being heated, and the first deformable member will gradually unfold, thereby switching to the first unfolded state. After the first deformable member is unfolded, its own heat dissipation area can be increased, so that the heat on the first deformable member can be fully dissipated, thereby enhancing the defrosting effect and making the defrosting more uniform. There is no need to perform defrosting for a long time, thereby reducing the impact on the temperature of the refrigeration compartment. When the defrosting is completed, the first deformable member gradually cools down, and then the first deformable member returns to the first retracted state, thereby reducing the resistance to airflow during cooling.
[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the top of the first deformable member is connected to the bottom of the heat generating member, and when the first deformable member is in the first retracted state, both ends of the first deformable member are arranged upward.
[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first deformable member is made of shape memory alloy material.
[0009] According to the refrigeration device of the second aspect embodiment of the utility model, it includes: a box body, provided with an air duct, the lower end of the air duct is provided with an air inlet, and the upper end of the air duct is provided with an air outlet; an evaporator is arranged in the air duct; the defrost heater of the first aspect embodiment is arranged in the air duct.
[0010] The refrigeration device according to the second embodiment of the utility model comprises the defrost heater of the first embodiment and thus has at least the above-mentioned beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.
[0011] According to some embodiments of the utility model, the refrigeration equipment includes an air duct switching mechanism, the air duct switching mechanism includes a second deformable member, the second deformable member is arranged in the air duct, the second deformable member is located above the evaporator, the second deformable member has a second expanded state and a second retracted state, when the second deformable member is heated, the second deformable member is in the second expanded state to block the air duct, when the second deformable member is cooled, the second deformable member is in the second retracted state to open the air duct.
[0012] According to some embodiments of the present utility model, the box body includes an inner liner and a cover plate, the cover plate is vertically arranged, and the air duct is defined between the inner liner and the cover plate.
[0013] According to some embodiments of the utility model, a bracket is provided in the air duct, the bracket is connected to the inner tank, and the second deformable member is connected to the bracket.
[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bottom of the second deformable member is connected to the top of the bracket, and when the second deformable member is in the second retracted state, both ends of the second deformable member are arranged downward.
[0015] According to some embodiments of the present utility model, the bracket is provided with a clamping portion, and the second deformable member is provided with a bayonet portion, and the clamping portion is clamped with the bayonet portion.
[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second deformation member is made of shape memory alloy material.
[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description, and in part will become apparent from the following description, or will be learned through the practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention is further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:
[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the utility model;
[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the utility model;
[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of a second deformable member and a bracket of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the utility model;
[0022] Figure 4 It is a side view of a bracket of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment of the utility model.
[0023] Reference numerals:
[0024] The defrosting heater 100, the heating element 110, and the first deformation element 120;
[0025] Air duct 200, air inlet 210, air outlet 220, liner 230, cover plate 240, bracket 250, clamping portion 251;
[0026] Air duct switch mechanism 300, second deformable member 310;
[0027] Evaporator 400. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.
[0029] At present, in air-cooled refrigerators, a defrost heater is generally used to defrost the evaporator. In the related art, the defrost heater is arranged near the evaporator. The defrost heater can generate heat when powered on, and transfer the heat to the evaporator by natural convection and heat radiation. Since the air-cooled refrigerator uses air cooling, that is, the cold air from the evaporator is sent to the refrigeration room by a fan, in order to reduce the resistance to the air flow, the volume of the defrost heater is required to be smaller, but it also leads to a smaller surface area of the defrost heater, weaker heat dissipation capacity, poor defrosting effect, and a long time of defrosting, which leads to large temperature fluctuations in the refrigeration room.
[0030] Based on this, refer to Figure 1 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration device of an embodiment of the utility model, the refrigeration device includes a box, an evaporator 400 and a defrost heater 100, the box is provided with an air duct 200, the air duct 200 extends in a vertical direction, an air outlet 220 is provided at the upper end of the air duct 200, an air inlet 210 is provided at the lower end of the air duct 200, the evaporator 400 and the defrost heater 100 are both located in the air duct 200, the defrost heater 100 and the evaporator 400 can be an integrated structure, the defrost heater 100 can be located at the upper position of the evaporator 400, and the air flow in the air duct 200 flows from bottom to top. When cooling, the fan is started, so that the air flow in the refrigeration room enters the air duct 200 from the air inlet 210, the temperature of the air flow decreases after passing through the evaporator 400, and the low-temperature air flow flows out from the air outlet 220, and the low-temperature air flow circulates continuously in the refrigeration room to achieve cooling. When defrosting is required, the defrost heater 100 generates heat, and the heat on the defrost heater 100 is transferred to the evaporator 400 by natural convection and heat radiation, so that the frost on the evaporator 400 melts. The fan stops to avoid bringing high-temperature airflow into the refrigeration compartment.
[0031] Reference Figure 1 As shown, specifically, the defrosting heater 100 includes a heating element 110 and a first deformable element 120. The heating element 110 can generate heat, and the heating element 110 is connected to the first deformable element 120. When the first deformable element 120 is heated, it can generate a certain deformation. Therefore, the first deformable element 120 has a first expanded state and a first collapsed state. Figure 2 In the embodiment, the first deformable member 120 is in a first unfolded state, Figure 1 , the first deformable member 120 is in the first retracted state. During defrosting, the heating element 110 generates heat. Since the heating element 110 is connected to the first deformable member 120, the heat on the heating element 110 can be transferred to the first deformable member 120. After the first deformable member 120 is heated, the first deformable member 120 gradually unfolds. After the first deformable member 120 switches to the first unfolded state, it can increase its own surface area, thereby increasing the heat dissipation area, so that more heat can be transferred to the evaporator 400, thereby improving the defrosting effect, eliminating the need for long-term defrosting, and reducing the impact on the refrigeration compartment. When the defrosting is completed, the heating element 110 no longer generates heat, and the first deformable member 120 also gradually cools down. The first deformable member 120 can be restored to the first retracted state, and the first deformable member 120 is folded up.
[0032] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, by providing a deformable first deformable member 120, the defrosting effect can be improved during defrosting, and a better air cooling effect can be ensured during air cooling, thereby taking into account both the defrosting effect and the air cooling effect of the refrigeration equipment.
[0033] It should be noted that, for the above-mentioned embodiment, since the airflow in the air duct 200 flows from bottom to top, it can also be understood that when the first deformable member 120 switches from the first folded state to the first expanded state, the projected area of the first deformable member 120 in the vertical direction increases, that is, the upward area of the first deformable member 120 increases, which is beneficial for the heat radiation generated by the first deformable member 120 to face the evaporator 400, and more heat can be transferred to the evaporator 400, which can improve the defrosting effect, and also make the hot air flow emitted by the first deformable member 120 cover the evaporator 400 more evenly, so that the edge position of the evaporator 400 can also be better heated and defrosted, and the defrosting treatment of the evaporator 400 is more uniform. Correspondingly, when the first deformable member 120 switches from the first expanded state to the first collapsed state, the projection area of the first deformable member 120 in the vertical direction is reduced, that is, the area of the airflow blocked by the first deformable member 120 is reduced. During cooling, the airflow in the air duct 200 is better, ensuring a better airflow circulation effect.
[0034] It can be understood that in some embodiments, the first deformable member 120 is a sheet-like structure with a small thickness to reduce the resistance to airflow. The top of the first deformable member 120 is connected to the bottom of the heating element 110. The first deformable member 120 extends in the horizontal direction. When the first deformable member 120 is in the first collapsed state, the two ends of the first deformable member 120 are arranged upward. It can also be understood that the two ends of the first deformable member 120 are bent upward. Specifically, referring to Figure 1 As shown, when the first deformable member 120 is in the first retracted state, the first deformable member 120 is bent into a U-shape or a V-shape when viewed from the side. At this time, the airflow in the air duct 200 can flow along the surface of the first deformable member 120, and the resistance is small, which is conducive to the airflow. When the first deformable member 120 is in the first unfolded state, the bottom surface of the first deformable member 120 can block the airflow, preventing the low-temperature airflow from entering the air duct 200 and affecting the defrosting effect.
[0035] It can be understood that, in some embodiments, a plurality of first deformable members 120 can be arranged, and the plurality of first deformable members 120 are spaced apart, and a gap is provided between two adjacent first deformable members 120 , so that a certain space can be left, and the resistance to airflow can be reduced during cooling.
[0036] It can be understood that, in some embodiments, the heating element 110 is an electric heating tube, the heating element 110 is made of metal material, the first deformable element 120 is made of shape memory alloy material, the first deformable element 120 can be deformed repeatedly, the first deformable element 120 is connected to the heating element 110 by welding, the first deformable element 120 is directly connected to the heating element 110 as a whole, and it is more convenient to install, or, alternatively, the first deformable element 120 is connected to the heating element 110 by snap-fitting, and can be repeatedly disassembled and assembled.
[0037] It can be understood that, in some embodiments, the refrigeration device includes an air duct switch mechanism 300, and the air duct switch mechanism 300 is mainly used to control the air duct 200 to be closed or opened. Figure 1 As shown, the air duct switch mechanism 300 includes a second deformable member 310, which is disposed in the air duct 200, above the evaporator 400, and near the air outlet 220. When the second deformable member 310 is heated or cooled, a certain deformation may occur, and the second deformable member 310 has a second unfolded state and a second retracted state. Figure 2 , the second deformable member 310 is in the second unfolded state, Figure 1 In the embodiment, the second deformable member 310 is in the second retracted state.
[0038] In this embodiment, when defrosting is required, the heating element 110 generates heat, and the heating element 110 causes the temperature of the airflow in the air duct 200 to rise. The heat of the heating element 110 is transferred to the defroster, so that the frost on the defroster melts. Then, the high-temperature airflow in the air duct 200 passes through the second deformable element 310, and the second deformable element 310 is heated, and the second deformable element 310 gradually expands, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 , the second deformable member 310 switches to the second expanded state, and the surface area of the second deformable member 310 increases, which can block the air duct 200, prevent the high-temperature airflow from flowing from the air outlet 220 into the refrigeration room, and reduce the impact on the refrigeration room. In addition, since the first deformable member 120 is heated and in the first expanded state, it can be understood that the first deformable member 120 also blocks the air duct 200, and the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 form a closed chamber. The high-temperature airflow can stay in the closed chamber and continuously defrost the evaporator 400, thereby improving the defrosting effect, and can fully utilize the heat generated by the heating element 110 to reduce energy consumption. When the defrosting is completed, the temperature in the air duct 200 gradually decreases, the second deformable member 310 cools down, and the second deformable member 310 gradually retracts, such as Figure 1 , the second deformable member 310 switches to the second retracted state, thereby opening the air duct 200 and allowing the air flow to circulate again.
[0039] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, by providing the deformable first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310, the defrosting effect can be improved during defrosting, and the air cooling effect can be ensured to be good during air cooling, and the defrosting effect and the air cooling effect of the refrigeration equipment can be taken into account at the same time, and the impact on the refrigeration compartment during defrosting is also reduced. In addition, the air duct 200 can be closed or opened by the second deformable member 310, and various circuit control structures do not need to be provided, which can save manufacturing costs and is also more convenient to install.
[0040] It should be noted that, for the above embodiment, it can also be understood that when the second deformable member 310 is switched from the second folded state to the second unfolded state, the area of the projection of the second deformable member 310 in the vertical direction increases, thereby blocking the air duct 200, preventing the airflow in the air duct 200 from flowing out from the air outlet 220, and the high-temperature airflow in the air duct 200 is not easy to enter the refrigeration room, thereby reducing the impact on the refrigeration room. Correspondingly, when the second deformable member 310 is switched from the second unfolded state to the second folded state, the area of the projection of the second deformable member 310 in the vertical direction decreases, which can reduce the area blocking the airflow flow and make the airflow flow smoothly.
[0041] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the box body includes an inner liner 230 and a cover plate 240. The cover plate 240 is vertically arranged. The above-mentioned air duct 200 is defined between the inner liner 230 and the cover plate 240. The cover plate 240 is located on the rear side of the inner liner 230 to reduce the occupied space.
[0042] It can be understood that a bracket 250 is provided in the air duct 200, the bracket 250 is connected to the inner liner 230, and the second deformable member 310 is connected to the bracket 250. The bracket 250 mainly plays a supporting and connecting role and can support the second deformable member 310. Since the bracket 250 is connected to the inner liner 230, the bracket 250 and the second deformable member 310 can be installed first, and then the cover plate 240 can be installed. The assembly is more convenient, and the cover plate 240 will not hinder the installation of the bracket 250 and the second deformable member 310.
[0043] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 3As shown, the bottom of the second deformable member 310 is connected to the top of the bracket 250. When the second deformable member 310 is in the second retracted state, the two ends of the second deformable member 310 are arranged downward. Specifically, the second deformable member 310 is bent into an inverted U-shape or an N-shape, so that the second deformable member 310 can be closer to the defrost heater 100, which is conducive to the heat transfer of the defrost heater 100 to the second deformable member 310. In some embodiments, the defrost heater 100 and the evaporator 400 can be an integrated structure, so that the defrost heater 100 can be located above the evaporator 400, the defrost heater 100 can be closer to the second deformable member 310, and the heat of the defrost heater 100 can be more easily transferred to the second deformable member 310. In addition, during cooling, the airflow in the air duct 200 can flow upward along the surface of the second deformable member 310, with less resistance, which can ensure that the airflow flows more smoothly and ensure the air cooling effect.
[0044] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments, the bottom of the bracket 250 is provided with a clamping portion 251, and the second deformable member 310 is provided with a bayonet portion (not shown in the drawings), and the clamping portion 251 can be clamped with the bayonet portion. During installation, the bayonet portion of the second deformable member 310 is directly aligned with the clamping portion 251 of the bracket 250, and then the clamping portion 251 is buckled into the bayonet portion to complete the assembly, which is simple to operate.
[0045] It can be understood that, in some embodiments, the bracket 250 is made of metal material, and the second deformable member 310 is made of shape memory alloy material. The second deformable member 310 can be deformed repeatedly. The bracket 250 and the second deformable member 310 are connected by welding. The bracket 250 and the second deformable member 310 are directly connected as one. It is only necessary to perform the operating steps of installing the bracket 250, which is more convenient during installation.
[0046] It is understandable that, referring to Figure 3As shown, in some embodiments, the bracket 250 is a rod-shaped structure, and the bracket 250 extends in the horizontal direction. Specifically, the cross section of the bracket 250 is circular, the bracket 250 is a tubular structure, the second deformable member 310 is a sheet-like structure, the thickness is small, and the resistance to the airflow is reduced. The second deformable member 310 extends along the length direction of the bracket 250, and the top of the second deformable member 310 is connected to the bottom of the bracket 250. When the second deformable member 310 is in the second retracted state, the two ends of the second deformable member 310 are bent upward, and part of the top end surface of the second deformable member 310 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the bracket 250. When cooling, the airflow in the air duct 200 can flow along the surface of the second deformable member 310, and the resistance is small, which can ensure smooth airflow and ensure the air cooling effect. The bracket 250 is detachably connected to the inner liner 230. For example, a mounting groove can be set on the inner liner 230, and a mounting portion can be set on the bracket 250. The mounting portion cooperates with the mounting groove, and the assembly operation is more convenient. It can also be understood that the two ends of the bracket 250 are respectively mounted on the side walls of the inner liner 230, and the bracket 250 is suspended in the air duct 200, which can reduce the occupied space.
[0047] It can be understood that the shape memory alloy material can completely eliminate the deformation that occurs at a lower temperature after being heated and restore its original shape before deformation. In this embodiment, the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 are both made of a shape memory alloy material with a two-way memory effect. In a natural state, the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 are first bent into a U shape or a V shape, and then the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 are installed. After the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 are heated, they will return to their original unbent state. Specifically, when the temperature is greater than 40 degrees, the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 begin to gradually shrink. After the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 cool down, they will return to the previous bent state again. The first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 can be deformed repeatedly, which is relatively stable and durable. In addition, the first deformable member 120 and the second deformable member 310 are in sheet-like structures, which are easier to bend and convenient to manufacture.
[0048] Specifically, the shape memory alloy material can be nickel-titanium alloy, titanium-nickel-copper alloy, titanium-nickel-iron alloy, titanium-nickel-chromium alloy, copper-nickel alloy, copper-aluminum alloy, copper-zinc alloy, iron alloy, etc.
[0049] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientation, such as up, down, front, back, inside, outside, etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.
[0050] In the description of the utility model, if there is a description of first or second, it is only for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.
[0051] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.
[0052] The embodiments of the utility model are described in detail above in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Finally, it should be explained that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solution of the utility model, rather than to limit it. Although the utility model is described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, ordinary technicians in this field should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the utility model.
Claims
1. A defrost heater, characterized in that: include: Heating element; The first deformable member is connected to the heat generating member, and has a first expanded state and a first retracted state. When the first deformable member is heated, the first deformable member is in the first expanded state to increase the heat dissipation area. When the first deformable member is cooled, the first deformable member is in the first retracted state.
2. The defrost heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the first deformable member is connected to the bottom of the heat generating member. When the first deformable member is in the first retracted state, both ends of the first deformable member are arranged upward.
3. The defrost heater according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first deformation member is made of shape memory alloy material.
4. Refrigeration equipment, characterized in that include: The box body is provided with an air duct, the lower end of the air duct is provided with an air inlet, and the upper end of the air duct is provided with an air outlet; an evaporator, disposed in the air duct; The defrost heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is arranged in the air duct.
5. The refrigeration equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that: The refrigeration equipment includes an air duct switching mechanism, which includes a second deformable member. The second deformable member is arranged in the air duct, and the second deformable member is located above the evaporator. The second deformable member has a second expanded state and a second retracted state. When the second deformable member is heated, the second deformable member is in the second expanded state to block the air duct. When the second deformable member is cooled, the second deformable member is in the second retracted state to open the air duct.
6. The refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The box body includes an inner liner and a cover plate, and the air duct is defined between the inner liner and the cover plate.
7. The refrigeration device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A bracket is provided in the air duct, the bracket is connected to the inner tank, and the second deformable member is connected to the bracket.
8. The refrigeration device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bottom of the second deformable member is connected to the top of the bracket, and when the second deformable member is in the second retracted state, both ends of the second deformable member are arranged downward.
9. The refrigeration device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The bracket is provided with a clamping portion, and the second deformable member is provided with a bayonet portion, and the clamping portion is clamped with the bayonet portion.
10. The refrigeration device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The second deformation member is made of shape memory alloy material.