Air duct structure and refrigerator

Abstract

According to the air duct structure and the refrigerator, the air duct structure comprises an air duct assembly and a driving assembly, the air duct assembly comprises an air duct body and an air door, the air door is installed in the air duct body, the air door can divide the air duct body into a plurality of cavities in the vertical direction, one of the cavities can be selected to communicate with an evaporator, and the driving assembly drives the driving assembly to rotate. An air outlet is formed in the area, where each cavity is located, of the air duct body, and the air outlets communicate with the corresponding cavities; and the driving assembly is in transmission connection with the air duct main body, and the driving assembly can drive the air duct main body to move in the vertical direction so as to switch communication between the cavity and the evaporator. When the air duct structure is applied to the refrigerator, air can be discharged from different height positions of the refrigerator body inner container, on one hand, the temperature difference in the refrigerator body inner container can be prevented from being too large, the temperature is made to be uniform, on the other hand, part of the area of the refrigerator body inner container can be rapidly cooled, and the use requirement of the refrigerator is met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field related to refrigerator air ducts, and particularly relates to an air duct structure and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Most of the existing side-by-side refrigerators are single-system refrigerators, in which a refrigeration air duct is placed on the top of the refrigeration chamber. A damper is provided in the refrigeration air duct to control the air supply volume from the evaporator into the refrigeration chamber, thereby achieving control of the temperature of the refrigeration chamber.

[0003] At present, the air duct outlets of the side-by-side refrigerators on the market are fixed. However, due to the large volume of the side-by-side refrigerator, the air discharged from the fixed air duct outlet will cause excessive temperature difference and uneven temperature inside the corresponding cabinet liner of the side-by-side refrigerator. At the same time, the air duct cannot quickly cool down certain areas. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, it is necessary to provide an air duct structure and a refrigerator for solving the above technical problems.

[0005] An air duct structure is installed in a refrigerator box body, and the air duct structure includes:

[0006] An air duct assembly comprises an air duct body and an air door, wherein the air door is installed in the air duct body, and the air door can divide the air duct body into a plurality of chambers in the vertical direction, and one of the plurality of chambers can be selectively connected to the evaporator, and the air duct body is provided with an air outlet in the area where each chamber is located, and the air outlet is connected to the corresponding chamber;

[0007] A driving assembly is connected to the air duct body in a transmission manner, and the driving assembly can drive the air duct body to move in the vertical direction to switch the communication between the chamber and the evaporator.

[0008] It can be understood that the driving component is used to move the air duct main body in the vertical direction to realize the air outlet of the air duct main body at different air outlets in the vertical direction, so that the air duct structure is applied to the refrigerator to realize the air outlet at different height positions of the cabinet inner shell. On the one hand, this can avoid excessive temperature difference inside the cabinet inner shell and make the temperature uniform. On the other hand, it can also realize rapid cooling of some areas of the cabinet inner shell to meet the use requirements of the refrigerator.

[0009] In one of the embodiments, the air duct assembly further includes a plurality of fans, the plurality of fans correspond one-to-one to the plurality of chambers, and the fans are disposed in the corresponding chambers.

[0010] It can be understood that by utilizing the structural characteristics of the fan, the flow of air in the chamber corresponding to the fan can be accelerated, which has the effect of accelerating the air discharge from the corresponding air outlet.

[0011] In one of the embodiments, the number of air outlets corresponding to each chamber is configured to be multiple, and the multiple air outlets can discharge air simultaneously.

[0012] It can be understood that using multiple air outlets to discharge air at the same time can increase the air outlet area of ​​the air duct structure when discharging air, thereby improving the air outlet efficiency of the air duct structure when applied to a refrigerator, and having a rapid cooling effect.

[0013] In one embodiment, the driving assembly includes a motor, a gear and a rack, the gear meshes with the rack and is transmission-connected to the motor;

[0014] Wherein, the rack is fixedly connected to the air duct body.

[0015] It can be understood that by utilizing the meshing cooperation between the gear and the rack, the motor can be started to drive the duct body to move in the vertical direction, which can realize the automation of the movement control of the duct body and facilitate the control of the movement of the duct body in the vertical direction.

[0016] In one of the embodiments, the number of the damper is configured to be one.

[0017] In one of the embodiments, the damper can control the on / off between two adjacent chambers.

[0018] The present application also seeks protection for a refrigerator, comprising an inner liner of the box body and the above-mentioned air duct structure, wherein the air duct structure is installed in the inner liner of the box body.

[0019] In one embodiment, the air duct structure is arranged on the rear side of the inner shell of the box body.

[0020] In one embodiment, the refrigerator further includes a temperature sensor, which is installed in the inner shell of the refrigerator body and is used to detect the temperature of the inner shell of the refrigerator body and generate a feedback signal, and the feedback signal is used to control the operation of the driving component.

[0021] It can be understood that the feedback signal generated by the temperature sensor after detecting the temperature is used to control the operation of the driving component, which can realize the automation of the vertical movement control of the air duct body and ensure the uniform temperature inside the box body.

[0022] In one embodiment, there are multiple temperature sensors, and the multiple temperature sensors are arranged in sequence along the vertical direction;

[0023] Among them, at least one of the temperature sensors is arranged at the top position of the box body, and at least one of the temperature sensors is arranged at the bottom position of the box body.

[0024] Due to the application of the above technical solution, the utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0025] The air duct structure and refrigerator for which protection is sought in the present application utilize a driving component to move the air duct main body in the vertical direction to achieve air outlets of the air duct main body at different air outlets in the vertical direction, so that the air duct structure is applied to the refrigerator to achieve air outlets at different heights of the cabinet inner shell. This can avoid excessive temperature differences inside the cabinet inner shell and make the temperature uniform on the one hand, and can also achieve rapid cooling of partial areas of the cabinet inner shell on the other hand to meet the use requirements of the refrigerator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the conventional technology, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the conventional technology descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a refrigerator provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigerator provided.

[0029] Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a refrigerator in another state provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the refrigerator provided.

[0031] Figure numerals: 1000, refrigerator; 100, air duct structure; 101, chamber; 10, air duct assembly; 11, air duct body; 111, air outlet; 12, damper; 13, fan; 20, drive assembly; 200, cabinet inner shell; 300, evaporator; 400, temperature sensor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the utility model.

[0033] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "provided on" another element, it may be directly provided on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "provided on" another element, it may be directly provided on the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. When an element is considered to be "fixed to" another element, it may be directly fixed to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art in the technical field of the present invention. The terms used in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0035] The air duct structure 100 for which protection is sought in the present application is installed in the inner liner 200 of the refrigerator 1000 and is used to deliver cold air to the inner liner 200 .

[0036] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the duct structure 100 provided in one embodiment of the present application includes a duct assembly 10 and a driving assembly 20. The duct assembly 10 includes a duct body 11 and a damper 12. The damper 12 is installed in the duct body 11, and the damper 12 can divide the duct body 11 into a plurality of chambers 101 in the vertical direction. The plurality of chambers 101 can be selectively connected to the evaporator 300. In addition, the duct body 11 is provided with air outlets 111 in the area where each chamber 101 is located, and the air outlets 111 are connected to the corresponding chambers 101. The driving assembly 20 is connected to the duct body 11 in a transmission manner, and the driving assembly 20 can drive the duct body 11 to move in the vertical direction to switch the connection between the chamber 101 and the evaporator 300. In other words, the duct structure 100 can use the driving assembly 20 to move the duct body 11 in the vertical direction to achieve the air outlet of the duct body 11 at different air outlets 111 in the vertical direction.

[0037] It can be understood that when the air duct structure 100 is applied to the refrigerator 1000, it can realize the air outlet at different height positions of the box body 200, so that on the one hand, it can avoid excessive temperature difference inside the box body 200 and make the temperature uniform, and on the other hand, it can also realize rapid cooling of a part of the box body 200 to meet the use requirements of the refrigerator 1000. Here, when the air duct structure 100 is applied to the refrigerator 1000, the height direction of the air duct body 11 is consistent with the vertical direction.

[0038] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the number of air outlets 111 corresponding to each chamber 101 is configured as multiple, and multiple air outlets 111 can discharge air at the same time. In other words, the air duct body 11 is provided with multiple air outlets 111 in the area where each chamber 101 is located, so that the air outlet area of ​​the air duct structure 100 when discharging air can be increased, thereby improving the air outlet efficiency of the air duct structure 100 when applied to the refrigerator 1000, and having the effect of rapid cooling. Here, the number of air outlets 111 corresponding to each chamber 101 is configured as four, and the four air outlets 111 are arranged symmetrically in pairs. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of air outlets 111 can also be configured as three, five, or even more, and the arrangement positions of the multiple air outlets 111 on the air duct body 11 can be specifically set according to the needs of use, which will not be elaborated here.

[0039] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the number of dampers 12 is configured as one, so that the air duct body 11 of this embodiment can be divided into two chambers 101 by one damper 12, so that the air duct body 11 can select one of the chambers 101 as a buffer chamber for air flow, and then use the corresponding air outlet 111 to blow air outward. Here, the damper 12 can divide the air duct body 11 into two chambers 101 of the same capacity, and for this purpose, the damper 12 can be set in the middle of the air duct body 11 in the vertical direction.

[0040] Preferably, the damper 12 can control the on / off between two adjacent chambers 101. When the air duct structure 100 is applied to the refrigerator 1000 and the air is discharged, one of the chambers 101 can be used to discharge air alone, or both chambers 101 can be used to discharge air together. In this process, the damper 12 can be used to control the flow opening when the two chambers 101 are connected, so as to control the air volume of the two chambers 101. It should be noted that the specific structure of the damper 12 and how to control the flow opening when the two chambers 101 are connected can adopt the existing conventional method, which will not be elaborated here.

[0041] like Figure 1 , Figure 3As shown, the air duct assembly 10 also includes a plurality of fans 13, and the plurality of fans 13 correspond one to one with the plurality of chambers 101. The fans 13 are arranged in the corresponding chambers 101. In this way, the structural characteristics of the fans 13 can be utilized to accelerate the flow of air in the chamber 101 corresponding to the fans 13, thereby accelerating the air discharge from the corresponding air outlets 111.

[0042] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the drive assembly 20 includes a motor (not shown), a gear (not shown) and a rack (not shown), the gear meshes with the rack and is connected to the motor in a transmission manner; wherein the rack is fixedly connected to the air duct body 11. In other words, the drive assembly 20 can utilize the meshing cooperation between the gear and the rack so that the motor can start to drive the air duct body 11 to move in the vertical direction, thereby automating the movement control of the air duct body 11 and facilitating the control of the movement of the air duct body 11 in the vertical direction. Of course, in other embodiments, the motor can move the air duct body 11 by means of a lead screw nut assembly, or the drive assembly 20 can be configured as a motor push rod.

[0043] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 As shown, the present application also provides a refrigerator 1000, including a box body 200 and the above-mentioned air duct structure 100, and the air duct structure 100 is installed in the box body 200. Here, the refrigerator 1000 is configured as a double-door refrigerator, and the air duct structure 100 is arranged on the rear side of the box body 200.

[0044] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the refrigerator 1000 further includes a temperature sensor 400, which is installed in the inner liner 200 of the box body and is used to detect the temperature of the inner liner 200 and generate a feedback signal, which is used to control the operation of the driving component 20. In this way, the control of the movement of the air duct body 11 in the vertical direction can be automated, and the temperature inside the inner liner 200 of the box body can be ensured to be uniform.

[0045] Preferably, the number of temperature sensors 400 is multiple, and the multiple temperature sensors 400 are arranged in sequence along the vertical direction; wherein, at least one temperature sensor 400 is arranged at the top position of the box body 200, and at least one temperature sensor 400 is arranged at the bottom position of the box body 200. When the refrigerator 1000 is working, the temperature of the top area and the bottom area of ​​the box body 200 can be detected respectively, so that the air duct structure 100 can make the temperature inside the box body 200 uniform. Here, the number of temperature sensors 400 is configured as three, and the remaining temperature sensor 400 is arranged in the middle position of the box body 200, so that when the refrigerator 1000 is working, the temperature of the upper, middle and lower areas of the box body 200 can be detected.

[0046] As can be seen from the above, when the refrigerator 1000 of the present application is working, the temperature sensor 400 can be used to detect the temperature inside the box liner 200. If the temperature in the top area of ​​the box liner 200 is too high, the driving component 20 can be used to move the air duct body 11 upward, and the chamber 101 above the air duct body 11 can be used to discharge air to quickly cool down the top area of ​​the box liner 200; if the temperature in the bottom area of ​​the box liner 200 is too high, the driving component 20 can be used to move the air duct body 11 downward, and cool down the bottom area of ​​the box liner 200. In addition, when the refrigerator 1000 is working, the fan 13 can be turned on, or the speed of the fan 13 can be controlled to achieve control of the air output, so as to improve the situation where the temperature is too low due to cold air deposition.

[0047] The technical features of the above embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0048] Those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. As long as they are within the spirit of the present invention, appropriate changes and modifications to the above embodiments are within the scope of protection required by the present invention.

Claims

1. An air duct structure installed in a cabinet (200) of a refrigerator (1000), characterized in that: The air duct structure includes: An air duct assembly (10) comprises an air duct body (11) and an air door (12), wherein the air door (12) is installed in the air duct body (11), and the air door (12) is capable of dividing the air duct body (11) into a plurality of chambers (101) in a vertical direction, wherein one of the plurality of chambers (101) is capable of being selectively connected to an evaporator (300), and the air duct body (11) is provided with an air outlet (111) in an area where each chamber (101) is located, and the air outlet (111) is connected to the corresponding chamber (101); A driving assembly (20) is connected to the air duct body (11) in a transmission manner, and the driving assembly (20) is capable of driving the air duct body (11) to move in the vertical direction to switch the communication between the chamber (101) and the evaporator (300).

2. The air duct structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air duct assembly (10) further comprises a plurality of fans (13), the plurality of fans (13) corresponding one-to-one to the plurality of chambers (101), and the fans (13) are arranged in corresponding chambers (101).

3. The air duct structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of air outlets (111) corresponding to each chamber (101) is configured to be multiple, and the multiple air outlets (111) can discharge air simultaneously.

4. The air duct structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving assembly (20) comprises a motor, a gear and a rack, wherein the gear meshes with the rack and is transmission-connected to the motor; Wherein, the rack is fixedly connected to the air duct body (11).

5. The air duct structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the damper (12) is configured to be one.

6. The air duct structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The damper (12) can control the on / off state between two adjacent chambers (101).

7. A refrigerator, characterized in that: It comprises a box body (200) and an air duct structure (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the air duct structure (100) is installed in the box body (200).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: The air duct structure (100) is arranged on the rear side of the box body (200).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: The refrigerator (1000) further comprises a temperature sensor (400), wherein the temperature sensor (400) is installed in the cabinet inner liner (200) and is used to detect the temperature of the cabinet inner liner (200) and generate a feedback signal, wherein the feedback signal is used to control the operation of the driving component (20).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that: There are a plurality of the temperature sensors (400), and the plurality of the temperature sensors (400) are arranged in sequence along the vertical direction; Wherein, at least one of the temperature sensors (400) is arranged at the top position of the box body (200), and at least one of the temperature sensors (400) is arranged at the bottom position of the box body (200).

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